26: Chapter 26 Qi Refining Level Six

The Pure Yang Sacred Body is a supreme treasure for female Cultivators with Yin-type Physiques to break through Bottlenecks and harmonize Yin and Yang.

But for any other female Cultivator, is it not also a highly tempting tonic?

Especially those who practice evil arts of plucking and nourishing, or those stuck at a certain Realm in desperate need of Yang essence to nourish themselves...

Take those evil women from the neighboring Joyful Union Sect, for instance; if they knew of Ye Xiaoyao's existence, they would likely instantly turn into starving wolves pouncing on their prey, viewing him as an excellent human treasure or a top-grade cauldron.

He must be kept firmly by her side, the sooner the better.

The Saintess's gaze turned cold; a decision had already been made in her heart.

Leaving him, Ye Xiaoyao, to wander about the Outer Sect would be like throwing a piece of fresh meat exuding an exotic fragrance into the edge of a wolf pack; it would sooner or later invite unnecessary covetousness and trouble.

Before he possesses sufficient self-preservation ability, or before she completes her plan, he had best stay at Saintess Peak, under her own watchful eyes.

...

Three days later, in the humble abode of the Outer Sect.

Ye Xiaoyao slowly exhaled a long breath, the surging Spiritual Qi around his body gradually calming down, finally stabilizing at a new height.

He opened his eyes, a brilliant light flashing within them, carrying an irrepressible joy.

Sixth Level of Qi Refining Stage, it is done!

From the Peak of the Fourth Level of Qi Refining Stage three days ago to the Sixth Level of Qi Refining Stage at this moment, this rocket-like speed of improvement would be considered terrifying even among those Heaven's Pride who possess a Heavenly Spiritual Root.

The medicinal power of the three bottles of naqi pill was certainly crucial, but he knew clearly that the seemingly endless warm current of vitality deep within his body was the true accelerator.

This was certainly not an encounter that an ordinary three-Spiritual Root Cultivator could have.

"Sacred Body... is it?"

Ye Xiaoyao muttered to himself, the doubts in his heart not only failing to decrease with the surge in his cultivation but becoming even more intense.

Without unraveling the mystery of his body's mutation, he always felt that the path of Cultivation was like walking in a fog; the ground beneath his feet seemed solid, yet he did not know if the path ahead was smooth or a cliff.

"I must go to the Scripture Pavilion again today and finish reading that secret records of the sacred body carefully!"

He made up his mind, got up to stretch his muscles and bones a little, and pushed the door open to leave.

The sunlight was just right, and he walked along the familiar path, passing the training plaza shared by the Outer Sect Disciples.

The plaza was quite lively at this moment, with dozens of Disciples scattered about; some sat cross-legged in meditation, absorbing the slightly impure Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth.

Others held Magical Artifacts, practicing Fireball Spells or Ice Spike Spells against distant targets, with spiritual light flashing and loud bangs echoing.

There were also two or three pairs of Disciples sparring within designated areas, their shouts and the clashing of metal sounds ceaseless, attracting a few onlookers and commentators.

Ye Xiaoyao just glanced at it casually; he had little interest in practicing these basic Spells, as his immediate priority was to consult the classics.

Just as he prepared to quicken his pace and leave, his gaze froze, and his footsteps involuntarily slowed down.

To the front right, four figures were walking towards him, aggressive and with ill intent.

Leading them was, naturally, Lu Guan, who was waving a folding fan, his face still bearing a sickly pallor.

Behind him followed two familiar faces, Sharp Mouth and Monkey Cheeks.

And walking beside Lu Guan was someone whose figure was as burly as an iron tower, yet currently, his face was gloomy, and his copper-bell-sized eyes were glaring at Ye Xiaoyao with anger.

It was actually Zhang Jiba!

It turned out that after Zhang Jiba failed to get a reward from Cao Sini that day, he became angry and stopped monitoring Ye Xiaoyao.

Instead, he ran to ask Lu Guan why both Cao Sini and he were so concerned about Ye Xiaoyao. After Lu Guan learned the ins and outs of Zhang Jiba's surveillance mission, he told Zhang Jiba that he had been used by Cao Sini.

Only then did Zhang Jiba suddenly realize, hating himself for being blinded by lust before and being bewitched by Cao Sini.

Zhang Jiba believed that if it weren't for Ye Xiaoyao, Cao Sini wouldn't have used him like a clown.

Thus, Zhang Jiba decided to join forces with Lu Guan to teach Ye Xiaoyao a lesson.

Ye Xiaoyao frowned slightly.

It was one thing for Lu Guan to be a persistent ghost, but why did this Zhang Jiba get involved too?

Looking at that gaze, the resentment seemed even greater than Lu Guan's?

When had he offended this wild ox?

It really was endless trouble.

Ye Xiaoyao instantly made a judgment.

He had neither the interest nor the time to tangle with this group of people right now, especially not wanting to start a conflict in the crowded plaza.

He turned his steps, intending to change direction and avoid them.

"Junior Brother Ye!"

Lu Guan's sinister voice sounded at the right moment, clearly carrying a tone of provocation and smugness.

"Haven't seen you for several days, you've actually learned to be a turtle, hiding quite tightly, eh? What, after seeing your Senior Brother, you don't even dare to greet me? Are you afraid that your Senior Brother might... do something to you?"

He deliberately dragged out his tone, and after finishing, he chuckled "Hehe" to himself, as if he had already grasped Ye Xiaoyao's fate.

However, the laughter had just begun when it abruptly stopped.

The smugness on Lu Guan's face instantly froze, turning into shock and suspicion.

He subconsciously activated his Spiritual Eye Spell and looked carefully at Ye Xiaoyao's body.

He didn't know until he looked, but he was shocked by what he saw.

Lu Guan felt as if his crown had been struck by a thunderbolt!

"Impossible?!!!"

He shouted out, his voice distorted, and the pallor on his face was replaced by an incredulous flush.

"This is absolutely impossible! In just a few days! How could you... reach the Sixth Level of Qi Refining Stage?! Even if you eat Medicinal Pills like meals, it's impossible to be this fast!!"

Sharp Mouth and Monkey Cheeks behind him were also startled by their boss's loss of composure and hurriedly activated their Spiritual Eye Spells to investigate.

The next moment, the two looked as if they had seen a ghost, their eyes wide and their mouths open wide enough to fit an egg.

Sharp Mouth stammered, his tongue tying itself in knots: "Qi... Qi Refining Sixth Level? It's actually higher... higher than us by a level! Bo... Boss, am I seeing things?"

Monkey Cheeks was also full of horror, muttering: "A monster... this Cultivation speed is simply a monster!"

Zhang Jiba was equally shocked, roaring in a muffled voice: "But his Aura is indeed at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining Stage! This... this is unreasonable! Even for a Heavenly Spiritual Root, I've never heard of anything this outrageous!"

Ye Xiaoyao took in the spectacular expressions of shock, jealousy, and disbelief on the four people's faces, feeling secretly satisfied in his heart.

Shocked, are you?

Envious, are you?

Jealous, are you?

This will let you witness the Cultivation speed of a Genius!

Yet, his expression remained light and breezy, and he even gave Lu Guan a smile that seemed humble but was actually infuriating, teasing:

"Senior Brother Lu, why make such a fuss? This Junior Brother has just been lucky, having taken a few more bottles of Medicinal Pills and practicing diligently, which can't compare to you, Senior Brother, steady and solid, having cultivated for many years, with a cultivation level almost at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage, just one step away from Foundation Establishment. This profound Foundation and perseverance, I, your Junior Brother, am far from catching up."

Ye Xiaoyao deliberately emphasized the words "cultivated for many years" and "far from catching up," and anyone could hear the thick sarcasm in his words.

You've cultivated for so many years and are only at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Stage, while I broke through two levels in a few days; do you have the nerve to show off in front of me?

"You!!"

Lu Guan was stabbed in the lung by these words, his face instantly turning from red to purple, then from purple to black, his chest heaving violently, so angry that he almost couldn't catch his breath.

His cultivation speed was not the top in the Outer Sect, but it was definitely not slow. He hated others bringing this up the most, especially being mocked to his face by someone he regarded as "trash"!

The commotion here had long since attracted the attention of other Disciples in the plaza.

Many Disciples who were practicing or sparring stopped their movements and curiously gathered around.

A beautiful female Cultivator recognized Ye Xiaoyao and covered her mouth with a soft exclamation:

"Huh? Isn't that Junior Brother Ye Xiaoyao? He... when did he reach the Sixth Level of Qi Refining Stage? Last time I saw him, he seemed to be only at the Third Level? This speed... is too fast, right?"

A male Cultivator beside her chimed in with a sour tone: "What's so strange about that? He is now the Dao Companion of Her Highness the Saintess. A little bit of resources leaking through her fingers is enough for us to struggle for several years. It's just cultivation piled up by Medicinal Pills."

The discussion reached Lu Guan's ears, making him even more embarrassed.

He suppressed the impulse to strangle Ye Xiaoyao, took a few deep breaths, and his face barely recovered some pallor, though the malice in his eyes was almost tangible.

He knew that in full view of everyone, especially with the possibility of the Saintess's people watching in the dark, he could no longer act recklessly as before.

Ye Xiaoyao's cultivation improvement was also unexpected; he was no longer a soft persimmon that could be easily captured.

But he, Lu Guan, was not someone who would easily suffer a loss?

His eyes rolled, and a sinister idea surfaced in his mind.

A hypocritical fake smile was squeezed back onto his face, and his tone became earnest.

"Junior Brother Ye, it's a good thing that your cultivation has improved fast, but don't be too happy too soon. Do you know that the Sect's once-in-a-decade Bloody Trial is about to begin?"

Ye Xiaoyao's heart stirred.

He had heard of the Bloody Trial not long after joining the Sect.

It was a dangerous Forbidden Ground jointly opened by several major Sects in the Southern Border, such as the Yin Yang Sect, Joyful Union Sect, Poison Gu Sect, and Blood Demon Hall, to hone Qi Refinement Stage Disciples.

It opens every ten years, and each Sect sends Disciples who meet the criteria—above the Middle Stage of Qi Refining Stage and who have not participated in the trial—to enter, hunt Yao Beasts, and collect Spirit Medicine. During this period, fighting is allowed, and the casualty rate is quite high.

"I've heard a little about it. Senior Brother Lu, what do you mean by bringing this up?"

Ye Xiaoyao asked calmly.

"What do I mean?"

Lu Guan sneered, shaking his folding fan lightly.

"Junior Brother Ye, you are a smart person. This Bloody Trial is not a friendly sparring match within the Sect. Inside the Forbidden Ground, Yao Beasts run rampant, poisonous miasma is everywhere, and what's more deadly... are the Disciples of other Sects. In order to compete for precious Spirit Medicine and Yao Beast Materials, killing people for treasure is a common occurrence."

He paused, his gaze locked onto Ye Xiaoyao like a venomous snake, saying word by word:

"And you, Junior Brother Ye, have been in the Sect for three years, and your cultivation has just reached the Middle Stage of Qi Refining Stage. According to the Sect's rules, you must participate in this Bloody Trial."

Lu Guan's mouth curled slightly, and he continued: "But don't worry, I haven't participated either, and I have to go this time too. So... in the trial's Forbidden Ground, I will definitely take good care of you. After all, we are fellow Disciples, right?"

He said the word "take care of" with profound meaning, and the threat was obvious.

Clearly, he intended to strike at Ye Xiaoyao in the trial's Forbidden Ground, where fighting is permitted by the rules and it is difficult for the outside world to monitor!

Ye Xiaoyao cursed inwardly.

Of course, he understood Lu Guan's scheme.

If he died in the Forbidden Ground, it could be completely blamed on Yao Beasts or other Sect Disciples, and the Sect would find it hard to investigate.

This was indeed a great opportunity to get rid of him openly and honestly.

Trouble was indeed coming one after another.

The rapid improvement in cultivation had brought strength and confidence, but it was also like a torch lit in the dark, making it easier to attract predators.

It also forced him to face some dangers that he could have temporarily avoided, such as this mandatory Bloody Trial.

But he, Ye Xiaoyao, was not scared easily.

Suppressing the trace of worry in his heart, Ye Xiaoyao instead showed a smile on his face that was brighter and even more infuriating than Lu Guan's.

"Since Senior Brother Lu is so enthusiastic, I thank you in advance. However, although the Bloody Trial is dangerous, I consider myself to have some small means of self-preservation, so I might not need your care, Senior Brother. It is you, Senior Brother, who should be extremely vigilant when entering the Forbidden Ground. You must... not be targeted by any fierce Yao Beasts that don't have eyes, or step into any powerful poisonous miasma traps. If you end up missing limbs or even having no corpse left, that would not be pleasant."

"You—!!!"

Lu Guan was choked again, a breath stuck in his chest, and murderous intent erupted in his eyes.