C19 Tenth Level
"Spirit Channel, tenth level!"
At dawn, with the first light of the sun, Yu Yuan's eyes snapped open, and he let out a satisfied, light whistle.
Using the replica Black Dragon Scissors and the power of the Channel Opening Pill, he had successfully opened the tenth meridian in a remarkably short time, ascending to the tenth level of the Spirit Channel realm.
With the tri-realm battle just three days away, another breakthrough in his cultivation seemed even more within reach.
"Congratulations."
Yuan Lianyao's languid voice emerged out of nowhere, startling Yu Yuan.
He glanced sharply at the window that was still firmly closed, then turned his gaze to the striking mayor in a vivid red dress, managing a wry smile, "How long have you been here?"
"For a little while," Yuan Lianyao replied, showing no sign of being a conscientious guest. With a serpentine twist of her waist, she moved closer to Yu Yuan. "The Black Dragon Scissors are a prized possession of the Vault of Wonders. How did you manage to acquire them? I'm quite intrigued."
"What about the Lin family father and daughter?" Yu Yuan countered.
"Following your instructions, I personally saw them out of Asvetaesi once their severe poisoning had been cured," Yuan Lianyao said, stepping back to sit on a wooden stool, her legs crossed elegantly like the Black Dragon Scissors. Resting her hand on the table and supporting her chin, she gazed at Yu Yuan with a playful smile.
Yu Yuan shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.
"Your spellwork is rather extraordinary. If I'm not mistaken, it must be a high-ranked spell, right?" Her eyes dropped to the lower elixir field below Yu Yuan's abdomen. "Had the Yu family possessed a complete, high-ranked spell without any adverse effects, they surely wouldn't have fallen on such hard times."
Spells were categorized as low, middle, and high-ranked, and further divided into nine levels.
The empires and noble families of Aetherius typically practiced spells of the lower and middle ranks.
Even a first-level high-ranked spell was exceedingly rare.
Possessing a high-ranked spell meant faster cultivation, smoother realm breakthroughs, fewer complications, and a greater chance of reaching the exalted states of Solar Spirit, Freedom, and Primordial Spirit—the three grand realms that lay beyond.
If a cultivator persists in practicing only low-tier spells from start to finish, they stand virtually no chance of ascending to the three highest realms.
Middle-tier spells offer a slim hope of reaching the realms of the Solar Spirit and Autonomy.
The realm of the Primordial Spirit, however, is beyond the reach of middle-tier spells.
The majority of cultivators on the Aetherius Continent are initially exposed only to low-tier spells.
With progress and a bit of luck, they might acquire suitable middle-tier spells to advance their practice.
Only with the prospect of reaching the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea might they attract the attention of a powerful sect and, as a counselor or in a similar role, gain access to high-tier spells.
Yuan Lianyao herself practices a spell of the middle-tier seventh level.
She obtained it only after surviving life-threatening challenges in a secret forbidden area.
Yu Yuan, on the other hand, began with a high-tier spell!
What does this signify?
It means that throughout his lengthy cultivation journey, Yu Yuan won't have to exhaust himself searching for new spells to replace the one he's currently mastering!
"Ever since waking up, there's been a profound change in my temperament; I've become more composed and decisive, capable of concocting pills, and I possess a high-tier spell..."
Yuan Lianyao observed Yu Yuan, sensing an ever-increasing aura of mystery about him.
Her curiosity piqued, she yearned to unravel the enigmatic layers and uncover the secrets of this Yu family youth who had returned from the brink of death.
"Mayor sister, you're mistaken; the spell I practice is quite common," Yu Yuan said coolly, his left palm resting over his lower elixir field, before playfully adding, "Sister, looking at me in such a way makes me, your little brother, rather flustered!"
"Flustered about what?" retorted Yuan Lianyao with a laugh, "Fine, if you're unwilling to share, I won't press you."
With a clatter and a crash, she arranged an array of spirit herbs and various containers on the table. "Here, these are the items you requested. I made a special trip just to deliver them to you. The elder you met the other day, afflicted by the fire toxin in his earthly soul, is of utmost importance to me!"
Her demeanor turned serious at that moment.
"I expect you to take this seriously! If you can truly eliminate his fire toxin, then we'll have no issues. But if you dare to deceive me or play any tricks, don't blame me for being unforgiving," she warned.
"Rest assured, I've got this covered! But as you know, the Battle of the Three Realms is about to start, so I'm hoping you, as the mayor, can afford me a bit more time," Yu Yuan responded gravely.
"The Battle of the Three Realms," Yuan Lianyao mused, her brow furrowing. After a brief pause, she offered, "Since you've addressed me as 'big sister,' I'll give you a piece of advice. You should consider withdrawing from the Spirit Channel battle sooner rather than later."
"Why?" Yu Yuan inquired, puzzled.
"It's for your own good; I don't want you to get hurt," Yuan Lianyao explained. "If you're set on fighting, then all I can promise is to ensure you survive, albeit with severe injuries."
With those words, the previously closed window silently swung open. Yuan Lianyao's fiery red silhouette shrank abruptly, transforming into a dazzling red lotus.
The red lotus drifted through the window, rapidly fading into a translucent wisp before vanishing without a trace.
"Hmm?"
Just before it faded away completely, a surprised exclamation from Yuan Lianyao emanated from within the red lotus.
Yu Yuan rushed to the window and caught sight of Ann Ziqing, his maidservant, approaching with a washbowl in the morning light.
The young girl, clad in purple, seemed to glow under the sun's rays, radiating an extraordinary allure.
"Young Master!"
Upon noticing Yu Yuan at the window, the maidservant's eyes sparkled, her sweet smile almost overwhelming him.
Yu Yuan blinked, and when he looked again, Ann Ziqing was already near. The peculiar radiance he thought he had seen was gone, leading him to conclude it was merely a trick of the light reflecting off the washbowl.
"Xiao Qing, how did you know I was awake today?" Yu Yuan asked with a chuckle.
Since his return from the Vault of Wonders, he had instructed Ann Ziqing that there was no need for her to tend to his daily needs for the time being.
For the past couple of days, Yu Yuan had been so engrossed in his cultivation that he hadn't even noticed Ann Ziqing's presence. However, today, after successfully reaching the tenth level of the Spirit Channel, he woke up to find both Mayor Yuan Lianyao and Ann Ziqing, who was carrying a copper basin, nearby.
"Young Master, I actually come here every morning," Ann Ziqing said with a playful roll of her eyes. "But since I never saw you open the door, I just turned back. Today was quite the coincidence; I arrived just as you were looking out the window."
"Did you happen to see a red lotus just now, or hear anything unusual?" Yu Yuan inquired.
"No, why do you ask?"
"Never mind, just give me a moment."
Yu Yuan quickly closed the window and hurried back to his desk, where he stashed away the assortment of magic items and vials that Yuan Lianyao had brought. He wanted to avoid Ann Ziqing's curious gaze and the barrage of questions that would surely follow.
A quick inspection confirmed that he had received all the materials he had requested from the elder who practiced the Crimson Soul Spell. To cleanse the fire toxin, he only needed some of the materials; the rest were for concocting a pill that would help a paralyzed elder stand once more.
"All set," Yu Yuan announced, having secured the magic items. He called out to Ann Ziqing, allowing her to enter.
Ann Ziqing arranged the copper basin and a washcloth on the table, ready to assist Yu Yuan with his cleaning.
"There's no need; I can manage on my own," Yu Yuan said with a smile, gesturing for Ann Ziqing to step aside as he began to wipe his neck and cheeks.
"Young Master, have you heard of Huang Bin from the Huang family?" Ann Ziqing asked out of the blue.
"Mhm," Yu Yuan responded noncommittally, his attention still on his task.
"Huang Bin has opened all twelve meridians and is at the pinnacle of the Spirit Channel Stage," Ann Ziqing continued, her voice laced with concern as she watched Yu Yuan, who appeared unconcerned. "I've heard that he could have tried to advance to the Soul Awakening Stage three months ago. He deliberately held back, not wanting to rush. His plan is to be the strongest in the Spirit Channel Stage during the tri-realm competition!"
"The tri-realm competition among the four major families is crucial—it determines the future profits for each family."
Ann Ziqing spoke with earnest conviction.
Yu Yuan wrung out the wet towel and finally looked up. "I'm well aware of the significance of the three realms' competition. If not, I wouldn't have been training so relentlessly these past few days."
He didn't share with Ann Ziqing that he had advanced to the tenth level of the Spirit Channel, knowing she didn't grasp the intricacies of cultivation realms.
"Young Master, I've heard rumors that Huang Bin has been boasting that if you dare enter the fray, he'll kill you during the competition!" Ann Ziqing's voice carried a note of urgency, "Huang Bin is known for his cruelty. Young Master, you've only recently recovered. Perhaps you should inform the patriarch and consider withdrawing from the contest?"
"Huang Bin?" Yu Yuan stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Yu Yuan!"
His uncle, Yu Wei, arrived in haste. Upon seeing Yu Yuan, he exclaimed, "You should forgo the upcoming three realms' battle! Wait for the next one in three years, and then you can join the Soul Awakening Realm's fight!"
"Why? Have you heard something?" Yu Yuan pieced together that extraordinary circumstances must be at play; otherwise, Yuan Lianyao, Ann Ziqing, and his uncle wouldn't all be urging him to stand down.
"It seems the Huang family has instructed Huang Bin to deal a lethal blow to you during the Spirit Channel battle!" Yu Wei said, his anger palpable, "The patriarch's legs were broken by the Huang family, and we've suffered their oppression for years. But now, just as you've awoken and embarked on your cultivation journey, they're plotting to kill you!"
Yu Yuan's brow furrowed. "Can the competition between the great families really be a matter of life and death?"
"If both parties consent, it can be," Yu Wei confirmed with a nod. "My fear is that the Huang family will provoke you into losing your composure, and in a moment of pride, you'll accept their challenge. To be frank, despite Huang Bin's arrogance, his combat prowess within the Spirit Channel Stage is formidable. And you..."
Yu Wei let out a sigh, "Having never engaged in battle, even if you were his equal at the pinnacle of the Spirit Channel Stage, you'd still stand no chance."
"Exactly, battle experience is crucial, absolutely vital!" Ann Ziqing agreed, nodding vigorously. "Mere cultivation level is useless without the know-how to fight!"
"What does Grandfather mean?" Yu Yuan inquired.
"Grandfather also believes you lack combat experience," Yu Wei revealed candidly. "He feels you can enter the competition, but you should steer clear of Huang Bin and all the Huang family's sons. If you're unfortunate enough to encounter Huang Bin, it's best to concede defeat."
"Lacking in combat experience, am I?" Yu Yuan mused aloud before continuing, "Uncle, I insist on taking part in the Spirit Channel Stage competition. Regarding the Huang family and Huang Bin, I'm quite eager to see for myself what they're capable of, to think they could kill me in front of an audience!"