Chapter 107: On the Brink of a Breakthrough
Chapter 107: On the Brink of a Breakthrough
Magic Power overflowed!
The density of Magic Power was unprecedented!
In the courtyard, Lu Hangzhi continuously performed the Activation Art, maintaining the high-density Magic Power in the nearby area while consuming Demon Beast Inner Cores to further strengthen and accumulate the surrounding Magic Power…
After half an hour, the Spiritual Energy Vortex in the courtyard had transformed from its original green color with hints of silvery-white into a nearly pure silvery-white vortex. It gradually gave him the sensation of soaking in a pool of silvery-white spiritual liquid, which felt very comfortable and enjoyable.
With every breath, Magic Power seemed to flow into his body through tens of thousands of pores, continuously entering his Spiritual Power Pool, creating a swelling sensation and repeatedly pressing against the barrier between Peak Eighth Grade and Ninth Grade.
With each inhale and exhale, the Spiritual Energy Vortex, like the tide, slowly washed over the Spiritual Power Pool with the help of external and internal forces.
Over the course of half an hour, Lu Hangzhi had already used up a significant amount of Spirit Honey, Immortal Liquid, Elixirs, and one-third of the Spirit Concentrating Demon Beast Inner Cores.
The force pushing towards the Ninth Grade barrier was slowly increasing.
As the Magic Power density continued to rise, Lu Hangzhi clearly felt the bottleneck showing slight signs of loosening.
Part of the force came from the combined impact of Immortal Liquid and Spirit Honey; the second force came from the immense power of the Spirit Concentrating Demon Beast Inner Cores; the third force was the Magic Power that had diffused out of his body and was then pulled back by the Activation Art—continuously, accumulating and increasing, transforming the previous two forces into an even stronger driving power, gradually pushing him toward Ninth Grade step by step.
Lu Hangzhi had a strange expression.
This world lacked the diverse entertainment options of Earth, and he initially just wanted to vent his inner grief and anger.
He sought to drown his sorrows; the Demon Beast Inner Cores were merely a catalyst to ignite the anger in his heart, and the Spiritual Energy Vortex was another way to release that anger…
But what he never expected was that his solitary act of venting and licking his wounds had grown increasingly intense and, in the end, actually touched upon an opportunity to break through the Ninth Grade bottleneck.
“Da Niu.”
“Are you helping me?”
“Hunting down the Ghost Cultivator Jiuyou indeed requires reaching the Spirit Condensation Stage. Don’t worry… I won’t let you down.”
He quickly focused his mind!
Lu Hangzhi immediately cast aside all distracting thoughts and devoted himself wholeheartedly to nurturing that sliver of a breakthrough opportunity in his cultivation…
Nectar Immortal Elixir!
Spirit Honey!
Demon Beast Inner Cores!
Beast Spirit Pills!
Activation Art! Path to Divinity!
Lu Hangzhi continuously accumulated power.
As bursts of stronger forces poured into his Spiritual Power Pool, the tidal force washing over it became more turbulent and began to slowly push against the Ninth Grade bottleneck.
That thin barrier was slowly and irreversibly denting inward…
Outside the courtyard!
Nangong Jun was completely awestruck by the astonishing scene before her.
The Spiritual Energy Vortex above the entire courtyard had turned into a dazzling silvery-white, and the surging Magic Power made Leng Wuya, Zhu Fuqin, Lü Liang, and Xiong Qi tremble with fear.
This level of power exceeded their understanding of the Epiphany Stage…
All four had the same illusion!
It felt as if what lay hidden in the courtyard was not a ferocious beast but an active volcano on the verge of eruption! Warning signals of danger kept ringing in their hearts, urging them to leave immediately!
Only Nangong Jun understood what was truly happening. Overjoyed and anxious, she tensely sensed the ever-increasing Power of Heaven and Earth within the courtyard…
Yes!
Power of Heaven and Earth!
The frantic accumulation of Magic Power had reached the condition for quantitative change to transform into qualitative change.
A faint, intermittent aura symbolizing the Power of Heaven and Earth of the Spirit Condensation Stage was emanating from someone inside the courtyard…
A breakthrough was imminent!
When she explained this to Leng Wuya and the others, all four were dumbfounded.
“This… can’t be real…”
Zhu Fuqin startled herself as soon as she spoke and quickly covered her mouth, afraid that Nangong Jun and the others would blame her.
The others didn’t mind.
In truth, they all felt similarly.
Although they had known earlier that Lu Hangzhi was preparing for a breakthrough, looking back now, his actual cultivation time was actually quite short—only about a year.
Reaching Spirit Condensation in one year?
Unbelievable!
Now, personally sensing Lu Hangzhi emitting an aura comparable to an Early Spirit Concentration Stage expert right under their noses, they truly understood what shock meant.
Just then.
All five noticed that the glow of the Sect Protection Array Barrier above their heads was rapidly dimming.
“Trouble!”
“The Barrier is going to break!”
“How did this happen?”
“Just a few days ago, Master had brought people to repair the Sect Protection Array Barrier. How could it collapse so quickly?”
Nangong Jun was extremely anxious. She wanted to go down the mountain to see what was going on but didn’t dare leave this place right now.
“Disciples of Xuanxin Sect, hear my command!”
Mo Li’s booming voice echoed throughout the three Spiritual Peaks of Xuanxin Sect, his tone grave and unwavering:
“All Outer Sect and Inner Sect Disciples must immediately follow the Elders to take refuge in the Sword Tomb!”
“Spirit Beast Hall, recall all Divine Cranes and prepare to escort the True Disciples away from the sect!”
Upon hearing this, Nangong Jun and the others felt as if struck by lightning!
Disbanding disciples to preserve the seeds of the sect only occurred when the sect faced a life-or-death crisis.
None of the five had expected that the emergency evacuation order, which hadn’t been issued even after a month of the sect being besieged by Jiuyou and the Evil Cultivators, would now be personally announced by the Supreme Elder in such a short time.
The situation had deteriorated to such a dire state!
Zhu Fuqin lost her composure, feeling panicked and uneasy;
Leng Wuya, Lü Liang, and Xiong Qi exchanged glances, seeing the worry in each other’s eyes, but none of them spoke of leaving.
Lu Hangzhi was at the most critical moment of his breakthrough…
At this time, they absolutely could not leave.
“I hope the Elders can buy us more time.”
“Breakthrough opportunities are hard to come by. If we miss this one, who knows when the next will appear…”
Nangong Jun said:
“As long as Junior Brother Hangzhi is here, as long as he succeeds in breaking through, Xuanxin Sect can prosper for centuries more. If any of you wish to leave, go ahead. I will stand guard until Junior Brother emerges from seclusion.”
“If Senior Sister isn’t leaving, then we, as Senior Brothers, naturally won’t abandon our Junior Brother.”
“Right!”
Xiong Qi and Lü Liang affirmed.
Leng Wuya directly took out a bundle of Formation Flags and scattered them on the ground. An area of a hundred meters around was instantly covered by an invisible force, concealing the vast, ocean-like aura of the Spiritual Energy Vortex. This action showed his stance clearly.
“Fuqin, you are only at the Fifth Grade of the Epiphany Stage right now. Staying here won’t help. Take my Identity Plaque and go to the Spirit Beast Hall to get a Divine Crane. Leave together with the other True Disciples.”
“I won’t leave!”
Zhu Fuqin’s heart was in turmoil. Ultimately, she gritted her teeth and declared, “I was the one who brought Hangzhi into the Xuanxin Sect. With him in this state, I absolutely cannot leave. Senior Sister, Senior Brother, please let me stay.”
“As you wish.”
The four did not insist.
One more person meant one more source of strength…
To be honest, with the Sect Protection Array being battered to the point of collapse in such a short time, they themselves had little confidence in how long they could hold out against such powerful Monster Beasts.
“For now, we can only hope that Hangzhi breaks through smoothly!”
…
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Jagged giant rocks, iron fists brimming with Qi and Blood, along with bolts of Qi and Blood lightning filled with Heaven and Earth Power and various other attacks continuously assaulted the Barrier of the Xuanxin Sect’s Sect Protection Array!
The Sect Protection Array shook violently, its glow growing dimmer and dimmer.
As hundreds of Epiphany Stage Monster Beasts joined the battle, the Sect Protection Array teetered on the verge of collapse, seemingly ready to shatter at any moment.
Qin Huai, Mo Li, Elder Zhao, and the other eleven were drenched in sweat, not daring to pause for even a moment. Together with over a hundred Elders, they continuously attacked the Soul-Concentrating Demon Beasts from behind the Barrier.
However…
Among the Soul-Concentrating Demon Beasts were some defensive types. These beasts waited at their ease, specifically tasked with blocking the Art Techniques attacks coming from within the Xuanxin Sect’s Barrier. Most attacks were blocked, and only a few slipped through, causing minimal damage to the Monster Beasts.
“The Barrier is about to break!”
Elder Qin roared loudly.
“This can’t go on! We need to think of another way!”
Mo Li’s face was filled with despair, his tone resolute.
“I never thought the Xuanxin Sect would ultimately be destroyed by these beasts. Everyone! I, Mo, thank you all for your help. I have no way to repay you. The Xuanxin Sect cannot be held today! You all leave first. I will hold them off for a while.”
“Revered Mo, don’t give up too soon! Honglian just sent a message. She has set out with thirty fellow practitioners and is heading this way. As long as we hold on a bit longer, everything will change.”
Elder Zhao spoke up at just the right moment to comfort them.
“Really?”
“Absolutely true!”
Mo Li, along with the group of Elders behind him who had already lost hope, all had a glint in their eyes, reigniting their hope for survival.
After all, the Xuanxin Sect was an establishment built up through the hard work of many generations. As long as there was a sliver of hope, they would not give up.
However…
The very next second.
The Sect Protection Array shattered with a tremendous crash.
Dozens of Spirit Concentrating auras surged unrestrained into the Xuanxin Sect.
“Array, rise!”
Following Mo Li’s command, countless Monster Beasts that had broken through the Sect Protection Array had no time to rejoice before they found the scenery before them shifting. They had actually stumbled into a primeval forest of towering giant trees.
The second layer of the Xuanxin Sect’s Sect Protection Array, the Illusion Formation!
“With this Illusion Formation, we can at least hold back the Monster Beasts for a quarter of an hour. But it only serves to delay. If it faces attacks from many at the Spirit Condensation Stage, the Illusion Formation will quickly fall apart.”
Mo Li warned everyone loudly, “Everyone, take this chance to rest and recover the Magic Power you just expended. Prepare for the next wave of fierce attacks! Strive to hold out until Honglian arrives!”
“Alright!”
Qin Huai was the first to respond, laughing heartily. “Since the Xuanxin Sect has such a large-scale Illusion Formation, I won’t hold back either!” After saying this, he pulled something out from his robes and threw it onto the empty ground ahead.
The Magical Artifact grew rapidly in the wind!
After a deafening rumble, it transformed mid-air into a defensive Magical Artifact familiar to everyone from the Two Realms Mountain—a Matrix Tower, over ten meters tall!
Mo Li was overjoyed!
Elder Zhao and the others all broke into smiles.
“Revered Qin, your righteousness is commendable!”
“With the Matrix Tower here, wiping out a few Soul-Concentrating Demon Beasts will be easy. Let’s see what other tricks that secretly commanding beast can pull.”
“Revered Qin, why don’t you lead the Xuanxin Sect’s Elders into the Matrix Tower and provide us with fire support.”
“Then I, Qin, will not refuse this honor!”
Qin Huai accepted without hesitation.
“Hehe, it’s only right.”
None of the Venerable Ones objected.
A person’s reputation is like a tree’s shadow!
Qin Huai had already experienced twice holding the Matrix Tower against all odds and emerging reborn. With Qin Huai personally stationed in the Matrix Tower, they could rest assured.
A quarter of an hour later, the Illusion Formation was broken.
A Late Concentration Stage Demon Ape violently smashed through the Illusion Formation, landing firmly on the ground. Along with a group of Soul-Concentrating Demon Beasts, they formally invaded the Xuanxin Sect…
The Matrix Tower hummed, surging with astonishing Heaven and Earth Power. A Frigid Ice Energy, almost in sync with the shattering sound of the Illusion Formation by the Demon Ape, descended upon the group of Monster Beasts.
Before the group of Soul-Concentrating Demon Beasts could free themselves from the rage induced by the disorienting Illusion Formation, their Qi and Blood, along with their fury, were frozen solid. Their limbs stiffened from the cold. Immediately after, the various Art Techniques and Flying Sword Sword Qi from the thirteen Venerable Ones, who had been preparing for a long time, rained down from above.
Skipping over the frozen Late Concentration Stage Demon Ape and the Late Concentration Stage Crocodile-Dragon Turtle, the attacks landed directly on the group of Soul-Concentrating Demon Beasts at the early and middle stages, whose defenses were much weaker. In an instant, fourteen Soul-Concentrating Demon Beasts and dozens of Ninth Grade of Comprehension Stage Monster Beasts were slain…