Heavenly Origin Realm

As the judge's voice rang out, everyone finally snapped back to their senses. A moment later, the Wan Jin Merchant Association's people burst into waves of cheers.

"Master Yan, this disciple of yours is truly remarkable. With only late Earthly Origin Realm strength and the cultivation of a One-Seal Rune Master, he was able to cut down Jiang Li of the Minor Yuan Dan Realm. His future is limitless," Xia Wanjin exclaimed. Earlier, when he saw Jiang Li use the Blood Returning Yuan Technique, he had thought Jia Lie Jun was certain to lose. He had not expected Jia Lie Jun to give him such a tremendous surprise. By relying on his vast Spiritual Power, he had actually been able to contend with a Minor Yuan Dan Realm expert and even win.

Master Yan's eyes were filled with gratification. To be able to take in such a gifted disciple in his twilight years and have him inherit his mantle made him extremely happy. He knew very well that, even if he exhausted his entire life, he could only stop at Five-Seal Rune Master. He had yet to experience the broader world of the path of rune masters. However, he believed his disciple would certainly go farther than him and fulfill the wish he himself had been unable to complete.

"I didn't expect this guy to be this strong." Xia Zhilan's eyes were filled with admiration. Against Jiang Li, she knew very well that she would lose without question, yet this fellow, who only had Earthly Origin Realm cultivation, had actually won.

Compared with the Wan Jin Merchant Association, the Blood Wolf Gang's side was deathly silent.

"Lost. He actually lost. Just who is that kid?" Yue Feng's face was filled with disbelief. He, Yue Feng, could be considered one of the top figures among Flame City's younger generation. Even he could only avoid the sharp edge of a Minor Yuan Dan Realm expert, yet this person was so young and possessed such formidable combat strength, but he had never heard of his name.

"I don't know. Perhaps he's a helper the Wan Jin Merchant Association invited from somewhere else." Yue Shan's expression was gloomy. As he looked at Jia Lie Jun, a cold glint flashed through his eyes.

"For this contest, the Wan Jin Merchant Association wins two out of three rounds. The Danxian Pool will temporarily belong to the Wan Jin Merchant Association," the judge announced loudly.

"Haha, Gang Leader Yue, thank you for going easy on us." Xia Wanjin cupped his hands and smiled.

"Hmph. Then I, Yue, offer my congratulations to Chairman Xia." Yue Shan gave a cold snort.

"Father, are we just going to let it go like this?" Yue Feng's face was full of unwillingness.

"It's just a Danxian Pool. Our Blood Wolf Gang can afford to lose. Besides, this Danxian Pool only belongs to them temporarily. Who will have the last laugh is still unknown." Yue Shan spoke with deeper meaning, gave Jia Lie Jun a long look, then turned and left.

"That really was dangerous." Jia Lie Jun slumped onto the ground, gasping heavily for breath. His clothes had long since been soaked through with sweat. At this moment, the Origin Energy and Spiritual Power in his body had been completely exhausted. This victory had truly owed a little to good luck. Although that reward had forcefully raised Jiang Li to the Minor Yuan Dan Realm, his control over that realm had not been very practiced, and he had been unable to fully display the might of the Minor Yuan Dan Realm. Otherwise, it would truly have been hard to say who would have won or lost.

"Jun'er, quickly take this pill and recover. If depleted Spiritual Power is not replenished in time, it can damage your foundation." Seeing Jia Lie Jun's pale face, Master Yan hurried forward in concern. Jia Lie Jun swallowed the pill, sat cross-legged, and refined it. Only then did a little color return to his deathly pale face.

"Young friend Jia Lie, this time, it was all thanks to your full assistance. Otherwise, our Wan Jin Merchant Association would have missed out on this Danxian Pool." Seeing Jia Lie Jun open his eyes, he stepped forward, cupped his hands, and thanked him.

"I was merely fulfilling a task entrusted to me. Besides, I did not act for free." Jia Lie Jun chuckled softly.

"Since young friend Jia Lie has finished resting, there is no time to lose." Xia Wanjin turned and walked toward the Danxian Pool below the mountain wall, and Xuan Su and the others hurried after him. As they drew closer and closer to the Danxian Pool, Jia Lie Jun clearly sensed dense, pure energy drifting over the surface of the pool.

"We have already examined the energy of this Danxian Pool. It can support four people absorbing it. Four slots: Zhilan, Liu Yi, Jia Lie Jun, and Xia Shi." Xia Wanjin looked at the Danxian Pool, pondered briefly, then made his decision.

"The Danxian Pool's energy is limited. How much you can absorb will depend entirely on your own ability. However, remember this: do not enter the depths of the Danxian Pool. The deeper you go, the denser the cold energy becomes. If the cold enters your body, something may go wrong. During this time, we will protect you." He immediately sat cross-legged on a rock beside the Danxian Pool. The guards also promptly spread out, surrounding the Danxian Pool.

With a splash, Xia Zhilan circulated her Origin Energy, forming a thin gauze-like layer over the surface of her body, and jumped into the Danxian Pool. A vortex formed around her, and the two energies of yin and yang continuously poured into Xia Zhilan's body.

Jia Lie Jun and the others did not hesitate either and quickly jumped into the Danxian Pool. The moment he entered the water, Jia Lie Jun felt completely comfortable all over. The Origin Energy that had been utterly drained instantly recovered somewhat. Jia Lie Jun circulated his technique, the "Imperial Fire Scripture," and the dense energy in the pool condensed into streams of Origin Energy that continuously surged into his body. This sudden commotion immediately startled Xia Zhilan and the other two awake.

"Brat." Xia Zhilan cursed under her breath and glared fiercely at Jia Lie Jun. Immediately afterward, the three of them pushed their techniques to the limit. At this rate, if they did not hurry and absorb it, all the energy in the pool would be sucked away by Jia Lie Jun. However, no matter how hard the three of them tried to seize the energy in the pool, they still could not compare to Jia Lie Jun, who cultivated a technique above the heavenly tier.

Jia Lie Jun knew nothing of the outside situation. His eyes were tightly shut as he focused wholly on absorbing the energy in the pool. As more and more Origin Energy poured into his body, his dantian was constantly enlarged. Jia Lie Jun sank his mind into his dantian and saw it fluctuating violently, while all the Origin Energy in his body surged rapidly toward it.

"Yang Gang Qi is entering his body. Young friend Jia Lie is about to break through." Seeing the Yang Gang Qi in the world gather endlessly and merge into Jia Lie Jun's body, Xia Wanjin cried out in surprise.

Then he said to Xuan Su beside him, "Raise Master Yan's treatment by one level. Find a way to persuade Master Yan to become a lifelong consecrated elder of our Wan Jin Merchant Association. Young friend Jia Lie's talent is extraordinarily high. In the future, he will surely become a dragon among men."

Xuan Su's face was filled with doubt, but she quickly reacted. The chairman wanted to win Jia Lie Jun over.

Jia Lie Jun focused his mind and circulated his technique to the limit, absorbing the Origin Energy between heaven and earth. With a muffled bang from within his body, Jia Lie Jun felt a barrier inside him being broken through, and his entire body became comfortable.

"So this is the Heavenly Origin Realm?" Feeling the Origin Energy within his body, several times greater than before, he muttered softly to himself.

"Reporting to the host. A large amount of energy has been detected. Absorb the energy and convert it into energy points?"

"Absorb it."

However, Jia Lie Jun did not dare let the system absorb too much, lest it arouse the suspicion of others.

"Congratulations, young friend Jia Lie, on advancing to the Heavenly Origin Realm." Seeing that the four had finished absorbing, Xia Wanjin stepped forward to congratulate him. As for the other three, it seemed they had gained quite a bit as well. The Origin Energy fluctuations they emitted were much stronger than before.

"Master, I've been away from home for too long. I want to go back and take a look." After resting for a few days, Jia Lie Jun prepared to return to the Dou Qi Continent.

"What Jun'er says makes sense. After being out for so long, it is indeed time to go back and take a look." Master Yan nodded in agreement.