Chapter 223: Breaking Through to the Peak of the Spirit Transformation Mid-Stage

After comforting Si Yuyan, whose stress had multiplied due to worry, Jiang Xun left the Consciousness Space, took a bath, changed his clothes, and after putting on the Nine Heavens Reversal Robe, headed toward the plaza.

A night passed, all Secret Realm challenges ended, and there was less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense before the second round, the melee, would begin.

The contestants and spectators also arrived at the plaza one after another.

When Jiang Xun arrived, many people crowded around him, chattering in his ears.

Most were disciples from noble families, all there to curry favor with Jiang Xun; to avoid the trouble of exchanging Communication Jade Tubes, Jiang Xun ignored them all.

He walked past them with a cold face.

The noble disciples looked disappointed, but they dared not say anything more.

Further back were those from royal clans and dynasties; they just waved or nodded to greet Jiang Xun, not as aggressive as the noble disciples.

After all, in their view, it was not yet the time to befriend Jiang Xun; he had already offended many people because of Gufang Ninglin, and in the previous match, he had finished off so many disciples from dynasties and royal clans, making him a thorn in many people's sides.

The Tianyu Dynasty had sent people to Tianwai Island for the first time, and no one knew what kind of Dao protector was following him, nor did they know his status within the Tianyu Dynasty.

He certainly could not win the Top Ranking Challenge against Ling Shangtian, so to the disciples of the dynasties and royal clans, Jiang Xun was still someone to be observed.

"Brother Tian is here." Yun Ruling stood in the arena, and seeing Jiang Xun arrive, he walked over quickly: "Many thanks to Brother Tian for informing me about the exit."

"A small matter." Jiang Xun nodded and smiled: "How does Brother Yun plan to handle the melee today?"

"With you and Brother Ling here, I fear I have no hope; I'll just survive as long as I can." Yun Ruling laughed.

"My senior brother plans to break through during the melee, take everyone out in one go, and leave only me behind so we can participate in tomorrow's duel together and give me a chance for a one-on-one."

Jiang Xun laughed.

"That depends on how fast he is; when only eight people remain on the field, the melee ends, and I am confident I can hold out for a bit against those at the Void Refining Initial Stage."

Yun Ruling laughed.

"Good luck." Jiang Xun nodded and patted Yun Ruling on the shoulder: "If you make it to the next round, we shall have a serious bout in the next round."

"No, no, no." Yun Ruling waved his hands repeatedly: "I can't beat you at all; if I happen to run into you, Brother Tian, in the next round, I'll just not step onto the platform."

He did not want to hurt himself again.

"Hahahaha, Brother Yun is indeed a man who knows the times."

Jiang Xun laughed upon hearing this.

"After the Top Ranking Challenge ends, I plan to take the people of the Yunyi Dynasty to search for the whereabouts of the Lingerie-Sect; would Brother Tian like to join?"

Yun Ruling asked.

"I am returning to the Tianyu Dynasty soon, so I'd better not." Jiang Xun shook his head.

Searching for the Lingerie-Sect and asking me to come along... I'll slaughter the lot of you.

"Alright... the Dao Masters are here." Yun Ruling nodded, then saw that the Dao Masters had returned to the nine pillars.

"Did your master do anything to you?" Seeing the dark-faced Dao Master Yan, Jiang Xun turned and asked.

"He wouldn't dare." Yun Ruling laughed: "I have the Yunyi Dynasty backing me, what could he possibly do to me?"

"That is true." Jiang Xun nodded upon hearing this.

The Yunyi Dynasty was still much stronger than the Yanwu Dynasty.

At most, Dao Master Yan could only scold Yun Ruling in private and not give him important tasks on Tianwai Island in the future.

"Junior Brother Tian."

Ling Shangtian and Tang Zhirou walked over from not far away and called out to Jiang Xun.

"Senior Brother is here." Jiang Xun cupped his hands and said.

"Mm... Brother Yun is here too." Ling Shangtian returned the salute and looked at Yun Ruling.

"Brother Ling, please show mercy." Yun Ruling cupped his hands and laughed.

"Given that we defended against the enemy together in the Secret Realm, that goes without saying." Ling Shangtian laughed.

"Many thanks." Yun Ruling nodded.

Jiang Xun took this opportunity to send a message to Tang Zhirou, who was standing in the Void Refinement Realm group: "Tang Shanhe, tonight at the Hour of the Rat, meet at the Gufang Ninglin cave."

Tang Zhirou, standing in the group, was clearly stunned upon hearing the words "Tang Shanhe"; seeing her reaction, Jiang Xun felt relieved, as it seemed Tang Shanhe had obediently passed on the message.

Tang Zhirou also recognized that this was Jiang Xun's voice, but she suppressed the urge to look toward Jiang Xun, holding back her excitement to remain calm.

As the disciples arrived one after another, it wasn't until the melee was about to begin that Jiang Xun realized that on the Spirit Transformation Realm side... there were only three people: himself, Ling Shangtian, and Yun Ruling...

"It seems they aren't coming." As the Sound Dao Lord stood up, Yun Ruling laughed.

"Next is the second part of the Top Ranking Challenge, the melee. Before it begins, the three disciples of the Spirit Transformation Realm may leave; those who did not come are considered to have forfeited, and the three of you advance directly."

"Dao Master Bing, I forfeit the next round as well!" Yun Ruling raised his hand and shouted.

Since no one else was participating, and he couldn't beat Jiang Xun or Ling Shangtian, he might as well forfeit.

"Understood." Dao Master Bing nodded, then continued: "Next, raise the Battle Platform. The Golden Core disciples go up first, followed by the Nascent Soul, and finally the Void Refinement. Except for the Golden Core disciples, everyone else disperse."

"They are afraid of Senior Brother; following Senior Brother is truly a blessing." Jiang Xun said while looking at Ling Shangtian as they walked out.

"That's perfect; in the next round, I won't break through to Void Refinement, and I'll have a proper spar with Junior Brother." Ling Shangtian laughed.

In truth, the disciples of the Spirit Transformation Stage were more than just afraid of Ling Shangtian.

Ling Shangtian could finish off so many people in the Secret Realm without even breaking through, let alone breaking through during the melee; if he were struck by heavenly lightning and killed, who could one go to for justice?

There was Yun Ruling, who had spent eight years in seclusion focusing on the soul; the disciples he blocked at the exit yesterday were like wooden blocks when they returned, almost hovering on the brink of death.

There was the monster Tian Zeyan, who fought nineteen people alone, subdued seven, drove two away, and killed ten in seconds; the Soul Path disciples he beat down yesterday, three were left demented, and two were dead.

Dead.

Inside the Secret Realm, attacking the soul and causing death.

If he could kill inside the Secret Realm, what about outside?

Plus, the three of them were clearly in cahoots.

And with the Lingyun Dynasty, Tianyu Dynasty, and Yunyi Dynasty, even if people died at their hands, no one would dare to go looking for trouble.

Therefore, absolutely no one dared to come and join this chaotic battle.

After separating from Ling Shangtian and Yun Ruling, Jiang Xun went directly to Gufang Ninglin's cave, sat cross-legged there, and began to cultivate; he even entered the Wall Mirror Jade Pendant, using Top-grade Spirit Stones and all his Sacred Artifacts.

He wanted to see just how fast the cultivation speed of the Ice Flame Spirit Root really was.

Six hours passed, and Jiang Xun slowly opened his eyes, stunned where he sat.

Damn it, he was at Peak Mid-Stage God-Transformation?

He had only just reached Spirit Transformation Mid-Stage this morning!

So his Mixed Spiritual Root really was trash; in the past, even if he had sat and practiced like this for three days and three nights, he wouldn't necessarily have been able to break through!