Chapter Seven: Filthy Impurities

Waking up with a start, Ye Feifan found the sunlight somewhat blinding. As he cleared his head, he realized the light was streaming through a hole in the roof of the dilapidated temple, and he happened to be lying directly beneath it.

His wounds had healed significantly; the "Dream Breath" from the Dream Realm was remarkably effective for his recovery. The origin of his system remained a profound mystery, and he found himself constantly pondering which novel's protagonist template he had been thrust into.

He opened the system interface and began scanning for familiar items, hoping to deduce which world he occupied.

"Disguise Mask: A prop used by a big shot (a special mystery item for beginners). Currently costs only 100 points. It can conceal the user’s aura and appearance, allowing them to blend into a crowd without appearing out of place."

"This is the one!" Ye Feifan selected the mask. Having found nothing familiar after searching for quite some time, the mask’s appearance prompted him to decide to head into the city to scout out the situation regarding the young master of the Zhang family and his father.

Once the purchase was made, a black mask appeared in his hand.

Ye Feifan was slightly taken aback and speechless as he looked at the mask, but his attention was caught by a logo resembling an umbrella, which, upon closer inspection, was a combination of the letters "D" and "J."

He had no idea what it signified, but the quality of the mask was impressive. After putting it on, he was surprised to find that his aura seemed to vanish, and the mask itself became invisible.

Locating a water-filled bowl in the temple, Ye Feifan saw the reflection of a strange face, yet strangely, it felt familiar.

"The Sect Leader?"

"System, what is going on?"

"The host has purchased the exclusive DJ fan mask, which allows the host to assume the appearance of familiar DJs. Each time, you may choose a different look. Removing the mask clears the disguise, and putting it back on allows you to cycle through different expressions."

"You mean it can let me disguise myself as brothers like Hard Brother and Ji Brother?"

"Yes!"

Receiving a definitive answer, a smile spread across Ye Feifan's face—this was a genuine "face-swapping" artifact.

After tidying up, Ye Feifan slipped out of the temple. He mashed up a handful of green grass, mixed it with water, and dyed the white clothes he had bought earlier green. After drying them with his internal energy and putting them on, he headed toward Tianzi City.

By the time he reached the city gates, it was nearly noon. His appearance drew many gazes; it was rare to see a man in Tianzi City wearing green. Combined with a mature face shadowed by stubble, no one could have guessed he was the boy who had been beaten nearly to death just yesterday.

Wandering aimlessly, he arrived near the Zhang residence and found a teahouse nearby. He sat down to drink tea and listen to the gossip. Interestingly, the place was called "Little Zhang Teahouse," which, at first glance, seemed to be a secondary business of the Zhang family.

"Have you heard? The Zhang residence was haunted last night!"

"Haunted? What do you mean?"

"You don't know? This morning, the young master of the Zhang family had dark circles under his eyes so thick he looked like a ghost had drained his essence. It scared the servants in the manor half to death, and even the Zhang family head looked like he hadn't slept, walking with a trembling gait."

"Where are you from, brother? How do you know such details?"

"It’s no secret. The daughter of the grandson of the second aunt of my relative's great-aunt works there. She asked for leave this morning to go home, terrified of encountering something evil. How could such news be false?"

"True, it’s quite possible. When one does too many wicked things, it's only natural for ghosts to come knocking."

"We are right across from the Zhang estate, brother, please watch your tongue..."

"Right, I'll say no more. The young master won't be out harassing girls today, so everyone who wants to stroll through the city should take advantage of the time..."

The surrounding chatter made Ye Feifan frown. He lowered his head, sipping his tea while contemplating the veracity of their claims. Although there were exaggerations, it wasn't entirely fabricated. According to the system, he had siphoned away the target's energy, so it was perfectly reasonable for them to be weak.

He waited for most of the afternoon, but neither the young master nor the Zhang patriarch emerged. However, he did spot two servants. They looked gaunt and sallow, their frames had thinned, and they bore dark circles under their eyes, staggering as they walked as if they were intoxicated.

So weak?

After observing them for a while, they walked off, and Ye Feifan had the answer he wanted. While weak, they hadn't suffered fatal injuries; the Dream Fishing attack had essentially acted as a sleep-deprivation device for them.

After paying his tab and purchasing a pile of tools, Ye Feifan left Tianzi City and returned to the ruined temple. He carefully inspected the perimeter and noticed a dilapidated plaque: "Five-Viscera Temple."

For some reason, Ye Feifan felt there was something unique about this place, but considering he was still a "weakling," he didn't delve deeper. Instead, he started cleaning the interior and lit a bonfire.

He set a large bucket of water over the fire to boil and added the bottle of Energy Liquid. The water turned a pale yellow, and the mere scent emanating from it felt invigorating, giving him the sense of clarity one has after a full night's rest. He began to look forward to the effects of the liquid.

Once the water cooled to a bearable temperature, Ye Feifan stripped and hopped into the wooden barrel.

A cool sensation coursed through his body. Ye Feifan felt exceptionally focused and began to channel his spiritual energy to cultivate. The progress was twice as fast as usual, and dark, blood-streaked impurities seeped out of his body, dissolving into the water.

He cultivated for three hours until nightfall. As his focus slowly waned, he opened his eyes, feeling exhausted, finally grasping the true utility of the Energy Liquid.

It traded stamina for cultivation speed—a method of concentrated power perfect for breaking through bottlenecks.

Ye Feifan felt his strength had reached the threshold of a breakthrough. If he wished, he could undergo the tribulation to reach the Second Tribulation Realm. However, he knew the commotion would be significant, and if it attracted the Xun family, they might fear his revenge and seek to nip him in the bud.

Feeling more confident, Ye Feifan decided to push through three or four tribulations at once. With the Energy Liquid and the items sold by the system, surviving the ordeal would be simple; he wasn't worried.

Leaving the barrel and putting on his newly purchased black clothes, Ye Feifan looked at the murky water, lost in thought.

The water was pitch black, with sludge-like, clotted blood settled at the bottom and a thin layer of black grease floating on the surface. It was easy to imagine just how dirty the impurities inside him had been.

"Innate Toxin detected. Extract for 10 points?"

"Oh?" Ye Feifan was surprised. Could he extract things from this bucket of water?

"System, what is the use of this Innate Toxin?"

"This substance is the toxin one is born with. It remains dormant in the body for a long time and is difficult to purge. It is the primary factor limiting one's innate talent. The extracted concentrated pill can infect the dreams of others, polluting those who dream in reality. Their bodies will develop these impurities, their potential will be contaminated, and it will not be easily removed."

Ye Feifan exclaimed excitedly, "Then what are we waiting for? Extract it!"

The water in the bucket became clear, and a smooth, black pill appeared in the system's storage space. It looked like it might smell foul, so Ye Feifan didn't even take it out to inspect it.