Nearly three months later, within the Earthfire Furnace Chamber.
Lü Yang, trembling slightly, slowly rose.
No—it would be more accurate to say he floated up rather than stood, for he no longer possessed flesh and bone, but was now a scarlet blood shadow!
"I've succeeded!"
The blood shadow had no face, only a slightly distorted voice vibrating amidst the swirling light: "Ninety-nine eighty-one days… finally succeeded!"
In the next second, the blood shadow gradually receded. The skin that had been shed onto the floor flew through the air as if summoned and was "worn" onto the blood shadow's form. The pale skin slowly filled with color, and the withered flesh plumped up. In just a short while, the fully intact Lü Yang appeared within the furnace chamber.
At first glance, he seemed no different from an ordinary person.
Yet in reality, compared to three months ago, Lü Yang's aura was now even more powerful. His majestic true qi faintly coalesced into a seed of qi.
Qi Refining Seventh Layer—Late Stage!
Perhaps the process of cultivating this supernatural power had been too agonizing, an unimaginable trial of essence, energy, and spirit, which unexpectedly led him to break through his cultivation bottleneck.
Even more fortunate was that this occurred before he had fully mastered the supernatural power.
If it had happened afterward, breaking through would have been meaningless—his cultivation would have been permanently stuck at the seventh layer of Qi Refining.
"But this is enough."
Lü Yang murmured softly. Possessing the [Hundred Lifetimes Book], he never dwelled on the achievements of a single lifetime; his goal was to utilize them in the next.
"Let's test its power!"
As soon as the thought arose, a magnificent sword pellet appeared between Lü Yang's brows. His form then transformed into a streak of blood-red light and merged with the sword pellet.
Boom!
Outside Wanbao Peak, the ground violently trembled. The once bustling crowd swayed, and several people tumbled to the ground.
"What's happening?"
"An earth dragon turning over? Impossible! With all the True Immortals suppressing the earth veins, how could an earth dragon turn over?"
The disciples exchanged bewildered glances. One with higher cultivation suddenly sensed something and instinctively looked in a certain direction, his eyes gradually widening in shock.
"Look!"
"That's…"
Everyone's gaze followed.
Immediately, they saw a piercing rainbow shoot out from a furnace chamber, soaring into the sky in the blink of an eye, causing clouds to surge wherever it passed.
Clang! Clang!
The crisp sound of a sword echoed across the heavens. The intense crimson light dyed Wanbao Peak blood-red, stirring the spiritual energy of the world into a towering wave!
Amidst such a surge of spiritual energy, most disciples could barely breathe, nearly suffocating!
"Such momentum… Late-stage Qi Refining?"
A disciple watched with envy. "This person has already condensed a Qi seed, only awaiting the final step of nurturing to reach perfection. From then on, Foundation Establishment will be within reach."
"I wonder which senior brother made the breakthrough?"
"I've seen senior brothers at late-stage Qi Refining before, but none had such spiritual pressure. That rainbow-like sword light is probably an extraordinary magical treasure as well."
At the same time, above the sea of clouds.
Lü Yang transformed into a blood shadow, his qi merging with the sword light. His spiritual sense spread in all directions, revealing every detail within a radius of over ten miles as clearly as the lines on his palm.
"Late-stage Qi Refining—true qi sinks into the dantian, transforming into a Qi seed, triggering a metamorphosis of essence, energy, and spirit. If I still had a physical body, my constitution would have undergone a qualitative leap. Invulnerability to swords and spears would be commonplace, and my true qi would have increased dozens of times over. Unfortunately, only spiritual sense remains now."
Just as Lü Yang was sighing, his eyebrows suddenly raised.
"Who goes there?"
Before he could finish speaking, his sword flashed, tearing through the clouds like a crimson rainbow and revealing a young, handsome figure.
"Senior Brother, don't attack! Don't attack!"
The man shouted, but Lü Yang paid no heed. His sword struck, and the man hastily produced a small flag, holding it aloft.
In the next instant, the flag fluttered and transformed into a pair of flag gates.
The man hid within one of the flag gates. Only after Lü Yang's sword light followed inside did he pull out the other flag gate and beckon.
The flag gate vanished, returning to a small flag.
Lü Yang raised an eyebrow, realizing his sword light had been trapped in an unexpected space, evaded by the other.
"Interesting."
Lü Yang grinned. The sword pellet between his brows vibrated violently, like muffled thunder rolling across the sky, instantly splitting into dozens—even hundreds—of sword lights, like a peacock spreading its tail.
Seeing this, the previously smug young man's expression changed dramatically. He hurriedly took out his small flag magical treasure again to protect himself and shouted, "Senior Brother, I am Xiao Shiye! I came only to make your acquaintance, with no ill intentions. Please withdraw your magic!"
"Xiao Shiye?"
Lü Yang froze upon hearing this, and the sword light about to erupt suddenly halted mid-air, reflecting a face covered in cold sweat.
That predetermined plant?
The next second, Lü Yang sheathed his sword and resumed human form, landing before Xiao Shiye. He laughed heartily, "Junior Brother, don't misunderstand! I was only teasing you!"
Xiao Shiye wiped the sweat from his brow, inwardly grumbling that Lü Yang had clearly been serious. But on the surface, he wore a bright smile and said earnestly, "Senior Brother, your supernatural powers are vast, your magic boundless. I admire you greatly. Please accept this small token—do not refuse."
With that, he casually offered the small flag in his hand.
"How could I possibly accept this?"
Shaking his head, Lü Yang accepted the small flag, only then noticing two characters embroidered in gold thread upon it: "Void Escape."
"This treasure is called the Void Escape Flag," Xiao Shiye explained. "I bought it at an antique shop before entering the sect. At first, it didn't seem particularly remarkable, but after entering, I discovered it was a rare treasure."
"The flag has two sides; when activated, it transforms into two gates—one for death, one for life."
"Within the same cultivation realm, as long as one enters through the gate of death and exits through the gate of life, even in the greatest danger, a path of survival can be found, untouched by calamity."
Hearing this, Lü Yang couldn't help but twitch.
Such a marvelous treasure, and Xiao Shiye had casually bought it from a mortal antique shop before even entering the Holy Sect?
Thinking this, Lü Yang suddenly had an idea and focused his spiritual sense into his eyes.
At the late stage of Qi Refining, with greatly enhanced spiritual sense, many wondrous applications came naturally. Lü Yang was now using a technique called "Qi Observation."
The result was astounding—Lü Yang's eyes nearly widened in disbelief.
In his vision, Xiao Shiye's entire being—from his crane-feather cloak and boots to his robes, headdress, and even the belt around his waist—radiated with precious light!
In terms of quality, it was likely no less than his own sword pellet!
Even with Lü Yang's usual composure, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of resentment.
After all, the magical treasure he had spent months and a fortune to forge was something Xiao Shiye seemed to acquire as effortlessly as picking up leaves—it was enough to make anyone envious.
"This guy's luck is off the charts!"
If Lü Yang had previously suspected that Xiao Shiye winning the grand prize in the merit pool was due to shady dealings, he now changed his mind.
Could it really be just luck?
Thinking this, Lü Yang's expression gradually turned peculiar again.
With luck this formidable, sticking close to him would undoubtedly lead to many opportunities—especially since his cultivation was still low, making it all the easier to seize them.
This Xiao Shiye… truly seemed like a treasure trove of potential!