Chapter 1405 Immortal Qi
1405 Immortal Qi
"Let me inspect your body for a moment. I need to make sure you're actually fine." Senior Bai said as he placed his palm on Yuan's chest.
Despite Yuan's assertion of well-being, Senior Bai found it hard to accept that a mere Spirit King could withstand his Immortal Qi without incurring significant harm.
However, Senior Bai wasn't looking down on Yuan because of his low cultivation. What he had inadvertently unleashed moments ago was Immortal Qi, a power reserved for those who had transcended the realm of mortals by becoming a Bronze Immortal. It was a power beyond mortal endurance, not meant to be withstood by ordinary beings, regardless of their talents.
The Immortal Qi Senior Bai had unleashed carried enough potency to inflict serious injuries or even death upon a Spirit Sovereign. However, Yuan, a mere peak Spirit King, emerged with nothing more than a bloody nose after facing the brunt of Senior Bai's Immortal Qi. This outcome left Senior Bai utterly confounded, as it defied comprehension.
Not daring to believe what was before his very eyes, Senior Bai inspected Yuan's body again. Sure enough, his internal organs remained unharmed, only slightly stressed because of the immense pressure.
'Unbelievable… even though it was only for a brief moment, he endured my Immortal Qi and came out nearly unscathed. What kind of divine body does he possess?' Senior Bai swallowed nervously as he lowered his hand.
"I am glad that you are unharmed. Once again, I extend my deepest apology for my lack of control just now." Senior Bai said a moment later.
Yuan shook his head and said, "Forget about that, Senior Bai. Can you tell me more about that aura you released instead? I have never experienced anything like that before!"
Senior Bai nodded and explained, "What you experienced just now is called Immortal Qi. It's spiritual energy that is also similar to your Sword Aura, something that can only be comprehended and absorbed by cultivators after they achieve Bronze Immortal."
"Immortal Qi is what differentiates cultivators and immortal cultivators, as it's impossible for a mortal cultivator to defeat someone with Immortal Qi no matter how talented they are, sort of like Enhanced Sword Aura and Sword Aura."
Yuan pondered Senior Bai's words. During Tian Yang's time, the concept of Immortal Qi did not exist even though there were several immortal cultivators.
"By the way, I also sensed something ominous inside your body—a powerful curse. Did something happen to you recently?" Senior Bai suddenly asked.
Yuan showed a bittersweet smile and said, "Sort of. I've been cursed by the Celestial Emperor."
"You what?!" Senior Bai exclaimed in a shocked voice. "Y-you met with the Celestial Emperor?!"
He quickly shook his head, "No, I haven't. I don't know why, but he decided to curse me. Perhaps I've been climbing the Nine Divine Heavens too quickly and he wants to slow me down."
"What sort of curse?" Senior Bai inquired for more information.
"According to Xiao Hua, it's a curse meant for Exiles, and it reduces the effectiveness of all cultivation resources for me by a significant amount."
Senior Bai frowned upon learning of this information and said in a cold voice, "I will let Lady Xu know of this later. She can speak with the Celestial Emperor and get it removed."
Yuan's eyes widened at his words. Did Xu Jiaqi have such influence that she could change the Celestial Emperor's mind?
After pondering for a moment, Yuan said, "Please wait, Senior Bai. I appreciate what you are trying to do, but I do not wish for you or Miss Xu to upset the Celestial Emperor over such a minor issue."
"Minor? You call this a minor issue?" Senior Bai looked at him with a dumbfounded face.
"Right now, yes. After all, I cannot increase my cultivation past Spirit King because of my physique, so the curse does not affect me at this moment."
"What about the future? Surely, you don't plan on remaining as a Spirit King forever, right?"
"Of course not. If I cannot find a solution by then, I'll request for Miss Xu's help."
"Alright, we won't do anything for the time being, but Lady Xu has a right to know that the Celestial Emperor had laid his hands on a member of the Celestial Overlord. To harm a member of our faction is akin to harming the entire faction and challenging Lady Xu herself. Even the Celestial Emperor has no right to do such a thing without any reason." Senior Bai said.
"Is that so… I didn't know that. By the way, I recently received a promotion to the rank of General." Yuan casually brought up his promotion.
"..."
Senior Bai had a bewildered look on his face as he silently stared at Yuan with eyes as wide as saucers.
After a long minute of silence, he spoke in a low voice, "D-Did you just say you've been promoted to the rank of General within the Celestial Overlords…?"
Yuan calmly nodded his head in confirmation.
"T-that's impossible! The amount of karma you would need to reach General isn't such an insignificant amount that it could be achieved in so little time!" Senior Bai couldn't believe it—he refused to believe it.
Even Xu Jiaqi, who had the fastest promotions in their history, invested well over a century in accumulating sufficient karma to attain the esteemed rank of General. The fact that Yuan, who hadn't been a member of the faction for long, had already amassed enough karma to attain the rank of General was simply incredulous.
Seeing Senior Bai's doubtful expression, Yuan revealed his faction rank.
"No way…" Senior Bai had no choice but to believe Yuan after seeing the symbol 'General' on his palm.
ƈοm "What did you do to acquire so much karma in such a short time? Even wiping out an evil sect would not help you reach the rank of General this quickly." Senior Bai had to ask.
Yuan smiled and said, "It wasn't much. I happened to come across a hundred Exiles and slew them all."
"A hundred Exiles?! Did you sneak into the Primordial Realm or something?!" Senior Bai regretted asking, as the chances of encountering so many Exiles were even more ridiculous than his speedrun to the rank of General.
Yuan chuckled, "It was just a coincidence, really."
"I—" Senior Bai closed his mouth as soon as he opened it and said a moment later, "Lady Xu has arrived."
He opened the entrance to his realm, and in the next instant, Xu Jiaqi's exquisite face emerged from the portal, her divine aura instantly permeating and enveloping the entire world.