[Hundred Apertures Spirit Connection]

Black Wind Ravine.

Just hearing the name evokes images of desolate mountains and treacherous waters, jagged rocks, and howling winds.

But when Qi Yun actually arrived at his destination following the map instructions...

What I saw before my eyes was completely different from what I had imagined.

What comes into view is a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters, with stunning scenery.

The mountains on both sides are as green as ink, embracing a deep pool of clear blue water.

The water's surface is as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and lush greenery all around. Occasionally, a bird flies by, creating ripples that add to the tranquility and elegance of the scene.

A gentle breeze carries the fresh scent of grass and trees, which is refreshing and delightful.

"It's a case of being overrated." Qi Yun chuckled lightly.

He already knew from the annotations in the map that this place was not originally called this. It was only because a gang called "Black Wind Stronghold" had occupied this place a hundred years ago, and the name was changed to warn passing merchants.

Later, this net was wiped out by the government.

The place name has simply become so familiar over time that it has been used ever since, and it has nothing to do with the beautiful scenery it is today.

After admiring the scenery for a while, True Essence Qi Yun flicked his sleeve and gently shook off the fine dust and sand that had accumulated from his journey, restoring his body to a refreshed state.

He first took out the Jade Slip containing the "Secret Detailed Explanation of the Northwest Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha Positions" and checked the markings of Black Wind Ravine and the surrounding terrain features again to confirm that they were correct.

He then made calculations with his fingers in front of his chest, sensing the unique earth vein energy and the direction of the Sha Qi flow in this place.

After a moment, he paused, raised his eyes, and turned his gaze to the center of the shimmering blue pool in front of him.

"This is it. The entrance to the [Earthly Protection Sha Qi] is beneath this pool of water."

Having confirmed the target location, Qi Yun's expression softened somewhat, and he did not rush into the water.

Instead, he made a hand Hand Seals with one hand, and his wide sleeves moved without wind, revealing hundreds of small, white origami cranes that gracefully spread their wings and emerged.

These Thousand Cranes Talisman are like an invisible net cast across the sky, bringing an area spanning dozens of miles under Qi Yun's surveillance.

He can sense even the slightest movement.

Once all the Thousand Cranes Talisman were in place and reported back that the surrounding area was peaceful and posed no threat, Qi Yun finally felt a little relieved.

Absorbing the Qi of Earth Sha is no small matter.

With everything in place, his True Essence slowly circulated within his body, forming an invisible protective Gang Qi around him.

Then, with a leap, like a nimble fish, it silently plunged into the azure waters of the pool.

Thump.

The sound of it entering the water was slight, and the ripples quickly subsided.

Using his protective True Essence to isolate himself from the pool water, Qi Yun sank down, heading towards the acupoint entrance he had previously calculated.

The pool was deeper than I had imagined; the deeper I went, the dimmer the light became, and the water pressure gradually increased.

However, the protective True Essence of the Qi Refining Seventh Layer is already tough enough, and mere water pressure is nothing to worry about.

As it descended, its Divine Sense also spread out, like an underwater sonar, carefully sensing the fluctuations of the earth's veins at the bottom of the water.

After diving down to about several tens of meters, the scene at the bottom of the pool became vaguely visible.

It wasn't a pile of silt, but rather covered with a dark blue, smooth, and hard rock.

At the bottom of a rock wall, Qi Yun's Divine Sense detected an unusual place.

There was an inconspicuous crack, about the width of a person, from which a unique aura of calm, weight, and protection from the earth faintly emanated.

This aura is pure and gentle, not violent at all; on the contrary, it brings a sense of peace. It is exactly the [Earthly Protection Sha Qi] described in the catalog!

"Found it!" A look of joy flashed in Qi Yun's eyes. He quickly approached the crack and crawled in without hesitation.

The crevice was narrow at first, but after walking several meters, it suddenly opened up.

It turned out to be a natural cave hidden beneath the rock strata at the bottom of the pool.

The cave is not large, with a small spring in the center.

But what gushed out was not clear water, but strange streams of air that were solid, earthy yellow in color, yet emitted a faint glow!

The airflow flowed slowly, filling the entire cave and giving the air inside a heavy, weighty feel.

"Such pure and refined Earthly Protection Sha Qi!" Qi Yun exclaimed.

Now that he had found the Qi of Earth Sha, he didn't delay any longer. He immediately sat cross-legged in the center of the cave and cleared his mind of all distractions.

He began to circulate the "Innate One Qi Heart Method".

Cultivation Method was activated, his pores seemed to transform into countless tiny vortexes, generating a powerful suction force.

The earthy yellow Earthly Protection Sha Qi permeating the cave was drawn in, and like rivers flowing into the sea, it converged on Qi Yun, flowing continuously into his body through his pores, mouth, and nose.

The Sha Qi entering the body did not cause discomfort; instead, it was like a warm current, cleansing the meridians and converging at an acupoint corresponding to the location of the evil energy.

Boom!

Earthly Protection Sha Qi accumulates to a certain level.

Guided by his thoughts, Qi Yun used his True Essence as a hammer and his Sha Qi as a chisel to strike the closed and stubborn acupoint.

Once, twice--

Each impact was accompanied by a slight vibration and a tingling sensation.

After an unknown amount of time, it seemed as if some kind of barrier had been completely pierced!

Buzz

Acupoints and meridians are open!

In an instant, Qi Yun felt a mysterious and profound feeling surge into his heart.

It's like a completely enclosed space has been opened with a hole, allowing a fresh and clear breeze to blow in.

Countless echoes and soft chants of Daoist principles appeared before me, sometimes visible, sometimes not.

Is this the state of "Hundred Apertures Spirit Connection"?

Lost in this mysterious feeling, Qi Yun continued to guide the Earthly Protection Sha Qi, stabilizing the newly opened acupoints.

Unbeknownst to him, more than a month had passed since Qi Yun immersed himself in the profound process of absorbing and refining the Earthly Protection Sha Qi and stabilizing the newly opened acupoints.

As he slowly emerged from his deep meditative state and reopened his eyes, he moved slightly, shaking off a thin layer of dust.

He did some quick calculations and was surprised to realize how fast time had passed.

"Indeed, the path of cultivation transcends time; a day in the mountains is equivalent to a thousand years in the world."

"For us cultivators, time flies by far too fast." Qi Yun sighed softly, his tone carrying a touch of the unique sentimentality of a cultivator.

A brief period of seclusion may be equivalent to a whole year in the mortal world.

He slowly stood up, his bones creaking softly, a surge of power flowing through his limbs.

I carefully felt the opening of the Earthly Door Aperture in my body.

Sure enough, the speed at which he absorbed and exhaled the primordial energy of heaven and earth was much faster than before, and his connection with the earth was also much clearer.

This "Hundred Apertures Spirit Connection" ability is indeed incredibly mysterious.

With a leap, like a fish emerging from the water, Qi Yun nimbly returned to the shore of the Jade Wave Pool Black Wind Ravine.

Sunlight streamed down, Fresh Breeze caressed my face; it was time to leave.

But just as he was about to move, a sudden, intense chill ran down his spine.

It was as if a pair of invisible and cold eyes pierced through the void, watching him intently from some unknown direction.

This feeling is not a physical gaze.

Rather, it's a kind of locking involving cause and effect, and destiny!

"Hmm?" Qi Yun's expression changed slightly, and his mind tensed up instantly.

"Is someone divining my location?!"

This feeling of being locked onto by the Unseen was not unfamiliar to him.

This time it was especially clear and intense.

Without any hesitation, he quickly took out the silver ring, which was wrapped in layers of talismans, from his storage bracelet.

He ripped off the talisman and put it on his hand, simultaneously channeling a surge of True Essence into it.

The next instant, buzz!

The silver ring on my fingertip suddenly felt hot.

The fine cloud patterns on the ring, which had been dormant, seemed to be activated, flowing rapidly again and emitting a faint yet strange fluctuation.

At the same time, the unsettling, unease of being watched vanished.

Qi Yun frowned, his fingers pressing tightly against the still slightly hot Storage Ring, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, his mind racing.

Who is deducing my position?

The Yellow Springs Netherworld?

Or someone else?

Realizing that he might have been targeted by experts from the Yellow Springs Netherworld, Qi Yun did not hesitate at all.

He turned around and used [Gather Form and Disperse Qi], his body transforming into a wisp of transparent, ethereal qi, skimming along the ground, and sped off towards the general direction of the Wuji Sacred Sect Sect's territory.

"This place is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Holy Sect, and the situation is tense now."

Yellow Springs Netherworld truly breaks off relations, it might send experts at the Late Qi Refining, or even the Qi Refining Great Perfection, to hunt it down.

That would be bad.

Even though he had reached the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and his strength had greatly increased, Qi Yun, having witnessed Wu Yushan's power at his peak, still maintained the utmost caution.

He knew very well that he was no match for those true Late Qi Refining cultivators.

My current level of cultivation is insufficient to contend with him.

They sped along at breakneck speed, not daring to stop for a moment, and covered hundreds of miles in succession.

Only when he felt relatively safe did Qi Yun settle down outside a seemingly peaceful ordinary town and conceal his presence.

Like an ordinary tourist, I stepped into the town.

I randomly found an inconspicuous, simple teahouse on a street corner, ordered a bowl of coarse tea, and prepared to rest for a while and clear my mind.

However, he sat down for less than a quarter of an hour and didn't even take a sip of the coarse tea in his bowl.

An ordinary-looking, simply dressed teenager skipped and hopped past the tea pavilion.

Just as he brushed past Qi Yun, the child's innocent and carefree expression suddenly turned cold and ruthless.

With a flick of his arm, a cloud of multicolored, sweet-smelling poisonous powder rained down on Qi Yun.

It happened suddenly and at an extremely close distance!

But Qi Yun reacted faster.

Or rather, the skeleton inside him reacted even faster!

"Gah!"

With a strange cry, a white bone skull shot out automatically, its eye sockets blazing with eerie green flames. It opened its mouth and spat out a ball of viscous, venomous fire, which accurately struck the cloud of poisonous powder!

Sizzle sizzle sizzle!

When the poisonous powder met the smoldering fire, it was instantly ignited and melted, emitting a pungent burnt smell before dissipating into a wisp of blue smoke.

But this seems to be a signal!

Around the teahouse, the seemingly ordinary passersby, vendors, and even the teahouse owner—at this moment, their eyes simultaneously flashed with icy murderous intent!

They suddenly ripped off their disguises, drawing poisoned swords from their sleeves, under their hands, or at their waists, or casting Method Formula, unleashing all sorts of insidious and vicious attacks, like a pre-woven web of death.

Qi Yun enveloped them from all directions.

Blades, poison needles, Curse, and sinister lightning—their methods were endless, and their teamwork was impeccable. Clearly, they had come prepared and were not a rabble.

Qi Yun's expression darkened, and the pitch-black Sunken Abyss Iron Sand around him instantly surged forth, rolling and flowing like a living thing, forming an impenetrable protective shield.

The first wave of intense attacks was completely blocked, producing a series of clanging and clattering sounds!

"Who goes there?!" Qi Yun shouted coldly, his gaze sweeping over the attackers like lightning.

But they found their eyes were numb, filled only with pure killing intent.

They are clearly assassins or being controlled by Secret Method.

With a slight frown, Qi Yun maintained his iron sand defense while fending off the surging attacks, and at the same time, he used his free left hand to quickly perform calculations in front of his chest.

The "Blood-Guided Profound Mysteries" technique was activated, and a large amount of blood and flesh essence was directly sacrificed!

The next moment!

The fog of cause and effect has lifted.

Bloodstained words appeared: Seven Kills Sect -

"Um?"

Upon seeing the results of the deduction, Qi Yun's face showed even greater confusion.

The analysis showed that this group of the Seven Kills Sect were not hired by the Yellow Springs Netherworld, but rather acted by the Seven Kills Sect itself.

I have not offended the Seven Kills Sect, so why are they going to such lengths to kill me?

Could it be--

A sudden thought flashed through Qi Yun's mind, and he suddenly remembered the reason.

I see--

That ring!