Lou Yuan is a marginalised member of the Lou Family back on the Shenyuan Continent.

Though born into a great clan, his bloodline is thin, his position low, and few in the family spare him more than a glance.

He joined the Purple Jade Sect, but there, too, he is only an outer disciple.

It is within the outer sect that his conflict with Jun Qing began.

Jun Qing, like him, is an outer disciple—yet the Jun Family behind him is a prominent power within the Purple Jade Sect.

More than that, Jun Qing’s elder brother, Jun Tianhao, is an inner disciple of high standing, and his shadow looms over every clash between them.

Lou Yuan knows well that his Lou Family will never dare to oppose the Jun Family for his sake.

So, to protect himself from the reach of his enemies, he accepted a three-year sect mission to the Wild Continent.

He will return just in time for the grand sect competition, where outer disciples have a chance to rise into the ranks of the inner sect.

Only by becoming an inner disciple can he shield himself from the Jun Family’s oppression.

Only then will his value increase enough that both the Purple Jade Sect and his own family will be forced to protect him.

But before that day comes, he must defeat Jun Qing—and every other contender who stands in his path.

His thoughts churn bitterly as he clenches his fists in the silence of the night.

“Devil, is there another way? A path that can let me reach the Ascendant Realm within three years—so I can crush Jun Qing?”

The devil’s voice slithers out from the ring. “You have not even advanced to the Inner Palace Realm. Without the advanced energy contained in the spirit bead, how can you dream of the Ascendant Realm?”

Frustration twists across Lou Yuan’s face. “Is there no other energy?”

A low chuckle echoes. “There is another.”

Anticipation flickers in Lou Yuan’s eyes. “What is it? Where can I find it?”

“The Demon Blood Stone,” the devil whispers. “It lies within the Demon Blood Lake.”

Lou Yuan’s expression hardens with disbelief. “Are you speaking of the same Demon Blood Lake that is revered as the holy ground of Demon Blood Mountain?”

The devil hums in agreement, smug and unhurried.

Lou Yuan clenches his jaw. “Then you know I can’t obtain the stone.”

The devil’s voice is cold. “That doesn’t matter to me. I have already given you the Demon Saint Spiritual Body technique. If you wish to practice it quickly, then you must find the energy yourself.”

Silence falls over Lou Yuan, heavy and suffocating.

In three years, he must reach the Ascendant Realm if he wants true safety.

For the outer disciple competition, that level is not necessary.

Even reaching the Star Induction Realm would give him a strong chance of victory, as the strongest outer disciples rarely surpass that stage.

But the true danger will come after he becomes an inner disciple.

Jun Tianhao will certainly move against him, and with only the Star Induction Realm, Lou Yuan would not stand a chance.

If he can step into the Ascendant Realm before entering the inner sect, his safety will be far more secure.

Yet at his current pace, even reaching the Star Induction Realm within three years feels uncertain.

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The only path forward is to transform his body into a top-rank spiritual body, one that can carry him past his limits.

Reaching the late stage of the Demon Saint Spiritual Body technique would render his body indistinguishable from that of a true top-rank spiritual body.

Completing even the initial stage has already raised his physique to the equivalent of the fully completed low-rank Jade Spiritual Body technique.

He closes his eyes, and his inner energy begins to surge, refining his flesh and bones as he cultivates the Demon Saint body technique.

His goal is clear—complete the initial stage quickly, then break through to the Inner Palace Realm.

Hours pass in silence until a knock at the door forces him to end his practice.

Opening it, he finds a disciple waiting with a message—the sect master has summoned him to the main hall.

Stepping inside, Lou Yuan sees the sect master seated in authority, with elders gathered on either side, and his senior brother, Yu Feng, already present.

But his mood lifts the instant his eyes fall upon the staff in his master’s hands.

Set into its head glimmers the spirit bead.

His master’s gaze sharpens. “Lou Yuan, can you tell us anything about the Su Family? Or does the seal forbid you from speaking?”

Lou Yuan recalls what he knows, waiting for the seal’s reaction—but it remains still.

He bows slightly. “The Su Family is one of the four great families of the Human Alliance, standing alongside the top ten sects. They control the *Heavenly Wave Trading Company*, which oversees all ships and boats that connect the Shenyuan Continent’s humans with those living on distant islands and the Wild Continent.”

The elders exchange knowing nods at his words.

But Lou Yuan cannot contain his curiosity. “Master, why are you asking me this?”

His master answers calmly. “Yu Feng is departing for the Shenyuan Continent, and the elders who will escort and inspect him include two members of the Su Family.”

Lou Yuan’s eyes widen in surprise, then a hidden joy rises within him.

Without Yu Feng, the spirit bead will no longer be untouchable.

“Senior brother, you are leaving so quickly?” he says with a smile.

Yu Feng glances at him, calm and detached. “For the sake of my cultivation, I must.”

The next dawn, Lou Yuan resumes his practice.

He swallows a pill to fuel the Demon Saint Spiritual Body technique.

Because his body has yet to transform into a spiritual body, he cannot draw upon the surrounding spiritual energy to convert it into inner energy for cultivation.

The devil’s voice coils into his mind. “Before you obtain the spirit bead, you should first seize that fire technique from your senior brother. With it, your practice will accelerate even faster.”

Lou Yuan’s eyes flicker, but he remains silent, continuing until the pill’s energy is completely refined.

Only a few minutes later, the power fades, leaving him with no choice but to end his cultivation session.

He rises to his feet and steps outside his cave.

The sect bustles with life—disciples moving between paths, their chatter filling the air—as he threads through them.

He takes the mountain path upward, eventually reaching a wide, open platform carved into the cliffside.

At its centre sits Yu Feng, cross-legged, eyes closed in focus.

This flat expanse is his private training ground, situated just outside his cave.

Lou Yuan narrows his eyes, a strange unease rising in his chest as he watches Yu Feng.

He whispers inwardly, “Devil, is there something amiss with senior brother, or is it only my illusion?”

The devil’s voice curls from the ring. “It is not your illusion. Your senior brother has synchronised with the mountain beneath him. That is why you feel something is wrong.”

Lou Yuan frowns in confusion. “Why would senior brother do this?”

The devil chuckles. “In ancient times, ancestors forged spiritual bodies by understanding mountains, rivers, and other natural substances infused with spiritual essence. He may be improving his spiritual body—or perhaps attempting something even greater.”

Lou Yuan stiffens as Yu Feng suddenly opens his eyes.

The moment their gazes meet, Lou Yuan feels his heart seize, as though an invisible weight is crushing the breath from his lungs.

Worse still, a chilling sensation spreads through him, as if every secret, every hidden thought has been laid bare before Yu Feng’s sight.

It lasts only a heartbeat, then the pressure vanishes.

Lou Yuan quickly lowers his head, bows deeply, and forces steadiness into his voice.

“Senior brother.”

Merin’s eyes remain calm. “Why are you here?”

Lou Yuan steadies himself. “Senior brother, I want to ask you for something.”

Merin studies him for a moment before replying. “What?”

Lou Yuan takes a breath. “Senior brother… your fire digestion technique.”

Merin’s gaze sharpens slightly. “You want that technique?”

“Yes,” Lou Yuan answers, forcing confidence into his voice.

“I can give it to you,” Merin says slowly, “but what can you offer me in return?”

Hesitation flickers across Lou Yuan’s face.

All the unique techniques he knows are sealed, forbidden to be shared.

Desperation coils inside him, and he whispers inwardly, “Devil, give me a technique I can trade with my senior brother.”

The devil chuckles softly. “Very well.”

Lou Yuan retrieves a spirit gem from his space bag, and the devil’s power burns a technique into it.

He extends the gem with both hands. “Senior brother, this contains the Holy Blood Spiritual Body technique—a top-level spiritual body technique.”

Merin’s expression does not change as he produces his own spirit gem, burning his fire digestion technique into it.

“My technique is not of equal value to a top-level spiritual body technique,” he says calmly.

Lou Yuan bows slightly, voice respectful. “This technique carries severe side effects. Despite being top-level in name, its worth is no greater than that of an intermediate spiritual body technique.”

Merin nods, accepting the explanation, and the two exchange gems.

At that moment, light footsteps sound from the staircase above.

Yu Mei descends gracefully and bows slightly. “Senior brother, Master has summoned you.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep