Purple entry [Freezing Frost]! Nascent Dao Infant! Qingzhou's secret orders!
Yang Xiao did not get up immediately.
The worst thing you can do after a breakthrough is to rush to use your power before you've stabilized.
He first used his internal vision to observe the changes in the Mystic Core.
The Black-Gold Mystic Core hung deep within the Qi Sea, slowly rotating, its five Pill Pattern still clearly visible, each in its proper place.
Just as he was about to check the power of his current level, the Black-Gold Mystic Core trembled slightly once again.
This time, he clearly sensed that the change originated from within the Mystic Core (a type of internal organ).
In the originally solidified ocean of Spiritual Power, like a swamp, a cluster of intertwined blood vessels appeared.
These blood streaks gradually outlined the shape of the body and head, becoming increasingly solidified. They curled up within the Mystic Core, like a sleeping infant.
Yang Xiao's heart sank slightly.
Its outline was still very blurry, not even a complete human shape, but more like a developing embryo, curled up quietly deep within the Mystic Core.
But right under his gaze, that outline suddenly moved.
The amplitude was extremely slight, like the first heartbeat.
One time.
Another one.
Yang Xiao's attention suddenly focused.
Because this outline was too fragile, he dared not touch it with his Spiritual Power, and only kept his divine sense far away from the Mystic Core.
He suddenly remembered what Qin Lie had said that day: After the Mystic Core Perfection, break it open with your own power and give birth to a Mystic Core Dao Infant when the Dan shatters.
Shattering the elixir to form the nascent soul.
But what he saw before him told him that this thing would be formed inside the Mystic Core before the core shattered.
The key to the Dao-Infant Realm may not lie in the moment of "shattering," but in whether the embryo has been properly nurtured.
What is appearing inside the Mystic Core right now may be the very embryo of the Dao Infant.
Perhaps, it could be called the Dao Embryo!
Yang Xiao observed for a long time.
The outline of the Dao Embryo remains fragile.
The blood vessels around it gradually connected as the Mystic Core circulated, and with each extremely slight pulsation, it absorbed the surrounding Spirit Liquid, gradually becoming a thin layer of solidified liquid.
However, as long as Yang Xiao mobilizes a little more Spiritual Power to feed it, its solidification speed will increase.
After trying for nearly half an hour, he finally gave up the idea of continuing the investigation.
His cultivation level has just broken through to the Core Illumination Late-Stage, and he is still far from becoming Dao Infant.
Only passively feed the Mystic Core, hoping it will grow quickly and become Dao Infant as soon as possible.
The initial appearance of the Dao Embryo does not equate to having met the conditions for forming an infant, nor does it mean that one can immediately break through the barriers.
Yang Xiao noted down a few key points in his mind: the Dao Embryo had already taken shape, but it was still extremely weak and needed the Mystic Core to continue nurturing it.
We need to continue collecting Demon Core as resources to accelerate the nurturing of the Dao Embryo.
The Yellow Wind Demon King will return in an unknown period of time, and may even bring a Dao-Infant Realm expert with him. It would be quite risky for Qin Lie to rely on him alone.
Qingzhou can't wait for him for much longer.
A mountain breeze rustled through the rocky slope, sending fallen leaves flying.
Yang Xiao opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a long, white breath, which condensed into a thin layer of frost on the slope.
The Core Illumination Late-Stage are complete!
He stood up, stretched his limbs, and his joints cracked slightly.
From the direction of the distant mountain valley, the faint sounds of the Deputy General carrying the demon's corpse could be heard.
When Yang Xiao returned to the edge of the cold pool, the demon corpse had already been properly bound.
Several Deputy General used thick ropes to tie the Toad King's limbs together, the knots being deep and secure.
The matter at Hantan has been mostly resolved.
Lu Changgeng was standing by the roadside supervising the finishing touches when he heard footsteps and looked up at him.
His gaze paused slightly.
He had sensed the breakthrough fluctuations coming from the stone slope a long time ago, even from several miles away. Now, he could see that Yang Xiao's aura had steadily surpassed the previous level.
Enter the pool to slay the king, emerge from the pool to break through the realm.
It took no more than half a day.
This young man's progress is so rapid it's beyond belief.
Lu Changgeng didn't ask any more questions, and took out an urgent letter he had just received from his pocket and handed it over.
"General Pei has returned to his post."
"They're still in a hurry to summon us back to Qingzhou."
Yang Xiao paused for a moment as he took the letter.
Has General Pei returned to his post?
He remembered clearly that on the day he left the border camp, Pei Xuance personally told him to stay at the border and keep an eye on Yellow Wind Mountain, and also told him, "If you encounter an insurmountable enemy, it is important to protect yourself."
His sudden return to the company must mean something happened.
He opened the letter; it contained only a few lines:
"The Yellow Wind Demon King has left the mountain, and his whereabouts are unknown."
"Return to headquarters as soon as possible after receiving the order, and do not pursue the enemy further along the way."
The characters were written by Pei Xuance, and the strokes were heavier than usual, with the ending almost tearing through the back of the paper.
Lu Changgeng watched him accept the letter and asked, "We're preparing to return to Qingzhou. What are your plans?"
Go back, or not?
Yang Xiao frowned.
This question had been on his mind ever since he finished reading the letter.
If he goes back, he will lose his source of Demon Core cores and will be unable to nourish the newly manifested Dao Embryo.
The Dao Embryo is extremely weak, relying on the Mystic Core mysterious elixir) to nurture it, and it is unknown how long it will take to nurture.
With a crisis looming over Qingzhou, a Core Illumination Late-Stage cultivation level would definitely not be enough.
He only knew that only by reaching the Dao-Infant Realm would he have the power to navigate the upcoming changes.
Pei Xuance's letter clearly stated, "Return to your post as soon as possible after receiving the order."
If he doesn't return, wouldn't that be considered disobeying military orders?
On one side is a command, on the other is an order.
Yang Xiao stood there, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
"..."
Seeing Yang Xiao's dilemma, Lu Changgeng smiled slightly, as if he had expected it.
"You can tell me anything you have a problem with."
I can help you with a couple of questions.
Yang Xiao raised his head.
He does have a question that has been weighing on his mind for a long time. He can't decide whether to reply or not until he gets a clear answer to it.
"What cultivation technique is needed to break through to the Dao-Infant Realm?"
If one is at the Dao-Infant Realm, what specific cultivation techniques are needed?
If not, I should hurry up and break through to the Core Illumination Perfected Stage, find more Demon Core to feed the Dao Embryo, and help it form its Nascent Soul.
Lu Changgeng answered very decisively:
"No cultivation technique is needed; as long as the Dao Infant accumulates enough, it can break through."
"I won't go back yet." To avoid any ambiguity in his words, which might make him seem like he was deserting his post, Yang Xiao added, "I plan to return after I've finished hunting Demon Plague in Qingzhou."
Lu Changgeng was taken aback.
He was somewhat surprised that Yang Xiao didn't return to Qingzhou; it turned out to be this.
"Then go ahead, I will speak with General Pei."
Yang Xiao cupped his hands in greeting and left along the mountain path.
The moment I stepped out of the mountain valley, a thousand-foot- Core Illumination silently spread out before me, reflecting the mountain path, treetops, and rocky ridges into my perception.
He stepped into the air and rose into the air.
His figure rose several feet from the ground, Void-Treading Step steps in mid-air, he transformed into a blur and vanished from everyone's sight.
After Yang Xiao left, the valley became busy again.
Lu Changgeng stood by the roadside, watching the direction in which the afterimage disappeared, for a long time.
Only after the Deputy General carried the demon corpse out of the valley did he take out another secret letter from his pocket.
This letter arrived at the same time as the urgent letter that had just been handed to Yang Xiao.
The difference was that Pei Xuance's personal seal was pressed onto the envelope.
The urgent letter was for all the Demon Suppression General; everyone received one. This letter, however, was for him alone.
Lu Changgeng opened it and read it very slowly from beginning to end.
After reading it, his expression turned serious.
He held the letter between his fingers, and the mountain wind blew, causing the corners of the paper to tremble.
He looked up and gazed in the direction Yang Xiao had left.
After a long silence, Lu Changgeng sighed softly.
It's better if they don't reply.
"It's best to wait until things settle down... and come back later."