2: Breakthrough in the Qi Refining Stage!

"Success or failure depends on this one attempt! I must Breakthrough to the Qi Refinement Stage!" Yang Kai went deep into the mine, found a hidden cave, sat down cross-legged, took out a qi gathering pill, and put it into his mouth.

As soon as the qi gathering pill entered his mouth, he quickly assumed the five-hearts-to-heaven posture, silently recited a Cultivation Technique mantra that all Utility Disciples knew, and focused intently on absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. With the aid of the qi gathering pill, Yang Kai's efficiency in absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi significantly improved.

However, the effect of one qi gathering pill was limited. After its medicinal properties wore off, Yang Kai's efficiency in absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi rapidly declined. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi previously drawn into his body was being consumed quickly, but no magic power had yet been born in his Dantian.

At this moment, Yang Kai's state of mind remained unchanged. He took out another qi gathering pill and put it into his mouth.

This cycle repeated. After he consumed the seventh qi gathering pill, the concentration of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in his Dantian had reached a critical point. The rate of consumption could no longer keep up with the rate of absorption. A violent, distending pain faintly spread through his Dantian, and he sensed an invisible Bottleneck within his body, hindering him.

His Dantian was at a stalemate, with magic power on the verge of being born. Yang Kai gritted his teeth and swallowed another qi gathering pill. In an instant, the previously calm and stable Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi raged within his Dantian.

"Boom!"

A silver-gray warm current appeared, drifting within his Dantian. It was the magic power Yang Kai had long awaited. At this moment, the magic power was rapidly absorbing the boundless Spiritual Qi filling his Dantian, quickly growing stronger.

"I've finally had a Breakthrough!" Yang Kai was filled with joy and excitement. Three years—he had finally stepped into the Realm he had long dreamed of.

However, just then, the mine suddenly began to shake violently. Above him, countless small stones rained down. Immediately after, a series of dull thuds echoed through the mine, as if the earth itself was roaring.

Stones continuously fell from the cave ceiling. Some hit near Yang Kai, and the splashing debris scratched his cheek. The ground also began to shake violently, as if it would swallow him whole.

The rock wall beside Yang Kai also cracked at this moment, revealing the crystal-clear Jade Marrow within. To steady himself, Yang Kai instinctively pressed his palm against the jade wall.

Unexpectedly, after Yang Kai's palm touched the jade wall, a powerful suction burst forth from his body. The Jade Marrow was uncontrollably drawn into his body through his palm.

"What's going on?" Yang Kai was greatly alarmed. He tried to pull his hand back but found it seemed firmly stuck, unable to detach.

The massive extraction of Jade Marrow intensified the mine's collapse. Stones rained down like a downpour, and the entire mine tunnel plunged into a doomsday scenario, engulfing Yang Kai's figure within it... In the dark, damp prison cell, a putrid odor permeated the air. The straw on the ground emitted a musty smell, and water droplets continuously dripped from the walls, merging with the dirty blood on the ground to form a pool of bloody ripples, reflecting the scene inside the room.

"There is an iron rule in the Immortal Realm: one must not perform soul-searching on a Cultivator in the Qi Refinement Stage, or they will suffer divine punishment. Otherwise, soul-searching would be much simpler," a young man in a purple Daoist robe said indifferently in the filthy cell.

"Who... are you...?" A person hanging on a wooden rack, adorned with torture instruments, spoke in a hoarse voice.

"You are Yang Kai, right? It doesn't matter if I tell you. I am Wang Zhuo, an Inner Sect Disciple under Qingyun Peak. Do you have anything else to say?" Wang Zhuo glanced at Yang Kai, his tone indifferent.

"Wang Zhuo? Very good, very good..." Yang Kai murmured, his tone calm but laced with a bone-chilling coldness.

Yang Kai's demeanor displeased Wang Zhuo. Wang Zhuo frowned, about to strike again. Just then, he suddenly looked up, as if receiving some message, then his figure flickered and disappeared from the cell.

Flowing Cloud Sect, Hall of Elders.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, the mine collapse currently shows no signs of external sect interference. There are still suspicious points in this matter, and this Disciple has already made some discoveries, but it will still require some time..."

In the magnificent main hall, Wang Zhuo knelt, reporting the investigation results to the Sect Master of Flowing Cloud Sect and the various Elders of the Hall of Elders. This was where the Elders of Flowing Cloud Sect convened for discussions. There were thirty meditation cushions arranged on either side of the hall, but currently, fewer than twenty were occupied.

"There's no need to investigate further. A mere Utility Disciple—continuing the investigation would be a waste of time. Issue an order to execute everyone involved, and at the same time, inform the Orthodox Alliance that I, Qing Xuanzi, will visit the various immortal sects in a few days. This matter must have an explanation." Above the main hall, a hazy, colorful cloud hovered, upon which a middle-aged man sat cross-legged. This person was the Sect Master of Flowing Cloud Sect, Qing Xuanzi.

"Sect Master, shouldn't this matter be decided after a vote by the Hall of Elders?" an old man on Qing Xuanzi's right side spoke.

"Elder Wang Qing, I believe there is no need for that," Qing Xuanzi's icy words echoed through the hall, concluding the matter.

"This Disciple obeys!" Seeing that the Sect Master and the other Elders were no longer speaking, Wang Zhuo quickly accepted the order and withdrew from the main hall.

On the other side, Yang Kai heard footsteps outside the door, and soon someone pushed the door open.

"By order of the Sect Master, all personnel involved are to be executed. Take this person away!" Wang Zhuo returned with the Sect Master's order and began to arrange for his subordinates to gather all the Utility Disciples for him to personally execute.

"What should I do? Am I really going to die here?" Yang Kai was dragged out of the cell by two Disciples, leaving two bloody imprints on the ground.

"The System has detected that the Host has had a Breakthrough to the Qi Refinement Stage, fulfilling the conditions for the Points Mall to open. The Points Mall has been opened!"

"The Host has sacrificed the Jade Marrow Mine, gaining one hundred thousand points!"

Just then, the System's voice rang out in Yang Kai's body. He quickly called out to the System in his mind, opening the Points Mall to study it.

"Good heavens! Ancient Divine Demon Contemplation Method! Jade Qiong Heavenly Sky Yellow Turban Body Refining Sacred Art! This, this, this!" Yang Kai was so overwhelmed by the items in the Points Mall that he was speechless. Although the System had only opened the Qi Refinement Stage Points Mall, it contained dozens of rare treasures, each sounding incredibly powerful just by its name!

"Kneel down here!" Just as Yang Kai was pleasantly surprised, the two Disciples dragged Yang Kai to an open space outside the cell, threw him heavily to the ground, and then turned to leave.

"This Flowing Cloud Sect is too unreasonable. They execute people without a word. This is bad; no matter how many points I have, they'll be useless now." Yang Kai anxiously scrolled through the treasures in the Points Mall, carefully searching for something that could save his life.

"All the other items are Cultivation Techniques. What good would exchanging for a Cultivation Technique do now? Only this 'Luck Value'—I don't know what it's for." Yang Kai scoured the Points Mall, thinking that perhaps only this Luck Value could save his life.

"Treat a dead horse as if it's alive, I'll go for it!" Yang Kai gritted his teeth and decisively exchanged all his points for Luck Value, instantly emptying his one hundred thousand points.