A faint smile appeared on his face, his expression growing a bit more enthusiastic, "Miss Jiang, there's no need to be so polite."

Jiang Zi Yun placed the Snow Lotus Seed aside, "With the misunderstanding cleared, Purple Cloud shall take her leave. If Young Master Xu ever visits Southern Sichuan, Purple Cloud will treat him to a meal."

Xu Guang watched as her figure faded into the distance.

Was she really here to apologize?

That surely wasn't her only purpose. The Purple Mink in her arms was also an Innate Demon Beast. She must have wanted to inquire about the True Blood issue, right?

However, she was very socially adept, and just by Xu Guang's demeanor, she refrained from asking.

She only left grounds for the next meeting.

Is this what people from noble families are like?

They're all quite worldly.

Come to think of it, the few young ladies from noble families I've encountered don't seem to be the spoiled brats.

But then, he chuckled to himself.

I suppose I do have some survivor's bias.

Women born into noble families, especially in these turbulent times, have the greatest value in marriage and alliance. Those who can represent their family in the Jianghu and emerge from the quagmire of noble clans are naturally shrewd.

...

Xu Guang harbored no ill feelings towards Jiang Zi Yun.

She inadvertently stumbled upon him, and she offered compensation. There was no need to be overly aggressive.

Setting aside this minor episode, Xu Guang and General Wei continued examining the changes in him.

Both the Dragon and Elephant Attributes' talents and Divine Techniques were significantly enhanced.

The talent of size manipulation also grew stronger, allowing his body to shrink down to a youthful state of three meters high and six meters long.

At its largest, it could reach fifteen meters high, nearly thirty meters long, a colossal form capable of crashing through a small mountain without issue.

In terms of the Elephant Attribute, the focus of enhancement was General Wei's physical strength, making him more powerful, with tougher skin, and the black fissures on his trunk held hidden mysteries, allowing him to extend his trunk several tens of meters.

It's outright cunning.

And on the Dragon Attribute side, besides size manipulation...

It's quite intriguing.

Previously, he could control the power of Heavenly Phenomena only reluctantly.

But now, his dragon horns can directly summon Heavenly Thunder, albeit a bit slow.

"This seems like a method controlling the Power of Heaven and Earth through the Yin Five Elements..."

Xu Guang rode atop General Wei, attempting to leverage the skill of [Elephant Master] to see if he could borrow this power.

"Rain is coming!"

With a thunderous roar from the sky, clouds gathered in the mountains.

Moments later, hail began to fall.

In February on Zouchuan Dao, it's still very cold, especially since Xu Guang was now situated in the mountains.

Xu Guang smiled contentedly.

"With your current strength, you should be able to hold your ground against Fifth-Grade Experts in trench warfare."

Xu Guang couldn't simply find a Fifth-Grade Expert to battle General Wei, nor was he someone who, after gaining some strength, was eager to let it explode outward. It's best to silently amass great fortune.

...

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.

A joyful expression flickered across Xu Guang's face—he had progressed once more.

Fuyu successfully entered the beginner's level, and with sufficient Spirit Crystals, he easily elevated it to Level 6, just a step away from breaking into the Sixth Grade Great Cultivation.

His strength was undoubtedly stronger than before.

Nevertheless, he didn't boast about it. Scattering Technique aside, having cultivated an Innate Technique to this level within half a year would obviously raise suspicions among those with discerning eyes.

He became increasingly discreet, living in seclusion, to the extent that many at Wanhua Institute were unaware of his existence.

Moreover.

The Hundred Beasts Secret Record, successfully cultivated, had allowed him to successfully incorporate the Corpse Devouring Blood.

His Martial Arts Talent was enhanced, with an added feature in his Divine Thought—the capability to inflict damage on ghosts.

Quite satisfactory.

Xu Guang was rather pleased with these developments.

...

Several days passed.

At night.

While Xu Guang was meditating, gathering the Heaven and Earth Spirit Charm, he heard General Wei's call.

He rushed out.

In front of General Wei was a celestial light, his face full of amazement, the Celestial Register on his ivory horn shimmering.

Is this...

Ah Wei's [Divine Descent]bounty?

...

In an unknown world.

Amidst ruins, the wind blew cold, the balance of Yin and Yang pushed to the extreme, with eerie energies swirling throughout.

In an underground sanctuary.

More than ten men and women with ragged clothing, humble expressions, were praying to the Divine Statue on an altar, resembling both an elephant and Buddha.

The Divine Elephant was approximately eight feet tall, entirely black, a creature with a long trunk and sharp tusks, upon which a person was seated.

The entire statue exuded an indescribable solemnity, especially now that it rested on the altar, its divine presence amplified.

On the altar, a young girl roughly twenty years old was struggling incessantly, her eyes wide, filled with pleading.

"Prostrate before the True Monarch of the Divine Elephant, unknown to heaven and earth, controlling all worlds in all directions."

"Believers are inherently good, now encountering disaster, fearing the calamity. Bow thrice, prostrate before the Divine Elephant, beseech the True Monarch to reveal divine presence, and feast!"

The oldest among them, a middle-aged man, eyes brimming with anguish, was chanting prayers.

The girl's eyes on the altar were filled with desperation.

Yet her limbs were bound, her lips sealed, unable to speak or move.

Thud, thud, thud~

A bizarre sound echoed, as if someone was knocking at the door outside.

Drip, drip~

Everyone's expressions changed drastically.

"Again... again... it's come~"

A nameless terror, akin to devouring everyone whole.

The sound of knocking was ordinary.

But here...

It's underground!

There's no door.

The town has a saying about ghosts knocking at midnight, signaling life's end.

This is the town's most widespread folklore, now becoming reality.

Worth noting, these ten or so men and women are the town's only residents.

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