Cultivation: I Have a Skill Level Panel

Gu Yun sat cross-legged in the Wang Family’s Cultivation Chamber. A crimson Spatial Ring hovered in his palm. As his Spiritual Sense poured into it, an irrepressible smile of joy spread across his calm face. Inside the ring’s space lay several Technique manuals, dozens of bottles of Elixirs, a few Talismans, ten thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones, and various Spirit Medicines. Beyond all that, there was even a Jade Pendant carved with profound inscriptions!

’Murder and arson for a golden belt—the ancients did not deceive me!’

As expected of a True Disciple from that so-called Red Moon Divine Palace, the man was disgustingly rich. Ten thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones! To think, a single teleportation had only cost him five thousand. But these things were of secondary importance.

There was the Profound Yellow Array-Breaking Talisman, which specialized in shattering Arrays and dispelling illusions. Then there was the Ice Talisman, which could seal the heavens and earth, freezing mountains and rivers solid.

One Technique in particular, the Soul-Devouring and Essence-Swallowing Technique, caught his attention.

This Technique could forcibly devour the memories of other Cultivators and use them to strengthen one’s own Spiritual Sense.

Such a domineering and practical Technique was very much to his liking.

But he put these things aside for now.

He had already felt the True Yuan in his body reaching the verge of a Perfect Shattering Mirror. If he didn’t break through now, then when?

At this thought, Gu Yun took dozens of crystalline Middle Grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Ring and had them float and circle around him. He then activated the Nine Tribulations Thunder Gang Decision, drawing the pure Spiritual Power from the Spirit Stones into his body in a slow, steady stream. Through the Circulation of Heaven and Earth, this power transformed into True Yuan and merged continuously into the vast, sea-like ocean of True Yuan already within him.

His aura climbed higher and higher. Arcs of thunder materialized around him, emitting a terrifyingly potent might that was enough to make one tremble.

While Gu Yun was in seclusion for his breakthrough, the members of the Wang Family were already packing their things, preparing to leave Guangping City. They split into several groups, heading for the countryside to lay low. After a few decades, once the trouble had passed and all was peaceful, they would rise again and reunite.

...

「Meanwhile.」

In a lush, wooded valley with a gently flowing stream, tens of thousands of miles from Guangping City, several figures streaked through the air. They positioned themselves as the five points of an array. Then, one of them—a man in green robes wearing a Fierce Ghost Mask—formed a series of hand seals. Five pillars of light erupted from the array, forming a pentagram that enveloped the surrounding heavens and earth.

The pentagram hanging in the sky then began to ripple like the surface of a mirror-smooth lake.

Then, an immense wave of Telekinesis descended. A powerful, majestic presence interwove in midair, like a splash in a calm lake sending out shimmering ripples. Immediately after, a towering silhouette of light, like a full moon hanging in the vast sky, projected itself down from the cosmos.

"What is it you require?" As the silhouette of light spoke, its questioning voice seemed to echo throughout the entire world.

The masked figures below felt a pressure like Mount Tai itself crashing down upon them.

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, we have found the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm." The man in green robes with the Fierce Ghost Mask spoke, cupping his fists respectfully as he withstood the immense pressure.

"Oh? Is that so?!" The voice of the towering silhouette of light within the pentagram held a trace of surprise.

"It is absolutely true. Our luck was astounding. We managed to avoid the Red Moon Divine Palace and find the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm first."

"Truly, the Mother of Non-Birth has blessed us, protecting our holy sect." A gleam shone in the green-robed man’s eyes, his voice trembling with excitement.

"Where is it?" the towering silhouette of light asked.

"At the Great Yuan Border," the man in green robes replied.

"Very good. You go on ahead. I shall arrive shortly," the towering silhouette of light said in a deep voice.

"As you command, Sect Leader!" the group replied in unison, their voices filled with solemn respect and their eyes revealing a fanatical gleam.

...

Back in Guangping City, inside the Wang Family’s Cultivation Chamber, Gu Yun sat cross-legged. Pure Spiritual Power from the vast number of Spirit Stones surrounding him poured into his body. He used the Circulation of Heaven and Earth to convert it all into True Yuan. Finally, after consuming over a thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones, he reached a critical point.

Suddenly, with a loud BANG, a supremely powerful aura exploded outward from Gu Yun, accompanied by the thunderous roar of Powerful Qi. The very space around him trembled violently.

WHOOSH!

’True Martial Ninth Layer Peak. Or, to be more precise, Half-Step Tongxuan! Because I comprehended the Heaven and Earth Dao Rhythm ahead of time, and the True Yuan in my body has already reached its absolute peak, as vast as an ocean, the next steps are to overcome the Celestial Tribulation, convert my energy into Magical Power, certify my Dao in the Tongxuan Realm, and take my place as a True Monarch!’

Gu Yun clenched his fist, feeling the terrifyingly immense power coursing through his body. ’With this strength,’ he thought, ’shattering the very heavens with a single punch would be a simple matter.’

He had finally reached this stage. He thought back to when he first embarked on the path of cultivation; back then, a True Martial Realm Cultivator was an incredible Great Cultivator, and the Tongxuan Realm seemed as distant and unattainable as the realm of Immortals. Now, he was just a single step away.

He was in his early thirties now. In his past life, this was considered the age when a man should be established, the prime of his life.

Next, Gu Yun would consolidate his Cultivation and, while he was at it, cultivate the Soul-Devouring and Essence-Swallowing Technique. Although this Technique leaned toward the demonic, in his eyes, techniques themselves were neither righteous nor evil. If it was useful, he would learn it.

[You have tirelessly practiced the Soul-Devouring and Essence-Swallowing Technique fifty times and have finally succeeded in your cultivation.]

[Soul-Devouring and Essence-Swallowing Technique (Beginner 1%)]

[Description: Devour souls from the Netherworld, swallow memories, nurture the self, and refine heaven and earth with one’s own body.]

...

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, a week had passed. The Wang Family residence was now desolate and empty.