29: Your spirit is projecting outwards; your master is preparing a coffin for you.

At this moment, Jiang Yan was somewhat excited, but in front of others, he still restrained this impulse.

He silently opened the character panel:

【Host: Jiang Yan】

【Talent: Heaven Rewards the Diligent, Life Span Plunder】

【Rank: 12】

【Experience: 0.01%】

【life span: 20/1691 Years】

【life span: 2534 Years (Available life span can be used to strengthen Cultivation Technique, Spell, and Martial Skill proficiency)】

【Essence: 20.6】

【Spirit: 9】

【Realm: Qi Refining Fifth Layer (Can freely summon Spiritual Qi within a three-hundred-meter radius)】

【Dao: 0】

【Cultivation Technique: Qi Refining Technique Introductory Chapter (scratching the surface)】

【Spell: Thunderstorm Art (beginner), Breath Concealment Technique (mastery), Tiger Roar Sound Wave (glimpse of the threshold)】

【Martial Skill: Sword Rain Art (beginner), Sword Breaking Method (Minor Achievement), Sword Shadow Art (scratching the surface)】

...'As expected, having Essence exceed 20 is a qualitative change.'

'I just don't know what will happen when Spirit exceeds 10.'

Abandoning thought, he resolutely continued to kill chickens to grind experience; after all, this kind of menial and dirty work suited him perfectly.

In fact, he was also very aware that compared to other Sect missions, doing them was useless for him; it was better to focus single-mindedly on leveling up.

The summit of Spirit Beast Peak.

When Li Yi informed his Revered Master Yu Tianlong of his thoughts and worries, Yu Tianlong's expression was very calm, as if nothing could pique his interest.

To be more precise, he looked at everything as if they were floating clouds.

“I hope Revered Master will help,” Li Yi said respectfully.

Yu Tianlong didn't pay attention to Li Yi's words and asked instead, “When do you plan to step into the Core Formation Realm?”

“Your Disciple's Origin Foundation is damaged; I estimate it will take eight to ten years before I can return to the Core Formation Realm,” Li Yi said truthfully.

“Without the Dao Plate Flower, you want to give up, is that it?” Yu Tianlong inquired.

“It's not that your Disciple wants to give up, but that item is the key for me to return to my Peak,” Li Yi responded.

“The Sect needs you now.” Yu Tianlong slowly opened his eyes and looked at Li Yi in front of him. “You should know better than I do what that Secret Realm represents in three years. If you cannot re-enter the Core Formation Realm, then leave the Sect and go somewhere where no one can find you.”

“Must I really die?” Li Yi stood up and met Yu Tianlong's gaze. “I have done so much for the Sect. Is it all because I can't re-enter the Core Formation Realm? Or rather, do you have a better candidate?”

“You're being foolish!” Yu Tianlong was furious. “It's precisely because your talent is too good that you were targeted. If we hadn't resisted with all our might, you would have died long ago. Now the Sect lacks top-tier combat power; only if you re-enter the Core Formation Realm will you have the ability to protect the Sect!”

Hearing this, Li Yi suddenly realized something and hurriedly asked, “Revered Master, tell me the truth, is *that one* also about to fail?”

“Soon.” Yu Tianlong looked at the sky and said in a flat tone, “If war breaks out again, the Qingyun Sect will likely be unable to escape its doom.”

Li Yi froze on the spot. In an instant, he understood everything.

No wonder Murong Xue would suddenly choose to form her core; no wonder the Sect's upper echelon wanted to Cultivate more Core Formation experts.

The end of the Secret Realm in three years would mean that *that one* was about to reach the end of their life span.

A Qingyun Sect with only one Nascent Soul Realm expert sitting in guard was just a piece of fat meat in the eyes of other Sects.

The cultivation world is a world of the strong preying on the weak. If you lack the ability to protect your own lineage, you will be devoured by other predators. This is the rule and the universally recognized Law of the cultivation world.

“Your Disciple understands. I will re-enter the Core Formation Realm before the Secret Realm closes!” Li Yi bowed and left.

He did not ask for his Revered Master's help, nor was he qualified to ask, because he knew very well what kind of person Yu Tianlong was!

Watching Li Yi's departing back, Yu Tianlong sighed. How could he not want peace? How could he not want to do something for his Disciples? But right now, there was nothing he could do!

Late at night, at the Outer Sect Disciple Peak.

Jiang Yan took a comfortable bath, washing away his fatigue.

Now he dared to say that with this strength alone, he could easily crush Zhuang Yu.

Was he strong?

To him, he felt terrifyingly strong now, even feeling that his life level had increased by a notch.

If he didn't use any Magical Artifacts or Magic Treasures, ordinary swords simply couldn't hurt him.

'I didn't expect that after killing a thousand chickens, I'd actually go up three levels. I estimate I can probably go up another two or three levels tomorrow.'

At this moment, Jiang Yan was exceptionally happy and joyful, because this was the sign of taking off!

Just as he closed his eyes, he seemed to feel something fly out of his head.

It was very blurry, as if he were seeing his own outline.

'Holy crap, wait! Isn't this me?'

Jiang Yan snapped his eyes open, and the image of himself instantly vanished.

'Does Spirit 10 mean Divine Soul projection?'

'Didn't they say that one can only Cultivate the spirit after the Foundation Establishment Realm?'

At this moment, he was indeed a bit dazed. Although there was a description in the Spirit column, only after actually reaching 10 points did he understand what the feeling of the Divine Soul leaving the body was like.

Jiang Yan closed his eyes again, and this time he felt it very carefully.

He was very certain that his Divine Soul had truly projected outward!

Although it was very blurry and he could only see a rough outline, the feeling was very miraculous.

It was like a four-dimensional being looking at the three-dimensional world.

'Haha, I can actually project my Divine Soul!'

Just as his triumph had lasted less than three seconds, he suddenly felt a headache, as if someone had used an electric drill to bore a large hole in his head.

“Ah...”

Jiang Yan clutched his head and rolled around incessantly, sweat even soaking his forehead.

“Help... me!”

In the morning, the sunlight made people feel warm and cozy.

Cai Qiang was whistling as he swept the floor, his mood very pleasant.

Jiang Yan clutched his head and walked out of the room unsteadily.

His current state was particularly wretched; the pain last night had directly caused him to pass out.

“Morning, Jiang... Junior Brother Jiang, what's wrong with you?” Cai Qiang put down the broom and hurriedly stepped forward to ask.

Jiang Yan waved his left hand while his right hand clutched his head, showing a miserable smile: “It's nothing, just a bit dizzy, and also, also... uncomfortable.”

At this moment, he felt like the world was upside down, as if he were on a pirate ship ride, swaying forward and backward.

“Junior Brother Jiang, are you really okay?” Cai Qiang felt it wasn't that simple.

“I'm fine, really fine.” Jiang Yan swayed his body, trying to find his balance.

Watching Jiang Yan's swaying body, Cai Qiang really wanted to laugh, but he couldn't, so he could only ask with concern: “Junior Brother Jiang, you didn't go wrong with your cultivation, did you?”

In Cai Qiang's view, Jiang Yan must have practiced a technique incorrectly; after all, there had been Disciples before who ended up like this because of cultivation errors.

“I'm fine, don't worry.” Jiang Yan forced himself to stay calm, shook his head, and walked outside.

He indeed didn't have any major problems, just that his Divine Soul was unstable. His head didn't hurt anymore, but he felt a bit lightheaded, and everything he saw was swaying.

So he planned to go ask his Revered Master to see if there was a solution.

Looking at Jiang Yan's swaying back as he left, Cai Qiang really couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into loud laughter.

At this moment, Jiang Yan was like a piece of seaweed, swaying in all sorts of flamboyant ways.

Any Disciple passing by couldn't help but stifle a laugh.

About an hour later, he finally arrived at the Animal Rearing Chamber.

“What's wrong with you? Why are you walking like that?” Li Yi asked curiously.

“Revered Master, I'm a bit dizzy, and everything is swaying.” Jiang Yan described his current situation.

Hearing this, Li Yi stood in front of Jiang Yan with curiosity.

He checked Jiang Yan's eyes and then inspected Jiang Yan's Meridians.

This check was significant; it almost gave Li Yi a fright.

It was his first time seeing such wide Meridians and also his first time seeing such a massive Dantian.

“Eh, Qi Refining Fifth Layer?!”

Li Yi felt his worldview was about to be overturned, even having the thought of slicing Jiang Yan up for research.

“You kid, you've hidden yourself quite deeply,” Li Yi grumbled, then continued his detection.

But after checking back and forth, he couldn't find anything wrong.

“Revered Master, am I okay?” Jiang Yan asked, swaying his head.

“There's nothing wrong with your body.” Li Yi pondered while stroking his chin, then asked, “What exactly did you do?”

Jiang Yan thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth: “After I went back and bathed yesterday, just as I was getting ready to sleep, I suddenly felt like I could project my Divine Soul. Then I saw everything around me as blurry. I played with it for a bit, then my head started to hurt, and finally, I passed out.”

Hearing Jiang Yan's account, the corner of Li Yi's mouth twitched violently.

Good grief, what kind of Disciple had he encountered?

Qi Refining Fifth Layer was one thing, but he could actually project his Divine Soul!

“Revered Master, can I still be saved?” Jiang Yan asked, shaking his head.

“Sigh... my good Disciple, Revered Master will go prepare a coffin for you right now.”