Chapter 50: Awakening

The giant snake only glanced at Xu Ziyan, who was sinking to the bottom of the pond, before it was drawn by the scent of Treading Void Grass floating in the air. Its body shot upward, and its wings spread to over five meters long. With a whoosh, it flew into the air, chasing after the direction where the Beast Luring Talisman drifted.

In an instant, these monster beasts chased for several miles. Six Ninth-Order Demon Beasts simultaneously pounced on the Beast Luring Talisman in the air, each reaching out to grab it.

With a bang, the Beast Luring Talisman tore into six pieces, then burst into a puff of green smoke and disappeared into the snowstorm.

The six Ninth-Order Demon Beasts were stunned for a moment, then became furious. Each believed the others had destroyed the Beast Luring Talisman. Monster beasts had simple minds, and in their rage, they immediately began fighting among themselves.

These six were Ninth-Order Demon Beasts, and they were enraged. The power they unleashed instantly killed or injured many of the lower-level monster beasts nearby. The remaining ones turned and fled. In moments, only the six chaotic fighters remained at the scene.

Although the snowfall was heavy and fast, within the space where the six monster beasts fought—a several-hundred-meter radius—not a single snowflake could enter. The entire area seemed like its own separate space. The six beasts darted up and down, with angry roars echoing from time to time, and surges of powerful force rippled outward.

Finally, some began to get injured. Among the six, the giant snake was the weakest. Though it was also at the Ninth Order, it had only just broken through to the early stage, while the other five were at the middle or late stages. So, inevitably, the giant snake became the target for the others to vent their anger. In less than an hour, the giant snake was beaten to death by the five other beasts.

The remaining five continued fighting without rest, until another middle-stage Ninth-Order Demon Beast fell in battle. The last four, now covered in wounds, glared at each other before reluctantly leaving.

Xu Ziyan’s body sank to the bottom of the pond. The roars of those Ninth-Order Demon Beasts had directly shaken her unconscious. Strangely, she didn’t suffocate in the water. Around her body, the milky pond water continually released dense bubbles, but instead of rising to the surface, the bubbles swarmed into Xu Ziyan’s body.

Xu Ziyan’s body was like a gravitational black hole. Small vortexes covered her skin, continuously absorbing the gases generated by the pond water, then forcing out impurities from inside her body through her pores.

Gradually, the dense, small vortexes on her body merged into one large vortex, slowly rotating above her.

Unconscious, Xu Ziyan didn’t know that this Water Pond was a Spiritual Spring formed by the concentrated spiritual energy of the Cangmang Mountain Range. It was a miraculous place that could allow someone to shed their mortal body and form a Spirit Body. The giant snake had discovered this Spiritual Spring and claimed it for itself. After just a hundred years of Cultivation here, it broke through from a Sixth-level Demonic Beast to a Ninth-Order Demon Beast, showing how wondrous the Spiritual Spring was.

Inside Xu Ziyan’s body, a cycle formed. The rich Spiritual Energy released from the Spiritual Spring surged into her body, while the impurities inside were expelled. Gradually, her body became pure, with all impurities forced out. A thick layer of mucus coated her skin, clinging tightly like a cocoon.

Thus, Xu Ziyan remained unconscious at the bottom of the pond for three full days and nights, with this cycle repeating constantly. The Spiritual Energy from the Spiritual Spring was continuously absorbed by Xu Ziyan, and impurities were steadily expelled.

When the morning sun of the fourth day shone over the Cangmang Mountain Range, Xu Ziyan, at the bottom of the pond, suddenly shuddered. A vigorous energy burst from her body. The vortex above her abruptly expanded, spinning faster. Large amounts of the Spiritual Spring decomposed into dense Spiritual Energy, wildly surging into Xu Ziyan’s body.

Ding—

A crisp sound rang inside Xu Ziyan.

Pop—

A crack appeared in the membrane on her skin. The crack spread in all directions, until it fractured completely, turning into fragments that scattered at the bottom of the pond.

Xu Ziyan had broken through, advancing from the Third Layer of Qi Refining Stage to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining Stage. Unbeknownst to her, her body had transformed from a mortal form into a Water Spirit Body. From then on, her Cultivation of Water Element Technique would yield twice the results with half the effort. Not only would her future achievements be limitless, but she would also hold an absolute advantage when fighting opponents of the same level—not just in endurance but also in sheer power. Xu Ziyan had risked everything for the group, yet she had turned misfortune into blessing. As if destined, one thing led to another.

Xu Ziyan slowly opened her eyes. When she saw her situation, she was stunned. She pushed with her hands and sat up from the bottom of the pond, then sprang upward with a thrust of her arms, breaking the surface.

Looking around, she found herself in a Valley surrounded by dense Forest. Everything was quiet.

Xu Ziyan climbed out of the Water Pond and sat on a rock. She tried hard to recall what had happened. Suddenly, she shivered, remembering that she had been knocked unconscious by the roars of several high-level Monster Beasts. She carefully checked her surroundings and listened intently. Finally assured there was no danger, she let her heart settle.

Looking down at her empty hands, she realized the Beast Luring Talisman must have slipped from her grasp while she was unconscious. It was that talisman that led the Monster Beasts away, saving her life. She glanced back at the Water Pond, a slight smile touching her lips, and thought to herself:

“Thanks to this Water Pond, not only did I not fall to my death, but it also hid me! My sword must have fallen to the bottom too.”

With that thought, Xu Ziyan stood up from the rock and dove back into the water, searching the pond floor. Soon, her hand touched her long sword. She grabbed it and leaped out of the pond.

Xu Ziyan took clothes from her Storage Pouch and changed out of her wet ones. She mused:

“I wonder how long I was unconscious at the bottom? Did I manage to draw all the Monster Beasts in Tongyou Valley? I should go back and check.”

Having decided, she activated her Cultivation Level, leaped upward, and prepared for Sword Flight out of the Cangmang Mountain Range. But the moment her foot touched the Flying Sword, her body shuddered, and her expression changed…