Chapter 151: Return to the Branch Institute

The One-Eyed Assassin in combat saw that everyone nearby had been killed by Ye Liuyun, felt a sudden emptiness, and Lei Ming seized the opportunity, slashing with a dagger.

"Ah!" the One-Eyed let out a wail. He was slashed, which was not severe, yet he sensed that Lei Ming's Soul seemed also to have been cut. This pain far surpassed the physical.

He was momentarily dazed, and Lei Ming's dagger drove straight into his back heart!

"Ugh!" the One-Eyed Assassin grunted, his figure stalled, and before his body could die, his Soul had already been extinguished!

Lei Ming pulled out the dagger, very pleased with the new function Ye Liuyun had just added to Lei Ming.

Ye Liuyun did not hesitate, having the Monster Beasts enter the Grand Hall and then shrinking the Grand Hall. He himself rode a Flying Boat straight back to the Holy Martial Branch Institute.

After returning, he first reported to Steward Yue.

"While you were away, Han Feng, Leng Yue, Long Yue and others have already broken through to the Sea Transformation realm and entered the inner gate. You should hurry back to cultivate and aim to enter the inner gate soon."

"Yes!" Ye Liuyun answered, then applied to Steward Yue for a piece of empty ground, set the Grand Hall there, and cultivated inside the Grand Hall each day.

Three days later, he smoothly broke through to the True Origin Ninth Realm.

After breaking through, he hurried to the Merit Hall, exchanged many herbs and other items, then returned to place them in the bath pool or had Lei Ming sow them.

He also prepared Space Nest Wood, Boundary-Breaking Stones, and life‑essence elixirs that can promote realm advancement, exchanging many. He simply spent all his points, redeeming a large quantity of heavenly and earthly treasures that aid realm advancement.

He couldn't use them all himself, so he gave the rest to other Monster Beasts.

After returning, he took out the Jiangshan Cauldron given by the Nine‑Tailed White Fox Demon Emperor and used it to refine pills.

The cauldron truly deserved its saint‑artifact rank; Ye Liuyun managed to refine a lower‑grade Heaven Tier pill with it. Though only ten percent was lower‑grade Heaven Tier, it was enough to delight Ye Liuyun!

He believes that once he attains the Sea Transformation realm, with the rise of his Soul, realm, and Golden Crow Holy Fire, he will soon be able to refine more Heaven Tier pills!

Ye Liuyun handed out many of the refined pills to the Monster Beasts, letting them advance quickly. Among them were Bloodline Pills, Concentration Pills, some healing and detox pills, and a specially crafted Cross‑Origin Pill for them, intended for Martial Cultivators in the Sea Transformation realm.

Ye Liuyun also directly exchanged some Dragon Blood, handing it to them for refinement. The Monster Beasts were naturally touched, immensely grateful, and grew more loyal.

With the aid of these heavenly and earthly treasures, Ye Liuyun's realm quickly rose to the True Origin Ninth Layer Summit, beginning to convert toward the half‑step Sea Transformation realm.

The so‑called Sea Transformation realm is when the True Essence within the Qi Sea transforms into a liquid, like seawater, stored inside the Qi Sea.

Ye Liuyun now has twenty percent of the True Essence in his Qi Sea beginning to transform into liquid.

Upon reaching the True Origin Ninth Layer Summit, he instantly transformed twenty percent of the True Essence into liquid. This was mainly due to his previously high true Qi quality, so the conversion proceeded especially smoothly.

His bloodline has already awakened forty‑five percent. He estimates that if he exhausts all the heavenly and earthly treasures he redeemed, it should awaken to about half.

His Soul is also stronger, now capable of one‑mind three‑uses—concentrating on three tasks at once without mutual disturbance.

The Soul Swords in the Sea of Consciousness have already been forged to fifty. Ye Liuyun does not chase speed, but concentrates on tempering these Soul Swords properly. If he only pursued speed, he could forge a hundred Soul Swords.

Only the Immortal Overlord Body currently lacks all materials; he has only found water‑attribute and wood‑attribute spirit‑demon bodies in the branch institute.

His Immortal Overlord Body's eighth layer demands five‑element attributes at least at the spirit‑demon body level—that is, the five‑element attributes transformed into a spirit‑demon state.

These spirit‑demon bodies, after tens of thousands of years of evolution and absorption of Heavenly Earth essence, become spirit‑demons. Some powerful spirit‑demons can even assume human form.

These items are especially rare, worthless on the market outside. Finding two kinds, Ye Liuyun already feels very content!

That day, Dean Nan Feng also returned from the Main Institute, his face radiant with spring wind, and found Ye Liuyun.

"For your matter, I specifically went to the Main Institute and directly communicated your situation with the Grand Elder."

"Ah?" Ye Liuyun exclaimed.

He hadn't expected the Dean to be so helpful, going directly to the Grand Elder for his own matter.

"I will forever remember the Dean's kindness to his disciple, never forgetting it!" Ye Liuyun said gratefully.

"This is what you deserve! You've made such a great contribution to the branch institute, and you have talent; you shouldn't let such talent go to waste!"

The Dean modestly said a few words, yet remained very pleased with his remarks about Ye Liuyun. Though he does not seek repayment, Ye Liuyun understood this, proving he had not misjudged him!

Then the Dean said, "In two months, when the Main Institute comes for recruitment, the Grand Elder will personally visit our academy to verify your bloodline. Then you need not hide! However..."

Before the Dean could finish, Ye Liuyun replied, "I will attain the Sea Transformation realm within two months!"

The Dean was startled, then smiled, "Actually, since you entered, you've already progressed from True Origin Quadruple to True Origin Sevenfold, which is fast! Even if you don't reach the Sea Transformation realm, attaining True Origin Eighth would already impress the Grand Elder!"

"Um... Dean, I've already reached the half‑step Sea Transformation realm!"

Ye Liuyun said, also emitting the aura of the half‑step Sea Transformation realm.

"Ah?" This time the Dean was surprised! "You kid, you're really a monster! Too bad the Grand Elder doesn't know, otherwise I think he would take you as a disciple directly!"

After a pause, the Dean asked, "What level is your bloodline, do you know yourself?"

Ye Liuyun immediately produced his testing crystal sphere and began channeling his bloodline power.

However, it still didn't fully reveal; it only showed orange, and he stopped. "Is this enough?" Ye Liuyun asked.

When the Dean saw his bloodline was yellow, he was already excited; now seeing a deep orange, he was so thrilled he could only nod.

"Enough! Sufficient... hmm? Wait, what does that mean? You still have something hidden?" After declaring it enough, the Dean suddenly realized that Ye Liuyun seemed to imply there was still something concealed.

Ye Liuyun simply put the crystal sphere away, saying, "Not much hidden."

The Dean looked at Ye Liuyun in surprise, and did not investigate further. Even an orange‑level bloodline is among the best at the Main Institute. The Grand Elder had promised that any yellow‑level bloodline would be taken as a disciple.

Everyone has their own secrets; perhaps Ye Liuyun hides some, for his own reasons.

"One more thing. In the branch institute, the Blood Thunder Peak's blood thunder has become increasingly frequent, and it may open soon. At that time, the inner‑gate Sea Transformation disciples will enter for a half‑month trial.

Based on your last merit performance, I will give you another 30,000 points; go to the Merit Hall to exchange for heavenly and earthly treasures or techniques that can help raise your realm quickly. If you truly cannot reach the Sea Transformation realm, I will help you secure a spot."

The Dean has already made up his mind; even if Ye Liuyun cannot reach the Sea Transformation realm, he will still arrange a slot for him.

Ye Liuyun thought and said, "I've been to the Merit Hall; there are several items I especially wanted, but they're not there. Moreover, I now need to improve my cultivation through combat pressure; I can't just keep cultivating mindlessly."