Chapter 110: Ten Towers and Ten Swords

This process took three full days and nights to complete the initial opening of the fourth True Essence Sea.

Cheng Lingyu then consumed vast amounts of pills, spiritual herbs, and monster cores to expand the fourth True Essence Sea to the limits demanded by Thousand Layers of Snow. This time, the resources he used were staggering—hundreds of pills alone.

After two days and nights, the fourth True Essence Sea reached its maximum size, greatly enhancing Cheng Lingyu’s overall strength. Lan Xiaozhu assumed this marked the end, but Cheng Lingyu kept cultivating, devouring yet another batch of resources for a third round.

“Is he trying to reach the True Martial Realm, Seventh Level of the Thunder Stage?” Lan Xiaozhu wondered. She was mistaken.

Cheng Lingyu wasn’t aiming for the Thunder Stage. He believed that even after opening four True Essence Seas, his River Stage hadn’t achieved true perfection. For ordinary cultivators, this level would already be flawless—but Cheng Lingyu’s unique circumstances allowed further refinement.

A vortex emerged in his right palm, soon joined by a second, forming a straight line. When a third vortex appeared, a perfect triangle took shape at the True Essence Sea’s center. The fourth vortex birthed a single-layered four-vortex pyramid within the sea.

The pyramid’s appearance multiplied the True Essence Sea’s quality while drastically reducing its capacity—mirroring what had happened with his True Essence Lake. Cheng Lingyu expected this, though the sea’s vastness meant refilling it would take far longer.

Unwavering, Cheng Lingyu pursued perfection. Thousand Layers of Snow’s relentless standards had molded him into someone who demanded nothing less.

By the seventh vortex, the pyramid became double-layered with seven vortices, again boosting quality while shrinking capacity. The eighth, ninth, and tenth vortices followed, each taking longer than the last but delivering exceptional refinement.

The final three-layered ten-vortex pyramid radiated immense energy. Though the right palm’s first True Essence Sea now held only one-eighth of its original true essence, its power surged tenfold.

Cheng Lingyu also split a strand of Heart Sword Leaves No Trace from his dantian’s True Essence Sea and fused it into his right palm’s sea. Like the five lakes, this pyramid housed Heart Sword Leaves No Trace—but here, a Ghostly Magic Blade resided instead of black death light.

The Heart Sword Leaves No Trace in his dantian and five lakes combined with black death light to form the “death” character using six strands. The seventh pyramid in his right palm contained only pure sword energy to avoid conflicting with the Ghostly Magic Blade.

After perfecting his right palm’s first sea, Cheng Lingyu consumed more resources to refine the second sea in his left palm. The method remained identical, requiring only time and materials.

Four days and nights later, each of his four True Essence Seas housed a three-layered ten-vortex pyramid, each nurturing a sword-shaped true essence—Heart Sword Leaves No Trace. Ten pyramids, ten swords: absolute perfection.

When Cheng Lingyu opened his eyes, a dazzling light shone from them. Lan Xiaozhu, meeting his gaze, froze in awe.

“How long was I cultivating?” He rose, vitality coursing through him. Though his four True Essence Seas held minimal true essence, his combat power now dwarfed his past self by dozens—even hundreds—of times.

“It had been nine days and nights, yet you remained stagnant at the River Stage. What’s happening?”

Lan Xiaozhu jolted awake, her heart pounding with shock.

Cheng Lingyu had devoured endless resources without progressing—such waste!

“My foundation’s solidified. Once the True Essence Sea fills completely, I’ll advance directly to the True Martial Realm’s Seventh Level of the Thunder Stage. By my count, your monthly cycle should arrive soon.”

Lan Xiaozhu’s cheeks flushed crimson. She nodded faintly, the topic of menstruation making her squirm.

Cheng Lingyu produced empty medicine bottles. “Use these to collect your flow. Every drop matters—don’t waste any.”

“Why?” she stammered, mortified.

“You’ll understand later. Add Blood Integration Pills to prevent clotting.”

Her lips trembled with unspoken questions, but she stayed silent.

“I need rest. Don’t disturb me.”

He emptied multiple storage rings, piling up herbs, half-consumed pills, and monster cores before gulping them down.

“Can your body handle this?” Lan Xiaozhu gasped.

“Better consumed than wasted,” he chuckled. After clearing three storage rings, he floated mid-air and slept.

The Dreamless Technique activated automatically, relaxing his Physical Body completely. Mysterious energy swirled around him, most funneling into the four-star pyramid within his mysterious space. His True Essence Sea swelled by half during three days of slumber.

Awakening transformed—his eyes gleaming with the advanced Third Level of Magic Eyes, Heart Invasion, and mastered Soul Cutting Technique—Cheng Lingyu smiled. “Time to go.”

“But my… condition…” Lan Xiaozhu whispered, avoiding his gaze.

“To Guishun Valley’s heart.” His newfound confidence captivated her as they departed.

Twelve days’ absence had faded him from public memory. Rumors of his death or flight circulated as crowds gathered at the nine-peaked canyon where divine lights blazed—an Immortal Soul’s rumored lair.

Powerful sects like Heavenly Palace and Tianlei Sacred Church occupied the Nine Dragons Competing for the Pearl formations’ prime spots. Disguised among common cultivators, the pair observed the spectacle.

“What’s inside that gorge?” Cheng Lingyu asked a bystander.

“Some say Immortal Soul. Been glowing for weeks—nobody knows for sure.”