C198 The Purification and Bone Cleansing!
The sky, a tapestry of gray and brown, was marred by dark clouds that seemed to bore gaping holes through its expanse. The sun's fierce rays spilled down like molten crimson, drenching the land below.
Sword lights and ancient sword intents that once meandered through the earth's crevices now retreated, vanishing into the subterranean depths.
Within the roiling clouds, thunder and lightning danced, with some bolts striking down. The remaining Alien Soul Demon Spirits were obliterated in an instant. The tempest focused on the mightier spirits, while the weaker ones were spared its wrath.
Unrestrained by the formation, more lightning streaked skyward, vanishing into the unknown beyond. The ancient Heaven Sealing Soul Transformation Formation, rather than fully activating, had chosen to partially open the spatial passageway linked to the outer realms, conserving its soul energy after the suppression of the Soul Transformation Pool.
Around the Soul Transformation Pool, the Silvermoon Empire's cultivators remained unusually subdued in the wake of Van Hua's demise. Su Xiangtian, too, held his silence, his gaze often resting on Lee Yuangui, who had summoned a black tortoise to consume the lingering Demon Spirits. He pondered his next move and how he would approach Yu Yuan once the formation was lifted.
"Girl, take care of yourself," the muscular figure with the head of a man and the body of a dragon said, casting a meaningful glance at Zhao Yafu as the sky above them opened further.
After a brief pause, he turned to Su Xiangtian and warned, "I'd advise you not to cross Yu Yuan."
With those words, his serpentine form began to undulate. Strands of refined spiritual energy, drawing the remnants of the Alien Soul Demon's consciousness, coalesced around him. Emitting a resonant dragon's cry, akin to the Artifact Soul of the Splitting Soul Staff, he set off toward the Rainier Empire.
Above, only the Blood God Cult Elder and Ann Jieshan's black tortoise remained, feasting on the souls that Lee Yuangui's summoned creature had left behind. Mysteriously, these spirits from the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area and the Silvermoon Empire seemed drawn to the Rainier Empire.
Deep at the bottom of the pool, Yu Yuan sat with closed eyes, feeling the Heavenly Soul purified by the refined and potent soul energy.
Wisps of tiny sword energy darted through his veins, bones, and flesh, a ceaseless flurry within.
Bearing the "Yuanfu" body, he unwittingly began to perspire, droplets emerging silently from his pores.
The sweat was murky, each bead seemingly carrying impurities extracted from deep within him.
From birth, as humans grow, breathe, and embark on cultivation, impurities gradually saturate their being—a truth inescapable for all.
The air inhaled, the food consumed, the Spiritual Qi drawn in during cultivation—none are devoid of contaminants.
For a cultivator in the Spirit Accumulating Stage, strengthening the body and fortifying the flesh is a purifying ordeal, a relentless effort to expel the deeply ingrained dross and impurities.
Only through such purification can one's physique grow robust, and the flow of spiritual energy accelerate.
The Spirit Accumulating Stage unfolds in three phases: the early Tendon Refining, the middle Blood Refining, and the late Refining of the Five Organs.
Yu Yuan, attuned to the sword intent coursing through his bones, muscles, and organs, recognized the profound cleansing underway.
The sword intent was methodically purging years of accumulated filth and impurities from his body, as if each were being meticulously extracted.
In his disoriented state, without even consciously invoking the Evil Body Refining Skill, he sensed that his Spirit Accumulating Stage was primed to advance further post-purification.
"Hu!"
With each breath, strands of crystalline light zipped from the depths of the Soul Transformation Pool.
Yuan Lianyao, standing close by, watched with clarity as the shimmering light slipped into his nostrils and pores.
This radiant energy was imbued with the purest spiritual power and an extraordinary vitality!
Yuan Lianyao's complexion blanched in shock.
From the glimmering strands, she detected the unmistakable scent of the ghost ape's demonic blood!
The ghost ape, recently obliterated by relentless sword intent, had its soul shattered, its colossal form rent asunder, scattering across the earth's fissures.
The nearly Seventh Level ghost ape had met an abrupt and unforeseen demise.
The potent lifeblood of such a formidable demon, once refined, would transform into an immense reservoir of Qi and vitality.
A glimmer of crystal light unexpectedly carried the scent of the ghost ape, didn't it?
Upon this realization, the lord of Darkmoon City's countenance shifted to discomfort.
Moments later, her expression transformed once more.
Threads of green crystal light, delicate as strands of hair and swift as lightning, snaked into Yu Yuan's nostrils and vanished in an instant.
Yuan Lianyao could distinctly feel the presence of the Demonic Tree emanating from the green crystal light.
The aura brimmed with life, infused with the quintessence of nature, as though it could nurture all beings.
Where the Golden Elephant Ancient God had found the Demonic Tree, which sustained itself on the blood of numerous Demonic Beasts from the Demon Palace, was a mystery. After its demise by the sword intent, it too plummeted into the earth's crevices.
Yuan Lianyao had believed that once the Demonic Tree's spirit was absorbed by the pool's walls, its peculiar demonic energy would dissipate into the ether of this realm.
Unexpectedly, the earth's chasms had swallowed it in secret, and at this moment, were aiding Yu Yuan in fortifying his physique.
"This realm harbors a transformative magnetic field or formation deep within its fissures."
Yuan Lianyao paused, then came to a sudden realization. She felt that Yu Yuan, the swordsman, would swiftly transcend the Spirit Accumulating Stage with the sustenance of this forbidden land.
In just a short observation, she sensed the life force of both the ghost ape and the Demonic Tree.
More crystal lights vanished within Yu Yuan, their origin and rarity unknown.
The practice of the Spirit Accumulating Stage is a cycle of destruction and rebirth. The sword intent racing through his bones and viscera initiated a destructive phase.
The subsequent influx of crystal light served as restoration, reinforcing him anew each time.
This cycle of breaking down and rebuilding encapsulates the heart and soul of the Spirit Accumulating Stage's cultivation.
How fierce and abundant were those sword intents, that nurturing life force and blood Qi?
Under the refinement and cleansing of such power, Yu Yuan would surely advance past the Spirit Accumulating Stage with haste, or else he would not have earned the favor and recognition of the ancient sword soul in this sacred ground.
"Lord Yuan," Su Xiangtian mused for a while before inviting, "Would you care to join me for a conversation above?"
At this precise moment, all threats to Yuan Lianyao—both human and alien soul demons—had vanished without a trace.
Unable to assist Yu Yuan at the bottom of the Soul Transformation Pool, she took solace in the presence of the sword scars on the pool's walls, confident that no one in this forbidden area, nor any alien soul demon, would dare to venture to the depths and harm Yu Yuan.
The death of Van Hua served as a stern warning to all.
"Alright."
Yuan Lianyao gave a slight nod, conjuring a series of red lotuses, and ascended toward the surface of the Soul Transformation Pool.
Her gaze fixed anxiously on the sword scars etched into the pool's walls.
The scars showed no signs of disturbance.
With a relieved exhale, Yuan Lianyao, buoyed by the red lotuses, once again found herself outside the pool, standing between Zhao Yafu and Su Xiangtian.
"Everyone, step back a bit. And you, young lady." Su Xiangtian cast a glance at the accompanying members from the Silvermoon Empire, then offered Zhao Yafu a slight smile. "I need to have a word in private with City Lord Yuan."
"Oh." Zhao Yafu was the first to step away.
The imperial powerhouses, well aware of Su Xiangtian's formidable reputation, nodded in agreement and scattered.
Once they were alone, Su Xiangtian inhaled deeply and demanded, "Yu Yuan, is it truly still Yu Yuan?"
