Inside the cave, as soon as Gu He finished speaking, the floating sphere of energy in the void immediately transformed into a streak of light and shot directly into Gu He's body.
Before Gu He could react, he felt an immense amount of energy surge into his body.
This power was incomparably violent, like a surging river, its waves turbulent and raging.
Bang!
A faint muffled sound suddenly rang out within Gu He's body, and a flush rose to his face.
The energy contained within the sphere suddenly exploded inside Gu He, making his entire body tremble slightly.
Sensing the changes within his body, Gu He quickly reacted. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately began controlling the vast energy.
Yet when Gu He first came into contact with this energy, he discovered that it was even more immense than he had imagined.
Like wild horses that had broken free of their reins, the energy rampaged violently through Gu He's body, whistling past and battering his meridians.
A heart-rending agony instantly overwhelmed Gu He's nerves.
I still underestimated this energy!
A thin layer of cold sweat seeped from Gu He's forehead, and his entire face twisted in pain.
Having experienced the fusion of energy once before, Gu He had thought he was already familiar with it and could endure this power.
But this energy far exceeded the more than ten years of cultivation returned to him last time.
After all, this time it was five years of cultivation from a ninth-grade Dou Wang, all pouring into his body at once.
This energy was filled with destructive force. Wherever it passed, the muscles throughout Gu He's body twitched faintly.
To refine this energy, I first need to suppress it.
Gu He's mind focused slightly, and the Dou Qi circulating through his body surged forth like a roiling sea.
Gu He controlled the Dou Qi to form rings of light within his meridians, blocking the onrushing energy. If this body had not been tempered by the Nine Netherworld Fire, it probably could not withstand such punishment. But merely containing this energy is not a long-term solution.
An unending stream of energy surged through his body. As it accumulated, the rings of light condensed from Gu He's Dou Qi directly collapsed.
The energy once again struck Gu He's meridians. His meridians seemed unable to endure the tearing force of the impact and began to twist slightly.
Feeling this, Gu He frowned. I need to refine this energy quickly. Otherwise, once all of it floods into my body, even my physique may not be able to withstand its impact. Even if I manage to refine it in the end, it will leave behind many hidden injuries.
Gu He's handsome face suddenly turned incomparably stern. His long hair, which hung to his waist, began to whip wildly, while an overwhelming aura erupted from within him.
Then, a clear bird cry suddenly echoed from within Gu He's body.
Immediately afterward, a nearly tangible Purple Flame slowly emerged within Gu He's body.
The instant the flame appeared, Gu He immediately controlled it to charge toward the immense energy. Break up this energy and scatter it throughout every corner of my body. Then I can refine it piece by piece.
The Purple Flame grew increasingly fierce. Streams of purple fire condensed within Gu He's body and slammed violently into the tide-like energy, forcibly smashing it into scattered fragments.
Seeing this, Gu He let out a relieved breath and stared at the flood-like energy. Next comes refining it. But completely refining this energy will probably take some time.
Gu He then closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and focused wholeheartedly on refining the energy within his body.
The dim cave gradually became utterly silent.
As time passed, ten days went by in the blink of an eye.
Within the valley, inside the cave tightly sealed by piled rubble, a pair of eyes that had remained closed for nearly ten days finally slowly opened, trembling slightly.
As his eyes opened, streaks of lightning flashed through his black pupils like thunder amid a torrential storm.
At that moment, even the air inside the stifling cave emitted faint crackling sounds.
As those eyes opened, an immense aura that had lain dormant for nearly ten days finally rose like an awakened lion, lifting its head toward the sky and releasing a roar that shook heaven and earth.
Under this immense aura, now several times stronger than before, the cave trembled faintly. Cracks as thick as arms spread like a spiderweb from where the white-robed man sat cross-legged, eventually covering every corner of the cave.
Crack!
The bluestone beneath him suddenly let out a faint sound. Fine cracks abruptly appeared, then spread across the entire stone at incredible speed. Finally, with a low rumble, the bluestone shattered into countless fragments.
Though the bluestone had exploded, the white-robed man seated upon it did not move in the slightest. His legs remained crossed in midair as he hovered there without relying on any external force.
"So... this is what being a Dou Emperor feels like..."
Gu He slowly spread his hands and felt the vast Dou Qi within him, erupting like a mountain flood. A faint curve appeared at the corner of his lips.
At that moment, a bold feeling of holding heaven and earth in his palm rose from his heart. His powerful soul force, centered on his body, swept out in all directions like a storm, as swift as lightning.
The mighty soul force rapidly extended beyond the cave and enveloped the entire valley. Through its scan, Gu He clearly saw everything within the valley.
His soul force spread across the valley but did not stop there. It continued into the vast Monster Beast Mountain Range, and as it expanded, countless scenes reflected in Gu He's mind.
Of course, the Monster Beast Mountain Range was home to many powerful magical beasts, so Gu He's domineering soul scan did not escape their notice.
Thus, earth-shaking roars immediately rang out across the endless mountain range. Amid those roars, countless low-level magical beasts trembled in terror.
However, although these powerful magical beasts could sense Gu He's soul scan, apart from some magical beasts with special abilities, most could not cause any harm to his soul.
Therefore, Gu He's soul force suffered no attack during this domineering scan.
His immense soul force spread across an area of a hundred li, but this seemed to be its limit.
Thus, when Gu He's soul force reached a mountain ravine, it could no longer advance even an inch.
Seeing this, Gu He willed it, and the spread-out soul force immediately withdrew like a receding tide. Within only a few breaths, it had all returned to Gu He's body.
Once all of his soul force had returned, Gu He raised his head slightly and let out a long breath.
"It is time to leave seclusion."
Before you continue