27: Gift before departure

Ningshen Mystic Realm Management Committee.

Elder Yang's cultivation room.

Elder Yang and Xun Xiuyuan sat opposite each other.

"Young Friend Xun, I know you're very confused why I kept you behind alone. Actually, it's nothing much. After all, I'm from the Yang Family, so I'm here to try and win you over. That way, when the family asks, I'll have an explanation."

"Do you know about the situation in the Abyss?"

Young Friend Xun was already bewildered, and now he was even more at a loss, shaking his head.

"In the entire outer Thirteen City Gates, including some cities within the Passes, the human population is in the billions, but fewer than one hundred million people fight in the Abyss. Yet, those one hundred million people control ninety percent of humanity's cultivation resources."

"The billions of people in the entire outer region are like a starter village, or a large training institution. Why aren't the outer mutated beasts cleared out? Just arranging people in the Immaculate Realm could clear out the outer mutated beasts, so why isn't it done?"

"Why? Because the situation in the Abyss is not optimistic. We must maintain pressure on the outer region to give the young humans ample motivation to cultivate."

"I'm almost two hundred years old now. Because I was injured before and couldn't advance to the Transcendent Realm, I came here to peacefully retire."

"As long as one reaches the Innate Realm through effort in the outer region, they will basically be conscripted to the Abyss."

Xun Xiuyuan heard the term 'Transcendent' again: "Is Transcendent the realm after Immaculate?"

"Yes, from the first to seventh grades are the seven Body Refinement Realms, which are all part of the Body Refinement Realm. After that are the Innate Realm, Immaculate Realm, Transcendent Realm, Po Kong Realm, and Shattering Void Realm."

"I don't know beyond that, because the highest I've seen in the Abyss was only the Po Kong Realm. I'm not sure if the Shattering Void Realm exists, but I guess it probably does."

Elder Yang rambled on for a long time, but Xun Xiuyuan didn't understand Elder Yang's intention in saying all this, so he asked directly: "Elder Yang, did you call me here just to tell me all this?"

Elder Yang shook his head directly: "The essence of why I called you here is that I hope you can join my Yang Family, or at least get familiar with us in advance. It's that simple; it's fine if you don't agree."

"Logically speaking, I'm just an Innate, not worth such special efforts from a senior, right?"

Xun Xiuyuan was a little puzzled.

"Haha, if you were just an ordinary Innate, there would indeed be no need, but you are a powerful Innate who can single-handedly fight five hundred Innate mutated beasts. That's completely different. Skirmishes in the Abyss are basically peer-to-peer. Think about it, what would happen to someone who is almost invincible among their peers?"

Xun Xiuyuan understood. It was still because of his powerful talent for sustained combat.

"That concludes the introduction to the Abyss. This is all I know. Even if you don't join the Yang Family, it doesn't matter. If you encounter a Yang Family disciple in trouble and you have the ability to help, please lend a hand."

Xun Xiuyuan did not refuse and immediately agreed, then left the large factory building.

At the main entrance, Bi Qing and Bai Xiaoou had not left, but were waiting. Seeing Xun Xiuyuan come out, they immediately hailed the Azure Bird, and the three returned to Yuncheng Pass together.

After returning to Yuncheng Pass, Bi Qing immediately asked Xun Xiuyuan about the allocation of ningshen crystals. Now Xun Xiuyuan's combat power was even stronger than his, and besides, the ningshen crystals were brought out of the mystic realm by Xun Xiuyuan, who fought for his life.

Xun Xiuyuan knew Bi Qing's thoughts. After all, he had now also entered the Innate Realm, and logically speaking, his demand for ningshen crystals was also relatively high.

"Pass Lord, how many ningshen crystals do you think you need to advance to the Immaculate Realm?"

"It is said that the ningshen crystals needed to advance to the Immaculate Realm are at least ten times those needed to advance to the Innate Realm. However, I have slowly refined dozens of them before, and with years of cultivation, I estimate I still need about five hundred."

Of course, advancing from Innate to Immaculate to enhance spiritual power was not only possible through ningshen crystals. Seeing Bi Qing say this, Xun Xiuyuan did not ask further and directly took out five hundred ningshen crystals and handed them to Bi Qing.

After thinking for a moment, Xun Xiuyuan took out another thousand ningshen crystals and handed them to Bi Qing again.

Bi Qing was puzzled: "This is?"

Xun Xiuyuan smiled: "I'm afraid you won't have enough. Also, Elder Yang said that once I advance to Innate, I will quickly go to the Abyss. My maternal grandfather is still in Yuncheng Pass, and I hope Pass Lord will take good care of him."

"Yes, Elder Yang is right. You have advanced to the Innate Realm. I need to report to the City Pass Headquarters and then wait for notification. You don't need to worry about your maternal grandfather in Yuncheng Pass; as long as I'm here, he will definitely be fine."

Xun Xiuyuan understood, nodded, bid farewell to Bi Qing, and returned to his villa.

When he entered the villa, Butler Old Liu was drinking alone in the courtyard.

"Grandpa Liu, has my maternal grandfather not come out yet?" Xun Xiuyuan asked with a smile.

Old Liu looked at Xun Xiuyuan: "Not yet, but he came out last night and said something about how it's great to have many resources, and he's almost at the fifth grade. But I think he's boasting."

Xun Xiuyuan knew that Old Liu and his maternal grandfather had gotten along very well during this time, and their temperaments were similar.

"Xiao Yuan, you're back." Ji Tianxun appeared at the villa entrance.

Xun Xiuyuan saw his maternal grandfather, immediately walked over, pulled him to sit down, and asked about his cultivation progress.

Finally, Xun Xiuyuan said: "Maternal grandfather, I have already advanced to the Innate Realm and may have to go to the Abyss very soon."

Ji Tianxun's eyes widened as he asked: "You've advanced to the Innate Realm? How many days has it been?"

"Yes, I don't know why, but I just muddled through and advanced."

"Haha, good, it's good to advance to Innate. Go to the Abyss, go. A man should die on the battlefield, wrapped in horsehide, fighting on the front lines, killing all those mutated beasts to avenge your maternal grandmother."

Ji Tianxun didn't show the usual reluctance of an old man; instead, he encouraged Xun Xiuyuan.

After chatting for a while, Ji Tianxun said he wanted to continue cultivating and reclaim the time lost in previous years.

After Xun Xiuyuan saw his maternal grandfather into the villa, he took out a large pile of low-grade body tempering liquids, breakthrough gene liquids, and so on from his Innate backpack: "Maternal grandfather, I don't need these now. Take them for your cultivation. I'm going to Li City Pass soon to see how Mother's treatment is progressing."

Ji Tianxun did not decline, fiercely patting Xun Xiuyuan's shoulder: "Xiao Yuan, after you enter the Abyss, I don't know what the situation is like there. But I think as long as you are true to your original intention, you can do anything. Go forth and conquer; your maternal grandfather will wait for your good news here."

Ji Tianxun didn't say anything deeply moving, nor did he act like a typical doting old man, but Xun Xiuyuan still sensed a hint of reluctance.

Xun Xiuyuan nodded and left the villa. He didn't know when the transfer order from the City Pass Headquarters would come down, so it was better to seize the time.

Zuo Wei Camp.

Bai Lingxiao exclaimed in surprise: "Xun Xiuyuan has advanced to the Innate Realm? You didn't mishear, did you?"

"How could I be wrong? And he's an extremely powerful Innate Realm cultivator, having single-handedly slain five hundred Innate mutated beasts."

Bai Xiaoou said excitedly.

"Xiao Ou, what bad things are you saying about me?"

Xun Xiuyuan's voice sounded behind Bai Xiaoou.

"Xiuyuan, why are you here? Did you go back to the villa?" Bai Xiaoou asked happily when she saw Xun Xiuyuan approach.

When he came out of the mystic realm exit, only Bai Xiaoou was foolishly waiting there, not leaving even when she was scared to tears.

Xun Xiuyuan was deeply moved.

He took out two bottles of medicine and handed them to Bai Lingxiao: "Uncle Bai, these are two bottles of Grade 6 breakthrough gene liquid. I don't have any use for them now. Why don't you take them to break through?"

Bai Lingxiao was stunned for a moment: "Is this a betrothal gift?"

"Dad, what are you saying?" Bai Xiaoou's face immediately flushed.

Xun Xiuyuan smiled, then took out a spatial ring and gave it to Bai Xiaoou.

"The cultivation resources and breakthrough gene liquid inside should at least allow you to cultivate to the seventh grade."

Bai Lingxiao said from the side: "Betrothal gifts and rings, are you here to propose, young man?"

"Uncle Bai, I've reached the Innate Realm, and I'll probably be going to the Abyss soon. These things are what I obtained from assisting others in resisting beast tides several times. If you all improve your strength, I'll feel more at ease."

Xun Xiuyuan's joy at giving resources lasted less than a minute. Upon hearing that he was leaving the City Pass for the Abyss, Bai Xiaoou couldn't be happy at all.

"When are you leaving?" Bai Xiaoou asked in a low voice.

"I don't know either. I'm waiting for notification, but I'm going to Li City Pass soon to visit Mother."

Bai Xiaoou said: "I want to go with you."

Xun Xiuyuan smiled: "Okay."