Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 762 - 320: Fake Pill Realm; Level 3 [Beehive]_3
Previously on Longevity through Upgrading Buildings...
Despite his fervent efforts to condense the spiritual energy, the mana within remained stubbornly unyielding.
Had his cultivation reached its absolute zenith?
Absolutely not!
For starters, he had only just achieved the Fake Pill stage; his cultivation had undeniably advanced. It was only a matter of time before the Spiritual Qi continued to compress, albeit at a slower pace.
Secondly... the Pill Essence Fruit was still within his grasp.
What was there to fear?
With the consumption of one Pill Essence Fruit, he was confident he could condense a considerably larger amount of mana.
Yet, Ji Yuan merely entertained this thought for a moment. The Pill Essence Fruit, he decided, must be preserved for the singular purpose of forging the Golden Core in one decisive attempt.
He focused on his Fake Pill and the surrounding mana, mentally assessing the situation: "A single Pill Essence Fruit won't be enough for me to make a breakthrough. Two offer a chance, three ensure it, and four guarantee success!"
"I already possess one, and within five years, a second will be available."
"I am still young. Even if I have to wait another forty years, I won't even be a century old. Forming a Core will be entirely feasible. At worst, I could find an uninhabited island on the Jiyuan Continent, enter seclusion for thirty years, and then make the plunge into Core Formation."
"Ah, no, it would be better if no one knew me there. I wouldn't need to be so cautious. Instead of attempting a breakthrough in isolation, finding a Cave Mansion brimming with ample Spiritual Qi in a major city and calmly pursuing Core Formation would be the wiser choice."
Ji Yuan's heart swelled with optimistic visions of his future.
He then dedicated a few days to solidifying his cultivation before making his exit from the Scripture Pavilion.
The time had come to emerge from seclusion!
A Fake Pill was not yet a Golden Core, and it lacked the Divine Power to comprehend the transformation into Escape Light. Consequently, Ji Yuan had no choice but to physically fly out of the stone chamber.
At long last, astride Monday's head, he ascended to the summit of Profound Crystal Mountain.
Dusk had settled. Ji Yuan stood atop the mountain peak, the rays of the setting sun painting the sky, the descending sun resembling a pool of blood. Two Frost Serpents stood guard on either side of him.
With his arms crossed over his chest, Ji Yuan felt a sense of calm settling within him.
However, observing the surrounding panorama, his thoughts inevitably turned to the state of the world... It was arduous, exceedingly so.
This period of seclusion had significantly bolstered his strength. Not only had his cultivation reached the Fake Pill Realm, but he now commanded two Tier Three Spirit Beasts.
Should he encounter any cultivators at the Fake Pill stage or even those in the early Nascent Soul stages in the future, he might not even need to lift a finger.
Merely unleashing these two Frost Serpents would likely suffice.
As Ji Yuan mused, he suddenly detected a potent, tingling wave of demon aura emanating from below. The two Frost Serpents, previously resting on the ground, instantly straightened, and Monday took to the air, circling vigilantly.
Tuesday remained stationary but let out a low growl from its throat.
"Cease your calls. It’s one of our own."
"Maintain your guard here. I am going to investigate."
Ji Yuan leaped from the mountain peak, his form vanishing in a blur as he landed at the entrance of the Hundred Insects Cave.
The Bee King was attempting a breakthrough!
It was on the verge of advancing to Tier Three. Once the Beehive itself underwent an upgrade, his overall strength would undoubtedly receive another significant boost!
Ji Yuan hurried his steps, but as he neared the entrance to the Beehive...
"Boom—"
The stone gate before him exploded outwards from within, accompanied by a violent concussion. Debris scattered in all directions, compelling Ji Yuan to summon a Protective Spirit Light with a swift hand gesture.
Shortly thereafter, a colossal, dark silhouette began to emerge from the stone chamber.
"Buzz buzz buzz—"
The intense vibration of its wings filled the air, instantly dispersing the accumulated dust within the cave. This allowed Ji Yuan to clearly behold its true form.
The body of the Tier Three Spirit-Devouring Bee was no longer the pitch-black hue of before. Instead, it had transitioned to a distinguished dark gold color, from its head to its tail. Even its wings shimmered with a dark golden sheen.
Its body was devoid of hair, covered instead by a layer of dense, dark gold scales that appeared exceptionally resilient.
"Descend."
Ji Yuan gestured, and the Tier Three Bee King obediently lowered itself before him.
He took a step forward, gently caressing the Bee King's scales, tapping them lightly. The sound produced was akin to the clashing of metal.
This discovery immediately brought to mind the Spirit Effect of the Tier Three Beehive.
"Spirit Devouring Armor."
The Spirit-Devouring Bee could transform into a suit of armor, absorbing ambient Spiritual Qi and remaining undetected by other cultivators.
This was truly a remarkable technique for concealing one's aura.
Contemplating this, Ji Yuan's anticipation surged.
"Come, follow me inside!"
Ji Yuan announced, stepping back into the Beehive. Compared to its previous state, the Beehive now pulsed with a palpable demon aura. He also noticed the residual traces left by the Bee King following its breakthrough.
He glanced at these remnants indifferently before directing his gaze to the interface, where he began checking the upgrade requirements for the Beehive.
Extending his hand, Ji Yuan retrieved 900 Mid-grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag. He then carefully placed the remains of the Demon Spirit Bee, a gift from the Hundred Insects Old Immortal, onto the ground. The instant this corpse materialized, the Spirit-Devouring Bees within the hive emitted a potent, agitated aura, and even the Bee King felt an urge to attack the fallen creature. However, Ji Yuan intervened and halted its aggression. The upgrade for the Beehive also necessitated three Tier Three Demon Pills. Hu Yaoyue had left a considerable number before her departure, and combining these with Ji Yuan’s existing stock, the total reached ten. Wait, after defeating the Tier Three Mouse Demon, he had discovered three more within the Hundred Insects Old Immortal’s Storage Bag, bringing the grand total to fourteen. Procuring three pills for the upgrade was now an easy feat. "Since most of them possess water attributes, I'll select two. The remaining ones primarily have earth attributes, so I'll take one of those," Ji Yuan decided, picking out the necessary pills. He then placed these three Demon Pills alongside the Demon Spirit Bee's corpse, resolving without a second thought to proceed with the Beehive upgrade. As his intention solidified, the Beehive before him visibly grew, expanding several times its original size. The individual cells within the hive multiplied substantially, contributing to the considerable increase in its overall dimensions. The pupae that had not yet emerged burst forth, releasing a multitude of Spirit-Devouring Bees and swelling their numbers significantly. Ji Yuan could almost feel as if he had abruptly acquired a thousand Spirit-Devouring Bees in a single moment! "No wonder upgrading grants such a critical hit!" he exclaimed. Following this, Ji Yuan gently tapped the Spirit Beast Bag secured at his waist. From it surged tens of thousands of Spirit-Devouring Bees, appearing as a densely packed swarm. With this augmentation complete, it was now the opportune moment to ascertain the true effectiveness of the Spirit Devouring Armor!