Luoyan Empire, Qingmu Sect.
"Young talents, please step forward according to your assigned number to test your Dou Qi. Those whose talent meets the requirements may enter our sect."
Yang Shou's gaze swept over the crowd before him, meeting their burning eyes, and announced the start of the sect's entrance selection.
Afterwards, Yang Shou stepped down from the high platform and took his seat on the side judging panel.
"Han Feng, fourteen years old, Dou Qi, ninth level! Qualified."
"Xiao Hua, sixteen years old, Dou Qi, fifth level! Unqualified."
...
Listening to the presiding disciple announce the information of the candidates, Yang Shou looked at these young faces and couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
It turned out that he had been on the Dou Qi Continent for fifteen years.
Fifteen years ago, with barely passing talent, Yang Shou joined the Qingmu Sect as an outer disciple.
Unfortunately, due to limited talent, Yang Shou's realm remained stuck at the nine-star Dou Shi level, unable to improve. However, thanks to his age advantage and solid foundation, he firmly held the position of the outer sect's senior disciple.
In the Qingmu Sect, to become an inner disciple, one needed at least the strength of a one-star Great Dou Shi.
Nearly thirty years old, Yang Shou, unless he had a great stroke of luck, would be unable to reach the Great Dou Master level.
Three days later was the day of the inner disciple selection.
Of course, the result was obvious; he couldn't possibly break through in a short time.
Yang Shou accepted this fate, preparing to return to the mortal world, marry, have children, and live a wealthy and peaceful old age.
...
That night, Yang Shou seemed to sense something and suddenly opened his eyes.
A dazzling galaxy appeared in his vision; as the stars shifted and the universe moved, all things flowed, life and death were governed by laws.
In the chaos, a mystical voice rang in his ears:
[The All Things Upgrade System is loading...]
[Function: One upgrade opportunity is granted daily. Upgrades can be made using pills, cultivation techniques, fighting skills, aptitude, etc. (Note: 1. Cultivation cannot be directly increased. 2. Cultivation techniques, fighting skills, and strange fires can only be upgraded within the same attribute.)]
[Loading successful]
[May you become an Emperor soon!]
The mystical voice faded, and Yang Shou jumped up, his heart filled with excitement.
After waiting for fifteen years, he finally had a cheat code!
The next day, Yang Shou returned to his sect and went to the Treasure Pavilion to collect his monthly cultivation resources:
three Qi Gathering Pills, one Qi Cultivation Pill, and gold coins.
Of course, these pills offered no improvement to Yang Shou, a nine-star Dou Shi.
But now, with his cheat-like ability, he hoped to use the system to upgrade the pills. If he could upgrade the Qi Gathering Pills to Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pills,
the Great Dou Shi realm would no longer be out of reach.
Returning to his residence within the sect, after confirming that no one was around, Yang Shou locked the door and sat cross-legged.
He first poured out the Qi Gathering Pills from the medicine bottle and then mentally connected with the system.
His personal panel displayed:
[Name: Yang Shou]
[Realm: Nine-Star Dou Shi]
[Aptitude: Ordinary (+)]
[Cultivation Technique: Azure Wood Technique (Profound Rank, Beginner+)]
[Battle Skills: Tai Chi Fist (Yellow Rank, Beginner+), Vajra Tortoise Shell (Yellow Rank, Advanced+), Swift Thunder Step (Profound Rank, Beginner+)]
[Pills: Qi Gathering Pill (+), Yuan Nourishing Pill (+)]
[Qi Gathering Pill: Refined from Qi-Enhancing Powder, increases the cultivator's cultivation speed]
Yang Shou stared at the panel in his divine sense, hesitating for a long time between aptitude and pills, but considering the upcoming inner sect competition, he finally chose to upgrade the Qi Gathering Pill.
A distant solution couldn't quench immediate thirst; a solid cultivation level was more important to Yang Shou at the moment. As for aptitude, he could save it for after the competition.
A mysterious aura suddenly enveloped him.
Suddenly,
a few specks of cyan appeared on the previously unremarkable Qi Gathering Pill. These specks of cyan spread rapidly throughout the pill like sparks, followed by a rich fragrance. On the smooth surface of the pill, three circular patterns—one cyan, one purple, and one white—began to arrange themselves in sequence.
In just a few seconds, the Qi Gathering Pill transformed into a Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill.
It was as if a miracle had occurred!
Holding the pill, Yang Shou took a light sniff, feeling his internal battle qi become more active. The surging energy contained within was enough to help him break through the shackles of a Battle Master.
Having obtained the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill, Yang Shou forcibly suppressed his inner agitation, exhaled a breath of turbid air, slowly closed his eyes, and formed the cultivation hand seals of the Azure Wood Technique. With the rhythm of his breathing, his mind gradually calmed. A
verdant pine tree phantom quietly floated behind him.
The surrounding space suddenly rippled, and wisps of visible energy flow seeped out from the void, converging towards the pine tree, swirling around its trunk, and then transforming into thousands of energy threads, nourishing Yang Shou.
The pure power flowed into his body along with Yang Shou's breath.
Adjusting himself to his optimal state, Yang Shou flicked his fingers, skillfully shooting the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill between his fingers into his mouth.
The Three-Patterned Azure Spirit Pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth. Three streams of pure energy—one azure, one purple, and one white—rushed down his throat like wild horses, galloping through his meridians.
The bluish-brown energy circulated rapidly within his meridians, and with each complete cycle, a large amount of refined energy was injected into his internal energy vortex.
At this moment, the volume of the bluish-green liquid within the vortex continued to rise. At this rate, when the vortex was full, it would be the time for a breakthrough.
Time passed, and Yang Shou outside remained with his eyes tightly closed, enduring the onslaught of enormous energy.
A layer of pale azure light enveloped him, forming a protective aura, which became increasingly clear over time.
With the suppression of that mysterious energy, Yang Shou's mind remained as steady as a mountain, but even so, he dared not relax, vigilantly watching the internal energy vortex.
Seventy percent of the Azure Spirit Pill's medicinal power had been absorbed, and it was on the verge of overflowing.
Next, to prevent the violent force from breaking through the vortex and damaging his meridians, Yang Shou needed to compress the gaseous energy into a higher-level liquid, and finally further transform the formed liquid energy into a solid.
After this tedious process, he would reach the Great Dou Master realm.
Yang Shou's hand seals suddenly shifted, and the vortex within his body momentarily subsided. A moment later, the vortex accelerated its rotation.
The illusory image of the green pine tree behind him, along with the attached Dou Qi veil, gradually solidified.
In an instant, a gray-blue armor appeared on Yang Shou's body, and then the vortex within his body stopped rotating, giving birth to a rhombus-shaped crystal, only the size of a thumb, divided by a midline of black and white.
The rhombus-shaped crystal was proof of his Great Dou Master realm:
a Dou Crystal.
After fifteen years, he had finally entered the hall of Dou Qi cultivation, possessing a certain ability to protect himself!
His years of resentment swept away, Yang Shou let out a long sigh of relief. He clenched his fist, feeling the powerful energy within his body.
A smile involuntarily appeared on Yang Shou's face, a sense of relief washing over him.
Entering the inner sect is just around the corner!
(End of Chapter)