80: Silly husband, are you trying to scare me to death?

[You're almost at your limit, Host.]

The System's voice chuckled in his mind.

[Hold on, and you'll be a top-tier expert at the Middle Nascent Soul Stage.]

[If you don't... well, I'll just have to arrange your funeral.]

He abruptly circulated the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength, guiding that violent energy to charge toward the final crucial barrier.

Roar—

A Soul-shaking trumpet blast exploded within the Immortal Cave.

In the Void Realm behind Qin Feng, the phantom of a hundred-zhang-tall Divine Elephant flashed and vanished.

The aura released at that moment even caused Bai Luoli, far away in the Main Peak's hall, to slightly raise an eyebrow.

But it was only for a split second.

The System's shielding function covered the entire Qingxin Peak at the critical moment.

Boom!

Qin Feng only felt a loud bang in his head, and all the pain instantly vanished.

In its place was a profound sense of being like a fish in water, resonating with heaven and earth.

Nascent Soul Sixth Layer!

He did it!

He slowly opened his eyes, and the golden light in his pupils gradually receded, returning to a deep black.

But if one observed closely, they would find runes faintly swirling deep within his pupils.

He raised his hand and gently clenched his fist.

Crack.

The surrounding space actually produced a tiny crack because of his casual clench.

Is this the power of the Middle Nascent Soul Stage?

Compared to the Golden Core Stage, it was simply the difference between clouds and mud.

He felt that his current self could blow up ten of his former selves with a single punch.

"System, thanks."

Qin Feng let out a long breath. Though his voice was raspy, it carried an unprecedented confidence.

[No need for thanks, just remember to work hard on completing the missions.]

The System's voice grew fainter, as if it were truly going to rest.

[This grandma is going to catch some sleep. Don't call me if nothing's wrong, and definitely don't call me if something is.]

Qin Feng shook his head helplessly.

He stood up, shaking off a layer of Impurities.

His originally messy robes instantly became as clean as new under the vibration of spiritual power.

He inspected his internal state and found that brilliant golden Nascent Soul sitting steadily within his Dantian.

Under the System's disguise, his overall aura still remained at the Early Golden Core Stage level.

He looked just like a minor Cultivator who had just broken through and whose aura was still somewhat unstable.

"Bai Luoli... Bai Luoluo..."

Qin Feng walked to the window and looked at the distant, mist-shrouded Main Peak, his eyes flickering.

He touched the token in his robe.

Just then, the Restriction outside the Immortal Cave was suddenly touched.

A familiar Divine Sense, carrying a hint of cool fragrance, cautiously probed in.

It was Revered Master, Zhao Muxue.

Feeling that familiar Divine Sense, Qin Feng's heart tightened slightly.

As expected of a Quasi-Tribulation Passing Stage expert; even with the System's concealment, Zhao Muxue seemed to have detected the abnormal Spiritual Qi fluctuations here.

He quickly composed himself, firmly suppressing the power of the Nascent Soul within him, revealing only a hint of the slightly floating aura appropriate for the Early Golden Core Stage.

He even deliberately messed up his hair and forced a layer of fine cold sweat onto his forehead.

He looked just like someone who had just encountered a problem in their cultivation and was in a weakened state.

"Come in, Xue'er."

Qin Feng's voice carried a perfectly measured tremor and weakness.

The stone door slowly opened.

Zhao Muxue, dressed in a moon-white long dress, like a cold plum blossom blooming under the moonlight, walked in quickly with a hint of cool fragrance.

Her phoenix eyes were full of worry, and her expression changed instantly when she saw Qin Feng's "disheveled" appearance.

"Husband!"

She appeared beside Qin Feng in a flash, reaching out her cool, delicate hand to grab his wrist.

A surge of extremely pure Profound Ice Spiritual Qi instantly probed into Qin Feng's body.

Qin Feng's heart leaped into his throat.

Although he trusted the System's disguise, he couldn't help but feel nervous facing such close-range inspection.

If he were exposed, how would he explain it?

Say he reached the Nascent Soul Sixth Layer just by having a meal?

Zhao Muxue's brows furrowed tightly as her Divine Sense carefully traveled through Qin Feng's Meridians.

After a moment, her tense body relaxed slightly, but the doubt in her eyes did not dissipate.

"Strange..."

Zhao Muxue murmured softly, her beautiful phoenix eyes staring straight at Qin Feng.

"Just now, I clearly felt an extremely terrifying aura erupting from here, even triggering the Restrictions on the Main Peak."

"But why is the Spiritual Qi in your body... still so unstable?"

Her eyes, clear as autumn water, seemed as if they wanted to see through Qin Feng's Soul.

Qin Feng thought to himself, "That was close."

It seemed the phenomenon during the final moment of his Breakthrough had still alerted this perceptive Revered Master.

He took the opportunity to lean into Zhao Muxue's embrace, resting his head on her warm, fragrant shoulder, letting out a weak groan.

"Sigh, Xue'er, don't even mention it."

His voice sounded listless, and even carried a hint of grievance.

"Just now, I tried to circulate the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength, wanting to push for the Middle Golden Core Stage."

"In the end... well, you know how overbearing that technique is. I lost control for a moment and almost suffered a Qi Deviation."

As Qin Feng spoke, he cooperatively coughed twice, a trace of blood he had forced out leaking from the corner of his mouth.

"That aura just now was probably the residual power leaking out when the technique backfired."

Seeing that smear of crimson on Qin Feng's lips, the last bit of doubt in Zhao Muxue's heart vanished without a trace.

In its place was endless heartache and self-reproach.

"Silly husband!"

She hurriedly reached out her jade-like hand to gently wipe the blood from Qin Feng's lips, her tone carrying a hint of reproach but even more doting.

"How long has it been since you achieved Core Formation? Your Foundation hasn't even fully stabilized, yet you're in such a hurry to push for the Middle Stage?"

"Are you trying to scare me to death?"

Feeling the familiar ice lotus fragrance from his Revered Master, Qin Feng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This hurdle was finally cleared.

"Didn't I... just want to increase my cultivation quickly so I can protect you all?"

Qin Feng looked up, his deep eyes filled with "sincerity."

Looking at Qin Feng's handsome but weary face, her eyes turned slightly red.

The bit of pride and reserve in her heart completely collapsed at this moment.

"Husband..."

...