The Black Tower of the Upper Dantian Palace

"Clang~" The doors of the Martial Arts Hall were pushed open. Outside was still a hazy blur, with only a faint light in the distance.

It was already late at night.

"Young Master, what is it?" Gu Ji, who had been sitting cross-legged in a pavilion nearby, opened his eyes.

"How long has it been since I went in?" Wu Yuan asked softly.

"Half an hour," Gu Ji replied.

"Mm." Wu Yuan nodded, turned, and closed the door. The heavy doors of the Martial Arts Hall shut once more.

"Young Master, what's wrong?" A hint of confusion flashed in Gu Ji's usually calm eyes.

Logically speaking, Martial Masters at this level already had a relatively clear perception of the passage of time.

Gu Ji didn't ponder it further.

As long as Wu Yuan was safe, he didn't care about anything else.

...Inside the Martial Arts Hall, it was still dark.

"I clearly felt like I slept for a long time, yet only half an hour has passed?" Wu Yuan sat down cross-legged and muttered to himself.

It was beyond his expectations.

He had originally estimated that at least two to three hours had passed.

"Gao Yu said that you can only take two Spirit Condensing Pills at a time? And there must be at least a half-month interval between each dosage?" Wu Yuan rubbed the jade bottle in his palm.

Normally, Wu Yuan shouldn't be taking more now.

But Wu Yuan also remembered that Gao Yu had said that after taking the Spirit Condensing Pill, one needed to meditate for several days to recover.

"Right now, I feel my spirit is stronger than ever, with no abnormalities," Wu Yuan murmured. "Only half an hour has passed, and I seem to have completely digested two Spirit Condensing Pills, which is different from what Gao Yu said."

Was Gao Yu wrong? Definitely not. This should be the accumulated experience of the Hengyun Sect.

But Wu Yuan's situation clearly didn't align with this experience.

"Everyone's physique is different. Most Martial Masters find it difficult to digest the Spirit Condensing Pill, while I am very suited for it?" Wu Yuan speculated.

If it were ordinary Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Wu Yuan would have been more cautious.

For example, when he used the Spirit Liquid, he was very patient.

But the Spirit Condensing Pill was different.

Its miraculous effects gave Wu Yuan hope of opening the Upper Dantian Palace in one go.

If he followed Gao Yu's instructions, it would take two to three months to finish taking them!

Wu Yuan couldn't wait that long.

"If I can open the Upper Dantian Palace several months earlier?" Wu Yuan murmured. "The benefits are self-evident."

Every day was precious during the golden period of physical development!

"I'll try!"

After much deliberation, Wu Yuan finally decided to try again. However, this time he didn't take two pills, but chose to take one Spirit Condensing Pill.

Just like before.

The Spirit Condensing Pill entered his abdomen and instantly transformed into streams of strange energy that surged into his brain. Even though Wu Yuan was prepared this time, he still couldn't stop it.

As expected, Wu Yuan quickly felt a sense of fatigue.

This time, his strong willpower allowed him to hold on a little longer before losing consciousness and falling asleep.

Similarly.

Unbeknownst to Wu Yuan, streams of bloody, mysterious power were released from the Upper Dantian Palace, gradually integrating into his entire body.

However, the amount seemed much less than the previous wave!

"Hoo!" Wu Yuan woke up again, opened his eyes, and immediately sensed the area of his brain.

It was clearer!

The Upper Dantian Palace became more distinct in his perception.

His spirit had indeed become significantly stronger.

Without hesitation.

He pushed open the doors of the Martial Arts Hall.

"Uncle Ji, how much time has passed since I last asked you the time?" Wu Yuan asked directly.

"About two quarters of an hour!" Gu Ji answered crisply.

"Mm."

"Clang~" The door shut immediately.

"Young Master... has he gone crazy from cultivation?" Gu Ji frowned.

Even he, usually dull and low-key, felt something was off with Wu Yuan.

Shaking his head, Gu Ji closed his eyes again to meditate.

The technique he practiced required his heart to become incredibly still!

"So, if that's the case, one Spirit Condensing Pill will make me sleep for about half an hour?" Wu Yuan sat in the center of the training grounds.

"And it seems I can continuously refine Spirit Condensing Pills, making my 'spirit and soul' grow stronger. At least, there's no abnormality now."

Wu Yuan poured out another Spirit Condensing Pill.

He pondered for a moment.

"Gulp!" Wu Yuan swallowed it again.

This time, he managed to stay conscious for longer, but ultimately, he still fell asleep.

It felt like a long time had passed.

Wu Yuan regained consciousness again. The first thing he did upon opening his eyes was to try and see if his spirit and soul had become stronger, just like before.

His mind, however, remained completely normal.

At this point, Wu Yuan no longer had any major doubts or worries.

"Although I don't know the reason, it's clear that my talent in terms of 'spirit and soul' is beyond ordinary people." Wu Yuan's eyes gleamed.

Ten Spirit Condensing Pills? This was indeed a great gift from the Hengyun Sect.

"Continue!" Wu Yuan unhesitatingly chose to keep taking them.

The fifth...

The sixth...

The seventh...

Finally!

When Wu Yuan swallowed the eighth Spirit Condensing Pill, his 'spirit' had already grown to an extremely strong level, incomparably more powerful than before he took the pills.

This time, he finally resisted the wave of fatigue. Even though his consciousness became incredibly blurry, he did not completely lose consciousness in the end.

And as those strange streams of power surged into his mind!

Wu Yuan finally clearly felt the rapid growth of his 'spirit and soul,' and unknowingly, his perception of the entire world became different, more acute.

On the other hand.

"What is this? This energy?" Wu Yuan clearly sensed those wisps of strange bloody energy, which seemed to be transforming his flesh, bones, and sinews at a deeper level.

This was something he hadn't noticed or known about before.

This strange ability came and went quickly, dissipating rapidly.

After a long while.

Wu Yuan finally fully awoke from that hazy state, recalling everything that had just happened.

"That strange bloody energy? Did it surge from the Upper Dantian Palace?" Wu Yuan was filled with confusion and immense surprise.

The Upper Dantian Palace was too mysterious!

Wu Yuan knew too little about it.

Yet, Wu Yuan had a vague feeling that although his physical strength hadn't increased, his body seemed more vital than before!

Wu Yuan didn't rashly take the ninth Spirit Condensing Pill. Instead, he began to use 'Internal Vision' to examine himself, sensing his bones and sinews step by step.

His spirit was much stronger than before, and his perception during Internal Vision was much clearer.

He could delve into a more microscopic level.

"Hmm? Some subtle old injuries that were difficult to heal in the past are completely gone, all repaired?" Wu Yuan sensed further and quickly discovered more anomalies: "It's not just these subtle old injuries that have been repaired."

"Previously, I clearly felt that my body's bones and sinews had been strengthened to their limit, and I needed to 'nourish' them slowly for a period, to make my foundation stronger before I could cultivate the Tiger Leopard Bone Refining Technique to temper my body."

"But now, why does it feel like there's still room for improvement? And it doesn't seem to damage my potential?" Wu Yuan assessed the situation.

He was somewhat bewildered!

How was this possible?

Although he found it hard to believe, Wu Yuan understood in his heart.

That mysterious power that had surged from the Upper Dantian Palace just now seemed to have... transformed his body from the very source, enhancing its potential!

The increase wasn't huge, but the significance was profound.

"Is this... evolving towards the most perfect, flawless body?" Wu Yuan muttered to himself.

The most perfect body referred to cultivating from the youngest age, perfecting every step, and building the most perfect body step by step.

But this had always existed only in theory.

And now, thinking of that mysterious power just now, Wu Yuan actually saw a glimmer of possibility for himself to achieve it.

Provided, of course, that this mysterious bloody power was sufficient!

"Let's try again." Wu Yuan chose to consume the ninth Spirit Condensing Pill. This time, he resisted the feeling of fatigue more easily.

His consciousness was also clearer.

But to Wu Yuan's surprise, this time, the mysterious bloody power did not emanate from the Upper Dantian Palace again.

"Is it depleted?" Wu Yuan felt a trace of disappointment.

"My spirit?"

Wu Yuan simultaneously sensed that the growth of his spirit seemed much weaker after taking the Spirit Condensing Pill this time, as if it were nearing its limit.

But on the other hand.

"Upper Dantian Palace." Wu Yuan's mental consciousness gathered in his head, straining to sense that hazy, indistinct location.

He tried his best, wanting to sense it clearly!

Finally.

"Boom!"

Wu Yuan felt a strange explosion flash in his mind, as if breaking through life's constraints. Waves of joy involuntarily surged within him.

Immediately, Wu Yuan's 'spirit' perceived a wondrous place!

Vague and vast! Boundless!

With no distinction between up and down.

No difference between left and right.

In the center of this vast and boundless land, a majestic, ancient black tower floated, exuding an ancient, desolate aura!

Wisps of thin, bloody mist were encircling the black tower.

"This black tower... it's this!" Wu Yuan sensed the majestic black tower, utterly shocked.

Its familiar appearance flashed through his mind like lightning, sparking many conjectures.

"Could it be that this is the reason I descended upon the Central Land World?"