Chapter 454

Chapter 454: Unity with the Dao Stage?

As Ji Yang took his fourth step, the scene before him suddenly transformed. The previously closed bronze door began to slowly open, revealing a glimmer of light.

When Ji Yang took his fifth step, shouts of surprise echoed from behind him, but when he turned to look, the figures of the crowd had vanished without a trace.

Turning back again, the bronze door stood completely open.

Inside the door, profound essence flowed freely. Just a fleeting glance allowed Ji Yang to sense countless existences of essence.

However, as he gazed at the essence within the bronze door, Ji Yang gradually stopped, his face falling into deep thought.

He was not the kind of cultivator who would be immobilized simply by the sight of essence. His previous experiences with the two essences had made him quite cautious. Now seeing so much essence only heightened his sense of vigilance.

Clearly, this doorway must hold some trap.

Just as Ji Yang pondered how to dispel the illusion before him, a strand of essence suddenly flew out from within the bronze door.

Sensing the fluctuations of the essence of War within him, Ji Yang’s eyes widened slightly.

Could this be real essence?

Not an illusion!

Feeling the vibrations of essence radiating from within him, Ji Yang hesitated no longer and leaped forward.

Ordinary essence couldn’t take shape like a human; it was similar to the wooden chair he had encountered earlier. The two essences he had seen when entering the residence had somewhat unique forms, likely tied to the secret realm and this mansion itself.

What he faced now was the normal manifestation of essence in the form of flowing light.

As Ji Yang unleashed several strands of sword energy from his hand, the essence began to dart around.

But at that moment, Ji Yang infused himself with the essence of War, and with a simple grasp, he firmly caught that essence.

As the essence entered his hand, Ji Yang immediately sensed its true nature.

This was an essence of fire!

The flames emitted by this essence were extraordinary; they could rival heavenly fire and even burn everything, including the primordial spirit energy of cultivators.

Once Ji Yang seized it, the essence unleashed endless heavenly fire, trying to break free.

However, with Ji Yang’s power of lightning calamity crackling in his hand, the struggles of the essence quickly subsided.

[Detected fire essence, would you like to absorb it?]

[Yes? No?]

Without hesitation, Ji Yang chose to absorb it and fuse it into his essence of War.

After absorbing the fire essence, the condensation of his essence of War instantly broke through from 9.1 to 11 points.

With the condensation surpassing ten points, a crisp sound echoed inside Ji Yang’s body, signaling the breaking of the barrier into Unity with the Dao stage.

Feeling the unrestricted realm before him, Ji Yang was overjoyed. Looking at the tranquil surroundings, he shed any hesitations and began his breakthrough on the spot.

The accumulated spiritual energy was already more than sufficient, and with the condensation of essence now reaching the boundary of Unity with the Dao stage, Ji Yang’s breakthrough came naturally. In an instant, his realm advanced from the late Void Refinement stage to the Unity with the Dao stage!

Moreover, the essence that he had been unable to actively summon before now flowed effortlessly, allowing Ji Yang to activate that state at will, as desired.

Enjoying the fresh sense of his new realm and a much more powerful self, Ji Yang felt immense joy.

A cultivator at the Unity with the Dao stage could already be considered a true high-level cultivator.

Although Ji Yang did not fully master the essence, beneath the Unity with the Dao stage, he had no rivals left.

As the condensation of his essence continued to rise, his realm would also climb higher. When he completely mastered a type of essence and raised its condensation to one hundred percent, it might be the moment he transcended into an immortal.

However, as the essence improved, the spiritual energy within his body could not be lacking.

Each increase in realm after reaching Unity with the Dao would not only be constrained by spiritual energy but also require sufficient essence condensation.

Other cultivators did not know the specific condensation levels of their own essences, but Ji Yang could clearly see his, allowing him greater control over his realm.

These insights were what Ji Yang achieved during his breakthrough to Unity with the Dao!

Just as Ji Yang was filled with joy, two more essences suddenly darted out from within the bronze door, attempting to escape.

Having gained something, Ji Yang could not let this opportunity slip away. He immediately employed all his skills to entangle the escaping essences, preparing to absorb them.

Although he had already broken through to the Unity with the Dao stage, further increases in realm would still require a certain level of essence condensation. Other essences could quickly fulfill this requirement under his absorption.

As long as he absorbed enough other essences, when it came time to elevate his realm, he would only need sufficient spiritual energy, and that would be facilitated by his cultivation points.

Such a good opportunity was not something to be missed!

With his strength greatly enhanced after breaking through Unity with the Dao, Ji Yang swiftly captured one of the essences in his hand. Just as he prepared to seize the other essence, he suddenly froze in surprise.

…

“Gasp, who would have thought that such a cultivator could not walk more than ten steps!”

“What mysteries lie within?”

Inside the hall, the onlookers watched Ji Yang, who had fallen after merely ten steps, and sighed with regret.

While feeling regret, fear also flickered in their eyes.

Even those present who had mastered essence wore grave expressions.

Everyone had witnessed Ji Yang’s formidable abilities. Even if he had not mastered an essence, that black power of lightning calamity was no ordinary force, especially with the spiritual treasure he held for protection.

Yet, after entering that invisible line, he could not walk ten steps before falling like the other cultivators, devoid of any sign of life.

Even his impressive power of lightning calamity and spiritual treasure had not provided an opportunity for use.

Ji Yang’s grim fate extinguished any desire for exploration in the other cultivators present.

Some of them began to reconsider their intent to participate.

The Blood Separation Sect cultivator watching Ji Yang’s fallen form couldn’t help but smile with delight.

After all, Ji Yang had made him lose face before, and now this fate seemed justly deserved.

He then turned to his senior brother, preparing to ask whether they should stay or leave.

However, upon seeing his brother’s slightly pale face and the turbulent power within, he realized something was off with his senior brother.

“Senior brother, what’s wrong?”

“Could it be from just now?”

“It’s nothing, just a minor injury. I can take care of it soon. For now, let’s not act recklessly; let’s assess the situation first.”

Hearing his senior brother’s response, the Blood Separation Sect cultivator was astonished. They had only exchanged a single move, and yet his senior brother had sustained a light injury.

If this fight continued, could they truly stand against him?

Fortunately, that person had already fallen; otherwise, he would have posed a significant threat.

However, the Blood Separation Sect cultivator sighed again. With Ji Yang also down, what were they supposed to do?

“Senior brother, should we retreat?”

“Not yet, let’s wait a bit! I feel like something is not right.”

Upon hearing this, the members of the Blood Separation Sect became vigilant. If their senior brother expressed such a concern, they could not afford to be careless.

Yet, as they looked around, they did not notice anything abnormal. Instead, some cultivators chose to leave after witnessing Ji Yang’s death.

The remaining cultivators did not stop those who were leaving. Fewer competitors made things easier for them; once most had departed, they could explore the area using other methods without worry.

Soon, many cultivators exited the hall, leaving behind only the disciples of the elite sects.

While others were willing to leave, they were not.

The more dangerous the place, the more precious treasures it would hold, otherwise, it wouldn’t have remained intact until now.

The effort put forth and the rewards gained were proportional, and that was why they were unwilling to give up.

“Something’s happening!”

Just as everyone was preparing to discuss their next moves, a surprised shout rang out from the crowd.

Hearing the voice, the crowd turned their furious gazes toward the speaker. But when they saw what he was pointing at, they all looked in that direction.

They saw Ji Yang, who had appeared lifeless, stirring slightly.

This scene caused many cultivators to step back. They had clearly seen him fall, devoid of any life, yet here he was seemingly resurrecting.

While incidents of coming back to life were not uncommon in the Cultivation World, it was a matter to be taken seriously in this secret realm.

However, given the uncertainty of the situation, no one acted rashly; they simply observed quietly, readying their treasures for action.

…

Outside the open bronze door, Ji Yang examined the essence he held in his hand, a thoughtful expression on his face.

At that moment, a familiar prompt appeared before him.

【Detected Wind Essence, would you like to absorb it?】

【Yes? No?】

Ji Yang did not rush to choose; instead, he looked up at the sky above, a faint smile emerging on his lips.

“Almost fooled me.”

As soon as he spoke, a powerful surge of electric light erupted from within Ji Yang’s body, and countless power of lightning calamity poured out, spreading all around him.

Amidst the outpouring of lightning calamity, an area not covered by it appeared in the distance.

“I’ve got you!”

Ji Yang’s gaze sharpened as he fixed it on that unusual spot.

There, amidst the countless bolts of lightning, an invisible essence rested. It was the presence of this essence that allowed that space to remain untouched by the power of lightning calamity, leading to Ji Yang’s discovery.

Realizing the significance of this extraordinary essence, Ji Yang swiftly dashed toward it, triggering the Essence of War within him.

With the boost of the Essence of War, Ji Yang clearly saw the thing that was opposing his power of lightning calamity.

It was a transparent butterfly. With each flap of its wings, a layer of profound essence emanated from its body and spread throughout the grand hall.

As this profound essence wafted through the air, Ji Yang felt his vision blur slightly again.

But with a tremor in his body, the essence within him quickly circulated, restoring clarity to his sight.

No longer hesitating upon finding the Main Instigator, Ji Yang raced to the butterfly’s location, unleashing a fierce burst of lightning calamity.

As the dark power of lightning surged forth, the butterfly, which had been flapping its wings vigorously, suddenly faltered and dropped feebly to the ground.

Without hesitation, Ji Yang reached out and grasped it in his hand.