I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

The mental cultivation techniques and mantras of the Nine Deaths Nascent Soul Technique flowed rapidly through Qin Yuan's mind. Combined with the superb control he gained during his enlightenment state, he forcefully stabilized the core of his nascent soul and guided that wisp of earth core fire essence, like the finest carving knife, to slowly burn and temper the nascent soul's limbs, bones, meridians, and acupoints from the outside in.

Each burning brought excruciating pain, as if the soul were being torn apart. But at the same time, traces of grayish-black impurities, the less solidified parts of the nascent soul, were incinerated into nothingness. The nascent soul shrank in agony, but its color gradually changed from pale gold to a purer, more solidified dark gold.

Time passed amidst extreme pain and intense focus. Outside the room, shouts of battle seemed to be approaching the inn area. Qin Yuan remained unmoved, his entire mind immersed in this life-or-death ordeal.

I don't know how much time passed, maybe just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, or maybe longer.

The wisp of golden-red flame finally burned out and slowly dissipated.

Within the dantian, the pale golden nascent soul had vanished, replaced by a dark golden nascent soul that had shrunk by nearly a third, its entire body displaying a somber yet radiant inner light! Although small, this nascent soul was incredibly solid, as if sculpted from solid matter, and the spiritual pressure it emitted was several times stronger than before! At the center of the nascent soul's brow, a faint golden-red flame pattern flashed by.

The Nascent Soul tempering process was successful! Third stage of Nascent Soul transformation!

【叮！元婴强度提升300%，灵力总量提升280%，神识範围提升250%。修为突破：元婴中期→元婴巅峰。能量点+10000（境界突破奖励）。当前能量点：43760。】

Peak Nascent Soul stage!

A surge of power coursed through his body like a tidal wave, and spiritual energy flowed and roared through his meridians, powerful and refined, far surpassing anything he had experienced before.

His divine sense spread out like a tide, instantly covering the entire Blue Stone City. The fighting, flames, and chaos throughout the city were all within his "eyes".

He could even clearly "see" outside the inn a group of about fifteen or sixteen Crimson Flame Sect cultivators, led by a mid-Nascent Soul stage leader, surrounding it with murderous intent. The leader was none other than the bearded innkeeper of the Yellow Earth City Inn! At this moment, there was no trace of worldly fear on his face, only icy killing intent.

"They really are in cahoots." A cold glint flashed in Qin Yuan's eyes. In order to control this area, the Crimson Flame Sect had even used the innkeepers of the affiliated cities as spies. The depth of their scheme was chilling.

He stood up, his aura perfectly balanced and restrained; unless he deliberately released it, others would hardly be able to perceive its depth. He pushed open the door and went out.

Inside the inn's lobby, Chu Wuyue, Yun Qingyao, and the others had retreated to this spot, using the stairs, tables, and chairs to form a makeshift defensive line. Everyone was injured and their breathing was unstable, clearly indicating that they had gone through a fierce battle before retreating.

Tuoba Shan's left arm hung limply at his sides, Su Meier's face was pale, Yin Jiuyou's aura was deathly dim, Han Bing and Ye Guying had multiple cuts on their bodies, and the Purple Spirit Dagger was shorter than before. Everyone's faces showed exhaustion and determination.

Seeing Qin Yuan emerge, all eyes turned to him. Chu Wuyue said urgently, "Junior Brother Qin, we're surrounded by people from the Crimson Flame Sect! The leader seems to be the innkeeper from Yellow Earth City! They're shouting that we must surrender, or they'll kill us!"

Yun Qingyao sensed a profound and unfathomable aura emanating from Qin Yuan, a stark contrast to her previous presence. A flicker of surprise and a glimmer of hope flashed in her clear eyes: "Junior Brother Qin, you…"

Qin Yuan nodded slightly, indicating that they should rest for a moment, and walked straight towards the inn's main entrance.

Outside the door, the bearded innkeeper—whose true identity was likely the undercover leader of the Crimson Flame Sect—led fifteen elite disciples, completely surrounding the inn. Sensing Qin Yuan emerge, he sneered, "Qin Yuan? If you know what's good for you, come out and surrender! Elder Yan Lie and Elder Chi Rong have ordered that you traitors, if you kneel and beg for mercy, handing over all your spoils, you might be spared a decent corpse! Otherwise, once we storm in, we'll make you wish you were dead!"

Behind him, the disciples of the Crimson Flame Sect shouted in unison, their momentum fierce. In their view, one mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator and fifteen early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators on their side could easily defeat a few wounded and defeated soldiers who were at most mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

Inside the inn, Chu Wuyue and the others gripped their weapons tightly, their hearts pounding in their chests. They didn't know if Qin Yuan had succeeded in his breakthrough, but even if he had, facing such a formidable opponent...

Qin Yuan opened the door of the inn.

He walked out slowly and stood on the steps, his gray robe fluttering in the night wind, his gaze calmly sweeping over the group of Crimson Flame Sect cultivators before him.

The bearded shopkeeper felt a sudden jolt at the man's calm gaze, but quickly became enraged: "Playing tricks! Attack! No regard for life or death!"

Three disciples of the Crimson Flame Sect rushed forward, unleashing their swords and blades, flames rising!

Qin Yuan moved. He took only one step forward, his figure seemingly blurring for a moment.

"Pfft!" "Pfft!" "Pfft!"

Three muffled thuds sounded almost simultaneously. The three disciples who had lunged into the air suddenly froze, and then their chests exploded with blood holes the size of bowls. Blood mixed with fragments of internal organs gushed out, and their eyes still held a look of ferocity and disbelief as they fell straight backward.

silence.

The bearded shopkeeper's pupils constricted, and the sinister smile on his face froze instantly. He hadn't even seen how Qin Yuan had made his move! Those three disciples were genuine early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, yet they were instantly killed?!

"You...you broke through?!" he exclaimed in shock, his voice trembling. Only now did he vaguely sense the unfathomable aura emanating from Qin Yuan, an aura that sent shivers down his very soul.

Qin Yuan did not answer, but simply raised his hand and grabbed at the bearded shopkeeper in mid-air.

A pale golden spiritual hand appeared out of thin air, carrying a terrifying pressure that could imprison space, and grabbed down!

The bearded shopkeeper was terrified. He roared and unleashed his full Nascent Soul stage spiritual power. He formed hand seals, and a crimson shield burning with raging flames appeared above his head. At the same time, he retreated rapidly.

"clang--!!!"

A giant golden hand gripped the fiery shield, unleashing a deafening explosion. The high-quality crimson shield couldn't even withstand the force for a moment before shattering into pieces! The golden hand continued its momentum, its five fingers closing in.

"No--!!!"

The bearded shopkeeper only had time to let out a short scream before he was grabbed by a golden hand. The sound of bones shattering rang out like popping beans, and his whole body was crushed into a blurry mass of flesh and blood. His nascent soul didn't even have time to escape before it was annihilated.

The remaining disciples of the Crimson Flame Sect were so frightened that they lost all will to fight. They let out a shout and turned to flee.

Qin Yuan pointed his fingers like a sword and struck several times in mid-air at the fleeing figures.

"Hiss hiss hiss..."

Several condensed, almost tangible, pale golden sword energies pierced through the air, precisely striking the backs of each fugitive. The sword energies exploded upon entering the body, instantly extinguishing their life force. In the blink of an eye, a field of corpses lay scattered outside the inn, not a single survivor remaining.