’The efficacy of Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects is weakening...’

Waving the ashes from his palm, Qi Yun rubbed the space between his brows and looked at the Magic Technique Panel before him.

[Mastered Magic Techniques]

[Clear Wind Technique (4.0): Auto-updating (Current Progress 77%)]

[Basic Sword Qi (4.0): Auto-updating (Current Progress 3%)]

[Talisman Skill (3.0): Auto-updating (Current Progress 11%)]

He had long known the rule that refining Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects would advance the auto-update progress.

But as his Magic techniques went through successive version updates, the effects of the Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects he’d used before were weakening significantly.

Previously, a single stalk of Zhiwu Vine was enough to completely fill the auto-update progress bar.

But now, he had already consumed a full six Wood Element Spiritual Objects, yet the progress bar for the Clear Wind Technique had only just managed to reach 77%.

This was a huge departure from his previous estimates.

’From the looks of it, for the later versions, if I want to speed up the process, I’ll have to refine more powerful, higher-quality Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects.

Otherwise, it’ll be like trying to put out a forest fire with a cup of water—a total waste of so much Holy Essence.

It’s just that high-quality Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects aren’t easy to come by. Even in the Infinite Treasure Market, you can’t buy them even if you have the money.’ Qi Yun’s brow furrowed. His original plan—to rely on his vast wealth to frantically upgrade his Magic versions—now seemed to be in danger of running aground.

Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects had far too many uses: Artifact Refining, Talisman Making, Array Formation, Alchemy... even Foundation Establishment!

No one would part with a true treasure easily.

Even if they had no immediate use for it, they would hoard it for a rainy day.

Very few ever circulated on the market, and their prices were astonishingly high!

’If Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects are hard to get, then I’ll have to try my luck with Magical Artifacts.’ In a flash, Qi Yun thought of a new path.

Although Magical Artifacts were just as precious, their circulation was actually slightly better than that of the more universally applicable Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects, as they were restricted by factors like True Qi attribute and Heart Skill affinity.

Therefore, the price of Magical Artifacts was slightly lower than that of Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects, and there were more people selling them.

Especially in Demon Sects like the Wuji Holy Sect, if someone murdered another and looted an item they couldn’t use themselves, their only option was to sell it.

But that was a matter for later.

He refined all the remaining Wood Element Spiritual Objects in one go, and the auto-update progress for the Clear Wind Technique was instantly filled.

[Magic Auto-Update Complete. This was a minor version update. The Magic’s effects have been adjusted as follows.]

[Clear Wind Technique: Added Spring Breeze effect. While in the Clear Wind state, a continuous self-healing effect will be generated.]

"Oh? This is great!"

Seeing the 5.0 version of the Clear Wind Technique, Qi Yun’s eyes lit up. This "Spring Breeze effect" essentially added a healing mechanic on top of the original movement speed and invisibility buffs.

’As expected of my first Magic technique, it truly knows the way to my heart.’

Qi Yun was very satisfied with the buffing mechanic of the 5.0 version.

With the Magic Technique Panel in hand, he was destined to become a grandmaster of every school of Magic.

The appearance of this self-healing effect patched up another one of his weaknesses.

’Let’s continue.’ Although the effect of the Spiritual Objects diminished with each level, Qi Yun had enough Holy Essence this time and had purchased plenty of them.

The remaining Wood Element Spiritual Objects should be enough to update the Clear Wind Technique at least one more time.

A brilliant light filled the quiet room.

One by one, Wood Element Spiritual Objects fell into Qi Yun’s hands, only to turn into ash in the blink of an eye.

If it were anyone else, they might not have been able to use up an entire room full of Wood Element Spiritual Objects in one or two years.

But in less than five minutes, all these Wood Element Spiritual Objects had been completely refined by the Magic Technique Panel, becoming fuel for the auto-update process.

"Phew... Just enough." Gazing at the newly updated Clear Wind Technique on the panel, Qi Yun breathed a soft sigh of relief.

With this, he was now even more confident in his bid for the Champion Scholar title.

With his Magic enhancement temporarily concluded, Qi Yun reached out and took a Warm Jade Gourd. He shook it gently, and the elixirs inside rattled crisply.

[Celestial Treasure Pill]

A Treasure Medicine for cultivators at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer or higher, it can accelerate the cultivation and refinement of True Qi.

’The Innate Qi Heart Method... it’s true that it’s vast and profound, but it’s also true that cultivating it is agonizingly slow...’

Qi Yun uncorked the gourd, a trace of resignation flashing in his eyes.

The True Qi foundation forged by this Heart Skill was incomparably robust, surpassing that of his peers by ten or even dozens of times. However, this also meant that the accumulation required for each step forward was terrifyingly vast.

Even with the aid of elixirs, his cultivation speed could only just keep pace with others.

’Then I’ll just crush it with quantity!’ With the arrogance of the newly rich flashing in his eyes, Qi Yun tipped his head back and swallowed more than a dozen Celestial Treasure Pills in one gulp.

The handful of elixirs went down, and a torrent of medicinal power instantly erupted within him.

Not daring to delay, Qi Yun sat down cross-legged and began circulating the Innate Qi Heart Method, his Heart and Spirit completely immersed in the vast process of refining True Qi.

...

BLAAAARE—

The desolate, drawn-out, and piercing sound of a Dharma Conch Horn echoed without warning throughout the Wuji Holy Sect’s Nine Great Outer Mansions!

At that same instant, the Taixu Jade Orders on the waists of every Outer Mansion Disciple vibrated in unison as they all received a decree.

[The Outer Mansion’s year-end examination has begun. All Outer Mansion Disciples are to proceed to Bixue Hall immediately!]

The Taixu Jade Order, normally warm and smooth to the touch, became scorching hot the moment it received the decree.

If a holder failed to leave their courtyard and proceed to Bixue Hall as commanded, the Taixu Jade Order’s temperature would climb continuously, and it would even attach itself to the holder’s body.

Until it burned them to death!

"Let’s go!"

"Hurry up!"

"Damn it, it’s burning me alive!"

At almost the exact moment the Dharma Conch’s call faded, the gates to countless courtyards across the Nine Great Outer Mansions burst open!

Dense crowds of figures, like a startled anthill or a bursting dam, unleashed their techniques, transforming into streaks of multi-colored Escape Light and surging madly toward the same destination—Bixue Hall!

「In less than fifteen minutes.」

Before a vast palace carved entirely from a single, enormous jadeite stone that emanated a chilling, verdant glow, over a thousand Outer Mansion Disciples had already assembled.

This was the new disciples’ first large-scale reunion since they had dispersed after the entrance ceremony.

However, the crowd was noticeably thinner than it had been at the beginning.

"Silence!"

The command came just as the disciples were murmuring amongst themselves, their voices a low buzz of discussion.

RUMBLE!

A massive, sky-blotting shadow descended brazenly from the Taixu Mirror Heaven above!

Its wings unfurled, kicking up a hurricane that felt like a solid wall, sending the disciples gathered before the hall stumbling and struggling to stay upright.

The black shadow landed with a crash on the high steps before Bixue Hall. Its enormous body shrank rapidly amidst a distortion of light and shadow, finally resolving into a long-faced man wearing a strange, dark-green Magic Robe.

His face was cold and severe, with a prominent brow ridge. Most strikingly, at the corners of his eyes and the tips of his eyebrows, were the residual outlines of a few black feathers that shimmered with a metallic luster, not having been fully transformed!

Seeing this, a single word surfaced in the minds of the Outer Mansion Disciples who had just managed to steady themselves.

’Is that... a demon?!’

...