Helping Shan Li Break Through to Spirit Transformation!
Three days later, the two streaks of light landed on the main peak of the mountain range.
Shi Jian withdrew his lightning and landed on the stone platform outside the cave abode. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he felt his internal organs churn and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
That Human Race swordsman's attack with his secret treasure was no joke.
On the surface, it appeared unharmed, but in reality, the sword intent had seeped deep into the internal organs, like fine needles piercing the meridians; with each circulation of the Dao rhythm, an extremely sharp energy surged wildly within the body, tearing the newly repaired flesh apart once more.
Shan Yue stood to one side, his Divine Sense sweeping over Shi Jian's body, his brows furrowing slightly.
"His injuries are quite severe."
"I can still hold on." Shi Jian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Shan Yue didn't say anything more, but simply took out an earthen-yellow pill bottle from his sleeve and handed it over.
"The secret elixir of the Mountain Bear Lineage is somewhat useful for healing Dao injuries; take it first, then go into seclusion."
Shi Jian accepted the elixir bottle without any hesitation.
He turned to look at the cave abode deep within the main peak and probed it with his Divine Sense; the aura of the Shan Li remained steady, Earth Dao energy flowed slowly, absorbing the scattered essence of the Treasured Earth Dao in the world.
Progress was slow, but there were no major mishaps either.
Shi Jian took out the jade bottles containing fragments of Daoist essence from the Earth Dao cultivators he had been plundering over the past few months, and handed them over to Shan Yue along with the Treasured Earth Spirit Embryo and the Rock Heart Milk.
"I'll trouble you, Ancestor, to pass it on to Shan Li."
Shi Yue accepted it and nodded slightly.
Shi Jian didn't look any further and turned to walk into his cave abode.
Deep within the cave abode, the Spirit Vein energy is abundant.
Shi Jian sat down cross-legged, with purple-gold lightning arcs slowly flowing around his body; he closed his vertical pupils and began to sort out the remaining Sword Dao energy in his body.
That sword intent was extremely stubborn.
Once it seeps into the meridians, it's like a maggot clinging to bone. For every bit of the Daoist essence of Purple Pivot Lightning diminished, it would retreat a bit; but as soon as the Dao of Lightning loosened even slightly, that sword intent would make a comeback, cutting through flesh and blood.
Shi Jian sighed inwardly: The power of Dao Artifact is truly not to be underestimated.
Although he had taken the silver-white flying sword, the residual Daoist essence within it had been imprinted into the wound, becoming a hidden injury that was extremely difficult to remove.
However, this was not a major problem for Shi Jian.
The Daoist aura of the Purple Pivot Lightning Immortal Foundation within his body was already extremely domineering; he could refine his body with lightning and gradually wear down that sword intent, but it would take some time.
Shi Jian calmed his mind and began to recuperate in seclusion.
Meanwhile, Shan Yue was not idle either. After delivering the items to Shan Li's secluded cave abode, he began to arrange the entire encampment.
He stood atop the main peak, his Earth Dao aura erupting from his body; that aura spread in all directions along the mountain's veins, like an invisible net enveloping the entire mountain range.
Although the Human Race swordsman's physical body was destroyed, his soul escaped; with the Human Race's methods, it's only a matter of time before he rebuilds his physical body.
Moreover, that sword cultivator possesses a soul-protecting treasure at the Dao Venerable level, so he must have a powerful backer.
The Shan Yue wouldn't naively believe that the Human Race would let it go after destroying the physical body of a Middle Spirit Transformation.
Since the feud has already begun, it's best to make preparations as soon as possible.
The Earth Dao energy seeped deep into the mountain, and layers of earth-yellow restrictive patterns spread out in the rock strata; these patterns intertwined to form an extremely intricate protective array for the mountain.
Shan Yue then took out several more array foundation stones and buried them in several key nodes of the mountain range.
These foundation stones are all the most prized possessions of the Mountain Bear Lineage; each one is sealed with a Late Spirit Transformation attack, and once triggered, they are enough to trap any intruder within the formation.
Cang Wuji swayed over and leaned against a boulder.
With a piece of Demon Beast leg bone he'd somehow acquired still dangling from his mouth, he mumbled, "Brother Yue, why are you so nervous? That Human Race brat's physical body's gone, what trouble can he possibly cause?"
Without turning his head, Shan Yue said, "You don't know the depth of Human Race's heritage?"
Cang Wuji chewed twice and then remained silent.
He certainly knew.
Human Race, who control the Dao of Refinement, employ a variety of methods; every Spirit Transformation cultivator has a trump card to protect their life. If even Rogue Cultivator are like this, it goes without saying that direct disciples with the backing of Dao Venerable are even more so.
One was wiped out, but a whole bunch more were waiting.
After burying the last foundation stone at the foot of the mountain, Shan Yue said in a deep voice, "Once these restrictions are in place, they can hold off ordinary Late Spirit Transformation; even if a Perfected Spirit Transformation or an Extreme Realm cultivator attacks, they can at least hold them off for a while."
He turned to look at Cang Wuji: "For the next few years, we'll take turns on duty; one of us will guard the mountain, and the other will patrol it."
Cang Wuji, with a bone in his mouth, waved his paw. "Done."
Time flies like an arrow, and more than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Over the past decade, the landscape on the periphery of the Dao Realm has quietly changed.
As more and more Nascent Spirit Transformation from various races flooded into the Dao Realm, conflicts of all sizes arose one after another; those minor Nascent Soul races suffered even more, being wiped out by one race today and swallowed up by another tomorrow, their lives hanging by a thread.
Ironically, the stronghold of the Giant Bear Clan became the most secure territory in this region.
With three Nascent Spirit Transformation in charge and nearly two hundred Nascent Soul cultivators guarding them, along with five small Barbarian Bone tribes attached to them; and with the protective barrier stretching for millions of miles across the Shan Yue, surrounding forces dared not easily invade.
Meanwhile, the elders of the Nascent Soul clan in the mountains continued the system of the Shan Li, managing the clan affairs in this area perfectly.
The resources produced by those vassal tribes mining spirit minerals and cultivating spirit herbs flowed continuously into the main peaks of each side.
The Nascent Soul laborers subdued by the Flying Soar Clan were subjected to even more exploitation.
During this period, a few small, unscrupulous tribes also tried to get a share of the pie.
Cang Wuji transformed into his true form and slapped them all, turning the clan leader and elders into minced meat.
Once the news spread, no one dared to test the waters anymore.
As for that Human Race force, it has been quite quiet for more than ten years.
There was no retaliation, no provocation, not even a probing Divine Sense.
The Shan Yue, on the contrary, became more vigilant.
The quieter it was, the more it meant the other side was brewing something big; but given the current situation, he couldn't afford to think about that.
Because deep within the cave abode, the aura of the Shan Li had changed!
Shi Jian was the first to notice the change.
He had been in seclusion for more than ten years, and the sword wound in his body had long been completely erased by the Purple Pivot Lightning Dao Rhyme; his internal organs had regenerated, his meridians were unblocked, and his Dao Rhyme was even more refined than before.
Using injury to Dao of Refinement the Dao can be considered a blessing in disguise.
Just as he was preparing to continue comprehending the Purple Firmament Lightning Immortal Foundation, his Divine Sense suddenly detected a strange movement originating from Shan Li's cave abode.
Extremely faint, yet extremely clear.
The Earth Dao energy within Shan Li's body was no longer flowing smoothly as before; instead, it was like a pot about to boil, with surging energy and vibrating Dao rhythm.
Shi Jian suddenly opened his vertical pupils, and a flash of purple-gold lightning appeared deep within them.
On the main peak, the Shan Yue stood there, its expression solemn yet filled with anticipation.
Cang Wuji also abandoned his carefree demeanor, transforming into his true form: a colossal azure bear, ten thousand feet tall, straddling the mountain peak, its Ultimate Force Dao aura extremely restrained.
"You sensed it?" the Shan Yue asked.
In the next instant, Shi Jian tore through the void and stood atop the Shan Yue.
Shan Yue took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Shan Li has been meditating in the cave abode for more than ten years, and she has completely absorbed the effects of that Treasured Earth Spirit Embryo and the Rock Heart Milk."
"Her Ten-Thousand-Layered Edge Immortal Foundation has now reached the pinnacle of Nascent Soul Perfection perfection."
He paused, then added, "Now it's up to her."
Shi Jian didn't say much, but the purple-gold lightning arcs around his body suddenly surged.
The Spirit Transformation spread out, covering an area of tens of thousands of miles; the Dao of Lightning aura transformed into an invisible barrier, completely sealing off the void above the Shan Li cave abode.
No external influence can penetrate even a fraction of it.
Seeing this, the Shan Yue also joined in.
The Earth Dao's energy flowed autonomously into the earth's veins, fully activating the mountain-protecting formation; earth-yellow light patterns flowed across the mountain's surface, transforming the entire mountain range into an impregnable fortress.
Cang Wuji then took a step that covered thousands of miles, standing in the way of the mountain entrance.
A colossal bear, towering ten thousand feet tall, coiled before them, its body radiating Ultimate Force Dao energy, like an insurmountable mountain of flesh, sealing off a region of heaven and earth.
Three divine Spirit Transformation, working together to protect the Dharma!
[500 chapters! Congratulations! It was truly a difficult time. I'll post one chapter today and make up for it tomorrow.]