C77 Divine Palace

After listening to Hee Dongqing's story, Yu Kun pondered for a moment before letting out a sigh.

Since arriving in this world, Yu Kun had come to understand one thing clearly: there was a profound animosity between the Human Clan and the Demon Clan. His own suppression by Yan Changge was partly because Yu Kun had managed to escape from the Demon Clan, raising suspicions that he might have been turned into a demon slave.

However, Hee Dongqing's situation was even more dire. He had not only fallen in love with a member of the Demon Clan but also inadvertently caused the death of every Direct Disciple in the Flying Cloud Sect due to demon-related complications. Yu Kun thought it was rather merciful that the Master of the Flying Cloud Sect hadn't executed Elder Hee.

"The tale of Old Hee lacks a beginning and an end," Yu Kun mused. He then asked, "Old Hee, you've been in love with that member of the Demon Clan for over a decade without ever knowing her true identity, yet your affection for her remained strong. When you faced her on the Demon Hunting Battlefield, you couldn't bring yourself to kill her. Do you think she might have felt the same reluctance to kill you?"

Yu Kun paused, observing the dazed Elder Hee, and then added, "More than ten years have passed. If she truly wanted to kill you, she would have had ample opportunity. Maybe she, too, faced her own struggles on the battlefield, like being coerced by other demons."

Before Yu Kun could say more, he watched as Hee Dongqing suddenly dropped to one knee, sobbing uncontrollably like a child.

Yu Kun found himself in an awkward silence.

Eventually, Hee Dongqing regained his composure and lamented, "I should have realized this sooner! She wouldn't have acted that way unless she was under duress."

Once Hee Dongqing's outburst subsided and he had steadied himself, he straightened his attire and addressed Yu Kun, "Your name is Yu Kun, isn't it?"

Yu Kun nodded in affirmation.

"Yu Kun," Hee Dongqing continued, "I had no real intention of taking you as my disciple initially. But now, circumstances compel me to do so. However, my path in Martial Arts has been cut short, and I cannot impart those skills to you. Instead, I will teach you the art of Divine Runes. Please, take a seat."

In the end, Hee Dongqing's voice boomed out unexpectedly.

Yu Kun was taken aback that such a powerful shout could come from a withered, frail old man like Hee Dongqing. Nevertheless, he sat down, patiently awaiting the elder's next words.

He watched as Hee Dongqing turned and disappeared into the room. It was quite some time before he reemerged, holding a censer and a stick of incense.

Upon seeing this, Yu Kun couldn't help but inquire, "Soul Fixing Incense?"

"No, this is Soul Guiding Incense," Hee Dongqing corrected. "Soul Fixing Incense is for consolidating the Martial Soul, but Soul Guiding Incense is for opening the Divine Palace!"

"Divine Palace?" Yu Kun pressed.

"We'll discuss that later. For now, close your eyes and focus on restoring your spirit. Calm your mind," Hee Dongqing instructed.

Yu Kun complied, closing his eyes and centering himself.

Soon after, a unique and inexplicable scent began to envelop him, distinctly different from the Soul Fixing Incense.

Suddenly, Yu Kun experienced a sharp pain in his mind, as if something within was about to burst. He involuntarily winced and writhed.

"Elder Hee, I feel like you're attempting to murder me," Yu Kun blurted out, half in jest, half in genuine concern.

Hee Dongqing simply rolled his eyes, indifferent to whether Yu Kun could see the gesture or not.

The pain in Yu Kun's head was intense and deep, beyond his ability to articulate.

"Could Elder Hee be plotting against me because he embarrassed himself earlier? The agony is unbearable," Yu Kun thought to himself.

As he was on the verge of crying out from the pain, Yu Kun noticed something strange happening within his body.

With a sudden insight, he turned his attention inward to his Qi Sea. There, the baby Leviathan seemed to stir, as if it had caught the scent of something enticing. Without hesitation, it opened its mouth, and a surge of power was swiftly consumed.

Yu Kun was astounded by the sight.

"Stop! Don't just eat anything! That's the Soul Guiding Incense," he exclaimed in alarm.

Despite his cries, it was to no avail. The baby Leviathan had devoured the incense and let out a satisfied belch.

As the system's voice echoed, "It will take fifteen days for you to fully assimilate it," Yu Kun felt a sense of resignation wash over him. This meant he was unable to tap into the system's devouring power for the next two weeks and a day.

Meanwhile, Hee Dongqing was reeling from an even greater shock than Yu Kun. He had just witnessed the vanishing of the Soul Guiding Incense. "How can this be? The Soul Guiding Incense is more stable than the Soul Fixing Incense. How could it just disappear like that?" Hee Dongqing's initial shock quickly gave way to concern. He thought, "Without the Soul Guiding Incense, Yu Kun can't create the Divine Palace. If he can't do that, his intelligence might suffer."

Noticing that Yu Kun had become motionless, Hee Dongqing dashed over and placed his hand atop Yu Kun's head. Yu Kun, having just emerged from the Qi Sea, felt an inexplicable power flood into him. "This isn't Astral Energy. What is it?" Without any clue as to what it was, Yu Kun had no choice but to let it happen.

Time passed, and Yu Kun noticed a brightness before his eyes, although nothing in the room had changed. The light seemed to exist solely for him. Eventually, Yu Kun came to his senses and found that he could move his body again. As he was processing his surprise, he spotted Hee Dongqing collapsed on the floor. Rushing to his aid, Yu Kun helped him up.

After a few harsh coughs, Hee Dongqing managed to ask, "Can you feel the presence of the Divine Palace now?" Though puzzled, Yu Kun focused and began to sense the Divine Palace. To his astonishment, he detected changes within himself.

The Qi Sea was located within the Acupoint in his chest, and warriors could discern the state of the Qi Sea through this point. Now, Yu Kun found a similar Acupoint in his mind. But instead of the Qi Sea, there was a resplendent palace shining within. Stunned, Yu Kun exclaimed, "Hee, what have you done? Why can I see a palace inside my head?"

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