Gu Linyue's body inexplicably began to shrink again.
From the size of a five or six-year-old child, she had now regressed to the size of a three-year-old.
If this continued, Gu Linyue would likely soon become an infant.
She had to be treated immediately.
Mu Qingqing, within the consciousness space, transmitted her voice to Xin Ci: "The black energy within her body is the key to her injuries. Try to refine it using the Eternal Dao Scripture."
Following Mu Qingqing's reminder, Xin Ci immediately sat down cross-legged, placed his hand on Gu Linyue's back, and circulated the Eternal Dao Scripture to purge the strange black energy from her body.
Upon examining Gu Linyue's internal condition, Xin Ci frowned.
He discovered that the black energy resembled countless tiny black ants crawling throughout Gu Linyue's body, bit by bit devouring her true essence.
However, when the true essence generated by his circulation of the Eternal Dao Scripture flowed into Gu Linyue's body, these black energies seemed to recoil as if in fear.
Seeing this, Xin Ci rejoiced internally.
It appeared the Eternal Dao Scripture could indeed refine this black energy, and perhaps Palace Master Gu's injuries could be healed.
Thus, Xin Ci immediately used his true essence to force the strange black energy, which was dispersed throughout Gu Linyue's limbs and bones, into a single mass. Once they were gathered together, he used the Eternal Dao Scripture to refine them all at once.
After a full day, Xin Ci finally succeeded in refining the black energy within Gu Linyue's body.
His true essence realm also consequently advanced to Five-star Heavenly Venerate. However, due to the rapid increase in his cultivation recently, his true essence realm felt somewhat unstable. He would likely need to spend a considerable amount of time in the Five-star Heavenly Venerate realm to stabilize it.
Without the encroachment of the black energy, Gu Linyue's pale complexion gradually regained its color.
Her body visibly grew larger before Xin Ci's eyes.
Gu Linyue, who had been in the form of a little loli, transformed into a stunningly beautiful mature woman!
Fortunately, Gu Linyue's robes were quite loose, preventing them from being stretched to the point of tearing.
However, her slender, jade-like, alluring legs were now completely exposed to the air.
Was this the true appearance of the Palace Master of the Asura Hall?
At this moment, Gu Linyue regained consciousness. She opened her eyes and looked at her restored body, a hint of surprise on her face.
"The Netherworld Poison within my body is gone!" Gu Linyue was utterly shocked.
Her gaze turned suspiciously towards Xin Ci, and she asked with astonishment, "Did you cleanse the Netherworld Poison from my body?"
"Yes, Palace Master," Xin Ci replied truthfully.
Gu Linyue's face was filled with disbelief as she stared at the disciple before her. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
She knew that even she, with her Great Emperor realm cultivation, could not resolve the Netherworld Poison within her. Yet, this new disciple, who had only recently joined the Asura Hall, had managed to resolve the Netherworld Poison that had plagued her for over twenty years, solely with the power of a Heavenly Venerate.
Just as she was pondering this, a trace of cultivation aura left within her body caused her to tremble with shock.
"Mu Ci, have you been cultivating the Eternal Dao Scripture!" Gu Linyue fixed her gaze intently on the figure before her.
Xin Ci's heart leaped at her words.
The Palace Master of the Asura Hall had actually recognized the cultivation technique he was practicing.
Elder Han and Mu Qingqing had both warned him that the secret of his cultivation of the Eternal Dao Scripture must never be revealed to anyone else.
Now that the Palace Master of the Asura Hall knew his secret, Xin Ci couldn't help but become wary.
Gu Linyue seemed to sense Xin Ci's inner thoughts. She calmed herself and said, "Rest assured, as a disciple of my Asura Hall, this Palace Master will naturally not divulge the secret of your cultivation of the Eternal Dao Scripture."
Then, Gu Linyue floated up from the ground and slowly settled onto the throne in the grand hall.
Her expression was serene, and her voice had also become much calmer. She continued, "The Eternal Dao Scripture was always considered a legend. I never expected that today, someone actually cultivating this technique would appear before me, and moreover, be a disciple of my Asura Hall."
Since his secret had been discovered, Xin Ci no longer concealed it. He respectfully said to Gu Linyue, "Palace Master, I am indeed cultivating the Eternal Dao Scripture, and this is one of the reasons I was able to refine the Netherworld Poison."
Gu Linyue listened without showing any surprise.
As the sole divine-grade cultivation technique on the Eternal Continent, the Eternal Dao Scripture, once mastered, could refine anything in the world. Netherworld Poison was naturally no exception.
"I surmise that you obtained your Eternal Dao Scripture from Han Jue, the prodigious disciple of the Northern Cold Holy Land. And that fellow Han Jue is currently hiding within the crystal pendant you wear around your neck."
Xin Ci was slightly taken aback. So, Gu Linyue had discovered Elder Han's presence long ago.
However, this was understandable. Elder Han was once the foremost prodigy of the Northern Cold Holy Land, and the five great holy lands had certainly heard of his reputation.
Especially after he obtained the Eternal Dao Scripture, the major holy lands coveted this divine-grade technique and had sent powerful experts to hunt him down several times.
If the five great holy lands were not currently investigating his whereabouts, Elder Han would not have been temporarily hiding within the crystal space.
Now that Gu Linyue had discovered his presence, Elder Han no longer hid and materialized from the crystal space.
"Han Jue, disciple of the Northern Cold Holy Land's Twilight Snow Peak, pays his respects to Senior Gu," Elder Han said, bowing.
Although Elder Han was around two hundred years old, in the presence of Gu Linyue, the Palace Master of the Asura Hall whose age was unknown, he was still merely a young junior.
"No need for formalities."
Gu Linyue, seated on the throne, waved her hand indifferently.
Gu Linyue paid little attention to Han Jue. What concerned her more now was Xin Ci's identity.
In her opinion, for Han Jue to risk his life to obtain the Eternal Dao Scripture and then bestow it upon this young man, he must possess some extraordinary qualities.
She then turned her gaze towards Xin Ci and continued, "You two joining the Slaughtering Heart Holy Court must have other motives. Moreover, I am very curious about your true appearance, Mu Ci."
Although Xin Ci was currently disguised as a woman, Gu Linyue had vaguely sensed something amiss about him when she first met him.
Especially his words and actions, which did not match his current appearance, and were more akin to a man's.
Therefore, Gu Linyue concluded that Xin Ci must have disguised his appearance.
Upon hearing this, Xin Ci fell silent for a moment. He conversed with Mu Qingqing in his mind, instructing her to restore his body to its original form.
Looking at Xin Ci, who had reverted to his true appearance, Gu Linyue couldn't help but pause for a moment.
In her estimation, Xin Ci's disguise technique was exceptionally skillful, so much so that even she, a Great Emperor, could not see through it.
If not for Gu Linyue noticing inconsistencies in Xin Ci's words and actions, she would not have harbored such suspicions.
"So that's how it is. No wonder you joined the Slaughtering Heart Holy Court. As a traitor of the Xin family, currently being hunted by the four ancient clans, you certainly possess considerable courage."
Gu Linyue narrowed her eyes, a wicked smile curling at the corner of her lips.