"Even a million of my lives cannot compare to that Outer Court disciple's…?" Elder Gu stared at Elder Xuan with a dazed look on his face, his gaze filled with disbelief.

Edler Xuan shook his head and said, "You're extremely lucky that I was the one who came here since the Sect Master wanted to personally come here after hearing what you'd done. Fortunately for you, he's currently busy with our guests. If you understand what I'm saying, I recommend you leave this sect before the guests leave and the Sect Master comes to find you."

Elder Gu immediately began sweating again. The Sect Master wanted to see him? Because he'd offended a mere Outer Court disciple? Heavens! He better get as far away from the Dragon Essence Temple or else the Sect Master might skin him alive!

"If you don't have anything else to say, hand over your disciple identification badge." Elder Xuan said as he showed his palms to Elder Gu.

After a deep sigh, Elder Gu handed over his disciple identification badge.

"You have three days to pack everything and leave the sect's premises." Elder Xuan said to him before turning around and walking away, returning to the Long Yijun's side.

As for Elder Gu, since he didn't have much to pack, he left the Dragon Essence Temple without speaking to anyone, as he was too embarrassed by his own situation to say anything.

"Sect Master, everything has been dealt with."

After returning to Long Yijun's side, Elder Xuan showed him Elder Gu's disciple identification badge.

"Hmph! You're too kind, Elder Xuan. If it was me, I'd given him a good beating before I kicked him out!" Long Yijun coldly sneered before focusing on the tower again.

Meanwhile, inside his own room, Yuan retrieved the monster cores and laid them on the table.

After counting them, he had one 8th and 6th level Spirit Warrior monster core, four 3rd level, four 4th level, and eight 1st level Spirit Warrior monster cores.

'18 monster cores, huh. I wonder if this will be enough for me to breakthrough to the Spirit Master realm…' Yuan thought to himself.

He needed approximately 12 billion Qi Experience in order to breakthrough to Spirit Master, but he wasn't sure if these monster cores would be enough.

"Young Master, what do you plan on doing with so many monster cores? If you're trying to reach the Spirit Master realm, I don't think you'll be able to with that little amount of monster cores, and it'll take you months to absorb them." Feng Yuxiang said to him, completely unaware of Yuan's heaven-defying physique.

"You think so too, Feng Feng? If only I had a Spirit Master monster core," he sighed.

"I have a Spirit Grandmaster monster core, but that's too much for you to handle, Young Master. Furthermore, it's not an ordinary monster core, so it'll be even more difficult to absorb. If you're not careful with it, the monster core could even attack you as you absorb it, destroying your cultivation base."

"Destroy my cultivation…?" Yuan could feel his back beginning to sweat after hearing Feng Yuxiang's words. He should be more careful with consuming monster cores in the future.

"What about these, Feng Feng? Will these monster cores give me any issues?" Yuan asked her a moment later.

"Hmm… I don't think they will…" Feng Yuxiang said after examining the monster cores with her spiritual sense.

"Okay, then I will absorb them," Yuan said in a casual manner.

"Wait a second, Young Master. You're going to absorb them now? Even if you are at the peak of the Spirit Warrior realm, it'll take you at least a week to absorb the eighth level Spirit Warrior monster core, and it won't even be worth the time since you'll only get a very small fraction of its spiritual energy." Feng Yuxiang said to him.

After all, most people absorb monster cores that are above their own level.

"It's okay, Feng Feng. It won't take me a week, and even if it doesn't help me breakthrough, it'll definitely bring me closer to Spirit Master."

After saying those words, Yuan picked up the low-level monster cores first and began tossing them into his mouth one by one like candies.

[Heaven Refining Physique activated]

[38,654,154 Qi has been refined from the Ruby Cavern Toad's monster core]

[31,544,851 Qi has been refined from the Dark Deer's monster core]

[32,441,778 Qi has been refined…]

[70,828,182 Qi has been refined…]

[155,991,394 Qi has been refined…]

When Feng Yuxiang saw this, she nearly lost her mind from shock, and she quickly left his body and appeared in the room.

"W-What are you doing, Young Master?! You can't eat monster cores! Hurry and spit it out!" Feng Yuxiang spoke in a panicked voice, even sticking her fingers into Yuan's mouth to try and search for the monster cores, almost like a mother trying to dig out something her baby wasn't supposed to put into their mouth, but alas, the monster cores had already melted the moment it touched his tongue.

"Calm down, phoenix…"

Xiao Hua also came out of her necklace and pulled Feng Yuxiang away from Yuan.

"B-But the Young Master swallowed some monster cores! The last time someone did that, he exploded into a bloody mess!" Feng Yuxiang said, as she could still remember that one time thousands of years ago when she'd witnessed someone swallowing monster cores and the consequences of such actions.

"Brother Yuan is okay… He has a special physique that allows him to consume monster cores without any problems… See? He's still fine." Xiao Hua pointed to Yuan, who was startled by Feng Yuxiang's exaggerated reaction.

"R-Really?" Feng Yuxiang wiped the tears that had gathered in the corner of her eyes after realizing that Yuan hadn't exploded into a bloody mess yet.

"Yes… I am perfectly fine." Yuan confirmed.

Feng Yuxiang released a long and deep sigh afterward, feeling like she'd just lost a few hundred years of her lifespan from shock just now.

Xiao Hua merely shook her head, as she knew very well what Feng Yuxiang felt since she had experienced the same shocking experience firsthand.