101: Star Fruit

"Alright, Yang Kai, you managed to fool a Nascent Soul Old Monster with just a few words. You're impressive!" Zi Ning walked into the hall, closed the door, and said with some excitement.

Yang Kai smiled slightly, not surprised at all that Zi Ning, though not present, knew everything that had just happened.

Yang Kai took a conch from his embrace, tossed it to Zi Ning, and asked, "This Magic Treasure of yours is really practical. What's the distance limit?"

"Well, it's only about a hundred meters or so." Zi Ning's tone sounded somewhat modest, but her proud expression clearly showed her immense satisfaction.

Yang Kai nodded, also amazed by the power of this treasure. This treasure was called the Sound Transmission Conch, crafted in pairs. The two holders of this treasure could transmit sounds, ignoring general Formations and Restrictions, and the astonishing range was a full hundred meters. This meant that if someone carried this treasure into a certain place for investigation or stealth, the receiver could transmit messages as long as they were within a hundred meters. Such a powerful treasure was merely a small trinket casually refined by Zi Ning's father, which showed how earth-shattering his Artifact Refining attainments must be.

"Do you think an old monster who has Cultivated for several hundred years is so easy to fool?" Yang Kai saw Zi Ning's triumphant expression and retorted.

"Isn't he? With that token of his, you can make this Du Pang Dynasty serve you. Your power is almost comparable to that little emperor's." Zi Ning said, somewhat puzzled.

"It's just a transaction. He's wary of my background and also values my talent, wanting to invest and befriend me. It's just a token; how effective it truly is depends on that old man's word, doesn't it?" Yang Kai's lips curled into a mocking smile, and when he mentioned the Fourth Patriarch again, he showed none of the previous warmth.

Zi Ning suddenly understood and said with some surprise, "Were you two acting just now?"

"Life is like a play, all relying on acting. We each get what we need. There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests." Yang Kai, having lived two lives and spent over three years in this Another world (alternate world), had considerable insight into the Dao of survival. It was normal for Zi Ning, who was not deeply involved in the world, to find Yang Kai's sudden change difficult to comprehend.

"So what do we do next? Have the Du Pang Dynasty mobilize the secular world's forces to investigate the mission?" Zi Ning was also a carefree person; she would cast aside things she couldn't understand and then asked about what she had been concerned about.

"No hurry. My injuries haven't healed yet, and the internal situation of the Du Pang Dynasty is unclear. We are currently playing with fire, don't forget Meng Yun's previous warning." Yang Kai shook his head, his expression somewhat grave.

"You have a point. Give me your hand; I'll check how your recovery is progressing." Zi Ning extended her hand, took out a clean white handkerchief, and motioned for Yang Kai to place his hand on the table.

Upon hearing this, Yang Kai extended his arm. Zi Ning placed the handkerchief on Yang Kai's wrist, and then, as if taking his pulse, a faint clear stream entered Yang Kai's Meridians through his wrist, quickly surveying about seventy to eighty percent of Yang Kai's internal condition.

When Yang Kai was severely injured and unconscious before, it was Zi Ning who used her methods to stabilize his injuries. Zi Ning's father, Langya Superior, was proficient in both Alchemy and Artifact Refining. Zi Ning's Cultivation and combat power were only average, but she was very dedicated to the Dao of Pills and medicinal principles. Although she had not yet officially Cultivated the Dao of Pills, she had considerable experience in treating injuries.

"Your Physique is truly extraordinary. Such severe injuries have recovered by nearly fifty percent in just a few days. I think in less than ten days, your injuries will heal on their own." Zi Ning withdrew her hand from Yang Kai's wrist and said with a sigh of relief.

"Ten days is too long. Delays can lead to complications. Tell me, what Heaven And Earth Treasure can help me quickly recover from the loss of Qi and blood, and ideally also provide a large amount of pure Spiritual Qi? If I can Breakthrough to the second layer of the Opening Origin Realm, the Gathering Yuan Realm, my combat power will be comparable to a Core Formation Cultivator, and subsequent actions will be much easier." Yang Kai shook his head, rejecting Zi Ning's suggestion, and asked. Zi Ning was very knowledgeable about various Heaven And Earth Treasures; he had experienced this deeply in that trial space before.

Zi Ning pondered for a moment, then blurted out, "There are many Heaven And Earth Treasures that restore Qi and blood. crimson blood dragon ginseng, Golden Muscle Grass, Purple Veined Blood Lotus Root, and so on, all meet your requirements, and they are not rare items. The Du Pang Dynasty should have some in its collection. There are even more Heaven And Earth Treasures containing a large amount of pure Spiritual Qi, but if you want to Breakthrough to the Gathering Yuan Realm, the star essence fruit should be your first choice."

Yang Kai nodded slightly, then asked with some confusion, "What's so special about this star essence fruit?"

When it came to Heaven And Earth Treasures, Zi Ning immediately became excited. Her eyes brightened, and she spoke voluminously, "This star essence fruit grows at the Peak of Spiritual Veins reflected by the Nine Heavens Star River. The fruit's skin is covered with flowing silver star patterns. After consumption, the star patterns will transform into specks of starlight and integrate into the Cultivator's body, greatly aiding in the condensation of Yuan Power, and even imbuing the Yuan Power with the power of the stars, making Martial Skills even more powerful when used in the future."

Yang Kai pursed his lips upon hearing this; just the description made him somewhat impatient. However, before he could continue to inquire about other information regarding the star essence fruit, Zi Ning seemed to have just come to her senses, and said with some disbelief, "Wait! You said you're about to Breakthrough to the Gathering Yuan Realm?"

Yang Kai didn't know why Zi Ning asked such a question, but he calmly nodded, affirming it, and then waited for Zi Ning's next words.

"The Gathering Yuan Realm is the watershed for Body Refiners! Only by condensing Yuan Power can a Body Refiner truly step into the threshold of the Body Refining Dao. How many years have you been Cultivating? Even among the Inner Sect Disciples on Hongwu Peak, not many have Broken Through to the Gathering Yuan Realm!" Zi Ning kept scrutinizing Yang Kai, thinking in shock about what kind of monster this person was.

Outer Sect Disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect had a ten-year period; Disciples who failed to Breakthrough Foundation Establishment or advance to the Inner Sect within ten years had no choice but to leave the Flowing Cloud Sect and complete missions outside. The same applied to Inner Sect Disciples; if they failed to Breakthrough the Core Formation Realm or become elite Inner Sect Disciples within thirty years, they would have to relinquish their Disciple status and be appointed as deacons, continuing to contribute to the Sect.

Most Disciples who specialized in Body Refining within the Flowing Cloud Sect joined Hongwu Peak to Cultivate. Her father had previously mentioned the situation of the younger generation of Disciples in the Flowing Cloud Sect, which was why she was shocked that Yang Kai had such a Body Refining Cultivation before even entering the Inner Sect.

"You will naturally know about this in the future. But speaking of which, I also have a question I'm curious about." Yang Kai heard that Zi Ning was surprised by his Body Refining Cultivation, so he waved his hand to brush it off, then suddenly remembered something and asked.

"What is it?" This time, it was Zi Ning who was confused.

"Your Cultivation has long reached the Peak of Qi Refining, and you also received the Old Ancestor's legacy. Now, Zhao Hongyu and others are all in seclusion to Breakthrough the Foundation Establishment Realm, so why aren't you in seclusion to Breakthrough, but instead wandering outside?" Yang Kai looked at Zi Ning and asked with some confusion.