Volume 1, Chapter 66 – Three Months Later

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, three months had passed since the new disciples entered the sect.

Three months was no more than the snap of a finger to cultivators.

Yet for the more than one hundred new disciples of Yaochi Immortal Palace, those three months had brought about a complete transformation.

Their former immaturity and unease had faded, replaced by composure, confidence, and the distinctive fluctuations of spiritual power unique to Qi Refinement cultivators.

Three months ago, most of them had been ordinary children without the slightest cultivation, or beginners who had only just drawn qi into their bodies.

Now, even the weakest among them had reached the third layer of Qi Refinement!

As for Zhao Ling’er, Wang Teng, Murong Xue, Xiao Ya, and the others who had already possessed some cultivation before joining, they had reached the sixth, seventh, or even eighth layer of Qi Refinement!

Even more astonishing was how solid their foundations were and how pure their spiritual power had become, far surpassing cultivators at the same level.

This was all thanks to Yaochi Immortal Palace’s cultivation environment, which far exceeded that of the outside world, its vast supply of resources, and the meticulous guidance of the elders of each peak.

On Snow Moon Peak, the clear ringing of swords filled the air.

Li Zhiwei and Murong Xue stood on either side before Li Hanyi.

Fine beads of sweat covered their foreheads. Their sword-wielding arms trembled slightly, yet they gritted their teeth and continued to endure.

Crisscrossing sword marks covered the ground beneath their feet, each several inches deep, ample proof of how diligently they had trained.

Li Hanyi’s cool gaze swept over the two of them, and her voice remained calm.

“Zhiwei, Xiaoxue, both of you possess excellent talent in the Sword Dao, but… you are somewhat too eager for quick results.”

Murong Xue’s heart jolted at those words. She hurriedly bowed.

“This disciple only wanted to improve too badly. I have disappointed Master!”

Beside her, Li Zhiwei’s eyes reddened, and she nearly burst into tears. She quickly said in a small voice,

“Master, this disciple knows she was wrong!”

Seeing the two obediently admit their mistakes, Li Hanyi’s heart softened, though her voice remained cool.

“We will stop here for today. Go back and rest well.”

Murong Xue and Li Zhiwei exchanged a glance, delight flashing through both their eyes.

“Yes, Master!”

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On Danxia Peak, the rich fragrance of medicinal herbs drifted through the air.

Yun Miaoyi stood at the edge of the Myriad-Phenomena Medicinal Garden, watching several disciples carefully tend to the various spiritual plants before them.

With practiced movements, Zhao Ling’er removed the withered leaves from a third-grade Purple Cloud Grass. Her actions were gentle and precise.

Wang Zhaojun held the Hundred Herbs Compendium that Gu Han had arranged to be delivered and crouched beside a Nine-Leaf Lotus.

Her right hand gently brushed over the lotus leaves as she closed her eyes, sensing the vitality and medicinal fluctuations contained within them.

She had been born with a physique naturally attuned to plants, giving her perception of spiritual plants far beyond that of ordinary people.

“Ling’er’s technique is already becoming quite proficient. In a few days, you can try refining the most basic Fasting Pill.”

Yun Miaoyi’s gentle voice rang out.

“Zhaojun’s physique is unique, but your cultivation is still shallow. Once you reach the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, you may begin trying as well.”

“Yes, Master!”

Delight appeared on both their faces as they answered in unison.

Illusory Dream Peak was shrouded in a hazy, seven-colored glow. Xiao Ya sat cross-legged at the center of an illusion formation.

She held the Myriad-Phenomena Heavenly Craft Compendium that Gu Han had arranged to be delivered and carefully studied the formation before her.

“Use the Li position as the core, the Kan position as the axis, and supplement it with the circulation of the Xun position…”

Xiao Ya murmured to herself, excitement gleaming in her eyes.

“This should create a more stable structure…”

Die Wu stood not far away, a trace of surprise flashing through her dreamlike eyes.

This disciple’s way of thinking and her talent truly were unlike those of ordinary people.

“Ya’er, you truly are very talented!”

Die Wu’s voice was ethereal.

“But you are only at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement. That is still somewhat too low. You must not slack off.”

“Master, this disciple…”

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Seeing that she was about to make another excuse, Die Wu immediately furrowed her brows.

“This disciple was saying that she wants to go cultivate right now…”

Xiao Ya hurriedly added, then turned and headed toward a secluded cultivation chamber.

She sighed softly. She had clearly been working very hard. When she entered the sect, she had only been at the third layer of Qi Refinement, and she had advanced by one layer each month.

Unfortunately, she had never been particularly fond of cultivation, while her fellow disciples were far too fiercely competitive. By comparison, she appeared rather mediocre.

Similar scenes unfolded across the other peaks.

On Giant Spirit Peak, the disciples under Fushan were running along the mountain paths while carrying boulders weighing several hundred jin, their shouts shaking the heavens.

Dragon Head Peak had been built beside the water, where Mo Lin taught the disciples to comprehend the gentleness of water and the fierceness of thunder.

On the peaks belonging to the five outer sect elders, Jin Feng, Qingluo, Canghai, Hongying, and Xuanya, the disciples practiced swordsmanship, practiced breathing exercises, or trained in basic techniques, each developing their own strengths.

Even the more than seventy disciples who had not yet been formally accepted by any peak and were temporarily being taught by Liu Ruyan and Gu Luoli did not dare slack off in the slightest.

However…

Inside the main hall, a water mirror floated before Gu Han.

The mirror reflected scenes from all across the Immortal Palace.

The disciples cultivated diligently, the elders taught them with care, and everything appeared to be flourishing.

Yet Gu Han’s brows were slightly furrowed.

“By the standards of the outside world, the disciples’ cultivation speed could already be considered very fast.”

“But… it is still not enough.”

She raised her eyes toward the window, her gaze seeming to pierce through layer upon layer of clouds and look into the distant future.

The Law Secret Realm previously mentioned by the system would open in nine months.

When that time came, the talented disciples of all the major sects and clans throughout the Southern Region would gather there.

At the current rate of progress among the disciples of Yaochi Immortal Palace, Gu Han feared that only her own two disciples would be able to participate.

No matter how talented the other disciples were, the gap in cultivation was simply too great.

“System.”

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Gu Han called out inwardly.

“Is there any way to accelerate the disciples’ cultivation progress?”

[Ding! Host, did you forget about the Myriad-Phenomena Tower?]

“The Myriad-Phenomena Tower?”

Gu Han’s eyes lit up, and she immediately slapped her forehead.

“That’s right! How could I have forgotten about it?”

With a thought, she immediately pulled up the information on the Myriad-Phenomena Tower from the system interface.

[Myriad-Phenomena Tower: A special sect structure with ten floors. The flow of time on each floor differs from that of the outside world.]

[First Floor: Time-flow ratio of 10:1. Ten days inside the tower equals one day outside.]

[Second Floor: Time-flow ratio of 20:1.]

[Third Floor: Time-flow ratio of 30:1.]

…

[Tenth Floor: Time-flow ratio of 100:1. One hundred days inside the tower equals one day outside.]

[Current Status: Inactive. Activating the first floor requires 20,000 Master Dao Points.]

“Ten to one?”

A brilliant light shone in Gu Han’s eyes.

With the Myriad-Phenomena Tower, a little over eight months in the outside world would amount to more than 2,400 days for the disciples inside the tower, equivalent to six years.

That would be enough for them to raise their cultivation to a level sufficient to compete in the secret realm!

“System, activate the first floor of the Myriad-Phenomena Tower!”

[Ding! 20,000 Master Dao Points consumed. The first floor of the Myriad-Phenomena Tower has been successfully activated! Current remaining balance: 34,650 points.]

[The Myriad-Phenomena Tower has connected to the ley lines of the Immortal Palace. Generating internal space… Generation complete!]

Following the system notification, Gu Han could clearly sense the ten-story ancient tower on the western side of the Immortal Palace suddenly come alive.

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The formerly dim runes covering the tower began to glow and circulate with light, while profound spatial and temporal fluctuations spread outward.

Though the fluctuations were not strong, they still caused the nearby cultivating disciples’ hearts and minds to jolt slightly, and they all turned to look.

“All elders, come to the main hall for a discussion.”

Gu Han’s voice clearly reached the ears of every elder in the Immortal Palace.

In less than half the time it took an incense stick to burn, all the elders had gathered in the main hall.

Li Hanyi, Yun Yun, Yun Miaoyi, Die Wu, Mo Lin, Fushan, Jin Feng, Qingluo, Canghai, Hongying, and Xuanya, eleven elders in total, stood in two rows on either side.

Liu Ruyan and Gu Luoli also stood in attendance nearby.

Everyone wore a puzzled expression, uncertain why the Palace Master had suddenly summoned them.

Gu Han swept her gaze over the group and went straight to the point.

“I have gathered you here today for one matter. The Myriad-Phenomena Tower of our Yaochi Immortal Palace has been opened.”

“The Myriad-Phenomena Tower?”

Fushan scratched his head, looking completely bewildered.

A sharp gleam flashed through Mo Lin’s eyes.

“Palace Master, are you referring to the ancient tower on the western side?”

Gu Han nodded slightly.

“Correct. The flow of time on each floor of the Myriad-Phenomena Tower differs from that of the outside world.”

“On the first floor, ten days pass inside for every one day outside.”

“On the tenth floor, one hundred days pass inside for every one day outside.”

With each sentence she spoke, the breathing of everyone in the hall grew more rapid.

“Nine months from now, the Law Secret Realm in the Southern Region will open. Every sect will take part, and Yaochi Immortal Palace naturally cannot be absent.”

“Therefore, I have decided to open the first floor of the Myriad-Phenomena Tower and select a group of disciples to enter and cultivate within it.”

As Gu Han’s words fell, the main hall sank into silence.