On Cyan Mountain Peak, Chu He stood alone in silence, as if he had become one with the boundless energy of the world.
During this period of silent contemplation, he once again triggered a system quest.
So, he devoted himself to fishing, entrusting his thoughts and patience to the calm, undisturbed surface of the lake.
"Congratulations to the Host for fishing continuously for seven days. You have obtained the Immortal Primordial Spirit!"
The system's notification sounded in Chu He's mind.
The quests always triggered randomly, but they brought surprising and generous rewards.
Chu He felt his soul being pulled by an invisible force, slowly detaching from his body.
His soul emanated a brilliant golden light, existing independently of his physical form, yet still intimately connected to it.
Chu He could clearly see his own soul; it was an experience unlike any he'd had before.
He felt that his spiritual body was identical to his physical one, from its thick hair to its refined facial features.
Even every detail of his clothing was perfectly rendered before his eyes.
In the long struggle between humans and Evil Spirits, human Soul Power was often at a disadvantage.
But now, Chu He possessed an Immortal Primordial Spirit.
This meant that no matter how powerful the Evil Spirit he faced, his soul would be indestructible and eternally imperishable.
'No, the same is true even against humans!'
Even if his physical body were destroyed, his spiritual body could exist forever in this world.
Chu He closed his eyes, feeling the power that came with the Immortal Primordial Spirit.
Focusing this power into his eyes, the world before him instantly became incredibly clear.
He looked at a plant beside him and could see its veins with perfect clarity.
His gaze shifted.
He saw the jade-like, snow-white skin beneath Ye Lingyun's clothes, the crimson blood flowing under her skin, and every single bone sheathed within her flesh.
He could even see deep within her bones, where Elemental Power flowed slowly like a stream.
The Immortal Primordial Spirit, which looked identical to Chu He,
moved its fingertip slightly. A strange Spiritual Power trickled out, silently seeping into Ye Lingyun's body and quietly taking control of the circulation of her Elemental Power.
Ye Lingyun's eyes filled with astonishment. She felt a surge of exceptionally pure Heaven and Earth Energy—not her own—gushing into her like a spring, quickly filling every corner of her body.
As this energy poured in, Ye Lingyun's body couldn't help but tense up, struggling to withstand the sudden influx of power.
Just then, Chu He's voice, as clear as a spring, sounded in her ear: "Relax. Accept it."
Upon hearing his words, the tension and unease in her heart instantly vanished. She allowed the energy to flow continuously into her body, feeling it nourish and purify her.
The path of a Martial Artist has clearly defined realms.
From First Grade Martial Artist to Ninth Grade Martial Artist, each realm has its own unique hallmark: Primordial Energy Drops.
When the first Primordial Energy Drop condenses, a Martial Artist truly steps into the First Grade realm.
And when nine Primordial Energy Drops merge to form a vortex, the Martial Artist transcends the Ninth Grade, becoming a revered King-Sealing Level Martial Artist.
At this moment, Ye Lingyun was witnessing the changes within her body at an astonishing rate.
She had already reached the realm of a Third Grade Martial Artist through her own efforts, a feat exceedingly rare among her peers.
Under the influence of this mysterious power, her strength once again surged forward by leaps and bounds.
The Elemental Power in Ye Lingyun's body condensed rapidly, and in a short time, her original three Primordial Energy Drops were joined by a fourth.
Then a fifth, sixth, seventh... More Primordial Energy Drops quietly formed in her Dantian.
All of this happened before her very eyes in less than ten minutes.
As the Primordial Energy Drops continued to condense, Ye Lingyun's aura grew steadily more powerful.
Her body was enveloped in a faint halo of light, exuding a formidable presence.
Finally, a full nine Primordial Energy Drops had condensed in her Dantian, meaning she had reached the realm of a Ninth Grade Martial Artist.
At that moment, Ye Lingyun's strength and presence had both reached a new height.
Chu He withdrew his floating Immortal Primordial Spirit.
Like a golden phantom, it slowly merged back into his body and vanished from sight.
He looked at Ye Lingyun before him and said calmly, "There. I can only raise your strength to the level of a Ninth Grade Martial Artist. If I were to force you to the King-level,
I could, but I fear you would never be able to advance another step for the rest of your life.
The path of Martial Arts must be walked with solid steps to go far.
The King-level is not the final destination for humans. A much broader future should be awaiting you."
Hearing this, Ye Lingyun quickly stood up. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and her eyes were full of gratitude. "Thank you, Teacher."
"DING! Detecting Host's current status...
New quest triggered: Lead your student to hunt an Evil Spirit of comparable strength.
Quest Completion Reward: Attain the Land Immortal Realm.
Special Note: A Land Immortal is the pinnacle for a Martial Artist in the Mortal World, remaining in the mortal plane, transcendent and detached from the mundane."
A glint flashed in Chu He's eyes as he heard the system's prompt.
'I already possess the Immortal Primordial Spirit. If I can also step into the Land Immortal Realm,
wouldn't I be truly unrivaled on Blue Star?'
He turned to Ye Lingyun and asked, "Have there been any rumors of Evil Spirit sightings in the Great Jing Empire recently?"
Ye Lingyun was still reveling in the joy of her newfound power,
but upon hearing Chu He's question, she quickly composed herself and replied, "Yes, Teacher. There have been rumors of an Evil Spirit sighting in Dalang City recently."
Chu He nodded. "Then let's make a trip to Dalang City."
...
「Demon Cave.」
A slender figure holding a microphone led a livestreaming team, presenting the scenery of this strange land to countless viewers on screen.
Sunlight filtered through thin clouds, shining down on the barren, rugged ground and creating a mottled pattern of light and shadow.
All around, birds chirped and flowers bloomed.
The female host, named Lin Yue, did her best to hide the nervousness in her eyes.
"Hello to all our friends watching the stream. As you can see, we've been broadcasting nonstop for twenty-four hours from above the Demon Cave."
Lin Yue's voice came through the microphone, clear to every viewer. "The weather here is bright and sunny, and there's no danger whatsoever."
The Time Girl Group had given her a mission:
to act as bait and lure out the hidden Evil Spirit.
"We've been searching above the Demon Cave for a long time, but we haven't found any trace of the Evil Spirit," Zong Yajuan said. "I hope we succeed this time."
Before her words had even faded, a piercing CRACK suddenly rang out, shattering the tranquility.
Before everyone's eyes, the Chains at the final sealing point suddenly shattered.
Immediately after, sharp fishhooks began to descend from the sky. Like the tentacles of the Death God, they rushed swiftly toward the people on site.
Lin Yue reacted quickly, but she was still unable to evade the sudden attack in time.
In an instant, fishhooks pierced her lips, ears, and the skin of her face, brutally hoisting her entire body into the air.
Her legs flailed wildly in the air as she let out a terrified scream.
Blood sprayed like a fountain.
"The Evil Spirit really appeared!"
Seeing this, Zong Yajuan's expression changed drastically. She quickly drew her longsword and swung at the fishhooks.
...
「Royal City.」
"I'm going to Dalang City."
When Xiao Cangqing walked out, Gu Shuling, who was in her pajamas, shuddered in fear.