After returning to his lodgings, Ye Lin began taking stock of what he had gained this time.
Of course, the most important was the Phoenix Egg. Ye Lin took it out and set it beside him, then brought out the Foundation Establishment Pill and Demon Shadow No Trace, along with the last two items: the God-Hiding Bead and the Fire Spirit Stone.
Any one of these things could stir up a storm of bloodshed if it fell into the outside world.
"The Foundation Establishment Pill. I can use it when I break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm."
Looking at the pill before him, Ye Lin murmured to himself. It had been refined in ancient times, and the recipe for the Foundation Establishment Pill had long since been lost.
In other words, he was the only one who had a Foundation Establishment Pill.
"But what exactly is this God-Hiding Bead for?"
Staring at the blue bead in his hand, Ye Lin fell into thought. Then he slowly channeled his spiritual power into it, and in an instant, a strange light enveloped his whole body.
"Whoa, this God-Hiding Bead can actually make me invisible? And it can conceal every trace of my aura?"
Once he understood how it worked, Ye Lin was deeply shocked. The God-Hiding Bead was far too astonishing. What was more, after turning invisible, no one could detect him unless they were at the Golden Core Realm.
"Perfect. With this treasure, I won't have to fear Lin Zisheng at all, even if I run into him."
Ye Lin carefully put the God-Hiding Bead away in his Spatial Ring. This thing was a real treasure.
"But how exactly am I supposed to hatch you?"
Ye Lin turned his gaze to the Phoenix Egg. He had no idea what to do.
It was agonizing to have a mountain of treasure right in front of him and be unable to make use of it.
"Phoenix Egg, I have Phoenix Fire within me. Let's try it."
With that, Ye Lin began urging the Phoenix Fire in his dantian. A scorching flame immediately burst from his body and covered the entire Phoenix Egg.
At the same time, the mysterious patterns on the egg's surface began to glow, and waves of strange power spread out in every direction.
"Damn it, stop!"
Ye Lin's expression changed. The Phoenix Egg before him was greedily absorbing the Phoenix Fire, and the spiritual power inside him had already been drained dry.
The Phoenix Fire needed spiritual energy to keep burning. Now the egg was absorbing the Phoenix Fire, while the fire drained his spiritual energy, trapping him in a vicious cycle.
If this continued, once his spiritual power was gone, it would start draining his blood and vital energy.
"Damn it, here goes!"
Ye Lin gritted his teeth and took out the last Mid-grade Spirit Stone, beginning to absorb it. As for the Pre-Heaven Spiritual Qi in his dantian, he needed it to break through to Qi Refining Level 9. He couldn't touch it—absolutely couldn't.
A Mid-grade Spirit Stone contained an ocean of spiritual power, yet even that was drained dry in a short time.
Fortunately, the Phoenix Egg had stopped absorbing energy, and Ye Lin let out a sigh of relief.
Looking at the powder in his hand, Ye Lin nearly burst into tears. It was just gone...
"There's a faint trace of life energy. This worked."
Ye Lin sensed a faint breath of life coming from the Phoenix Egg, which had been utterly lifeless before. It was extremely weak, but it was undeniably there.
This filled him with joy. What was one Spirit Stone compared to hatching a Phoenix?
"Right, there's also Lin Ziyou's Nirvana Fruit. It can heal injuries, so perhaps it'll help the Phoenix Egg. Never mind. I should start cultivating."
Having thought it all through, Ye Lin closed his eyes and focused on absorbing the Pre-Heaven Spiritual Qi in his dantian.
In the blink of an eye, eight days passed.
"What immense power. Pre-Heaven Spiritual Qi truly lives up to its reputation."
That day, Ye Lin opened his eyes and looked at his strong, muscular arm, unable to stop himself from praising it.
After being strengthened by the Pre-Heaven Spiritual Qi, he was even stronger than an ordinary cultivator at Qi Refining Level 9.
With all his other abilities, he had few rivals at Qi Refining Level 9.
"Right, the Fire Spirit Stones."
Ye Lin suddenly remembered something and looked toward the bedside. The three Fire Spirit Stones that had been lying there were now gone.
"Where are my Fire Spirit Stones?"
Ye Lin turned his gaze to the Phoenix Egg beside him. The life energy inside it had grown stronger, and when he realized his Fire Spirit Stones had disappeared, he felt both grief and joy.
"Little one, you've eaten up so many of my resources. You'd better repay me properly when you're grown."
Ye Lin rubbed the Phoenix Egg and sighed. As soon as he finished speaking, the egg gave a slight shake, as if answering him.
"Phew. The Phoenix Egg has a breath of life now. I can't keep it in my Spatial Ring anymore."
Ye Lin looked at the Phoenix Egg and pondered for a moment.
A Spatial Ring could only store dead things, not living ones.
"Better hide it."
To be safe, Ye Lin dug a large hole in his lodgings, placed the Phoenix Egg inside, then covered it with soil.
"There's nothing else I can do for now. You'll have to put up with this."
After finishing, Ye Lin brushed his hands together.
"Is Junior Brother Ye there? Junior Brother Ye?"
A voice came from outside the door.
"What is it?"
Ye Lin frowned and went to open the door. An unfamiliar disciple stood before him.
"Junior Brother Ye, the Sect Master has summoned all the Inner Sect disciples to the main hall for a meeting."
"Understood."
Ye Lin nodded solemnly. Had things already become this serious? He didn't need to think twice to know it was about the Evil Demons.
"In that case, I'll be off. I still have to inform the other senior and junior brothers."
"Take care, Senior Brother. I'll be there shortly."
Ye Lin nodded, and a transparent panel appeared before him.
Name: Liu Ming Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 9 Fate Rank: Green Fate Traits: None (Unremarkable) Destiny: Will go down the mountain tomorrow to exterminate demons, be drained of all his blood and vital essence by a demon, and die. Recent Opportunity: None
Looking at Liu Ming's panel as he walked away, Ye Lin was shaken.
Back when he was in the Outer Sect, he had already noticed many disciples dying at the hands of Evil Demons. Had they spread to the Inner Sect disciples now?
But what exactly were these Evil Demons? He would have to go to the main hall to find out.
With that, Ye Lin didn't dare delay. He quickly got ready and headed for the main hall.
At that moment, twenty Inner Sect disciples stood inside the Sect Main Hall, along with the three personal disciples at the very front. At the center of the raised platform stood an old man, with three other elders beside him.
"It seems all the disciples who weren't in seclusion have arrived. Let's begin."
After one of the elders spoke, the old man standing at the center nodded and began.
"Everyone, Evil Demons have appeared in the territory under the Azure Cloud Sect's jurisdiction."
"These Evil Demons are descendants of the Ancient Great Demon. They are savage by nature and feed on humans. Several cities have already been invaded, and countless people have died."
"We cultivators cannot stand by and do nothing. I hereby order all of you to go down the mountain and exterminate the demons, effective today."
When the old man finished speaking, fighting spirit flared among the disciples. As cultivators, it was their duty to exterminate demons and uphold the Dao.
"Very well. The order has been given. Of course, you won't be expected to act for nothing. For every Evil Demon below Qi Refining Level 5 that you slay, you'll receive ten Low-Tier Spirit Stones. For every one at Qi Refining Level 5 or above, you'll receive fifty Low-Tier Spirit Stones."
"Exterminate demons and uphold the Dao! Exterminate demons and uphold the Dao!"
After the Sect Master said this, the disciples shouted in unison. They were badly in need of resources—desperately so—and the sect's offer was exactly what they wanted.
But Ye Lin, standing at the very back, felt his heart thumping nervously. He had just checked everyone's panels, and not one of them would return alive. That was downright absurd.
"Excellent! With disciples like you, how could our sect fail to prosper?"
Seeing the disciples' enthusiasm, the Sect Master nodded with satisfaction.
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