C376 Golden Sanctum Fifth Level!

In the Forgotten Ruins, beside the crystal-clear lake, Qin Yun, dressed as a scholar, sat serenely on a stretch of green grass, his gaze occasionally drifting to the mid-lake island. The lake's waters were so transparent that the bottom was visible, while the island, refined by Yu Zhu, was shrouded in thick white mist. This mist, ethereal as a veil, blanketed both the island and the lake's surface.

"Hu!" Qin Yun inhaled deeply, and the white fog streamed into his mouth and nose like a whale drawing in water, transforming into robust spiritual energy that surged into the little world of his Golden Sanctum.

"The spiritual energy here rivals that of the Midnightshields' sect. Given time, it will surely become even more pure and intense!" His consciousness darted through his little world like a bolt of lightning. Squinting slightly, he gazed dreamily at the island ahead.

"I wonder how many times the Young Master has refined his Golden Sanctum?" He had already deduced that Yu Zhu had flung him from the mid-lake island to concentrate the spiritual energy and infuse it into Yu Yuan, aiding him in the refinement of the Golden Sanctum.

The number of refinements a cultivator undergoes during the middle period of the Golden Sanctum can define their potential. In his youth, Qin Yun was a prodigy of the fifth level Golden Sanctum, akin to Van Le, Lin Zhuyun, and Su Yan.

Indeed, having reached the fifth level of the Golden Sanctum, he had attained the late period of the Lunar Spirit realm. The Spirit Walk realm was merely a step away. His contemporaries, if they had not achieved the fifth level of the Golden Sanctum by the middle period, often peaked at the Lunar Spirit realm, with very few reaching the late period of the Lunar Spirit, let alone aspiring to the Spirit Walk.

Now, the state preceptor of the Crimson Sun Empire had already forged a Solar Spirit, becoming a celebrated figure across the entire Aetherius Continent. Legend has it that Zhou Cangmin had refined his lower elixir field seven times during the middle period of the Golden Sanctum!

A cultivator who achieves the seventh level of the Golden Sanctum may one day have the opportunity to condense their dominant soul into a primordial spirit and ascend to the ultimate realm.

To achieve the ultimate, one must reach the middle period of the Golden Sanctum and temper their lower elixir field seven times!

The more one refines, the brighter their prospects for ascending to the Primordial Spirit Realm.

Qin Yun had selected Yu Yuan, recognizing his exceptional character and abilities. Yet, Yu Yuan still had to demonstrate his talent for cultivation.

At the middle period of the Golden Sanctum, the frequency of Yu Yuan's condensation suggested his potential for future accomplishments.

"With the Young Master's remarkable talent at the middle period of the Golden Sanctum, he should indeed surprise me!"

Qin Yun was brimming with expectation, stealing glances at the mid-lake island with each cycle of spiritual energy he drew in and out.

For now, he could see nothing.

Unbeknownst to him, another stood silently amidst the cloud cover.

Yan Qiling, like a phantom within the pale gray clouds, occasionally peered at the mid-lake island, monitoring Yu Yuan's progress.

He was aware that Yu Zhu could not be deceived by his presence.

Since his appearance at the Forgotten Ruins, he had extended goodwill towards Yu Yuan, refraining from any transgressions and aligning with him, likely earning Yu Zhu's trust.

Without a warning from Yu Zhu, and without intruding upon the mid-lake island, his actions must have been permissible.

"I'm eager to discover how many times that young man can refine the little world of the Golden Sanctum."

...

On the mid-lake island, spiritual energy enveloped Yu Yuan in a white mist.

Immobile, his neck, forehead, and bare arms glistened with crystalline dewdrops.

These droplets, shining like grains of rice, were the divine force, naturally refined and concentrated by Yu Zhu's power.

Each dewdrop was a condensed essence of spiritual energy.

"Hu!"

Suddenly, Yu Yuan exhaled deeply.

The breath carried a sour tang and a faint odor, as if expelling the impurities from his body through a mystique.

Subsequently, his refined, slightly lean frame trembled ever so slightly.

In the next instant, his exposed neck, cheeks, and arms shimmered with undulations like ripples on water, the skin and flesh subtly heaving. Crystal-clear droplets were rapidly absorbed by his skin as if sponges were soaking up water.

Wisps of grayish-brown smoke began to emerge from his mouth, nose, and ears, carrying a sour and foul odor. It was as though the little world within his lower elixir field had undergone a significant transformation, purging impurities and pollutants that were detrimental to the elixir field.

If an outsider were able to peer into this process using Lunar Spirit or Solar Spirit, they would see nine suns suspended high within the Golden Sanctum. The Golden Sanctum was divided into an upper and lower realm.

The nine suns hung in the void like a colossal well, drawing in and expelling the surging spiritual energy from the upper little world. The nine radiant suns spun rapidly, cleansing and purifying the absorbed spiritual energy, refining it into a more delicate purity and channeling it from the well's base into the lower little world.

The entire little world was as bright as day, with clouds rolling endlessly, operating in a continuous cycle. The spiritual energy from the outside world, filtered by the nine suns, flowed from the bottom of the well into the lower realm, gradually filling the "pond" below.

Beyond the brim, the vast little world of the Golden Sanctum began a new phase of expansion, as if the heavens and earth were being torn asunder to carve out new territory.

Yu Yuan lost track of time, aware only that with each thought, a relentless torrent of spiritual energy would flood in, like a breached dam. His refinement of the Golden Sanctum's little world could continue without pause.

After the second cycle came the third, and then the fourth commenced. Following the fourth level, the space within his lower elixir field felt more than twice as large as when he first carved out the lower elixir field and opened the Golden Sanctum. Post-fourth level, each strand of spiritual energy had been tempered, shimmering with a lustrous glow, as if infused with divine psionic power.

He tirelessly continued his cultivation, foregoing both sleep and food, eager to discover how many times he could refine the Golden Sanctum before advancing to the late period.

As time sped by, he completed his fourth round of Golden Sanctum refinement.

Now, he was on the march toward the fifth level!

Reaching the fifth level of the Golden Sanctum signified that his innate talent was on par with the likes of Van Le, Su Yan, and Lin Zhuyun!

It also meant that he could, without mishap, condense a Lunar Spirit and possibly even attempt the Spirit Walk!

Even someone from the humblest of origins, once reaching the fifth level of the Golden Sanctum, could catch the attention of the great sects, and might even secure a place as an Inner Sect disciple.

His spirits were high!

...

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

Yan Qiling was taken aback for a moment, but upon recognizing the visitor, he relaxed and said, "Lord State Preceptor, you've resolved the issues in the Lost Lands so swiftly?"

The arrival was none other than Zhou Cangmin's Lunar Spirit, not his Solar Spirit.

"Of course, it wasn't that simple," Zhou Cangmin replied with a serene smile. "I've had to deploy not just the Solar Spirit, but even the real body from the Crimson Sun Empire has been compelled to act. Nevertheless, I must keep an eye on Yu Yuan's progress. I'm curious to see how many times he can temper his Golden Sanctum."

"I've set up several destinations for him, but where he ultimately ends up will depend on how many times he can temper his Golden Sanctum."

At this point, the High Oracle's demeanor grew serious as he inquired, "How many times has he tempered it?"

Before departing, he had used the Solar Spirit to perceive the fluctuations of this world, and he could tell that Yu Yuan was diligently focusing on his Golden Sanctum refinement.

Thanks to Yu Zhu's unwavering support, Yu Yuan had an inexhaustible supply of spiritual energy flooding into him in mere moments.

This advantage could boost his cultivation efficiency by multitudes!

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 inside the island. My assessments are based solely on the dramatic shifts in the divine force above the mid-lake island."

Yan Qiling pondered deeply before speaking, "The spiritual energy on the island has undergone four significant shifts, each marked by a massive wave. With each wave, a torrent of spiritual energy would abruptly flood into his body and vanish just as quickly. Considering the initial occurrence, by my estimation, he must be undertaking his fifth level refinement."

"He's already at the fifth level!" Zhou Cangmin exclaimed, taken aback.

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