Hou Xiaobao left in a hurry, even abandoning his sword.
Clearly, Hou Xiaobao was very wary of the person who had secretly attacked him.
To be able to injure him silently requires at least the Foundation Establishment, because the Qi Refining Realm would never be able to do that.
"At least leave the scabbard behind!" Ling Yi picked up the longsword from the ground, waved it around haphazardly a few times, and then mimicked a few martial arts moves from movies.
He nodded in satisfaction.
"System interface, come out!"
[ Infinite Passive Killing Intent Substitution Aura System Version 1.0]
[Host: Ling Yi ]
[Identity: Miscellaneous Disciple of the Tyrant Heaven Sect]
[Cultivation Level: A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality ]
[ Killing Intent Target ] [Click to Expand]
{1. Zhao Hao, Substitution Value: 2000}
{2. Hou Xiaobao, Substitution Value: 420 (Default)}
Hmm, wait a minute?
Didn't Zhao Hao lower his Substitution Value by 40 points after he substituted for me? How come it's back to 2000 now?
Also, Hou Xiaobao's substitute points were reduced by 200, so he should only have 300 left, not 420.
Has our system never had a math lesson?
After a while, Hou Xiaobao's Substitution Value also returned to the maximum of 500.
Ling Yi couldn't help but think of the pill that Hou Xiaobao had taken before.
"Hmm, so this Substitution Value can be seen as the enemy's status. A full value means full health, but if their health is low, they can still heal and recover?"
"That's right, that's perfect! I knew it, how could a system have never taken a math class?"
"What should I do next?" Ling Yi muttered, brandishing his longsword.
With the system in place, my safety is now guaranteed.
However, it cannot be considered invincible.
If a boss suddenly appeared right now, capable of dealing over 2,500 damage in one hit, I'd probably still be done for.
Therefore, there are two things to consider: First, have more enemies. The more enemies there are, the more Substitution Value there will be, and the safer we will be.
If the Cultivation Realm were filled with enemies who wanted to kill him, then he would truly be invincible.
The entire Cultivation Realm is full of enemies? That seems a bit too difficult. Let's start with the Tyrant Heaven Sect!
"Um, is this some kind of 'I'm going to play the villain'?"
If Ling Yi really did that, wouldn't he be a villain? What kind of person would have the Cultivation Realm wanting to kill him? He must be a great demon!
The second thing is to improve one's cultivation level.
Since we're already here, why not at least wield a sword, Ten Thousand Swords techniques, or something, and experience the joys of being a cultivator?
I haven't even Qi Refining yet, how can I be happy?
Therefore, I should cultivate first, at least to Entry and enter the Qi Refining Stage before officially becoming a cultivator.
"Cultivation, huh? What's it again?"
Fortunately, I have the original owner's cultivation memories, so I don't have to start from scratch.
When each of the menial disciples Entry, they only had one cultivation technique: the Qi Absorption Art, a barely Mortal Pin and incomplete cultivation method.
Only by becoming an outer disciple can one obtain the complete Qi Absorption Art.
Of course, this excludes those with connections or who get in through back channels.
Take Zhao Xin, for example, whose mission was stolen by him. Without even thinking about it, he definitely has the complete Qi Absorption Art.
Ling Yi discovered that cultivation didn't seem to be that difficult.
From the moment he begins to circulate his cultivation technique, the surrounding Spiritual Qi continuously flows into his body.
The original owner had almost mastered this incomplete Qi Absorption Art; in fact, she was just one step away from entering the Qi Refining Realm.
Logically speaking, as long as one practices step by step for ten days to Half Moon, one should be able to break through.
Absorbing Spiritual Qi is not as simple as just burying yourself in cultivation.
The meridians in the human body have Limit to their capacity. The better one's aptitude, the greater the Limit, the longer one cultivates, and the faster one's cultivation speed.
Those with poor aptitude might only be able to practice for ten or twenty minutes a day before they have to give up.
If one acts recklessly, the consequences will range from minor damage to the meridians to severe destruction of the very foundation of one's health.
But Ling Yi discovered that even after cultivating for two hours, he hadn't experienced any of that soreness or swelling in his meridians.
It's important to know that the original owner's aptitude wasn't very good.
It's definitely the Combat of the worst, a defective product among the trash.
Ten minutes of practice a day is the Limit.
Ling Yi suddenly remembered something, ended his cultivation, and opened the system interface.
"Haha, I knew it!"
Hou Xiaobao's Substitution Value has dropped below 400 points again.
"They cultivate diligently while the enemy suffers the negative effects. Haha, these aren't enemies at all; they're just tools."
If that's the case, then what are we waiting for?
As long as Hou Xiaobao doesn't die, then refine him to the point of exhaustion.
Absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, absorb it all!
"Boom!"
Two hours later, Ling Yi successfully opened his Dantian and officially entered the Qi Refining Realm, becoming a newbie in the Cultivation Realm at the First Layer of Qi Refining.
Ling Yi glanced at the system interface.
"Wow, how come Hou Xiaobao's Substitution Value is less than 100 points?"
"No, there are only two enemies left. We can't afford for them to die. We can't let one of them wreak havoc. If we switch to Zhao Hao, with 2000 Substitution Value, he should be able to hold out for a while, right?"
"Absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi!"
There are two sides to the story.
Let's rewind to four hours earlier.
After leaving the herb garden, Hou Xiaobao went directly to Zhao Hao's cave at the summit.
Standing outside the cave, Hou Xiaobao bowed respectfully and said, "Master Zhao, Hou Xiaobao requests an audience."
A moment later, a middle-aged man's voice rang out from inside the cave.
Come in!
Upon entering the cave, Hou Xiaobao immediately knelt on one knee. "Master Zhao, I have failed in my duty; I have failed to kill Ling Yi."
On the stone platform in front of Hou Xiaobao, a middle-aged man with a square face sat cross-legged.
She had long hair, wore white, had thin eyebrows, long eyes, and a high nose.
Judging from his appearance alone, he gives the impression of a treacherous and scheming person who is always plotting against others.
Especially those long, thin eyes and half-open eyebrows, they don't look very good.
"What exactly happened? He's just an ant; what went wrong?"
"Someone secretly intervened and saved him. I didn't even have a chance to react before I was fatally wounded. If it weren't for the Third Pin Healing Pill that Zhao Zhen gave me, I wouldn't be back."
Hou Xiaobao did not mention that he had already killed Ling Yi once, but Ling Yi had not died.
He knew Zhao Hao; he was a petty and suspicious person.
If he were to speak up, Zhao Hao would surely think that he was careless and incapable of achieving great things.
So they concealed this part.
You can't exactly say that Ling Yi can Resurrection, can you?
This is even more absurd; not even Zhao Hao himself believes it, let alone Zhao Hao.
Zhao Hao remained silent, his eyes slightly narrowed, his mind filled with calculations.
" Ling Yi must die, otherwise what will others think of me, Zhao Hao? As for the person who secretly harmed you, I already have a guess in my mind."
"You were only spared because the other party showed mercy; otherwise, a Foundation Establishment Stage wouldn't have given you a chance to live."
"Yes, that's what I think too."
"However, in three days, it will be the day of the Heavenly Yuan Sect's inauguration ceremony. During this period, the sect cannot afford any mistakes. That ant can be dealt with after the Heavenly Yuan Sect's inauguration ceremony is over."
"Yes!"
"This time it wasn't your fault. Here, take this bottle of Qi Absorption Pill." Zhao Hao said, tossing a porcelain bottle to Hou Xiaobao.
Hou Xiaobao was overjoyed; this was a bottle of Qi Absorption Pill, equivalent to three months' worth of his contribution points.
"Thank you very much, Master Zhao."
"Yes, as long as you work diligently for me, I will certainly not treat you unfairly. Now, go down!"
"Your subordinate takes his leave!"
After Hou Xiaobao left, Zhao Hao frowned and muttered, "Could that ant be someone's pawn?"
"Could this be a trap? A scheme to lure me into this mess?"
"Hmph, no matter who you are, you shouldn't have such thoughts. A core disciple can only be me, Zhao Hao!"
Regardless of Zhao Hao's own imagination, Hou Xiaobao immediately took out the Qi Absorption Pill to prepare for cultivation after returning to his cave.
His aptitude isn't particularly good; without sufficient elixirs to aid him, he'd likely never have a chance to reach the Foundation Establishment in his lifetime.
However, elixirs are a scarce resource in sects, especially Qi Absorption Pill, which are specifically for the Qi Refining Realm cultivators and are in high demand and short supply.
Many outer disciples would even rob menial disciples in order to Qi Absorption Pill.
"It's still better to latch onto a powerful figure. It was just one mission, and I already got two Third Pin Healing Pill and ten Qi Absorption Pill, tsk tsk!"
Hou Xiaobao happily put a Qi Absorption Pill into his mouth and then began to cultivate.
However, half an hour later, Hou Xiaobao ended his cultivation with a puzzled look on his face.
"What's going on? Why do my meridians feel sore and swollen in less than half an Shichen?"
He had already reached the Qi Refining, Fifth Level, and his meridians Dantian had long been expanded. He could now cultivate for one Shichen, or two hours, every day.
Could it be because of the injury I sustained today?
He calmed himself down and tried to cultivate again, but he was completely unable to enter a meditative state.
Not only that, he felt his meridians becoming increasingly sore, and even had Yinyin fear of breaking.
"What on earth happened?" Hou Xiaobao was frightened.
Once the meridians are damaged, it will affect the foundation. At that time, let alone Foundation Establishment, it is hard to say whether you can even maintain your current realm.
He dared not delay and immediately swallowed the last remaining Third Pin Healing Pill.
Instantly, a warm current flowed through his body, and the meridians that were about to break were slowly repaired under the powerful medicinal effect.
But Hou Xiaobao was not happy at all; instead, his face became even more terrified.
Because the soreness and swelling didn't disappear; in fact, it got worse.
Another Shichen and a half passed before Hou Xiaobao coughed up a mouthful of blood, his meridians severely damaged.
"Why?" Hou Xiaobao looked at the Qi Absorption Pill in his hand, his face extremely gloomy.
The only reason he could think of for this situation was that there was something wrong with the Qi Absorption Pill.
Because from yesterday until now, he has only taken the Healing Pill and Qi Absorption Pill that Zhao Hao gave him.
If anything went wrong, the first thing he would think of was the elixir.
Fortunately, the condition of the meridians has stabilized and is not yet beyond repair.
But why would Zhao Hao want to harm him?
This was something he couldn't understand at all. Was it just because he had failed his mission?
"Or have I been caught up in some conspiracy? I've heard that the six true disciples are resorting to any means necessary to compete for the position of core disciple."
Hou Xiaobao was just imagining things.
On the other side, Zhao Hao was also imagining things.
But they never dreamed that the culprit behind everything was that A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality ant they looked down upon.
There is something in this world called a cheat code!