Chapter 1157: Equal Conversation
Among the forty-five Guardians of the Yin Division, there were indeed some who had successfully entered the Life Soul realm. Although their numbers were few, they certainly existed, and Yang Haoran was aware of this. However, the Jingling Continent Yin Division, where Yang Haoran was stationed, had none of these top-tier Guardians. This situation was not surprising; after all, the Jingling Continent Yin Division was the weakest compared to other continents. Just because the Jingling Continent Yin Division lacked them didn't mean other continents didn't. The reason Yang Haoran was so shocked at this moment was naturally that he hadn't expected Zhong Siyu's cultivation realm to have already reached the point of attempting to break through to the late-stage Ghost King realm!
“What realm is your cultivation currently in? ” After a violent cough, Yang Haoran asked Zhong Siyu with a smile, though the shock in his heart made his smile appear somewhat unnatural, and the cigarette between his fingers had become tasteless. “Peak mid-stage Ghost King, otherwise how could I have led those Grand Spirit Masters around by the nose, even forcibly devouring their Guardian Spirits? ” Zhong Siyu snarled, an undisguised smugness gleaming in her eyes. No sooner had her words fallen than, before Yang Haoran could even speak, she added, “However, in order to break through to the late-stage Ghost King realm in one go, I used a secret art to seal a portion of my power within my body, including the power gained from refining Guardian Spirits during this period. That’s why those fellows were able to chase me. Otherwise, it wouldn't be certain who was chasing whom! ”
Peak mid-stage Ghost King — this realm still startled Yang Haoran. One had to know that his own cultivation had advanced so rapidly because he possessed the Soul-Refining Cauldron, allowing him to personally refine the Soul Pills needed for his cultivation. Furthermore, even with just the Soul-Refining Cauldron, his realm couldn't have reached such a height in such a short time. Aside from the Soul-Refining Cauldron, Xu Meijing's Supreme Yin Body had also played a significant role. Otherwise, his current realm would definitely not have reached the peak late-stage Earth Soul. His own realm had been able to advance so rapidly due to these two reasons, so how had Zhong Siyu managed to raise her realm to this level in such a short period of time? Although he felt a little surprised and somewhat doubtful, Yang Haoran soon let it go. After all, when he first met Zhong Siyu, her strength was far superior to his; in her presence, he was like an ant. Moreover, just because he had gained fortuitous opportunities didn't mean Zhong Siyu hadn't had her own extraordinary encounters. So, he didn't dwell on the matter, and there was no point in doing so, as the facts were already laid bare before him.
“The secret art I cultivate, as long as I accumulate enough sealed power, and then gradually unseal it according to the art’s steps, releasing the accumulated power to merge with myself, then the accumulated power will receive a certain degree of amplification. Conversely, if I forcibly unseal it before enough power has been gathered, the accumulated power will not only fail to be amplified but will also lose a significant portion of its strength. ” At this point, Zhong Siyu paused slightly, then continued speaking to Yang Haoran with a sneer, “That day, being forced into a corner, I was originally prepared to forcibly unseal the power within me and cleanly kill those few people, not caring even if I lost a significant amount of power in the process. I never expected to encounter you, so the power I was prepared to lose was thus preserved. ”
Zhong Siyu’s words surprised Yang Haoran and, at the same time, resolved some of the lingering doubts he had harbored. “Your rapid increase in strength must owe a great deal to this secret art, wouldn’t you say? ” Yang Haoran took a drag from his cigarette, asking with a faint smile.
Zhong Siyu, meanwhile, unceremoniously rummaged through the room for drinks and snacks, while casually replying to Yang Haoran, “You’re right, this secret art certainly deserves a lot of credit. ” Upon saying this, Zhong Siyu seemed to recall something. Her rummaging paused, and she turned her gaze back to Yang Haoran. “Don’t even think about this secret art. Only a Blood-Clad can cultivate this Spiritual Art. It must have been created by some Spirit Master specifically for their Blood-Clad Guardian Spirit. So, even if I told you this Spiritual Art, word for word, without missing a single detail, you still wouldn’t be able to cultivate it. It’s just like the Soul Fusion Spiritual Art; without being Blood-Clad, it’s simply uncultivable. ”
After speaking, Zhong Siyu didn’t wait for Yang Haoran’s reply and continued to rummage through the room. Yang Haoran couldn’t help but chuckle. It wasn’t because of Zhong Siyu’s current behavior of rummaging through everything, but because she had exposed his thoughts with a single phrase. Zhong Siyu hadn't been wrong; Yang Haoran truly had been thinking about this Spiritual Art she mentioned. After all, such unconventional methods for enhancing strength had always been his favorite, and he naturally didn't want to let this opportunity pass. However, upon learning that only a Blood-Clad could cultivate this Spiritual Art, he could only sigh inwardly with regret, forced to abandon this idea.
Although he felt a touch of regret, Yang Haoran didn't let it show much on his face. He took a drag from his cigarette, then asked with a faint smile, “How confident are you about successfully breaking through? ” Zhong Siyu found a bag of snacks in a cupboard and pulled a bottle of drink from the refrigerator. Hearing Yang Haoran’s question, she found a nearby spot, sat down, crossed her legs, and casually replied to Yang Haoran while opening her snack. “After my injuries recover, I’ll first need to devour and absorb the ghostly entities I currently possess to meet the requirements of the secret art. Once all conditions are met, a successful breakthrough won’t be 100% guaranteed, but it should be at least 99%, I’d say. ”
Zhong Siyu paid no mind to Yang Haoran’s embarrassment. She continued speaking while eating her snacks. “In this day and age, I’m actually surprised you managed to find so many snacks and drinks here, and the crucial thing is they haven’t expired. It truly amazes me. It just goes to show, once a person has status and position, things are different; they can get their hands on anything. ”
Yang Haoran, whose expression was already somewhat awkward, heard Zhong Siyu’s words and his embarrassment deepened. No matter how he heard it, it didn’t sound like praise. “Heh heh, these are just small local products from Lecheng. If you like them, feel free to eat as much as you want. ” Yang Haoran chuckled awkwardly. Zhong Siyu’s eyes lit up upon hearing this; it was clear from her expression that Yang Haoran’s words had swayed her. However, she suddenly seemed to remember something. The light in her eyes vanished, replaced by a chilling coldness. “So this is Lecheng. . . How nostalgic. ” Zhong Siyu said coldly, still munching on snacks. Although she spoke of nostalgia, her tone and expression showed not a shred of it. Furthermore, her words implied one more thing: she had definitely never returned to Lecheng since leaving.
Yang Haoran’s expression subtly shifted. He knew Zhong Siyu’s past, so he understood that his words must have touched a deep scar within her, otherwise her emotions wouldn’t have changed so abruptly. “Heh heh, with the current chaos, this place is the safest for me. Moreover, my facilities here are fully equipped with various medical supplies. If I want to recover from my injuries in the shortest time and ensure maximum safety, returning here was the best choice. ” To prevent Zhong Siyu from overthinking, Yang Haoran, having collected himself, explained with a faint smile. Zhong Siyu listened and nodded gently.
“I’ve heard a bit about your affairs. I know you are currently the Guardian of the Ninth District of the Jingling Continent Yin Division, and your Guardian District is established in Lecheng. It makes perfect sense that you would choose to return to your own Guardian District after suffering serious injuries. ” Zhong Siyu said in an unhurried tone. After saying this, she paused her hand movements, then looked at Yang Haoran with a curious expression and asked, “I really want to know, how did you climb so fast? Do you have powerful backing in the Yin Division? Also, why has your strength increased so rapidly—is that also because of powerful backing? ”
Zhong Siyu posed two questions in quick succession. Without even thinking, Yang Haoran immediately shook his head at Zhong Siyu. “I have no powerful backing. ” Yang Haoran simply gave Zhong Siyu a definite answer, with no intention of explaining himself, which left Zhong Siyu somewhat displeased.
“I heard that your current realm has at least reached peak mid-stage Earth Soul. Initially, I didn’t quite believe it, but this time, you were able to rescue me from Death Valley and kill the other Grand Spirit Masters. From this, it seems the rumors are true, and perhaps your strength is even higher than rumored, isn’t that right? ” Zhong Siyu continued to ask. This time, Yang Haoran didn't immediately respond. Instead, he pondered for a moment before saying with a smile, “Heh heh, my strength certainly isn’t below peak mid-stage Earth Soul, otherwise I truly wouldn’t have been able to rescue you from Death Valley that day. However, there’s a question I’m quite curious about, though I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to ask. ”
“Ask whatever you want. I won’t be evasive like you. Hmph, not very manly,” Zhong Siyu scoffed, first mocking Yang Haoran, then casually tossing her snacks onto the nearby coffee table before taking a long swig from her drink. “Heh heh, I’d like to ask, back then, why were you so sure I would save you, and successfully get you away? ”
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