Ji Zining opened her eyes and smiled faintly.
She had broken through in cultivation before Xiao Jiu even woke up.
Next, she would push her cultivation to the Peak Nascent Soul Realm and attempt to break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm.
When the prodigies from those factions arrived at the Ziwei Holy Land tomorrow, she would have to give them a proper surprise!
They wanted to make a name for themselves by stepping on hers?
Then they would see who stepped on whom!
Ji Zining glanced at Ji Chenkong, who was still cultivating beside her, and Xiao Jiu, who had yet to wake, then closed her eyes again.
For the remaining time, she would refine her cultivation.
Time passed, and soon more than an hour had gone by.
Suddenly, a powerful breath of life slowly emerged in the peach blossom forest's small world.
Ji Zining and Ji Chenkong seemed to sense it. They opened their eyes at the same time and looked toward Xiao Jiu.
Xiao Jiu, who had shrunk to the size of a palm and fallen asleep, was now awake, his body growing steadily larger.
In an instant, he had grown back to his original size of ten zhang, but even then, his body did not stop growing.
Eleven zhang... thirteen zhang... fifteen zhang...
At last, Xiao Jiu's body stopped growing at thirty zhang!
With his wings spread, he reached an astonishing fifty zhang!
His appearance had also changed subtly, making him look more majestic and imposing.
His feathers were like sharp swords, as though they would shatter space.
His cultivation, which had only been at the Golden Core Realm First Layer, had also soared to the Golden Core Realm Peak!
He was only one step away from breaking through the barrier between realms and reaching the Nascent Soul Realm!
Xiao Jiu's face was full of excitement, and his enormous body spun happily in place.
Ji Chenkong smiled faintly at the sight.
"Not bad. I reckon Xiao Jiu will be able to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm a few days after we return."
"That will give our Flowing Moon Dynasty another Nascent Soul Realm expert to hold down the fort!"
Ji Zining smiled as well.
It was not just the Nascent Soul Realm. The Saint Realm demonic core Xiao Jiu had swallowed would raise his cultivation at all times and in all places.
Leaving everything else aside, his bloodline would certainly become purer. As long as Xiao Jiu worked hard himself,
by the time the power of the Saint Realm demonic core was exhausted, reaching the Saint Manifestation Realm, just below the Saint Realm, would be no problem.
A Saint Manifestation Realm cultivator could be called an expert wherever they went.
Even in the Ziwei Holy Land, someone at the Saint Manifestation Realm could become an inner sect elder.
Li Changsheng stood up and chuckled.
"At most, this little fellow will need three days. Once he becomes accustomed to his cultivation, he will definitely be able to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm!"
"Ji Chenkong, if you have any trouble after returning to the Flowing Moon Dynasty, just send word to Qianyan."
"As long as you send word to him, I don't think there should be any trouble that can't be resolved."
Hearing this, Ji Chenkong cupped his hands respectfully.
"Understood, Ancestor!"
"Now that Xiao Jiu has woken up, I'll take him back to the Flowing Moon Dynasty first."
When Xiao Jiu underwent his Nascent Soul Realm heavenly tribulation, Ji Chenkong wanted him to do it above Flowing Moon City.
That way, he could intimidate those petty scoundrels.
He was not afraid of people coming to pick a fight; he was just a little annoyed. If he did not show some strength, they would really think just anyone could bully him.
Li Changsheng nodded slightly.
"Very well. I'll send you father and daughter back outside the Divine Mountain, then. Take your time saying goodbye."
With that, he waved his hand gently, and ripples spread through space.
Amid the ripples, Ji Zining, Ji Chenkong, and Xiao Jiu vanished from the peach blossom forest's small world.
Li Changsheng withdrew his hand and shook his head.
"There's no one here again. Oh well, there's no use staying here."
Before his voice had faded, Li Changsheng took a step and vanished from the small world as well.
Outside the Divine Mountain.
Ji Zining, Ji Chenkong, and Xiao Jiu appeared out of thin air.
Ji Zining collected herself and took out the Divine Son token, preparing to open the mountain-protecting formation.
But just then, Ji Chenkong waved his hand.
"There's no need. Let's say goodbye here. The prodigies from those factions are coming to challenge you tomorrow, Ning'er. You must be careful."
"There's nothing I can do to help you now. I only hope that when you have time, you'll return to Flowing Moon City to see your mother and me."
Beside them, Xiao Jiu nodded repeatedly as well.
After his breakthrough, Xiao Jiu's intelligence had also grown a little keener.
Once he reached the Nascent Soul Realm, he would be able to speak human language and communicate with people normally.
Ji Zining smiled gently at his words and assured him,
"Don't worry, Father. I'll make time to come back. I'm cultivating for the Flowing Moon Dynasty too."
"As long as I'm here, no one will dare lay a hand on the Flowing Moon Dynasty!"
Ji Chenkong smiled with relief.
"You've grown up, Ning'er. I can rest easy leaving you alone at the Ziwei Holy Land now."
"Ning'er, I'll head home first."
As he spoke, Ji Chenkong moved and landed on Xiao Jiu's back.
Ji Zining took a deep breath and respectfully cupped her hands toward Ji Chenkong.
"Take care, Father!"
Ji Chenkong waved to Ji Zining, then patted Xiao Jiu to signal that they could leave.
"Roar!"
Xiao Jiu roared, spread his wings, and flew toward the outside of the Ziwei Holy Land.
As he left, Xiao Jiu cast one last reluctant glance at Ji Zining.
As she watched the man and beast depart, Ji Zining felt a little sentimental for some reason.
It was like the sadness of a young girl parting from her family for the first time.
Ji Zining could not help shaking her head.
After receiving the original owner's memories, she had also taken on some of a young girl's temperament.
Ji Zining opened the mountain-protecting formation and entered the Divine Mountain.
On the jade plaza outside the Divine Son Hall.
Ji Zining sat down cross-legged.
All the miscellaneous matters had been settled. Next, she could focus on cultivation.
All that remained was to wait until tomorrow and slap the faces of those factions' so-called prodigies.
Ji Zining circulated the Seven Orifices Exquisite Immortal Art and immersed herself in cultivation once more.
The Seven Orifices Exquisite Immortal Art had seven layers. Ji Zining had only comprehended the first, which did not increase her combat strength.
Once Ji Zining comprehended the second layer, her combat strength would increase twofold!
Unfortunately, Ji Zining had no time to comprehend it now.
She planned to spend some time comprehending the second layer after breaking through to Spirit Transformation.
By then, her combat strength would surely increase tremendously.
Time passed, and the sun slowly sank from the sky, shrouding the True Martial Dao Domain in darkness.
Only a full moon hung high in the sky, shining with a faint light.
"The sign-in cooldown has ended. One sign-in opportunity has been unlocked!" "Host, would you like to sign in?"
Ji Zining opened her eyes, somewhat expectant.
The system notification had sounded just as she raised her cultivation to the Nascent Soul Realm Ninth Layer Peak. She had to admit, its timing was perfect.
She just wondered what reward she would receive from this sign-in.
"System, sign in now!"
"Signing in..." "Sign-in successful. Congratulations, host. You have obtained a Divine Rank Upper Grade divine soul cultivation technique, the Primordial Spirit Refining Art!" "This sign-in has ended. The reward will be distributed immediately. Please check and receive it, host!"
A Divine Rank Upper Grade divine soul cultivation technique, the Primordial Spirit Refining Art!
Ji Zining's body trembled, and she sprang to her feet.
A spiritual power cultivation technique, the Seven Orifices Exquisite Immortal Art, Divine Rank Upper Grade!
A body cultivation technique, the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Body, Divine Rank Upper Grade!
A divine soul cultivation technique, the Primordial Spirit Refining Art, Divine Rank Upper Grade!
All three cultivation techniques were Divine Rank Upper Grade. The system was going to make her invincible in every respect!