The Soul-Binding Stone is a rather special kind of Spirit Stone. It naturally contains a trace of the Soul Origin, but due to its special nature, it cannot be absorbed or refined by humans. However, it has one special characteristic: long-term wearers can slowly enhance their Spiritual Strength. Therefore, this item is extremely valuable to alchemists.
Furthermore, because this item is extremely rare on the mainland, its owners are very secretive about it. Without the right opportunity, even those with extraordinary abilities would not be able to obtain one.
It's likely that the Daoist Xuankong entered the secret realm with the intention of finding the Soul-Binding Stone.
"Well."
After some thought, Xiao Yan finally sighed helplessly. There was not much time left before the secret realm closed, and even if he wanted to search for it, it would be impossible. Moreover, there were many Yuan Zun Venerables lurking outside this lake, and he had just been released from prison, so how could he easily take risks?
It seems that the only option is to try to break through to the eighth rank again using the remaining Spiritual Strength in his body. Fortunately, Xiao Yan is much more confident this time than before, otherwise he would never have dared to try so lightly.
After putting away the Spirit Absorption Secret Technique, Xiao Yan adjusted himself slightly, then closed his eyes and sat cross-legged. As his mind turned slightly, a peculiar state of mind quietly formed, which was none other than the Pill Profound Realm!
The combination of Ten Thousand Seas Return to the Ruins and Pill Profound Realm can minimize the energy consumption for Xiao Yan's breakthrough to the Soul Realm, and even improve the success rate, although it is far from the effect described by the Spirit Absorption Secret Technique.
As Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength began to attempt a breakthrough, time flew by unnoticed. Before anyone knew it, the Northern King, guarding Xiao Siyu, had arrived above the island where Xiao Yan was.
Guided by the Northern King, Xiao Siyu quickly met Xiao Yan. However, the moment she saw Xiao Yan's current state, she immediately understood his intention. Moreover, judging from her opinion, given the strength of Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength at this moment, he clearly did not have the conditions to successfully break through to the Tier Eight Soul. Without hesitation, she reached out and took out a palm-sized black crystal from her Storage Ring. With a thought, she levitated it in the void in front of Xiao Yan.
As the black crystal approached, a faint white light emanated from within it, along with a peculiar gravitational force that subtly spread upwards as it approached Xiao Yan's Xiao Yan, merging with his aura and subtly enhancing his Spiritual Strength.
Xiao Yan was aware of Xiao Siyu and the Northern King's arrival, but he never expected Xiao Siyu to take out this black crystal.
Therefore, when that peculiar gravitational force covered his body, Xiao Yan suppressed his own high-level Spiritual Strength and withdrew from the Pill Profound Realm state.
"It really is Soul-Binding Stone!"
The moment Xiao Yan opened his eyes and saw the crystal in front of him, an overwhelming joy burst forth in an excited and delighted voice.
At the same time, Xiao Yan seemed to have made a connection to something and looked up at Xiao Siyu to ask her a question.
"Was this item found in this secret realm?"
Although Xiao Siyu had some doubts upon hearing this, she nodded affirmatively and said:
"That's right. It was precisely because I obtained the Soul-Binding Stone first that I was chased all the way by Daoist Xuankong, whom I encountered shortly afterward. Is there any connection between these events?"
Xiao Yan smiled. Just as he expected, Daoist Xuankong had planned to find the Soul-Binding Stone in the secret realm to break through his soul realm, hoping to win the championship at the Pill Gathering. What a perfect solution!
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Yan showed Xiao Siyu the newly acquired Spirit Absorption Secret Technique and also informed her of the news of Xuan Daoist Xuankong's death.
Upon hearing that Xiao Yan had actually killed Daoist Xuankong, Xiao Siyu was initially shocked, but then nodded with a look of satisfaction. Without hesitation, she handed the Soul-Binding Stone to Xiao Yan, saying:
"Take it and use it. If it can really help you break through to the Tier Eight Soul, then my escape from death to obtain it will not have been in vain."
The latter did not stand on ceremony. With the championship imminent, he had no time for modesty. Besides, he had shown Xiao Siyu his secret technique so that she would know his purpose.
Next, Xiao Yan used all the materials he had collected in Daoist Xuankong Storage Ring, as well as the Soul-Binding Stone, to put them all into the Heavenly Flames and began to refine them by force.
Xiao Siyu opened another cave dwelling and began to recover from her long-standing injuries, while the Northern King stood outside, guarding their safety at all times.
Two days later, Xiao Yan, relying on the unique effects of the Ten Thousand Seas Return to the Ruins, the Pill Profound Realm, and the Spirit Absorption Secret Technique, officially began his attempt to break through to the Tier Eight Soul. Xiao Siyu's injuries had also mostly healed with the help of pills, and she should be fully recovered before leaving the secret realm.
Xiao Yan's process of breaking through to the Soul Realm was long and tedious. During the process, Xiao Siyu could also occasionally sense that many powerful figures were passing by not far from the island. Some even tried to go ashore, but fortunately, the Northern King was there. When they discovered the Yuan Zun Puppet, they immediately changed their expressions and chose to detour far away. This made Xiao Yan's breakthrough process quite stable.
One day, when Xiao Siyu, who had fully recovered from her injuries, was quietly waiting for Xiao Yan in her cave, a special summons suddenly emanated from the water talisman in her palm, as if drawing her to the depths of the lake.
Upon realizing this, Xiao Siyu immediately understood that this was a sign that the secret realm's exit was opening, which also indicated that the secret realm was about to close, and they didn't have much time left.
At this moment, Xiao Yan was still in the process of trying to break through, while in other places outside the island, all the outsiders in the secret realm set off for the exit. Even the two sides that were fiercely fighting on the outer edge of the lake stopped fighting after noticing the abnormality of the water talisman.
Only at the roundabout location, Xiao Siyu was concerned about Xiao Yan, who had not yet completed his breakthrough, so she waited hesitantly, her emotions gradually growing more anxious as time slowly passed.
There is an unwritten rule in the Cang Ridge Secret Realm: all outsiders must leave the secret realm within a specified time. Once the secret realm's closing time limit is exceeded, the consequences are unpredictable. There was once a reckless alchemist who, relying on his Yuan Zun cultivation, attempted to hide in the secret realm to plunder its rare and precious materials. However, he ended up disappearing completely, as if he had vanished into thin air.
Therefore, ever since then, whenever the exit of the secret realm opens, everyone immediately stops what they are doing and prioritizes leaving the secret realm.
It is precisely because of this that Xiao Yan's failure to break through to the Soul Realm has caused Xiao Siyu such anxiety.
Left with no other choice, Xiao Siyu gritted her teeth and tried to summon Xiao Yan out of his breakthrough process. However, the latter was clearly at a critical moment of his own breakthrough and would not give up easily. After a quick conversation, Xiao Siyu finally yielded to her wishes and left the secret realm first. Xiao Yan promised to leave before the secret realm completely closed.