Chapter 495: Cultivation Advancement

Xu Yanzhi furrowed his brows, and the blue veins at his temples throbbed.

Now he truly has no evidence that Yuan Yao used the forbidden technique; if he forcefully pins the crime on Yuan Yao, it will likely backfire!

"Kui Qian Xian Zun, what do you think?" Xu Yanzhi turned his head toward Kui Qian Xian Zun, throwing the question to him.

Kui Qian Xian Zun sensed no evil aura on Yuan Yao; she was not using a forbidden technique just now, but a mental power technique.

Logically, Wuxiang Xian Zun should be well aware.

Yet he claimed Yuan Yao used a forbidden technique…

Kui Qian Xian Zun suddenly recalled that some time ago, Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord had sparred with Wuxiang Xian Zun, and Wuxiang Xian Zun seemed still badly wounded.

Could it be that the grudge between them made Wuxiang Xian Zun so arbitrary about this matter?

Kui Qian Xian Zun's gaze fell on Yuan Yao, and he said lightly, "We'll discuss it after Yuan Yao finishes her promotion."

Xu Yanzhi nodded, then sat down.

At this moment, Lu Xiangxiang, standing beneath the arena, appeared restless, vaguely feeling that she was about to lose something.

She stared at Yuan Yao, uncertain and startled.

What on earth did Yuan Yao do?!

Meanwhile, Yuan Yao was both advancing her rank and manipulating the nightmares of Cultivators across the cultivation world.

On the arena, Feng Xiaoxiao had long ceased moving, standing still like a puppet.

Time slipped away, moment by moment.

A pungent‑sweet breath churned in Yuan Yao's throat; her head seemed about to explode, while the spiritual energy inside continuously washed her meridians!

Buzz!

Her cultivation realm instantly leapt from the late‑stage pinnacle of the Nascent Soul Realm to the early stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm!

And at the same time—

The mechanical voice of System 250, now tinged with barely concealed excitement, announced: 【Congratulations, host, you have successfully conquered ten million target individuals! Gained a lifespan reward of ten million days! Current lifespan now stands at ten hundred fifty‑three thousand four hundred eighty‑seven days!】

Yuan Yao suddenly opened her eyes, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly.

Everyone assumed she was happy simply because she had advanced to the early Spirit Transformation Realm.

She rose to her feet, and the instant she withdrew her mental power, the entire Floating Capital Arena was imperceptibly pressed by an overwhelming sense of oppression.

The faces of the Immortal Lords changed; their gazes at Yuan Yao were filled with disbelief.

That mental power just now…

Was it Yuan Yao's?!

That mental power made them all feel deeply alarmed.

Wuxiang Xian Zun furrowed his brows, his sense of danger intensifying.

He vaguely felt that Yuan Yao might have been reborn, or that she already knew what had happened in her previous life?

Or perhaps she was possessed by some great being, granting her such terrifying mental power!

Wuxiang Xian Zun cast a dim glance toward Lu Xiangxiang, silently exchanging a look with her.

—Yuan Yao must not be kept!

Below the arena, Xie Zixu stared intently at Yuan Yao's figure.

Yuan Yao's rate of growth is truly astonishing!

This is no longer a height a normal person can attain.

He has never in his life seen anyone with such a terrifying talent.

In less than a year, Yuan Yao's strength will surpass his own. Then he will become her defeated subordinate, and he must fulfill the promise he made that day—learn… to bark like a dog.

Thinking of this, Xie Zixu's expression became slightly uneasy.

At the same time, Cultivators across the cultivation world abruptly awoke from that heart‑pounding nightmare, cold sweat streaming, their hearts still trembling.

The experiences within that nightmare were so deeply etched, so undeniably real, as if they had stirred the most hidden corners of their souls, forcing them to re‑examine their past actions and overturn many long‑held beliefs and perceptions.

"I just… seem to have had an extremely vivid dream," murmured a Golden Core Cultivator, his face still trembling.

"I had one too!" someone nearby immediately echoed, voice full of disbelief, "Everything in the dream was crystal clear, just like actually experiencing it!"

"What? You all dreamed?"

"What… what on earth happened?!"

"I recall a cold, ethereal voice in the dream constantly guiding me, urging me to repent sincerely, to reflect deeply…" a white‑haired elder said, brow furrowed, lost in thought.

"No way! Me too!"

"Could it be an ancient immortal manifesting, specifically guiding us?"

"Hmph, where would any immortal be? This must have some hidden trick!" A meticulous thinker, with a doubtful expression, retorted in a deep voice.

In the Ninth Province, many people independently guessed the mastermind—Repentance Immortal!

They all looked up together, their gazes fixed on the floating water‑mirror crystal above, which displayed the figure of Repentance Immortal Yuan Yao!

Someone asked in startled doubt, "No way?! Could Yuan Yao's quirk have resurfaced?"

At this moment, the Floating Capital Arena.

On the arena platform.

Yuan Yao was not in a hurry to end the match; she dispelled the puppet technique she had placed on opponent Feng Xiaoxiao.

Feng Xiaoxiao's consciousness returned, and he shivered, unable to immediately grasp what had happened.

But the instant he saw Yuan Yao, his memories slowly returned; he seemed to have been dueling Yuan Yao, yet somehow his consciousness was instantly dragged into a darkness.

Feng Xiaoxiao did not notice the strange gazes of those present; he gripped his long sword tightly and charged toward Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao, seeing this, immediately sidestepped, then raised her sword for a slash!

Clang!

Feng Xiaoxiao's long sword was knocked to the ground by the Phantom Spirit Sword, leaving a "Clang!" sound.

Feng Xiaoxiao's face turned pale; he could sense the powerful spiritual pressure radiating from Yuan Yao, which instantly made his body stiff.

At the same time, the intermittent murmurs around him reached Feng Xiaoxiao's ears.

Upon hearing it, Feng Xiaoxiao showed an even more shocked expression.

"Yuan Daoist, you just broke through to the Spirit Transformation Realm?!"

"Yes."

Yuan Yao finished speaking, and Feng Xiaoxiao loudly declared, "I concede."

He believed he could not defeat Yuan Yao, especially since when he had just lost consciousness, Yuan Yao could have easily caused his total defeat, yet she did not.

The referee, seeing this, announced, "Ninth Province Yuan Yao, win! Gains thirty points!"

After Yuan Yao stepped off the arena, she was scolded a few times by the senior brothers and senior sisters.

Song Yan slightly furrowed his brows, "Yao Yao, what you just did was truly too dangerous."

Yuan Yao readily admitted her mistake.

Then she added, "Eldest Senior Brother, I have a headache."

Hearing this, Song Yan stopped lecturing her and let out a helpless sigh.

"First, close your eyes and nurture your spirit, and regulate the Qi within your body."

Yuan Yao blinked and agreed.

Immediately, Xiao Lingwei produced a clean, soft cloth to wipe the remaining bloodstains from her face.

"Thank you, Second Senior Sister."

Suddenly, Xue Jin asked, "Are you hiding something from us?"

Yuan Yao's heart skipped a beat; she shook her head.

"No."

And Ying Wuji looked at her pensively at that moment.