The time of sages.
"Husband, husband, my cultivation has reached the peak of the Nascent Soul realm now!" Alice said happily, hugging Yang Feilong.
They had been cultivating together before and didn't have time to share this happy news.
"I know, my cultivation has also broken through quite a bit, and I will soon be a Nascent Soul realm cultivator as well," Yang Feilong said with a smile.
"..." Alice pouted upon hearing this, her smile fading. She grumbled, "You monster, you're so strong even before breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm!"
It was only a couple of days ago when they were chatting after confirming their relationship that Yang Feilong had told her his cultivation level.
Alice had been so shocked at the time, she could have fit a goose egg in her mouth.
Thinking of that scene made her want to laugh.
"Then when are you planning to break through to the Nascent Soul realm?" Alice asked, nestled in Yang Feilong's arms, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"No rush," Yang Feilong shook his head. "My Golden Core realm hasn't reached its peak yet. I'll see after I reach the extreme."
He was mainly worried that if his cultivation was too strong, even if the demonic passage in the provincial capital was unusual, he wouldn't be able to enter it. Of course, even if he couldn't enter, it wouldn't matter much.
If all else failed, he would send Tang Ya back first.
Moreover, his women, seeing his prolonged absence, might think of notifying his master. Several women had met his master and knew how to contact her, and his master would surely find a way.
He also had his own people in control of a commander and two deputy commanders in Baizhu County. He would notify them through the sound transmission stone these past few days to keep an eye out.
Perhaps they could set up an altar there to summon him back. Even if they summoned a demon and then sent it back to inform him, it would be fine. After all, Wulan Xiuwei knew he controlled the three commanders of Baizhu County.
Therefore, Yang Feilong wasn't overly anxious. If the Nascent Soul realm broke through naturally, it would be too late to break through, and it wouldn't be a big deal!
This was different from his previous thoughts.
However, he felt that his Golden Core realm still had room to grow stronger. After a little more refinement, he would break through!
For the next few days, Yang Feilong spent most of his time with Alice. Of course, he also made time for Tang Ya, as he couldn't neglect her too much!
Alice also felt that Yang Feilong had been spending more time with her these past few days, and felt a bit ashamed. When Yang Feilong suggested they sleep together that night, Alice hesitated for a long time before shyly agreeing!
Thus, Yang Feilong once again experienced the joy of a single horse accompanying a pair of saddles.
A few more days passed, and Yang Feilong's cultivation had reached the extreme of the Golden Core realm's perfection, reaching a point where further advancement was impossible. At this time, his soul strength had also reached the level comparable to the late Nascent Soul realm.
Yang Feilong began to attempt to fuse his soul and Golden Core. However, after a slight attempt, Yang Feilong stopped.
"My powerful soul can't quite control my Golden Core?" Yang Feilong was shocked by this result.
Soon, Yang Feilong understood the reason.
"The breakthrough from the peak Golden Core realm to the Nascent Soul realm requires the soul to reach the peak Nascent Soul realm and the physical body to reach the extreme Golden Core realm! Only then can they fuse perfectly. But my Golden Core has fused with the energy of multiple powerful cultivation paths, making it extremely powerful! It's normal for a late Nascent Soul realm soul to be unable to control it. Perhaps once the soul breaks through to the peak Nascent Soul realm, the fusion will be natural, and I will truly break through to the Nascent Soul realm!" Yang Feilong mused to himself.
The Nascent Soul realm and the Soul Nascent Soul realm level are different. The Nascent Soul realm is a fusion of the Golden Core, while reaching the Nascent Soul realm with the soul is just reaching the realm, but the strength and fusion of the Nascent Soul are different.
The power of the Nascent Soul in the Nascent Soul realm is a materialized martial attack, which can also be de-materialized to only exert a soul-level attack!
However, the soul only has soul attack effects. For physical attacks, it still relies on the power of the Golden Core. Yang Feilong and the Nascent Soul realm cultivators he encountered all integrated their soul power into their Golden Core power to counter the attacks of Nascent Soul realm existences!
"After my soul reaches the peak Nascent Soul realm, I wonder if the power of the Nascent Soul realm will be comparable to the attacks of the Void Refining realm?" Yang Feilong's heart was filled with anticipation. "Soon, I'll just wait for my soul to cultivate to the peak Nascent Soul realm first!"
Although the fusion was unsuccessful, the harvest was not small. The path for the fusion of soul and Golden Core was almost clear. When the soul realm reaches his goal, he will officially enter the Nascent Soul realm.
In fact, if he were to fuse now, he could. He would just need to dissipate some of the Golden Core's power. However, doing so would significantly reduce his strength after breaking through compared to his target, so Yang Feilong was unwilling.
It was like the soul and the Golden Core formed a large bucket. The bottom diameter of the bucket was ten meters, but half of the bucket's height was ten meters, and the other half was only eight meters. The formed bucket could only hold water with a diameter of ten meters and a height of eight meters.
It seemed to hold countless times more water than a bucket with a diameter of one to two meters and a height of one to two meters, but it held much less water than the bucket he could have originally achieved with a diameter of ten meters and a height of ten meters!
Therefore, he needed to compensate for that deficiency, which was to raise his soul to the peak Nascent Soul realm.
This way, once he broke through to the Nascent Soul realm, even if it was only the early stage, he would be much stronger than others at the peak Nascent Soul realm.
With seven or eight days left before the assessment in the provincial capital targeting the lords of each prefecture, Alice said to Yang Feilong, "We should head to the provincial capital, or we'll miss the assessment. Let's leave tomorrow, how about it?"
"En, good!" Yang Feilong nodded.
Although there was a backup plan, they still had to go to the provincial capital.
After all, this assessment was related to resources. Being able to secure more cultivation resources would be beneficial to both himself and Alice.
...
The next morning, Yang Feilong and his party of four bid farewell to the people of the Azure Luan clan.
Since being severely injured by Yang Feilong that day, Zelian had not appeared in public for the past half a month, possibly recuperating or too ashamed to show his face.
The necessary instructions had already been given by Aid and the others.
Therefore, there were no further instructions for Yang Feilong and his group when they left.
During their visit to the Azure Luan clan, they had met almost everyone in the clan. Besides those who were out adventuring, the only one within the Azure Luan clan whom they hadn't met was the Azure Luan clan's ancestor.
"The ancestor is in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Body Integration realm. I don't know if he will succeed!" Alice sighed.
"Good fortune favors the kind-hearted. I believe your ancestor will succeed!" Yang Feilong comforted her.
In reality, Yang Feilong was merely comforting Alice. There were many existences at the peak Void Refining realm, but how many truly broke through to the Body Integration realm? Very, very few.
Whether in the Spirit Realm or the Demonic Realm, those who could become Body Integration realm cultivators were all powerful beings!
However, this step had also stumped many people. Many peak Void Refining realm cultivators died not in battle, but due to the approaching end of their lifespan or failed breakthroughs to the Body Integration realm, leading to their demise.
For example, King Huoyan. One could say he died of old age, or one could say he died of a failed breakthrough to the Body Integration realm. He must have attempted to break through to the Body Integration realm for the last time before his lifespan ended, but he failed.
A peak Void Refining realm cultivator attempting to break through to the Body Integration realm would not necessarily die, but if their lifespan was nearing its end, they could not withstand the backlash and would naturally perish!
Many Body Integration realm cultivators were exceptionally gifted. They mostly did not break through to the Body Integration realm at the brink of their lifespan. While breaking through before the end of their lifespan offered hope, the hope was very slim.