Pirated Immortals in the World of Spirit Weapons

Chapter 68 Cultivation, Advancement, and the Two Zodiac Animals

As soon as Zhu Que stepped inside, a strong sense of weightlessness swept over him.

The field of vision is flipped, the sense of direction is completely lost, leaving only an uncomfortable illusion of floating.

However, he had entered the Time-Sequence Realm Pod at the Xilan Research Institute many times and was already quite familiar with the feeling.

Zhu Que calmed his mind, wrote himself a note of reminder, held it in his palm, and put on the Concentration and Clarity Crown.

He sat cross-legged, focused his mind, and practiced the Cold Wheel Breathing Technique.

Because of the supply of spirit cores, the spiritual energy in the void space is very rich, almost the same as that in an intermediate cultivation room.

However, time flows five times slower in the void space, so one day of cultivation here is equivalent to five days of cultivation outside.

There is still more than a month until the special college entrance examination.

But for Zhu Que...

Even after deducting miscellaneous time, he still had about five months to cultivate.

More than five months...

Based on his current cultivation efficiency, he himself doesn't know what level he can reach in more than five months.

Time flies.

The next five days.

Zhu Que entered a near-secluded state of cultivation.

As for the landfill, Tang Dongfang gave him a two-week leave, so he doesn't have to work there for the time being.

Every evening.

Xiao Cai always arrives here on time.

She will take the Control Gauntlets and hand them over to Boss Meng.

At the same time, she purchased injection fluids, food, water, and other necessary daily necessities for Zhu Que.

I paid his water and electricity bills, which had been cut off for who knows how long, and had someone repair the warehouse door that was completely damaged.

It's like Zhu Que hiring a full-time assistant.

Zhu Que also took some time to tidy up the cave.

Now, the cave has water, electricity, toilets, bathrooms, and a stable food supply.

There were no irrelevant people, no annoying matters, and no unnecessary interference.

For Zhu Que...

This place is simply a perfect training ground.

Besides his obsessive training, he would also set aside some time to practice controlling the Ice Flame Sword.

Because he knew very well—

While improving one's cultivation level is important, how one uses that power in actual combat is what truly determines life and death.

The afternoon of the fifth day.

When Zhu Que circulated the Cold Wheel Breathing Technique and manipulated the spiritual energy to complete a full cycle, his dantian and the eight extraordinary meridians suddenly trembled.

He felt completely refreshed, let out a long sigh, opened his eyes, and stepped out of the Time-Sequence Container.

"I've reached level four of Qi Refining!"

Zhu Que looked down at his hands.

His five fingers tightened slightly, and a more abundant and solid power flowed through his body than before.

He has officially entered the mid-stage of Qi Refining!

He then used a portable diagnostic device to examine his body.

-

Spiritual Root: High-grade Profound level (artificial)

Cultivation Realm: Fourth Level of Qi Refining

Dao Heart Stability: Chu Hui 69%

Overall physical fitness: 62.79

Physical condition: Distortion 14.9%

-

The stability of the Dao Heart remained almost unchanged, increasing by only 1%.

His overall physical fitness improved significantly, from 31.75 to 62.79.

The degree of physical deformity has also increased slightly.

"At this rate... reaching the sixth level of Qi Refining shouldn't be a problem before the special college entrance examination."

Zhu Que quickly deduced the situation.

Then.

He took a nice hot shower, washing away the grime of his promotion and relaxing his tense body.

Just as he finished showering and was getting dressed.

Suddenly, a very faint noise came from outside—

"Clatter!"

It looked like something had fallen to the ground.

Zhu Que paused slightly.

The next moment, he subtly concealed his aura, put on the artifact control gauntlets placed to the side, and carefully left the bathroom.

Zhu Que checked and found that the source of the sound was a water bottle that had slipped and fallen to the ground.

The cave entrance was tightly closed and there was no wind. Without any external interference, the water bottle could not have rolled down on its own.

Then there's only one explanation—

Someone or something has come in!

Zhu Que's eyes were calm as he immediately activated the Ice and Fire Unity Technique, and a ball of blue ice flame appeared in his palm.

Then he activated the Void Control Technique and established a mental connection with the Ice Flame.

Finally, using the Artifact Manipulation Gauntlets, the ice flames were compressed and stretched, forming an ice flame short sword.

Zhu Que pressed himself against the rock wall, exploring the cave step by step.

He moved very quietly, checking every shadow, dent, corner, and possible hiding place.

however.

He searched the entire cave but didn't see a single person or animal.

strangeness.

Have they already run away?

Or is there some kind of covert method?

or...

A thought suddenly flashed through Zhu Que's mind—it couldn't really be a ghost, could it?

Just then—

"Whoosh!"

An extremely faint sound flashed by from the left, which Zhu Que keenly caught.

He had just advanced to the fourth level of Qi Refining, and his five senses had been strengthened as a whole.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have heard such a subtle sound before.

There it is!

Zhu Que's eyes flashed, and he immediately rushed towards the corner not far away, his gaze sweeping over the rock wall in that instant.

He clearly saw that the rock face moved slightly!

"Get out here!"

Zhu Que gave a deep shout, his thoughts stirring slightly.

"Whoosh!"

The Ice Flame Short Sword shot out instantly and pierced into the rock wall.

next moment.

The rock wall was instantly frozen.

"Snap—Bang!!"

After freezing, the flames suddenly exploded, shattering most of the rock wall.

Dust filled the air, and jagged rocks pierced the sky.

at the same time.

Zhu Que released three balls of ice flames, and with a clenched fist in his right hand, three ice flame swords materialized around him.

The sword tip dipped slightly, locking firmly onto that section of rock face.

however.

There was no movement from there for a long time.

There were no screams.

There was no counterattack.

There wasn't even a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation.

As the dust gradually settled, Zhu Que made a surprising discovery—

After the rock wall shattered, a hole was revealed!

"There's even a hidden entrance!"

Zhu Que was somewhat surprised.

He did not approach rashly, but stood cautiously in place, preparing to use the Ice Flame Sword to launch an indiscriminate attack.

Who cares what it is, just kill it first!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

May you have a single thought.

Three ice-flame swords shot out from the sky, carrying a chilling aura, and whistled into the dark cave entrance.

next moment.

A cacophony of panicked shouts erupted from the cave entrance—

"Whoa! A sword flew in!"

"Aaaaah! Don't chase me!"

"I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die!"

"Waaaaah... I'm scared..."

"..."

Listening to that incessant, chaotic shouting.

Zhu Que was stunned.

Those voices were so immature, they were completely like a child's voice.

Just then.

A figure floated out of the cave entrance.

Zhu Que looked closely and realized that it was indeed not human.

To be precise—

Not a living person.

It was a little boy who was about seven or eight years old.

His skin was bluish, his body was semi-transparent, and his feet did not touch the ground but floated in the air.

This is clearly a ghost.

"So... there really really are ghosts in the cave."

Zhu Que was somewhat taken aback.

"Please don't kill us...please, please..."

"We're not bad people...we haven't done anything to harm anyone..."

The little ghost seemed terrified, kneeling on the ground, its spirit trembling, its voice trembling with sobs.

Zhu Que's gaze was calm, but a thought flickered in his mind.

Three ice-flame swords flew back from the cave entrance and hovered beside him again, their tips pointing at the little ghost.

How many of you are there in total?

"We...we have twelve..." the little ghost stammered.

"Make them all come out," Zhu Que ordered.

"Big brother, please... don't kill us..." the little ghost pleaded, his voice trembling with tears.

"I will not kill you," Zhu Que said calmly.

"Thank you, big brother!"

The little ghost, looking grateful, immediately turned and shouted towards the cave entrance:

"Everyone come out! This older brother is a good person. He said he won't kill us."

After he shouted, one by one, little ghosts floated out of the cave entrance.

Zhu Que observed it carefully.

These little ghosts, judging from their appearance, were mostly between six and ten years old, both boys and girls, and all of them were timid and hesitant.

What's rather strange is—

Their bodies are very strange.

It appears to be the ghost of a human child, but nearly half of its body exhibits distinct animalistic features.

For example, the first little boy ghost had a monkey's tail and limbs like a monkey.

And the other little ghosts.

Some had cow horns, some had drooping rabbit ears, some had tiger stripes all over their faces, and some were covered in snake scales.

Zhu Que looked at the twelve little ghosts and instantly remembered something familiar—

The twelve zodiac animals.

"What's the background of these half-human, half-beast ghosts?"