C12 Divine Herb Palace
Lei Yan realized that his strength had significantly surpassed that of Human Soul Level 4.
Whoosh!
With a sudden exhalation, Lei Yan blew a small grass beside him to pieces in an instant.
It was then that he truly appreciated the fact that Human Soul Level 5 was several times more powerful than Level 4.
Lei Yan was aware of the Devil Sovereign's formidable peak strength. His breath alone seemed to carry the roars of Devil Beasts and the crackle of thunder, reminiscent of an ancient Devil Beast.
Whoosh!
Three minutes later, Lei Yan expelled a forceful breath.
This breath was infused with Spiritual Power and Soul Power, which he could manipulate with his Soul Power.
Boom!
The breath, like a whirlwind, slammed into the massive boulder blocking the cave entrance.
The rock shook and dust billowed as the whirlwind swept past.
"I've also advanced to the second level of the Devil Ape Body Refining Arts," Lei Yan excitedly noted, feeling the rush of Spiritual Power within him and realizing his breakthrough.
But soon after, he was overcome by intense hunger, prompting him to consume the last three Common Soul Pills he had.
Yet, the pills seemed to vanish into his body as quickly as they were ingested, absorbed without a trace.
"I need to find food, and fast!" Still ravenous, Lei Yan swiftly cleared several large stones and exited the cave.
The forest was teeming with wild beasts, and within ten minutes, he had located a wild bull weighing three thousand pounds. After roasting it, he feasted without delay.
An hour later, all that remained of the roasted bull was a bare skeleton, leaving Lei Yan astounded by his own monstrous appetite.
"A Cultivator in need of replenishment after a breakthrough requires vast amounts of Spiritual Power and Soul Power. Without Medicine Pills, I must rely on ordinary sustenance. I must ensure I have enough Common Soul Pills for the future," Lei Yan mused under the boundless starlit sky.
Now free from hunger, his strength having ascended to Human Soul Level 5, Lei Yan's body felt incredibly at ease, as if bathed in the gentle caress of a spring breeze.
At this moment, in terms of temperament, he was unmatched by any Outer Disciple of the Divine Plant Pill Sect.
...
Lei Yan had just returned to his modest stone dwelling within the Divine Plant Pill Sect when Han Yun paid him another visit.
"Lei Yan, join me at the Devil Beast Garden tomorrow. We, as Outer Disciples, are expected to perform various tasks for the sect," Han Yun said after exchanging pleasantries.
"Understood," Lei Yan responded with a slight nod.
Han Yun, now in his thirties and still only at Level 2 of the Human Soul, hadn't noticed the remarkable surge in Lei Yan's abilities.
"As Outer Disciples, we're at the bottom of the sect's hierarchy, so it's best to keep a low profile and stay out of trouble. Chen Qiang, who often harassed other disciples, paid with his life for his actions," Han Yun often lamented, using Chen Qiang's fate as a cautionary tale for Lei Yan.
"The Inner Disciple Assessment is in a month. Are you planning to observe it?" Lei Yan inquired after a moment's thought.
"I'll be there," Han Yun replied promptly.
Despite knowing he would never become an Inner Disciple himself, Han Yun never missed the event. It was a day of great significance to him, a remnant of his own aspirations.
He took joy in witnessing the fortunate few Outer Disciples ascend to the ranks of the Inner Disciples.
...
Lee Qingping made her way to the heart of the Divine Plant Mountain.
The summit of the range was known as Divine Herb Peak.
Once home to a legendary herb, the peak had since become steeped in ancient lore.
Rising sharply into the clouds, the sheer cliffs of Divine Herb Peak were insurmountable to those not at the Peak of the Human Soul.
Shrouded in mist atop the peak loomed the grandiose Divine Herb Palace, where the Divine Plant Pill Sect's master and elders conducted their affairs and honed their cultivation.
Surrounding the palace were numerous hidden perils, making it one of the sect's most sacred and forbidden areas. Entry was barred to all but the Elite Disciples, and even they required the sect master's express consent.
Lee Qingping swiftly approached the grand entrance of the Divine Herb Palace.
"Master, Qingping seeks an audience," she said with reverence.
Her long hair danced in the breeze, her features both enchanting and beautiful, shrouded in a thin veil of mist that rendered her both ethereal and alluring.
No sooner had she spoken than the formidable barrier at the palace entrance vanished as if it had never been, revealing the faint shimmer of lightning that had been hidden within.
Whoosh!
The mist that had cloaked the entrance to the Divine Herb Palace also dissipated into nothingness.
With a graceful movement, Lee Qingping stepped into the Divine Herb Palace.
Inside a grand hall, a woman of regal bearing and exquisite beauty was shrouded in a radiant glow, her true visage obscured.
"Master, I have been observing the new Outer Disciple, Lei Yan, for the past half a month..." Lee Qingping began, her head bowed in deference.
Ling Qingyin, the Sect Master of the Divine Plant Pill Sect, stood on a high platform overlooking a vast abyss, lost in memories of the time the Devil Sovereign saved her, so engrossed that she seemed entranced.
"Master, what should be done with him? Should I seize his inheritance? As the saying goes, 'The innocent man is guilty of possessing a treasure.' You once taught me that the path of cultivation is also a path of conquest."
At these words, Ling Qingyin's expression turned stern, her authority palpable, causing Lee Qingping to involuntarily step back several paces in alarm.
"Qingping, Lei Yan may have received the Devil Sovereign's inheritance. The Devil Sovereign once showed me kindness, and as my disciple, you must not harm him but instead offer him your covert support. Furthermore, his cultivation talent is certainly not inferior to yours. His potential is boundless, and you should forge a bond with him as his cultivation partner while he is still vulnerable," Ling Qingyin advised, her demeanor softening.
"Master, rest assured, I will follow your guidance to the letter," Lee Qingping responded earnestly, nodding in agreement.
"Qingping, I am aware of your ambition to stand unrivaled under the heavens! Yet the cultivation journey is fraught with peril. Should Lei Yan come into his own, he could prove to be a formidable ally in times to come," Ling Qingyin remarked with a smile.
"I understand."
"You may go now."
With those words, Ling Qingyin gestured with a swift wave of her hand, and a force materialized from thin air, instantly transporting Lee Qingping to the entrance of the Divine Herb Palace.
...
Meanwhile, Lei Yan was accompanying Han Yun to the Devil Beast Garden. They engaged in casual conversation while tending to various chores.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
Suddenly, the distant roars of a devil beast echoed through the air.
Some of the Elite Disciples of the Divine Plant Pill Sect possessed flying devil beasts as mounts. So, when the Outer Disciples working in the Devil Beast Garden heard the roars, they promptly got ready to receive the arrivals.
"Lei Yan, you need to hide, now!" Han Yun suddenly remembered that Lei Yan was the target of jealousy from many elite male disciples due to the incident with Lee Qingping and urgently advised him.
