As the days passed, Ye Tian remained absent, and the senior members of the Bai Li family wore expressions of deep concern. A palpable tension enveloped the entire manor, with even the younger members of the Bai Li family sensing an unusual atmosphere, refraining from further discussions.
In their hearts, the members of the Bai Li family collectively feared that Ye Tian's fate was grim.
After a month had elapsed without his emergence, even Bai Li Haotian grew anxious. The urgency among the senior members of the Bai Li family was palpable.
Yan Hao, too, was consumed by anxiety; disregarding the Bai Li family's objections, he stood alone outside the stone gate, waiting.
The Bai Li family members, helpless, accompanied him in his vigil, and as time dragged on, Yan Hao's countenance darkened further.
Conversely, the members of the Bai Li family were increasingly worried; some even turned pale at the thought of "Yi Xuehan" potentially perishing.
Bai Li Haotian fixated intently on the stone gate, barely restraining himself from rushing in, fearing he might disturb Ye Tian.
This cramped space was filled with people, yet remarkably, no one uttered a word. Each person gazed at the stone gate, hoping for a final miracle to unfold.
During this interval, Bai Li Haotian arranged for several family members to bring meals at regular intervals; otherwise, they might have starved.
This silent wait persisted for another week until a sudden, startling noise erupted from within the stone gate, causing a commotion.
Excited gazes immediately turned toward the stone gate.
Bai Li Haotian's face broke into a radiant smile as he exclaimed, "That sound just now confirms that the Young Master is alive! I sensed the aura of true essence, though it appears to be only at the sixth level of Martial Spirit."
"Indeed, I felt it too; it is the essence of true energy, and the Young Master is certainly alone within," a senior member of the Bai Li family concurred.
"It is truly miraculous! Over forty days have passed, and the Young Master's perseverance is unparalleled, surpassing all his peers!"
"I am certain that the Young Master has achieved a significant breakthrough this time."
The senior members of the Bai Li family expressed their admiration, their earlier anxieties dissipating, replaced by surprise and relief.
Yan Hao, seated cross-legged at the front, also exhaled a sigh of relief, his previously taut features gradually relaxing, though his gaze remained fixed on the stone gate.
Inside the stone gate, Ye Tian had reached a critical juncture; both his physical endurance and the progress of his cultivation in the second layer of the Nine Transformations Battle Body had reached their limits.
"Just a little more!"
"Only this final step remains!"
"I cannot give up!"
"I must succeed!"
At this moment, Ye Tian was sustained solely by an indomitable will, the intense pain beginning to blur his resolve.
In truth, he had nearly reached the threshold of what he could endure.
Fortunately, at this pivotal moment, Ye Tian experienced a breakthrough, ascending from the fifth level to the sixth level of Martial Spirit.
This elevation in rank awakened his somewhat hazy consciousness, restoring a measure of strength.
It was this fortunate breakthrough that allowed Ye Tian to endure thus far.
His cultivation in the second layer of the Nine Transformations Battle Body had now reached its peak, just one step away from achieving perfection.
This step was not particularly difficult; utilizing the unique properties of the Ten Thousand Poisons Pool, coupled with his formidable martial soul and combat skills, Ye Tian could easily surpass this hurdle—he merely needed a bit of time.
However, what Ye Tian lacked most at this moment was time; his willpower had reached its zenith. With each passing second, the overwhelming pain battered against his waning resolve.
Ye Tian felt that if he relaxed even slightly, his body would collapse under the pressure, compelling him to grit his teeth and endure.
At this moment, time seemed to stretch infinitely, like a pendulum clock, ticking away the sound of life.
Gradually, Ye Tian's consciousness began to blur, his eyelids fluttering shut, while the brilliance of his martial soul dimmed.
Only the golden light enveloping Ye Tian's body continued to intensify, resembling a sun radiating its fierce glow.
Boom!
Finally, when this golden radiance reached its zenith and shattered the limits, an even more dazzling light erupted from Ye Tian.
He transformed into a golden war deity, exuding a powerful aura as he suddenly opened his eyes, two beams of brilliant light shooting forth like lightning, seemingly poised to pierce the very fabric of reality.
"Ah…"
With a mighty roar, Ye Tian stomped his feet, propelling himself skyward, breaking free from the Ten Thousand Poisons Pool.
Suspended in mid-air, Ye Tian bellowed, his entire form gleaming with a golden hue. Even his hair transformed to gold, swirling wildly behind him.
The golden light emanating from his eyes gradually faded, returning to normalcy after an extended duration.
Simultaneously, the azure martial soul within him stirred as if a dragon had returned to the sea, eagerly absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy, intent on devouring it all.
The ten blood dan within Ye Tian's body also worked fervently to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth; having ascended to the sixth level of Martial Spirit, the volume of these ten blood dan had increased significantly, their true essence rivaling that of a tenth-level Martial Spirit expert.
Yet, what thrilled Ye Tian the most was the breakthrough in the Nine Transformations Battle Body; after enduring over fifty days of "torment," he had finally perfected the second layer.
At this moment, Ye Tian felt an explosive power coursing through him, every movement igniting a sensation as if the cells within his body were detonating, akin to a dragon eager to burst forth.
This overwhelming sensation was unprecedented; even Ye Tian himself was unsure of the extent of his newfound prowess.
Ye Tian retrieved his blood knife and struck his arm with force, producing a sound akin to metal clashing against metal; his arm remained unscathed, the skin intact.
Ye Tian's eyes brightened instantly, filled with astonishment: "With such a reward, this venture has proven worthwhile."
The second layer of the Nine Transformations Battle Body was extraordinarily formidable, rendering Ye Tian's body as resilient as adamantine, significantly enhancing both his strength and defensive capabilities by over a hundredfold.
"Truly worthy of a divine-level technique!" Ye Tian exclaimed, finally grasping the immense power of such a technique. This was merely the second layer; should he cultivate to the ninth layer, a single punch could shatter the very sky, embodying the strength of a deity.
"Congratulations, Young Master, on achieving mastery of your technique!" At that moment, a chorus of cheers erupted from outside the stone gate.
Immediately following, a familiar voice called out in jest, "Yi Xuehan, why are you still inside? What are you dawdling for? Do you not know I have been waiting for you for nearly two months?"
It was Yan Hao's voice.
Ye Tian's brow furrowed at once, a flicker of concern crossing his eyes, quickly replaced by a surge of confidence.
"It seems this battle is unavoidable, so let me shatter everything with my blade. Bai Du Men... I, Ye Tian, hereby challenge you!" Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, and he lifted his head with an air of arrogance, a glimmer of confidence illuminating his otherwise indifferent face.
To dare challenge a major sect single-handedly, should Ye Tian's words spread, they would undoubtedly send shockwaves throughout the entire Da Yan Kingdom.
But what of it?
From the moment he eliminated Yi Xuehan and took his place, plotting to seize the Ten Thousand Poisons Pool, Ye Tian had anticipated this very scenario.
Since the heavens had chosen not to bestow further fortune upon him, he resolved to carve a bloody path to the pinnacle of martial arts with his own blade.
"Little one, stay put; today I shall unleash a massacre!"
Grasping the tail of the small golden mouse and tucking it into his embrace, a seething murderous intent flickered in Ye Tian's cold gaze, causing the surrounding temperature to drop significantly.
"Yi Xuehan, are you not coming out? Do you want me to come in and find you?" Yan Hao bellowed from outside the stone gate.
"I'm coming out!" Ye Tian mimicked Yi Xuehan's tone, responding coldly.
He then approached the stone gate, preparing to push it open.
Upon hearing Ye Tian's voice, Yan Hao furrowed his brow.
Though Ye Tian's imitation was strikingly accurate, Yan Hao and Yi Xuehan were far too familiar with one another, and he sensed something amiss.
"Strange... something feels off. Could this brat be in trouble?" Yan Hao mused silently.
However, at that moment, the stone gate began to slowly open, and Yan Hao had no time to ponder further. His eyes fixed ahead, and as the gate ascended, a figure emerged, hazy yet discernible.
"Young Master!" The members of Bai Li Haotian's entourage behind Yan Hao wore smiles, ready to pay their respects.
But Yan Hao's pupils constricted in shock as he exclaimed, "No, you are..."
"Boom!"
Before he could finish his sentence, a dazzling blade of light swept through the air, illuminating the space and blinding everyone present.
"Danger!" Bai Li Haotian, the most powerful among them, reacted first, his expression shifting as he shouted loudly.
Yet the other high-ranking members of the Bai Li family were caught off guard, helplessly watching as the blade of light surged toward them, engulfing them entirely.
Even Yan Hao, too close to evade, could only activate his protective true essence before being brutally cleaved in two by the strike.
Boom!
The blade light, lacking a specific target, unleashed indiscriminate destruction, shattering the surrounding stone walls and causing the earth to tremble violently, the entire underground tunnel beginning to collapse.
In that moment of horror, Yan Hao found himself torn apart by the Xuan Tie War Blade, his protective true essence shattered.
It was then that he caught a glimpse of Ye Tian's cold visage.
"Who... are you..." Yan Hao's face reflected despair, tinged with profound reluctance and a hint of confusion.
"I am the one who will end your life!"
Ye Tian replied icily, as he thrust his blade skyward, shattering the overhead stone wall and propelling himself outward.
At this juncture, the entire underground passage had collapsed. Except for Bai Li Haotian, who had prepared himself, the other high-ranking members of the Bai Li family were in disarray, simultaneously contending with Ye Tian's blade light and the falling debris.
As Ye Tian burst forth from the ground, soaring above Bai Li Manor, the entire structure crumbled beneath him.
"Ah—"
"I will kill you!"
Simultaneously, a roar filled with boundless fury erupted from the ruins of the collapsed building.
Ye Tian turned to see Bai Li Haotian charging from the wreckage, ascending into the air with a dark expression, his eyes fixed on Ye Tian, rage radiating from him.