At Jia Nan Academy, the Library Pavilion.
After walking through the long, dim passageway, Lin Yuan once again set foot here after a long absence.
Looking up, he saw a purple cocoon of light standing in the open space before the pavilion. It was over a zhang wide, and beneath the brilliantly starry night sky, it radiated a mysterious and noble deep-purple glow. From within the cocoon, faint mysterious runes occasionally flickered.
Sensing Lin Yuan's arrival, the purple cocoon of light emitted a joyful soul fluctuation.
Seeing this, Lin Yuan walked to the front of the purple cocoon and gently patted it with his hand. In a warm voice, he asked, "Zi Yan, how are things? Is everything going smoothly?"
The purple cocoon flickered, and a massive stream of information entered Lin Yuan's mind along with a soul fluctuation.
"You'll complete your advancement in a few days? That fast this time?" Lin Yuan slightly furrowed his brows and reminded her, "Girl, don't rush. We have plenty of time. You must wait until your advancement is completely perfect before breaking out of the cocoon."
The purple cocoon flickered rapidly, and another joyful and somewhat smug soul fluctuation was transmitted from within.
"The energy contained in the pill is far too abundant, so it saved you the time needed to absorb energy."
After carefully sensing the condition inside the cocoon, Lin Yuan nodded. "That's true. The massive amount of energy contained within an Eighth-Grade pill is indeed enough to help you cross from the sixth tier to the seventh tier."
Magical beasts did indeed seem to require very little time to break through to the seventh tier.
Looking at the cocoon of light before him, Lin Yuan could not help but recall Medusa's advancement process. Back then, after completing her evolution ritual, her essence had already broken through to the seventh tier. She only needed to spend some time afterward absorbing energy and stabilizing her cultivation.
Now, with the enormous amount of energy provided by an Eighth-Grade pill, it was only natural for Zi Yan to advance so quickly.
At this moment, another soul fluctuation carrying a hint of anticipation emerged from the cocoon.
Hearing Zi Yan's request, Lin Yuan smiled and gently stroked the purple cocoon before him. With a doting tone, he said, "Alright, alright! I'll stay here with you for the next few days and wait to witness the moment you complete your advancement and emerge from the cocoon."
Hearing this, a joyful soul fluctuation rippled outward, followed by a faint, soft hum from within the cocoon.
"Help me nourish the dragon energy inside my body? Thank you."
Hearing Zi Yan's suggestion, a delighted look flashed through Lin Yuan's eyes. He did not refuse. Instead, he released the surging dragon energy within his body.
The moment the massive purple dragon energy left his body, it surged toward the cocoon of light and merged into it without the slightest obstruction.
As the dragon energy entered, the purple cocoon of light also gradually settled down. Wisps of deep-purple radiance flowed across its surface.
Lin Yuan smiled lightly and cupped his fists toward the empty space ahead. "It's been a long time, Elder Bai!"
Before his voice had even faded, the space began to distort slightly. A gray figure suddenly appeared before Lin Yuan.
It was none other than Bai Lie.
After appearing, Bai Lie sized Lin Yuan up for a moment before smiling appreciatively.
"Four-star Dou Ancestor. The speed at which your cultivation has improved is truly frightening. I can sense quite a threat from you. My intuition has always been accurate. It seems your strength has already surpassed mine!"
Hearing this, Lin Yuan waved his hand and hurriedly said, "How could that be? My strength is still far from that of the two elders."
"Enough!" Elder Bai casually waved his hand and laughed. "There's no need to be overly modest. You don't need to be so respectful toward us old fellows!"
After a pause, his tone became more serious. "You respect us as senior figures of the academy, and we also need to respect your strength and alchemy skills. That makes us even. When we talk, just treat each other as equals and be more casual."
"Otherwise, I would feel heartbroken if this hard-earned bond between us were wasted on meaningless formalities!"
Hearing this, Lin Yuan looked at Bai Lie with some surprise before chuckling. "Elder Bai, you really are remarkably clear-minded!"
Bai Lie smiled and said meaningfully, "On the Dou Qi Continent, the strong are respected! This has never been an empty saying. It is an ironclad rule. You can judge people however you wish, but when it comes to strength, you must maintain the necessary respect."
"When a strong person displays their strength, the weak should give them the corresponding respect. Only then can a healthy order be maintained."
"Thank you for your guidance, Elder Bai!" Lin Yuan cupped his fists and gave a sincere salute.
Lin Yuan himself agreed with Bai Lie's viewpoint.
Unless two people were extremely close, there was naturally an inherent order between the strong and the weak, and an appropriate distance would naturally form between them. The stronger party could naturally choose to ignore it as they pleased, but the weaker party always needed to remain mindful and must not let temporary success go to their head.
Lowering his cupped hands, Lin Yuan's attitude also became more casual as he asked, "Elder Bai, why don't I see Elder Qian?"
"As for that old fellow Qian, he went to the Central Plains to help you obtain medicinal ingredients!" Bai Lie stroked his beard and said calmly. "It has been about a month since he left. At his pace, he should be able to return in another two months or so."
"Once he comes back, the two of us can take turns going into seclusion and attempt to break through."
As he spoke, a hint of anticipation flashed through Bai Lie's eyes. With three Beginning Venerable Pills in hand, the chances of fulfilling the long-cherished wish he and Qian Mu shared were quite high.
The two of them were only one step away from reaching the Dou Venerate realm, and both possessed the qualifications to enter seclusion and attempt the breakthrough to Dou Venerate.
Previously, they had been afraid of the backlash from a failed breakthrough, so they had continued tempering their cultivation. After all, failing to break through to the Dou Venerate realm could result in terrifying backlash. One moment of carelessness could lead to severe injuries and a drop in cultivation. It was even possible to die and have one's cultivation completely destroyed.
And when attempting a breakthrough, one's state of mind had always been an extremely important factor.
In fact, after obtaining the Pills, Bai Lie had not yet taken one, but simply having his psychological pressure relieved had already caused the Dou Qi within him to become much more active. His cultivation, which had been stagnant for a long time, had even begun showing faint signs of improvement.
Sensing the trace of emotion in his words, Lin Yuan said confidently, "I believe it won't be long before the academy has two more Dou Venerate powerhouses."
"I hope so." Bai Lie smiled complicatedly and let out a faint sigh. "There is only a single step between the peak of the Dou Ancestor realm and the Dou Venerate realm, yet the difference between them is like heaven and earth. To cross this final gap, Old Qian and I have spent several decades."
"Throughout these decades, we have never stopped cultivating diligently. We have made every preparation we could. Now that we also have the Pills, if we still cannot succeed, then it can only be fate."
"The two of you have accumulated enough strength over the years. You will definitely succeed," Lin Yuan said.
"Then I'll take your good wishes." Bai Lie nodded and said solemnly, "Make yourself at home here. I'll continue cultivating in seclusion."
With that, his figure disappeared behind the barrier and slowly faded from Lin Yuan's sight.
Lin Yuan sighed inwardly.
This was the world of "ordinary" cultivators.
Once someone entered a steady and methodical cultivation routine, even a former Grand Elder of Jia Nan Academy had to spend several years or even a decade simply to break through a single star, a single tier.
"That is precisely why I'm unwilling to cultivate steadily and methodically. That is precisely why I have to stir things up and walk a tightrope."
"The bigger the waves, the more valuable the fish!"
With a faint smile, Lin Yuan looked at the purple cocoon of light before him, a hint of amusement appearing in his eyes. This was the confidence that allowed him to join the Hall of Souls and seek opportunities while working with a tiger.
As for the Hall of Souls, Lin Yuan had never underestimated it. He was also mentally prepared for the possibility of having some measures placed on him after joining.
After all, Lin Yuan himself could research all kinds of soul restrictions and various methods targeting the soul. The Hall of Souls, an ancient force that had conducted research into souls for countless years, certainly would not lack methods of controlling others.
Lin Yuan had a feeling that even if he took the initiative to join the Hall of Souls, there was a high probability that similar methods would be placed on him.
However, there was an almost ironclad rule on the Dou Qi Continent.
No matter how ingenious or troublesome the methods of a low-level cultivator were, it was not particularly difficult for a high-level cultivator to remove them.
Take the troublesome Demonic Poison Spot, for example. It was difficult for someone of the same level to resolve, but a cultivator one tier higher could easily neutralize it.
Therefore, even if Lin Yuan had some soul-related methods placed on him to gain the trust of the Hall of Souls and the Hun Clan, as long as they were not personally imposed by Hun Tiandi, everything would still be manageable.
As long as Zi Yan's father, the Dragon Emperor Zhukun, was willing to intervene, all those methods would be nothing to worry about.
As one of the peak powerhouses on the Dou Qi Continent, Zhukun's peak Dou Saint cultivation and Emperor Realm Soul were more than enough to crush any methods the Hall of Souls could place on him.
The Zi Yan inside the cocoon of light was Lin Yuan's true trump card. She was also the core of the grand strategy he would carry out in the future.
After entering the Central Plains, he would do everything in his power to help Zi Yan form the Dragon-Phoenix Body. If the subsequent battle for Origin Qi could not be settled quickly and instead turned into a prolonged stalemate, Lin Yuan would fully support Zi Yan and help her rapidly grow until she reached the peak of the Dragon-Phoenix bloodline.
A peak Dragon-Phoenix, the complete Ancient Bodhi Tree, and the Emperor Grade Young Pill were three clearly defined forces capable of surpassing Hun Tiandi and Gu Yuan. They possessed enough strength to break the existing balance of power.
According to the ancient legends passed down through the ages, once a Dragon-Phoenix truly reached its peak, even when facing the legendary Dou God, it could remain completely unafraid.
Whether that legend was true or not, and whether a peak Dragon-Phoenix could truly rival a Dou God, there was one thing that was certain. She would definitely be capable of suppressing Hun Tiandi and Gu Yuan.
After all, magical beasts respected bloodlines above all else. Zhukun's bloodline was one level inferior to that of a Dragon-Phoenix, yet his strength was already enough to rival Hun Tiandi and Gu Yuan. With a bloodline one level higher, a Dragon-Phoenix would undoubtedly become far stronger after reaching its peak.
As long as Zi Yan could become a Dragon-Phoenix and reach her peak, the Origin Qi or the inheritance left inside the Ancient Emperor's Cave would be as good as Lin Yuan's.
As for whether Zi Yan could truly reach her peak, Lin Yuan had absolute confidence.
Although this girl was carefree and somewhat scatterbrained, there was absolutely nothing to criticize about her talent. It was a level of talent even Lin Yuan himself envied.
She was clearly a Ancient Void Dragon, yet when it came to digesting energy, she was completely comparable to the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. Moreover, the amount of energy she consumed when advancing was far greater than that of ordinary magical beasts, which had also resulted in an extremely solid foundation. She possessed the ability to fight opponents above her level.
In other aspects, Zi Yan's conditions were equally outstanding.
She was the designated next Dragon Emperor, had Zhukun, a peak powerhouse, protecting her path, and had a high-level alchemist like Lin Yuan supporting her. As long as she had enough time, she would definitely grow to her peak.
And when Lin Yuan obtained the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade, he had already secured that time for Zi Yan.
This was the "cautious" route Lin Yuan had designed. The only difference was that the protagonist of this route was Zi Yan rather than Lin Yuan himself.
This route would be completely prepared once they found the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit.
Thinking of this, Lin Yuan walked to the front of the cocoon of light and gently patted it. In a meaningful tone, he said, "Little girl, you'd better work hard and become stronger as soon as possible. Your big brother here is still waiting to live off you."
As if she could sense the seriousness in his words, a while after Lin Yuan finished speaking, the light of the cocoon suddenly brightened slightly, as though she were patting her chest and confidently guaranteeing that she would do it.
"Hehe!" Seeing this, Lin Yuan could not help but chuckle. "Really? Then I'll be counting on you from now on "
After saying that, he sat cross-legged beside the cocoon of light. With a flip of his hand, a gray scroll appeared in his palm. It was the Gathering Fire to Condense Pills method that Yao Lao had perfected.
He spread open the scroll and began studying it carefully.
Time slowly passed in the quiet wait.
Five days later.
In the tranquil space before the purple cocoon of light, rings of water-like spatial ripples suddenly spread outward, as though a lively "water mirror" had been placed in the calm void.
Then, the figure of a man dressed in blue quietly appeared within the "water mirror" before leisurely walking out of it.
"Tap…"
A moment later, a crisp and firm footstep echoed through the silence. One foot steadily stepped out of the "water mirror" and landed on the bluestone pavement, while the person in the mirror seemed to have walked directly from illusion into reality.
As Lin Yuan completely emerged from the "water mirror," his entire body seemed to transform from an illusory image into a real person.
At the same time, the several other phantom "Lin Yuans" in the sky also vanished without a trace at this very moment, leaving only him standing between heaven and earth.
After experiencing and comprehending the sensation he had just felt, the corners of Lin Yuan's mouth curled upward, and a satisfied look flashed through his eyes.
"Second stage of Void Traversal, Phantom Weaving. Successfully cultivated."
Just then, the energy within this area, which had been sealed off by layers upon layers of spatial barriers, began to fluctuate violently.
Lin Yuan turned his gaze toward it.
The purple cocoon of light radiated dazzling purple light, while numerous mysterious runes slowly appeared across its surface. These runes emitted faint rays of light, making the entire scene look quite extraordinary.
Seeing this, a delighted look appeared in Lin Yuan's eyes.
"After spending half a month, this girl has finally refined that enormous medicinal energy."
As time passed, the light emitted by the cocoon grew increasingly intense.
"Crack…"
A crisp sound suddenly rang out.
A tiny crack abruptly appeared on the surface of the cocoon of light.
As though a curtain had been raised, successive cracking sounds rang out. Countless tiny streaks of purple radiance seeped through the small crack.
When cracks finally covered the entire cocoon, a mysterious fluctuation rippled outward.
The cracked purple shell of the cocoon suddenly transformed into a dense stream of purple energy that spiraled inward, forming an extraordinary vortex of purple energy.
Suddenly, a pillar of purple light violently shot into the sky from within the vortex of purple energy, colliding with the spatial barrier Lin Yuan had established and causing waves of spatial ripples to erupt.
A heaven-shaking dragon roar rang out from within the purple light.
"Roar!"
An incomparably violent sonic wave instantly swept outward.
Under the impact of this violent sound wave, four of the five layers of spatial barriers Lin Yuan had established in advance began to shake violently. However, after being weakened by four layers, the sound wave was finally stopped by the fifth.
"As expected of the most authentic and supreme dragon roar. I'd call this the strongest sonic Dou Technique I've ever witnessed."
Watching the effect of Zi Yan's single roar, Lin Yuan could not help but suck in a cold breath.
Although Zi Yan had merely let out a simple roar just now, its power was actually even greater than the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds when he unleashed it with his full strength.
Before he had time to think further, the changes before Lin Yuan continued.
The vortex of purple energy began flowing back inward, finally being completely absorbed into the petite body within the pillar of light.
In the next instant, Zi Yan's petite body began to transform at an astonishing speed.
A thunderous roar rang out, and a gigantic purple dragon soared into the sky.
It was a long dragon whose entire body was purple, yet within that purple hue was a faint trace of noble golden radiance.
The true form of the Ancient Void Dragon appeared before Lin Yuan's eyes for the first time.
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