C376 Yellow Court Fifth Refinement!

At the lakeside of the Absence Relic, Qin Yun, garbed as an old scholar, sat serenely among a stretch of green grass, his gaze occasionally drifting to the mid-lake island. The lake's crystalline waters revealed the lakebed, while the island, transformed by Yu Zhu, was shrouded in a dense white fog. This ethereal mist, like a delicate veil, blanketed both the island and the lake's surface.

"Hu!" Qin Yun inhaled deeply, watching the white fog funnel into his mouth and nose, reminiscent of a whale drawing in water. It transformed into rich spiritual energy, infusing his Yellow Court Little World.

"The spiritual energy here rivals that of the Seven Divine Sect's sanctuaries. Given time, it will surely become even more pure and concentrated!"

His consciousness darted through his Yellow Court Little World like lightning. Squinting slightly, he gazed dreamily at the island ahead. "I wonder, how many times can the Young Master refine the Yellow Court?"

He had discerned Yu Zhu's intentions: flinging him from the mid-lake island was a ploy to concentrate spiritual power and channel it into Yu Yuan, aiding his refinement of the Yellow Court.

The frequency of refinement during the Middle Period of the Yellow Court Stage could set the ceiling for a cultivator's potential. In his youth, Qin Yun had been among the elite, akin to Fan Li, Lim Zhuyun, and Su Yan, boasting a Fifth Refinement of the Yellow Court.

His achievements spoke volumes; having reached the Fifth Refinement, he had ascended to the Late Period of the Yin God Stage. The Soul Wandering Stage was now within arm's reach. His contemporaries, if unable to achieve the Fifth Refinement at the Yellow Court Stage's Middle Period, often peaked at the Yin God Stage, with only a handful matching his progression to the Late Period of the Yin God Stage, let alone aspiring to the Soul Wandering Stage.

Now, the Rainier Empire's Imperial Advisor had manifested the Yang God, becoming a celebrated figure across the entire Profound Sky Continent. Legend had it that Zhou Cangmin had achieved a magnificent feat, refining the Small Heaven and Earth within his lower dantian during the Yellow Court's Middle Period!

Those who have refined the Yellow Court seven times hold the promise of forging their main soul into the Primordial Spirit and achieving the ultimate!

To reach this pinnacle, one must refine their dantian seven times during the Middle Period of the Yellow Court!

The more refinements, the brighter the prospects of attaining the Primordial Spirit Stage in the future!

Qin Yun saw something special in Yu Yuan—his character and abilities were exceptional. Yet, when it came to proving his talent in cultivation, Yu Yuan still had some ways to go.

The frequency of Yu Yuan's refinements at the Middle Period of the Yellow Court was a harbinger of his potential future accomplishments.

"With the Young Master's formidable talent, he ought to deliver a pleasant surprise at this stage of the Yellow Court!"

Qin Yun brimmed with expectation, stealing glances at the mid-lake island with each cycle of spiritual breath, even though there was nothing to see for now.

Unbeknownst to him, a silent figure stood in the cloud's embrace.

Yan Qiling, like a phantom shadow amidst the pale grey clouds, occasionally cast his gaze upon the mid-lake island, monitoring Yu Yuan's progress.

He was aware that he couldn't conceal his presence from Yu Zhu.

Since making his presence known in the Absence Relic, he had extended goodwill towards Yu Yuan, never overstepping and aligning his actions with Yu Yuan's, likely earning Yu Zhu's trust.

Yu Zhu had issued no warnings, nor had he trespassed on the mid-lake island, suggesting that his actions were permissible by Yu Zhu.

"I'm quite curious myself to see how many times that young fellow can refine the Yellow Court Little World."

...

In the heart of the lake island.

Rings of white misty Spiritual Qi enveloped Yu Yuan.

He sat still, beads of crystalline dew forming on his neck, forehead, and bare arms.

These droplets, shimmering like grains of rice, were the pure, naturally condensed Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth, drawn together by Yu Zhu's power.

Each droplet was a concentrated essence of Spiritual Qi.

"Hu!"

All at once, Yu Yuan exhaled a long breath.

It carried a sourness and a faint odor, as if expelling the impurities within his body through a secret method.

His refined, slightly slender frame gave a subtle shudder.

The next moment, the skin on his exposed neck, cheeks, and arms undulated like ripples on water, the flesh gently rising and falling.

Droplets of dew, glistening like crystals, were swiftly absorbed by his skin as if drawn in by a sponge.

From his mouth, nose, and ears, wisps of grayish-brown smoke curled out.

The smoke carried a tang of acidity and a faint, musty odor, signaling a profound transformation within the small world of his lower dantian, purging it of any filth and impurities that could harm it.

Had there been an onlooker with the ability to peer through the realms of Yin God and Yang God, they would have seen nine suns suspended in the heavens of his Yellow Court Little World!

The Yellow Court Little World was a realm of two tiers: the heavens above and the earth below.

The nine suns hung aloft, forming a colossal well, drawing in and exhaling the surging Spiritual Qi from the upper reaches of the Yellow Court.

The nine radiant suns whirled, cleansing and purifying the absorbed Spiritual Qi, refining it into even finer strands of pure energy that flowed from the well's depths into the lower world.

The entire microcosm shone as bright as day, with clouds churning endlessly, a perpetual cycle of activity.

The upper world received the influx of Spiritual Energy from beyond, which the nine suns, acting as a purifying well, funneled into the lower world, gradually filling the "pond" below to the brim.

As the pond overflowed, the vast expanse of the Yellow Court Little World seemed to crack open, embarking on a new phase of expansion.

A new world was being carved out!

Yu Yuan lost track of time, aware only that with each slight stir of his thoughts, a relentless surge of Spiritual Energy would burst forth like a breached dam.

His refinement of the Yellow Court Little World could proceed without pause.

After the second cycle came the third, and then the fourth round ensued!

Following the fourth refinement, the small world within his lower dantian felt more than twice as expansive as when he first carved out his dantian and unveiled the Yellow Court.

Each strand of Spiritual Qi, post-fourth cycle, had been tempered and now shimmered with a radiant luster, as if infused with a divine energy.

Unfamiliar with fatigue, he pressed on with his cultivation, forsaking sleep and sustenance, eager to discover how many more times he could refine the Yellow Court Stage before advancing to the Late Period.

Time flew by swiftly, and before long, he had completed his fourth round of Yellow Court tempering.

He was now embarking on the fifth round!

Reaching the fifth round of the Yellow Court signified that his innate talent was on par with the likes of Fan Li, Su Yan, and Lim Zhuyun!

It also meant that his future held the potential to successfully condense a Yin God and possibly strive for Soul Wandering!

Regardless of his humble origins, a warrior who had achieved the Fifth Refinement of the Yellow Court could catch the attention of the major sects, and might even secure a position as an inner disciple.

His spirits were soaring!

...

A snow-white figure, ghostly against the night sky, descended next to Yan Qiling amidst the clouds.

Yan Qiling was taken aback, but upon recognizing the visitor, he relaxed and said, "Lord Imperial Advisor, you've resolved the relic's numerous issues so swiftly?"

The arrival was none other than the Yin God of Zhou Cangmin, not his Yang God.

"It wasn't quite that simple," Zhou Cangmin said with a serene smile. "I had to deploy not just the Yang God, but also my true self from the Rainier Empire had to be mobilized. Nevertheless, I need to keep an eye on Yu Yuan. I'm curious to see how many times he can temper within the Yellow Court Stage."

"I've lined up several destinations for him. Where he ultimately goes will depend on how many times he refines his Yellow Court."

At this point, the White-robed Imperial Advisor's demeanor turned serious as he asked, "How many refinements?"

Before departing, he had used his Yang God to perceive the world's movements and noticed that Yu Yuan was diligently engaged in Yellow Court tempering.

Thanks to Yu Zhu's unwavering support, Yu Yuan had access to an inexhaustible supply of spiritual energy, which could flood into him in an instant.

This advantage could boost his cultivation efficiency by multifold!

With this assurance, Yu Yuan could act freely, needing only to concentrate on the condensation of spiritual energy, without concern for its sufficiency.

"I'm unable to peer into the heart of the island. My assessments are based on the dramatic shifts in spiritual energy above it."

After careful consideration, Yan Qiling said, "There have been four significant fluctuations in the island's spiritual energy. Each surge indicated an immense influx of energy into his body, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. Including the initial instance, my judgment suggests he's currently undergoing the fifth refinement."

"He's already at the fifth refinement!" Zhou Cangmin exclaimed, a hint of surprise in his voice.

…