Mutated Millennium Vermilion Fruit

His cultivation level had risen to the thirtieth layer?

Hearing the system notification in his mind, Lu Li's eyes lit up.

The Blood-Devouring Heaven-Swallowing Art originally had only twenty layers, enough to cultivate to Foundation Establishment Perfection. Now, with thirty layers, he could cultivate all the way to Golden Core Perfection.

What's more, his progress had increased by a whopping 80%!

This really was an unexpected delight!

If he went back and cultivated with all his might for a day or two, he could probably break through to the fifth layer.

His cultivation level would break through to the fifth Qi Refining layer as well!

The long-awaited Indestructible Vajra Divine Art could be upgraded too!

Lu Li was itching to try it, wishing he could return to Star Gazing Tower and start cultivating at once.

But he couldn't yet.

In the sky, the giant thunderbird that had devoured the heavenly lightning soared through the heavens. Then it plunged down, let out a whoosh, and rapidly shrank until it transformed into a chubby little figure the size of a fist.

Its features and face were unmistakably those of Ghost Demon True Person.

It was his Nascent Soul!

In the next instant, the Nascent Soul flashed and darted into the cave abode, vanishing from sight.

"Hahahaha! Master succeeded in overcoming the tribulation and advanced to the Nascent Soul realm! Quick, Senior Sister, take us back so we can congratulate him!"

Bai Jinfei, standing nearby, was overjoyed. He burst out laughing.

The Second Senior Sister remained cold and beautiful. With a sweep of her white sleeve, she summoned a gust of strange wind.

Whoosh.

The wind howled past.

The three of them appeared before the damaged Black Stone Cave Abode.

Without hesitation, they stepped inside. At a glance, they saw Ghost Demon True Person sitting majestically on the White Bone Throne, his eyes closed.

At that moment, Ghost Demon True Person's aura surged like a raging tide, and his divine might towered like a mountain.

He felt like an immeasurable ocean, unfathomable in its depths.

A ring of black light shimmered behind his head. Within it, a tiny blood-red fish swam lazily, agile and nimble.

"Congratulations, Master, on overcoming the lightning tribulation and becoming a Nascent Soul True Lord! May your lifespan be as long as Heaven's!"

Lu Li and the other two clasped their hands and bowed in unison, speaking in loud voices.

A Nascent Soul cultivator's lifespan exceeded Peng Zu's limit of eight hundred years. They could live for a thousand years. It was like a flood dragon transforming into a True Dragon—a ruler of the mortal world.

"Mm~"

Hearing their voices, Ghost Demon True Person slowly opened his eyes.

In an instant, lightning flashed in his pupils, and powerful currents swept in every direction.

As his gaze passed over Lu Li and the other two, a stinging sensation spread across their bodies. It was as if they had been struck by lightning, leaving them numb and weak.

"Don't be afraid. I just devoured the heavenly lightning, and haven't fully refined it yet, so some of its power is leaking out."

Ghost Demon True Person spoke.

With a wave of his hand, he wiped away the lightning that filled the cave abode.

The strange sensations in Lu Li and the others' bodies vanished at once.

Lu Li still looked a little odd, though.

Ghost Demon True Person's voice came with a crackling electric effect. It sounded strange, and Lu Li wasn't used to it.

Just then, the cool and beautiful Second Senior Sister stepped forward and clasped her hands. "This disciple presents a three-thousand-year-old spiritual herb, wishing Master's demonic path eternal prosperity and an early breakthrough to Spirit Transformation."

As she spoke, she turned her hands over. A jade box covered in golden talisman seals appeared in her pale palm.

"Oh?"

Ghost Demon True Person reached out and seized the jade box. With a flick of his finger, he opened it, took a look, and nodded in praise. "Excellent! A three-thousand-year-old Myriad Spirit Flower. Quite rare, and just the thing for refining Spirit-Warding Pills for Nascent Soul cultivators. Meimei, you've put thought into this."

As he spoke, the blood-red fish in the black halo behind his head suddenly darted out and swam in front of the woman in white. It opened its mouth and spat something out.

A dazzling golden, perfectly round bead landed in her palm.

"Meimei, I'll give you this Dragon Pearl. Refine it properly and strive to awaken your bloodline soon, so you can transform into a flood dragon."

Ghost Demon True Person said.

"Thank you, Master!"

Gratitude flashed in the woman in white's eyes. She held the golden bead and bowed deeply.

The Second Senior Sister was called "Meimei"?

Was she really a demon?

Lu Li's thoughts stirred.

At the same time, he understood why Bai Jinfei had been so eager to find a congratulatory gift.

This was a rare chance to trade small for big!

As he was thinking, Bai Jinfei stepped forward beside him, pulled a wooden box from his sleeve, and called out loudly, "This disciple presents a hairpin, wishing Master a lifespan as long as Heaven's and invincibility beneath the skies!"

"Mm... This box?"

When Ghost Demon True Person saw the wooden box, decorated with delicate patterns, his expression turned grave.

The next moment, he raised a hand and drew the box over. He opened it, and a trace of reminiscence immediately appeared on his face.

"It belonged to an old friend. Jinfei, you've put thought into this."

Ghost Demon True Person nodded and put the box away.

Then the blood-red fish swam in front of Bai Jinfei, opened its mouth, and spat out a yellowed ancient book.

"This is the Ghost Controlling Sword Transformation Art you wanted. Once you cultivate it to the third layer, you'll be able to break through to the Golden Core realm," Ghost Demon True Person said.

"This disciple thanks Master!"

Bai Jinfei was immediately overcome with excitement and gratitude. He bowed deeply and expressed his thanks.

Now it was Lu Li's turn.

Lu Li took a deep breath, stepped forward, and declared in a clear voice, "This disciple presents a Low-grade Spirit Ghost and an ancient magical treasure, wishing Master boundless magical power and unparalleled cultivation! May you punch the Central Province Dao Alliance, trample the Western Buddhist Sect, dominate the Overseas Islands, unite the Ten Great Demon Sects, and stand supreme above all!"

As he spoke, he brought out the Low-grade Spirit Ghost and the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner.

As soon as he finished, Meimei and Bai Jinfei both looked at him strangely.

How could he even say something like that with a straight face?

Senior Brother Lu really had thick skin!

"Hahaha, excellent! Excellent!"

Ghost Demon True Person seemed to enjoy it. He laughed, then shifted his gaze to Lu Li's hands and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh? A Low-grade Spirit Ghost? Where did you get it?"

"This disciple was fortunate enough to find it," Lu Li replied respectfully.

"Master, Junior Brother Lu has had remarkable luck. In the span of a month, he found two Low-grade Spirit Ghosts in succession," Bai Jinfei added from nearby.

"Oh? Is that true?"

Ghost Demon True Person narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping over Lu Li.

It was as if he wanted to see right through his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.

Lu Li answered with a perfectly straight face. "Yes. Perhaps I'm so handsome that Heaven favors me greatly, which is why I was lucky enough to find two Spirit Ghosts."

At those words, Bai Jinfei's eyes went wide. He stared at Lu Li in disbelief.

Meimei's cool eyes widened slightly as well.

"..."

Ghost Demon True Person was at a loss for words too. After a long moment, he said, "Damn it, this is the first time I've ever met someone as shameless as you."

"Thank you for the praise, Master."

Lu Li accepted it calmly.

Ghost Demon True Person: "..."

Suddenly, he seemed to notice something. His gaze turned cold. "Hmm? Where's the Ghost Raising Tower I bestowed upon you? Why is it gone? And why does your banner look like that fellow Yellow Spring's Ten Thousand Ghost Banner?"

"Reporting to Master, it is indeed the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner."

Lu Li's expression turned solemn as he clasped his hands and replied, "Not long ago, this disciple found a Spirit Ghost for Master in Ten Thousand Ghost Cave. Unexpectedly, someone attacked me and tried to seize it. That person was the younger brother of Li Jing, True Lord Yellow Spring's direct disciple. Afterward, we argued, and I fought him to the death. Left with no other choice, I had to blow up the Ghost Raising Tower and barely manage to win."

"Is that so?"

Ghost Demon True Person's expression instantly turned sinister. He shifted his gaze to Bai Jinfei.

"Master, that did happen. What's more, Li Jing's younger brother seemed to have insulted you. Junior Brother had no choice but to accept the challenge to defend your dignity."

Bai Jinfei clasped his hands and answered.

He was clearly taking Lu Li's side.

Just as expected!

Ghost Demon True Person snorted. "That old bastard Yellow Spring always looks down on everyone, with his eyes practically on the crown of his head! His disciple and grand-disciple are dead? Good! Lu Li, you did well this time! Ruthless! Bold! And you showed filial devotion!"

As he spoke, the red fish swam in front of Lu Li and spat out a vermilion fruit, which landed in Lu Li's hand.

The fruit looked like a lychee, its skin pitted and bumpy.

It also gave off waves of heat and was quite hot to the touch.

"This is a Mutated Millennium Vermilion Fruit."

Ghost Demon True Person said coldly, "Demonic cultivation arts let you advance quickly and fiercely by taking shortcuts. Your foundation is already unstable, so you shouldn't take spiritual fruits or pills to raise your cultivation further. You might cultivate too quickly and suffer a cultivation deviation. But this is a Millennium Vermilion Fruit grown by a mutated spiritual plant in a secret realm. Refine it after eating, and it can raise your cultivation by one realm while stabilizing your foundation. I'll grant it to you."

"This disciple thanks Master!"

Lu Li's face lit up with joy. Without another word, he opened his mouth and swallowed the Mutated Vermilion Fruit.

He didn't even get a chance to taste it.

But its effect was tremendous!

Ding.

A clear chime rang in his mind:

You consumed a Mutated Millennium Vermilion Fruit.

The Kunpeng Heaven-Swallowing Demon Art is being refined... Estimated time remaining: half an incense stick.

Kunpeng Heaven-Swallowing Demon Art progress +1%.