Chapter 24: Blood Sea Phoenix Venerable, Barely There
Within a boundless blood sea.
A breathtakingly beautiful woman in a purple dress slowly opened her eyes, her eerie vertical pupils captivating, a single glance capable of drawing one into the abyss.
She sat alone on the surface of the blood-red sea, surrounded by a surging ferocious aura, yet none of it dared to approach her.
“…Has it been triggered?”
The woman in purple raised her hand, and blood-colored bubbles slowly formed, then instantly burst.
“Indeed… I didn’t expect that after so many years, that inheritance would still find a successor.”
The woman pondered, a captivating smile appearing on her lips.
“And it seems to be a mortal without even a shred of cultivation… After all this time, something interesting has finally happened.”
She knew very well where she had placed the inheritance.
She also knew that even for ordinary cultivators, without Nascent Soul cultivation or other special means, they wouldn’t dare to venture so deep into that forbidden zone.
Even if they did manage to enter through cultivation or special items, they wouldn’t be able to obtain the inheritance.
Even though she had only just entered Soul Transformation back then, the methods she had set up would cause headaches even for old monsters who had been at the Soul Transformation stage for thousands of years.
If they weren’t recognized, the illusion formation would instantly transform into a killing formation.
“Liu Lian.”
The woman in purple called softly.
Before her voice faded, a faintly visible dark figure instantly appeared beside her.
“Phoenix Venerable, your servant is here.”
“Bring her back,” the woman in purple closed her eyes again, “My… successor.”
The dark figure trembled slightly, seemingly surprised.
But she quickly bowed and replied,
“Your servant… obeys.”
…
Seemingly sensing that Luo Xue didn’t have any cultivation, the True Phoenix blood essence quickly subsided.
If Luo Xue could see within her soul, she would see the formation runes surrounding the True Phoenix blood essence faintly flickering, taking effect.
To completely absorb a drop of True Phoenix blood essence, let alone Foundation Establishment, even Core Formation and Nascent Soul cultivators wouldn’t dare to guarantee success.
Not to mention, the one who obtained this inheritance was likely just starting their cultivation journey, or even a novice like Luo Xue who hadn’t even stepped onto the path.
This was an inheritance, not a death trap.
Therefore, the formation runes inscribed on the True Phoenix blood essence could restrict its release.
It would be gradually absorbed as the successor’s cultivation increased.
Learning this from the jade slip’s contents, Luo Xue breathed a sigh of relief. That feeling just now had been quite frightening.
She looked up at the coffin, thought for a moment, then knelt down.
“I don’t know if Senior is still alive, but since you have entrusted such an important inheritance to me, I should call you Master.”
With that, Luo Xue performed the disciple’s ritual towards the coffin.
However, unlike what was described in many books, no old man appeared after the ritual, saying something like, “Hahaha, it was just a test. If you hadn’t performed the ritual, the inheritance would have disappeared.”
Nothing happened, as if the inheritance had already ended.
Of course, Luo Xue didn’t mind. If that drop of True Phoenix blood essence hadn’t been so quick to enter her body, she would have considered giving it to Xiao Yao.
Luo Xue stood up and patted her knees.
Suddenly, she realized something else.
“Wait, if she really is True Person Phoenix Yin, and her disciple is Daoist Ziyang, then I’m… Daoist Ziyang’s Junior Sister?”
“But I called Daoist Ziyang Master before? This seniority is messed up…”
Luo Xue couldn’t help but feel amused, but she quickly dismissed these trivial matters.
They could just address each other separately. She would call him Master, and he would call her Junior Sister.
However… regarding this matter, Luo Xue had a vague guess.
Was Daoist Ziyang really True Person Phoenix Yin’s disciple?
And was the woman she had just seen truly True Person Phoenix Yin?
“Forget it, let’s see my evolved cultivation aptitude first.”
Luo Xue summoned the panel and checked the record.
[Improved Cultivation Aptitude: -100]
[Cultivation Aptitude Improved: Almost None -> Barely There]
[Hidden Condition Met (Poison Resistance >= 100), Activated Special Cultivation Physique: Calamity Poison Body]
[Calamity Poison Body: Internal spiritual power is forcibly converted into poisonous spiritual power. All spiritual power techniques possess the Yin Poison attribute.]
[Note: For those with the Calamity Poison Body, the body itself is the most terrifying poison.]
“How did changing my cultivation aptitude create such a terrifying thing…”
Luo Xue looked at her hands; they didn’t seem to have changed, except for becoming slightly paler.
But when she turned to look at the bronze mirror, she was startled.
Luo Xue’s hair, which had been grayish-white before, was now completely snow-white, incredibly striking in the dim environment.
The good news was that the burns on her face had healed somewhat, and she could almost see her original appearance, which was quite delicate.
Moreover, after Luo Xue changed her cultivation aptitude, the “Breathing Technique,” which she had been unable to grasp before, slowly started to circulate.
There was no spiritual energy around, so the Breathing Technique absorbed the Yin Breath Poison instead.
“Whoa… eh, I’m fine?”
Luo Xue was initially frightened, but she quickly realized that this Yin Breath Poison seemed no different from spiritual energy to her.
However, there was no need to continue cultivating the Breathing Technique, as it was just a beginner-level technique.
And the purple jade slip contained the peerless Dao technique, the Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture.
After a brief look, Luo Xue realized that Daoist Ziyang’s so-called Ziyang Technique was actually a simplified version of the Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture.
A bit too simplified…
“Anyway, should I try cultivating it?”
With a thought, Luo Xue began to circulate her energy according to the Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture.
She hadn’t even grasped the basics of the Breathing Technique before, so switching to the Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture was a smooth transition.
Silently, without any fanfare, Luo Xue stepped through the door she had been unable to find for months, reaching the Post-Heaven Realm.
And she didn’t stop there.
Clear Mouth, Sharp Ears, Sensitive Nose, Bright Eyes, Spiritual Insight…
After an unknown amount of time, when Luo Xue slowly opened her eyes, she could vaguely see a vast, boundless ocean.
She was about to complete the Spiritual Insight stage, achieve introspection of her spirit, and step into the Innate Realm.
“…This is also called ‘Barely There’?”
Luo Xue had originally thought that “Barely There” cultivation aptitude would be similar to Li Zining and the others, but it turned out to be vastly different.
Although she didn’t know how many days she had been cultivating, it definitely wasn’t months.
Just as Luo Xue was feeling emotional, a familiar aura suddenly came from afar, triggering her senses.
After a moment of recollection, Luo Xue’s heart tightened.
“No, this is…”
The mysterious formation that had caused Li Zining so much pain.
“Could it be that someone else has reached the Innate Realm? Could it be… Xiao Yao?”
No matter what, once the mysterious formation was activated, it meant Daoist Ziyang’s plan was in motion again.
And if it was Xiao Yao…
Luo Xue didn’t want to imagine it.
“I can’t let this happen.” Luo Xue took a deep breath. “Let’s go and see.”
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