Chapter 232: End of the Spiritual Realm, Xiong Zhan Becomes a Dou Zun
As his soul stirred, Xiao Ze immediately felt it and directed his attention to the Origin Tree in the empty space. The soul residing in the Origin Tree was emanating powerful spiritual energy. A layer of spiritual light formed around Xiao Ze as the Xuanqing soul cultivation method activated frantically. The empty space around him exuded spiritual energy, which Xiao Ze absorbed without ceasing.
With the sound of a bubble bursting, Xiao Ze's spiritual strength increased once again!
"Wow! Another natural breakthrough. My spiritual strength has reached the final stage of the Spiritual Realm. According to the divisions, I now have the ability to refine advanced eighth-level pills."
"The spiritual strength needed to refine high-level pills is immense. Eighth-level pills correspond to the Spiritual Realm and ninth-level pills to the Celestial Realm."
"If spiritual strength is insufficient, no matter how skilled one is in alchemy, they won't be able to refine the corresponding pills."
Xiao Ze, feeling the growth of his spiritual strength, showed a joyful smile. He had always been dedicated to alchemy, and with the increase in his spiritual level, he could refine the corresponding pills.
Xiao Ze looked at the golden pill in his hand. Upon finishing his breakthrough, he realized that the catalyst for it was not the pill itself but the process of refining the Dou Zun Condensation Pill. Sealing it in a jade bottle, Xiao Ze left the stone room.
Zi Yan and Qing Lin, seeing Xiao Ze, showed joy in their eyes. Zi Yan ran directly towards him.
"Xiao Ze, hurry, make me more pills, I'm out of the ones you gave me!"
"Don't rush." Xiao Ze held Zi Yan's small head with one hand and looked at Xiong Zhan, who was also approaching with anticipation in his eyes.
"Brother Xiao Ze, have you finished refining the Dou Zun Condensation Pill?"
"Of course." Xiao Ze took out a jade bottle containing the pill and tossed it to Xiong Zhan. Seeing Xiao Ze casually throwing the bottle, Xiong Zhan nervously caught it with both hands. This was an eighth-level pill with five colors, extremely valuable. Xiao Ze could treat it indifferently, but Xiong Zhan couldn't afford to be careless.
Xiong Zhan felt the enormous medicinal energy contained in the pill inside the bottle and showed an expression of joy. Although Xiao Ze had previously said that his fluctuating energy was a sign of an imminent breakthrough, being one step away from becoming a Dou Zun, Xiong Zhan knew well how many magical beasts and humans had been stuck at that line, unable to advance.
At this moment, having a pill that increased the probability of breaking that limit was invaluable.
"Brother Xiao Ze..."
"It's okay, Xiong Zhan, there's no need to say more. Why don't we talk after you achieve your breakthrough to Dou Zun?"
Xiao Ze smiled, and Xiong Zhan laughed heartily upon hearing this. "You're right. With this pill, I'm confident I can become a Dou Zun."
Due to Xiao Ze's alchemy, the stone room was damaged. Xiong Zhan found another quiet room and locked himself in to attempt his breakthrough.
"Xiong Zhan will need quite some time to advance to Dou Zun. In the meantime, we can wait here calmly."
"Pills, pills!" Zi Yan whispered in Xiao Ze's ear, making him smile.
Taking out a piece of blood-red ganoderma, Xiao Ze condensed golden flames in his palm. The ganoderma, full of powerful energy, softened instantly under the heat of the golden flames. Soon, the ganoderma turned into a bubbling blood-red liquid within the flames. Xiao Ze added a bit of pale golden powder. Suddenly, the golden flames rose, emitting heat so intense that Zi Yan stepped back a few steps, afraid of the flames.
"Xiao Ze, when did you learn to control flames of this level? They feel very dangerous."
Using his spiritual perception, Xiao Ze controlled the golden flames, quickly solidifying the blood-red liquid into a pill. Then he took out a jade bottle and dropped the pills inside.
"It was after you left. Besides, since I control these flames, there's no danger."
Xiao Ze handed the bottle to Zi Yan. Seeing the mist coming out of the bottle's neck and the sweet aroma emanating from it, Zi Yan focused on the red pills.
"Hmm." Zi Yan nodded and took out a hot pill, putting it in her mouth without caring about the heat. Seeing this, Xiao Ze shook his head and smiled. Suddenly, he looked at the purple-gold ring on his finger.
"Zi Yan, there's something I need to tell you."
Seeing Xiao Ze's serious expression, Zi Yan stopped eating.
"What is it? Why so serious?"
"While exploring some ancient ruins, I found one of your ancestors, Zhu Yang. His legacy has benefited me greatly..."
"I collected his body to prevent others from using it."
"I hope he can rest in peace in his clan's home, the Ancient Void Dragon tribe."
Xiao Ze handed Zi Yan two advanced spatial rings. One contained Zhu Yang's body, and the other the purple-gold ring he had left behind.
Zi Yan received the rings in astonishment. Xiao Ze had removed his spiritual mark, allowing her to see the contents easily. Her face filled with sadness.
"He is one of my tribe's ancestors, Zhu Yang. I have read about him in ancient texts. He was a distinguished alchemist in our tribe."
"He went into the void alone for certain reasons... I never thought he would end up like this..."
Zi Yan spoke with sadness.
Xiao Ze patted Zi Yan's head and leaned down to hug her gently.
"Those who have passed are no longer here, at least let's allow his spirit to return home."
"Yes..." Zi Yan said with a nasal tone, "Xiao Ze, thank you."
Zi Yan took refuge in Xiao Ze's chest. After a while, she stood up with slightly red eyes.
Xiao Ze sighed. After all, they were from the same tribe, and being so few, the loss of any of them was painful.
Zi Yan focused on the purple-gold ring and took out some objects.
Xiao Ze noticed there was a bloodstained dragon scale among them. Surprisingly, Zi Yan returned the ring to Xiao Ze.
"Xiao Ze, take this ring. Consider it as the reward for returning our ancestor. Even in our tribe, they would decide the same."
Zi Yan showed the objects she had taken out.
"These are heritage artifacts from our tribe. They won't be of any use to you, but they are very important to us."
"Of course, we won't be indebted to you. I will inform the elders so they can offer you a proper reward."
"You...!" Xiao Ze pressed Zi Yan's small head, "When you ask me for pills, you're not this formal."
"These objects belonged to the ancestor Zhu Yang and are from our tribe. How could I ask for a reward?"
Zi Yan smiled, "Then keep the ring."
"Well, alright."
Xiao Ze put the ring back on and comforted Zi Yan.
Some time passed, and suddenly, a powerful energy emanated from the stone room. The nearby beasts trembled, bowing their heads without daring to oppose.
Xiong Zhan had finally reached the Dou Zun level!
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