"The intermediate energy points required to upgrade to one-star Dou Huang are now 8,500. Is that an increase?"
"Yes/No."
A simple "yes/no" made Mo Tang's eyes widen in astonishment.
"Eight thousand five? But I saw it was clearly nine thousand earlier. How could it be five hundred points less? Is there a system glitch?"
Of course, the latter part was just a casual remark. System glitches only happened in those crappy online games of his past life. For a time-travel system, the quality was still very reliable.
Even so, the energy points required to upgrade had indeed decreased—a full five hundred points!
"Could it be because my aptitude had improved?"
For such a change in such a short period of time, this seemed to be the only possible explanation Mo Tang could guess.
"That's not right..."
"Higher aptitude requires fewer energy points, lower aptitude requires more. Aren't you discriminating?"
Clearly, the system wouldn't answer his question.
But it was already set, and Mo Tang couldn't change it, whether he wanted to or not.
"But I've taken aptitude-boosting pills before, and they did improve my aptitude, so why didn't I reduce my energy?"
Earlier in Black Rock City, he'd traded a Marrow Cleansing and Bone-Destroying Pill from Xiao Yan.
However, the improvement to his aptitude at the time was minimal, and Mo Tang hadn't paid much attention to it, so it's possible the reduction was there, but the amount was so small that he overlooked it.
Regardless, it was clear that Mo Tang had gotten the advantage.
If every star reduced his energy by 500 points, then by the time he reached Dou Zong, he'd save thousands of points—far more than simply absorbing and converting it!
Satisfied, he closed the system panel and looked up to see Medusa's quizzical face.
"What's wrong?" Mo Tang asked concernedly.
Medusa suppressed a smile, imagining Mo Tang's expression, alternately excited, shocked, and depressed, as if imitating a series of facial expressions...
"You, what were you thinking just now?"
Since only Mo Tang could see the system panel, his actions just now seemed foolish and insane to Medusa.
"Uh..."
Mo Tang finally realized what was happening, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Luckily, he had a thick skin and abruptly turned the page. Looking at Medusa, he said, "Well, it's time for us to leave. It's been three months, and Xiao Yixian's training should be over by now..."
Seeing Mo Tang's forced change of subject, Medusa didn't confront him, but followed him out of the ruins.
Returning to the Poison Soul Valley, they found Xiao Yixian's retreat and happened to witness her final breakthrough.
Boom!
With a resounding explosion, the energy and poisonous fog throughout the Poison Soul Valley erupted in a turmoil.
As if drawn by some kind of force, the surrounding energy began to converge frantically towards Xiao Yixian's poisonous fog.
"Is it really about to break through?"
Queen Medusa's face flickered with surprise at the movement.
She hadn't expected this afflicted poison body to actually reach three stars in just three months, and even leap through the final Dou Huang barrier, ascending to Dou Zong status!
Mo Tang was truly confident. "Are you kidding? You think this source energy is fake?"
As the two conversed, the tremors within the heavens and earth intensified.
Streams of dense energy, mingled with a thick, poisonous mist, continuously seeped out from the heavens and earth, pouring endlessly into the vortex surrounding Little Medical Immortal.
From afar, the entire Poison Soul Valley seemed engulfed in a dazzling, raging energy, a truly spectacular sight.
Such a commotion naturally attracted the attention of the poisonous insects and monsters throughout the Poison Soul Valley.
For a moment, countless gazes, ranging from astonishment to fear, gazed at the raging energy that seemed to materialize in the sky. The faint, pervasive pressure of energy instilled a sense of dread in even the weaker monsters.
As time went on, the changes in the heavens and earth not only continued unabated, but intensified. In the end, it was like countless colorful streaks streaking down from the sky...
"Is this aura truly just that of a one-star Dou Zong?"
Mo Tang couldn't help but wonder as he felt the throbbing sensation.
Queen Medusa observed the scene with a burning gaze. Hearing Mo Tang's whispered demands, she immediately replied, "Judging from this aura alone, even an ordinary peak-level one-star Dou Zong wouldn't be able to compare.
However, this is likely due to her recent breakthrough, so her aura reached its peak. Once her breakthrough is complete and her strength stabilizes, it should gradually decrease."
Mo Tang nodded, finding this explanation plausible.
In many cases, breakthroughs aren't necessarily the only way to achieve success.
If one relies solely on a single, swift push, the Dou Qi within one's body will become too volatile, causing instability in their realm. In severe cases, this could lead to regression and even personal injury.
Therefore, many people, when attempting a breakthrough, would take advantage of the surrounding heavenly and earthly energy to diligently compress and solidify their Dou Qi.
Xiao Yixian clearly understood this, so after her Qi reached its peak, she began diligently compressing it, causing it to slowly decline. Then, she would raise it again, compress it again...
After repeated cycles, Xiao Yixian's Qi finally settled at the peak of the One-Star Dou Zong realm, unable to drop any lower.
"Is this the end?"
Mo Tang, who had watched this back and forth with trepidation, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
There was no other way; he had relied on cheats to boost his cultivation, reaching peak form straight away. He had never experienced this kind of repeated compression of Dou Qi.
As the two watched, the vortex of poisonous energy that permeated the sky seemed to be torn apart by an invisible hand, automatically splitting a channel...
And the moment the channel appeared, a slender figure slowly emerged.
With a light step on the air, dressed in snow-white robes, she emanated an ethereal aura, like a fairy. The overwhelming aura emanating from her body was like a scimitar sword, piercing the boundless sky above!
"Dou Zong..."
Mo Tang's eyes shone as he gazed at the figure, unable to resist the words.
Furthermore, because the shortcomings of her poisonous body had been completely remedied, Xiao Yixian's hair, which had originally turned gray, had returned to its original black strands. As she stepped into the air and gracefully approached Mo Tang, his eyes widened...
(End of Chapter)