Chapter 172: Embracing Elixir Realm Complete

Four elderly men in blue robes suddenly frowned and warned again, their tone stern: "Don't lose focus."

For warriors of the Nine Provinces imperial court, the Wumiao's purification is a rare opportunity.

If distraction causes you to miss this chance, and the qi passes through your body yet leaves only one or two percent behind, you'll regret it for years.

As his words ended, all four simultaneously formed finger seals.

The Luo Han's furious eyes gained a flicker of spiritual light—as if awakening from slumber, or perhaps confused, his awareness slowly gathering.

Finally, with excruciating slowness, it turned its head toward the first right-hand divine form, and instantly a streak of Jin Guang was drawn from the Yaksha form, drifting slowly into the armored youth's body.

The elders fell silent, calculating the time—this too was a chance to assess the participants' potential; any remarkable talent would be recorded by the Wumiao.

Ten breaths passed in an instant.

They all lifted their gazes, waiting for the Jin Guang to leave his body and return to the Golden Body forms.

Yet Shen Yi sat quietly, not a single strand of Jin Guang or even a wisp of qi leaving his body.

He deliberately waited a moment before looking at them: "Continue."

The sensation of being enveloped by a warm current was utterly blissful—far exceeding his expectations.

【Year One: You skillfully activate the Embracing Elixir Method, ingesting the Golden Body's qi; under the accumulation of potent energy, the Tiannan Inner Elixir takes its first form.】

【Life span increased by two hundred years.】

One blue-robed elder's eyelid twitched; he exchanged glances with the other three: "..."

Is this youth some kind of Pixiu, taking in but never giving out?

They formed the seals again.

The Luo Han's Golden Body stirred slightly, again slowly turning its gaze toward the second divine form.

Another identical streak of Jin Guang was drawn out and surged into Shen Yi's body.

The result was the same as before.

This time, they gave him no chance to urge them on—once the ten breaths passed, the third streak of Jin Guang followed immediately.

Shen Yi sank into inner observation.

There, within the sea of qi suppressed by the Mol Ri Treasure Furnace, a pure white inner elixir, like jade, was forming at a visible pace.

【Year Five: You ingest the Golden Body's divine qi and enter the Elixir Formation Stage.】

【Life span increased by two hundred years.】

"The consumption so far already equals ten normal purifications—what Embracing Elixir Method is he practicing, and he hasn't even reached Embracing Elixir Realm yet?" The elders suddenly felt a pang of regret; before they could say more, the youth looked at them again.

"Tiannan Dan Shi," another sighed.

"Which province's Demon Subduing General? It can't be... again..."

"Outside Qingzhou."

"How is he stronger than the last one? I recall that Miss held only seven and a half percent."

The elders murmured among themselves, yet their finger seals never ceased.

Until the ninth streak of Jin Guang emerged.

【Year Nine: Your Tiannan Inner Elixir has fully condensed.】

【Tiannan Dan Shi: Beginner Level.】

【Remaining Life Span: Nine Hundred Fifty-Six Years.】

Feeling the vast energy overflow from the youth's body, the elders finally exhaled, gazing at the nine Golden Body forms now noticeably dimmed, their expressions uncertain.

Seeing Shen Yi still made no move to rise.

One of them finally couldn't hold back: "Young sir, you've just broken through—this is your most saturated state. No need to replenish; further purification would do nothing."

Shen Yi's mind remained within his inner sea of qi.

There, the Ten-Percent Heavenly Demon Outer Elixir, swollen with full cultivation, was lazily circling his Tiannan Inner Elixir.

Logically, both were at the peak of Elixir Formation, yet the Tiannan Inner Elixir was clearly several times denser—its qi connected to his body's major orifices, flowing smoothly through his meridians, utterly unobstructed.

This was true Embracing Elixir Realm!

He summoned suppression power and slapped the Outer Elixir again, banishing it to the corner.

Shen Yi finally opened his eyes, slowly rising to his feet, politely saying: "Thank you for holding it for me—I'll return for another purification soon."

Though the Jin Guang bath felt pleasant, he had no intention of wasting this precious opportunity on mere comfort.

The blue-robed elders waved their hands, dispersing the white mist at the Wumiao's entrance, watching the youth walk out of the hall.

"..."

"Already? How do you feel?" Jiang Chengyun stepped forward, surprised.

"Fine." Shen Yi stretched slightly, feeling a quiet awe—this dynasty's depth, under certain circumstances, rivals even the Panel. Lucky I can benefit from both.

Yet more than the power increase, what truly moved him was the extension of his life span.

After all, he had already experienced the strength of Embracing Elixir Realm through the Heavenly Demon Outer Elixir.

But facing nearly a thousand years of life, Shen Yi was momentarily dazed—completely unsure how to use it.

Power growth was tangible.

But for a man in his twenties, such an endless span of years held no clear meaning.

He'd be living till the end of heaven and earth...

Shen Yi quickly steadied his thoughts and turned toward his quarters: "How long until the treasure is issued?"

Jiang Chengyun explained: "Should be soon—this time we're also collecting imperial rewards for other demon hunters from Outside Qingzhou, so it's complicated... Besides, tonight we're attending a banquet at the Wang Fu; no need to rush these next two days."

"I won't go."

Shen Yi returned to his courtyard room—he had zero interest in such affairs.

Rather than feigning politeness with others, he preferred to attempt breaking into the Embracing Elixir Realm.

"This…"

Jiang Chengyun sighed helplessly. Of course the other party had the capital to refuse, but he himself did not dare to brush aside the face of Prince Jinjiang: "It's getting late, so shall I head off on my own? We're all from Outside Qingzhou, after all — I can't let Lord Jiang attend the banquet alone."

Even though it wouldn't do any good, having one more person was always better than not.

"Mm." Shen Yi nodded.

After Jiang Chengyun turned and left the courtyard, he sat down at the table.

He first circulated his qi, sensing how his own inner core differed from the Heavenly Demon outer core in use.

Then he closed his eyes, recalling the section on Embracing the Core to Nurture the Spirit within the Heaven-Devouring Tiannan Dan Shi.

Just then, footsteps sounded again in the courtyard.

Shen Yi glanced sideways and saw a tall figure standing quietly in the yard — a long black skirt swaying slightly, black hair reaching her waist, that Bai Xi delicate face, bright eyes and pearly teeth — anyone who looked would find their breathing growing heavy.

But he keenly noticed that her body beneath the long skirt was somewhat stiff, as if she wasn't used to dressing like this.

Jiang Qiulan walked slowly into the room and sat quietly at the table.

She took two wine jars from her storage treasure, pushed one toward the young man, and said softly: "Warm yourself up."

"How come you're here?" Shen Yi did not reach for the wine jar.

Jiang Qiulan glanced at him and took a sip of the strong liquor herself.

Then she wiped the corner of her lips with her sleeve and exhaled: "Because I suddenly felt there was no need."

"No need for what?" Shen Yi raised an eyebrow.

The Miss looked at the wine jar in her hand; in her clear eyes a sharp intent welled up, and her voice was calm: "With me here in Outside Qingzhou, why would I need to borrow another's hand?"

(End of chapter)