Immortality: Grinding Experience Starting as a Paper Craftsman

Chapter 72 Hidden Dragon in the Abyss, Four Spirits Forming

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

The water level in the Dragon Transformation Pool has dropped by a full 40%.

The originally milky white liquid became crystal clear, with a murky, muddy color.

This is unprecedented in the history of the Liuyun Sect.

In the past, even if dozens of disciples entered the pool together, the energy consumption would only be about 10%.

"call……"

In the center of the pool, Su Hongxiu slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, her aura surging, and a sharp sword intent soared into the sky.

Late stage of Foundation Establishment, done!

She opened her eyes, feeling the surging spiritual energy within her like a river, her eyes filled with pride.

This breakthrough went exceptionally smoothly, even exceeding her expectations.

"It seems the elder was right; I am indeed destined for greatness."

Su Hongxiu glanced at the nearly dried-up pool and became even more certain that it was her talent that had triggered the strange phenomenon in the Dragon Transformation Pool.

As for the other two...

She glanced at Zhao Lingfeng, who was not far away.

This junior brother Zhao looked ashen-faced. Although his aura had stabilized at the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage, it was clearly still some distance from the middle stage.

"Damn it! Damn it!"

Zhao Lingfeng gritted his teeth, mentally cursing Su Hongxiu's ancestors for eighteen generations.

But he dared not show it, and could only sullenly absorb the limited amount of spiritual liquid.

And Gu Yan in the corner...

At this moment, he was lying exhausted on the edge of the pool, looking like a salted fish that had just been pulled ashore.

His aura was still at the eighth level of Qi Refining, and he even appeared somewhat weak due to overexertion.

"Hmph." Su Hongxiu snorted coldly, her arrogance deepening.

But when she tried to stop absorbing it, she found herself in a difficult situation.

The vortex of spiritual liquid around her spun faster and faster, and the spiritual pressure that threatened to burst her apart made her suffer terribly.

"Why aren't you stopping?"

Su Hongxiu gritted her teeth, her pretty face flushed red, and her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

She tried to interrupt her cultivation, but the immense suction force seemed to stick her to it, and the meridians in her body were being washed away by the violent spiritual energy, causing her to ache slightly.

Gu Yan, the instigator of all this, is hiding in a corner, enjoying his final sprint.

The invisible shackles within him were making a sickening cracking sound.

The originally mottled and chaotic five elemental roots, under the cleansing of a massive amount of earth vein spiritual milk, finally had the most impurities and the weakest elemental root representing metal completely removed.

The remaining four elemental roots—water, wood, fire, and earth—while still not top-tier, represent a qualitative leap in both purity and sensitivity compared to the previous mixed elemental roots.

After acquiring the four spiritual roots, the spiritual energy in the surrounding world became much closer to him, no longer like before, as if separated by a thick layer of frosted glass, something he could only see but not touch.

Although his four spiritual roots are still quite different from those of three spiritual roots or even heavenly spiritual roots, Gu Yan possesses the characteristic of being able to generate all things, so surpassing them is only a matter of time.

Gu Yan breathed a long sigh of relief, and the gloom that had been weighing on his heart for many years finally dissipated.

At the same time, his cultivation level unknowingly broke through the barrier of the tenth level of Qi Refining, and he could establish his foundation at any time when the time was right.

"That's enough. If you keep sucking, Su Hongxiu's small body will really explode."

Gu Yan swept his divine sense across the area and saw Su Hongxiu's swaying figure, and a rare pity arose in his heart.

After all, he's a good comrade who's willing to take the blame for me. If things really get out of hand, it'll be hard to handle.

With a thought, the dozen or so transparent paper tubes connected to the center of the pool transformed into countless subtle points of spiritual energy and dissipated in the water.

The terrifying vortex that had been raging around Su Hongxiu came to an abrupt end as the paper tube disappeared.

Without the suffocating pressure, Su Hongxiu felt a lightness in her body, and she collapsed backward as if exhausted, panting heavily.

"Finally... it stopped..."

She looked at the calm pool water with lingering fear, her eyes filled with the relief of surviving a disaster.

"Time's up, everyone get out of the pool!"

The elder's authoritative voice echoed from the valley entrance.

The three of them got up from the pool.

Su Hongxiu was radiant, her body radiating a chilling sword aura, clearly having gained a great deal.

Zhao Lingfeng looked dejected, having barely stabilized his peak early Foundation Establishment stage. His gaze toward Su Hongxiu was filled with awe and jealousy.

Only Gu Yan slowly climbed ashore, his aura still that of someone at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

However, after thinking for a while, he felt that the lack of progress was too deliberate, so he revealed some of his abilities and showed that he had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining.

Gu Yan emerged from the Dragon Transformation Pool with a pale face and unsteady steps, looking as if he was too weak to receive any nourishment.

"Sigh, this Dragon Transformation Pool is indeed worthy of its reputation. The spiritual energy is too strong. I almost fainted from the shock and could only barely absorb a little bit."

As Gu Yan dressed, he sighed repeatedly, his face full of regret.

Seeing this, Zhao Lingfeng's frustration dissipated considerably, and he couldn't help but sneer:

"Junior Brother Gu, some opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared. You've wasted the sect's efforts by not seizing the chance."

Gu Yan nodded meekly, "Senior Brother Zhao is right, I am ashamed."

Su Hongxiu, who was standing to the side, was also in a good mood and, unusually, spoke up to say something fair:

"You don't need to blame yourself. With your abilities, it's already quite an achievement to stay awake for three days. Although you didn't break through, it can still be considered as strengthening your body."

Listen to that, that's the mindset of a master.

Gu Yan chuckled inwardly, his face displaying a simple, grateful expression.

The three walked out of the valley.

Outside the valley, a large number of people had already gathered.

In addition to the elders in charge of guarding the area, even the sect leader, Qingyunzi, came in person.

After all, the commotion just now was so great that even the sect's grand formation seemed to sense it.

"How about Hongxiu?"

Qingyunzi's gaze fell on Su Hongxiu, noticing her suddenly increased aura. He nodded in satisfaction, "Late stage of Foundation Establishment, not bad. It seems that the strange phenomenon just now was caused by you."

"This disciple has not failed in my mission." Su Hongxiu bowed, her gesture clearly indicating her acceptance, though she did not say it explicitly.

Immediately, a chorus of compliments erupted from the surrounding crowd.

"Senior Sister Su is truly a genius!"

"With such an unusual phenomenon occurring, the path to achieving the Golden Core is promising!"

Surrounded by a crowd, Su Hongxiu shone brightly, like a star surrounded by its accolades.

Gu Yan, who is nominally the protagonist of this Dragon Transformation Pool, was left all alone and ignored.

This was exactly the result that Gu Yan had been seeking.

He silently retreated to the edge of the crowd, preparing to quietly slip back to Qingzhu Peak to digest what he had gained this time.

"Gu Changsheng".

Just then, Qingyunzi's voice suddenly rang out.

Gu Yan paused, then quickly turned and bowed, saying, "Disciple is here."

Qingyunzi looked at this unremarkable disciple with a complicated expression.

He had originally hoped that this kid could make some breakthroughs in the Dragon Transformation Pool, even if it was just reaching the tenth level of Qi Refining, it would at least prove that his judgment was correct.

But now it seems like they're completely hopeless.

However, since the words have already been spoken, we still need to save face.

"Although your cultivation hasn't improved much, your complexion looks much better."

Qingyunzi casually offered a word of comfort, then changed the subject, "Perfect timing. Now that your injuries have healed, the sect has a mission for you to undertake."

task?

Gu Yan's heart skipped a beat. Was he being given a task at this time?

"Recently, news has come from Changning County that there may be traces of demonic cultivators. Since you are familiar with that area, and the Demon Suppression Division there is an affiliated force of the Flowing Cloud Sect, I hereby appoint you as the commander of the Demon Suppression Division there, leading the local Demon Suppression Guards, and taking three outer sect disciples to thoroughly investigate the matter of the demonic cultivators. Are you willing?"

Changning County.

That was Gu Yan's hometown, the place where he officially embarked on the path of immortality.

This task sounds simple, just a errand, like a special gilding mission arranged to take care of him, a newly promoted inner disciple.

But Gu Yan quickly sensed something unusual about it.

Traces of demonic cultivators?

The Blood River Sect is currently under the control of his clone and is recuperating. Where would a demonic cultivator come from to cause trouble in Changning County?

Unless... other forces have intervened.

"Your disciple obeys."

Gu Yan respectfully accepted the order, but began to make plans in his mind.

It just so happens that he has just broken through to the fourth level of spiritual roots and needs to find a place to cultivate properly, and also to sort out the situation with his clone.

This trip to Changning County might be an opportunity.

"Then let's go, let's set off immediately."

Qingyunzi waved his hand, no longer glancing at him, and turned back to continue discussing Su Hongxiu with the elders.

Gu Yan turned and left, his back view appearing somewhat desolate and lonely.

In those unnoticed eyes, the excited gleam of a hunter spotting his prey was gleaming.

"Changning County...interesting."

"It's time to go back and see some old friends."