Heat steamed through the Righteous Path Alliance's Martial Arts Arena at the Seven Mysteries Sect Ruins. Three hundred core disciples sat around the Star-Magnetic Spirit Spring Pool, its azure waters reflecting the morning light as pure stellar power seeped into their bodies in silken strands.
Wang Yan, a disciple of Yellow Maple Valley, had soaked in the spirit spring for only half a day before the spiritual power vortex in his dantian began spinning faster, and the bottleneck that had held him back for three years showed signs of loosening. Zhao Hu, captain of the Seven Mysteries Sect's Blood Feud Team, felt even more refreshed; old injuries once corroded by Blood Fiend's demonic energy were slowly healing under the cleansing flow of spiritual power.
"The star-magnetic spirit spring truly works wonders!" Moonlight flowed around Nangong Wan's fingertips as she checked the disciples' cultivation. "At this rate, at least fifty disciples will break through their bottlenecks within three months. We could double the number of Core Formation Stage disciples."
Han Li stood on the arena's raised platform, the Water-Magnetic Sword hovering beside him. The system screen in his sea of consciousness refreshed its resource allocation data: [Star-magnetic spirit spring consumed: 12 barrels; Spirit stones spent: 20,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones, 50,000 middle-grade spirit stones].
He raised his eyes toward the distant Magnetic Essence Puppet Workshop-disciples of the Giant Sword Sect and Star Palace were assembling puppet frames according to the blueprints. At the joints where ironwood fused with magnetic essence crystal, a faint sheen of star power had already appeared.
"Alliance Leader," Lu Yun said, hurrying over with an Image-Recording Jade Slip in hand. "We just received word from the Heavenly South Loose Cultivators Alliance: demon cultivators have been spotted near Black Wind Valley. They seem to be mapping the terrain. There