Refining Void and Merging with the Dao

In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the squad cleared all the Demonic Monsters from the entrance hall. After a brief rest, they headed to the second room, where another group of water-element monsters infected by Abyssal Aura awaited them.

They fought their way through without difficulty and soon reached the fifth stage.

The squad entered the fifth room and immediately cleared out all the monsters.

After a careful inspection, they discovered that this room seemed to be a rather important location. It was quite spacious, and there was a peculiar pool in the middle. Moreover, the Cold Qi deep within this hall was far beyond anything in the previous rooms. It had little effect on War Spirits like Siming and the others, since their physical bodies were far stronger than Xiao Yun's, who was still merely a minor cultivator at the Refining Qi and Transforming Spirit stage.

The moment he entered, Xiao Yun felt bone-piercing cold. Although the Sword Immortal Template blocked most of the Cold Qi, the small amount that remained nearly froze him to death.

Though Chu Yinge appeared aloof, she was the most observant. She immediately noticed something unusual about Xiao Yun, but rather than point it out directly, she looked toward the peculiar cold pool in the center of the hall and said to the others, "Could this be the Spirit Spring from the former Kunlun Divine Palace?"

Xi Zhaoyue immediately realized it as well. She stepped forward to inspect it, then nodded. "It is indeed the Spirit Spring that can temper the body and raise a cultivator's realm."

She continued, "However, the Spiritual Power within it is of too low a grade. It is no longer of much use to War Spirits of our legendary rank and above."

Then she immediately thought of Xiao Yun and understood Chu Yinge's intention. She continued, "Even so, it would still be of great benefit to Lord. As long as he can withstand the tempering of the cold pool, Lord's cultivation will certainly rise by one level, allowing him to enter the Refining Void and Merging with the Dao realm. He may even transform his Mortal Body into a Spirit Body."

Chu Yinge and Xi Zhaoyue reported together, "Lord, your body is far too frail. You should first temper yourself in this cold pool. If you can endure it, your strength will rise once more. Only then will you be able to venture deeper into the Kunlun Divine Palace with us."

Xiao Yun was naturally very curious about anything that could strengthen his original body. He asked eagerly, "Really? There really is a cold pool that can improve a cultivator's physical condition? Hurry and take me to see it."

He was genuinely curious as well. Many cultivation and fantasy novels had Spirit Springs that could improve one's physique and resistance to certain things. He had never expected to encounter one himself, much less have the chance to soak in it.

At the same time, he wanted to increase his strength as soon as possible, ensuring that he had some Self-Preservation Ability during the upheaval at Heaven Dou Royal Academy two days later. After all, if things got out of hand there and Tang Hao made a move, there were not many people on Tianluo Empire's side who could withstand that massive hammer of his.

When they reached the pool at the center of the hall, Xiao Yun watched Cold Qi drift from its surface from time to time. He was somewhat afraid that he would be unable to withstand the erosion of the Cold Qi within the pool, so he asked Chu Yinge for confirmation. "Is this really a Spirit Spring that can increase a cultivator's strength, rather than some dangerous place?"

Seeing the fear in Xiao Yun's heart, Chu Yinge directly reached her jade-like hand into the cold pool to test it. Only then did she smile and say, "Your Highness need not worry. This truly is a Spirit Spring for tempering the body. It was once a reward specially prepared by the Kunlun Divine Palace for newly accepted disciples."

Having received confirmation, Xiao Yun could only steel himself for the sake of becoming stronger. After asking the female War Spirits to leave and keeping Wangliang behind to accompany him, he removed his equipment and descended the steps beside the Spirit Spring into the water.

The moment Xiao Yun stepped into the Spirit Spring, he immediately felt bone-piercing Cold Qi. At the same time, he sensed an energy within it that could repair the body. Gathering his courage, he submerged his entire body in the cold pool.

The Spirit Spring within this cold pool was indeed no ordinary treasure. It was truly formed from the essence of heaven and earth accumulated by Kunlun Mountain over a thousand years. The spring water was crystal-clear, yet it contained nearly Frenzied Spiritual Power. A faint golden glow drifted across its surface. Every drop weighed as heavily as a thousand jun, and the instant it touched his skin, it felt as if countless silver needles had pierced into his marrow, causing Xiao Yun such pain that he nearly groaned aloud.

However, something even more terrifying was yet to come.

The Spiritual Power deep within the Spirit Spring seemed to possess intelligence. The moment it sensed Xiao Yun's presence, it suddenly began to boil! The Frenzied Spiritual Power surged into his meridians like a raging sea, washing through every inch of his Flesh and Blood. His skin cracked apart inch by inch, only to be repaired by Spiritual Power in the next instant. His Bones creaked beneath the strain, while his internal organs seemed to be crushed and reassembled by an invisible hand.

"Urgh—!" Xiao Yun clenched his teeth, veins bulging across his forehead as every muscle in his body trembled spasmodically.

The energy in the Spirit Spring was far too immense, nearly bursting him apart. Yet just as he reached his limit, the Azure Sword Lotus within his body suddenly bloomed! Its petals unfolded, each one as sharp as a sword. Within the lotus heart, the illusory figure of a child began frantically absorbing the external energy!

The Spiritual Power required for the Primordial Spirit's growth was like a bottomless Abyss, madly devouring the Spiritual Power within the Spirit Spring. As Spiritual Power continuously poured in, the Primordial Spirit's appearance slowly began to mature. It changed from its original infant form into that of a young child, then grew into a girl, and finally became a young man. At last, the flame in his hand fused into the Primordial Spirit's chest, forming a strange flaming Divine Pattern.

At the same time, Xiao Yun's cultivation realm began to soar wildly. From the early Transforming Spirit and Returning to Void stage, he broke through the middle stage, late stage, and completion stage in succession, until he finally entered the Refining Void and Merging with the Dao realm.

At the same time, his body underwent a complete transformation under the tempering of the Spirit Spring. All impurities within him were removed. His skin was as tough as steel, his Flesh and Blood gleamed like jade, his meridians became incomparably resilient, and his Bones shone with a faint golden light. He had clearly attained the legendary Spirit Body. Though it was still inferior to the Divine Bodies, Immortal Bodies, and Saint Bodies of Siming Divine Monarch and the others, it was vastly stronger than a Mortal Body.

When the final trace of Spiritual Power merged into his body, Xiao Yun suddenly opened his eyes. Sword light seemed to burst from them, and his aura was as deep as the sea, unfathomable. He slowly stood, and the Spirit Spring Water slid from his body without leaving so much as a drop behind. His cultivation had now reached the middle stage of Refining Void and Merging with the Dao. Feeling the almost tangible Primordial Spirit within him and the overwhelming strength of his body, Xiao Yun was exceedingly excited.

Previously, his original body had not dared to use the Green Lotus Sword Qi, but now he could release it freely. At this point, the Green Lotus Sword Qi could no longer inflict much harm on his body.

With a casual wave, he released a strand of Sword Qi that struck a distant wall, leaving behind a sword mark several centimeters deep. Xiao Yun was extremely satisfied. Compared to before, when even thrusting at the wall directly with a longsword could not leave a single mark, this was far stronger.

At the same time, the Cold Qi in the hall that had once felt bone-piercing was now negligible to his body. The biting cold had become only a slight chill.

Wangliang stood to the side and naturally saw Xiao Yun's actions. He stepped forward and congratulated him. "Congratulations, Lord. Your cultivation has advanced greatly. You will soon enter the second step of cultivation and complete a thorough rebirth."

As he put on his equipment, Xiao Yun said, "You flatter me, Wangliang General. My strength is truly too weak. I cannot even compare to one percent of yours."

Wangliang was straightforward by nature and replied directly, "That is indeed true. However, with Your Highness's growth speed and the favor of the Heavenly Dao, your realm will soon surpass ours."

After putting on his full set of equipment, Xiao Yun replied seriously, "Then I thank Wangliang General for your auspicious words. Let us go and reunite with Siming Divine Monarch and the others."

After saying that, he headed deeper into the hall.