Upon witnessing the flickering Divine Light in the tranquil chamber, Yu Ci set down his books and laughed silently to himself.

The voices belonged to the Tu Brothers, two individuals who had been at odds with him ever since he entered the Sect's Mountain Gate. However, despite their constant antagonism, they had not committed any egregious acts. He had found it odd when they suddenly disappeared, only to discover upon his arrival that they too had been granted the opportunity to enter the Law Sky Secret Realm, where they were currently engrossed in rigorous cultivation.

Yu Ci's entrance, however, had hit a raw nerve. They were like two ferocious dogs, baring their teeth and snarling at the intruder in their territory.

Let's take a moment to discuss the internal structure of the Law Sky Secret Realm: as its name suggests, this "realm" covers a vast area. The realm is divided into two levels, the upper level being where Yu Ci was engaged in his secluded cultivation. It spanned approximately two miles in radius, and he was not alone. Ten others occupied "holes" or "eyes" on the Spiritual Veins, which is the Stone Chamber where Yu Ci was currently situated.

In such an environment, the Tu Brothers found it hard to keep their distance, much less swallow their pride, didn't they?

Yu Ci, well-versed in their mindset, adjusted his posture, crossed his legs, and continued to smile, asking, "What would the esteemed brothers like to compete in this time?"

"Given the limited space in the secret realm, it's inconvenient to move freely. Naturally, we should compare our divine travel techniques."

The fact that the Tu Brothers could utter the same words simultaneously was a testament to their shared understanding. They were no fools, having achieved Yin Spirit out of the body in their late twenties, and they acknowledged Yu Ci's abilities.

From the day Yu Ci entered the Sect's Mountain Gate, they had suffered a setback and recognized that Yu Ci was not to be trifled with. This time, Yu Ci's entry into the Law Sky Secret Realm had not only deeply provoked the Tu Brothers but also made them more clear-headed.

"What virtues and abilities does this guy have..." was the complaint the Tu brothers muttered behind his back. However, they would never take their own words seriously, lest they deceive themselves.

Being able to enter the Law Sky Secret Realm was an affirmation of Yu Ci's abilities.

It was undeniable that secluded cultivation in an environment like the Law Sky Secret Realm would greatly enhance one's efficiency. However, with the Empirical Department flourishing in recent years and its disciples making up 40% of the total Sect's Mountain Gate disciples, competition was fierce. Entry either required waiting in line according to the Sect's rotation schedule or demonstrating exceptional talent during the biannual internal meetings, where at least two Golden Elixir cultivators would nominate individuals for the elders' review and final decision.

The former ensured everyone had a chance, but the waiting time could be as long as ten to eight years. The latter was more flexible, but catching the eye of the senior brothers and elders was a challenge. The Tu Brothers were fortunate, having closely followed Senior Brother Zhou Yu and been nominated three times for cultivation, with two successful entries, making them regulars in this place.

Compared to Yu Ci, who had only joined the Sect's Mountain Gate less than a month ago and was still an Outer Disciple, their treatment was nothing to write home about.

Not to mention personal relationships, the interpersonal relations within the Empirical Department were relatively indifferent compared to the other three departments. Most of the time, power spoke louder than words. Even the lively and enthusiastic individuals like Li You, or the bold and generous ones like Hong Qianqiu, had their own measurements in their hearts. If they really didn't like you, they probably wouldn't even bother to put on a polite face.

The Tu Brothers understood this principle well. After several encounters with Yu Ci over the past month, they gradually realized that his wisdom and cultivation level were top-notch. He was indeed a person capable of making significant contributions to the Sect. If they were to face him head-on, they might not be his match. But isn't there a saying in this world about "playing to your strengths and avoiding your weaknesses"?

Tu Rifei, the second brother, proposed, "Last time we competed in astral projection speed. You're not specialized in that, so losing isn't a big deal. This time, let's try Yin Spirit Manipulation. This is a compulsory course for cultivators; you can't say you haven't practiced it."

Since it was only a voice transmission, Tu Rifei didn't manifest his Yin Spirit in the room. However, Yu Ci could still hear the excitement in his voice. Clearly, the experience of suppressing Yu Ci in some aspect was exhilarating for the two brothers.

Yu Ci also grinned, not hesitating at all, "Sure, let's compete in that."

The Law Sky Secret Realm was a place for secluded cultivation, but there were no restrictions on the comings and goings of the cultivators within. If you wished, you could take a break when you were tired of cultivating. Of course, this would count towards your time limit.

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To waste precious cultivation time on trivial matters would not only avoid divine punishment, but also invite ridicule from the cultivators outside who were eagerly watching!

However, the competition between Yu Ci and the Tu Brothers could hardly be described as "trivial". More accurately, it was a friendly competition between fellow disciples, one of the cultivation methods most valued by the Empirical Department.

When Yu Ci's Yin Spirit flew out of the Law Sky Secret Realm, the Tu Brothers' Yin Spirit Divine Light was already flickering on the horizon, seemingly urging him to catch up. Yu Ci chuckled softly in his heart, and his Yin Spirit transformed into a streak of light, chasing after them.

One must acknowledge the Tu Brothers' accomplishments in Yin Spirit cultivation. The two brothers, gifted and in sync with each other, had been practicing the "Clear Void Invisible Divine Travel Method" under the Sect's arrangement since they joined the Sect's Mountain Gate. They specialized in Yin Spirit cultivation, using the method of Nourishing the Physical Body with Yin Spirit.

Cultivators of such a kind were rarely seen at the Sect's Mountain Gate, yet they possessed a unique charm. If they were to face Yu Ci directly, they would be as insignificant as a dish of vegetables. However, if they were to confront him from a distance of ten or a hundred miles, or even further, the outcome would remain uncertain. As for engaging in a contest with Yu Ci with their Yin Spirits out of their bodies...

"Your Yin Spirit Cultivation Level is not up to par!"

Tu Rilun, the eldest of the Tu Brothers, brimmed with confidence and vigor. He felt that since his cultivation began, he had never been so triumphant. The contest of Yin Spirit Manipulation was without suspense: when Tu Rilun controlled his Flying Sword, he cut a ten-meter-wide waterfall with a single stroke; when Tu Rifei wielded his Dust Whisk, the long silk threads shattered, piercing through nearly a thousand leaves in one fell swoop. Yu Ci had no choice but to admit defeat.

He was accustomed to using a sword. Although he had some experience with Yin Spirit Manipulation, most of it was used on the Divine Bronze Mirror. Now, the only thing he had at hand was a Tao Scripture Master Three Treasure Seal, which was only refined to the fourth level and was not yet fully formed. His manipulation skills were far inferior. If he didn't admit defeat, he would only embarrass himself.

Moreover, the Tu Brothers had not yet revealed their trump card. Yu Ci was very interested in this.

"Yin Spirit Manipulation is divided into three categories: soul attachment, intention guidance, and situational response. What we demonstrated is merely the first category, soul attachment, which involves the Yin Spirit leaving the body and attaching to a Magical Instrument. It's simple to control, powerful, but not very practical in actual combat. After all, there are too many methods in this world that can directly damage the Divine Soul. Without the protection of the physical body, the Yin Spirit is extremely fragile."

Everyone has the impulse to teach others. Tu Rilun became more and more cheerful as he spoke, and didn't mind explaining more to Yu Ci: "The so-called 'intention guidance' refers to the Divine Soul staying in the body while the mind goes out. The mind acts as the hand of the Divine Soul, controlling the Magical Instrument. In essence, it is the skill of 'Manipulation of Divine Consciousness'. At first, this is difficult, perhaps not even as far as throwing it out by hand, but as one's skill deepens, a mile, ten miles, a hundred miles, are no problem! Both Tu Xiaofei and I can now control instruments from a hundred miles away. As for Junior Brother Yu, you need to practice more...

"As for 'situational response', it's too profound to explain accurately. Everyone understands it differently. I think it's like the instantaneous collision of 'me' and the 'target', like intuition, Divine Light... Ah, it's still hard to explain. Let me demonstrate it for you."

Tu Rilun was a man of his word. With a slight focus, he summoned his Yin Spirit to calmness. The Flying Sword, a mere four inches long and as wide as a finger, hovered silently in the void before him.

"I'll use your physical body as a target, of course, without causing you any harm. I'll just stick this sword on the door of your room... Is that alright?"

Sensing that Tu Rilun was cautious in his actions, Yu Ci smiled and made a "please" gesture, showing great elegance.

Tu Rilun nodded, then closed his eyes to focus. Tu Rifei explained on behalf of his elder brother, "Big brother is analyzing your aura, locking onto your location through a subtle thread of connection. No matter the distance, he can use this aura to launch a powerful strike. It seems similar to the method of 'leading the mind,' but it's actually quite different. The explosive power is much stronger. The legendary technique of controlling a sword to behead someone from a thousand miles away is exactly this... Uh, don't worry, your physical body will definitely not be harmed."

Yu Ci nodded silently, not speaking, but was attentively sensing the changes in Tu Rilun's Yin Spirit's aura. At this moment, he had secretly activated his Illuminating Soul Dharma Eye. Although it was his first time using it in his Yin Spirit state, the effect was quite good.

Hadn't he been entangled with the two brothers these past few days just to learn their techniques of manipulating the Yin Spirit?

Yu Ci was carefully distinguishing the myriad connections within the "Soul Source" at the level of the Divine Soul. He heard a humming sound, and the Flying Sword in front of Tu Rilun had disappeared without a trace.

At the same time, his "Soul Source" burst forth with a dazzling array of colors, chaotic yet orderly, mysterious and moving.

"Good!" Yu Ci couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, not worrying about the safety of his physical body at all.

Tu Rilun suddenly shouted, startling Tu Rifei before Yu Ci could react. The two brothers understood that they were far from proficient in this method of controlling objects "on the fly." They were only striving to save face in front of Yu Ci. If something went wrong...

The chaotic thoughts were abruptly cut off. The Tu Brothers shared a mutual understanding; Tu Rifei was just temporarily unable to keep up with the explosive power of the "on the fly" technique. Once they understood the situation, both brothers let out a sigh of relief. However, when their Yin Spirits turned around, they both looked a bit awkward:

"Um, someone's looking for... Junior Brother Yu, you should go back quickly." This was what Tu Rifei said.

At this moment, Tu Rilun coughed dryly and said, "It's Senior Brother Zhang Yan, waiting outside your room."

He paused, intending not to say more, but couldn't suppress his worries, looking at Yu Ci earnestly: "When you see him, could you tell Senior Brother Zhang... that sword... I mean, the Flying Sword just now, could you return it to me?"