Time flies when cultivating.
This time, after swallowing a Ninth-Rank Pill, Gu Fei went into his longest seclusion yet, lasting for more than a year without emerging even once.
For others at his level of cultivation, such extended periods of seclusion are commonplace.
"Daddy still hasn't come out yet..."
One day, little Xian Yue ran to the entrance of Gu Fei's secluded cave, starting to complain.
Following behind her, still like a little shadow, was Wushuang, who had just turned three.
"Sister... Mom said that Daddy is trying to break through a major cultivation bottleneck this time, and we should understand and be good!"
Wushuang repeated his mother's words very seriously, responding to his sister's complaints.
"Oh, so now you're saying that your sister isn't being good?"
Hearing this, Xian Yue turned around and playfully pinched Wushuang's little ear.
"No, no..."
"Sis, you're very good!"
"Sis, please stop pinching, I was wrong!"
Frightened by his sister's action, Wushuang quickly shook his head in denial.
*Boom!*
At that moment, the large stone gate in front of the two little ones suddenly opened.
Hearing the sound, both children turned around and saw their father, whom they had been longing for, standing at the entrance of the cave.
"Daddy, you finally came out!"
Seeing Gu Fei, Xian Yue released Wushuang's ear and happily ran towards him.
"Yue'er, Wushuang, you both have grown so much!"
Seeing the changes in his children, Gu Fei's face lit up with a smile, and just like before, he picked up both little ones, one in each arm.
"Big Brother Gu Fei, you're finally out!" Before long, Ziyan appeared in front of Gu Fei. She had sensed his emergence the moment he came out of seclusion.
Shortly after, Xiao Yixian, Cai Lin, and Qing Lin also arrived.
Over the past few years, the three of them had made significant progress. Cai Lin had already reached the Four-Star Dou Venerate six months ago, and both Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin had become One-Star Dou Venerate experts.
"It seems everyone has made great strides!"
Seeing the current state of his companions, Gu Fei was very pleased. In a world where strength reigns supreme, having those close to him possess the ability to protect themselves was something he was always glad to see.
This time in seclusion, after fully absorbing the energy of the Ninth-Rank Pill, Gu Fei naturally advanced to the Half-Saint level.
Not only that, but he also skipped the initial and intermediate stages, directly reaching the level of an Advanced Half-Saint.
And he was not even twenty-five years old!
This rate of growth was unparalleled even among the ancient Eight Clans.
At present, the only young cultivator who could surpass Gu Fei in cultivation level was Lei Dong from the Lei Clan.
Even Hun Feng, the Hun Clan's top prodigy, who was seven or eight years older than Gu Fei, had been caught up to by him.
Over the past three years, Lei Dong had been training in the Lightning Demon Pool, and it's likely that when he emerges, he will directly become a Dou Saint, possibly even reaching the Two-Star Dou Saint level.
"Lei Dong, I hope you won't be too surprised the next time we meet..."
Recalling Lei Dong's gaze when they last parted, a faint smile appeared on Gu Fei's lips.
After coming out of seclusion, Gu Fei spent most of his time with his family. Wushuang, still very young and often separated from his father for long periods, wasn't naturally close to Gu Fei.
However, under Queen Medusa's guidance, Wushuang, despite being only three years old, was very understanding.
He knew that his father's seclusion and cultivation were all for the sake of better protecting everyone in the future.
...
"Big Brother Gu Fei, I want to go back to Dragon Island after a while..."
Half a month after Gu Fei emerged from seclusion, Ziyan suddenly approached him, mentioning her desire to leave.
Gu Fei understood her. After all, she had been away from Dragon Island for a long time now, and with her cultivation improving, she was eager to unite the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe, not wanting to see it remain divided.
"Now that your Four-Star Dou Saint cultivation has stabilized, you indeed have the strength to go back and handle things... However, wait a little longer. I have a way to help you quickly break through to the later stages of the Four-Star Dou Saint."
"Big Brother Gu Fei, are you planning to refine a Ninth-Rank Pill for me?"
Hearing Gu Fei's words, Ziyan's eyes lit up.
"No."
Gu Fei gently shook his head.
"If it's not that, then what is it?" Ziyan asked, puzzled.
With her current strength, no matter how many Eight-Rank Pills she took, they wouldn't bring about much improvement.
"I'll tell you when we get there!"
Gu Fei teased, keeping his plan a secret for now. This time, he intended to seek out the opportunity hidden in the Yellow Springs Stele of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe, which contained the remnant soul of a demon saint and several drops of the demon saint's blood essence.
The Demon Saint Huang Quan, in ancient times, had nearly stepped into the Dou God level.
The blood essence left behind by such a powerful figure was highly coveted by any Dou Saint expert.
Just a small portion of it could help Gu Fei break through to become a true Dou Saint.
Moreover, within the Yellow Springs Stele, there was an extremely powerful soul attack technique known as the Yellow Springs Divine Anger.
The Yellow Springs Finger determines life and death!
The Yellow Springs Wrath shatters souls!
The Yellow Spring Divine Anger, to be precise, is a high-level Heaven-tier sonic Dou Skill.
In ancient records, it was noted that during the ancient era, even Dou Saint-level experts would tremble at the mention of the Yellow Springs Divine Anger.
Among the peak experts who fell to the Demon Saint Huang Quan, at least nine out of ten were said to have had their souls shattered by this technique.
And now, Gu Fei's soul realm had reached the level required to cultivate the Yellow Springs Divine Anger.
With such a soul attack method at his disposal, even though Gu Fei was currently only an Advanced Half-Saint, he could pose a threat to any expert below the Two-Star Dou Saint level.
"The place is in the Beast Region and is related to the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe..."
Seeing Ziyan still looking confused, Gu Fei added, satisfying her curiosity.
"Ugh, those ugly, legless creatures again..." Ziyan muttered reflexively.
However, just as she spoke, she suddenly realized something.
Not far behind her, Cai Lin was walking towards them with Wushuang.
"I hope Cai Lin didn't hear that..."
Ziyan, like a child who had done something wrong, didn't dare to turn around and look at Cai Lin.
"Cai'er, you're just in time!"
Gu Fei smiled and beckoned Cai'er over.
"Husband, what is it?"
She asked curiously, shooting a glare at Ziyan as she spoke.
"Cai'er, Ziyan and I are planning to make a trip to the Beast Region. Why don't you come with us? There, you'll find an opportunity that belongs to you!"
Gu Fei explained with a smile.
As a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, Cai Lin could rapidly reach the Half-Saint level if she absorbed enough energy.
And the Beast Region happened to have a place that could help Cai Lin advance quickly.
(TL/n: Ah, so he does remember. Now that I think about it, he probably waited for his soul upgrade to have it easy during the inheritance.)