Chapter 438: Promotion to Yunhe, Heavenly Blessing (Happy New Year)

The Wind Rises Across the Nine Provinces

Three days passed in a flash. At the Blood Sect headquarters, on the high platform in front of the Heavenly Secret Hall, Lu Ye sat cross-legged.

Dozens of yards away from the platform, cultivators who had come to observe were everywhere, their figures filling both the sky and the ground. While these Spirit Stream Realm cultivators might not have fully understood the Heavenly Secret's Blessing, the older generation knew that Lu Yiye of the Blood Sect was very likely to receive it when he advanced to the Cloud River Realm.

This was because throughout his cultivation journey, most of the enemies Lu Ye had killed were of a higher cultivation level than himself.

It was under the older generation's command that the younger cultivators had gathered at the Blood Sect headquarters.

While no one knew exactly how much benefit the Heavenly Secret's Blessing could bring, no one wanted to miss the opportunity to witness it.

Furthermore, even if their estimation was wrong and Lu Ye didn't receive the Heavenly Secret's Blessing, there wouldn't be much loss for the younger cultivators to make the trip; it would merely mean wasting a few days of cultivation time.

Opportunities for cultivators from the core circle to gather like this were rare over the years. They could get closer, exchange ideas, and broaden their disciples' horizons—which was a benefit in itself.

Despite the large crowd, the entire headquarters was remarkably silent.

On the high platform, Lu Ye felt a degree of pressure.

He was merely advancing to the Cloud River Realm, yet it had attracted so many observers. He suddenly realized the immense influence he had unknowingly accumulated in the Spirit Stream Battlefield.

Recalling his second senior sister's words before he left the sect — "Don't worry about the Heavenly Secret's Blessing; if it comes, that's best, but if not, don't force it" — the slight pressure he felt immediately dissipated.

The nine minor heavenly circulation systems within his body slowly ceased under his control, and his cultivation continuously dropped from the ninth Heaven-tier level.

This continued until all his spiritual power solidified within his spiritual apertures, with no further movement.

He had seen Ju Jia advance to the Cloud River Realm in the Myriad Poisons Forest. Moreover, it wasn't a difficult matter for cultivators to advance from the Spirit Stream Realm to the Cloud River Realm; as long as enough spiritual apertures were opened in the body and all spiritual apertures were connected according to the cultivation method to form a major heavenly circulation, advancement would naturally occur.

Therefore, he knew what he needed to do now.

Recalling the various instructions recorded in the Great Sun Lapis Lazuli Art he practiced, he circulated his spiritual power along the cultivation path of the art, starting from the source spiritual aperture and connecting one spiritual aperture after another.

The dormant spiritual power surged and flowed anew within his spiritual apertures; the more spiritual apertures were connected, the faster and more vigorous the spiritual power flowed.

Until a certain moment, all 360 apertures were connected, and the returning spiritual power flowed back into the source spiritual aperture.

At this very moment, with all his spiritual power beginning and ending at the source spiritual aperture, a major heavenly circulation was complete.

A humming sound resonated within Lu Ye's body as spiritual power surged like a raging river.

An invisible wave of energy swept outwards with a roar, and an inexplicable might erupted simultaneously — he had advanced from the Spirit Stream Realm to the Cloud River Realm!

Back in the Myriad Poisons Forest, after Ju Jia advanced to the Cloud River Realm, he was immediately repelled by the Heavenly Secret, sent out of the Spirit Stream Battlefield, and directly returned to his sect's Heavenly Secret Hall.

Now that Lu Ye had advanced to the Cloud River Realm, he also clearly and distinctly felt that sense of repulsion from the surrounding world. He felt as if he were in an extremely crowded environment, with every inch of space around him trying to push him out.

However, at this very moment, a Heavenly Secret inexplicably descended, and the ubiquitous sense of repulsion instantly vanished without a trace.

Simultaneously, the surrounding cultivators watching the ceremony gasped in astonishment, for directly above Lu Ye's head, a slowly rotating seven-colored treasure lotus suddenly appeared and descended straight towards him.

"The Heavenly Secret's Blessing!" someone exclaimed.

Although they had long been told by their elders that Lu Yiye was very likely to receive the Heavenly Secret's Blessing upon advancing to the Cloud River Realm this time, no one could guarantee it until the Blessing actually arrived.

Only at this moment did the Heavenly Secret truly bestow its blessing!

It was clearly a seven-colored treasure lotus descending from the heavens. It wasn't a physical object, but rather an illusion, or perhaps an inexplicable convergence of energy.

The moment this seven-colored treasure lotus appeared, a peculiar fragrance filled the air, causing anyone who inhaled it to feel refreshed, their minds clear and bodies light.

The treasure lotus descended, enveloping Lu Ye. At first glance, it looked as if Lu Ye was seated within a seven-colored lotus. As the lotus slowly rotated, the space around Lu Ye became vibrant and ornate, with various profound wonders appearing and disappearing.

Furthermore, a phantom layer of lotus petals suddenly appeared and disappeared with the rotation of the treasure lotus, repeating over and over.

Peculiar energy overflowed, filling the entire Blood Sect headquarters.

Some quick-witted cultivators tried to absorb it and were astonished to find that the freely flowing energy had the effect of strengthening their bodies and enhancing their minds.

"Cultivate quickly!" the cultivator quickly whispered, having noticed this anomaly.

Cultivators on the ground immediately sat cross-legged, entering a state of cultivation. Those observing from mid-air also hurriedly found spots to land.

Less than thirty breaths after the seven-colored treasure lotus descended, the entire Blood Sect headquarters, including its own disciples and the visiting cultivators—a full two to three thousand people—all entered a state of cultivation.

Everyone could feel the unique energy benefiting them and was overjoyed, knowing that coming to observe this ceremony was the right decision.

If even the overflowing energy had such potent effects, Lu Ye, seated within the treasure lotus, felt them even more intensely.

After the ubiquitous repulsive force disappeared, he clearly felt a gentle power flowing into his body. While tempering his physique, it was also strengthening his spirit.

This feeling was akin to absorbing the spiritual mist in the Heavenly Secret Pool, but the benefits were far greater than anything he had gained there.

He had entered the Heavenly Secret Pool four times previously, and the last time yielded almost no effect. However, the Heavenly Secret's Blessing's baptism clearly provided substantial help.

Time passed slowly, and the Blood Sect headquarters remained quiet.

Until a certain moment, a cultivator slowly opened their eyes. They looked up but could no longer see Lu Ye; the high platform was empty. They knew that Lu Ye had already advanced to the Cloud River Realm and left the Spirit Stream Battlefield.

More and more cultivators opened their eyes, silently perceiving their own changes, each one beaming with smiles.

Simply put, this observation brought benefits to almost everyone, to varying degrees. Generally, their physiques and spirits became stronger; some unknowingly opened spiritual apertures that had remained unopened for a long time; others even found that the accumulated medicinal toxins in their bodies had decreased, and their spiritual power became purer.

For a moment, they were captivated. If they, merely affected by the afterglow of the Heavenly Secret's Blessing, had received so many benefits, what kind of advantages would Lu Ye, the main recipient, have gained?

While the Blood Sect headquarters was bustling, the headquarters of the various sects in the Myriad Demon Ridge were also filled with jubilation.

The reason was simple: Lu Yiye, one of the "Three Calamities of the Spirit Stream," had finally advanced to the Cloud River Realm!

Just moments ago, on the Spirit Stream Ranking, Lu Yiye’s name, which had been at the top, suddenly disappeared, replaced by Lan Ziyi of Boundless Island!

It was impossible for Lu Yiye to have died, so the only possibility was that he had advanced to the Cloud River Realm.

They cheered in celebration!

It hadn't been easy, but they had finally outlasted him. In the Spirit Stream Battlefield from now on, there would no longer be a situation where an entire large faction was dominated by one person.

The great mountain that had been crushing them, making it hard to breathe, had vanished. The long-dormant Myriad Demon Ridge faction felt it was time to stand tall and assert themselves!

When Lu Yiye was in the Spirit Stream Battlefield, the major Myriad Demon Ridge sects had a miserable time. No one dared to make any significant moves, fearing being targeted by this harbinger of disaster.

Now, all was well! He had advanced to the Cloud River Realm! From now on, he would enter the Cloud River Battlefield, not the Spirit Stream Battlefield!

This was a day worth celebrating and remembering. Many Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators finally showed long-lost smiles on their faces; they were just short of beating gongs and drums to send Lu Yiye off with fanfare.

But soon, another piece of news arrived, clouding the joyous mood of the Myriad Demon Ridge faction.

When Lu Yiye advanced to the Cloud River Realm, he received the Heavenly Secret's Blessing!

This was the attention and recognition of the Heavenly Secret. Since ancient times, those who received the Heavenly Secret's Blessing were extremely rare, but any blessed individual was destined for great achievements in the future.

The last person to receive the Heavenly Secret's Blessing was also from the Blood Sect. As a result, that individual led the Vast Sky Alliance and battered the Myriad Demon Ridge almost beyond recognition. If it weren't for his excessive stubbornness in the end, the Myriad Demon Ridge would probably be hiding in dark corners, barely clinging to existence right now.

Because of the Heavenly Secret's Blessing, the original good mood of many Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators was completely ruined. They secretly cursed Lu Yiye, finding him truly detestable. He had already advanced to the Cloud River Realm, yet he still wouldn't let them feel at ease; it was a typical case of wanting to annoy them one last time before leaving.

At the main Blood Sect headquarters, inside the Heavenly Secret Hall, Lu Ye sat cross-legged, silently sensing the changes within himself.

The 360 apertures within his body performed a major heavenly circulation, and spiritual power surged like a rushing river. With this major realm advancement, his strength had increased by no small margin!

Lu Ye estimated that his overall strength had surged by at least more than half at the moment he advanced to the Cloud River Realm!

This could be seen just from the speed of the spiritual power flowing within his body; the current rate was simply incomparable to before.

What puzzled him, however, was the Heavenly Secret's Blessing!

Under the Heavenly Secret's Blessing, his physique had been noticeably strengthened, as had his spirit. The effect was roughly equivalent to the sum of his first two baptisms in the Heavenly Secret Pool.

But with such a grand display, were the benefits he received truly so minimal?

Lu Ye felt something was amiss.

He didn't know what his senior brother's Heavenly Secret's Blessing looked like decades ago because there were no detailed records, and even Shui Yuan couldn't explain it clearly, as she hadn't been very old at the time.

But if the Heavenly Secret's Blessing offered only this much benefit, it wouldn't align with its legendary reputation.

He couldn't figure it out.

Perhaps there was something he hadn't discovered yet?

Lu Ye could only console himself this way.

Inspecting himself, confirming that the major heavenly circulation within him was running well with no irregularities, Lu Ye was about to stand up when his battlefield imprint suddenly stirred.

He quickly checked and found it was a reminder from the Heavenly Secret: it was time for his appointment with the Artifact Forging Grandmaster.

He quickly raised his hand and pressed it against the Heavenly Secret Pillar, his mind connecting to the Heavenly Secret Vault, and soon he appeared in the small room from before.