The ground of Whale Island trembled. Within the Cave Mansion, rocks faintly loosened, and shattered stones fell.
"Do not panic," Giant Sword Dao Lord's voice reached Xu Xing's ears, reassuring him. "It's Gou Renshu of the Daoist Sect and Li Xiaoyun, the Young Master of Dragon Mountain Villa, who are dueling…"
Second in the Human Rankings… and third? Xu Xing frowned. He swung his sleeve, and the Island Protection Formation of Whale Island instantly operated at full power, ensuring the safety of the island's residents. Soon, the trembling sensation in the Cave Mansion ceased.
A water mirror materialized before him in mid-air. It was the Mirror Array, an auxiliary component of the Island Protection Formation, allowing him to observe everything within a hundred-mile radius. Through the power of the array technique, Xu Xing located Gou Renshu of the Daoist Sect and Li Xiaoyun of Dragon Mountain Villa.
Both were suspended in mid-air. Although Xu Xing recognized neither of them, he could roughly guess their identities from their attire. One wore a White Scholar Robe, his every movement exuding elegance and grace. The other, clad in a Gold Silk Black Robe, had a youthful face, yet there was a hint of somberness in his eyes.
"Li Xiaoyun," Gou Renshu began, his voice cold, "if you had merely 'picked flowers,' then even if I found your actions contemptible, I might not have interfered. My Daoist Sect has no desire for conflict with Dragon Mountain Villa. However, you insisted on slaughtering them… My Daoist Sect will undoubtedly eliminate a scoundrel like you!"
His words were not truly for Li Xiaoyun but for the cultivators of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace stationed there. Intruding upon the territory of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace without a justifiable reason would be hard to explain.
As his voice faded, he began to chant a passage from the Sages' writings. Each word of this profound text transformed into gleaming golden characters that swirled around him.
Li Xiaoyun showed no sign of weakness. He stood atop a ferocious Black Jiao, employing a secret technique to rapidly enlarge its form while retorting with cunning, "Cultivators of the Daoist Sect have always been hypocrites! Mortal women are nothing but filth to me, the Young Master of this Villa; why would I even glance their way? Yet your Daoist Sect, which constantly preaches benevolence and righteousness, hunts me down. If Dragon Mountain Villa learns of this, they will not spare you. If I perish here today, Dragon Mountain Villa will undoubtedly exact a bloodbath upon your Daoist Sect!" Li Xiaoyun was seething with rage.
However, before the two could clash again, a Female Cultivator in blue attire appeared nearby. With a wave of her sleeve robe, their Magic Power was instantly sealed, causing both to plummet from the sky and crash onto the sea surface.
"The Flying Feather Immortal Palace does not wish to be involved in the disputes between the Daoist Sect and Dragon Mountain Villa." Having spoken, a magpie emerged from the Female Cultivator's sleeve robe. The bird swelled in size as it met the wind. Its slender beak deftly plucked Gou Renshu and Li Xiaoyun by their robes, then tossed them onto its back. With a powerful beat of its wings, it soared away, heading beyond the Western Sea of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace.
That's Lan Pu Dao Lord… Xu Xing had seen this Dao Lord from the Sealed Demon Pan Palace during his apprenticeship ceremony. Lan Pu Dao Lord's decisiveness at this moment—showing no regard for personal feelings and directly ejecting Gou Renshu and Li Xiaoyun from the Flying Feather Immortal Palace's territory—slightly surprised Xu Xing. Lan Pu Dao Lord was known to be the most approachable among those in the Sealed Demon Pan Palace. Otherwise, Minister Zheng would not have recommended her private lessons during Xu Xing's first visit to the Great Hall of the Sealed Demon Pan Palace.
Those who reach the Dao Lord realm are by no means ordinary. Gou Renshu and Li Xiaoyun… they are merely reflections of what these Dao Lords once were… Xu Xing thought, shaking his head with a sigh. Pride of Heaven are common, but Dao Lords are far rarer. Achievements on the Human Rankings mean nothing to those at the Dao Lord realm.
Since they choose to squander their time… I shall take the lead and break through to the Returning Core realm. Xu Xing smiled to himself. With the experience gained from adventuring and cultivating in the Instance World, he only needed to quietly progress in Reality. Making a grand display for others holds little value for me.
It's also about time for my other self in the Bloodline World to begin Condensing the Pill. Xu Xing's thoughts shifted.
「 」
After breaking through to the Nine Stages of the Immortal Foundation in the Main World and completing the engraving of the Mysterious Symbol, Xu Xing in the Bloodline World immediately began working on breaking through the Immortal Foundation Late Three Stages. Although he lacked Top-grade Light Sealing Talismans to aid him, he possessed the experience. He successfully constructed the flawless Mysterious Light and began to accumulate Elixir Qi.
Seven years in the Main World equated to two hundred and ten years in the Bloodline World. Approximately fifty-nine years later, he broke through to the Ninefold Immortal Foundation realm. After cultivating Elixir Qi for another eight years, he successfully condensed the Void Elixir.
However, during the second step, "Jade Liquid," of the Jade Liquid Reversion Pill, he was without the corresponding Resources from the Main World. Consequently, this stage was prolonged considerably, taking him a full ninety-six years. Yet, the results of this arduous cultivation were significant. His Void Elixir and Jade Liquid were of a higher quality than those refined with the aid of Resources.
Over the next nearly fifty years, Xu Xing polished his Magic Power while seeking an opportunity for Condensing the Pill.
Finally, on this day, inspiration struck.
Enveloped in layers of Mysterious Light, the "Void Elixir" formed from Jade Liquid slowly began to crack. The mercury-like Jade Liquid within spilled out from the ruptured "Void Elixir." The green and red Mysterious Light transformed into the shape of a Three-legged Round Cauldron. It began to heat the white jade Immortal Base, facilitating its fusion with the "Jade Liquid…"
One day, two days… Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
A Pill, resembling a White Jade Wax Pill, floated serenely within Xu Xing's Dantian.