As the black flower bud closed, the only sound emanating from the valley was the tearing sound of the black vortex above it drawing in the yin energy.
…
One year later.
The yin energy within the valley had become extremely thin, almost dissipating, and the deathly aura that had permeated the air had vanished completely.
Sunlight pierced through the thick, heavy clouds that had swirled above the valley for years, filling it with warmth once more.
The black earth within the valley, now thinned by the yin energy, gradually returned to its normal color, green grass began to grow, and trees began to sprout.
Occasionally, some animals and low-level magical beasts appeared in the valley. The once deathly, cold, and silent valley was now gradually regaining its vitality. Beside
a clear stream within the valley, a figure sat cross-legged, eyes closed, the energy of heaven and earth frantically converging into his body, drawing in the remaining yin energy in the air.
His robes bulged from the overflowing energy emanating from his body, his face flushed, and wisps of white mist rose above his head.
His aura was surging wildly, as if breaking free of some shackle, frantically absorbing energy and concentrating it at a single point within him, then unleashing it towards a specific target. Suddenly, a sound like something shattering
rang
out, followed by a torrent of energy surging forth like a burst dam, as if a transformation had been completed.
The river churned violently from the terrifying force, and the trees beside it were shattered into pieces.
After a long while, the energy in the world slowly dissipated, all the energy gathered within the man, and everything returned to calm.
The man slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with excitement and a hint of disbelief. He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body, and couldn't help but laugh loudly to the sky.
"Hahaha, thirty years! I never thought I, Hai Bodong, would one day advance to the Dou Zong realm! Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, never underestimate the poor in old age! Medusa, you wait! After I recuperate for a few days, I will come and kill you, avenging this thirty-year seal! Hahaha!" The
one laughing maniacally at this moment was none other than Hai Bodong, who had stayed behind to cultivate by the Black River in the canyon a year ago. The Yin energy here was extremely beneficial to him, a cultivator of ice-based Dou Qi. In less than half a year, he broke through two stars and reached the peak of Dou Huang.
The black river in front of him, because its Yin energy had been absorbed by Hun Changqing at the summit of the mountain, had lost one-tenth of its power.
Hai Bodong was also aware of this. Thinking of his current peak Dou Huang cultivation, he was only one step away from the Dou Zong realm that he had always dreamed of but could never reach.
He forcibly suppressed his past fear of the black river and began absorbing its Yin energy. Although most of the terrifying Yin energy had dissipated, it was perfectly suited to Hai Bodong's needs. After half a year, he finally broke through the realm he had longed for for decades.
At this moment, Hai Bodong was in high spirits. His face, having broken through to the Dou Zong realm, transformed from the wrinkled old man into a man in his thirties, and his hunched back became incredibly upright.
However, the next moment, a beautiful, graceful figure appeared before him. This was the nightmare that had been rooted deep in his heart for decades. Seeing this figure, the fear deep within Hai Bodong's heart was awakened once more.
...
It turned out...not long ago... Within the black flower bud atop the mountain peak,
two figures intertwined, and after an unknown period of time, they slowly separated.
The two were none other than Hun Changqing and Medusa.
Hun Changqing assessed his internal state. The Wood Essence had completed its advancement, its quality more perfect, and the death energy more refined, perfectly integrated with his own.
After a year of relentless "labor" with Medusa, almost all the energy within him had been refined.
Relying on the Wood Essence's immense energy, Hun Changqing had made continuous breakthroughs within a year, advancing from a three-star Dou Zong to the peak of a seven-star Dou Zong, with one foot already in the eight-star Dou Zong realm.
This was the result of him using most of his energy to refine the three divine waters, the primordial true water, and the Wood Essence; otherwise, with this energy, he would likely have already reached the Dou Zun level.
However, Hun Changqing didn't care. Although he hadn't used all this energy to break through his realm this time, refining his primordial essence greatly increased the power of all the divine objects within him, multiplying them several times over.
The total amount of true energy within his body had also increased significantly, and its quality had become much more condensed. Previously, the Taiyin True Energy within Hun Changqing's body was like a small river, but now it had transformed into a vast lake.
With a flick of his wrist, he could unleash powerful fighting techniques, no longer needing to meticulously calculate the amount of true energy he used.
Hun Changqing then glanced at Medusa beside him, her cheeks still flushed, her perfectly white body exuding a captivating allure. Sensing her aura, he smiled and said,
"Not bad, you've already reached the fifth level of the Dou Zong realm. You've certainly gained a lot this past year."
Medusa, hearing Hun Changqing's words, opened her eyes, recalling how, over the past year, the two of them had spent either refining energy or transferring it through some unspeakable means.
Moreover, the postures were all bizarre and varied. Just thinking about it made Medusa's delicate body tremble slightly, a warm current flowed through her lower abdomen, and her heart fluttered. A trace of shame and indignation flashed in her beautiful eyes. She turned her head and coldly said,
"Beast! I'd rather not have these cultivation energies than be treated like this by you, you despicable beast!"
Looking at Hun Changqing's exquisitely beautiful face, which seemed like that of a celestial being, Medusa couldn't understand why such a perfect face could hide a soul like a demon from the abyss.
His methods were despicable and cruel, his personality vile, and he was extremely evil. It seemed that all the most vicious words in the world could be used to describe him without being excessive.
Hun Changqing didn't care about Medusa's sarcastic tone and laughed.
"Oh, really? It seems your words don't match your actions. You've been quite cooperative towards the end this past year."
Medusa, filled with shame and anger, suppressed the strange sensations in her body, her beautiful eyes instantly turning icy. She forced a cold demeanor and spoke defiantly, her voice dripping with murderous intent.
"Heh, I admire your methods of degrading people, but you'd better kill me first, or one day I will kill you!"