“Don't rush. The fourth disciple will be here soon.”
Lu Xuan's brow twitched. This System truly lagged far behind. He still yearned for the feeling of stepping into the Supreme realm, roaming the boundless Starry Sky. Beyond the Tai Chu Realm, that was the true world. Supreme was merely the beginning!
In the days that followed, Lu Xuan moved freely. Sometimes he would be in Xiao Li's Sacred Island, plucking spirit fruits to savor. Other times, he would casually offer pointers on cultivation to Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen.
Currently, the Grand Dao Sect's Old Ancestors, Elders, and disciples were all cultivating like madmen. After all, the Bronze Ancient Palace now belonged to them!
Tianyuan Old Ancestor had already stepped into the Starry Sky, breaking through to Half-step Supreme! Xuan Shang Old Ancestor and others also showed signs of breakthrough, though they hadn't quite made it yet. The Body Tempering Peak Peak Master, Sword Peak Peak Master, and others had directly stepped into the Emperor Realm! Things were looking up for the sect.
One day, Chen Changsheng slowly opened his eyes, his demeanor as calm as an ancient, placid lake. He smiled as he approached Lu Xuan. “Thank you, Master.” He had successfully refined the Bronze Ancient Palace.
Lu Xuan was lounging on a recliner in Xiao Li's Sacred Island, leisurely tasting spirit fruits. He chuckled. “It's nothing. Just a mere Bronze Ancient Palace.”
Chen Changsheng immediately took out his Dao Profound Iron Pot and began cooking. Wisps of cooking smoke curled upwards. Xiao Li and the Green-skirted Girl scurried over. Under the Green-skirted Girl's persuasion, Xiao Li had now transformed into a loli. The two squeezed onto Lu Xuan's recliner, eagerly waiting for dinner.
Just then, the System's voice rang out.
“Ding! Congratulations to Host for completing the disciple quest: Assist Chen Changsheng in refining the Bronze Ancient Palace!”
“Issuing rewards!”
“Ding! Congratulations to Host for a massive amount of cultivation foundation!”
“Ding! Congratulations to Host for obtaining one One-rotation Quasi-Dao Supreme Experience Card.”
“Ding! Congratulations to Host for obtaining one Cultivation Technique Enhancement Jade Slip!”
“Ding! Congratulations to Host for one Nine-star Emperor Body.”
“Ding! Congratulations to Host for Medical Dao Attainment increasing to One-rotation Quasi-Dao Supreme tier!”
The voice faded.
A surge of pure spiritual energy poured into Lu Xuan's body, rushing through his meridians like a great river. His cultivation instantly soared to Seven-star Emperor Realm Mid-stage! It was that familiar tingling sensation.
Lu Xuan looked at the Experience Card, frowning. “System, why is it only Quasi-Dao Supreme tier this time?”
The System replied, “The Heaven and Earth power of the Southern Wilds currently only allows One-rotation Quasi-Dao Supremes to emerge.”
Next, an ancient jade slip appeared in Lu Xuan's hand. A Cultivation Technique Enhancement Jade Slip! With a mere activation, it could upgrade a cultivation technique to One-star Supreme tier! Lu Xuan nodded faintly. “This one's not bad. I'll upgrade Fuyao's first.”
Then, he saw an ownerless Emperor Body. Its internal world was vast and boundless, its Dao foundation as brilliant as stars, truly perfect. Lu Xuan smiled. “This one can be given to Old Yao.” After all, once they left the Bronze Ancient Palace this time, Ye Chen's family could finally reunite. Old Yao could also return to the Yao family.
Following this, Lu Xuan felt a massive influx of medical Dao insights flood his mind. His Medical Dao Attainment instantly soared!
While Chen Changsheng was cooking, Lu Xuan summoned Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen over. Lu Xuan smiled. “Fuyao, bring out your cultivation technique. I will upgrade its tier for you.”
Ji Fuyao's eyes shimmered with divine radiance. She immediately handed the jade slip of her Heaven-Burning Art to Lu Xuan. Lu Xuan directly activated the Cultivation Technique Enhancement Jade Slip.
“Boom!”
A mysterious power surged. Ancient Characters floated around Lu Xuan, constantly rising and falling, dazzling Ji Fuyao. Though she hadn't cultivated it yet, even from a fleeting glimpse, Ji Fuyao sensed a terrifying power contained within the new Spirit Art/Technique. Lu Xuan's white robe billowed without wind, and Dao Rhyme flowed around him like water.
Before long, myriad spirit fire profound insights hovered in Lu Xuan's palm. He injected them all into the ancient jade slip. A brand new Heaven-Burning Art emerged. Lu Xuan handed the ancient jade slip to Ji Fuyao. “It is now a One-star Supreme Tier Cultivation Technique!”
Ji Fuyao's graceful figure stepped forward to receive it, a hint of astonishment in her eyes. “Supreme tier!” Her divine sense probed within, and she immediately found the Spirit Art/Technique incredibly obscure and difficult to comprehend, almost torturous to decipher. It was as if the profound mysteries were right before her eyes, yet utterly untouchable.
The Green-skirted Girl pouted. “I don't believe it. Let me see.” She took the jade slip and examined it. After a moment, she said, “It really is a One-star Supreme Tier Cultivation Technique. It's just that this world cannot yet bear such power, so it can only exert power at the Quasi-Dao Supreme level.”
Ji Fuyao's flawless face broke into a breathtaking smile. “Thank you, Master.”
Lu Xuan glanced at Ye Chen. “Later, I'll upgrade yours.”
Ye Chen was visibly excited. “Understood, Master.”
Chen Changsheng soon finished preparing the meal. Everyone gathered around and began to eat. Chen Changsheng said, “After I make some adjustments, we can return to the sect.” Everyone nodded in agreement. “Alright.”
Unbeknownst to them, half a year quietly slipped by.
...
Southern Wilds.
Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone.
In the territory of the Silent Destruction Sect, Twisted Jungles spread far and wide. Dark Dao Patterns surged like a black tide, and the Eerie Power and Ominous Power grew increasingly浓郁. Within the Great Tombs of the Twisted Jungle, both forbidden powers continuously overflowed.
The pale moonlight shone upon an ancient hall deep within the twisted depths, dim and lifeless. The hall remained eerily silent, filled with ghostly qi. The Silent Destruction Old Man sat cross-legged on an ancient throne, his face growing ever gloomier. He roared, “How could all of my Silent Destruction Sect's Half-step Supremes and Quasi-Dao Supremes have fallen? What in the hell happened?!”
In the main hall, several Hunchbacked Old Men in grey robes also wore grim expressions. Their plan for this expedition was to bring back a large amount of Star Stones from the Bronze Ancient Palace, to contend for the Supreme Path! But now, they were all dead! The soul lamps of the Old Ancestors who had entered the Bronze Ancient Palace were extinguished, their life tablets turned to ash. As a result, not a single Star Stone could be brought back! Moreover, their original plan to obtain Ji Fuyao's Reincarnation Secret Art from the Bronze Ancient Palace had also fallen through!
A Hunchbacked Old Man coughed dryly. As a gust of eerie wind stirred, red hairs floated from his sleeve. He said, “I suspect this matter is most likely related to the Grand Dao Sect.”
The Silent Destruction Old Man's face was gloomy and ruthless, his eyes as cold and deep as an abyss. He clenched his fists and said in a cold voice, “Investigate! Immediately contact other forces and ascertain the situation.” The Hunchbacked Old Man nodded and promptly went to contact other forces.
...
Dark Shadow Island.
Within this small world, several islands floated amidst endless azure waves. Endless mist, born from Dao Patterns, swirled and flowed, sometimes dim, sometimes blazing. Many islands guarded a strangely shaped Sacred Island, upon which an incredibly obscure Ancient Character, “Shadow,” flickered with a dim light.
In the main hall of Dark Shadow Island, several Dark Shadow Monarchs had gathered. The leader was Xiao Nuo, the Dark Shadow Monarch known as the head of the “Eight Killers.”
Xiao Nuo, clad in black robes, a murderous intent on his face, his brows furrowed into a single line, slowly spoke, “This time, all of Dark Shadow Island's forces have fallen! What are your thoughts?”
The other Dark Shadow Monarchs all frowned.
“This final Bronze Ancient Palace is indeed perilous.”
“But for Dark Shadow Island to be completely wiped out, it was clearly targeted! Who would dare to make a move against Dark Shadow Island?”
Xiao Nuo frowned. “The Grand Dao Sect? But do they even have that kind of strength?”