Chapter One Hundred: The Transformation of the Mark

“Clatter, clatter...!” Su Yizhao did not hesitate; he poured out all the finest spirit stones he had. Although the mystic energy was far inferior to spiritual energy, the sheer quantity was overwhelming. Visible to the naked eye, the mystic energy radiated forth in tendrils, being absorbed into his body.

With a hearty laugh, Su Yizhao removed his Dao robe. On his broad chest, a palm-sized Bagua symbol began to grow. “Crack, crack...!” Surrounding his body, one by one, the finest spirit stones started to shatter.

After an hour, the Bagua symbol expanded to the size of a child’s palm. Su Yizhao’s expression darkened slightly. Damn it! Could it be that even this many finest spirit stones weren’t enough? One hundred superior spirit stones could be exchanged for one finest spirit stone. He possessed nearly twenty million finest spirit stones. If this still wasn’t sufficient, he would have no choice but to absorb the mystic energy from his dantian!

“Crack, crack...” The piled finest spirit stones, stacked three layers deep beside him, gradually diminished. The Bagua symbol became clearer, emitting a purple radiance—lively and profound. Faster! Faster! Though Su Yizhao tried to suppress his excitement, he could feel his heartbeat quickening.

The finest spirit stones were rapidly decreasing. Worry deepened in Su Yizhao’s eyes.

Five million! Three million! One million! The symbol on his chest began to tremble. Overjoyed, Su Yizhao watched the trembling intensify until suddenly, with a flash of purple light, the Bagua symbol detached from his body.

“The Fourth Layer of ‘Mystic Energy Transformation Technique’” A scroll appeared before his eyes, and he gazed at it with rapt attention. After a cup of tea’s time, the characters on the scroll gradually faded until they vanished. The palm-sized symbol “whooshed” back to his chest.

Suddenly, Su Yizhao’s eyes showed surprise. Upon closer inspection, the center of the Bagua had undergone a subtle change—seemingly the faint outline of an animal’s head, indistinct in form. Two horns? A deer? After some time, he could not determine what it was and gave up.

The cultivation techniques ‘Transformation Technique,’ ‘Broken Mirror Technique,’ and ‘Phantom Evolution Art’ were all intact. Su Yizhao excitedly reviewed the methods stored in his mind. Among them, the ‘Phantom Evolution Art’ seemed somewhat redundant. Back when he was at the southwestern frontier, his cultivation far surpassed his peers, so he needed this technique for concealment. But here, he was far inferior to his contemporaries.

After some thought, Su Yizhao closed his eyes and earnestly studied the ‘Breakthrough Technique.’

Inside the auction hall, the atmosphere was cold and oppressive. Other cultivators had long since found excuses to leave. Only Li Chengye remained—not because he wished to stay, but because he had no adequate reason to depart.

Training? Shopping? Gathering information? All were rejected by Zhong Jingyun.

Wearing a bitter expression, Li Chengye silently pleaded in his heart: “Come out already, you wretched guest!”

“Today is the last day. If you don’t come out soon, you’ll miss the trip to Vast City!” Zhong Jingyun spoke.

Li Chengye nodded in agreement. Though he knew the words were not addressed to him, he had no choice but to respond.

“Guess how far his cultivation will advance?” Zhong Jingyun asked curiously.

Li Chengye quickly assumed a serious demeanor, pondered for a moment, and solemnly replied, “Probably early Seventh Divine Realm!”

He had his reasons. This wretched guest was not lacking in spirit stones, nor was his background weak. Yet, his cultivation was only mid-Sixth Divine Realm, which meant what? It meant his talent and aptitude were poor! So even with fifteen years of dedicated cultivation, what difference would it make? Breaking through a major realm would already be generous.

More likely...

The two of them played cards while cultivating inside. Maybe the child was over ten years old now? Li Chengye dared not say this aloud but chuckled inwardly, imagining the scene of the two of them emerging together.

No, three of them emerging!

Zhong Jingyun, of course, disagreed. “Only early Seventh Divine Realm? Impossible. Guess again!”

Li Chengye’s anger flared instantly. He was a temperamental man! Speak truth and you don’t like it; say lies and that’s not good either! Furious, but when he glanced at Zhong Jingyun’s icy expression, the words on his tongue were swallowed whole.

Fine, fine! Satisfy your fantasy!

Boldly, Li Chengye said, “Peak Seventh Divine Realm!”

Zhong Jingyun’s expression softened somewhat. “That makes sense. At least peak Seventh Divine Realm!”

Li Chengye felt as if he had swallowed a fly. Damn it! Makes sense? I was forced into it, alright? When you see the three of them come out together, don’t go chasing them with swords!

Suddenly, he looked up and was overjoyed—the scene he imagined of three people emerging simultaneously was about to unfold. In the distance, indeed, three figures walked out together.

One was the wretched guest, without a doubt. The other was Qin Hongyi! Ha ha! Li Chengye laughed inwardly while secretly watching Zhong Jingyun’s expression, which appeared somewhat stunned. Ha ha! Satisfied now?

Suddenly, Zhong Jingyun said, “Senior Gou is even more anxious than us!”

In his ecstasy, Li Chengye immediately retorted in his mind: You’re the anxious one—don’t drag me into it!

What? Senior Gou?

He fixed his gaze and was stunned. There were indeed three people: the wretched guest, Qin Hongyi, and the shorter figure in the middle—Gou Jianren! Impossible!

Li Chengye leapt forward instantly.

The newcomers were none other than Su Yizhao and Qin Hongyi. They had just left the cultivation chamber when they encountered Gou Jianren, who was clearly waiting deliberately.

Su Yizhao and Qin Hongyi felt uneasy. What was the urgency?

Gou Jianren asked without regard for cultivation level or realm, bluntly inquiring whether they had been making full use of their time to train.

Su Yizhao was puzzled.

“Good to see you’re out! Get ready—we leave for Vast City this afternoon!” Gou Jianren smiled, scanning their expressions for any signs of overstepping, and silently relaxed when he found none.

Just as Su Yizhao was about to reply, a swift shadow lunged at him. He flickered, delivering a palm strike.

“Smack!”

A crisp sound echoed as the shadow was sent flying two or three yards, collapsing onto the ground. Su Yizhao looked closely—it was none other than Li Chengye, clutching his forehead and staring at them dazedly.

Su Yizhao smiled. “Brother Li, sorry—reflexes!”

Li Chengye gradually recovered but felt like crying. Why? He roared inwardly.

“Ignore him!” Gou Jianren saw Li Chengye’s slightly deranged state and bypassed him, smiling at Su Yizhao. “Peak Seventh Divine Realm—that’s impressive!”

Su Yizhao smiled calmly. Indeed, he had advanced to the peak of the Seventh Divine Realm, just one step shy of the Void Realm.

This time, he truly experienced the exhilarating sensation of simultaneously breaking through Qi, Soul, and Body—a fusion like water and milk, like the ascension of the divine spirit.

Moreover, after this triple breakthrough, he attained a rare enlightenment from the Heavenly Dao. With divine assistance, he even comprehended a unique supernatural ability of his own...