Chapter 138: Chapter 136: Feeling Hollowed Out

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Shao’s words made Wang Chen go pale.

Zhang Shao let out a dark chuckle. "Don’t you get it? I mean that not only is Wang Hao dead, but your father, Wang Xinglong, is dead too."

"Nonsense!" Wang Chen roared. "My father was at the Peak of the Vajra Realm and was the Third Elder of the Void Sect! No matter how strong Mo Qi is, how could he possibly have killed him?!"

"Who told you Mo Qi killed Wang Xinglong?" Zhang Shao laughed mockingly. "You know the rules of the Void Sect, and you know even better what kind of man Yun Xuzi is. If the benefits were great enough, did you really think your father would be allowed to live?"

Wang Chen was stunned. Of course, he knew Yun Xuzi was a man who prized the Void Sect’s interests above all else.

But he had never, ever imagined that Wang Xinglong would ultimately die at the hands of the Void Sect.

After a long silence, Wang Chen clenched his fists, roaring internally, ’Void Sect, I, Wang Chen, swear to be your mortal enemy!’

He lifted his head, his expression calm as he looked at Zhang Shao. "I know why you’ve come to me. But Mo Qi is under the Void Sect’s protection. Let’s hear your plan."

"Worthy of someone who can get into the Imperial Academy. How decisive!" Zhang Shao clapped and laughed.

Then, his smile vanished, and his expression turned serious. "I have to admit, Mo Qi is a monstrous talent. If we let him mature, forget you and me—even the Mountain and Sea Empire wouldn’t be able to withstand the chaos he could create."

Wang Chen’s expression shifted drastically at this. Although Wang Xinglong’s message had already painted Mo Qi as a formidable figure, Zhang Shao’s assessment was even more dire.

"So, we must eliminate him while he’s still weak. For that, I need your help!"

Wang Chen quickly understood what Zhang Shao was getting at.

"You want to use the Mountain and Sea Empire to force Mo Qi out of the Void Sect? But don’t you think that’s risky? What if he distinguishes himself at the Imperial Academy? He’ll be even harder to deal with then."

Zhang Shao said, "Then why would you give him the chance to distinguish himself? As I understand it, unless you have an Imperial Academy Order, anyone wishing to join the Imperial Academy must ’walk beneath the Imperial City, enter the formation, and stand guard within the Pass for three days,’ correct?"

"You know better than I what lies Within the Pass. With your abilities, making one person disappear shouldn’t be too difficult, would it?"

Wang Chen pondered for a long time. "I have one last question. If we use the Empire, we can’t report Mo Qi’s true capabilities. If his assessed talent level isn’t high enough, even if the Empire issues a summons, it won’t be treated with much importance. Mo Qi could easily find excuses to delay for three to five years."

"You don’t need to worry about that," Zhang Shao said with a cold smile. "I have my ways to make him rush to the Empire immediately."

"Good! As long as he dares to come, we’ll make sure he meets his end Within the Pass!" Zhao Yuqi declared before Wang Chen could even speak.

...

The sunlight was dazzling. Mo Qi slowly opened his eyes.

Exhausted!

That was the first thing Mo Qi felt upon waking.

It was followed by an intense weakness, as if he had suddenly reverted to the mortal he was months ago—or even worse.

He had to push himself up with both hands just to sit, and even breathing felt a little difficult.

’I feel like my body’s been completely hollowed out!’

"What’s wrong with me?"

Mo Qi was utterly baffled. He looked around and found himself in Niu Kexin’s room, but she was nowhere to be seen.

A faint breeze drifted past, bringing a distinct chill to his nether regions.

Startled, Mo Qi realized he was completely naked.

He scrambled to get off the bed and find some clothes, but his legs gave out and he nearly collapsed.

’Am I... Am I fucking cursed or something?!’

’Why is it so hard just to stand?!’

Mo Qi broke out in a cold sweat as memories of last night surfaced in his mind.

’I remember Sister Kexin giving me a shoulder massage, and then... then what happened?’

Mo Qi was shocked to realize he’d blacked out!

He couldn’t remember anything that happened after he fell asleep.

’How is this possible?!’

’I’m in the Eighth Transformation Innate Realm of the Nine Transformations into Spirit, for crying out loud! I’m in peak physical condition with an appetite to match. How could I have blacked out?!’

’Wait!’

Mo Qi then discovered something else that was completely unbelievable.

His cultivation had broken through the Eighth Transformation, completing the Nine Transformations into Spirit!

’Huh?’

’Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?!’

VMMMM!

Just then, a message from the Chaos Scripture echoed in his Sea of Consciousness: Nine Transformations complete. Commence Spiritual Body Cultivation. Eight Transformations of Creation, Indestructible Golden Body!

’What the—? Cultivate again?’

’I just worked my ass off to complete the Nine Transformations, and now you want me to start over?!’

’Chaos Scripture, get out here! I’m gonna take you on one-on-one!’

Mo Qi refused to believe it. He quickly focused his mind inward to study the Creation Golden Body Technique.

He soon figured it out and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It turned out "cultivating again" didn’t mean he had to repeat the Nine Transformations into Spirit. Instead, it meant he was to begin the true cultivation of his Spirit Body.

To put it simply, the moment he completed the Nine Transformations into Spirit, he had successfully opened his Dantian.

However, the energy originally stored in his body had been instantly wiped out. As for where it all went, Niu Kexin was probably the only one who truly knew.

So, while Mo Qi’s realm had advanced, it had come at a price. He would now be in a weakened state for a long time.

Once he passed through this period of weakness, he would be like a carp leaping over the dragon gate—his power would undergo an earth-shattering transformation.

The period of weakness wasn’t long—only three months, which was an acceptable timeframe.

Mo Qi rubbed his chin and made his decision. In three months, as soon as this period of weakness was over, he would set off for the Mountain and Sea Empire.

’But then again,’ he wondered, ’how did I break through?’

Recalling the words of the Ni Brothers, Mo Qi suddenly thought of something, and the color drained from his face.

’No way! Could it be that Sister Kexin...?’

Just then, the door was pushed open, and Niu Kexin walked in carrying a bowl of meat broth.

"Oh, little brother, you’re awake? Come, come, try what your big sister made. It’s not as good as your Medicinal Cuisine, but you have to drink every last drop. No leftovers, understand?"

Mo Qi stared at Niu Kexin, his expression dazed.

’Was it you?’

Niu Kexin waved a hand in front of Mo Qi’s face. "Little brother, are you okay?"

’Maybe it wasn’t her?’

Mo Qi was confused. Niu Kexin seemed perfectly normal, with nothing out of the ordinary about her.

"Are you listening to me? Did you sleep your brains out?" Niu Kexin put down the broth, planted a hand on her hip, and pinched Mo Qi’s ear.

"Ow, ow, ow! I heard you," Mo Qi yelped, snapping back to his senses. He picked up the broth and downed it in one go.

"Delicious!" Mo Qi smacked his lips, savoring the flavor. "A familiar and nostalgic taste."

Niu Kexin watched him with a wide, beaming smile, a flicker of happiness passing through her eyes.

"Sister Kexin, about last night..." Mo Qi hesitated, but after thinking it over, he decided he had to ask. This was no small matter, after all.

But just then, Brother Ni’s voice transmission sounded in his ear.

"Mo the kid, get to the main peak’s grand hall, quick! Something’s happened!"

Mo Qi froze for a second, then shoved the empty bowl into Niu Kexin’s hands.

"Sister Kexin, Brother Ni needs to see me. Judging by his tone, something big has happened."

"Alright, you go on ahead. Dinner will be waiting for you when you get back." Niu Kexin very naturally straightened his collar.

After Mo Qi left, Niu Kexin’s face flushed red as she let out a long sigh of relief.

’That was so close,’ she thought. ’I almost gave myself away.’

CRACK!

With a soft crack, a thin fissure opened in the ground beneath Niu Kexin’s feet.

’Again?’ Niu Kexin frowned slightly and took a step back.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

But with every step she took, the ground beneath her feet shattered.

’Why has my strength suddenly increased so much that I can’t control it?’

’This won’t do. I have to go ask Little Piggy!’