Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Returning to the Present World, Cultivation Advances

The Present World.

BZZZT.

Ripples spread across a watery membrane of light that had appeared over the gates of the Zhong Mansion.

A moment later, several figures emerged from within.

They had returned to the present world.

Zhong Qi and Zhou Liangcai scrambled out in a panic, tumbling gracelessly to the ground.

Bai Xiuying’s face also betrayed a hint of unease.

Only Su Ye remained calm, his expression as placid as an ancient well.

Without even looking, he whipped the Frost Thorn Spear around and thrust it back!

SHING! SHING! SHING!

The swift, sharp gleam of the silver spear’s shadow, like a sudden storm, tore the few Formless Demons lunging from the Zhong Mansion’s gate to shreds!

Then, Su Ye put away the Array Plate and withdrew his Magical Power.

The watery, rippling membrane of light slowly dissipated into nothingness...

The gate between the present world and the Reverse World was closed and sealed!

’This Array Plate... is actually quite useful...’

Su Ye toyed with the Array Plate, lost in thought.

Nearby, Bai Xiuying watched this, a flicker of interest in her eyes.

She, too, realized the value of this Array Plate!

Especially for Weiyuan Immortal City, its significance... was immeasurable!

By now, Bai Xiuying had already deduced that the ’true culprit’ behind the previous murders in the outer city was most likely... a monster from the Reverse World!

And whether it was the Formless Demons or the Sewn Corpses,

the most difficult thing about these Reverse World monsters wasn’t their strength.

It was their ’formless and intangible’ nature!

In the present world, these monsters were like phantoms, virtually immune to most methods of observation.

Even a rare Detection Talisman like the Nine Rites Spirit Testing Talisman could barely detect a trace of them.

To other people, these monsters were completely invisible, like thin air!

Only their targets could see them!

Only by entering the Reverse World could cultivators perceive these monsters as tangible entities!

’So... if we want to exterminate these monsters and restore peace to the Immortal City...’

’the best way is to enter their world and fight them there...’

Bai Xiuying murmured to herself, her thoughts racing.

If that was the case, an Array Plate capable of ’opening the gate’ was naturally of immense value!

However, as Bai Xiuying looked at Su Ye, who was toying with the Array Plate and watching her with a faint, knowing smile, a helpless, wry smile appeared on her face.

’It seems... if the Immortal City wants to acquire this Array Plate, we’re going to have to pay a hefty price...’

She didn’t even consider using violence or seizing it by force.

After all, to clear out the Reverse World, obtaining the Array Plate was only the first step.

Bai Xiuying had experienced firsthand how the Reverse World’s environment suppressed the recovery of Magical Power.

This was disadvantageous for conventional cultivators but beneficial for Body Cultivators.

In the battles to come, Body Cultivators would be indispensable!

And as for a Body Cultivator with terrifying combat strength like Su Ye, Weiyuan Immortal City was eager to win him over, so how could they be willing to offend him?

’Besides... spending a great sum might not necessarily... be a bad thing, either.’

Bai Xiuying mused.

As a Canghai True Inheritor who had grown up in the liberal and free environment of Weiyuan Immortal City, Bai Xiuying was well-versed in the philosophy of ’uniting others through mutual benefit, winning allies, and developing and prospering together’.

’If he can reach the Crystallization stage... and become an ally of the Immortal City, then no investment would be a loss...’

’I’ll just consider it... building good karma...’

...

Soon after, the Immortal City Law Enforcement Team arrived.

Su Ye had previously killed the Formless Demons and sealed the world gate.

In the process, he had openly unleashed the Magical Power fluctuations of the Foundation Establishment Stage on the streets of Weiyuan Immortal City.

This naturally caused some panic among the cultivators. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

And so, the Law Enforcement Team was summoned.

However, with Bai Xiuying present, the team’s arrival had no effect on Su Ye.

"I am Bai Xiuying. This is my friend, Donglong Mr. Luo—Mr. Su Ye."

"The previous Magical Power fluctuations were from our attempt to capture a demonic cultivator..."

Bai Xiuying gave a simple explanation, concealing the truth to avoid causing a panic.

Then, she began giving orders as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Oh, and assign some people to seal off this mansion. No unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter..."

The Zhong Mansion had some unique properties in terms of its feng shui and geographical location.

For example, it seemed easier for people from the present world to enter the Reverse World from within the mansion’s grounds.

For an ordinary cultivator, entering the Reverse World was a near-certain death sentence.

It was best to seal off such a dangerous place.

...

Weiyuan Immortal City.

A radiant young woman of about sixteen, dressed in a pink skirt, was humming a little tune as she strolled leisurely down a bustling street.

Her skin was fair with a faint pinkish glow, exuding an aura of youthful vitality!

But deep within the pink-skirted girl’s seemingly innocent eyes was a conceited glint, a look of someone who saw the world as a game and held it in cynical disdain!

’Weiyuan Immortal City is quite prosperous.’

’No wonder... they dare to contend with my sect...’

The pink-skirted girl commented silently to herself.

She was none other than He Muyun, daughter of Tianhe, and a newly ascended Crystallization Master of the Cyan Profound Sect!

This time, she was being bold, relying on her superior skills!

Taking advantage of the grand auction being held in Weiyuan Immortal City, on a whim, she had adopted the alias ’Lady Yun’ and personally infiltrated the enemy’s camp to investigate!

Suddenly, He Muyun’s elegant brows furrowed as an uncomfortable palpitation arose in her heart.

Almost instinctively, she turned her head and looked in the direction of the Zhong Mansion.

He Muyun could feel that in that direction, some sort of evil aura that she found utterly repulsive and disgusting had flashed by and vanished!

"What... was that?"

Her brows knitted deeply together.

...

Night fell.

The Immortal City port.

Su Ye returned to the Ghostly Flood Dragon.

He also brought Zhong Qi and Zhou Liangcai with him.

The Zhong Mansion had been destroyed.

Zhong Qi was now homeless, though Zhou Liangcai did have a place to stay.

But they knew that the current Weiyuan Immortal City was fraught with danger, and anyone could be attacked by a monster from the ’Reverse World’!

Under these circumstances, the two of them were naturally unwilling to leave Su Ye’s side.

Su Ye didn’t mind.

He ordered his subordinates to arrange cabins for them.

As for himself, he went to the captain’s quarters.

Crying out to be fed, the waiting Ghostly Flood Dragon was somewhat excited.

The patterns on the floor twisted and glowed with a bloody light as a vortex appeared!

"Too small. Make it bigger," Su Ye said flatly.

The Ghostly Flood Dragon’s nascent intelligence seemed to transmit a feeling of ’?’

However, it was very obedient and meekly widened the opening, expanding the bloody vortex.

"Here it comes~"

Su Ye raised his hand.

His Storage Ring flashed with spiritual light, and the corpses of numerous Formless Demons and Sewn Corpses tumbled out!

The bloody vortex continuously devoured the corpses.

The Ghostly Flood Dragon seemed extremely satisfied, feasting with great pleasure.

BZZZT!

Half an hour later, the Ghostly Flood Dragon finished digesting.

A large, pure, and well-rounded stream of spiritual energy flowed back from the Ghostly Flood Dragon through the [Harmony] connection!

"Hooo..."

Su Ye sat cross-legged, activated the Taiqing Cold Jade Skill, and began to absorb the spiritual energy!

DRIP.

As the spiritual energy was continuously refined, drop after drop of Liquid Magical Power began to form in his Dantian Qi Sea!

Two hundred forty-one... two hundred forty-two...