Chapter 542: Chapter 540: Stone Spirit Jade Lotus
"I’ll go experiment first, then cultivate beneath the Secret Realm Tree."
Cultivation beneath the Secret Realm Tree is imperative, but there’s no rush.
The discovery within the Celestial Refining Divine Tripod made him impatient!
All the way, he arrived at the vast mountains deep inside the Secret Realm of the Battle Monarch Family—Xu Yang swept his gaze across the surroundings, silence reigned, only occasionally broken by the roars of fiendbeasts.
Usually, Shi Family Martial Artists come here to temper themselves, and there’s no lack of them.
But now, with the Secret Realm Tree, almost all have gathered beneath it.
Even those at the Myriad Phenomena Realm reap huge rewards just by being at its edge, benefits far surpassing those gained through ordinary tempering.
"Here will do."
Xu Yang’s expression grew solemn as he sat cross-legged amidst the mountains.
After meticulously sensing the heaven and earth within the Divine Tripod, Xu Yang summoned five Spirit Elixir pellets.
Then, he once more split his Minghuo.
Buzz!
A moment later, he split another ten streams of Minghuo.
This was already his limit.
Ten Minghuo flames, for ten Spirit Elixir pellets.
The process of coalescing the pellets went without mishap, forged smoothly.
Finally, fifteen Elixir pellets hovered in the air.
With no one around, Xu Yang unleashed the Heaven-Devouring Spirit-Eating Skill without restraint.
Boom!
An immense tide of heaven and earth energy surged over, condensing in mere blinks into a mighty cloud, devoured madly by the fifteen Elixir pellets.
Watching the change in the Elixir pellets, a faint smile appeared on Xu Yang’s face.
"With the Heaven-Devouring Spirit-Eating Skill, the energy consumed by these pellets will be utterly terrifying. This secret technique is truly formidable."
After an exclamation of awe, Xu Yang steeled himself, maintaining control.
Half an hour later.
The Elixir pellets had devoured energy to their utmost!
The energy stored within them almost seemed ready to burst forth.
Clustered around the Divine Fire, in this instant, the combined force of these fifteen Elixir pellets erupting could grievously wound an ordinary True Monarch Perfection.
Immediately, Xu Yang became fully alert.
His consciousness reached the edge of the Divine Tripod’s heaven and earth, sensing the countless Heaven-Locking Divine Chains swirling on the surface—and once fully prepared, he abruptly touched the heaven and earth.
Boom!
The divine chains quaked; Evil Qi swept forth violently.
Heaven and earth trembled, and under fierce impact, wisp after wisp of Evil Qi broke free and diffused.
Xu Yang’s scalp tingled; suppressing his dread, he erupted the Celestial Refining Divine Tripod’s ancient might.
Under this pressure, the Evil Qi condensed slightly.
Xu Yang’s Spiritual Power erupted, manifesting Heaven-Locking Divine Chains one after another.
Though not comparable to those covering heaven and earth, at least these Evil Qi wisps were merely overflow.
Boom!
Encased by the divine chains, Evil Qi struggled violently.
The savage clash caused the chains to continually shatter; Xu Yang trembled all over, his complexion pale.
"Heaven Locking!"
Xu Yang roared—within the tripod, spirit marks emerged, pressing down fiercely.
Bang!
Going all out, at last he suppressed the Evil Qi.
Thereafter, divine chains consolidated swiftly, entwining layer upon layer, enshrouding it tightly.
When all was done, Xu Yang swallowed the metallic tang at his throat, letting out a silent breath.
Several seconds later.
The Evil Qi merged into one Elixir pellet.
In the instant it merged, the pellet trembled violently, cracks snaked across its surface, seeming unable to endure.
Xu Yang’s expression darkened; he extended both hands to channel energy.
"Six Heavenly Skills!"
While channeling the Six Heavenly Skills, he summoned spirit marks, unleashing Heaven-locking Intent fully, turning it into Formless Realm to bind it tight.
But even so, the signs of collapse wouldn’t stop!
The Evil Qi’s strength...in truth, it was the pellet that was too fragile.
Xu Yang cursed inwardly, mind racing; suddenly, he summoned the Celestial Refining Divine Tripod.
Boom!
Under his control, the tripod’s mouth faced downward, blasting divine might onto the pellet.
Buzz!
The pellet convulsed intensely, gradually stabilizing, and the spreading cracks slowly stopped.
Sighting this, Xu Yang finally let out a breath of relief.
"This Evil Qi is far too terrifying."
He did not dare imagine—if all that heaven and earth were completely unleashed, what devastation would the Spirit Realm suffer?
It’s likely the vast Spirit Realm might not withstand it.
As for the spirit river, there’s no small chance it would be shattered.
Xu Yang composed himself, steadily absorbed the energy, repairing the cracks on the pellet’s surface.
Half a quarter hour later.
The pellet was as round as ever, not a ripple stirred.
But inside, Minghuo, Divine Fire, heaven and earth energy, Evil Qi, Divine Chains—all layered together, resembling a robust eggshell.
"If I forge dozens of these pellets, interweaving yin and yang to shape heaven and earth, then envelop an enemy—even just the impact of the Evil Qi would shatter one’s spirit; if it erupts..."
The scene is beyond imagination.
Even if they must be reforged after one use, it’s still a terrifying trump card.
All this is owed to those four Alchemy Dao seniors.
"A pity I can’t help you perfect it!"
Xu Yang sighed deeply, then closed his eyes to adjust his breath.
Once restored, he began work on the second pellet.
And so, after three days.
Xu Yang had successfully refined all fifteen Elixir pellets.
Fifteen is more than enough for now.
Next comes his own cultivation.
He quietly left the mountains and returned beneath the Secret Realm Tree.
Barely had he found a spot to sit cross-legged, Xu Yang saw Shi Feng coming over from behind the stone spirit.
"Patriarch, you wanted to see me?" Xu Yang wondered inwardly.
Shi Feng nodded slightly. He raised a curved palm, and an emerald spirit lotus appeared on it.
Translucent all over, like a jade sculpture.
The first impression it gave was not of a Spirit Elixir, but rather a unique treasure!
"What is this?"
"A Jade Lotus nurtured atop the Stone Spirit. After five hundred years of maturation, it can aid Martial Artists in comprehending spirit marks, and also stepping into the spirit river!" Shi Feng said gravely.
"Step into the spirit river?"
Xu Yang’s pupils contracted, astonished, carefully examining the jade lotus.
No words were needed to attest to the Stone Spirit’s value. Just forming atop it requires five hundred years, stronger by far than some thousand-year or several-thousand-year mature Spirit Elixirs from outside.
Comprehending spirit marks is already notable, but for a Martial Artist to step into the spirit river, that’s something only divine echelon can achieve.
Entering the spirit river means profound insights into heaven and earth, divine techniques, and spiritual meaning—an utterly pivotal moment!
Even the Secret Realm Tree cannot grant such opportunity to one of insufficient cultivation.
Shi Feng said, "Less than half a year remains; raise your strength as much as you can."
Xu Yang received the Jade Lotus and nodded solemnly.
After Shi Feng left, he held the Jade Lotus and sensed it—no aura leaked from its surface, but inside was filled with a profound, exquisite, ethereal force.
Indescribable!
There’s no doubt—the Battle Monarch Family has paid a heavy price for him.
Xu Yang must not let them down.
Steeling his resolve, he gently closed his eyes.
Buzz!
A strand of energy spilled out, enveloping the Jade Lotus.
And in that instant—
Xu Yang’s consciousness reeled.
First he sensed the vast, illusory Secret Realm Tree soaring skyward, nearly touching the spirit river.
Then he felt his whole being abruptly rise, appearing atop a boundless divine peak, clouds wafting below, lifting him ever higher.
Xu Yang looked down—an emerald lotus bore his awareness, rushing straight toward the spirit river.
In the blink of an eye, his consciousness arrived at the spirit river’s threshold.
"Worthy of a treasure birthed by the Stone Spirit."
Xu Yang silently praised, then turned his attention to the spirit river.
Although it wasn’t his first glimpse, each time the spirit river filled him with intense shock and awe, body and soul.
Such a spirit river nurtures the Spirit Realm, Daqian, and all countless vast realms and lives!
Just imagining it defies belief.
"Time to enter."
Invisible intimidation swept close—Xu Yang’s heart shuddered, hastening to clear all distractions.
Pop!
With the Jade Lotus’s energy enfolding him, in a trance he connected with the spirit river; brilliant spiritual radiance overwhelmed his sight—endless, infinite!
Xu Yang felt as though he’d passed through an invisible membrane, his awareness immersed in warmth, like a mother’s embrace.
And at once, there came an indescribable grandeur and immensity.
Like a tiny ant wandering into a limitless primeval forest.
The feeling was suffocating, leaving him utterly lost.
