Chapter 778: A Statement

However, as the seal was gradually repairing, a low growl suddenly came from the crack in the altar's center. The ancient ferocious beast seemed to sense the change in the seal and began to struggle wildly. Black mist surged like a tide, trying to drown Yan Buji.

"Hold on!" Qingluan's voice rang out again, and immediately a soft light enveloped Yan Buji, helping him resist the corrosion of the black mist.

Yan Buji gritted his teeth and persisted, silently cursing Qingluan for treating him like a beast of burden.

But as the seal gradually repaired, the crack in the altar's center began to slowly close, and the black mist also gradually dissipated.

However, just as the seal was about to be fully repaired, the ancient ferocious beast suddenly let out an earth-shaking roar. The altar trembled violently, as if it might collapse at any moment.

"Oh no, it's about to break free of the seal!" Qingluan's voice carried a hint of anxiety.

Yan Buji's heart sank; he knew he had reached his limit.

"Boom!"

After a tremendous boom, the crack in the altar's center finally sealed completely, and the black mist dissipated entirely. The ancient ferocious beast's roar also gradually faded, as if it had been thoroughly sealed within the altar.

Yan Buji let out a long breath, his whole body collapsing to the ground, his internal power nearly exhausted.

"You did well." Qingluan slowly descended beside him, her eyes showing a hint of approval.

Yan Buji gave a wry smile and said, "Senior, I merely succeeded by luck; without your help, I would have surely failed."

Qingluan slightly shook her head and said, "To master the Time Secret Technique in such a short time and successfully repair the seal is already quite rare. This reinforcement of the seal should last at least several hundred years, enough for us to find a thorough solution."

Yan Buji nodded, his mind somewhat eased. He knew that, having succeeded by luck, the other party would likely not resort to the deed of unloading the mill and killing the donkey.

"Senior, what should we do next?" Yan Buji asked.

Qingluan fell silent for a moment, then slowly said: "I will continue to guard this place, preventing that ferocious beast from breaking the seal again. As for you, you may return to continue your cultivation and increase your strength. Should the seal loosen again someday, we might still need your power. Since you have cultivated the Time Secret Technique, take this back and have a look."

While speaking, Qingluan plucked a feather from her own body and sent it to Yan Buji's front.

Yan Buji solemnly nodded, took the feather and carefully stored it: "Junior understands; I will surely not betray the trust."

Qingluan gave a slight nod, then spread her wings and slowly flew toward the sky.

Yan Buji watched it depart, his heart filled with myriad emotions.

"It's time to go back." Yan Buji took a deep breath, turned, and headed toward the outskirts of the mountain range.

Yan Buji dragged his weary body away from the core region of the Dinglong Mountains. Although his internal power was nearly exhausted, his mood was unusually light. This experience not only let him successfully repair the seal but also earned Qingluan's approval and a mysterious feather. He knew this feather was no ordinary thing; perhaps it contained the power or secret of the Qingluan clan.

"After returning, I ought to study this feather carefully," Yan Buji thought to himself.

As he gradually moved away from the core area, the surrounding violent winds also weakened. Yan Buji felt his Immortal Essence and magical power begin to recover, and his steps became much lighter. While traveling, he recalled this experience, his heart filled with myriad emotions.

"Although I succeeded by luck this time, it also made me aware of my shortcomings. The Time Secret Technique is powerful, but my cultivation is still far insufficient. If that ancient ferocious beast truly breaks the seal, I might not even have a chance to flee," Yan Buji thought warily.

He knew he must quickly increase his strength to stand invincible in future crises.

And the feather Qingluan gave him...

Better yet, let the elders of the sect appraise it.

A few days later, Yan Buji finally returned to the sect. He immediately went to Yuan Zhen's residence and gave a detailed report of his journey to the Dinglong Mountains.

After listening, Yuan Zhen's expression grew solemn: "Hall Master Yan, why do you think you encountered Qingluan in the Dinglong Mountains?"

Yan Buji pondered for a long time: "Could it be related to the earlier rumors of a demon clan emperor's birth in the Dinglong Mountains?"

Yuan Zhen nodded: " hearing you say that, since Qingluan guards a seal altar, it's not hard to guess who is being suppressed. Qingluan should be a powerful senior cultivator of the demon clan's royal court."

Yan Buji's pupils constricted: "You mean, even without me, it could handle the seal on that altar?"

Yuan Zhen chuckled: "You guessed right."

Yan Buji suddenly understood: "Then it seems it pulled me in because of some connection with our sect?"

Yuan Zhen didn't elaborate further, and Yan Buji didn't press for more.

However, it might also be the demon clan's royal court issuing a statement regarding the earlier attack on the Great Sinful Sect by the Fox Tribe; although they cannot bypass the Fox Tribe, it also shows that within the demon clan's royal court there should be more than just the Fox Tribe's voice.

Those demon cultivators who wish to maintain good relations with the Great Sinful Sect, or rather with humanity, are likely not few; precisely for this reason they would adopt such an implicit approach...

Yan Buji took out the feather given by Qingluan and asked: "Elder Yuan, this feather was given to me by that senior; what do you think?"

"Qingluan's feather, although belonging to the Wind Dao, also bears some traces of the Void Dao. Moreover, its aura has been purged, like a great tonic, it can restore your cultivation."

"Oh, I see, thank you, Elder."

After leaving Elder Yuan's residence, Yan Buji returned to his own quarters. He took out the feather Qingluan gave him and examined it carefully.

The feather is entirely azure, emitting a soft glow, as if it contains endless power. Yan Buji tried to infuse a strand of magical power into it, and immediately felt a strong force surge from the feather into his body.

"This feather... indeed not simple!" Yan Buji's heart jolted; he immediately sat cross-legged and began to carefully sense this power.

As he sensed it, Yan Buji discovered the feather contained an extremely pure wind-attribute power. This power not only could enhance his movement speed but also make his magical power flow more smoothly, while his missing Void Dao marks also recovered somewhat.

"If I could fully absorb and integrate this power, perhaps it could elevate my strength to a new level," Yan Buji thought to himself.

In the following days, Yan Buji began closed-door cultivation. He gradually absorbed the power from Qingluan's feather while continuing to contemplate the Time Secret Technique, attempting to combine the two powers.

As time passed, Yan Buji's strength steadily increased. His movement speed became much faster than before, and the flow of his magical power became smoother.

After several months, Yan Buji finally emerged from seclusion. His magical power cultivation had basically recovered; although his Martial Dao cultivation had not broken through to the Nascent Soul Mid-stage, his combat prowess had improved greatly compared to before.