I Can Extract Divine Power

If Amber had said that, it would have sounded just right.

But hearing such cringey words from someone with Red Makeup’s classical demeanor, Shen Bai felt that something was off.

Red Makeup covered her mouth and chuckled. "It is the most basic duty of a Deceitful Beast. Master, please don’t think I’m joking. Being able to help you is what brings us the greatest joy."

Shen Bai handed over the Deceit Transformation Pearl. "Alright. Let’s see what kind of evolution you’ll have."

Amber’s two evolutions had both granted Shen Bai incredibly powerful abilities.

Although Red Makeup had never evolved before, Shen Bai was already starting to feel a sense of anticipation.

Beaming with joy, Red Makeup took the Deceit Transformation Pearl. Under Shen Bai’s watchful gaze, she began to circulate the Qi within her body.

Immediately after, the Deceit Transformation Pearl in her hand vanished, and something strange began to happen to her body.

A flash of crimson light flared out, completely enveloping Red Makeup.

Within a few breaths, she had turned into a crimson egg that stood in its place.

The egg was about half a man’s height, similar to Amber’s back then.

’Three days should be enough.’

Shen Bai estimated the time based on Amber’s first evolution and then factored in the opening of the Celestial Pride Hall. He concluded there was more than enough time.

Thinking of this, Shen Bai wasted no more time and picked up the crimson egg from the floor.

He then tore open a rift in the void.

Shen Bai placed the red egg inside and turned his thoughts to his Skill Levels.

’Since Red Makeup is evolving, I don’t really feel like doing anything else during this time anyway.’

In the free time before his get-together with Zhou Qing and Qin Shuang, it would be a good idea to grind some Skill Level.

Currently, both his Spirit Casting Technique and Void-breaking Cyan Eye were at the 8,000 Skill Level point, not far from their second transformation.

’Even though I only have three wisps of Evil Qi right now, there’s no harm in grinding my Skill Level first.’

Even if he ground it to the maximum, Shen Bai could just stop at that stage. When he had enough Evil Qi, he could just level up on the spot.

With this in mind, Shen Bai no longer hesitated. While it was still early, he had Amber merge into his body and began to grind his Skill Level.

’I’ll start with the Void-breaking Cyan Eye, then.’

Shen Bai made up his mind.

’The Spirit Casting Technique requires a proper space, and I don’t have time for that right now. I’ll grind the Void-breaking Cyan Eye to the peak of Level 4 first.’

Before him, as Shen Bai activated the Void-breaking Cyan Eye, his Skill Level began to rise continuously at triple the normal rate.

[Void-breaking Cyan Eye +3, +3, +3...]

At this moment, inside the inn, Shen Bai descended into the frenzied state of a Gan Di.

...

While Shen Bai was frantically grinding his Skill Level, the gates of Xuanjing City were a scene of extreme commotion.

Every so often, carriages with an exotic flair would pass through the city gates.

The drivers wore clothing clearly different from that of the Great Zhou Country, and the common folk passing by all stopped to stare.

Although Xuanjing City was the most prosperous city in the Great Zhou Country and its people had seen plenty of merchant guilds from other nations frequenting it, today was different.

The luxury of these carriages far surpassed that of the merchant guilds.

Because of this, many of the commoners were discussing it in hushed tones.

"It’s been a long time since we’ve seen such a lively scene. These people must have very distinguished statuses."

"You’re right. I heard there’s an important event in our Xuanjing City soon, and all the arrivals are high-level dignitaries from other countries."

"If that’s the case, we can take this opportunity to sell more of our wares."

"You’re dreaming. How could dignitaries and nobles like them possibly buy from your stall? The way I see it, they’ll definitely have special hosts to receive them."

While the commoners chattered animatedly, the Jianghu People, on the other hand, watched the endless stream of luxurious carriages with bitter smiles on their faces.

Not long ago, all members of Great Zhou’s younger generation who came for the Celestial Pride Hall received a piece of news: this time, the Hall would not only be open to the prodigies of the Great Zhou Country, but young prodigies from other nations would be entering as well.

Some of the smarter ones had already guessed the reason, and the bitterness on their faces only deepened.

The Celestial Pride Hall had always been exclusive to the Great Zhou Country, but now prodigies from other nations were being allowed to participate. This was happening at a time when Great Zhou’s younger generation was in decline, suffering from a severe gap in talent.

How could the current younger generation possibly hope to compete with them?

Even if the Saint Martial Emperor broadened the criteria for entering the Celestial Pride Hall, they were still stretched thin.

"Sigh... for them to pull something like this at a time like this... I have a feeling we’ll be returning from the Celestial Pride Hall empty-handed this time," a young man from one of the factions sighed.

"There’s nothing to be done. This is the state of our country now. If His Majesty were still in his prime and not plagued by that persistent illness, how would they dare act so brazenly?" another young prodigy said in agreement.

Their conversation was naturally overheard by many of the Jianghu People present.

Those who heard it all wore the same expression.

As people of the Great Zhou Country, they felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

They were citizens of the Great Zhou Country first and Jianghu People second. For that reason, they wished for nothing more than for Great Zhou’s younger generation to be at its peak.

Even if they fought tooth and nail amongst themselves in the Celestial Pride Hall, that was still their own internal affair.

But now, outsiders were coming to meddle, and everyone felt the same way.

Suddenly, a young man smashed his wine bowl on the ground and declared, "There will come a day when every citizen of our Great Zhou Country will be like a dragon, and our younger generation will ascend to the very peak!"