"Finally, I've broken through all of them!"

Nie Kong let out a long, relieved breath.

Immediately, an unconcealable joy bloomed across Nie Kong’s face. The breakthrough of every pair of minor apertures would raise the ultimate limit of what his major aperture could achieve through vibration. What Nie Kong hadn't anticipated was that after achieving passage through all six pairs of minor apertures in the first circuit, this enhancement had undergone a fundamental transformation. If his senses didn't deceive him, the current maximum limit of his major aperture’s vibration had at least doubled compared to before.

Running different spiritual techniques results in different patterns of aperture vibration.

However, for the same Spirit Master, the ultimate limit of aperture vibration remains consistent regardless of the technique used. Nie Kong's limit doubling due to the six pairs of minor apertures means that the intensity of spiritual power he unleashes when casting spirit skills can now be doubled.

Especially crucial, the speed at which his apertures absorb spiritual energy elements will also double. This enhancement is entirely distinct from the method used in the "Spiritual Cultivation Illusion Realm," where cultivation speed increases due to the denser concentration of spiritual energy elements.

While cultivating in the "Spiritual Cultivation Illusion Realm" is indeed faster, it is constrained by the surrounding environment. Once one leaves such a place rich in spiritual energy elements, the cultivation speed reverts to its original pace.

But the elevation of the major aperture vibration limit will not diminish due to changes in the surrounding environment!

Besides the increase in the maximum vibration limit, after opening the six pairs of minor apertures, a marvelous change occurred within Nie Kong’s Lingshen Yiqiao (Spiritual Spirit Single Aperture): due to the drastically different rotational directions of the minor apertures in the first circuit, the trajectory and nature of the spiritual power constantly flowing in and out of the apertures underwent a bizarre alteration, which intensified further once the sixth pair was connected. The spiritual power rotating clockwise grew increasingly serene and vast, while the power rotating counter-clockwise tended toward softness, subtlety, and strangeness. The positive and negative energies were tightly bound yet mutually undisturbed, resembling, uncannily, Nie Kong’s past life's...

Yin Diagram!

Spiritual energy underwent such complex changes? Nie Kong’s eyes held a trace of confusion.

One positive, one negative; one Yin, one Yang; one life... one death? The word "death" suddenly sprang into his mind, sweeping away the doubt in Nie Kong’s eyes, leaving behind a flicker of excitement.

At this moment, he felt as though he saw a glimmer of light resolving the flaw in the Chunqiu Shenglǐng Jue (Spring and Autumn Life Generating Art). This technique absorbed vitality, and the change occurring within his own spiritual power might just counteract that. If the two could achieve balance, the defect within the technique might not be insurmountable after all.

After a considerable time, Nie Kong’s agitation finally subsided, and he directed his spiritual power to strike the first pair of minor apertures in the second circuit.

"Boom!"

The obstruction between that pair of minor apertures remained utterly unyielding!

Nie Kong felt surprised. In his mind, his internal spiritual power surged like a raging tide, becoming even more potent. He struck several more times, but the result was the same.

The more one proceeds through opening these minor apertures, the longer the time required.

Take the very last pair in that first circuit, for instance; it consumed a full half-day of Nie Kong’s time. Therefore, Nie Kong had already guessed that the apertures in the second circuit would be even harder to open, yet he hadn't expected his spiritual power to strike the barrier only to feel like an egg hitting stone, causing not the slightest tremor.

Nie Kong understood that the situation arose mainly from his insufficient cultivation level; he wasn't discouraged, merely stunned by the realization. If the second circuit was this difficult, what would the third, fourth, and fifth circuits be like? He couldn't even fathom what level of cultivation would be necessary to successfully open them.

A moment later, Nie Kong did not waste more time on the second circuit. His focus returned to the Lingshen Yiqiao, tentatively cultivating using the Chunqiu Shenglǐng Jue.

As the major aperture vibrated rapidly, the six pairs of minor apertures spun quickly. The Wood spiritual energy elements and vitality from heaven and earth continuously poured into his body. The moment they touched the peculiar, interlinked positive and negative spiritual energy within the Lingshen Qiao, they were directly integrated, transforming into his own Wood spiritual power!

"This isn't refinement; it's devouring!"

Even though he had anticipated it, feeling the frenzied speed at which the Lingshen Yiqiao was absorbing energy, Nie Kong couldn't help but be astonished.

"It seems the 'Chunqiu Shenglǐng Jue' will have to be renamed the 'Yin Yang Shi Ling Jue' (Yin Yang Spirit Devouring Art) from now on!" Nie Kong mused silently. "And the incantations of the 'Chunqiu Shenglǐng Jue' must also be adjusted; they no longer entirely suit my current physical condition!" However, this adjustment would require continuous experimentation based on his cultivation progress, which wouldn't be complete in just two or three days—it might take four or five months, or perhaps even one or two years. There was no need to rush.

"Yin Yang Shi Ling Jue..." Nie Kong murmured the words repeatedly, a faint smile touching his lips.

No wonder Long Xuechan had said that a spiritual technique surpassing the Heavenly Grade could be self-created by combining Long Ma and Long Ting’s spiritual body constitutions with the Chunqiu Shenglǐng Jue.

Now, this accidental configuration of minor apertures certainly boosted his cultivation speed, offered Nie Kong hope of resolving the technique's hidden danger, and helped the two little girls escape the fate imposed by their spiritual bodies. As for whether the future "Yin Yang Shi Ling Jue," built upon the foundation of the Chunqiu Shenglǐng Jue and these minor apertures, could surpass the Heavenly Grade remained uncertain, as Heavenly Grade techniques represented the absolute pinnacle on the Tianling Continent.

To surpass the Heavenly Grade, the cultivation speed of the "Yin Yang Shi Ling Jue" would, at minimum, need to reach the standard where a spiritual body automatically condensed spiritual power day and night—and not just any standard, but the standard of a spiritual body that had already been absorbed several times! For a Spirit Master to achieve that level of cultivation speed was akin to ascending to heaven.

Thinking of this, the figures of Long Hun and Long Ting flashed through Nie Kong's mind.

Recently, Nie Kong had grown accustomed to having those two delicate twin girls by his side. Whenever exhaustion set in during cultivation, gazing at their sweet smiles and listening to their innocent chatter was a great source of comfort. Now that they were gone, this pavilion felt undeniably lonely.

"Hah!"

Nie Kong let out a quiet breath and strolled out of the pavilion. He was heading to the Yin Ruins tomorrow, and he had no idea when he would return. He needed to bid farewell to Miao Ge, Tai Ji, and Tai Hong. As for the reason he would be out of sight for a long time to come, it would naturally be the same story he had told Long Xuechan and the others a few days ago: closed-door cultivation!

The next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, Nie Kong left his residence and arrived at Gu Changgong’s courtyard on the west side of the city.

Upon arriving, Nie Kong realized he was the last one there. In the quiet courtyard, besides Ancestor Xuba and the Hall Master of the Medicine Heart Hall, Gu Changgong, the Hall Masters of the five other halls—Qingfeng, Zilei, Shanhun, Huoyun, and Shuixian—were all gathered. When they saw him, their expressions held a sense of inexplicable emotion.

This was understandable. Of the seven people in this courtyard, Xuba, the Spirit Imperial City Lord of the generation before the last, went without saying. But any one of the six Hall Masters, including Gu Changgong, was a world-shaking figure on the Tianling Continent. Yet, even they, along with two unseen City Lords and Vice City Lords, were helpless against the impending collapse of the "Yin Ru Ling Mai" (Yin Ruins Spirit Vein), ultimately relying on an inner-city disciple at the Spirit Transformation realm to venture into the Yin Ruins to gather intelligence. How could they not feel shame?

"Nie Kong, your journey to the Yin Ruins is fraught with peril. Accept this jade pendant. Though it cannot compare to the 'Crimson Flame Spiritual Emblem' your grandmaster gifted you, once that emblem is fully utilized, activating the innate spiritual pattern within this jade pendant can preserve your safety for a time, as long as you do not encounter experts above the Cave Spirit realm."

Hall Master Houtu of the Shanhun Hall spoke with a gentle smile, and a yellow jade pendant, about three fingers wide, suddenly floated toward Nie Kong.

"Thank you, Lord Houtu."

Nie Kong was momentarily stunned, then delighted, quickly catching the jade pendant. Earth spiritual power was perfectly suited for defense, and since this gift came from the Shanhun Hall Master, its effects were undoubtedly astonishing. To refuse such a fine item out of false modesty would be utter foolishness.

Hall Master Liancheng of the Qingfeng Hall raised his right hand slightly, and three small stones flickering with blue light zipped across the void, landing squarely in Nie Kong's palm. "Nie Kong, these are three spirit stones. I have tempered them for many years; crushing any one of them will allow you to use the 'Wind Evasion' technique once. I give them all to you today."

"Thank you, Lord Liancheng!"

"Nie Kong, this is a spirit-patterned weapon I refined for you over the past few days. It can unleash the 'Thunder Spirit Blast' once, and its power is quite respectable. Take it. It’s a pity you are not a Thunder Spirit Master; otherwise, you could accumulate spiritual power daily to cast this skill once. Of course, if you were a Thunder Spirit Master, I wouldn't have specifically crafted this spirit-patterned weapon for you, hahahaha!" This time, the booming laughter came from Hall Master Yang Tian of the Zilei Hall.

"Thank you, Lord Yang Tian!"

"Nie Kong, this..."

"..."

After consecutively accepting the precious gifts from Hall Master Baolong of the Huoyun Hall and Hall Master Rouyun of the Shuixian Hall, Nie Kong was so pleased his mouth almost couldn't close. He understood clearly that the reason these Hall Masters bestowed gifts upon him wasn't deep affection for him, but anxiety that he might die in the Yin Ruins without relaying the information about the situation inside.

To put it plainly, these gifts were the life-insurance payments made by the Hall Masters to Nie Kong. If Nie Kong were truly only entering the Yin Ruins to gather intelligence, he might have muttered a complaint or two. But since he was primarily entering to awaken his own bloodline, regardless of their motives, receiving more of these gifts was always welcome.

Subsequently, Nie Kong's gaze shifted to Gu Changgong, his meaning very clear: Ancestor Xuba and the other Hall Masters had given gifts; as the foremost of the six great Hall Masters of the Spirit Imperial City, surely he wouldn't be stingy enough to offer nothing!

"You little fellow, coming to demand a gift from me now," Gu Changgong chuckled, stroking his beard, and retrieved four jade bottles from his robe. "Very well. All the spiritual medicines inside these are for you. The methods for taking them are written within." As he finished speaking, the four small jade bottles fell one by one into Nie Kong's hands.

"Let us depart!"

The green-robed elder, Xuba, who had been sitting with closed eyes and ignoring the commotion in the courtyard, finally opened his eyes and slowly rose. Nie Kong hurriedly tucked the gifts from the six Hall Masters into his robes. Then, Nie Kong felt the scenery around him shift rapidly. Before he could regain his composure, his vision cleared.

Nie Kong’s spirit trembled. Although it was the same ability of blending into the void, the effect when executed by a super-expert like Xuba was undeniably different. Taking a deep breath, he settled his mind. Nie Kong glanced around and realized that he, Xuba, and the six Hall Masters had arrived at the entrance of the Senluo Ancient Cave...

PS: While editing today, I found a small error in Chapter 34. Originally, the protagonist shouldn't have recognized the old man whose dark green blood he had absorbed as Nie Shenggong, but in that chapter, the name "Nie Shenggong" was written out. It has now been corrected; apologies to everyone...

Here is the first update; there will be another one tonight. (This part does not count towards the word count.) O(∩_∩)O~ ...