Chapter 982: Shocking Secret
Ye Mo stood, estimating that several days had passed since consuming the pill. He was at Golden Core Stage Level Three, his cultivation essence dense. He felt no discomfort; indeed, his meridians felt expanded and strengthened. This was truly "one pill, one level." The potential consequences of this pill recipe's leak were staggering.
Without rest, Ye Mo consolidated his power. Five days later, feeling fully consolidated, he took out the remaining Heaven Glory Pill. He hesitated, staring at it for a long time before finally deciding to consume it. He dreaded the life-and-death agony, but knew that without more power, his next encounter might be his last.
Returning to the spirit root, Ye Mo knew the risk was higher, but the root was crucial for maximizing the pill's potency. This time, he preemptively chanted the Three Birth Chant before the pain began. His meridians repeatedly broke and repaired; the suffering was less intense than before, and he reached Golden Core Stage Level Four.
Though effective, the pill seemed less potent than the first. Nonetheless, Ye Mo rejoiced; two pills had propelled him to the middle stage of Golden Core, all within a month in the Golden Page World. The previous claim of reaching the peak stage within six months proved accurate.
Reaching Level Four, Ye Mo consolidated his power, reserving the final Heaven Glory Pill. He cultivated using Condense Red Pills, focusing on perfecting the Illusion Cloud's fifth strike and the Purple Eye Soul Sever. He believed integrating formations into his swordsmanship would elevate the Illusion Cloud Nine Strikes. Despite rigorous testing, he remained a hair's breadth from success.
After a month of cultivation with Condense Red Pills and spirit crystals, his state stabilized. He forwent the final pill and left the Golden Page World, seeking spirit beast combat. He understood that consistent fighting had honed his combat abilities beyond those of his peers.
Leaving the island, he found another teeming with spirit beasts above Level Three, including a Level Five two-headed crocodile. It initially ignored his presence; however, after Ye Mo killed over ten Level Three and Four beasts, the crocodile finally reacted. Roaring, it charged, unleashing a dark ray from one head.
While he might have engaged at Golden Core Stage Level Two, Ye Mo had little interest in fighting this Level Five mid-stage crocodile. He attacked with Zi Xu, aiming to test his incomplete Illusion Cloud fifth strike. The purple and dark rays clashed. To his disappointment, the strike failed to activate the intended sword formation, serving only to block the attack.
The crocodile, equally surprised to be stalled by a weaker cultivator, furiously charged. Seeing his fifth strike's failure, Ye Mo abandoned further testing and used the Illusion Cloud Essence Binding strike. The beast was instantly bound, losing a head to Ye Mo's swift counter-attack before it could react.
The crocodile fled toward the ocean. As Ye Mo prepared to pursue, he sensed immense danger. Instantly reacting, he shoved the crocodile's head into the sea and sought cover, sensing two powerful cultivation essence waves rapidly approaching. He knew the deep sea was perilous.
After concealing himself and masking his chi, the waves arrived above the island. Ye Mo recognized one of the waves: a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator who had disembarked the low-grade cultivation artifact flying ship. What shocked him was that this cultivator was fleeing a pursuing spirit beast.
Unable to risk using his spirit sense, Ye Mo focused on camouflage, suspecting detection. He heard a conversation:
"Chi Hong, why break your word? Do you not fear our Merchant Association's revenge?" the injured Nascent Soul Stage cultivator demanded.
A coarse voice sneered, "My word? Lies! We agreed on three hundred Golden Core Stage cultivators, but you plotted a rebellion with them! Fortunately, I was prepared."
"Their rebellion is unrelated to us. I don't know how they learned," Chi Hong protested.
"Unrelated? Why then did you plunder when they were gaining the upper hand?" the coarse voice retorted.
Chi Hong stammered, eventually suggesting they wait until sending the Nascent Soul Stage cultivator next time.
"Dealing with cultivators is like dealing with schemers! We're lucky we didn't wait for the Nascent Soul deal," the coarse voice scoffed.
Ye Mo was stunned. The Ao Cheng Merchant Association had seemingly been supplying Golden Core Stage cultivators to the spirit beast, a deception unknown to those cultivators. Though he didn't know how it was exposed, Ye Mo was glad he hadn't joined those Golden Core Stage cultivators.
The Ao Cheng Merchant Association, he thought, were truly cruel and sinister.
Chi Hong pleaded, offering his storage ring to appease the spirit beast, but the beast coldly responded, revealing the killing of one of its Level Six brethren. Explosions followed. It seemed Chi Hong wasn't at fault, but the spirit beast still sought revenge for other reasons.