I Just Wanted To Live but I Somehow Became Better Than the Protagonist

Tenth Layer

While comprehending the techniques and cultivating, after thirteen days, Ye Yong reached the peak of the ninth layer. Although it took three more days than simply consuming pills, at least the process of understanding the techniques wasn’t as dull as taking pills; it served to alleviate his emotions. Moreover, through personal comprehension, he gained a deeper understanding of those techniques, feeling that he could unleash even greater power.

With the elixirs and spirit liquids prepared, Ye Yong activated the formation and officially broke through to the tenth layer of Foundation Establishment.

Like the calm before a storm, several top-grade elixirs combined with high-quality spirit liquids were consumed. The spiritual energy within him stirred not a ripple, as he operated his heart method, guiding the spiritual energy to circulate around his body. Minutes later, like a long-accumulated flood suddenly bursting forth, Ye Yong could distinctly feel the spiritual energy within him raging violently, a tumultuous wave crashing and surging.

The surroundings brightened, and Ye Yong opened his eyes. The anticipated phenomena appeared, numerous and varied, encompassing all things. Compared to the first time, the clarity of this phenomenon had significantly improved. Before Ye Yong, a blue dragon emerged, part of the gathered spiritual energy transforming into mist. It was hidden deep within the mist, its eyes like black holes, seemingly locking gazes with Ye Yong.

Suddenly, a soul-stirring cry resonated from above. Ye Yong looked up to see a smaller version of a phoenix-like phenomenon spiraling around the ceiling, and those other bird-like phenomena bowed in submission.

This phenomenon could even produce sound?

It’s impossible to say that Ye Yong was not surprised; the ability to affect a person’s hearing implies that it can also influence other senses—in other words, it is a form of mental attack.

Using visions as a means of mental assault is not uncommon. Nascent Soul cultivators begin to focus on the cultivation of their souls, and the manifestations created by the power of the soul belong to these visions. However, compared to natural visions, artificial ones are certainly lacking.

Ye Yong had not cultivated his soul, so it was impossible for him to manifest the power of the soul. The appearance of so many visions was quite abnormal. Besides the vague beast shadows, there were also shapes resembling weapons and plants.

“It must be caused by the Return to Origin Chaotic Divine Body… Chaos is nothingness, and from nothingness comes existence.”

The lower realm where Ye Yong currently resided had once been incredibly glorious during the peak of spiritual energy. Divine weapons, celestial beasts, and immortal plants were not uncommon. The world would remember their existence and their might. Ye Yong felt that the only explanation was that as the divine body grew stronger, the derivation of chaotic power manifested their might through the remnants of visions, a point mentioned in the novel’s setting.

Ye Yong attempted to communicate with the visions, but they offered no response. According to the setting, their might should carry some awareness of their original forms, but it seemed that these visions were entirely passive effects, lacking any substantial impact. They were merely suitable for showboating and attracting attention; of course, it was also possible that the strength of the chaotic power was still insufficient, rendering them superficial.

Before long, the surrounding light and shadows gradually dissipated, as if they had never appeared. Ye Yong’s cultivation level smoothly reached the tenth layer of the Crystal Stage.

The stone in his dantian—no, it should be called a crystal—was now incredibly bright, completely devoid of any trace of impurities.

“I intended to cultivate a divine body in advance to surpass the protagonist at the starting line, but instead, I ended up creating a situation outside the novel’s setting…” Ye Yong was not worried about the plot within the script, but he felt quite anxious about the unforeseen circumstances.

But now that it had come to this, there was no way to change it; he could only take it one step at a time.

With the goal of reaching the tenth layer of the Crystal Stage achieved, Ye Yong did not wish to enter seclusion for a while. He still needed to confirm whether the Might Concealment Spirit Array was effective, and the method of confirmation was very simple: just go to the courtyard and see if anyone was gathered.

It was now afternoon, and the spring sun was warm. Xia Shijia was lying on a stone basking in the sun, while Xia Shiqi was, as usual, squatting by the pond, engrossed in watching the fish, completely unaware of Ye Yong’s presence.

Aside from the two wolves, he did not see any senior sisters or junior sisters, which was good. This meant that the earlier breakthrough had not caused any commotion, and spending tens of thousands of reversal points to set up the array was worth it.

“Xia Shijia.” Since he did not plan to enter seclusion, Ye Yong had time to train his wolf pets, with the highest priority being the mother, Xia Shijia.

Although he hadn’t called her name, Xia Shiqi was the first to run over, frantically waving in front of Ye Yong, as if reminding him not to forget her when something good happened.

“Go away, with your IQ, you probably won’t understand the heart method until you reach the late Golden Core stage.”

While she couldn’t comprehend normal conversation, she immediately understood the scolding, and Xia Shiqi turned her head, casting a sidelong glance at Ye Yong.

Xia Shijia jumped down from the stone, lowered her head, and approached Ye Yong. After squatting on the ground, she looked up at him, waiting for his instructions, her movements very reverent.

“Whether human or beast, wanting to become stronger cannot be separated from the heart method.” Ye Yong took out a transmission jade slip; as long as he placed it on his head and infused it with spiritual power, the knowledge within would be directly transmitted to his sea of consciousness.

The musical painting technique Ye Yong had learned from the system operated on a similar principle, but it was much more advanced, as the transmission jade slip could only impart a segment of knowledge and could not allow the user to immediately grasp it. The user would need to slowly digest it and start learning from the beginning.

—

The system not only provided Ye Yong with the corresponding knowledge but also allowed him to integrate and apply it freely. It was akin to memorizing a formula; knowing it was one thing, but being able to substitute it into a problem to find the answer was another.

Xia Shijia looked at the jade slip in Ye Yong’s hand, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.

“This heart method is called ‘Thunder Fury Nine Heavens,’ a level of celestial beast, compatible with the wolf clan. I’ve previously checked, and you have a good affinity with lightning, so…” Ye Yong placed the jade slip on Xia Shijia’s head, and in an instant, the slip emitted a burst of light, as if something was flowing into her mind.

Xia Shijia’s eyes gradually transformed from confusion to clarity, seeming to become more human-like. She prostrated herself before Ye Yong, as if offering some form of gratitude.

Xia Shiqi immediately leaned in, persistently nudging her head against the now ineffective jade slip. She was the type who wanted what others had, and even what others didn’t have.

“Go away, go away. We’ll talk when you break through to the Golden Core stage,” Ye Yong waved his hand impatiently.

Regarding the mother and daughter, Ye Yong had different thoughts. He intended for Xia Shijia to pursue the path of a lightning-type celestial beast, while Xia Shiqi would be more suited as a fire-type demon beast.

Celestial beasts test one’s temperament and progress slowly, while demon beasts have no such requirements and advance more quickly.

For a fool like Xia Shiqi, Ye Yong didn’t believe she could cultivate into a celestial beast; a demon beast was more fitting.

Being a demon isn’t entirely a bad thing. Take Ye Qingwu, for instance; she is reasonable and polite, and it all depends on the education one receives. Although Xia Shiqi could be a bit mischievous, bullying Wu Xue and Hua Ningyan, she would protect them in critical moments. Ye Yong was merely unsure of her intelligence, but he had confidence in her character.

Noticing Ye Yong’s somewhat complex gaze, Xia Shiqi furrowed her brows, feeling inexplicably as if she had been praised yet also belittled.

(How should I put this? I suddenly feel quite lost. Based on recent comments, it seems like whatever I write feels off. If I don’t write about Long Tian, some say Ye Yong seizes opportunities too easily, that the Heavenly Dao doesn’t compensate the child of the Heavenly Dao, and then Long Tian suddenly catches up, which seems unreasonable. If I write about Long Tian, some think it’s filler and that I shouldn’t write about him. Then, when I push the plot forward, skipping interactions with the female lead, some hope to see those interactions, feeling that skipping them would make it a typical cultivation novel. But if I write about the process of interacting with the female lead, I get accused of filler… It feels like, no matter what, it’s filler? Although I’ve said I have my own rhythm, the readers’ opinions greatly influence me, after all, I don’t know what the readers want to see. So, let’s gather here, leave a message, and let me know what content you really want to see, so I can look into it.)