Chapter 19: Qiu Yinger's Suspicions

"Sigh, I've finally broken through."

A hint of a smile appeared on Wen Zhixing's lips.

The Qi Concealment Skill was mastered, and his cultivation realm had also successfully advanced.

Immediately, Wen Zhixing checked his own profile.

[Name: Wen Zhixing.]

[Life-span: 17/83.]

[Constitution: Revival of the Withered Tree (Blazing Gold).]

[Talent: Extraordinarily Intelligent (White).]

[Cultivation Skill: Tai Chi Health-Preserving Skill (Grey).]

[Secret Skill: Blood Escape Skill (White), Calming Heart Mantra (Grey), [Qi Concealment Skill] (Grey)]

[Realm: Shedding Mortal Realm Third Layer.]

[Fortune Points: 10.]

[Fortune Fragment: None.]

"Very good, no oversights, and enough Fortune Points."

Wen Zhixing's eyes sparkled brilliantly. Without hesitation, he chose to apply all 10 Fortune Points to the Qi Concealment Skill.

"Qi Concealment Skill, level up!"

[You have consumed 10 Fortune Points. Qi Concealment Skill (Grey) is upgrading.]

[Upgrade complete. You have obtained the secret skill: Concealing Spirit Skill!]

[Concealing Spirit Skill:] White Quality. Can conceal one's aura while also disguising one's state, confusing the scrutiny of others.

[Disadvantage:] Can only evade the scrutiny of cultivators up to the Spirit Communication Realm.

[Consume one hundred Fortune Points to upgrade to Blue Quality.]

"It can even disguise one's state?"

Wen Zhixing was delighted. He immediately formed hand seals and began to use this newly acquired secret skill.

In an instant, the aura around him began to recede.

Simultaneously, his originally ruddy complexion started to turn a deathly pale, and his robust muscles began to wither, making him appear weak and delicate at a glance.

"Goodness, I'm even deceiving myself."

Wen Zhixing fetched a basin of water, and looking at his own reflection, was surprised by his appearance.

With this Concealing Spirit Skill, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Once the Concealing Spirit Skill was activated, it automatically consumed the essence energy within his body to maintain the current state, unless Wen Zhixing himself chose to deactivate it.

It was incredibly convenient.

His only concern was Si Nanyan's cultivation realm; if she was beyond the Spirit Communication Realm, things would become problematic.

Wen Zhixing hadn't been a cultivator for long and was still unaware of the realms beyond the Mysterious Might Realm.

I need to find an opportunity to learn about this.

Wen Zhixing pondered for a moment and then thought of someone.

Zhang Tiancheng! It had to be Zhang Tiancheng.

Most furnaces, like himself, only knew of the three realms: Shedding Mortal, Qi Activation, and Mysterious Might. But Zhang Tiancheng was different. He was something of an undercover agent. Even if Zhang Tiancheng didn't know, he could always ask that Mu from the Righteous Sun Sect.

It's also time to get in touch with Mu Yunqing.

Wen Zhixing continued to ponder, his mind beginning to scheme.

Relying on my own strength, it's definitely impossible to confront the Wondrous Palace. Now that I've established a firm foothold here, it's time to find a way out for myself.

I must continue to cultivate. Another year of my life-span has been deducted; I have to recover as much as I can.

Wen Zhixing wasn't in a rush to go out; he quietly waited for Zhang Tiancheng to come to him.

「In the Wondrous Palace, a secret chamber behind the mountain.」

This place was where Si Nanyan usually cultivated and engaged in closed-door cultivation.

The secret chamber, both inside and out, was protected by several grand arrays, making it impossible for outsiders to intrude easily.

At this moment, Si Nanyan was seated cross-legged within.

Her cultivation had already reached the pinnacle of the Divine Communication Realm. For some time, she had been trying to break through to the next realm.

However, once cultivation reached such a level, even with signs of an impending breakthrough, advancing was not a simple matter. It required deep accumulation and a suitable opportunity. Heavenly timing, earthly advantage, and human harmony—all were indispensable.

"Master, we have some leads on the traitor within the sect. With a bit more time, we should be able to capture them."

"The Righteous Sun Sect has been stirring up trouble recently. They're likely making covert moves against our sect, possibly to probe the extent of your injuries, Master..."

"..."

"Deputy Palace Master Feng has been away from the sect for over half a month now..."

"..."

Qiu Yinger appeared before Si Nanyan, silently reporting on the recent events.

Si Nanyan remained seated cross-legged with her eyes closed and did not respond.

"Also, Master... Yun went to see Wen Zhixing."

Qiu Yinger reported the matters one by one, eventually coming to the issue concerning Yun Xinyue and Si Nanyan.

"Oh?" Si Nanyan's elegant eyebrows arched slightly as her eyes slowly opened.

"Now Yun has also begun her closed-door cultivation. It's possible she might break through to the Visualization Realm..."

"Not bad." Upon hearing this, Si Nanyan uttered words of praise, then added, "Yinger, you only recently stepped into the Mysterious Might Realm, so there's no need to rush."

"Master, I understand," Qiu Yinger nodded.

After the three Qi Transformation Realms comes the Spirit Communication Realm.

The Spirit Communication Realm is also divided into three minor realms: Visualization, Divine Wandering, and Divine Ability.

Once a cultivator steps into the Visualization Realm, their divine soul can be refined and elevated to a higher level through the method of visualization. The divine soul can even break free from its restraints, achieving the ability to leave the body and wander—this is what's known as the soul leaving the body. Ultimately, one can even cultivate an Inborn Divine Ability. Each Inborn Divine Ability constitutes a cultivator's ultimate trump card.

These are the three stages of the Spirit Communication Realm.

For Yun Xinyue to break through to the Visualization Realm at such a young age, she was truly exceptionally talented. Even Si Nanyan herself was currently only at the Divine Communication Realm. Of course, cultivators at the Divine Communication Realm are already revered by the world as great supernatural power masters.

Qiu Yinger suddenly thought of something and continued, "Right, Master, Ning Shan, Deputy Palace Master Feng's disciple, also saw Wen Zhixing. Yun was there at the time; it seems there was some conflict, and a furnace died as a result."

"Feng Ruoli's disciple, hmm... No matter. Since Yun was there, it must have been handled properly."

Si Nanyan's expression shifted slightly upon hearing Feng Ruoli's name, but she didn't dwell on it. Although they were rivals, their conflict hadn't escalated to a life-or-death struggle. Besides, she was on the brink of a breakthrough. Once she advanced her realm, even if Feng Ruoli wanted to cause trouble, she wouldn't be able to achieve much.

"Master, there's one more thing this disciple has thought of," Qiu Yinger pondered for a moment before continuing, "Regarding Wen Zhixing."

"Speak."

"According to the disciples monitoring him, Wen Zhixing seems different from the others; his mind is unusually clear. Most people show some dullness for a while after taking the elixirs for the first time."

"What are you implying?" Si Nanyan raised an eyebrow.

"Wen Zhixing has a unique constitution with a fast recovery rate... Is it possible that he didn't actually consume the elixir at all and is relying solely on his own recovery?"

"Oh?" This time, even Si Nanyan furrowed her brows.

It had to be said, Qiu Yinger's reasoning was sound.

Si Nanyan pondered for a moment, a glint of coldness flashing in her eyes. "No matter. You go in person and make him consume it."

"Yes, Master," Qiu Yinger nodded, ready to leave when Si Nanyan spoke again. "Wait."

"Using only the elixir isn't foolproof. First, go and collect some materials for me. In a few days, I will refine a pair of Mother-Child Venomous Worms. Then, you will take them and implant them into Wen Zhixing."

"Mother-Child Venomous Worms!"

Hearing these words, Qiu Yinger was also slightly startled.

If he were afflicted with those worms, then Wen Zhixing's life and death would be entirely in their hands. There would be absolutely no chance of escape.

Indeed, Master's considerations were truly thorough.

「Another three days passed.」

Wen Zhixing had remained holed up in his room, intending to wait for Zhang Tiancheng. However, Zhang Tiancheng never arrived.

For some reason, he felt an indistinct unease. Everything seemed rather strange. But given his current situation, it wasn't wise for him to venture outside recklessly. After all, he was supposed to be recuperating.

As Wen Zhixing pondered, his ears twitched.

With the improvement of his realm, his hearing had become increasingly acute.

He detected someone entering his courtyard.

And that someone was not Zhang Tiancheng.