Raising His Aptitude to Saint Rank

"Congratulations, host. You have completed the sign-in mission at the Spirit-Gathering Pool and obtained Marrow Cleansing Fruit ×1."

Listening to the system's notification, Gu Chen took a deep breath.

The Marrow Cleansing Fruit was a true treasure of heaven and earth.

Everyone in the world knew how precious Marrow Cleansing Pills were.

Yet they did not know that the pills took their name from the Marrow Cleansing Fruit.

Marrow Cleansing Pills merely imitated the fruit's effects to improve cultivators' aptitude.

The Marrow Cleansing Fruit was different. It was a true creation of heaven and earth.

Its effects were far beyond those of the man-made Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Taking a deep breath, Gu Chen took out a formation to conceal his presence and swallowed the Marrow Cleansing Fruit.

On Hidden Origin Peak.

"Congratulations, host. Your disciple Gu Chen has completed a sign-in mission: disciple Gu Chen has obtained mid-grade Marrow Cleansing Fruit ×1; you have obtained: supreme-grade Marrow Cleansing Fruit ×1; experience points ×300."

"Hmm?"

Lu Changzhi's expression shifted. "This time, they're both Marrow Cleansing Fruits."

But...

His own seemed to be a little higher in quality.

With a thought, Lu Changzhi took out the Marrow Cleansing Fruit.

The fruit was half the size of his palm, its surface a lush green that seemed ready to drip, and it gave off a refreshing fragrance.

A single sniff made him feel completely refreshed.

"What a pity."

Lu Changzhi spoke softly.

If the Sign-In System's level had been raised, he might very well have received several fruits this time.

That way, he wouldn't have had to think about who to give it to.

Although the fruit helped improve aptitude,

It would actually be of little use if he ate it himself.

His aptitude came from the combined aptitudes of his disciples.

In other words, giving it to a disciple would maximize the Marrow Cleansing Fruit's effects.

"Mu Fan is at High-Grade Spirit Rank. If he eats the Marrow Cleansing Fruit, he'll very likely advance to Supreme-Grade Spirit Rank."

"As for Ling'er, it's just right for her."

After giving it a little thought, Lu Changzhi made up his mind.

It wasn't that he hadn't considered Jin Fugui.

The main issue was that Jin Fugui wasn't his disciple, and his starting point was too high.

By comparison, a Marrow Cleansing Pill was more suitable.

He got up and went to find Luo Ling'er.

At that moment, Luo Ling'er was having a wonderful time playing with Xiao Ming.

Ever since the sect had begun nurturing Xiao Ming and supplying him with all the resources he needed, his growth had become increasingly astonishing.

He had also grown more intelligent.

"Master, can you spar with me?"

Seeing Lu Changzhi approach, Luo Ling'er asked excitedly.

"You girl." Lu Changzhi shook his head.

"Don't always be thinking about sparring."

"But sparring is really fun!" Luo Ling'er looked at Lu Changzhi with wide eyes.

Lu Changzhi coughed lightly and said,

"If you want someone to spar with, your senior brothers would be perfect."

The moment he finished speaking, Mu Fan's voice rang out from a house in the distance:

"Master, you can't teach junior sister like that!!!"

"Second senior brother!" Luo Ling'er's eyes lit up.

"You're awake? Want to spar with me?"

"No." Mu Fan's voice was firm.

"Just pretend I'm dead."

Luo Ling'er pursed her lips and turned to Lu Changzhi.

"Xiao Ming is really amazing now. Even second senior brother can barely outrun him."

Hearing this, Xiao Ming, who was beside her, spread his wings with no small amount of pride and held his head high, a humanlike look of satisfaction in his eyes.

"That really is impressive."

Lu Changzhi smiled, then said,

"Ling'er, come with me."

Luo Ling'er nodded and hurried after him.

"Master, am I going to learn something else this time?"

"More or less."

Lu Changzhi nodded, took out the Marrow Cleansing Fruit, and held it out to Luo Ling'er.

"Eat it."

"Oh!"

Luo Ling'er's eyes lit up. She sniffed it and said,

"It smells so good! It smells delicious!"

"Thank you, Master!"

With that, Luo Ling'er took the Marrow Cleansing Fruit, brought it to her lips, and took a small bite.

Whoosh.

The moment the skin broke, the Marrow Cleansing Fruit turned into a streak of emerald light and entered Luo Ling'er's body.

"Huh?"

Luo Ling'er froze, lowered her hand, and looked left and right.

"Where did my big fruit go?"

Lu Changzhi couldn't help smiling. "You've already eaten it. Sit down and cultivate."

"All right."

Looking helpless, Luo Ling'er sat down cross-legged.

Lu Changzhi then rose and left.

Time passed bit by bit.

After nightfall, Lu Changzhi suddenly heard a system notification:

"Congratulations, host. Disciple Luo Ling'er's aptitude has risen to High-Grade Spirit Rank. Disciple acceptance complete: 3/3."

"Your current aptitude can be raised. Would you like to raise it?"

Lu Changzhi's eyes brightened slightly.

"Can it finally be raised?"

Back when Luo Ling'er's constitution had awakened, it hadn't triggered an increase in his aptitude.

Now, after she had eaten the Marrow Cleansing Fruit, her aptitude had finally met the requirement.

"Raise it."

Lu Changzhi spoke softly.

Whoosh.

As the light descended, a warm current surged into Lu Changzhi's body.

In an instant, he seemed to become one with the heaven and earth around him.

His physical body, through which he communicated with heaven and earth, seemed to vanish completely.

The sense of separation imposed by his body vanished with it.

At that moment, Lu Changzhi suddenly understood what it felt like for one's body to become one with heaven and earth.

He could stretch out at will, free to do as he pleased.

He was like a fish returning to water, an eagle riding the wind.

He could clearly sense that the spiritual power in the heaven and earth around him had become more lively and animated.

If the spiritual power of heaven and earth had merely felt close to him before,

Then, at this moment, that closeness had turned into jubilant delight.

The range he could sense had also increased severalfold.

At the same time, Lu Changzhi could faintly sense mysterious forces existing somewhere within heaven and earth.

It seemed that these very forces made heaven and earth what they were.

If anyone else had been present, they would have noticed.

At this moment, Lu Changzhi's body was giving off a faint glow.

The light spread throughout his body: his flesh and skin, bones, blood, heart...

His entire body was rapidly improving within the white-jade glow.

No one knew how much time passed...

When the sensation gradually faded,

The system's voice sounded in Lu Changzhi's ears:

"Congratulations, host. Your aptitude has risen to Saint Rank."

"Would you like to trigger a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon?"

At the same time, Lu Changzhi felt something unique, as though something above the nine heavens was responding to him.

Saint-Rank Aptitude had reached the level of communicating with heaven and earth, enough to trigger a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon.

Just then, a set of choices suddenly appeared before Lu Changzhi:

"Having broken through to Saint-Rank Aptitude, you have triggered a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon. Choose: "

"One: spend 1,000 experience points to make the Heaven and Earth Phenomenon as spectacular as possible. [Reward: Saint Rank Mid Grade eminent monk's relic ×1.]"

"Two: allow the phenomenon of heaven and earth to manifest without letting the system stop it. [Reward: Saint Rank Low Grade item-Formation-Breaking Shuttle ×1.]"

"Three: have the system stop it, preventing any Heaven and Earth Phenomenon from occurring. [Reward: Saint Rank Mid Grade flying boat ×1.]"

"There's no experience reward?"

Lu Changzhi thought for a moment and quickly made his choice.

"System, help me stop the Heaven and Earth Phenomenon."

Lu Changzhi spoke aloud.

Saint-Rank Aptitude was far too rare.

There was no telling how much attention a person with it would attract if one appeared.

Trouble would inevitably follow.

"Yes, Master."

The system agreed and, a moment later, issued another notification:

"The phenomenon has been intercepted."

At the same time, the feeling of a response from the heavens vanished completely.

The next day.

A piece of news shook countless sects and factions.

The previous night, an unprecedented phenomenon had appeared above the nine heavens.

Rumor had it that a genius with Saint-Rank Aptitude had descended into the world!