Very good indeed!

[Seventeen Sacred Yuan credited]

The light inside the quiet chamber was soft.

Seated cross-legged, Qi Yun slowly opened his eyes and glanced sideways at the Great Void Jade Talisman on the small table beside him. A line of azure-blue text was gradually fading from its surface.

The last batch of [Youth Edition Talismans] has sold too... It's time to close up shop for a while and prepare for the assessment in six months.

He picked up the warm, smooth jade talisman and lightly touched its polished surface. Jade light swirled, and a clear number appeared:

[Sacred Yuan: 739]

After three busy months, he had sold several thousand [Youth Edition Talismans] in all, and these 739 Sacred Yuan were his earnings.

"Although this sum of Sacred Yuan might not even match the payment for a single test-subject mission, it's already a considerable fortune for a new outer mansion disciple like me.

"Working myself to death, running errands at least eight hours a day, would only earn me twenty Sacred Yuan a month.

"But I only draw talismans for four hours a day, and my income is already more than ten times that. What more could I want?"

Although he had discovered the enormous business opportunity in [Youth Edition Talismans], Qi Yun had not chosen to immerse himself in it.

He only spent four hours each day drawing talismans to sell.

He devoted all his remaining time to practicing the Innate One Qi Heart Method, honing his life and essence cultivation and raising his realm.

A cultivator was a cultivator; cultivation naturally had to come first.

Besides, outer mansion disciples faced an assessment every year.

Delaying his cultivation for business would truly be putting the branches before the roots, unable to tell the greater king from the lesser.

"Over seven hundred Sacred Yuan will be enough to last me until the assessment begins."

Clutching the Great Void Jade Talisman, Qi Yun lowered his eyes in deep thought.

My aptitude is average. Although my cultivation speed improved slightly after switching to the Innate One Qi Heart Method, I still fall short of my fellow disciples.

And judging from past outer mansion disciples' experiences with their first assessment, only reaching at least the Qi Refining Third Layer offers any security.

Even at the Qi Refining Second Layer, there's a considerable chance of being placed among the bottom ranks and deemed unqualified.

Holding the jade talisman that imparted the Innate One Qi Heart Method, Qi Yun silently recalled every word of this Qi-refining heart method.

"The Qi Refining realm has nine layers as its steps..."

"Connecting with the earth veins, drawing upon Earth Qi and mountain marrow, and cultivating True Qi constitutes the Qi Refining First Layer..."

"True Qi coursing throughout the body, all meridians connected, cultivation possible anywhere, constitutes the Qi Refining Second Layer..."

"Only by breaking through the obscuring miasma of the Purple Mansion, letting True Qi take residence in the Dantian, and having the cultivation method circulate on its own, endlessly renewing itself, does one reach the Qi Refining Third Layer..."

"Afterward comes sensing celestial phenomena and drawing in the sun, moon, wind, and clouds; comprehending all living beings and capturing the myriad thoughts of the mortal world, until the Three Powers of heaven, earth, and humanity unite to weave the [Great Net of Dao Comprehension].

"Seeking the warp and weft of the Great Dao with which to forge a supreme immortal foundation."

Slowly opening his palm, Qi Yun revealed a wisp of Innate True Qi that faintly radiated blazing-white rays.

I broke through to the Qi Refining Second Layer a month ago.

The True Qi in my body is no longer confined to particular meridians and can circulate throughout my entire body. Not only has my cultivation become much faster, but my True Qi also responds more quickly when I cast techniques.

But to break through to the third layer, I must accumulate more True Qi, break through the obscuring miasma of the Purple Mansion, and let True Qi take residence in my Dantian, securing that attainment forever.

From then on, even if I no longer deliberately circulate my cultivation method, the True Qi in my Dantian will automatically absorb Earth Qi to strengthen itself.

And what I lack right now is sufficient True Qi.

At that thought, Qi Yun took the mutton-fat white jade bottle from his Storage Bag.

After cautiously checking multiple sources over this period, he had essentially confirmed what precious pills the jade bottle contained.

[Qi Spirit Pills], among the most useful precious pills for the Qi Refining Stage, and also among the most expensive.

A single pill could sell for nearly a hundred Sacred Yuan.

And even at that price, none were available.

The miraculous effect of this precious pill lay in its ability to temporarily increase the "spiritual sensitivity" of the user's physical body, greatly enhancing the efficiency of refining Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Normally, ten strands of Earth Qi and mountain marrow could only be refined into a single wisp of True Qi.

But after taking a [Qi Spirit Pill], they could be converted into at least five wisps of True Qi. The precise outcome varied from person to person; for some whose bodies were well suited to its medicinal effects, it could even reach ten wisps.

"From this, Tang Shun's elder must hold a high position in the sect. Otherwise, they wouldn't casually bestow precious pills on the level of [Qi Spirit Pills].

"And ten whole pills, at that!

"That's nearly a thousand Sacred Yuan. Most outer mansion disciples probably won't see that much Sacred Yuan before they die."

Rubbing the jade medicine bottle in his hand, a trace of coldness flashed through Qi Yun's eyes.

Luckily, I removed that ticking time bomb Tang Shun in time. Otherwise, had he actually joined the sect, the elder backing him would probably have already refined me into cinders.

The thought flashed past. Qi Yun opened the jade medicine bottle and tipped out a [Qi Spirit Pill] the size of a longan, crimson all over and faintly wreathed in clouds and mist.

The effects of one [Qi Spirit Pill] last about three days. Ten pills mean a month.

A month... should be enough for me to break through to the Qi Refining Third Layer.

He tilted his head back and swallowed the precious pill.

The moment it entered his mouth, the pill dissolved into a sweet, warm current.

In an instant, Qi Yun felt as though every pore on his body had opened. The comfort was indescribable, as though Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi were pouring into his body of their own accord.

Secluded cultivation!

Without the slightest hesitation, Qi Yun swept his broad sleeve. A surge of True Qi burst forth, whipping up a powerful gust that pulled the chamber doors shut, cutting everything off.

Wuji Sacred Sect, inner mansion, Flower Moon Hall.

At the head of the great hall, a massive platform of green jade hovered in midair.

An old man with crane-white hair and a youthful face sat cross-legged upon it.

His hair and beard were entirely white, yet his face was as rosy as an infant's. Only his lowered eyelids concealed the possible monstrous ferocity within his eyes. His loose, black Daoist robes made his presence seem as unfathomable as an abyss.

Below him in the great hall, two figures in black clothes and robes, each embroidered with a red moon on the back, knelt respectfully on the floor.

"Any news?" Opening his eyes a sliver, the white-haired old man looked down at the two figures. His voice was quiet, yet carried an exceedingly sharp viciousness. The entire Flower Moon Hall seemed to tremble slightly!

"Reporting to you, True Person, according to the black-clad servant responsible for this escort, the young master suddenly disappeared while staying in Anning County. He sent men to search, but they found nothing.

"This subordinate has already ordered the Holy Sect's servants nearby to conduct a blanket search. Within three days, there will surely be..." Before the black-clad cultivator below could finish, a communication jade talisman at his waist suddenly began vibrating urgently!

Not daring to hesitate, the black-clad cultivator quickly took it from inside his robes. After one glance, his eyes shook violently. His throat bobbed, and he said somewhat nervously:

"True Person, the young master... there's news of the young master."

"You found him?" The old man's voice remained level, but the viciousness permeating the hall abruptly increased tenfold, as though an invisible mountain had come crashing down.

"No... we found the young master's... body..." His face ashen, the black-clad cultivator used all his strength to squeeze out those few words.

Deathly stillness. Silence.

Yet the increasingly frigid temperature within the hall made the two black-clad cultivators feel as though their blood was about to stop flowing.

Just as the two felt they were about to be engulfed by that soundless, bitter cold, a faint chuckle suddenly sounded.

"Heh... hehehe..."

The laughter gradually rose, carrying a low note that made their hair stand on end.

"Good..."

His voice abruptly rose, every word seeming about to drip blood.

"Very good indeed!!!"