The Venerable Realm signifies the ultimate supremacy in the mortal world, referring to the most powerful beings in the mortal realm.
However, no matter how powerful, they are still mortals, with lifespans limited to within three hundred and fifty years.
The Life and Death Realm, on the other hand, transcends life and death, with lifespans extending dramatically to over a thousand years, equivalent to having one foot already touching the laws of the Great Dao.
Consequently, the gap between the Life and Death Realm and the Venerable Realm can be described as a chasm.
This time, with the cultivation feedback from over two thousand days, his realm only reached half a step into the Life and Death Realm before encountering a bottleneck.
"It seems reaching the Life and Death Realm isn't just about cultivation..."
Ye Yun sighed inwardly. To break through, he needed to accumulate enough Transcendent Power within his body to shatter the barrier.
He felt the total amount of Transcendent Power within him was merely like a small pond.
Theoretically, only when the Transcendent Power accumulated to the extent of a lake would it be considered sufficient.
"Transcendent Power, it truly is slow to condense..."
Of course, what he called slow was relative to the speed of improvement gained through the feedback system. In reality, the condensation speed was still extremely fast.
Ye Yun roughly calculated that at his current rate of condensing Transcendent Power, it would take at most one month to achieve sufficiency, after which he could officially attempt to break through to the Life and Death Realm.
In terms of strength, he had now reached the half-step Life and Death Realm and was proficient in the Heaven-grade profound technique, the Ten Directions Ice Bloom. With all his sword intent profound techniques fully unleashed, defeating a cultivator at the fifth level of the Life and Death Realm would not be difficult.
Once he broke through to the Life and Death Realm and fully mastered Transcendent Power, his strength would undergo a transformation, reaching a small peak, and he might even be able to contend with those at the peak of the Life and Death Realm.
Achieving such a level of power through over-level combat would be unprecedented on the continent.
After this, came the final period before the grand assembly. Through bestowing cultivation, Ye Yun successfully pulled Bai Xiaoxiao up to the King rank. Unfortunately, the returned cultivation provided him with very little improvement.
However, Lin Xueyan and Bai Xiaoxiao had now truly risen. One had completely mastered their initial sword intent, while the other had brought their Ice Shadow Art to minor completion. With these advancements, winning the Four Sects Grand Assembly would be no problem.
In the final moments, Ye Yun did not forget to summon the two women and hand them two jade slips.
"Master, what are these?"
"These are profound techniques I'm giving you, called the Concealing Breath Art. Practice them when you have time. They will help you conceal your aura."
Seeing the surprised expressions of the two women, Ye Yun had no choice but to explain.
"You have reached the King rank cultivation at such a young age. If you go out like this, you will easily attract the attention of ill-intentioned individuals. I cannot protect you all the time."
"With this Concealing Breath Art, as long as you don't use your profound energy, unless someone with extremely high cultivation, they won't be able to see through your cultivation realm."
After all, a King rank expert at the age of fifteen would be an absolute focal point wherever they went. It was fine when he was by their side, but if he wasn't, they could easily become sought-after prey.
Understanding the reason, Lin Xueyan and Bai Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement.
"Yes, yes, we will learn it as quickly as possible!"
At this moment, Ye Yun also heard a system notification.
[You have bestowed the Heaven-grade advanced Concealing Breath Art upon your disciple, activating the Thousand-fold Return, and obtaining the Heaven-grade low-tier Concealing Heaven Art!]
Upon learning of the reward, Ye Yun's eyes lit up.
Another Heaven-grade profound technique!
The power of the Ten Directions Ice Bloom had already shown him the might of Heaven-grade profound techniques. To receive another one so quickly!
Although this one was more functional, its effects also seemed incredibly potent!
[Concealing Heaven Art: Hide within heaven and earth, vanish into nothingness. Upon reaching great accomplishment, one can conceal their form, even all traces of their existence, and ward off enemies unseen!]
Generally, such cultivation methods could only hide one's cultivation or reduce their presence. However, the description of this profound technique made Ye Yun inexplicably think of invisibility, wondering if reaching great accomplishment would result in such an effect.
But regardless, obtaining a Heaven-grade profound technique was a worthwhile gain.
After imparting the Concealing Breath Art, Ye Yun continued to rummage through his spatial ring and handed an item to Lin Xueyan.
"Oh right, this Returning Heaven Jade was originally bid for you. I forgot to give it to you at the end. Since the Four Sects Grand Assembly is approaching, I'll give it to you now."
This Returning Heaven Jade could withstand a full-powered attack from a peak Emperor rank cultivator. It was naturally useless to him, whereas Lin Xueyan and the others would find it more applicable. He might even get something better in return.
However, Lin Xueyan did not accept it. After some thought, she looked at Bai Xiaoxiao beside her and said.
"This Returning Heaven Jade should be kept by Junior Sister Xiaoxiao."
Bai Xiaoxiao was taken aback and said, "Ah? But Master bought this for you."
"That's not important. Your strength is currently weaker than mine, so you need this treasure even more than I do."
Lin Xueyan smiled at her and then said to Ye Yun.
"Master, is that alright?"
"Of course."
Ye Yun showed a gratified smile. Being able to be so selfless indicated that their relationship was good, which put his mind at ease.
After Bai Xiaoxiao accepted the Returning Heaven Jade, she was deeply touched. Pursing her lips, she thanked him.
"Thank you, Master, for bestowing this treasure! Thank you, Senior Sister, for giving it to me!"
She thought to herself that she must repay her Master and Senior Sister well in the future.
As Ye Yun nodded in acknowledgment, a system notification sounded in his mind, this time causing his heart to tremble!
[You have bestowed the Returning Heaven Jade upon your disciple, activating the Ten Thousand-fold Return, and obtaining the top-grade spirit artifact, Jade of Divine Blessing!]
Ten Thousand-fold Return, this was the first time Ye Yun had activated such a high return multiplier.
The reward obtained also seemed incredibly potent.
[Jade of Divine Blessing: A top-grade spirit artifact imbued with the blessings of heaven. Upon injecting sufficient profound energy, it can activate supreme defense and can withstand one fatal attack of any form!]
The "supreme defense" in the description aside, the ability to withstand one fatal attack was enough to be considered heaven-defying. This was equivalent to an extra life!
A Heaven-grade profound technique and a life-saving treasure, this was an incredibly substantial haul.
Ye Yun's mood greatly improved. Now, he had no worries about dealing with the Nine Nether Demon Sect.
Once the Four Sects Grand Assembly concluded, he would go to Nether Mountain and settle the score with the Nine Nether Demon Sect once and for all!
...
From this point, there was only one week left until the Four Sects Grand Assembly.
Ye Yun and his disciples were making their final preparations, but they would never have anticipated the dramatic changes that would occur within the Nine Nether Demon Sect during this period.
Nine Nether Demon Sect, outside the Sect Master's Hall.
This day was the day the Sect Master had decreed for his emergence from seclusion. Chen Wuyi had already gathered his men early, waiting at the entrance to welcome the Sect Master and that esteemed individual.
The "esteemed individual" he spoke of was an unknown remnant soul that the Sect Master had encountered previously.
The individual claimed to be an "Evil Immortal" and, after demonstrating numerous mystical techniques, the Sect Master agreed to help them recover their strength, in return for a vow that they would help the Nine Nether Demon Sect dominate the continent in the future.
This was the reason behind the Nine Nether Demon Sect's many actions. Their recent actions against the Lin family, for instance, were to help this Evil Immortal find the most important item to them.
As a reward, upon their emergence from seclusion, the Evil Immortal would assist the Nine Nether Demon Sect in completely dominating the Four Great Heavenly Sects.
However, Chen Wuyi felt a tinge of worry. After all, during his tenure, two elders had died, and such a major incident had occurred. He found it rather difficult to explain to the Sect Master.
But then he remembered that even his trusted subordinate had been killed by Ye Yun. He couldn't bother with so much anymore, wishing only to report everything to the Sect Master and the Evil Immortal upon their emergence and then have Ye Yun executed!
Ye Yun, oh Ye Yun, weren't you arrogant?
When the Sect Master emerges this time, it will be the day of your demise!
Suddenly, the grand doors of the Sect Master's Hall rumbled open.
"We respectfully welcome the Sect Master's emergence from seclusion!"
Chen Wuyi instinctively bowed, but as he saw figures emerging, he quickly noticed something was amiss.