Critical hit return, pushing you to a level above the Five-Colored Nascent Soul stage!

[Ding! The Host has bestowed a Grade 2 Top Quality Pill, the 'Seven Treasures Pill', upon his eldest Disciple, triggering a seven-thousand-fold critical hit return! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the Grade 6 High Grade Treasure Pill, the 'Return to Origin Saint Pill'!]

[Ding! The Host has bestowed a Grade 3 Low Grade Spiritual Artifact, the 'Purple Glow Barrier-Breaking Heart-Binding Ribbon', upon his second Disciple, triggering a ten-thousand-fold critical hit return! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a single Grade 6 Peak Grade Treasure Artifact, the 'Gold Thread Silver Grass Four Saints Streamer'!]

Hearing the notification sounds ringing in his mind one after another, the corners of Ye Qing's mouth curled up slightly.

In his personal treasure vault, two more treasures sufficient to make the entire Eastern Region go mad had been added!

The Return to Origin Saint Pill could greatly increase one's cultivation, saving many years of bitter Cultivation!

Moreover, after consumption, one could achieve affinity with Dao techniques, increasing the speed of Cultivating cultivation methods and secret arts!

As for the Grade 6 Peak Grade Treasure Artifact, the 'Gold Thread Silver Grass Four Saints Streamer', it was used for binding hair just like the 'Purple Glow Barrier-Breaking Heart-Binding Ribbon'; when tied to the hair, it could effectively break through Dao Heart illusions during Cultivation!

Of course, the effects of the Four Saints Streamer were far stronger than a Spiritual Artifact.

With this streamer protecting his body, Ye Qing could remain untainted by ten thousand evils and undisturbed by Heart Demons!

"Alright, you two go down and enter seclusion; strive for an early Breakthrough," Ye Qing waved his hand.

"Yes, Revered Master!"

After the two women left, Ye Qing also entered his private cultivation chamber.

His current cultivation was already at the Ninth Layer of Golden Core Perfection.

The matter of the Sect competition had been completed perfectly, and especially after beheading Zhao Qian, his Dao Heart was clear and translucent!

He sensed a flicker of Opportunity; it seemed he could strike for the Nascent Soul Realm!

Thus, Ye Qing sat cross-legged, and with a thought, the surging Dharmic power within his body began to rush like a great river.

The dense Spiritual Qi from the two High Grade Spiritual Veins of Qingxuan Peak was frantically mobilized.

It almost formed a vortex visible to the naked eye! Within the vortex was Spiritual Liquid so abundant it had nearly condensed into a physical substance!

After some time.

Ye Qing's body shook slightly; his cultivation had broken through!

From Ninth Layer of Golden Core Perfection!

To Half-Step Nascent Soul!

And then... wait!

Ye Qing stopped his attempt to charge into the Nascent Soul Realm.

He could clearly feel that he could pierce that thin veil at any time, condense a Nascent Soul, and step into an entirely new world!

However, just as he was prepared to Breakthrough in one go, a sensation arose within him as if by fate.

If he broke through now, he was absolutely certain he could condense the legendary Five-Colored Nascent Soul!

What was a Five-Colored Nascent Soul?

According to ancient records, Nascent Souls were conventionally divided by five colors.

Breaking through from the Golden Core Realm to the One-Colored Nascent Soul level represented the lowest potential and combat power; without a great Opportunity, future achievements would be limited.

A Two-Colored Nascent Soul was slightly stronger, considered a passing grade.

Three colors were excellent, while four colors were rare indeed.

As for the Five-Colored Nascent Soul, the records explicitly stated that a five-colored infant was nearly perfect; in the entire Eastern Region, they were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, difficult to see even once in many years.

It was the ultimate Nascent Soul that countless Golden Core Cultivators dreamed of when striking for the Nascent Soul Realm.

And for Ye Qing, if he broke through now, he could easily condense a Five-Colored Nascent Soul!

But... Ye Qing frowned.

For others, five colors was the limit.

But for him, who Cultivated an Immortal Rank Cultivation Method and possessed the Prison Suppressing Immortal Body...

Ye Qing felt intuitively that five colors... seemed not enough!

He had a strong intuition that above five colors, there was a more perfect, more flawless level of Realm!

If he could reach that level, his potential would explode again, and his future path of cultivation would be longer and more stable!

Since that was the case, if possible, Ye Qing naturally wanted to try for this level beyond the Five-Colored Nascent Soul!

But right now, Ye Qing only had the certainty to strike for five colors.

How could he break through the shackles of five colors?

Ye Qing fell into deep thought.

He thought for a moment and went to the Taiyi Sect's Scripture Pavilion, intending to browse through some ancient records.

Taiyi Sect, Scripture Pavilion.

Ancient bookshelves stood in rows, filled with the faint scent of ink and the aura of accumulated ages.

Clad in green robes, Ye Qing sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, his eyes slightly closed.

After flipping through ancient texts, Ye Qing's expression was thoughtful.

He understood!

The reason he felt inadequate to strike for the level beyond the Five-Colored Nascent Soul...

Was likely because his experience and his comprehension of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth were still lacking that final bit of refinement.

This kind of comprehension and experience could not be obtained simply by closed-door Cultivation and piling up cultivation levels.

"It seems it's time to go out and travel, to gain some experience."

Ye Qing put down the records, a flash of enlightenment in his eyes.

Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.

Working behind closed doors ultimately has its limits.

Perhaps he should go out and experience this vast world, personally sensing the mountains, rivers, plants, sun, moon, and stars, and find that sliver of Opportunity for Breakthrough within the vast Mortal World!

Just as he made his decision and prepared to return to Qingxuan Peak to make arrangements before leaving the Sect...

"Buzz—!"

A communication jade talisman vibrated violently at his waist without warning.

It was an emergency message from Sect Master Lu Changhe!

Ye Qing's brow twitched as he injected Dharmic power into it.

The next moment, Lu Changhe's voice, carrying a hint of gravity and urgency, rang in Ye Qing's ear:

"Ye Qing, come to the Main Peak Hall immediately!"

"Luoxia Peak's Peak Revered Master, Liu Ruyan... something has happened to her while she was on a Sect mission!"

Hmm?

Boom—!

Ye Qing stood up abruptly, two terrifying cold glints instantly shooting from his eyes as a bone-chilling killing intent erupted!

Swish!

He leaped up, transforming into a streak of sword light.

At maximum speed.

He headed toward the Main Peak Hall!

Taiyi Sect Main Peak, Zixiao Hall.

The hall was solemn and dignified, with green smoke curling from the incense burner.

Wearing purple Daoist robes, the majestic Lu Changhe stood with his hands behind his back, his aura as deep as the sea.

He watched the sea of clouds churning outside the hall, his brow slightly furrowed.

At that moment, a green streak landed before the hall with a swish, revealing Ye Qing's figure.

He walked quickly into the hall and cupped his hands in greeting: "Ye Qing pays respects to the Sect Master."

"No need for formalities." Lu Changhe turned around, his expression grave. "Ye Qing, do you know Liu Ruyan, the Peak Revered Master of Luoxia Peak?"

"Of course I know her." Ye Qing nodded, his expression somewhat anxious. "I wonder what exactly happened?"

Lu Changhe sighed:

"Half a month ago, the Sect received news that traces of Demon Ghost activity appeared within the Lianyun Mountain Range in the Southern Desolate region of the Eastern Region. To prevent a massacre of living beings..."

"Junior Sister Liu took the extermination mission and went down the mountain. But three days ago, she pursued a Golden Core Realm Demon Ghost deep into the Lianyun Mountain Range, and then... contact with the Sect was lost."

Ye Qing's eyes narrowed.

The so-called Demon Ghosts referred to a type of creature that lived by instinct for slaughter and bloodshed, naturally filled with a desire for destruction.

They had not appeared in the Eastern Region for a long time.

But once they appeared, they had to be slain without mercy!

This time, he didn't expect that traces of a Demon Ghost would actually be found in the Lianyun Mountain Range of the Southern Desolate region.

Furthermore.

What did it mean that contact with the Sect was lost?

"Her soul fire still burns; her life is not in danger."

Lu Changhe continued, "But the Sect simply cannot contact her. Moreover, right after she went missing, a phenomenon soared into the sky deep within the Lianyun Mountain Range, and a Secret Realm entrance appeared. I speculate that Junior Sister Liu was pursuing that Golden Core Realm Demon Ghost and happened to enter that Secret Realm."