96: The first time the clouds gathered, the beauty was angry

“Hehe, Revered Master, you flatter me. I’m just doing my duty as a Disciple.”

“It’s already very good that you’re willing to do it. Many people cut ties with their Master the moment he dies.”

“This Disciple wouldn’t be such a beast.”

“Oh, right. When Outer Sect Disciples advance to the Inner Sect, they can go to the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion to receive a Martial Skill. Additionally, with your status as a Personal Disciple, you are granted extra qualification to access the third floor.”

“Revered Master, do you mean I can go to the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion to choose a Martial Skill?”

“Yes.”

“This… This Disciple dares to ask, are there any Earth Rank Martial Skills on the third floor?”

“Of course. The Martial Skills on the third floor are at least Earth Rank low-grade.”

Upon receiving her affirmation, Lin Yuan immediately became excited.

Earth Rank Martial Skill!

That was an Earth Rank Martial Skill!

In terms of strength, it far surpassed Profound Rank by several times. After he Cultivated it, his combat power would definitely increase significantly!

Seeing his little Disciple’s excited appearance, Yun Qiying chuckled, “Earth Rank Martial Skills have high requirements for the user. It will certainly be quite strenuous for a junior in the Opening Meridian Realm like you to use them. So, I still suggest you choose from the second floor first, and only consider going to the third floor after your cultivation reaches the Qi Gathering Realm.”

These words were like a splash of cold water, quickly calming Lin Yuan down.

Indeed, his Opening Meridian Realm cultivation was still too weak. Even with the Nine Yang Divine Meridian’s assistance, he probably wouldn’t be able to unleash even thirty percent of an Earth Rank Martial Skill’s power.

Moreover, Cultivating high-tier Martial Skills certainly wasn’t something that could be achieved overnight. Instead of laboring over them, it was better to find a Profound Rank one to try out first.

“Understood, Revered Master.”

“Hmm…”

The Revered Master and Disciple chatted for a while, and finally, Lin Yuan excused himself to Cultivate.

Looking at the young man’s back, Yun Qiying frowned deeply, a strong look of doubt flashing in her eyes.

She still couldn't see through his true background.

“Sect Leader.”

Suddenly, a grey-clad woman appeared beside her, holding out a scroll: “This is Lin Yuan’s complete information file since he joined the sect. Please take a look.”

Yun Qiying reached out and took it, her gaze scanning page by page. She quickly finished reading the entire document, learning about Lin Yuan’s growth process in recent years.

“In just three years, he ascended from a Utility Disciple to the champion of the Outer Sect Competition, and within a few months, he Broke through from Body Tempering Fifth Level to Opening Meridian Third Level. This little fellow must be hiding a big secret.”

Silently sighing inwardly, she gradually realized that Lin Yuan might indeed have no background, but he must have obtained an Opportunity recently.

Otherwise, such terrifying Breakthrough speed couldn’t be explained.

“Sect Master, I find this Disciple’s recent experiences too abrupt. He must have something extraordinary on him, right? Do we need to investigate?”

The grey-clad woman asked.

Yun Qiying’s gaze shifted as she pondered for a moment before deciding: “This Disciple’s identity is extraordinary. For now, I’ll trouble you to guard him. After I finish handling my current matters, I will personally investigate his true situation.”

“Yes, Sect Master.”

…

In a certain forest on the peak.

After bidding farewell to Yun Qiying, Lin Yuan found this spot and sat down cross-legged, intending to test the effects of the Cloud Drawing Art.

“Whoosh!”

Recalling the information about the secret art in his mind, he thoroughly comprehended it. Then, he successfully activated the art, and the surrounding Heaven and Earth Origin Qi surged accordingly. The clouds in the sky began to seep out wisps of pure white Qi, overflowing like squeezed milk, slowly being drawn into his body.

What pure energy!

Lin Yuan rejoiced!

Is this the Cloud Essence?

From its purity, it was no less than the Yin and Yang power obtained through dual cultivation.

It’s just a pity the quantity was too small. If there were more, he was confident he could now charge into the Condensing Core Realm!

“Oh, right! Didn’t Revered Master give me a stone that gathers essence?”

Thinking of this, he pulled out the cloud crystal from his In arms and activated it with Origin Qi.

“Boom!”

As he moved, the crystal lit up with dazzling green light, and a powerful suction force suddenly erupted from it, spreading towards the sky.

Soon, the clouds in the distance were drawn over, appearing in clusters, gathering above him in an overwhelming manner.

One could see pure white Qi flowing out from each cloud, and even from a distance, one could feel the profoundness of the energy.

“My heavens! As expected of the Cloud Gathering Stone! This effect is much faster than absorbing it myself!”

Lin Yuan exclaimed excitedly, quickly activating the Cloud Drawing Art to collect the essence from the sky.

At the same time.

On the summit of Yunxia Peak.

In an open clearing, a white-robed girl stood Cultivating, breathing slightly, her fair forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

“Phew… It took me several hours, but I finally gathered these clouds.”

She let out a sigh of relief, looking up at the clouds in the sky with a look of satisfaction on her face.

This Cloud Guiding Art consumed a lot of cultivation. With her cultivation, it took her half a day of effort to achieve such a result.

Next, as long as she activated the Cloud Drawing Art and absorbed the essence from these clouds, her cultivation would advance further.

However, just as she was about to use the secret art, a suction force suddenly came, pulling all the clouds away.

She was instantly dumbfounded.

What’s going on?

Where did my clouds go?

Which scoundrel stole my clouds?

In her surprise, she immediately took flight and chased after the direction the clouds had gone.

Before long, she arrived at the summit of Cloud Sovereign Peak, landing on a large rock. She looked up and saw a vast expanse of white clouds floating in the sky, with dense essence seeping out from the clouds and converging downwards.

“Such a large quantity, someone must have used a Cloud Gathering Stone. Is it an elder from Cloud Sovereign Peak?”

A guess secretly formed in her mind. She followed the direction where the essence converged and saw a young man sitting cross-legged on the ground, quietly Cultivating with his eyes closed.

“Such a young Disciple. Is he a new sect member? Why is he Cultivating on this peak? Could he be the offspring of some important figure?”

Her mind subconsciously raised questions, but she quickly realized that it was this person who had ruined her efforts!

The clouds she had spent a whole half-day gathering were just ruined for no reason. Who could stand that anger?

She immediately wanted to go forward and question him, but before she could move, she discovered a powerful aura erupting from his body.

“This fluctuation… is he about to Breakthrough? No, is he Breaking through to Condensing Core? He entered the Inner Sect without even Condensing Core yet?”

Noticing Lin Yuan’s cultivation, she was quite surprised.

Due to the Inner Sect Assessment, Inner Sect Disciples were at least in the Condensing Core Realm. The Opening Meridian Realm had only appeared in extremely distant history.

And now, someone was Condensing Core here?

This was truly incredible.

“Perhaps he entered the Inner Sect through connections… Forget it, I’ll settle accounts with this rogue after he finishes his Breakthrough.”

Breaking through was the most crucial moment for a Cultivator, and it was not advisable to be interrupted. So, she could only forcibly suppress her anger and wait for him to finish.