Something's Wrong—Dog Cultivation Method Is About to Cause Trouble Again

Inside the Cave Residence.

Jiang Li looked at the half-solid dragon-shaped phantom condensed in his palm, and his eyes lit up.

The Dragon Slaying Sword at major mastery transformed the sword into dragon form, perfectly matching the characteristics of Sword Aura Manifestation, the second major realm of Sword Cultivators.

At this stage, a Sword Cultivator's strikes were no longer confined to sword light. They could shift through a thousand forms and create all things.

Yet his spell, the "Dragon Slaying Sword," seemed determined to square off against dragons—even its form had turned into that of a dragon.

With one sword strike, sword light transformed into a dragon phantom that lunged forth, tearing its target apart.

Its power was absolutely solid.

Right after that.

Jiang Li began activating the newly acquired spell trait of the "Dragon Slaying Sword"—Fire Intent.

At once.

The originally colorless dragon-shaped phantom was dyed crimson.

The dragon phantom turned into a red dragon.

The temperature soared to terrifying heights.

A wave of heat rushed at his face. The air blistered, and water vapor continuously rose into the air.

"After adding the new Fire Intent trait, the spell's power has surged again. The sword move now has elemental force as well, making it even more destructive."

Jiang Li clicked his tongue inwardly.

Just what had the "Dragon Slaying Sword" comprehended to actually alter the nature of a spell?

This strike was no longer a simple Spirit Sever—it was a Crimson Dragon Slash.

It had changed from an attack with no attribute into a fire-attributed one.

"Come to think of it, this Fire Intent pairs rather well with that second-tier spirit treasure, the Burning Sky Sword."

Jiang Li thought of something.

He took a three-foot-three-inch crimson sword from his Storage Ring.

Its blade resembled a scarlet luan spreading its wings, making its extraordinary nature obvious at a glance.

This was one of the three gifts his master had given him upon their first meeting.

A spirit treasure that could be used beyond the Golden Core stage.

Paired with this spirit treasure, even if he could not unleash its full power, it could raise his combat strength without limit.

Especially in battle, the gap between a spirit artifact and a spirit treasure was anything but small.

One strike from the Burning Sky Sword, and even if a spirit artifact did not shatter, several chips would still be blasted out of it.

More importantly, for the power of sword aura to be fully unleashed, it had to be paired with a top-tier spirit artifact.

Only a top-tier spirit artifact could withstand the attachment of sword aura.

It would not break after a single use.

It could be said.

With this second-tier spirit treasure, the power of Jiang Li's Dragon Slaying Sword could rise another level.

Stacking it—stacking combat power like mad.

Jiang Li was immensely excited.

He even felt that if he kept stacking like this, as someone in the Qi Refining stage, he might be able to kill a Golden Core cultivator across realms.

With such a setup, even the elite disciples of the Inner Sect were probably no more impressive than this.

That was what Jiang Li thought.

His heart settled completely.

His sense of security shot straight upward.

If he continued cultivating at this pace, he might truly have a chance to strike back against the Myriad Desire Demon Lord and completely end the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head.

"Cultivate, cultivate. I've already drawn enough attention today. For the next while, I should focus on secluded cultivation and let the impact fade."

Jiang Li muttered.

He opened the Cultivation Technique Growth Plan.

He selected the cultivation technique, "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art."

Activation successful.

Cultivation technique "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art" had begun hosting service.

As his body was formally placed under hosting, Jiang Li enjoyed the AFK service with perfect peace of mind.

After studying it for some time, he had basically figured out the system's temperament.

If he wanted the "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art" to cultivate steadily without stirring up trouble, he needed to do good deeds in advance—either Slay Demons and Defend the Dao, punish evil and promote good, or comprehend The Way of Righteousness.

Only with the support of righteous conviction would the "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art" stop causing trouble and focus wholeheartedly on cultivation.

As it happened.

The "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art" had undergone a transformation under the Heart Questioning Mirror's examination yesterday. Its righteous conviction was at its strongest, so choosing Cultivation Technique Hosting in this state carried no risk whatsoever.

Sure enough.

The system notification sounded again the next second.

Ding. Cultivation technique "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art" is immersed in righteous conviction and urgently wishes to cultivate. Temporary cultivation efficiency +80%.

Piece of cake.

Jiang Li could not help giving a light snort.

Then he immersed himself in the efficient cultivation brought by Cultivation Technique Hosting.

Time flashed by.

Twenty days passed in the blink of an eye.

During that time, Jiang Li never left his Cave Residence.

He devoted himself entirely to cultivation.

The results were remarkable.

As early as ten days ago, he had officially advanced to Qi Refining Level 6.

Now, he was advancing toward Qi Refining Level 7.

Name: Jiang Li.

Identity: Disciple of Heaven Sword Peak, Heavenly Mystery Holy Land (the Myriad Desire Demon Lord's 400th possession vessel).

Realm: Qi Refining Level 6.

Main cultivation technique: Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art (click to expand).

Main spell: Dragon Slaying Sword (click to expand).

"Expand."

Cultivation technique: Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art

Cultivation technique traits: Shield of Justice, Soul of Justice.

Spell: Dragon Slaying Sword.

Spell traits: Dragon Bane, Fire Intent.

Jiang Li was extremely satisfied as he looked over his status panel.

Once his cultivation broke through again and reached Qi Refining Level 7, he could officially join the Elite Training Program and enter the core circle of figures in the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land.

Even undercover agents had dreams.

Although doing so would bring a certain amount of risk, that risk was worth taking compared to the benefits.

He merely wanted to keep a low profile; it was not as though he was a coward.

There was still a difference between the two.

Just then.

The system notification sounded.

Ding. Cultivation technique "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art" lacks the spur of righteous conviction. Cultivation efficiency has declined and hosting has been withdrawn.

Jiang Li felt somewhat regretful.

The system was letting him down.

It had only been twenty days, and it was already drained dry.

He had thought it could hold out until he broke through to Qi Refining Level 7.

Then.

Jiang Li rose to his feet.

He stretched his limbs.

Twenty days of cultivating without sleep or rest—even though he had not been controlling his body himself—had indeed been rather dull.

But he enjoyed it.

"I need to renew the cultivation technique's state."

Jiang Li muttered.

Perfect. He could use this opportunity to officially join the Law Enforcement Hall and complete the undercover mission given by the Myriad Desire Demon Lord.

No sooner said than done.

After twenty days of secluded cultivation, Jiang Li left his Cave Residence.

The sunlight was just right.

It shone directly down.

The light of righteousness fell upon his face.

It made him, an undercover agent, feel pleasantly warm.

He boarded a Flying Skiff and sped away, leaving the towering Heaven Sword Peak behind and heading straight for the Law Enforcement Hall.

By then.

A month had passed since Jiang Li had caused such a stir by exposing the Yin Puppet Sect's undercover agent.

News about him had already faded.

New geniuses had begun making names for themselves and become the Holy Land's latest topic of conversation.

As Jiang Li walked through the Holy Land, few disciples recognized him.

That made him very happy.

How wonderful it was to be an unnoticed little nobody.

He loved this state far too much.

Jiang Li made his way to the mission collection area, intending to pick up a sect mission involving punishing evil and promoting good.

To make his cultivation technique climax.

Just then.

A commotion erupted within the crowd.

Voices rose in an unending uproar.

Jiang Li looked over.

A graceful figure approached from afar.

Her skin was like white snow, her brow delicate as a painting. Her lovely face carried an icy aloofness, like a snow lotus upon an iceberg, standing proudly alone upon a mountain peak.

It was Murong Qing, Little Jade Peak's Water-attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root.

Jiang Li looked at her a few more times before withdrawing his gaze.

Everyone loved beauty.

But he could restrain himself well.

That was also part of an undercover agent's self-cultivation.

However...

The instant Jiang Li turned his head, Murong Qing also spotted him among the crowd. Her clear eyes rippled, and her cherry lips curved upward. "Jiang Li."

Her cool voice carried outward.

The entire scene instantly erupted.

Everyone followed the icy fairy's gaze and focused on Jiang Li.

"Who is that? Even Fairy Murong knows him?"

"Ahhh, how could the fairy take the initiative to speak to someone?"

"This is too blissful! The number one genius of the Outer Sect actually greeted him first."

For a moment.

The Outer Sect Disciples in the mission area broke into an uproar.

Their gazes toward Jiang Li were filled with envy and jealousy.

Jiang Li: ...

The corners of his mouth twitched.

What was going on?

He had only met this Murong Qing once. What was with that look of hers, like she was delighted to see him?

No.

My unnoticed-little-nobody persona.

And the reputation I worked so hard to suppress—it's all gone down the drain now.

Jiang Li's expression stiffened.

He gave a slight nod.

Little did he know that this reaction caused another uproar among the crowd.

The fairy took the initiative to greet you, and you're acting this cold?

Could it be that in their relationship, the man held the higher position?

This was too unbelievable.

Just who was this guy?

Amid the clamor.

The arrival of Cui Yan, the Law Enforcement Hall's Punishment Elder, quieted the scene once more.

"Hmm? Jiang Li, you're here too? Perfect, come along as well. Come to think of it, this matter has some connection to you too."

Jiang Li's heart stirred.

He had been planning to find an opportunity to join the Law Enforcement Hall, and the Punishment Elder before him was the best possible choice.

Thus.

He hurried after the Punishment Elder, leaving the center of public discussion.

Murong Qing followed close behind.

One before, one after, they departed.

Leaving behind a crowd of wailing Outer Sect Disciples.

Inside the Law Enforcement Hall.

Jiang Li felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted.

He was somewhat curious about what matter could possibly have anything to do with him.

At the same time, he saw this as an opportunity.

If the Punishment Elder recommended him into the Law Enforcement Hall, his chances of becoming a core disciple would be even greater.

"Jiang Li, do you still remember the three Yin Puppet Sect spies you exposed? Under the Law Enforcement Hall's interrogation, the Holy Land learned of the Yin Puppet Sect's recent major movements. Therefore, it plans to gather people and sabotage the Yin Puppet Sect's scheme."

Eh?

Wait.

Jiang Li's heart skipped a beat.

This was bad.

Very, very bad.

This is fucking not something I should be hearing.

I need to run.

The thought had only just arisen.

The next second.

A cold mechanical electronic voice rang out in sync.

"Ding..."