Chapter 1003: Can't Escape

"Spatial lock!"

Ye Liuyun immediately used Spatial Power to lock the space around it, preventing it from escaping, and then activated the Primordial Spirit Secret Technique to absorb slowly.

The move proved effective; the True Essence was quickly absorbed cleanly and transformed into Ye Liuyun's Mysterious Origin.

But because Ye Liuyun was relatively far away, the core did not release any more True Essence.

Ye Liuyun stood in place for a while; the core returned to normal and, as before, intermittently released True Essence.

"It seems this core only sensed the energy, so it emitted True Essence to be absorbed,"

Ye Liuyun tried several more times, with the same result each time.

Thus, when Ye Liuyun tried again, the core released True Essence for the third time.

This third True Essence was considerably stronger than the first two, nearly breaking through Ye Liuyun's spatial lock.

"Looks like the third time is the limit!"

Ye Liuyun determined his own limit, so after each set of three absorptions he retreated far away.

Absorbing at this speed was somewhat slow, but safer.

Moreover, Ye Liuyun's realm was on the verge of breakthrough, so it didn't take long; with the supplement of this pure energy, he felt the Mysterious Origin inside his core surge out suddenly.

"Damn! I've broken through!"

Ye Liuyun hadn't expected that after reaching the Zao Hua Realm, the breakthrough would be so tumultuous.

For a moment, he couldn't move at all.

At that moment, the third wave of True Essence from the True Dragon Core was being rapidly absorbed by Ye Liuyun, and his body now required a large amount of energy to replenish.

If he stayed put, the fourth, stronger wave of True Essence released by the core might pull him in and become nourishment for the core.

But if he forcibly halted the breakthrough and left, the next breakthrough would be risky and would affect future cultivation.

While Ye Liuyun hesitated, the Mysterious Origin inside him, unable to absorb energy, began to stir restlessly.

It even showed a tendency to absorb his Physical Body and Bloodline Power.

Ye Liuyun immediately decided, using Divine Sense to retrieve a Spirit Stone from his storage space.

However, the extra Spirit Stone made the True Dragon Core mistakenly think external energy was intensifying.

It released True Essence again.

This time the True Essence was stronger, bursting out in the form of a massive dragon.

Ye Liuyun hurriedly used Spatial Power, attempting to lock that True Essence.

But at this critical breakthrough moment, although Spatial Power doesn't require True Essence, it still demanded his attention to control.

His Spatial Power could not reach its fullest strength now.

The dragon-shaped True Essence, far stronger than the third wave, flicked its tail and easily shattered the spatial lock, opening its mouth toward Ye Liuyun and devouring him.

"All or nothing! I absorbed it!"

Ye Liuyun gritted his teeth, fully activated the Primordial Spirit Secret Technique while gathering all the Spirit Stones back.

He had to take the risk, using his breakthrough's intense energy demand to instead absorb that True Essence.

The Mysterious Origin inside him, upon contacting external energy, immediately ceased internal absorption and ravenously contested the True Essence.

Thanks to Ye Liuyun's robust Physical Body, he withstood the energy scorching and ultimately drew the True Essence into himself.

However, before he could relax, the core had already released a fifth wave of True Essence, another larger dragon sweeping toward him.

Only then did Ye Liuyun realize that the core not only released stronger True Essence over time, but also at an accelerating frequency.

There was virtually no pause between the fourth and fifth releases.

But now that he knew, it was too late. With no choice, he could only keep absorbing.

In any case, his breakthrough still required massive energy; as long as his Physical Body could endure the scorching, he could absorb all the True Essence.

Sure enough, Ye Liuyun's Physical Body withstood the True Essence's burning; though painful, it was bearable.

Meanwhile, the energy needed for the breakthrough received a huge supplement.

Inside him, the Mysterious Origin was undergoing a qualitative change.

Once the Mysterious Origin's transformation is complete, it will all return to the core, and he will be able to move.

Ye Liuyun anxiously awaited.

But the result left him completely dumbfounded.

He hadn't finished absorbing the fifth wave of True Essence, nor completed the breakthrough, when the sixth wave—a True Essence dragon—was already released.

"It's over, I can't dodge it!"

Ye Liuyun closed his eyes and could only brace himself.

He felt a wave of heat envelop him; this energy was even stronger.

"Ice Demon Tiger, cool me down!" Ye Liuyun worried his Physical Body wouldn't hold.

Ice Demon Tiger sprang up, sprinting toward Ye Liuyun to rescue him, spitting a blast of cold air to try to encase the True Essence dragon surrounding Ye Liuyun.

"Don't come! Release the cold from a distance!"

Ye Liuyun quickly ordered Ice Demon Tiger to stop, fearing the True Dragon Core would sense the tiger and further amplify its True Essence release.

The Exotic Scale Armor on his body now showed signs of melting.

His Physical Body also bore burn marks.

Fortunately, Ice Demon Tiger's cold air acted in time, freezing a large portion of the True Essence and giving Ye Liuyun a chance to recover and absorb.

Ye Liuyun seized the chance, absorbing desperately; the more he absorbed, the less the True Essence harmed his Physical Body.

"Blue Wind Wolf, pull me back with wind!"

Ye Liuyun, realizing the danger, immediately commanded Blue Wind Wolf to use wind from afar to pull him away.

Blue Wind Wolf instantly summoned wind, forming a strong gust beside Ye Liuyun to blow him out.

But before that gust of wind could even touch Ye Liuyun, the True Dragon Elemental Pellet released a seventh wave of True Essence, scattering that wind. It also pulled Ye Liuyun toward the pellet.

"Alas!"

Ye Liuyun let out a long sigh in his heart, knowing he could no longer get out.

He immediately put on the divine artifact's protective robe, hoping to endure a little longer.

At that moment, the Barbarian Ox let out a loud roar, charging at Ye Liuyun from the side, intending to knock him flying.

"Maybe it could work!" Ye Liuyun saw hope again.

Then, before the Barbarian Ox could even reach him, the True Essence released another stream of True Essence, first dragging the Barbarian Ox inside.

Before the Barbarian Ox was dragged into the True Dragon Elemental Pellet, Ye Liuyun saw that its Physical Body had already begun to melt.

Ye Liuyun was being pulled bit by bit toward the pellet.

Now that he had put on the divine artifact, and with the Ice Demon Tiger continually using Ice Power to cool him down, he could barely sustain himself.

But what if he gets sucked in?

The True Essence inside is too abundant; Ye Liuyun definitely cannot hold out.