C88 The Legend of Destroying the Country!

Previously, Yu Yuan had no need for soulstones in his cultivation practice. Divine force, a form of spiritual energy, was ubiquitous and naturally available to low-level cultivators at the Spirit Channel Realm, sufficiently aiding in the development of their meridians.

The spiritual energy within a soulstone was more concentrated and potent, which could be overwhelming for those in the Spirit Channel Realm. However, for cultivators at the Soul Awakening Realm, the situation was different. They could still cultivate by absorbing and refining the divine force, though their advancement might be marginally slower.

Utilizing soulstones in conjunction with the divine force could significantly enhance the efficiency of cultivation at the Soul Awakening Realm. This was particularly true in Aetherius. In contrast, on the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea, cultivators at the Soul Awakening and even the Golden Sanctum levels had no need for soulstones, as the divine force on these continents was inherently richer.

Sects with thousands of years of history chose their locations with great care, ensuring access to a more robust divine force. Moreover, these prominent sects often had formations designed to accumulate spiritual energy, resulting in an even more potent and abundant force.

Disciples within such sects could progress through the Spirit Channel, Soul Awakening, and Golden Sanctum realms without the aid of soulstones, relying solely on the sect's spiritual energy for smooth cultivation.

Rumor had it that disciples from the upper sects of Euwrea—Ebon Star, Sunlit Order, and Sword Sect—could advance to the Veil Breaking Realm without the need for additional soulstones, benefiting from the exceptionally dense divine force.

Yu Yuan, during his trial in the forbidden area, initially refrained from using soulstones to temper his physique and nurture his organs. However, the dramatic shift in the spiritual energy there left his frail body overburdened. The tumultuous spiritual energy disrupted his breathing and hindered his movements.

Out of necessity, he began to truly forge his body for the first time at the Soul Awakening Stage. Delicate strands of refined spiritual energy were drawn from the soulstone in his hand, flowing into his meridians.

In his perception, the soulstone resembled a small bucket brimming with water.

The spiritual energy he drew from it was akin to siphoning water from this bucket, with the water representing the spiritual energy itself.

Once depleted, the soulstone would be discarded, having lost all its worth.

While absorbing the spiritual energy from the soulstone, he also ingested a Seed of Life, which aided in purifying his body and fortifying his flesh.

The practice of the Soul Awakening stage involved utilizing the twelve meridians to channel spiritual energy throughout the body, thereby reinforcing the sinews and bones.

For the majority of flesh and bones to become robust, they must endure a cycle of breaking down and then rebuilding.

This process entailed tearing, demolishing, and subsequently reconstituting with greater strength.

Spiritual energy refined and honed the muscles and bones by first breaking them down and then leveraging one's innate potential to make them more resilient and sturdy.

During the Soul Awakening stage, all cultivators use spiritual energy to damage their bodies, and then they replenish themselves with ample meats and grains to restore their vitality and nourish their tissues.

The regeneration of flesh and bones relies not on spiritual energy but on the nutrients from the food consumed.

Once healed, the tissues and bones emerge stronger, tougher, and more powerful than before.

The Seed of Life is essentially a potent pill that supplements vitality, packed with the concentrated essence of medicinal herbs and vital energy, making it particularly beneficial for those in the Soul Awakening stage.

Without the Seed of Life, cultivators at this stage would need to consume vast quantities of meat and grains.

However, with the Seed of Life, such excessive eating is unnecessary. Its medicinal power alone can swiftly reinforce muscles and mend fractured bones, making them even more solid and compact.

"My cultivation in the Soul Awakening Realm requires the aid of a new spell."

With this thought, a memory sparkle deeply etched into his earthly soul suddenly shone brightly.

A spell specifically designed for body refinement, which he had stumbled upon in his past life, now vividly entered his mind.

Meanwhile, the spiritual energy within the soulstone he clutched in his palm seemed to spiral out of control, surging into his body.

And as if in response, the tumultuous divine force also began to converge.

"Huff! Huff!"

Around Yu Yuan, an invisible maelstrom of spiritual energy formed, rushing through his pores, his breath, and into his meridians and flesh.

His expression was etched with pain and shock, his body, sitting upright, began to tremble.

...

Elsewhere.

Zhan Tianxiang and Han Hui, being of a higher cultivation level, possessed bodies strong enough to avoid the exhaustion that plagued Yu Yuan.

The tumultuous spiritual energy of the area was uncomfortable, yet they managed to adapt.

Seated in a cave, their expressions were stern.

"The empire's legend can't be coming true now, can it?" Zhan Tianxiang's face was tinged with bitterness. "An endless night looms, the Moonfiend stirs from its slumber, and the empire may be supplanted..."

He bowed his head, murmuring as if chanting, his emotions restrained.

Han Hui gazed blankly outside the cave, her voice hollow, "Only a few have heard such a legend. It tells of nights growing ever longer, the weather turning colder, and the awakening of the Moonfiend. With its awakening, the empire could fall and be replaced by a new realm."

"What is the Moonfiend?" she inquired.

Zhan Tianxiang shook his head, "Even the elders in my family are unclear. But I've gleaned something from ancient texts."

"What did you find?" Han Hui asked, intrigued.

"It appears to be about the empire that came before us," Zhan Tianxiang said hesitantly. "The previous empire, which stood where the Silvermoon Empire now lies, fell as nights drew out and the Moonfiend awoke. It seems our Silvermoon Empire took its place as rulers of these lands."

"Ah!"

Han Hui let out a startled scream, "Does that mean our Silvermoon Empire could also fall? Is this the work of the so-called Moonfiend?"

"If the legend holds true, then perhaps," Zhan Tianxiang replied, weighed down by the thought. "If such a fate befalls us, not only those of us in the forbidden area, but our families, the empress, and everyone else could perish. Should the empire descend into turmoil, death would befall all. Who would then spare a thought for us, the trial participants?"

With a look of dread, Han Hui said, "It couldn't be, could it? Surely we won't face such a catastrophe?"

"I really hope it's nothing, just a scare," Zhan Tianxiang sighed with concern. "Should we come clean to Yu Yuan about this? I feel like disclosing it will only increase everyone's stress."

"We should tell him once he's awake," Han Hui suggested.

"Agreed."

They conversed in hushed tones, careful to avoid being overheard by others.

Suddenly, they both sensed an anomaly simultaneously. Exchanging a glance, they turned their gaze sharply toward the cave where Yu Yuan was engaged in his cultivation practices.

Yu Yuan was of particular interest to them, and they were well-acquainted with the location of his cave.

To their astonishment, they observed the already turbulent divine force being drawn wildly toward Yu Yuan's cave!

The divine force swirled into a chaotic blend of gray, pale white, and deep brown mists.

The varying hues indicated differing levels of spiritual energy purity, each containing numerous impurities, which were not ideal for a cultivator to absorb and refine directly.

Within the mists of different colors, there could be various toxins and substantial dust particles.

The process of absorption and refinement was not only challenging but also potentially harmful to the flesh and blood of the cultivator.

For this reason, both Han Hui and Zhan Tianxiang continued to channel their spiritual energy to create a barrier against the external divine force, preventing it from infiltrating and affecting their bodies.

Any infiltration required time to cleanse, to avoid self-injury.

What was happening with Yu Yuan?

He was supposed to be cultivating with a soulstone, so why was there such an intense influx of divine force into his cave?

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