'I've reached the Qi Refining Third Layer. This year's assessment should be no problem.' A slight smile touched Qi Yun's lips as his Heart and Spirit sank into his Purple Mansion Dantian.
His Dantian, once filled with filth and miasma, was now pristine and clear.
The incandescent white Innate True Qi had formed a pure vortex. This was his True Qi Heart Method operating on its own, continuously gathering the newly-formed True Qi from the meridians throughout his body and drawing it into the Qi Sea of his Dantian.
'The Black-clothed Cultivator in charge of teaching cultivation at Ling Family Mountain once said that the Qi Refining Realm is like a staircase. With every step up, you experience a completely different view.
Now I see it's really true.
At the Qi Refining Third Layer, the Cultivation Skill operates automatically. Even without consciously circulating my energy, my True Qi replenishes itself endlessly.
So if I break through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer and connect with the celestial phenomena…what would that be like…?'
As his thoughts began to drift, Qi Yun suddenly shook his head, casting the fantasies aside.
'Aiming too high and rushing for quick success—those are major taboos in cultivation!'
'My foundation is newly established. There's no need to rush into breaking through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.
Besides, the Qi Refining Fourth Layer requires comprehending celestial phenomena, which can't be achieved overnight.
There's still some medicinal power left from the Qi Spirit Pill, and I have plenty of Holy Essence saved up from selling Talismans…' A glint flashed in his eyes. 'I should add two more types of Magic, purchase some Spiritual Objects, and "upgrade" the versions of the Magic I already have!'
Nodding slightly, Qi Yun rose and strode toward the Screen Wall in his courtyard. He inserted his Taixu Jade Token, and the dazzling interface of the Infinite Treasure Market once again filled the Jade Disc.
'You make money by spending it, not by hoarding it.'
'Besides, I already have the skill to craft Talismans. Even if I spend all my Holy Essence, I can just go back to my old trade.'
Gazing at the various types of Magic on the Screen Wall, Qi Yun pursed his lips in thought.
'The Clear Wind Technique is for escape and Invisibility, and Basic Sword Qi is for combat.
So what I'm currently lacking, first and foremost, is a way to defend myself and fend off enemies.'
Having come to a conclusion, Qi Yun immediately began to search through the Infinite Treasure Market.
'Although the Clear Wind Technique 3.0 has a one-time attack-dodging effect…
…that's a risky move for critical moments, a last resort to save my life.
Using it for everyday protection is too risky and would easily expose my true strength and background.'
What he needed was a common, ordinary Protective Technique with a low cultivation threshold, and one whose contained Daoist Intent was not particularly rare.
This way, it would offer effective protection without attracting attention. And in the future, it would be relatively easier to find the Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects needed to "update" it.
His fingertips slid quickly across the Jade Disc. Name after name of Magic techniques flashed before his eyes. Qi Yun mentally noted a few options, but his gaze continued to search deeper.
'There it is!'
His eyes narrowed. Qi Yun's hand paused, and the name of a Magic scroll on the Screen Wall slowly came to a stop.
*Skull Curse*
[One of the eighteen great protective Curses of the former White Bone Demon Sect. After the White Bone Demon Sect was annihilated by the Holy Sect's Sea Splitting Heaven Ascending True Monarch, its various Techniques and Demon Techniques were absorbed by the Holy Sect.]
[To cultivate this Curse, one must use the skull of a person who died a violent death as a material to gather countless baleful auras and resentful thoughts. Then, using one's own True Qi to activate it, one can release it for protection when facing enemies. Not only can it spew resentful energy to hinder foes, but it can also block their attacks.]
"This is the one!"
The moment he saw this Magic, Qi Yun knew he had found what he was looking for.
*Skull Curse*
One of the most commonly cultivated Protective Techniques among the Outer Mansion Disciples of the Infinite Demon Sect.
The reason was simple—the cultivation materials were far too easy to obtain!
The skull of someone who died a violent death?
Please. Finding someone who died violently is easy; it's finding someone who died of natural causes that's hard.
Baleful auras and resentful thoughts?
They'd probably pay you to take it off their hands. How could the Demon Sect ever be short on that?
For this very reason, the *Skull Curse* had become one of the mandatory Protective Techniques for the Outer Mansion Disciples of the Infinite Demon Sect.
However, the only drawback to this Protective Technique was its slightly higher cultivation difficulty.
Many Outer Mansion Disciples suffered backlash from the baleful auras and resentful thoughts while cultivating it.
A large portion of the "youth edition" Exorcism and Evil-Breaking Talismans that Qi Yun had sold before were snatched up by fellow disciples who were suffering backlash from cultivating the *Skull Curse*.
With his goal clear, Qi Yun unhesitatingly selected and purchased the most expensive version of the *Skull Curse* in the Infinite Treasure Market, the one marked "Detailed Essentials."
The *Skull Curse* was a Protective Technique that could only be cultivated from the Qi Refining Third Layer. Compared to the Clear Wind Technique and Basic Sword Qi, its difficulty wasn't just the difference between heaven and earth—it was the difference between basic arithmetic and algebra.
Qi Yun had a fairly clear understanding of his own aptitude and talent.
Although the detailed version was expensive, it would save him the time of figuring it out on his own. All in all, it was a good deal.
The "logistics" efficiency of the Infinite Treasure Market was as astonishing as ever.
Soon, there was a knock on the courtyard gate.
The package was in his hands. Inside was not only the Dharma Transmission Jade Talisman that recorded the *Skull Curse*.
The seller had also thoughtfully included a…freshly acquired, still-reeking-of-blood skull of a person who had died violently, as well as a tightly sealed bottle. Inside the bottle, black gas roiled, and the faint, shrill screams of a potent, resentful aura could be heard!
'Tsk. This level of service is on par with online shopping from my past life.'
Now that he had the protective Spell, Qi Yun wasted no time. Clutching the bundle containing the Dharma Transmission Jade Talisman and cultivation materials, he prepared to return to his room to cultivate.
But he had just turned around, not even having descended the steps from the gate, when another series of knocks came from behind him.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—
"Hm?"
Halting his steps, Qi Yun narrowed his eyes and turned to look back at the courtyard gate.
'Someone's looking for me?'
He had been in the sect for over half a year, and aside from Cao Song, who had come to his door to explain the sect's rules when he first arrived at the Outer Mansion, no one had ever come looking for him.
'But today…'
Pulling open the gate, Qi Yun eyed the man standing before him with suspicion.
His clothes were much neater and more presentable than those of the delivery servants. His face lacked their drained, numb exhaustion. His eyes were calm, carrying a hint of professional detachment.
"Are you Qi Yun?" the man asked to confirm, his voice flat.
"I am." Qi Yun nodded, his gaze scrutinizing.
The man took a letter sealed in yellowish paper from his satchel, carefully checked the name, and handed it over:
"Your letter."
"A letter?" Qi Yun didn't take it immediately. His brow furrowed, his suspicion deepening. "Who sent it?"
"Wu Tao, from the Ninth Outer Mansion," the man answered clearly.
"Wu Tao?"
Qi Yun froze at the name.
He barely knew Wu Tao. Why would he suddenly write him a letter?
Taking the envelope, Qi Yun frowned slightly, sensing that something was wrong. He closed the courtyard gate, walked over to a stone chair in the yard, sat down, and opened the letter.
RUSTLE—
The paper was pulled out and unfolded.
A line of small characters instantly leaped into view:
"My brother Qi Yun, may this letter find you well…"
The moment he saw those first few words, Qi Yun's head snapped up. His face darkened as he slammed the letter shut.
An icy chill shot up from the soles of his feet to the top of his skull!
'This is bad.'
'That thing… has it been exposed?'
…