[Immaculate Primordial Spirit]

Zhang Yuan stared at the three talents, lost in thought.

Although [heavenly nobility] and [fallen prodigy] were gone, closer inspection revealed similarities between them and [certain gain] and [innate immortal physique].

They all increased his chances of obtaining fortuitous opportunities or his aptitude for recultivating the outer qi refinement path.

Truthfully, neither fortuitous opportunities nor Outer Dao aptitude particularly interested Zhang Yuan. He could take them or leave them.

After all, he had refined [stolen-life baleful intent] and successfully resolved its drawbacks. As long as no one killed him, he could live for ages.

He had plenty of time—so much that whether he obtained any fortuitous opportunities in the short term no longer mattered.

As long as he lived, he would break through sooner or later.

As for Outer Dao aptitude, that was even less useful.

Perfection-stage outer dao foundation establishment could not withstand a single Divine Ability from a Qi Refinement Perfected. Even an outer dao golden core was probably weaker than a Foundation-Building Heavenly Being.

Rather than cultivating both the sha ingestion gang devoration path and the outer qi refinement path, he was genuinely better off focusing on the former at this stage. Otherwise, he would waste time and energy for little benefit.

After a moment's consideration, Zhang Yuan fixed his gaze on [immaculate primordial spirit].

Immunity to all primordial spirit influences below the level of a Golden Core True Lord!

Compared with [certain gain] and [innate immortal physique], choosing [immaculate primordial spirit] would give him another layer of protection. It was practically a godlike skill.

Once he made his choice, [Certain gain] and [innate immortal physique] faded away, and [immaculate primordial spirit] settled behind [Read People].

In an instant, Zhang Yuan felt his mind become clear and lucid. Every stray thought vanished, as though he had been given an entirely new brain.

Understanding dawned on Zhang Yuan.

With the blessing of [immaculate primordial spirit], he could remain clearheaded at all times. It did not directly improve his comprehension, but it did so indirectly.

Simply put, when ordinary people studied and comprehended the Dao, no matter how gifted they were, their abilities would decline as their bodies and primordial spirits grew fatigued. Only after resting could they return to peak condition.

Zhang Yuan, however, was different. He could always study and comprehend the Dao in his best condition.

Early the next morning.

Zhang Yuan had not slept all night, yet he was brimming with energy.

This was the second benefit of [immaculate primordial spirit]: he would never need to sleep again, or even meditate to restore his mental energy.

Zhang Yuan went down to the inn's ground floor, ready to check out.

He had no choice. With the scraps of silver he had left, staying any longer would bankrupt him. He had to find somewhere else to stay.

The inn's doors stood open. Outside, the street bustled with a tremendous crowd, and closer observation revealed that everyone was heading in the same direction.

"Shopkeeper, why is everyone heading into the city center?" Zhang Yuan asked curiously.

The innkeeper smiled. "You haven't heard, sir? An ancient tomb was discovered here in Jianning City. They say it's where a great cultivator of the Outer Qi Refinement Path passed away in meditation. Everyone wants to find a fortuitous opportunity there, hoping to enter the immortal gates or break through to the next realm."

"How high was this great cultivator's realm, to draw so many people like ducks flocking to water?" Zhang Yuan asked, puzzled.

Among the crowd outside, he saw not only ordinary mortals and Outer Dao qi refining cultivators, but also quite a few Qi Refinement Perfected of the gang sha path heading toward the city center.

It was natural for the final resting place of an Outer Qi Refinement Path cultivator to attract Outer Dao Cultivators, but why were these Qi Refinement Perfected of the gang sha path joining the commotion?

"You're putting me on the spot, sir. I'm just an ordinary mortal. How would I know what realm he was in? All I heard was that he was even stronger than that golden core thing."

"Sir, you carry yourself like someone extraordinary. Why not try your luck too? Perhaps you could enter the immortal gates and become an immortal."

The innkeeper spoke with a smile.

Rather than answering directly, Zhang Yuan offered a casual response and stood at the inn's entrance, watching the enormous stream of people.

Xiao Yuanjun was wanted in Jianning City, and strict measures were in place to prevent her from slipping inside. On top of that, this great cultivator's final resting place had attracted quite a few Qi Refinement Perfected of the gang sha path.

Looking at it that way, besides the fortuitous opportunities that Outer Dao Cultivators needed, heavenly dipper and earthly baleful forces would probably emerge too!

He had already reached six-turn qi refinement and was only three heavenly dipper and earthly baleful forces away from nine turns. With a chance to break through right before him, perhaps he should go... Go, my ass!

A chill gripped Zhang Yuan's heart.

He had clearly made up his mind that, with [stolen-life baleful intent], he did not need to deliberately pursue fortuitous opportunities. Yet just now, the thought of competing for heavenly dipper and earthly baleful forces had still arisen in his mind.

This wasn't right. This was very wrong!

Damn it, someone must be plotting against me!

A Foundation-Building Heavenly Being...

Had he not chosen [immaculate primordial spirit] as his third talent, he would probably have already lost his head and followed the crowd into the city center to fight for those so-called fortuitous opportunities.

"I have to leave. I can't stay in this city any longer."

With that thought, Zhang Yuan was about to head in the opposite direction.

Just then, a sharp female rebuke rang out from farther along the street.

"A bunch of lowborn scum! You dare covet immortal opportunities? Take a look at yourselves—are you worthy? Get out of the way!"

A carriage approached. Made entirely of black sandalwood, it was adorned with carved beams and painted ornamentation, with dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing across its surface. The horse pulling it was no ordinary beast either: twin horns sprouted from its head, dragon scales covered its body, and golden hooves gleamed. It raised its head and neighed into the wind with extraordinary majesty. This was unmistakably a dragon horse.

Driving this splendid carriage was a young maid with delicate features, but her words and actions were thoroughly overbearing. As she shouted abuse, she lashed her whip at the crowd.

Whoosh!

The whip sliced through the air and struck a middle-aged man to the ground, instantly splitting his skin and tearing his flesh.

"Another aristocratic clan scion."

Zhang Yuan frowned at the sight. After a moment's consideration, he still decided not to meddle.

Without understanding the situation, it was better not to invite trouble.

Yet the more Zhang Yuan thought that way, the more trouble came knocking.

The maid driving the carriage singled out Zhang Yuan in his bright red robe amid the crowd and immediately lashed her whip at him.

Damn it!

Did he really look that easy to bully?

Zhang Yuan cursed under his breath. An iron chain condensed in his palm, and he swung it at the incoming whip.

The iron chain struck the whip, instantly breaking it in two.

The maid's expression changed. She realized she had provoked the wrong person. The man before her was a Perfected Being of the gang sha path, certainly not someone she could afford to offend.

But with her mistress right behind her, she could hardly show fear. She could only maintain her composure.

"Who are you? Why are you obstructing the Aohai Cui's carriage?" the maid demanded, announcing her clan.

The Aohai Cui?

The Five Surnames and Seven Houses of the Azure Sky Dust-Stained Realm: the Eastern Bian Li Clan, the Western Bian Chu, the Ya East Cui, the Aohai Cui...

Why was it the Five Surnames and Seven Houses again?

"I'll take my leave." Zhang Yuan's expression remained unchanged. He cupped his hands, without the slightest desire to converse with the maid.

Zhang Yuan strode off. Had there not been so many people around, he would already have used Golden Chariot to leave.

Nothing good ever came of encountering aristocratic clan scions, especially those of the Five Surnames and Seven Houses. The farther he stayed from them, the better.

Seeing Zhang Yuan turn to leave, the maid breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing that the Aohai Cui's name had intimidated him, she prepared to drive onward.

But just then.

"Xiao Shi, ask the Immortal Master ahead to stay a moment."

A melodious voice drifted from inside the carriage, cool and faintly languid.

"Ah? Yes, miss."

With his keen senses, Zhang Yuan picked out that rather pleasant voice amid the noisy crowd.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Yuan confirmed the direction of the city gate and was about to unleash his strength through his feet to escape this den of trouble.