C3 He Had Broken Through to the Essence Creek Stage

The Bloodline Crystal Stone that Cui Yuanhai had mentioned was indeed the light green crystal stone Yang Xiu had integrated into his body after slaying the Mist Demon. Yang Xiu had vanquished countless Mist Demons, embedding over a hundred of their stones into his flesh. The problem, however, was that Yang Xiu currently had none in his possession.

"Ah, the last Mist Demon I defeated had a crystal stone. I wonder if it's of any use," Yang Xiu pondered, quickly coming to a realization. The wounds he bore were inflicted by that formidable Mist Demon, and it had cost him considerable effort to defeat it.

"Do I stand a chance at becoming an official disciple with only one crystal stone?" Yang Xiu inquired.

"Pfft, you're really asking that with just one stone? Utterly laughable," Cui Lang scoffed, taking out his frustration on Yang Xiu.

"Could it be... the Mist Demon at the Blood Refining level?"

"How on earth did Yang Xiu manage that?!"

Ignoring Cui Lang's taunts, Yang Xiu produced the Bloodline Crystal Stone, capturing the rapt attention of many. The stone was roughly the size of a lychee and had come from the Blood Refining Fog Demon.

"Blood Refining Fog Demon Bloodline Crystal Stone!" Cui Yuanhai declared, his voice resolute, his eyes wide with surprise and uncertainty as he regarded Yang Xiu.

He had never anticipated that Yang Xiu could defeat a Blood Refining level Mist Demon. Had he known, he wouldn't have offered the Blood Essence Pill as a reward for the stone.

"I've underestimated him!"

"A Blood Refining Fog Demon's Crystal can be traded for ten Blood Essence Pills. Just one pill can enable a martial artist to advance to the next level and become a Blood Refining Apprentice. Now, Yang Xiu has ten of them."

"He's going to be unstoppable in the future!" whispered voices filled the air as people murmured amongst themselves.

Cui Lang's face turned a shade of deep green with envy as he glared at Yang Xiu, filled with lethal intent. The Blood Essence Pills, which were meant to aid his own advancement, were now within Yang Xiu's grasp.

Back at the Three-essence Sect, Yang Xiu's progression to an official disciple was a natural advancement. Regarding the ten Blood Essence Pills, he had consumed them all as if they were mere sweets. Since Yang Xiu hadn't awakened his bloodline, the pills had little effect on him, only marginally enhancing his Star Power.

Official disciples resided in their own small courtyards, which proved to be quite conducive to Yang Xiu's cultivation. Embarking on a second life, he resumed practicing the technique from his past life, the Whole Heaven Star Map Secret Scripture, which was exceptionally well-suited for him. Previously, he had attained the Beginning Sea Stage.

This time around, the unexpected awakening of the Whole Heaven Star Map significantly bolstered his abilities, making the Whole Heaven Star Map Secret Scripture an essential part of his practice. Seated cross-legged in the courtyard, Yang Xiu quickly became engrossed in his cultivation. The Whole Heaven Star Map bridged the gap between him and the radiant Sun, as the potent Sun Star Power cascaded down, perfectly balancing the Moon Star Power he had absorbed the night before.

The true power of the Whole Heaven Star Map Secret Scripture was its capacity for continuous cultivation, regardless of environmental changes that could otherwise hinder practice. The ever-present celestial bodies provided an unceasing backdrop for his training.

Yang Xiu had taken note of the Bloodline Power in this world but soon recognized its significant limitations. The very bloodline one awoke could confine a cultivator's potential. Failing to break free from these constraints meant being eternally stuck at that level. Moreover, cultivating Bloodline Power required a plethora of supplementary resources.

In contrast, the Whole Heaven Star Map Secret Scripture demanded no such concerns. The myriad stars offered an inexhaustible supply of resources. "Why should I cultivate a bloodline passed down from predecessors when I can forge a new one myself?" he pondered. "A Stellar Bloodline!"

With this revelation, Yang Xiu refocused his efforts on harnessing Star Power. The cultivation of the Whole Heaven Star Map Secret Scripture allowed various forms of Star Power to flood into his body, coursing through his flesh and into his meridians, a process that was intensely painful yet transformative.

Quickly, Yang Xiu gathered his scattered thoughts and focused intently on condensing Star Power. Cultivating the Whole Heaven Star Map Secret Scripture, various types of Star Power surged into his body, first coursing through his flesh before reaching his meridians. This process was excruciatingly painful, as the rampant Star Power sliced through his flesh like a knife.

However, if he could withstand the pain, the benefits were clear: his body would become exceptionally strong. The Overarching Heaven Star Map Secret Scripture contained a formula for a pill known as the Small Star Pill, which could alleviate this pain. Yet, in his previous life, Yang Xiu had never taken such a pill, and he was even less likely to do so this time around.

As time flew by, Yang Xiu successfully condensed his first strand of Star Power, which shimmered a pale golden hue, fluid like water. "At last, I've entered the Essence Creek Stage. This time, I will not falter as I did before. I am determined to reach the pinnacle of this world and find a way back to the Mountain Sea Immortal Cultivation Realm."

The formation of the first strand of Star Power within him marked his entry into the Essence Creek Stage. In the Mountain Sea Immortal Cultivation Realm, there were eight major realms, and the Essence Creek Stage was merely the first step on this grand journey.

In a similar vein, this world also had eight major realms, with the Blood Refining Apprentice being the initial stage, followed by countless challenges.

...

Bang!

The wooden door was shattered by a forceful kick, and Cui Lang strode in. "Yang Xiu, are you aware of your wrongdoing?" Without further ado, Cui Lang accused Yang Xiu, seeking to condemn him.

"What crime have I committed?" Yang Xiu responded, opening his eyes to reveal a galaxy of stars swirling within. He rose to his feet, his presence emanating a formidable aura that filled the room, his demeanor nothing short of impressive.

"You..." Overwhelmed by Yang Xiu's aura, Cui Lang found himself at a loss for words.

"Enough with the nonsense. As a newly initiated disciple, you're required to complete a mission. You've neglected to claim your assignment for too long, so the Deacon has sent me to deliver it to you." A scroll was launched, aiming straight for Yang Xiu's face.

Whoosh!

Cui Lang's intentions were malicious, seeking to humiliate Yang Xiu. However, Yang Xiu remained unfazed, a subtle sneer playing at the corner of his mouth. Without a single movement from him, the scroll gracefully landed in the palm of his hand.

"You've advanced to a Blood Refining Apprentice!"

Cui Lang couldn't hide his surprise. Yang Xiu's effortless catch of the scroll was clear evidence of his breakthrough. Disdain was written all over his face as he glanced at the jade bottles strewn across the floor.

"Relying on pills to force a breakthrough has ruined you for life."

Clearly, he believed Yang Xiu had relied on the Blood Essence Pill to forcibly advance.

With that in mind, Cui Lang lost all interest in remaining. He even considered reclaiming the scroll to assign a novice mission of hellish difficulty.

Using it on someone like Yang Xiu seemed like an utter waste.

"Tang Family Castle..."

Yang Xiu paid no attention to Cui Lang, focusing instead on the scroll. It didn't take him long to grasp its contents.

The scroll detailed a murder case from ten years ago. The once prosperous Tang Family Castle was wiped out overnight, leaving not a single survivor among the thousands.

The massacre had been a sensation back then.

Since the victims were all mortals, the Three-essence Sect didn't give it much thought, sending only a few disciples to investigate.

Later,

those who visited the Tang Family Castle reported finding no clues, and the case was eventually dropped. But soon after, bizarre incidents began to occur.

The disciples who had visited the Tang Family Castle either died suddenly or went mad.

Over the past decade,

numerous disciples attempted to tackle this mission, but their fates mirrored those before them. Now, Cui Lang had forcefully handed this mission to Yang Xiu.