"Hm?"

Just as Nie Yun thought the Nameless Technique would start circulating by absorbing that aura after the tremor, he discovered it wouldn’t budge at all!

’It seems this Storage Dantian is sealed too tightly. If I don’t open it, it’s impossible to draw any energy from inside!’

After trying to absorb the energy for a while and finding it had no effect, Nie Yun reluctantly gave up.

He hadn’t felt the same sense of loss as Luoo Qu before, but now he was truly starting to feel frustrated!

He knew that this Storage Dantian contained a special energy that could make the Nameless Technique circulate. With enough of this energy, he could increase the number of his Dantians and even change his Bloodline. Yet, he just couldn’t open it. It was like sitting on a Treasure Mountain and getting nothing!

’I shouldn’t dwell on this. It’s useless to think about it. I have two things to do now. First, kill King Ning. Second, focus on Body Refinement and cultivate my body to the Third Layer Great Success of the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique!’

The frustration vanished from his mind in a flash, and Nie Yun immediately laid out his plans.

King Ning had to die. He wasn’t strong enough before, but now that he had reached the Ultimate Venerable Level, he would hunt him down and kill him even if he fled to the ends of the earth!

As for Body Refinement, he would strive to reach the third layer of the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique. At that level, even if his physical strength didn’t quite reach the power of fifty elephants, it would surely be close. Perhaps then he could open this Storage Dantian!

"Master!"

Just as he made his decision, he saw Hei Yan and Zi Tong fly over. They had finished packing and were ready to leave with their master, Nie Yun.

"Let’s go!"

Placing the black orb back into his Dantian, Nie Yun took the lead and flew forward.

Nie Yun still had one spot left in his Beast Taming Dantian, but he no longer planned to tame any more Demon Beasts. Having Ultimate Venerable Level beasts already, taming another at the Qi Sect level would be a waste.

As for taming another at the Ultimate Venerable Level...

Ultimate Venerable Level Demon Beasts weren’t like cabbages in a market stall, available for the taking. There were probably no more than five in the entire Divine Wind Empire. He had already tamed three, and there was no telling where the remaining two were. Even if he really wanted to find them, it would be impossible without spending eight or ten years searching!

Rather than go through all that trouble, it was better to just leave it be.

As the man and two beasts flew out of the valley, the Wind Wolf King came up to greet them.

"Master!"

Hearing the Wind Wolf King call out "Master" in human language, both Hei Yan and Zi Tong jumped in shock.

"You’re an Ultimate Venerable Demon Beast, too?"

’Wasn’t this Wind Wolf King at the Peak of Qi Sect? I even planned to make it my subordinate back then, but the damn thing escaped. How did it also reach the Ultimate Venerable Level and become Master’s Demon Pet?’

"Of course. The only reason I was able to reach the Ultimate Venerable level was thanks to Master’s Healing Qi. Master is a Healer. He unblocked the stagnant Meridians in my body, which allowed me to break through directly!"

Hearing the question, the Wind Wolf King looked at Nie Yun with worship in its eyes.

"Hmm..."

Hearing the Wind Wolf King’s explanation, Nie Yun gave a wry smile. To be honest, he hadn’t known why the Wind Wolf King had broken through back then. He had just assumed it was a natural progression, like a ripe melon falling from its vine. It seemed now that it wasn’t so simple.

The Wind Wolf King was telling the truth without any exaggeration. It had originally been just an Ordinary Wind Wolf, only transforming into a Wolf King after a fortuitous encounter. Although that opportunity had raised its strength from the Peak of Gang Formation Realm to the Peak of Qi Sect, it had also left severe hidden injuries inside its body.

These injuries weren’t obvious and would only manifest during battle. Moreover, they would greatly affect its lifespan!

Because of this, Wind Wolf Kings never had long lifespans. Otherwise, with their ability to command the pack, the Wind Wolf Pack would have become the number one killer of the jungle long ago!

When the Wind Wolf King acknowledged him as its master, Nie Yun had used his Healing Qi to treat its wounds and, in the process, had healed its hidden ailments. Once those ailments were gone, its Qi was able to flow freely, allowing it to break through directly!

The Wind Wolf King hadn’t been very clear on these matters at first. It was only after leaving Nie Yun and carefully reflecting on what happened that it came to understand. As a result, it grew even more grateful to its new master.

"Master is a Healer?" Hearing the Wind Wolf King’s words, a fiery excitement lit up the eyes of Hei Yan and Zi Tong.

Demon Beasts were reluctant to accept a master for two main reasons. First, they feared being restrained. Second, they feared their master would run into danger and use them as cannon fodder!

Although a Demon Beast’s recovery ability was strong, getting injured was still painful. Since their master was a Healer, they wouldn’t have to fear even the most grievous injuries in the future!

Besides, Demon Beasts didn’t have so-called Cultivation Techniques. Their Cultivation usually consisted of tempering their physical bodies and training to their absolute limits. This kind of training easily led to injuries. With a Healer for a master, they could recover as soon as they were injured. Their Cultivation speed would at least double in the future!

He ignored the two beasts’ fervent gazes. When these two Demon Beasts had first acknowledged him as their master, they had seemed a bit reluctant. ’In the future,’ he thought, ’I’ll make them submit so completely that they won’t leave even if I try to chase them away!’

"Wind Wolf King, from now on, you’ll be Xiaolang. It’s easier to say. Hei Yan, you’ll be Xiaohai. And Zi Tong, you’ll be Xiaozhi!"

Nie Yun casually changed the names of his three great Demon Beasts.

"Master, I’m male... Isn’t Xiaozhi... a little too feminine?" Zi Tong was on the verge of tears upon hearing his new name.

"Er... Then how about Xiaotong?" Nie Yun thought for a moment and nodded.

He didn’t know the Demon Beasts’ genders. He hadn’t expected a male Demon Beast to care so much about its name.

"Master, I successfully protected Miss Tie Lan while she subdued that Black Cloud Leopard. The Black Cloud Leopard wasn’t at the Early-Stage Qi Sect, but the Peak of Qi Sect. It was nothing, though. One swipe of my claw, and it obediently became Miss Tie Lan’s Demon Pet!"

Xiaolang’s words were filled with smug satisfaction.

Tie Lan had taken on the Black Cloud Leopard mission with the goal of stopping it from causing harm. Subduing it accomplished the same thing. Now that it was bound to a master, it naturally wouldn’t go on a killing spree anymore.

"Well done!" Nie Yun praised.

"Master, after Miss Tie Lan subdued the Black Cloud Leopard, she went to Jibei City to attend some Pill Assembly. She asked me to bring you an invitation!"

As if suddenly remembering something, Xiaolang extended a paw and handed over an invitation card.

"Pill Assembly?" Nie Yun took the invitation, glanced at it, and shook his head. "A gathering in a small place like this... I’d rather not go..."

The Pill Assembly was a grand event for Alchemists. Because Jibei City was home to Liu Chengze, the third-greatest Alchemy Master in the Divine Wind Empire, its Pill Assembly was always quite large. It was like a festival, and many Alchemist-merchants would take the opportunity to trade all sorts of items, making it a very lively affair.

Now that Nie Yun had reached the Ultimate Venerable Level, a Pill Assembly in such a small place could never provide the things he needed. So, it was better not to go.

Just as he was about to toss the invitation aside, Nie Yun suddenly remembered something. His eyes widened, and he stopped mid-sentence.

’Pill Assembly, the Jibei City Pill Assembly? Could it be the same Pill Assembly where the Purple Splendor Jade Seal first appeared?’

The Purple Splendor Jade Seal was one of the three keys to opening the Zihua Cave Mansion. In his past life, he had relied on one of those Jade Seals to successfully enter the Cave Mansion and obtain that treasure. It was because of this that he was targeted and framed by the Mi Tian Sect, leading to the deaths of Tie Lan and the entire Iron Rock Mercenary Corps!

In his previous life, he had gone through many trials and tribulations to snatch that Jade Seal from someone else’s hands. It was said that its first appearance had been at a Pill Assembly in Jibei City. Could it be referring to this very one?

Nie Yun’s heart could no longer remain calm. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)