Chapter 590 - 502: Golden Core Perfection
「Six months later.」
「Drunken Moon Sect.」
The decennial Outer Sect Grand Competition.
「The arena.」
Qin Yun’s expression was solemn, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. His hands flashed through a series of seals, controlling a small, jade-green dagger that maneuvered rapidly, leaving trails of emerald afterimages in its wake.
SHHNK.
The jade-green dagger pierced through the protective magical barrier and came to rest against the opposing cultivator’s neck.
Its peerless sharpness broke the skin, causing tiny Blood Pearls to seep out.
HISS.
His opponent’s face paled, and he hurriedly said, "Qin, I concede!"
Qin Yun smiled and withdrew the jade-green dagger. "Mr. Zhang, thank you for the match."
"The winner is Qin Yun."
The Foundation Establishment uncle-master acting as referee nodded and announced the result.
Qin Yun put away his Magical Artifact and stepped down from the arena, overhearing the discussions around him.
"So that’s Mr. Qin? One of the dozen or so newcomers from our year to reach Late-stage Qi Refining?"
"I’m so jealous. We’re all newcomers, but I’m still at the fifth layer of Qi Refining. Is this what a high-grade Spiritual Root can do?"
"Hey, counting this one, he’s won six matches, right? Breaking into the top hundred and becoming an Inner Sect Disciple is practically guaranteed for him now!"
A buzz of discussion rose as gazes filled with envy and jealousy converged on him.
Qin Yun paid them no mind. Dressed in the green and white robes of the Drunken Moon Sect, he walked with a steady gait.
Thoughts flashed through his mind:
’Mr. Li’s Alchemy is truly superb. He actually managed to refine a High-quality Green Yuan Elixir. Not only did I break through smoothly, but my Magical Power was even tempered in the process.’
’With his talent, he’s very likely to succeed in Foundation Establishment and become a Rank Two Alchemist. That will be a huge help to me, even after I reach Foundation Establishment myself.’
’Yes, this is a relationship worth maintaining long-term.’
In his five years at the Drunken Moon Sect, Qin Yun had been alone, and his temperament had matured considerably.
Just then, he raised an eyebrow, a sudden feeling washing over him.
Qin Yun looked up and saw a large man with a cold, harsh expression staring at him from the Inner Sect Disciple seating area.
’Gao Ping...’ Qin Yun thought to himself.
This Inner Sect Disciple held a grudge against him.
The reason was simple. Two years ago, Gao Ping’s younger brother had gone on a sect mission with Qin Yun and a few others.
The mission took an unexpected turn, its difficulty escalating to the point that of all the cultivators present, only Qin Yun made it back alive.
The sect’s subsequent investigation concluded that the tragedy was the result of misjudging the mission’s difficulty.
Gao Ping, however, refused to accept the findings. He stubbornly insisted that Qin Yun had harbored ill intentions and used some trick to get his brother killed.
This paranoia gave Qin Yun a headache.
Although...
’He’s not wrong. I was the one who killed him.’
Qin Yun felt helpless about the situation. The mission’s difficulty had been misjudged; what was supposed to be a Rank One high-grade demonic beast turned out to be a Rank One peak-grade beast, and it was guarding a stalk of Dragon Beard Grass!
Gao Ping’s brother, overcome by greed, tried to kill the rest of them to claim the Dragon Beard Grass for himself.
Left with no choice, Qin Yun had to fight a battle of wits and strength, barely managing to turn the tables and kill him in a perilous counterattack.
’Once the Grand Competition is over and I become an Inner Sect Disciple, I won’t have to worry...’
’Better yet, if I can perform well enough to be taken as an apprentice by a Foundation Establishment senior, I’ll have their protection and won’t have to worry about Gao Ping’s threats at all...’
Qin Yun mused to himself.
...
「Meanwhile.」
「Linyue Immortal City.」
"Aah..." Su Ye yawned.
He lounged lazily on a soft couch while two young merfolk maidens carefully peeled grapes and fed them to him.
Su Ye’s life was quite comfortable. The cracks in his Golden Core had yet to heal, preventing him from cultivating, so he had an abundance of free time each day.
At this moment, a glint appeared in his eyes. His gaze seemed to pierce through the roof, all the way to the Drunken Moon Sect’s Grand Competition.
’With that High-quality Green Yuan Elixir and Qin Yun’s talent, becoming an Inner Sect Disciple and finding a Foundation Establishment master shouldn’t be difficult for him.’
’Yes, it’s about time this identity of mine ’advanced’ to the Foundation Establishment realm. After that, Qin Yun can invite me, and I’ll have a legitimate reason to join the Drunken Moon Sect.’
Su Ye’s goal, of course, was the Drunken Moon Sect’s Rank Four Spirit Vein.
With his injuries still unhealed, he couldn’t increase his Magical Power. Furthermore, comprehending fundamental principles didn’t require Spiritual Qi.
Therefore, his environmental requirements for Spiritual Qi were very low; the Rank One Spirit Vein in his current residence was more than enough.
However, Su Ye’s injuries were rapidly healing.
In a year or two at most, he would be fully recovered. At that point, the Spirit Vein here would no longer be sufficient.
In fact, the entire Linyue Immortal City would struggle to support his cultivation. It only had Rank Three Spirit Veins, which were utterly useless to him!
"Sigh..."
’Unfortunately... the best way is still to return to the Far South Continent and cultivate by absorbing a Spiritual Spring.’
’By Refining the Spiritual Spring Origin, I could reach Golden Core Perfection in a few months at most, bringing my cultivation to a state of completion.’
Su Ye sighed internally.
It didn’t take a genius to know that the Far South Continent was currently being watched like a hawk by the Nascent Soul Old Monsters of the Jade Void Sword Sect.
If he went now, wouldn’t he be walking right into a trap, delivering himself to their front door?
’Besides... I already refined the Spiritual Spring in the Northern Territory, and it’s nearly depleted.’
’To advance quickly, my only option is to take a risk and go to the Southern Territory... to the Nether Mirror.’
The thought of this ancient god made Su Ye’s heart tremble. With his current strength and the bizarre nature of his Netherworld Skill, he could easily escape even if pursued by a Nascent Soul cultivator.
But...
In the presence of the Nether Mirror itself, the true master of such arts, Su Ye had no confidence at all.
If he wasn’t careful, a single Shadow Flash might teleport him directly into the Nether Mirror’s divine kingdom... and that would be tragically ironic.
’So, it’s best to play it safe.’
Su Ye muttered to himself.
...
Time passed.
Two years flew by in the blink of an eye.
Su Ye’s injuries fully healed, and his strength returned to its peak.
Under the guise of Mr. Li, he rented a cultivator’s abode and used his Divine Sense to draw in Spiritual Qi, faking a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm.
He became yet another Loose Cultivator in Linyue Immortal City to successfully reach Foundation Establishment, inspiring the millions of other Loose Cultivators in the city to strive to follow his example.