Boom.
A controlled release of energy pulsed from his form as the breakthrough stabilized. Li Yao opened his eyes, a calibrated emission of refined divine light brightening the room for a precise moment before he reabsorbed the energy. He stood, a wave of stabilized aura—stronger, denser, more efficient—settling around him.
The system upgrade was complete. The Life Spring Realm parameters were now active.
He clenched a fist, running a diagnostic. Power output had increased significantly. Defensive and mobility matrices were now online. Most notably, the personal flight protocol was now accessible—a substantial increase in operational range and tactical flexibility.
He initiated the function. A sheath of golden divine light enveloped him as he rose from the ground. This was different from being carried. This was direct control. The ground became a tactical map beneath him, not a limit.
At the center of his Bitter Sea, the new core module—the Life Spring—was active. It was not a metaphorical spring, but a concentrated geyser of life force and divine power, directly linked to his Wheel of Life. It fed a constant, optimized stream of energy into his entire system.
He maintained altitude within the airspace of his assigned mountain, conducting flight tests. The wind was nullified by his divine light shield. The perspective was analytical: elevation provided superior reconnaissance capabilities and escape vectors. The freedom was a tactical advantage, not an emotional high.
Assessment: The power differential between the consolidated Bitter Sea and the new Life Spring state was pronounced. Engaging his former self would be a swift, decisive execution. This validated the known principle: realm advancement provided exponential returns in capability. 'Slaying immortals while defying the heavens' was a label for statistical outliers operating under exceptional conditions.
After thirty minutes of system checks and maneuverability tests, he landed on the mountain peak. His aura was fully contained, the divine light retracted. The internal system readouts were stable: the Bitter Sea was calm, serving as a vast reservoir; the Life Spring at its center provided a continuous, circulating flow of power. Efficiency was optimal.
His activity had not gone entirely unnoticed. Zhang Chong, arriving with the monthly resource allocation, observed the conclusion of the flight test from a distance.
Zhang Chong's analysis ran contrary to Li Yao's internal reality. He saw a disciple breaking through to the Life Spring Realm in one month. The Yao Guang Scripture was profound; comprehension alone should have taken most disciples that long. To comprehend and cultivate the Bitter Sea chapter to perfection represented not just high talent, but comprehension skills of a historic grade. In the calculus of potential, comprehension ability was a multiplier on innate talent. A figure like the Ruthless Empress demonstrated that supreme comprehension could transcend initial physical limitations.
He added two hundred jin of Pure Source to the jade vessel in his hand—the adjusted stipend for a Life Spring realm disciple of Holy Son rank.
"Supreme Elder Zhang." Li Yao offered a slight bow as Zhang Chong approached, having sensed the elder's deliberate aura.
"You broke through." Zhang Chong stated the observable fact, his tone flat, masking internal recalculations.
"A moment of clear comprehension," Li Yao replied. The statement was technically true. The 'luck' was the existence of the Heavenly Book, which rendered 'comprehension' an instantaneous data transfer. To an outsider, it appeared as monstrous talent.
Zhang Chong's expression was unreadable. 'Luck' had no place in this. Moreover, his perception scanned the solidity of Li Yao's aura. It was not the shaky light of a fresh breakthrough, but the stable radiance of one who had maximized the previous realm. His foundation was peerlessly solid, and his current energy density rivaled that of an average Divine Bridge cultivator. This indicated extreme consolidation of the Bitter Sea—a process requiring vast resources and perfect understanding to avoid bottlenecks.
The pieces formed a new picture: Li Yao was not just a talent. He was a comprehension savant with the discipline to build a flawless foundation. This combination shifted the long-term projection of his ceiling significantly upward.
He handed Li Yao the jade vessel. "Your resources. Adjusted for your new realm." The message was clear: his performance was being tracked, and the investment was scaling accordingly.
Li Yao accepted it. The increase was expected, part of the operational contract. "My thanks. This will facilitate further stabilization."
Zhang Chong gave a final, appraising nod before departing. The report to Elder Xun would be interesting.
Alone again, Li Yao looked at the resources. The path was clear. The additional resources would accelerate his cultivation speed, leading to faster realm advancement. Faster advancement brought deeper, realm-locked insights into the Dao. Those insights were the premium fuel for the Heavenly Book. The Book would use that fuel to evolve the Life Spring chapter of his Yao Guang Scripture, making his foundation in this realm equally peerless.
It was a positive feedback loop: Resources → Faster Advancement → Deeper Comprehension → Scripture Evolution → Stronger Foundation → More Resources. His detachment was not indifference; it was the focused execution of this loop. The distant, hidden threat of the Supreme Saint Lineage was not yet a variable in this calculation, but it would be. For now, the priority was the next iteration of growth.