Chapter 391: How Can He Keep Growing Stronger?

Gulu gulu—

The Ma Chariots of Wu Lü Trading House rolled one by one into the forest, then transported numerous spirit stones into the cave, spreading them out in a layer.

Ji You, having finished sending the letter to the sullen ghost, watched from the side, sweeping his sleeve to stack them in an easily accessible position.

This place emits spiritual energy leaked from the Ancient Sages’ Sacred Ground, with extremely high concentration—enough for normal cultivation—but when he pushed toward the Eighth Gate, he clearly felt his energy faltering, so he had brought in a batch of spirit stones.

Even if unused, at least it’s a safeguard.

After all, entering the Divine Wanderer Realm is a major hurdle; its difficulty is self-evident, and thorough preparation is no overreaction.

Yuanchen stood to his right, frowning at the sight: “Brother-in-law, you’re really going to close yourself off again? What am I supposed to do?”

“I’ve taken you out for several days already. Remember to know when to stop—otherwise, there won’t be another chance.”

Yuanchen felt this was terrible news and opened his mouth to beg, but before he could utter a sound, he caught his sister’s cold gaze.

Younger brother knows he dares not disobey Master Ji, so every time he’s before Master Ji, he becomes wildly defiant.

Yuan Caimei withdrew her gaze and spoke coolly: “After your brother-in-law closes off, you will close off too. The stewardship of the Sacred Artifact cannot be taken lightly.”

“Understood…”

Yuan Caimei, seeing her younger brother comply, took out various elixirs and handed them to Ji You for emergencies.

She could only refine elixirs, and could only quietly care in this way.

Ji You watched them depart, lifted his robe hem, sat cross-legged on the ground, calmed his breath to slow and even rhythm, then gently closed his eyes and began to inhale and exhale.

Gradually, the spiritual energy scattered throughout heaven and earth began to converge, surging into the cave, then entering his body through his qi orifices.

If his internal spiritual energy ran low during the breakthrough, he could simply resume inhalation—but it would still cause a momentary delay.

Physical breakthrough demands unbroken continuity until the shackles are shattered, so Ji You compressed his spiritual energy to the utmost, hoping to absorb even more.

At this moment, as his entire body’s qi surged, his white robe billowed violently.

With a hum, the spiritual energy he inhaled began to condense, solidifying into liquid within his lotus-shaped spiritual core, like droplets of ice-blue beads dripping steadily from the lotus petals.

At first, only one or two drops, then a light drizzle, then gradually coalescing into a torrential downpour…

The condensed liquid spiritual energy gathered, pooling into a deep, profound lake within his lotus core—deep blue and mysterious.

As more droplets fell, the lake’s water level rose rapidly.

Until it reached the crack in his spiritual core—the deep lake burst forth like an ice-blue waterfall cascading between the lotus petals.

The spilling liquid spiritual energy surged along his meridians, flooding his limbs and bones, forcing out his entire qi like a roaring dragon’s cry.

Simultaneously, several letters were dispatched from the Heavenly Book Academy, heading toward immortal sects across the land.

These letters were written by Zuo Qiuyang, detailing the demon race’s embassy to Shengjing and his suspicions regarding their intentions.

He hoped the immortal sects would raise their vigilance, recognize the demon race’s ambition, and urged the other Four Great Sects to join the Heavenly Book Academy in reinforcing guards and increasing personnel before the Ancient Sages’ Sacred Ground was restored, to prevent chaos.

“The demon race has set its sights on the Ancient Sages’ Sacred Ground?”

“In response to your vice-abbot, the demon race’s movements during their embassy were indeed frequent, and they repeatedly inquired about the thousand-year clans’ joint scheme—this is likely true.”

Shang Hangkong, vice-abbot of the Dao Gate Sect, sat upon the Dao Altar in meditation. Hearing this, he opened his eyes slightly: “The restoration of the Ancient Sages’ Sacred Ground is still far off—we have time. Right now, I’m far more interested in another matter.”

The elder reporting to him, Shang Lie, looked up: “What matter, vice-abbot?”

“A few days ago, disciples sent to the Ancient Sages’ Sacred Ground all reported that Ji You was breaking through there. But after the demon race entered Shengjing, someone outside the sect saw him in the capital. I’m curious why he suddenly returned.”

“Ah, that matter—I’ve heard the report. A disciple relayed that Ji You remained in the Academy’s library, then met Zuo Qiuyang. Nothing noteworthy.”

Shang Hangkong raised his gaze: “Don’t you find this matter itself noteworthy?”

Shang Lie was puzzled: “Is this even noteworthy?”

“He suddenly returned to the capital, went to the library, met Zuo Qiuyang—acting with unusual caution. That can only mean one thing: he’s preparing to break through a major realm.”

“His combat power is already at the Boundless level. The next major realm…”

Seeing Shang Lie’s eyes widen, Shang Hangkong stepped down from the altar: “The world believes the barbarians and demon race pose the greatest threat to our human race. But in my view, that rustic private cultivator is even more dangerous—more dangerous than the demon race and barbarians combined.”

Shang Lie opened his mouth to ask why, when suddenly urgent footsteps approached the hall.

The footsteps grew closer, and the figure arrived swiftly within the great hall.

Shang Lie turned to look—and found the newcomer was none other than his cousin, Shang Hui.

Dust-covered, Shang Hui halted before the hall and bowed: “Reporting to Vice-Abbot: the Mingzhi Jingxin Pills have been transported from below the mountain.”

“How many?”

“Fifteen. Enough to last two months.”

“Not many, but sufficient for an emergency. Send them to the Sacred Heir’s palace first.”

As Shang Hangkong gave the order, he followed Shang Hui toward the hall’s exit.

Mingzhi Jingxin Pills? Shang Lie stared at the vice-abbot’s retreating figure, frowning in confusion.

The Mingzhi Jingxin Pills are an elixir refined by the Elixir Sect, capable of stabilizing a cultivator’s Dao heart when it risks collapse from obsession. But such pills are scarce, and since the Elixir Sect sealed their mountain long ago, the number circulating in the market is exceedingly rare.

Yet one advantage of these pills is that a single dose can carry a cultivator through the entire breakthrough process, so very few are needed.

That’s precisely what puzzled Shang Lie—he couldn’t understand why the Dao Gate Sect suddenly needed so many Mingzhi Jingxin Pills.

As he pondered, Shang Hangkong, reaching the hall’s threshold, suddenly turned and glanced at him: “Come with me.”

“Yes!” Shang Lie immediately suppressed his doubts and stepped forward.

The three descended the mountain from the vice-abbot’s quarters, riding spatial currents that howled over a mist-shrouded low peak, landing instantly at the Direct Disciple’s quarters.

It was a pavilion perched atop the mountain peak, with white jade steps leading straight into the clouds, culminating in a blue jade immortal hall. Glazed tiles reflected the flowing heavenly light, and immortal auroras continuously streamed into the sky from the eaves—but the vermilion immortal gate remained tightly shut.

Shortly after their arrival, Shang Hui’s top disciple arrived carrying a brocade box holding the pills.

“Vice-Abbot, all fifteen pills are here.”

“Well done.”

Shang Hangkong took the brocade box with a detached expression, then pushed open the sealed hall door.

The vast immortal hall was empty and deep, radiating an unusual silence. Before even entering, Shang Lie felt a chaotic, gloomy aura rush toward him, causing his heart to tremble slightly.

Facing that aura, the group entered the hall and walked steadily toward its depths.

Past the front hall and into the courtyard, the Dao Gate Sect’s Direct Disciple, Shang Xiyao, sat within a dim chamber.

At that moment, his lips were black, his face cyanotic, his entire body radiating an unsettling malevolence. He gasped for breath, eyes blood-red with agony.

As a Boundless-level cultivator, Shang Lie easily sensed the Sacred Heir’s cultivation had gone awry—his Dao heart teetered on the brink of collapse, not showing signs of qi deviation.

“Xiyao.”

“Uncle, I’m fine…”

Shang Xiyao lifted his head; large beads of sweat pattered to the ground, his eyes flickering with madness.

Seeing this, Shang Hangkong furrowed his brow, immediately took out a Mingzhi Jingxin Pill from the brocade box, forced it into his mouth, then unleashed radiant immortal light from his palms to assist in its assimilation.

“What exactly happened?”

“After returning from the Dao Debate Assembly, the Sacred Heir began his retreat. But shortly after, his Dao heart faltered—he nearly fell in realm due to heavenly backlash. Now his Dao heart is fractured, constantly drifting away from the Heavenly Dao, enduring great torment.”

Shang Hui glanced at Shang Lie and spoke softly.

Hearing the mention of the Dao Debate Assembly, Shang Lie froze—suddenly recalling the person he’d just been discussing with the vice-abbot. A realization struck him.

Seeing Shang Lie’s expression, Shang Hui gave a slight nod.

In truth, the Dao Gate Sect’s Sacred Heir’s Dao heart had already cracked during the Thousand-Year Clans’ joint scheme—when he faced the torrential demonic energy of the Heavenly Altar, he felt certain death and hesitated, refusing to enter.

This was perfectly normal; the other two sects’ Huo Xingzhong and Chen Luo had done the same. When everyone is afraid, it doesn’t damage the Dao heart.