Chapter 148

Lianqi Third Layer!

Feeling the surging magical power inside his body, after comparing it with other early-stage Lianqi cultivators he had seen, Yan Buji felt that his magical reserves could at least match those of mid-stage Lianqi cultivators at the fifth or sixth layer.

Of course, this might also be because he hasn't seen any true geniuses, so he can only compare himself to ordinary cultivators; therefore he shouldn't be arrogant, which is not advisable.

After finishing his practice, Yan Buji slowly opened his eyes, fists clenched.

"Lianqi Third Layer... at this rate, I might not even reach Lianqi Tenth Layer in thirty years, let alone what Chen Li is doing." Yan Buji frowned and shook his head.

With only five years left until his agreement with Chen Li, and having also practiced the Nine Turn Skill, Yan Buji doesn't think he could break through to Lianqi Tenth Layer even if he had abundant resources.

Even reaching Lianqi Fifth Layer is a big problem.

Yan Buji calculated that the cost from Lianqi Level to Lianqi Third Layer alone was at least nearly a hundred thousand Spiritual Stones. Moreover, as his realm rises, the cost of each cycle of magical dispersion and refinement only doubles.

To break through to Lianqi Fourth Layer, Yan Buji estimates that without sixty or seventy thousand Spiritual Stones, plus a Spirit Gathering Formation and some pills to aid magical refinement, it would probably be hard to accomplish.

Even if he had known earlier, Yan Buji would still have chosen to cultivate the Nine Turn Skill.

Otherwise, with his abundant magical power now, even if his left eye mutates again, he can slowly wear away the mutant force with his deep magical power.

Although he cannot currently use his left eye's power, if he reaches Lianqi Fourth Layer or Lianqi Fifth Layer and completes the foundation of the Five Elements Skill, perhaps he wouldn't have to worry about his left eye mutating.

The cyclical generation of the Five Elements is Yan Buji's current main cultivation goal.

As for Martial Dao Profound Skill...

He simply doesn't know where to find the complete manuals of Blood Essence Skill and Guān Tiān Dēng Mó Zhuàng; being stuck at the second layer isn't because he doesn't want to practice, but because he truly can't find a way to do so.

"From now on, earning Spiritual Stones will just depend on watching for market changes, but after the previous Zengyuan Pill incident, it's probably impossible in the short term to find such a good opportunity, so I'll try to first inquire about news of the Third Princess." Yan Buji pondered.

But to obtain the Sixth Aperture Linglong Heart on the Third Princess's body would inevitably involve the mighty Xuan Gen Dao, and Yan Buji truly does not want to clash with them unless necessary.

Moreover, Yan Buji has already integrated abnormal material for cultivating the Sanhua Tong Secret Method, and given the earlier words of the tavern owner Tian Liang, he also needs to consider what to do if one day his left eye truly cannot suppress the mutant force.

Turn into an abnormal beast?

That would be worse than death.

But seeing that the Daoist Li could still maintain his sanity despite that appearance, Yan Buji realized that even if he underwent a major mutation, there is a way to reverse it!

Yan Buji must obtain this method no matter what; whether he can actually do it is another matter, but it's better to prepare in advance.

Yan Buji left his seclusion spot and came to Huang Du, strolling around while gathering information.

Ordinary people living in Huang Du have heard some rumors about the imperial family's secrets, but they are basically hearsay, lacking any real credibility.

Nevertheless, this gave Yan Buji a rough idea about the Third Princess.

"This Third Princess appears to be the daughter most favored by the Xuan Gen Dao emperor; although her mother has long passed away, she was the emperor's most beloved consort, so it's understandable that he favors her under the 'love the house, love the crow' principle."

Yan Buji heard that in earlier years, when the Third Princess came of age, the emperor even summoned officials for a grand banquet for guests, showing how deep his affection for her is.

Not to mention a daughter, even an ordinary imperial prince wouldn't have the prestige to have officials come to congratulate him, unless he were a crown prince or similar.

But this, on the other hand, poses some trouble.

"The key is, how did that Daoist Li know that the Third Princess has a Sixth Aperture Linglong Heart on her body?"

"Why not a Seven Aperture Linglong Heart?"

Yan Buji has heard that the Seven Aperture Linglong Heart is the third-ranked talent among mortal bodies, a fine seed for cultivation.

But what does the Sixth Aperture Linglong Heart refer to?

Yan Buji doesn't really understand, but if this...

Even if Xuan Gen Dao looks down on him, joining other cultivation forces should not be a problem, so he wouldn't have to stay in the palace all day.

Therefore, it's likely that others simply don't know the Third Princess possesses a Sixth Aperture Linglong Heart, making her no different from an ordinary person.

As for how to approach the Third Princess, doing so by ordinary means is probably impossible.

He can't hide his cultivator identity, and if any Xuan Gen Dao cultivator notices him, how would he explain himself?

"I have to make her come find me!"

Yan Buji narrowed his eyes, and an idea formed in his mind.

It would be best to find out what the Third Princess usually likes, then start from there; by making a name for himself in Huang Du, he would naturally get a chance to approach her.

As he walked, Yan Buji suddenly saw an old beggar approaching with a broken bowl.

He instinctively touched his cuff, found he had no silver, and chuckled, "Sir, I don't have any money on me."

It's just that he had pretended to be a kindly old man for too long, so it's become a conditioned reflex.

The old beggar, hair disheveled, saw Yan Buji's righteous appearance and suddenly began to sing:

"Born with a hard fate not of one's choosing, having resolved half a life's karmic ties brings good fortune~"

"Who says the heavens are too high to reach? Starting from scratch, crossing mountains and seas to see the dawn~"

"One's righteousness and wickedness are hard to weigh, yet he claims to have seen the vast sea and high sky and refuses to yield~"

"Speechless wife and daughter, ashamed concubine, leaving only wails of ghosts and cries of people—who will come to help?"

Seeing the old beggar madly circling him while singing, Yan Buji frowned:

"Sir, what exactly...."

The old beggar suddenly pointed at Yan Buji, widened his eyes, laughed, and sang:

"The bustling crowds, people coming and going, heaven in all directions—what truly deserves repayment?"

"Going in circles like a bull's horn, seeing no light; unable to bear a dead end, bumping into the southern wall; surging desires, can they be pondered? This heavenly way is clear......"

After the old beggar finished singing, he madly circled Yan Buji, laughing loudly as he sang:

"Nowhere to hide~ ahahahahahahaha!!"

Yan Buji furrowed his brows, turned his head, and glanced at the old beggar leaving the crowd.

Was he warning me?

I really don't know which exalted person this is; since he can see my past yet acts like this, it truly shows that under heaven there is nothing strange.

Yan Buji chuckled, then suddenly felt something at his waist!

Yan Buji extended his hand and carefully sensed it; this thing seems to be a book?

No, when!

He looked up again, but the old beggar's figure was already gone.

Yan Buji took a deep breath, thinking that today he really had encountered a great master?

Being given a book for no reason, I don't know what the other party intends?

"Let's go back and take a look first; although there's no free lunch in this world, since it's already been placed at my mouth, it would be too impolite not to look at it."

Yan Buji squinted and left.