This mere Gang Qi was far more powerful than the spiritual energy he had unleashed at full strength before!
This is the Martial Master! The difference between this and the Warrior Realm is like heaven and earth!
However, the surprises weren't over yet!
The energy from the Shadow Vortex continued to pour in! Having just broken through to the Martial Master Realm, his physical strength, meridian resilience, and soul power all experienced a comprehensive surge, and the energy he could contain and refine also increased exponentially!
With almost no pause, his cultivation level soared like a rocket, continuing its rapid ascent!
Peak of the First Level of the Martial Master Realm!
Second Level of the Martial Master Realm!
Peak of the Second Level of the Martial Master Realm!
Third Level of the Martial Master Realm!
Finally, when the torrent of energy from the Shadow Vortex began to slow down and stabilize, Xiao Han's cultivation level also remained steadily at the Third Level of the Martial Master Realm!
He soared from the Sixth Level of the Warrior Realm all the way to the Third Level of the Martial Master Realm!
It spanned a massive gap of six minor realms plus one major realm!
This rate of improvement is enough to scare a lot of people to death! It's simply astonishing!
"Call..."
Xiao Han slowly opened his eyes, and two deep, sharp lights flashed by, as if they could pierce through the void.
He exhaled a breath of stale air, which left a long, grayish-black trail in the air that lingered for a long time, even containing subtle distortions like spatial rifts.
Feeling the unprecedented surge of power within him, the overwhelming sense that he could tear through space and control the shadows with every move, a satisfied smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
"Third Level of the Martial Master Realm... This feeling is fucking awesome!"
He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking with a crisp sound, exuding an explosive sense of power.
The severe injuries he sustained in the previous battle with the guardian, which had almost crippled him, were being repaired by the relentless healing power of the Chaos Green Lotus and nourished by the life force brought about by his breakthrough in realm.
He has now recovered to about 70-80%, with only some internal organ tremors and lingering hidden dangers from the Obliteration power in his left shoulder remaining. He can fully recover with just a little recuperation.
He looked inward at himself.
The Qi Sea had expanded more than tenfold compared to before, and what flowed within it was an extremely condensed gray-black Gang Qi that shimmered with shadows and spatial runes, far surpassing the power of other Qi of the same level!
After being tempered by immense energy and nourished by the Chaos Green Lotus, the body became stronger and more resilient, faintly radiating a layer of precious light. Its strength was probably enough to withstand the full force of an ordinary Martial Master's attack!
Their soul power has undergone a qualitative leap, their thoughts are clear, and the range and precision of their perception have been greatly improved.
Let's look at the two Martial Souls.
The Chaos Green Lotus floated above the Qi Sea, its twelve-petaled lotus platform becoming even more solid and dazzling. Each lotus leaf seemed to be carved from the purest jade, flowing with a rich life force and purifying divine light. Its ability to repair, defend, and purify also increased with the improvement of Xiao Han's realm, becoming even more powerful.
However, the Eternal Night King Martial Soul underwent a tremendous change!
It stood silently in the depths of Xiao Han's sea of consciousness. The originally blurry phantom completely solidified, transforming into a majestic figure wearing a shadow void battle armor and a king's crown!
Countless mysterious runes flowed across the armor, seemingly containing the ultimate secrets of shadow and space. Its eyes were like two slowly rotating black holes, deep, cold, and domineering; simply looking at them felt like they could suck one's soul into them!
The evolutionary direction of "Shadow Dominator" has been completely stabilized, and driven by the "Shadow Void Scripture" and its immense energy, it has begun to demonstrate its terrifying power! Xiao Han could clearly feel that his control over shadow power, his affinity for shadows, and his perception and use of space had all reached a completely new level!
He even had a vague feeling that he could try to briefly "summon" a portion of the Eternal Night Monarch's power into reality, rather than just having it possess him through the previous illusory Martial Soul!
"Third Level of the Martial Master Realm, combined with the initial evolution of the Eternal Night Monarch, as well as 'A Step to the Ends of the Earth' and 'Annihilation Divine Fist'..." Xiao Han silently estimated his current combat strength.
"Now, if we were to face that ruins guardian again, even at its peak, perhaps... we wouldn't be able to avoid a direct confrontation!"
The tremendous gains have brought unparalleled confidence!
The rewards of this perilous journey to the ruins far exceeded his expectations!
Next, we'll explore the core area of this ruin to see if there are any other surprises besides the legacy of the "Shadow Void Scripture".
Xiao Han stood up, stretched his limbs, felt the surging power within him, and cast his gaze into the deeper part of the sacrificial hall, to the area that had previously been blocked by the guardians and could not be explored.
This time, no one can stop him!
The surging power of the Third Level of the Martial Master Realm surged through his limbs and bones. Xiao Han adapted to this unprecedentedly powerful feeling, his gaze fixed intently on the deeper parts of the sacrificial hall. After the guardians dissipated, that area was no longer obstructed, revealing its true appearance.
This core area isn't very large; it's more like a small treasure room, or rather, a place where energy naturally condenses along with the core inheritance.
The air was filled with shadows and spatial energy so dense they were almost tangible; taking a breath of it made one feel refreshed and one's cultivation subtly improved.
Strange crystals are scattered and embedded on the ground and walls.
Some are a deep, dark purple, with what appears to be a flowing river of stars inside. They are cool to the touch, yet contain pure spatial fluctuations. These are extremely rare "Void Dark Crystals," which are excellent materials for crafting spatial equipment or cultivating spatial attribute techniques.
Xiao Han showed no mercy, sweeping his spiritual power and collecting all the Void Dark Crystals he could see—more than a dozen pieces the size of a fist, each one enough to cause Martial King expert to fight over in the outside world.
Besides the Void Dark Crystal, there are also areas where solids resembling black glass have condensed, emanating an extremely cold and devouring aura. This is "Solidified Shadow Essence," a highly concentrated product of shadow energy, which has immeasurable value for cultivating shadow attribute techniques or strengthening shadow-type Martial Souls.
The Eternal Night King Martial Soul emitted a joyful buzzing sound in its sea of consciousness, clearly showing its extreme craving for these essences.
Xiao Han scraped them off one by one and carefully put them away.
These essences can not only accelerate the growth of the Eternal Night Monarch, but also serve as an auxiliary resource for cultivating the "Shadow Void Scripture," with effects far surpassing ordinary spirit stones.
"Tsk, I've struck it rich..." Xiao Han muttered to himself as he looted the place.
The value of these Void Dark Crystals and Shadow Essence alone probably exceeds the total amount he obtained from selling the materials he previously acquired at the Martial Master Realm, and they are strategic resources that are priceless and unavailable for purchase.
Just when he thought his gains were limited to this moment, his gaze swept over a relatively intact stone wall.
This stone wall seems different from the murals depicting the great battles before. Instead of grand scenes, it depicts individual human figures in various strange yet powerful poses.