Chapter 700

Chapter 700: Breakthrough in Cultivation

“How is Yao Hongchen recovering?” Ye Yun asked gently, glancing at Qiu Xiao and Wan Sha.

“She should be mostly fine now. However, Senior, your sparring with Sister Hongchen was a bit too harsh. Even with healing pills, her body remains weakened,” Qiu Xiao explained. “But she did come out earlier and told us she’s regained much of her strength.”

“Is that so?” Ye Yun chuckled. “Then I’ll take my leave. Ling’er and Jin An, you two train diligently with them.”

“Cultivating again…” Golden Ling’er groaned, scowling at the two Fourth Level Nascent Soul stage cultivators. Her reluctance grew, but when Ye Yun vanished via teleportation, she huffed, “What exactly are you two teaching us?”

“We’ll start with channeling spiritual power,” Wan Sha said, eyeing Golden Ling’er and Jin An. “The girl will slowly guide spiritual power through her meridians. The boy will force his through all at once.”

“Ugh, I hate this! We’re already exhausted—shouldn’t we rest?” Golden Ling’er gritted her teeth, pushing spiritual power through her aching meridians.

Jin An fared better. Having mastered full-body channeling, his process flowed smoother.

Once the pair were settled, Ye Yun sat cross-legged on a mat, focusing inward. His spiritual power surged like a contained storm, swirling rapidly yet restrained. Though he had ample top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones to crush for energy, challenges remained.

The main hurdle? Perfectly condensing the stone’s power. While simple for the Ancestor of the Sword Path, Ye Yun struggled. Controlling the energy’s flow while gathering scattered wisps required intense mental energy. At best, he harnessed forty percent—half the Ancestor’s efficiency.

“Your Golden Core stage limits you,” the Ancestor remarked as Ye Yun labored. “Reaching Nascent Soul would resolve this.”

Ye Yun’s persistence pleased him. Mastery demanded time—even legends weren’t born skilled.

“Alchemists make mental control look effortless,” Ye Yun muttered. “Maybe I should…”

But alchemy wasn’t his path. Expanding his sea of consciousness through external means seemed the only option. When traditional methods failed, he turned to the Ancestor.

“Any shortcuts to boost mental power?”

“Thunder Spirit Qi could shatter your limits,” the Ancestor offered. “Dangerous, but swift.”

“No alternatives?”

“None I know. The choice is yours.”

Resolved, Ye Yun had the Ancestor erect a Deceptive Array to mask his presence. He expelled all but his Thunder Spirit Qi, bracing for agony.

Lightning stabbed his mind—needles and ants gnawing his consciousness. His hair bristled like a porcupine’s spines. “Hurt worse than expected,” he rasped, jaw clenched.

“Stop if it’s too much,” the Ancestor warned.

“I’m no fool.” Ye Yun forced a grin, flooding his sea of consciousness with thunder. Pain blinded him, yet control held.

By dawn, Golden Ling’er and Jin An had finished training. After briefing Yao Hongchen, they awaited tomorrow’s World Tree awakening.

“Where’s Brother Ye Yun?” Wan Sha laughed. “Strange not seeing him now.”

“Likely in closed-door cultivation,” Yao Hongchen said. “Honing his Seventh Level Nascent Soul peak without rushing to Earth Immortal realm—admirable patience.” As she spoke, Golden Ling’er devoured the feast spread before them, utterly content.

"Miss Golden Ling’er and Brother Jin An, I’m curious how you came to know Brother Ye Yun." After three rounds of drinks, Yao Hongchen suddenly asked with a smile.

Jin An didn’t mind the question. "I met Senior Ye Yun in the outside world," he replied cheerfully. "We agreed beforehand to enter the treasure together."

"Though it’s a bit awkward," he added with a rueful grin, "Senior Ye is my Master’s friend, yet he’s younger than me. I can’t decide whether to call him ‘senior’ or ‘brother’."

Golden Ling’er’s Water Spirit Python, coiled around her middle finger, devoured food like a snake that starved to death in its past life. Yao Hongchen laughed loudly. "Servants! Bring another Medicinal King Feast for this honored spirit beast!"

"Oh, Little Water’s being terribly rude!" Golden Ling’er scolded her pet, though her eyes sparkled as she watched more delicacies being laid out.

"Not at all!" Yao Hongchen waved a hand. "I took to Brother Ye immediately. Even without our connection, how could I resist such an adorable companion?" His crimson eyes crinkled as he smiled at the blushing girl.

"You flatter me, Young Master Hongchen." Though pleased, she knew ninety percent of this courtesy stemmed from Ye Yun’s influence. After exchanging pleasantries, she and her python stared hungrily at the new feast.

"These are all potent supplements!" Qiu Xiao blinked in surprise at the spread of rare spirit materials. "Brother Hongchen, this must cost at least ten top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones!"

"Nothing’s too good for friends," Yao Hongchen dismissed the concern. "Brother Ye would rebuke me for skimping when he emerges from closed-door cultivation."

The group resumed their feast. As they ate, Yao Hongchen’s crimson eyes glimmered with quiet amusement – these guests might prove useful as cannon fodder in coming events.

BOOM!

Thunderous power suddenly shook the heavens. Everyone except the low-realm Golden Ling’er felt peculiar pressure radiating from Ye Yun’s quarters.

"That oppressive feeling… Brother Ye’s made great strides on his path of cultivation." Even Yao Hongchen’s pride couldn’t deny it – if Jin An’s claim about Ye Yun being only twenty was true, this talent surpassed mortal limits.

"Truly despair-inducing strength." Qiu Xiao drank deeply. "To reach the Seventh Level of the Nascent Soul stage’s peak with such profound depth…" Facing that pressure directly might shatter bodies and trap Nascent Souls.

Wan Sha nodded. "We shouldn’t compare ourselves. Brother Ye’s talent makes him a dragon among men. Competing would only bring shame."

"Indeed," Jin An agreed ruefully. "His combat power could slaughter everyone in the Xumi Treasure."

Though all present were proud, they acknowledged Ye Yun’s peerless aptitude and demeanor. Yao Hongchen listened in unusual silence while Golden Ling’er, oblivious to the tension, happily gorged herself.

"My mental energy has reached its limit." Naked amidst ashes of his incinerated robe, Ye Yun smiled at the Thunder Spirit Qi dancing in his palm.

"I nearly intervened," chuckled the Ancestor of the Sword Path. "Glad I restrained myself."

"That was risky." Ye Yun flexed his fingers, lightning sigils flashing in his eyes. Seven top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones materialized and dissolved into immortal spirit power. He inhaled deeply, absorbing the energy.

"This is my current limit." His consciousness now outpaced his physical vessel – like wielding masterful sword techniques with a rusted blade.

"You’ve reached the seventh-level Golden Core stage’s peak." The ancestor watched him don a fresh black robe. "Now we wait for the Sun and Moon Dual Souls to enhance your body to Golden Core limits. Rest until tomorrow’s World Tree awakening."

"I’ll stroll instead." White light pulsed within Ye Yun as he gazed at the giant tree forest ahead. Yesterday he’d have dismissed this impulse – today, he meant to try.