Body Snatching!

This wasn't an inheritance at all, but a soul-snatching trap meticulously laid for three thousand years!

The three "treasures" were already imbued with Venerable Xuan Gu's last complete remnant soul. Once a drop of blood was used to establish ownership, the remnant soul would follow the bloodline connection, directly invade the sea of consciousness, devour the original owner's soul, and seize the physical body!

The moment the deep blue light surged into Qin Yuan's sea of consciousness, Venerable Xuan Gu saw a vast spiritual sense space, like a sea of stars.

"Good! Good! Good!" the remnant soul rejoiced. "Such a broad and resilient sea of consciousness is practically a divine soul breeding ground tailor-made for soul-snatching! Kid, rest in peace. I will use your physical body well—hm?"

Its ecstatic joy came to an abrupt halt.

Because the three "treasures" carrying its remnant soul, the moment they entered Qin Yuan's sea of consciousness, suddenly... vanished.

They weren't refined or blocked; they were simply erased from existence by some invisible force, leaving not even a trace behind.

Venerable Xuan Gu's remnant soul froze on the spot.

Where were those three items? The vessels it had resided in for three thousand years? Without the vessels, its remnant soul was exposed in another's sea of consciousness, like a rootless duckweed, liable to be crushed by the owner's spiritual sense at any moment!

"What's going on?!" it shrieked. "Where did you put my treasures?!"

Qin Yuan's consciousness solidified into a form within his sea of consciousness, calmly looking at the ball of blue remnant soul. "Sacrificed."

"Sac... Sacrificed?" Venerable Xuan Gu was stunned.

It had spent three thousand years setting up a trap, using its lifelong treasures as bait, and finally found a perfect physical body. And the recipient, upon receiving the treasures, didn't even look at them before sacrificing them?

Those were the natal magic treasures and inheritance of a Dao Integration stage cultivator! Even a Mahayana stage cultivator would be tempted! This brat actually sacrificed them?!

"You... who did you sacrifice them to?!" Venerable Xuan Gu's voice trembled.

"It's none of your business." Qin Yuan raised his hand, and the boundless spiritual sense power in his sea of consciousness surged, pressing down on the remnant soul like a tide.

"No—!!!" the remnant soul of Venerable Xuan Gu screamed. "You can't kill me! I am a great power of the Dao Integration stage! I have countless secret arts and divine abilities! I can teach you—"

Before it could finish, the tide of spiritual sense had already engulfed it completely.

The remnant soul of a Dao Integration stage cultivator was indeed powerful, but that was when it was alive. Now, only a wisp of a remnant soul, in Qin Yuan's home turf, facing the spiritual sense of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator who had advanced through the Nine Revolutions Golden Core, it had no power to resist.

"Pfft."

A faint cracking sound.

The blue flame was completely extinguished.

The last thought before the remnant soul dissipated was: Three thousand years... what kind of monster did I wait for...

In the outside world, Qin Yuan opened his eyes.

The great hall had returned to its original state. The skeleton still stood there, but the flames in its eye sockets had been extinguished.

He looked at the System panel.

The moment those three "treasures" were sacrificed, the system prompts flooded the screen:

[Sacrificed "Xuan Gu Ring" (Dao Integration stage storage magic treasure), gained Energy +50000]

[Sacrificed "Xuan Gu True Scripture" (Dao Integration stage cultivation technique), gained Energy +80000]

[Sacrificed "Xuan Gu Sword" (Dao Integration stage natal magic treasure), gained Energy +60000]

A total of 190,000 energy!

The numbers on the System panel jumped wildly:

[System of Gaining Forty Years of Cultivation Per Day]

[Current Level: 3 (190000/100000)]

[Energy overflow, System upgrading...]

[Upgrade successful!]

[System of Gaining Forty Years of Cultivation Per Day → System of Gaining Eighty Years of Cultivation Per Day]

[Current Level: 4 (90000/500000)]

[New function unlocked: Cultivation can be accumulated and stored, maximum storage time: ten days]

[New function: Energy Conversion - Excess energy can be converted into a temporary enlightenment state]

Eighty years a day!

Storing for ten days meant 800 years of cultivation!

And the function to convert energy into enlightenment!

Qin Yuan's eyes flashed with brilliance.

This was a massive profit!

Not only did he counter-kill the soul-snatching Dao Integration remnant soul, but he also caused the System to level up. Now, the cultivation he extracted daily doubled, the storage time doubled, and he gained the enlightenment function—his capital for breaking through to higher realms was more robust than ever.

He looked at the skeleton.

Although Venerable Xuan Gu had ill intentions, what he left behind was substantial. Besides the three sacrificed treasures, the skeleton itself was a treasure—the remains of a Dao Integration stage cultivator, incorruptible after three thousand years, containing essences and Dao charm that would greatly benefit cultivation.

Qin Yuan walked up to the skeleton and placed his hand on its skull.

"Apologies."

Spiritual energy surged in, beginning the refinement process.

Three days later.

The withered bones turned into a pile of white powder, their essence completely absorbed by Qin Yuan. He slowly opened his eyes, feeling the Nascent Soul spiritual energy within him grow even more potent. He nodded in satisfaction.

This withered skeleton had directly pushed his cultivation from the early Nascent Soul stage to the middle Nascent Soul stage!

Moreover, his foundation remained solid, with no sense of emptiness.

"It's time to leave."

Qin Yuan stood up. A portal of light appeared at the end of the great hall.

He stepped through.

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Ancient Battlefield, core area.

The spatial rift had shrunk to only ten zhang in size, with only three days left until it completely closed.

Outside the rift, disciples from various sects emerged one after another.

Zi Ling of the Zi Xiao Sect and her two junior brothers came out. All three had improved their auras, with Zi Ling even touching the threshold of Nascent Soul. After emerging, the first thing she did was look towards the rift, as if waiting for someone.

Kong Ming of the Dustless Temple came out. His Buddhist light was even more restrained, clearly indicating he had gained a lot. He clasped his hands together and stood silently to the side.

Chu Wuyue, Yun Qingyao, Han Bing, and Ye Guying also emerged successively. Although the four had not passed the fourth trial in the secret realm, they had gained considerable benefits from the first three trials. Chu Wuyue's aura became more ferocious, Yun Qingyao's mist became more ethereal, and Han Bing and Ye Guying also made their own advancements.

However, no one left. Instead, they waited outside the rift, their gazes fixed on the gradually shrinking opening.

They were waiting for Qin Yuan.

On the seventh day, the rift was only three zhang wide.

On the eighth day, it was only one zhang.

On the ninth day, it was only three feet.

"He... he wouldn't have gotten into trouble, would he?" Zi Ling couldn't help but whisper.

Chu Wuyue's white pupils stared at the rift: "He won't die."

Yun Qingyao said softly, "Let's wait a bit longer."

Just at the very last moment before the rift completely closed--

A figure in a grey robe stepped out of the rift.

Qin Yuan.

The instant he emerged, the rift completely closed and vanished without a trace.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and then all their gazes fell upon him.

Middle Nascent Soul!

And his aura was thick and solid, several times stronger than an ordinary middle Nascent Soul cultivator!

"Junior Brother Qin!" Chu Wuyue was the first to step forward, his white pupils examining Qin Yuan up and down. "You broke through again?!"

Qin Yuan nodded: "By chance."

Kong Ming clasped his hands together, his expression complex. "Fellow Daoist Qin's talent is heaven-defying. This humble monk is impressed."

Zi Ling bit her lip, then finally stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Fellow Daoist Qin, thank you for your help in the secret realm. Before... I was blind."

Qin Yuan waved his hand. "Let's not dwell on the past."

Just then, the sound of breaking air came from a distance.

Several figures flew through the air, it was the Sect Master of the Xuan Yuan Sect, Lu Xuanfeng, and elders from other sects.

Lu Xuanfeng landed and swept his gaze over his five disciples, his eyes suddenly bursting with surprise. "Nascent Soul! All of them are Nascent Soul!"

Chu Wuyue, Yun Qingyao, Han Bing, and Ye Guying, although they hadn't broken through in the secret realm, their accumulations were sufficient. After emerging, nourished by the spiritual energy of the battlefield, they had all successively condensed their Nascent Souls!

All five from the Xuan Yuan Sect were Nascent Soul cultivators!

This was unprecedented in the trials before the Hundred Sects Battle in previous years!

The elders from the other sects' expressions changed.

Especially the elders from the Zi Xiao Sect and the Dustless Temple, who looked at their own disciples. The Zi Xiao Sect only had Zi Ling touching the Nascent Soul threshold, and the Dustless Temple only had Kong Ming at the Nascent Soul stage. The remaining disciples were still hovering at the peak of the Golden Core stage.

"Sect Master Lu, congratulations." The elder from the Zi Xiao Sect forced a smile.

The elder from the Dustless Temple also clasped his hands and said, "The Xuan Yuan Sect has produced many talents. It is truly congratulatory."

Lu Xuanfeng beamed with joy. "Congratulations to you as well!"

He looked at Qin Yuan, his eyes full of relief. "Qin Yuan, you have done very well."

Qin Yuan bowed. "Sect Master is too kind."

The atmosphere on the return Flying Boat was much more relaxed.

The five of them sat around, discussing their gains from the secret realm. Chu Wuyue recounted his three-day, three-night battle with his mirror image, Yun Qingyao spoke of her advancements in cloud and mist spellcasting, and Han Bing and Ye Guying were unusually talkative.

Qin Yuan listened quietly, occasionally offering a few words.

As the Flying Boat was about to leave the City of Gloom's vicinity, several streaks of light chased after them from behind.

It was Zi Ling from the Zi Xiao Sect, Kong Ming from the Dustless Temple, and two other talented disciples from different sects.

"Fellow Daoist Qin!" Zi Ling landed on the Flying Boat's deck, her face slightly flushed. "With the Hundred Sects Battle imminent, I... I wish to form an alliance with you."

Kong Ming also clasped his hands together and said, "This humble monk has the same intention."

The other two also expressed their stances.

They had witnessed Qin Yuan's strength, and even more so, his monstrous performance of forming a Nascent Soul and killing a soul-possessing demon in three days. Such a person would undoubtedly be a dark horse in the Hundred Sects Battle. Forming an alliance in advance was beneficial with no downsides.

Qin Yuan looked at the four of them and calmly replied, "In the Hundred Sects Battle, everyone relies on their own abilities. If there's a real opportunity, cooperation wouldn't be impossible."

He neither agreed nor refused.

The four breathed a sigh of relief, left their contact information, and then took their leave.

The Flying Boat continued its journey.

Lu Xuanfeng walked up to Qin Yuan, gazing at the sea of clouds in the distance, and slowly said, "Qin Yuan, do you know what level the strongest opponents in the Hundred Sects Battle are at?"

Qin Yuan looked at him.

"Nascent Soul peak," Lu Xuanfeng said word by word. "And not ordinary Nascent Soul peaks—they are geniuses with renowned names in the major sects, monsters capable of challenging those above their level. Though you are strong, there is still a gap between you and them."

Qin Yuan was silent for a moment, then said, "There are still two months."

Lu Xuanfeng turned to look at him, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. "Two months... for you, that's indeed enough."

He patted Qin Yuan's shoulder. "Prepare well. Whether our Xuan Yuan Sect can rise again this time depends on you."

The Flying Boat pierced through the clouds, speeding towards the Xuan Yuan Sect.