Before the Breakthrough, Blood Calamity

Over the course of three months, Lin Heng refined all the cultivation resources the Sect had accumulated over ten years, along with the resources generously provided by the various Elders, turning them into his own reserves of Essence.

But it was still not quite enough. He remained some distance away from breaking through to the Heaven-Human Realm.

"I still need five hundred Nine Revolutions Essence Pills. If possible, it would be best to prepare some extra Essence Pills as well, in case of any unforeseen mishaps during the breakthrough."

Lin Heng spoke to his master, Xiao Rang, and stated his needs.

"It seems we can only force those Heaven and Earth Treasures to mature. Disciple, wait patiently for a few months."

Xiao Rang spoke.

The Cloud Sword Palace Mountain Gate had always been a place where outstanding people and spiritual lands converged. There were many places in the mountains where Heaven and Earth Treasures grew naturally.

These Heaven and Earth Treasures normally grew freely. Although the Cloud Sword Palace Martial Artists also supplied nutrients to cultivate them, they only chose the most cost-effective methods. It saved money, but their growth rate was far from maximized.

But now that Lin Heng desperately needed Essence to break through, they had no choice but to pay the price to force these Heaven and Earth Treasures to mature.

Not only at the Cloud Sword Palace Mountain Gate—even at the former mountain gates of Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City, there were many Heaven and Earth Treasures that could be forced to mature. These treasures would soon bear fruit, and after seeds were preserved, they would be supplied for Lin Heng's use.

By conservative estimates, the cost of each portion of such force-matured Heaven and Earth Treasures would reach two million taels of silver.

This was because it consumed vast quantities of lower-grade precious herbs and exotic beast flesh as fertilizer. The price was enormous, and it would also affect the supply of cultivation resources for low- and mid-level Martial Artists. Yet the effects of these Heaven and Earth Treasures were not necessarily any better.

Although Xiao Rang had always been thinking of ways to spend money, he would not waste it on such unnecessary matters. But now, there was no other choice.

Lin Heng's priority was the highest in Cloud Sword Palace!

"Thank you for your trouble, Master."

Lin Heng nodded in agreement, then began Cross-Legged Meditation. He sorted through his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, stabilizing the somewhat restless aura caused by ingesting too many pills over the past three months.

Blood and qi surged through his body as he continuously drew in and refined Heaven and Earth Origin Energy to temper his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, building up an even deeper foundation.

Thus, another three months soon passed.

The first batch of force-matured Heaven and Earth Treasures, along with the Nine Revolutions Essence Pills recently refined from materials scraped together across the whole of Lan Continent, were delivered before Lin Heng.

He continued refining these pills and Heaven and Earth Treasures, strengthening his Essence and turning it into the foundation for his breakthrough.

At the same time, he waited for the second batch of cultivation resources to arrive.

Finally, after his twenty-seventh birthday, Lin Heng had completely accumulated the Essence required to break through to the Heaven-Human Realm.

"I will attempt my breakthrough next. Master, please stand guard for me."

Having completed his preparations before the breakthrough, Lin Heng sought out his master, Xiao Rang, and made his request.

Breaking through to the Heaven-Human Realm involved an unprecedented Transformation, comparable to being conceived in the womb and born anew.

His body would be remade from the marrow upward, evolving to an entirely new level of life. But during the breakthrough, Lin Heng would lose all ability to protect himself. Moreover, because he would draw in immense quantities of Heaven and Earth Origin Energy, causing a huge disturbance was unavoidable.

At such a time, he could only rely on the Sect's protection.

"Disciple, break through without worry. Your master will make the defenses around the mountain gate watertight."

"The Sect's many senior members will also give their full support to your breakthrough."

Xiao Rang promised.

Lin Heng had grown up under the watchful eyes of the many Elders, and he had never been stingy about sharing the fruits of his achievements in martial arts. This was also why, when he needed cultivation resources to break through to the Heaven-Human Realm, his Fellow Disciples had all supported him with everything they had.

If this breakthrough to the Heaven-Human Realm succeeded, everyone would benefit from it for the rest of their lives.

Afterward, Xiao Rang began busying himself with preparations for Lin Heng's breakthrough.

All the Sect's low- and mid-level Martial Artists were given leave and arranged to stay temporarily in Ethereal City, the city closest to the Cloud Sword Palace Mountain Gate, so that their presence at the mountain gate would not disturb Lin Heng's breakthrough.

All Grandmaster Realm experts were mobilized to patrol the entire Cloud Sword Mountain Range, preventing any experts from sneaking in and affecting Lin Heng's breakthrough.

Meanwhile, Xiao Rang led all the Sect's Great Grandmasters in guarding the main hall area of the mountain gate, to prevent any accidents.

"Hmm? Where has Grand Elder Shen Shuhang gone?"

Everything was proceeding in perfect order, but at the final step, an unexpected complication arose.

Grand Elder Shen Shuhang was a Cloud Sword Palace Expert in the Great Grandmaster Realm. He was the master of Spirit Plant Elder Zhang Ya. Normally, he no longer involved himself in affairs and merely cultivated in peace.

By rights, he should have been at the mountain gate right now.

There was no way he could possibly be absent from something as important as Lin Heng's breakthrough to the Heaven-Human Realm, for it concerned the hope of extending his own lifespan at his advanced age.

"Master left three days ago to gather medicine for the Young Sect Master."

"By all rights, he should have returned by now. Could something have happened?"

Zhang Ya explained the reason.

Three days earlier, news had arrived through Cloud Sword Palace's intelligence network that Seven-Colored Radiant Light had spread from the depths of the North Sea Region, seemingly signaling the emergence of a supreme treasure.

In order to aid Lin Heng's breakthrough to the Heaven-Human Realm, Shen Shuhang had decided to go and retrieve it for him.

Although the Cloud Sword Palace Mountain Gate was tens of thousands of li away from the North Sea, at a Great Grandmaster's speed, gathering the medicine and returning within three days should have been more than enough.

"Blood Calamity! A Blood Calamity has occurred."

"Grand Elder Shen Shuhang has fallen within the Blood Sea."

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives. They had just been talking about Shen Shuhang when news regarding him was sent back.

Only, it was not good news.

A Blood Calamity had erupted in the North Sea Region. The Seven-Colored Radiant Light had merely been bait, luring nearby living beings to gather there.

Then they were devoured by the Boundless Blood Sea.

Shen Shuhang had originally possessed the cultivation of the Great Grandmaster Third Heaven. Over the past ten years, he had cultivated Lin Heng's "Boundless Sea Divine Art," and after years of accumulation, he had surged straight into the Great Grandmaster Seventh Heaven. His cultivation was already enough for him to be called a Supreme Great Grandmaster in this era.

Yet several days ago, this Supreme Great Grandmaster had been swallowed by the Blood Sea without even making a splash.

As more and more living beings were devoured, the Blood Sea continuously expanded. It had now made landfall in the northern part of Lan Continent, in territory that had originally belonged to Ice Frost City. Wherever it passed, all life was extinguished, as though it meant to swallow heaven and earth.

"Master!"

Zhang Ya wept in grief.

Her master's cultivation had broken through, greatly extending his lifespan. She had thought that this kind elder could accompany her through long years to come, yet she had never expected disaster to strike so suddenly.

"Give me one day to break through. Then I will resolve this Blood Calamity."

Lin Heng also heard the news. He spoke calmly, then closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, beginning his breakthrough to the Heaven-Human Realm.