After drinking the Dao Comprehension Tea Li Changsheng had given him, Ji Chenkong went to one side and began cultivating.
Just as Li Changsheng and Hua Qianyan had said, this single cup of Dao Comprehension Tea was enough for him to break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm!
His cultivation had already reached the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm. Not only could Dao Comprehension Tea help one comprehend the Dao, but it also contained abundant, pure energy.
Refining that energy alone would allow him to break through the cultivation bottleneck that had troubled him for so long!
Combined with the tea's ability to aid Dao comprehension, he might even grasp the power of intent that had always eluded him.
All things in the world possessed the power of intent. Even commonly used sabers and swords had their own intents.
Sword intent was the usual abbreviation for the intent of the sword!
The power of intent he needed to comprehend was fist intent!
In the past, he had always fallen short of the final step, unable to grasp it. This time, with the help of the Dao Comprehension Tea, there was a strong chance he would comprehend it when his cultivation broke through to Spirit Transformation!
Ji Zining watched Ji Chenkong enter a state of cultivation and let out a breath of turbid air.
She reached out and patted Xiao Jiu, who was trembling slightly beside her.
"Don't be afraid. Once Father finishes cultivating, he'll take you back."
With Ji Zining's soothing, some of the panic faded from Xiao Jiu's eyes, and the little creature grew calmer.
It was no wonder Xiao Jiu had reacted this way. The two powerhouses before them were simply too terrifying!
Seeing this, Hua Qianyan's eyes darted about. He turned his hand over, and a round bead shining with golden light appeared in his palm.
"This little beast is quite intelligent. Now that we've met, it wouldn't do not to give it a little welcoming gift."
"This is the demon core of a Saint Realm Golden-Winged Peng. It's already been refined, and all its ferocity has been removed. Divine Son, take it and let this little fellow refine it."
As he spoke, he handed the golden bead to Ji Zining, who watched it curiously.
"Although its bloodline isn't very pure, the energy in this Saint Realm demon core should allow it to undergo an atavistic evolution."
"Perhaps one day, it might even become a Saint Realm great demon."
Ji Zining gazed curiously at the round bead shining with golden light before her.
This was the demon core of a Saint Realm Golden-Winged Peng?
And its ferocity had been removed, so it could be refined and absorbed directly?
Ji Zining cupped her hands slightly. Rather than decline, she accepted the demon core from Hua Qianyan.
"Then I thank you on Xiao Jiu's behalf, Holy Lord."
Gazing at the golden bead in Ji Zining's hand, Xiao Jiu began to tremble again.
But this time was different. Before, Xiao Jiu had trembled in fear and terror; now, the trembling was from excitement!
Hua Qianyan waved a hand dismissively.
"No need for thanks. It's just a little trinket."
Ji Zining had no response to that.
A Saint Realm Golden-Winged Peng's demon core might be nothing to him, but to her and Xiao Jiu as they were now, it was a treasure beyond compare.
Ji Zining looked down curiously at the so-called Saint Realm Golden-Winged Peng demon core in her hand.
It was perfectly round, its surface covered in dense, intricate patterns and shining with golden light.
Though golden, the light was not dazzling. Instead, it made her feel incomparably warm.
Just holding it, she could clearly sense the terrifying energy filling it.
Faintly, Ji Zining even seemed to hear a series of majestic cries.
As expected of a Saint Realm demon core!
Ji Zining marveled inwardly.
Unfortunately, she was not a demon beast. The demon core would only be useful to her after it had been refined into a pill.
Shaking her head, Ji Zining held the golden bead out to Xiao Jiu with a faint smile.
"You're getting a bargain. Take it."
Xiao Jiu had long been unable to wait. Hearing Ji Zining's words, the little creature hurriedly pecked at the golden bead and took it into its mouth.
Then, under Ji Zining's gaze, Xiao Jiu swallowed the golden bead whole.
That was right, swallowed it!
Xiao Jiu, who was only at the Golden Core Realm, had swallowed a Saint Realm demon core whole!
As soon as Xiao Jiu swallowed the demon core, the little creature's expression froze, and golden light shone from its entire body.
Ji Zining could distinctly sense that the golden light seemed to have activated something.
Immediately afterward, Xiao Jiu began to shrink, soon becoming small enough to fit in her palm.
Ji Zining hurriedly picked Xiao Jiu up off the ground and discovered that, at some point, the little creature had fallen fast asleep.
Hua Qianyan looked somewhat helpless.
"This little fellow's appetite is far too big. I expect your father will have to make his own way back."
"Riding back is almost certainly out of the question."
"Luckily, I already removed the ferocity from it. Otherwise, this little beast would have exploded the moment it ate it."
Ji Zining set Xiao Jiu down safely to one side and shrugged.
"Let Xiao Jiu digest it slowly. There's nothing else we can do to help."
Li Changsheng smiled.
"After waking up, Xiao Jiu should be able to reach the Golden Core Realm Peak."
"Then, as it slowly digests the energy in the demon core, its cultivation will improve faster than you can imagine."
"But enough about that. Zining, what did you think of this surprise?"
Ji Zining sat down across from Li Changsheng and nodded with satisfaction.
"I'm very satisfied with this surprise. Thank you, Senior!"
Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow.
"You've become the Divine Son of our Ziwei Holy Land, and you're still calling me Senior? Call me something else."
Ji Zining could not help shaking her head.
"Thank you, Ancestor."
This old fellow really was particular about things.
Hearing Ji Zining address him that way, Li Changsheng was immensely pleased.
"This is your Divine Son token. Within the Ziwei Holy Land, you can go anywhere with this token!"
Li Changsheng stood and solemnly handed a purple-gold token to Ji Zining.
Ji Zining composed herself, stood as well, and accepted the token with both hands.
From today onward, she was the Divine Son of the Ziwei Holy Land!
She glanced at the token. On the front were the words "Ziwei Holy Land" and some intricate buildings.
The reverse was much simpler, bearing only two large characters: "Divine Son."
Taking a deep breath, Ji Zining fastened the token to her waist.
The more Li Changsheng looked, the more satisfied he became. He kicked Hua Qianyan, who stood nearby.
"Once Zining's father and that little beast finish cultivating, you're responsible for seeing them through their heavenly tribulations."
"I'll take Zining to her residence first."
Hua Qianyan rubbed his kicked backside and nodded with a resentful look.
"Yes, Ancestor!"
Li Changsheng waved his sleeve toward Ji Zining and chuckled.
"Come, let's go to your residence, where the Divine Sons of every generation have lived: the Divine Son Hall on the Divine Mountain!"
Ji Zining felt everything go dark before her eyes, and she lost her sight.
When she could see clearly again, she found that she was no longer in the peach blossom grove, but standing before a mountain peak that towered into the clouds.
Merely standing before the peak, Ji Zining felt incomparably dense Spiritual Qi rushing toward her.
It was hard to imagine how dense the Spiritual Qi would be once she entered the mountain.
Li Changsheng turned his head and smiled.
"Starting today, this Divine Mountain is yours. There's a palace at the summit; that is the Divine Son Hall."
Gazing at the peak before her, Ji Zining looked a little excited.
From here, she would begin her rise in this other world!