"Name: Jiang Hao"
"Age: Twenty-one"
"Cultivation: Middle Stage of the Golden Core"
"Techniques: Hundred Revolutions of Heavenly Sound, Primordial Chaos Heart Scripture"
"Divine Abilities: Nine Revolutions Death Substitution (Unique), Daily Appraisal, Clear and Tranquil Heart, Hidden Spirit Manifestation"
"Vital Qi: 40/100 (Can Cultivate)"
"Cultivation: 45/100 (Can Cultivate)"
"Divine Abilities: 0/3 (Cannot Obtain)"
"Once again, I need to start accumulating. Let me remind readers of our domain."
Looking at his depleted divine abilities, Jiang Hao pondered how long it would be before he could gather another three fragments.
Wait for the Immortal Peach Tree to undergo Nirvana?
Who knows how long that might take.
Not dwelling on these thoughts, he focused on the divine abilities.
Hidden Spirit Manifestation surprised him.
What is this divine ability?
Touching his forehead, he sensed something new there.
After ensuring everything around him was safe, Jiang Hao activated the Hidden Spirit Manifestation.
However, he realized this divine ability had two parts, and now he was activating the hidden part.
Once Hidden Spirit was activated, Jiang Hao felt a vortex start spinning at his forehead, drawing all the spiritual energy within him towards it.
There was no way to stop it.
Yet, he remained calm and waited.
Moments later, all the spiritual energy from his Golden Core Middle Stage was swept clean.
At this time, Hidden Spirit stopped, and in his forehead's vortex seemed to sit a figure made of spiritual energy, meditating.
Realizing this, Jiang Hao understood that the manifestation part of the ability could now be used.
"So, it's like storing a part of my strength?"
This divine ability was excellent. Once exhausted, activating it could instantly restore his power.
He was curious though, if activating the manifestation when at full strength would yield any results.
Jiang Hao wasn't sure, but he planned to test it in the next few days.
After replenishing his spiritual energy, Jiang Hao headed to the Spirit Herb Garden.
Standing on the path, Jiang Hao gazed at the clear sky of June.
"It's such a nice day. After tomorrow, I can get a good night's sleep."
"Haven't you been sleeping well, Master?" the rabbit walking beside Jiang Hao asked curiously.
"Do you sleep well?" Jiang Hao answered with another question.
"I watch the courtyard at night and always go to bed late," the rabbit lied without thinking.
But Jiang Hao knew it did stay up late, staying awake every night watching the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower.
It always wanted to take a lick of it.
Exhausted from struggling, it would fall asleep.
Before dawn, the flower fragrance would wake it up again.
"Master, do we have to go to the Spirit Herb Garden every day like this? Can't we visit somewhere else?" the rabbit asked with a trace of disappointment.
"We can't." Jiang Hao shook his head.
"When will the entire Demonic Sect know of Lord Rabbit's existence? If Lord Rabbit is invincible and still unknown, that's truly unfortunate for them," the rabbit said compassionately.
Jiang Hao remained silent.
The rabbit being invincible seemed impossible.
Yet, with its fluffy appearance, it could be quite popular.
However, this was the Demonic Sect, and if it encountered someone twisted, the rabbit might never return.
The golden bubbles were still relying on it, so Jiang Hao wouldn't let it loose for now.
Once no more bubbles formed, he'd toss it outside the sect.
Let it become famous in the cultivation world, as long as it didn't mention him.
"Master, could you give me a storage artifact? People on the road want to gift me things, and I can't accept them," the rabbit inquired.
Glancing at the rabbit, Jiang Hao was silent for a moment before replying:
"Go find Cheng Chou and have him get you a suitable one."
A short while later.
Jiang Hao entered the Spirit Herb Garden, where a swarm of bubbles surged towards him.
"Strength +1"
"Spirit +1"
"Ordinary Long Blade +1"
"Endurance +1"
"Vital Qi Pill +1"
Feeling the slight changes in strength and spirit, Jiang Hao contemplated endurance.
It felt the most imperceptible.
Seemingly a combination of stamina and defense.
Gaining one point didn't feel any different.
Even with the Nameless Manual, it was hard to notice.
Just how insignificant must it be?
In the afternoon.
Han Ming brought a token, saying it was for entering the Lawless Heaven Tower.
"It's said you can absorb power and enhance your cultivation along the side of the Lawless Heaven Tower.
Especially useful when facing bottlenecks. They say the places are very precious.
Senior Brother, this token is a merit reward of mine." Han Ming smiled as he said this, feigning a wistful expression:
"I've worked hard outside for quite some time, combined with my decent performance in the competitions, and have earned myself one chance too.
Who knows how long until the next."
Hearing this, Jiang Hao understood; Senior Brother Han was boasting.
"You're impressive, Senior Brother." Jiang Hao politely replied.
Satisfied, Han Ming left, seemingly just coming to impress Jiang Hao.
Watching Han Ming's departure, Jiang Hao couldn't help but muse that if his junior showed off like this everywhere, it was uncertain how long he could survive in the Demonic Sect.
After all, the sect wasn't exactly safe.
The next day.
By evening.
In the Hundred Bone Forest.
A man steadily walked deeper along a woodland path.
All was silent, as if devoid of insects or birds.
After walking for a long time, the man halted before a courtyard, and softly said:
"Li Kai seeks an audience with Senior Brother Ming."
After a brief wait, a man in white robes emerged from the courtyard.
Hands clasped behind his back, a cool indifference in his eyes, his steps steady.
He looked at Li Kai and calmly spoke:
"Come in."
Hearing this, Li Kai stepped in, offering a storage artifact with a smile:
"Senior Brother, here are my gains this time."
Ming Zuoquian accepted the storage artifact, inspecting it with a slight frown:
"There are more spirit stones than usual, but less of everything else."
"It's not just spirit stones," Li Kai lowered his head, showing a hint of excitement:
"There's also two thousand spirit stones yet to be collected. Jiang Hao at Broken Hearts Cliff has plenty of spirit stones. Recently, he seemed to acquire something valuable.
Next month I'll add five hundred more in interest.
He's almost unable to pay, yet feels close to finishing."
"Jiang Hao? The one used as a scapegoat by the Barbarian Dragon?" Ming Zuoquian questioned:
"Indeed, he's not one to worry about. I've inquired with some senior brothers; he's a small fry, with plenty of troubles around him.
But can he repay?"
"He can. The Heavenly Joy Pavilion gave him three months, and he returned one thousand in that time." Li Kai flattered.
"Repaying a thousand in three months? Better take care of this junior then, even if it's just for a year, that's not a small amount." Ming Zuoquian nodded, taking a pill from his robe and tossing it over:
"This is for you. You've done well this time. This pill will greatly aid you in reaching full completion.
As for advancing to the Golden Core, that will depend on your fortune."
Receiving the pill, Li Kai's face was filled with joy.
All his efforts were for this pill, and after tonight, he might reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, just a step away from the Golden Core.
But in his ecstatic moment, he suddenly felt his brain buzz sharply.
Bang!
A spear pierced through Li Kai's head at a blinding speed, its force and swiftness beyond the knowledge of either man present.
In an instant, his head exploded.
Blood splattered on Ming Zuoquian's face; he couldn't even grasp what had just happened.
Li Kai never even knew he died.