Cultivation System: Stronger with Age

"After all, the Six Prefectures of Nanjiang are nominally under the jurisdiction of the Great Xia Dynasty. However, the true experts of these Six Prefectures are actually gathered at Prince Yu's Mansion. Aside from a few Grand Elders of the Profound Phoenix Celestial Sect who guard the Southern Border and can barely contend with the experts from Prince Yu's Mansion, who else could resist them!"

Lin Xuankong looked at Zheng Yunrui. "You seem quite well-informed! What is the cultivation of that Golden Armor Golden Blade Martial Cultivator from just now, and Little Yu King?"

Zheng Yunrui sighed. "It seems Brother Mu has been diligently cultivating for years, paying no mind to worldly affairs. Which Martial Cultivator in the Southern Border doesn't know the fearsome reputation of Little Yu King? He is now at the Mid-grade Sixth Layer and is the only one in the Six Prefectures of Nanjiang to have reached the Sixth Layer before the age of thirty, with hopes of advancing to the Seventh Layer! Although his current strength isn't comparable to those old monsters who've cultivated for a hundred or even two hundred years, with such cultivation speed, becoming the foremost expert of the Southern Border is only a matter of time! As for the Golden Armor Golden Blade Martial Cultivator by his side, his name is Jin Zongshan. His strength is at the Early Stage of the Sixth Layer, and he specializes in the Golden Light Saber Technique; his power is also formidable! Most importantly, these people come from Prince Yu's Mansion and possess numerous treasures. Their strength cannot be judged by cultivation tier alone!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuankong glanced toward Little Yu King's group in the distance. His gaze lingered on the Golden Armor Golden Blade Martial Cultivator, a hint of battle intent gradually emerging in his eyes.

Zheng Yunrui noticed his expression, and a look of concern appeared in her eyes. "Jin Zongshan made his name over twenty years ago. He has been immersed in the Golden Light Saber Technique for many years and is known as one of the eighteen Golden Armor Guards of Prince Yu's Mansion. His strength is comparable to the leaders of top sects and patriarchs of top families, perhaps even surpassing them. He's not someone to be trifled with! Brother Mu, you obtained Little Yu King's Demon Fox Demon Pearl; it's really not a loss for you!"

Lin Xuankong pondered for a moment, then looked at Zheng Yunrui. "You seem to have a map as well. May I take a look? I'm planning to find a safe place to consume the Heavy Water Spiritual Object and break through my realm!"

Zheng Yunrui said, "Of course..." She took a map from her bosom and handed it to Lin Xuankong. However, just as Lin Xuankong was about to take the map, she suddenly remembered something. "Wait, what did you just say? You want to consume a Heavy Water Spiritual Object to break through your realm? But aren't these Sunflower Water Spiritual Objects typically used by those at the Fourth Layer to break through to the Fifth Layer?"

Lin Xuankong took the map. Looking at it, he said, "Nothing wrong with that!"

Zheng Yunrui raised her hand, touching her bun in confusion. "No, no, no! Of course, there's a problem! You instantly killed over a dozen Tier Five Corpse Scorpions. With that kind of combat power, how could you possibly be at the Fourth Layer Realm? Even I, at the Early Stage Fifth Layer, would find it difficult to defeat a single early-stage Tier Five Corpse Scorpion, let alone over a dozen! You... you... you're at the Fourth Layer?"

Lin Xuankong smiled. "Just a few minor tricks!"

Minor tricks? A Fourth Layer Martial Cultivator killing over ten Tier Five Corpse Scorpions was just 'minor tricks'? Zheng Yunrui's eyes widened.

But soon, she seemed to think of something else. "No, no, no, that's not right! What Martial Cultivator in this world would directly consume a Spiritual Object to break through? After we leave the Ba Mountain Secret Realm, you should give the Spiritual Object to an Alchemist of the officials. Have them refine it into a Sunflower Water Treasure Elixir before you consume it! If you directly consume Heavy Water Spiritual Objects, the success rate is said to be less than two percent. You only have two Heavy Water Spiritual Objects left; if you consume them directly, your chances of advancing will be incredibly low!"

She shook her head repeatedly at Lin Xuankong. "In Martial Dao cultivation, the greatest taboo is being too hasty. You mustn't waste such priceless Heavy Water Spiritual Objects!"

Lin Xuankong knew she meant well, so he didn't argue. Then, he pointed to a spot in the bottom-left corner of the map. "According to the map's records, there are no Cold Pools within a hundred miles of this location, and Corpse Scorpions are scarce. Let's choose this spot! By the way, aren't you going back to Yan Yunfei and his group?"

"They're a bunch of cowards; there's no point in sticking with them! Besides, following that Little Yu King means I'll inevitably be ordered around by him. It's just too unpleasant!"

「Half an hour later,」

At the entrance of a cave on the eastern side of the Ba Mountain Secret Realm, Zheng Yunrui watched Lin Xuankong walk into the cave. "After consuming the Heavy Water Spiritual Object, if you're successful, it generally takes at least twelve Hours to nurture the newly formed Sunflower Water Vein. You go on in. I happen to have nothing else to do, so I'll rest near the cave entrance for a while and help guard for you."

After Lin Xuankong walked into the depths of the cave, Zheng Yunrui sat on a large boulder at the entrance and sighed. Two drops of Heavy Water Spiritual Object... together, the success rate is probably just over three percent? But success rates don't add up like that. It's possible that even a hundred Heavy Water Spiritual Objects wouldn't guarantee success. Some unlucky individuals might fail to advance to the Fifth Layer even with two or three hundred! This Mu Shiba is really too impatient for results... Still, the Heavy Water Spiritual Objects are his; how he chooses to waste them is up to him!

While waiting, Zheng Yunrui took out a piece of Demon Flesh. After consuming it and feeling her Qi Blood gradually becoming abundant, she then retrieved a round, pale white Jade from her bosom. After calming her mind and steadying her breath, she activated her True Qi. Instantly, a stream of white True Qi enveloped her right palm. Her gaze focused, and she began to channel the True Qi into the Jade. The semi-transparent Jade flickered with brilliance, its pale white color gradually becoming more lustrous and pure. However, Zheng Yunrui's originally rosy complexion quickly turned pale, and her movements became weaker. It was unknown what this Jade was made of, but it could actually cause a Fifth Layer Martial Cultivator to become weak and feeble in such a short time.

「Half a Cup of Tea Time later,」

Footsteps echoed from the depths of the cave. Zheng Yunrui turned her head and saw Lin Xuankong already walking out.

She couldn't help but shake her head secretly. Just as I suspected, he didn't advance to the Fifth Layer. Otherwise, he definitely wouldn't have come out so quickly!

Mu Shiba must be feeling quite dejected right now. How should I comfort him? She rubbed her broad palms together, thinking to herself, Should I give him a hug? But I'm an unmarried maiden; that wouldn't be appropriate!

Lin Xuankong was oblivious to what the girl with the bun hairstyle was currently thinking. With a joyful expression, he walked to the cave entrance and took a deep breath of the Ba Mountain Secret Realm's air, which carried a trace of toxins.

[Realm: Transcendence Early Fifth Layer]

[Yin Talisman Technique: Returning to the Essence 1/450]

[Pine Crane Longevity Technique: Attained Minor Success 159/500]

[Shadow Concealment Primordial Technique: Attained Minor Success 161/450]

[Eight Gates Celestial Eye: Fifth Layer 105/200]

[True Qi: 49,999/500,000]

[Fierce Tiger Roar Bone Technique: Entering the Hall 70/100]

[Blood Eating Technique: Entering the Hall 90/100]

[Blood-Burning Secret Technique: Entering the Hall 20/100]

[Divine Protection Elixir: Mid-grade Pill Technique 29/72]

[Heart Thought: Mortal Tier Sixth Grade 11/80]

With the enhancement from the [Vigorous in Old Age] Life Plate, his cultivation speed for anything would increase sixtyfold. How could he be like others, needing a dozen or so tedious Hours to advance?

At this moment, within his Dantian, a small, ring-shaped Heavy Water Vein was continuously rotating. Twenty-four Divine Thunder Roots circled this Heavy Water Vein. Not only had the power of these twenty-four Divine Thunder Roots become even more profound, but water pattern-like Runes continuously appeared on them, shimmering with an arcane light! Even without releasing these Divine Thunders, Lin Xuankong was absolutely certain that, after being nourished by the Heavy Water Vein and now bearing these special Runes, they would be more than ten times more powerful than before if released at close range!

Currently, his Life Plate showed that his realm had impressively advanced from Fourth Layer Perfection to the Early Fifth Layer of Transcendence, and his Yin Talisman Technique had reached the Returning to the Essence stage!

The other most significant change was that his Perfect Qi Blood, which had previously filled his Life Plate to capacity, had now condensed nearly tenfold under the influence of the Heavy Water Vein, transforming into much stronger True Qi. This was also why his advancement had taken Half a Cup of Tea Time. Otherwise, with a sixtyfold enhancement, why would he have needed even that much time!

At this moment, although his Qi Blood points had decreased from 499,999 to 49,999, and the quantity was nearly ten times less, the quality had increased tenfold! Furthermore, the storage space in his Life Plate was now free again. He could once more consume large amounts of Demon Flesh to raise the Grade of his Blood Eating Technique and increase the quantity of his True Qi!

Finally, he had advanced to the Fifth Layer!

I wonder what it would be like now if I were to unleash Divine Thunder Illusion, Thunderous Radiance, and the Soul-Extinction Celestial Thunder Divine Technique? What if I used the Ruyi Battle Armor while casting them? Furthermore, if I were to use my Black Soul Wondrous Jade, Ghost Frog King's Demon Pearl, and other treasures, how powerful would they be?

Zheng Yunrui, standing to the side, looked at him with a puzzled expression. "You failed to advance to the Fifth Layer, so why do you look so joyful? If you're upset about the failure, just tell your sis here. You don't need to force a smile!"