Chapter 251

Jiang Ye slowly returned the ancient tree to the pit, brushed off the wood shavings clinging to his hands, his eyes still lingering with unspent excitement.

Host: Jiang Ye

Lifespan: 70/268

Cultivation: Gangqi Realm (Mid-Stage)

Destiny: Ascending the Divine Stairway [Effect 1: Extraordinary Comprehension!]

Physique: Five Elements Chaotic Body (Beginner, 1/5)

Qi Condensation Methods Mastered: Great Sun Heavenly Flame Qi Condensation Method (Mastery, 6988/10000); Canglan True Water Qi Condensation Method (Mastery, 4699/6000); Green Wood Long Life Qi Condensation Method (Mastery, 3836/6000); Thick Earth Calming Peak Qi Condensation Method (Mastery, 3689/6000); Tai Bai True Essence Qi Condensation Method (Mastery, 3498/6000); Seven Kill Scripture (Partial Mastery, 218/1000)

Wu Gong Techniques Mastered: Five Animals Fist (Perfected); Blood Moon Knife (Perfected); Golden Body Cultivation Art (Perfected); True Fire Eye Refinement Technique (Partial Mastery, 1679/5000); Five Elements World-Sealing Seal (Beginner, 869/1000); Shadow-Dividing Mysterious Steps (Partial Mastery, 2899/3000); Spirit Monkey Shaking Heaven Staff (Beginner, 178/1000)

True Intentions Mastered: Tiger’s Gait Like Illness, Spirit Monkey’s Thousand Transformations, Startled Deer Leaves No Trace, Wind-Riding Soaring Sky, Blood Moon Illusory Kill, Old Bear Embracing Simplicity

Jiang Ye glanced at the system panel and nodded in satisfaction.

After achieving perfection in the Golden Body Cultivation Art, his lifespan had suddenly increased by forty years.

This meant his physical form had undergone some qualitative leap.

Even before entering the Primordial Realm, his lifespan had already drawn near the three-hundred-year threshold.

If this were to become known, it would surely frighten people to death.

“The Golden Body is truly astonishing.”

Jiang Ye murmured softly, unable to hide his excitement.

He was no longer merely stronger in force—his body’s resilience had reached a level he himself found absurd.

Eager to test the limits of this new body, he waved his hand lightly, drawing the all-black tungsten staff from the weapon rack into his palm.

The moment the staff touched his hand, he sensed a difference.

The weight that had once felt perfectly balanced now felt featherlight.

This was not because the tungsten staff had grown lighter—it was because his strength had increased so drastically...

So drastically that this treasure-grade weapon, which even a Dan-Formation cultivator struggled to lift with both hands, now felt as light as an ordinary wooden stick in his grip.

He casually swung a few forms; the staff’s wind tore through the air with muffled sonic booms, then he slammed it hard against his left arm.

CLANG—

A clear, resonant sound like a great bell exploded through the courtyard.

That blow, capable of shattering refined iron, struck his arm without leaving a single scratch—only a faint white mark appeared, vanishing instantly.

Jiang Ye was not satisfied; he struck again and again.

Slash, sweep, crash, smash—he gave himself a thorough beating with the staff.

Yet he felt nothing.

Only when he unleashed the “Blunt Strike to the Crown” from the Spirit Monkey Shaking Heaven Staff did a dull, heavy pain finally register in his left arm.

He looked down at the faint red mark on his arm, gaining a more intuitive sense of his current physical strength.

Gangqi cultivators could hardly pierce his defenses anymore.

Even Primordial cultivators, striking head-on with this Golden Body, might find themselves in a fair fight.

He practiced his staff techniques enthusiastically in the courtyard for a long while, shadows of the staff swirling, wind howling.

When sweat beaded on his forehead and the fervor in his eyes gradually subsided, his usual calm returned.

Since the Golden Body Cultivation Art was now perfected, his next focus should be refining and tempering his Gangqi—once all Five Elements True Gangqi reached mastery, he could begin attempting to break into the Primordial Realm.

He gathered his thoughts, preparing to sit cross-legged, when he suddenly remembered he had run out of the Qi-Tempering Pills.

Jiang Ye’s gaze slowly turned toward Yunfu Peak.

Sharpening the axe doesn’t delay the chopping...

Fortunately, Master Zhu of the Wanliu Sect had recently granted him three thousand contribution points—he could pay a visit to the Tian Shu Hall and see if they had any tungsten available for exchange.

With his current Golden Body’s strength, this tungsten staff had become too light; if he could add a few more taels of tungsten to increase its weight, the Spirit Monkey Shaking Heaven Staff techniques would become even more formidable.

He tidied up briefly, then walked slowly out of the courtyard.

Yunfu Peak, Tian Shu Hall.

Even before entering the hall, Jiang Ye heard the clamor within.

Disciples gathered in groups of three or five before the massive notice board—some furrowed brows as they carefully selected tasks, others scribbled down task details, and a few argued fiercely over the same assignment, faces flushed.

This bustling, noisy scene stood in stark contrast to the quiet solemnity of the Scripture Hall, brimming with the vitality of common life.

After all, cultivation within the main sect could not escape the need for contribution points.

To get ahead, the monthly stipend from the sect was far from enough.

Thus, accepting tasks became the primary way for inner-disciples to earn contribution points.

Jiang Ye glanced casually at the crowd, kept walking, and headed straight for the hall’s duty officer’s station.

He handed over his duty officer token, his voice calm: “I wish to exchange for Qi-Tempering Pills.”

A young duty officer in plain white training attire quickly took the token and replied: “Qi-Tempering Pills: fifty contribution points per bottle. How many do you want?”

“Ten bottles for now.”

Jiang Ye paused briefly, then named the quantity.

Besides the three thousand anonymous contribution points gifted by Zhu Junwen, his duty officer token held two months’ stipend—totaling one thousand contribution points.

Ten bottles of Qi-Tempering Pills, five hundred contribution points—enough to sustain his cultivation until Gangqi reached mastery.

“Alright, wait a moment, I’ll fetch ten bottles right away.”

The young officer checked the token’s details, then looked up with a faintly surprised smile: “So you’re Officer Jiang...”

“Huh?!”

Jiang Ye’s brow twitched slightly.

The officer before him was a handsome, imposing youth of about twenty, already at the Gangqi Realm—such a young man holding a post in the Tian Shu Hall was no ordinary disciple.

He was certain he had never met this man before, yet the man recognized him instantly.

Had his reputation grown this extensive already...?

The young officer sensed his confusion and bowed with a smile:

“I am Lu Tianhao of Ling She Peak. My grandfather, Master Lu, has mentioned you several times.”

“He speaks of you with nothing but praise.”

“Your name has long been legendary to me.”

“Today, I finally meet the real person.”

“Lu Tianhao?!” Jiang Ye paused slightly.

He remembered.

This was the former gatekeeper, ousted from tenth place on the True Disciple List after being defeated by Jiang Chuxue despite being weaker.

He had once heard Wang Bo of the Enforcement Hall mention that Lu Tianhao was a junior of Lu Guizhou, and the two were extremely close.

Jiang Ye still felt gratitude toward Lu Guizhou.

Whether it was upholding justice for Tianqing Sect in the Enforcement Hall, or freely revealing the secrets of the Primordial Realm—this debt he carried in his heart.

Since this youth was Lu Guizhou’s junior, Jiang Ye felt a touch of familiarity, and returned the bow with a warm smile:

“So you’re Master Lu’s junior, True Disciple Lu—truly, your bearing is exceptional.”

At the words “True Disciple,” Lu Tianhao’s handsome face flickered with subtle embarrassment; he scratched the back of his head and chuckled softly, lowering his voice:

“You’re too kind, Officer Jiang—I’m no longer a True Disciple. Just call me Xiao Lu.”

His Gangqi was nearly perfected, yet he was defeated by a junior sister at mid-stage Gangqi.

Even if she possessed a Golden Spirit Body, it was still humiliating...