[Ding, Master, your Pure Yang Physique is materializing,] the system's voice announced.
Before the voice had even faded, a vast amount of spiritual energy suddenly surged through Li Xun's limbs and bones, forcefully transforming every inch of his flesh, bones, and internal organs.
The energy washed through him repeatedly, refining his entire being from the inside out.
Li Xun felt as if he had fallen into an infernal hell, enduring indescribable pain every moment.
Even with his incredibly strong will, he couldn’t help but groan in pain, his face contorting.
He sat cross-legged on the ground, enduring everything without making too much noise.
During this time, his body underwent visible transformations.
His skin became more flawless, almost crystalline, exuding powerful life energy that seeped out of his house and into the surroundings.
His heartbeat grew louder, echoing in the room like a war drum, resonating for tens of meters around.
Fortunately, there were few outer sect disciples nearby, so no one noticed the disturbance.
As Li Xun underwent his transformation, seven or eight miles away from his location, in another hut within the Profound Sun Sect's outer sect, a sudden burst of light and a surge of Qi Condensation Realm energy erupted.
The energy came and went quickly, soon disappearing.
About a quarter of an hour later, the door to the room opened with a creak. Lu Changhe, clad in blue robes, emerged.
Tall and imposing, he exuded the unique aura of the Qi Condensation Realm, making it hard to ignore him.
"I’ve reached the Qi Condensation Realm!" Lu Changhe looked at his hands in disbelief, unable to hide his joy.
Before today, he had never imagined reaching the Qi Condensation Realm so soon. But today changed everything.
Achieving the Qi Condensation Realm meant he could become an inner sect disciple of the Profound Sun Sect.
As an inner sect disciple, he no longer had to worry about being sent down the mountain.
Staying on the mountain gave him a chance to pursue the path to immortality.
‘All of this is thanks to Senior Brother Li Xun. I must inform him of this news and express my gratitude. Without the Spirit Yuan Pill he gave me, I wouldn’t have achieved this today,’ Lu Changhe thought excitedly, looking in the direction of Li Xun's residence.
He lifted his foot to head there but was distracted by a group of outer sect disciples walking nearby.
"Did you hear? Senior Brother Li Xun has become a Qi Condensation Realm expert today! I bet by tomorrow he’ll no longer be an outer sect disciple but a true inner sect disciple!" One of the disciples, dressed in outer sect attire, spoke in a low, mysterious tone.
The others around him looked incredulous. "Senior Brother Li Xun really broke through?"
"Would I lie to you? Many people saw it with their own eyes!"
As Lu Changhe listened, he couldn’t help but smile.
This news wasn’t a secret to him; he had known since this afternoon.
However, what the disciple said next made his smile fade.
"You haven’t seen it, but at the foot of Zichen Peak, Senior Brother Li Xun fought eight opponents effortlessly. To protect a junior brother named Ye Han, he injured all eight with a single strike, cutting off one hand from each! And guess who was among them? The notorious Bai Shaowei! If it weren’t for Senior Brother Li Xun’s mercy, Bai Shaowei would probably be dead now!" The disciple gesticulated animatedly as he spoke, making it easy for the listeners to imagine the scene.
"Bai Shaowei isn’t just anybody. He has an inner sect disciple backing him. Wasn’t it reckless of Senior Brother Li Xun to cut off his hand? What if Bai Shaowei seeks revenge?" someone said worriedly.
"He wouldn’t dare!" The earlier disciple retorted loudly. "Senior Brother Li Xun is about to become an inner sect disciple. Would Bai Shaowei dare to retaliate? He’d have to have a death wish."
"But... Bai Shaowei’s backer is a veteran inner sect disciple. Even though Senior Brother Li Xun is talented, he just broke through to the Qi Condensation Realm. If Bai Shaowei informs his backer, Senior Brother Li Xun might..."
He trailed off, but everyone understood what he meant.
Even if Bai Shaowei’s backer couldn’t deal with Li Xun directly, he could still make life difficult for him.
"Bai Shaowei, huh?" Not far away, Lu Changhe’s expression grew cold.
He knew Bai Shaowei, who had joined the Profound Sun Sect with him four years ago.
Bai Shaowei wasn’t particularly talented and was even less so than Lu Changhe.
His strength came from robbing other outer sect disciples of their spirit stones and currying favor with inner sect members.
Over the years, he had grown more unscrupulous.
‘If I remember correctly, Bai Shaowei is vengeful and ruthless... What these people are saying isn’t entirely unfounded,’ Lu Changhe thought, his eyes narrowing.
He turned away from Li Xun’s residence and stepped into the darkness.
‘Bai Shaowei, provoking Senior Brother Li Xun will be the biggest mistake of your life!’