45: Proton (VII)

Three months passed in a flash.

Chi Yun was in no hurry to increase his cultivation level. The Spirit Transformation Realm offered one opportunity to switch techniques, and his focus was entirely on switching his Cultivation Technique.

In his previous life, he had been limited by the grade of the "Incinerating Fire Art" and stopped at the Earth Spirit Realm, leaving him full of regret.

Not long after entering the Academy Hall, he set his sights on a Heaven-Grade Cultivation Technique in the Heaven Pavilion of the Academy Hall's Dao Pavilion, titled "Nine Hells Heavenly Art."

It was a Heaven-Grade High Grade Cultivation Technique, said to lead directly to the Heavenly Spirit Realm Peak and even offer hope of reaching the Three Origins Realm.

After nine months of hard work, during which he devoted almost all his time to missions, he finally gathered the necessary academic credits.

Thanks to an Academy Hall policy where new students get a fifty percent discount on their first Cultivation Technique exchange, he was able to afford it; otherwise, he would have had to toil for another two years to gather such a massive amount of credits.

When he stepped into the Heaven Pavilion and handed over his credit jade token, several mocking voices pierced toward him like knives.

"Look, isn't that the useless hostage, Chi Yun?"

"A piece of trash who only made it into the Outer Academy Hall by luck actually wants to exchange for a Heaven-Grade Cultivation Technique? What wishful thinking!"

"He'd be lucky if he even reached the Spirit King Realm in this lifetime."

Chi Yun lowered his eyes and acted as if he hadn't heard a thing.

He received the Jade Slip for the "Nine Hells Heavenly Art," its cold touch spreading through his palm.

Once the Cultivation Technique was in his hands, he realized this Heaven-Grade secret art not only required extremely high Comprehension Ability but also necessitated supplementary Spirit Medicine.

There were dozens of rare spiritual items, each one worth a fortune.

He began an unrestricted search for these spiritual items.

Another two months passed.

He scoured the Academy Hall's mission hall, sweeping up almost all related missions.

During this time, his cultivation level also quietly achieved a Breakthrough to the Seventh Level of Spirit Transformation Realm.

However, to the outside world, he consistently only revealed the aura of the Third level of Spirit Transformation Realm.

One day, while searching for the most critical spiritual item for the "Nine Hells Heavenly Art"—the Thousand Illusion Ice Crystal—he ventured deep into a perennially frozen danger zone.

The cold wind howled, and snowflakes cut across his cheeks like blades.

Just as he discovered traces of the Thousand Illusion Ice Crystal, he sensed several figures approaching.

"Yo, isn't this Junior Brother Chi?"

An eccentric voice full of Yin and Yang sarcasm drifted over.

Chi Yun turned to look; it was a team from the Outer Academy Hall.

There were five of them; the leader was at the Sixth Level of the Spirit Transformation Realm, while the other four were all at the Spirit Transformation Realm, Fifth Level.

Such a lineup would definitely be considered elite in the Outer Academy Hall.

"Are you also here for the Thousand Illusion Ice Crystal?" Chi Yun asked calmly.

"Nonsense!" The leading youth sneered. "A piece of trash like you thinks he's worthy of laying hands on such a spiritual item?"

"Exactly. If this Thousand Illusion Ice Crystal falls into your hands, it would be a complete waste!" another person mocked.

Chi Yun ignored their words.

He considered it for a moment. This Thousand Illusion Ice Crystal was vital to him, but he didn't want to cause further trouble.

"I can trade academic credits for it."

"Credits?" The leading youth acted as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. He glanced at his companions, and they all burst into laughter.

"Junior Brother Chi, how many credits could you possibly have to trade for such a spiritual item?"

"True. A piece of trash like you can only do the lowest-level missions. You have no idea what a spiritual item like this even represents."

The group mockingly quoted a figure, and Chi Yun naturally understood they were making things difficult for him.

His gaze swept over the five of them, and killing intent quietly gathered in the depths of his eyes.

"Maybe I should just kill them all."

The thought was fleeting. His current identity made it unwise to stir up trouble, but if they truly got in his way, he wouldn't mind staining the snow red with their blood.

Just as he was about to act, another set of footsteps echoed from the distance.

Another team appeared in sight, also consisting of five people.

Seeing the situation, they clearly knew the first team and called out a greeting.

Chi Yun's killing intent faded once more.

There were too many people. If one or two escaped, the consequences would be endless.

He cupped his fists, a bitter smile appearing on his face. "In that case, I shall leave this Thousand Illusion Ice Crystal to you Senior Brothers. I, Chi Yun, was overestimating myself."

Seeing him back down, the group laughed even harder, their words filled with ridicule and contempt.

Chi Yun didn't care. He turned and left, quickly vanishing into the wind and snow.

"It's just one spiritual item. I'll find another opportunity to get it."

Another month passed, and Chi Yun finally gathered all the spiritual items.

One night, he completed the transition to the "Nine Hells Heavenly Art."

The aura within his body became deeper and more vast.

The year-end Grand Examination of the Outer Academy Hall arrived as scheduled.

The examination consisted of training in the Yao Beast Territory, which not only affected academic credits but also determined whether one could advance to the Inner Academy Hall.

All the students in the Academy Hall were eager and ready, creating a tense and enthusiastic atmosphere.

Chi Yun also blended into the crowd, preparing to enter the examination grounds.

His gaze swept casually around, catching a familiar figure in the nearby crowd.

Yun Xi.

She was as radiant as ever, her figure graceful. Her appearance drew many eyes.

Yun Xi seemed to sense something and looked over.

Her gaze briefly met Chi Yun's, a flicker of complexity crossing her eyes.

But she quickly looked away, as if nothing had happened.

Ripples formed in Yun Xi's heart. Since the accident in the Mist Swamp, she had been suppressing a strange impulse deep within her.

The Spirit Transformation Realm, Fifth Level Bottleneck that had troubled her for so long had been broken because of that accident, all because of that piece of trash... No, he wasn't trash. His Physique was definitely extraordinary, likely some kind of legendary, powerful Spiritual Body.

"If only I could couple with him one more time..."

The thought grew like wild grass, making her cheeks flush.

That way, she might be able to Breakthrough to the Seventh Level of Spirit Transformation Realm before next year's Grand Examination.

By then, she would be qualified to enter the Inner Academy Hall and might even have a chance to escape the fate her Family had planned for her, avoiding becoming a sacrificial pawn.

"What crazy thoughts am I having?" She quickly suppressed the wild idea.

The Grand Examination began, and all students flooded into the Yao Beast Territory. Just as Chi Yun stepped into a dense forest, he sensed several malicious auras.

"Chi Yun! Die!"

Several branch Disciple members of the Yun Family lunged out. Their cultivation levels were all above the Spirit Transformation Realm, Fifth Level, and each was a standout in the Outer Academy Hall.

However, in Chi Yun's eyes, these people were nothing more than clowns.

Without a word, his figure flickered like a ghost.

Several cold flashes passed, and those Yun Family Disciples didn't even have time to scream before they collapsed. With Chi Yun's current strength, as long as he didn't face someone in the Spirit King Realm, he would likely find no equal.

He finished cleaning up the scene and was about to leave when a beautiful figure appeared before him again.

It was Yun Xi.

She stood under the moonlight, the night sketching a soft silhouette behind her.

"Junior Brother Chi," Yun Xi's voice carried a hint of seduction but also hid a threat, "you wouldn't want me to announce the news of you killing my clansmen to everyone, would you..."

The night was perfect, the moonlight hazy.

The two looked at each other, the suppressed emotions and stirring desires deep within their eyes...

At this moment, like a spark fanned by the wind, it instantly became a prairie fire. No words were spoken, but their bodies moved toward each other uncontrollably.