At that very moment—
A flash of silver light streaked across the distant sky, and Hei Qing's burly figure appeared beside Liu Xi, his face filled with awe and wonder.
Liu Xi wasn't surprised. With his current Spiritual Power, nothing within his surroundings—no matter how small—could escape his perception.
'A pity I can't go deeper into the Lightning Pool,' Liu Xi thought calmly. 'Those two Heaven Demon Puppets still have room to improve. The materials affect their strength far more than expected… I'll have to return here again someday.'
Hei Qing couldn't resist raising one massive hand and knocking lightly on the dark-golden surface of one puppet.
Duang! Duang!
"Brother," Hei Qing exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration, "so this is that 'little thing' you mentioned? This hardness, this aura—honestly, they're not weaker than me!"
Liu Xi waved his hand lightly, storing both Heaven Demon Puppets back into his ring. Turning toward Hei Qing, he smiled humbly. "Hehe, they're merely a bit sturdier than usual puppets. In real combat, they're far inferior to the battle instincts of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe. Brother Hei Qing, I'll trouble you to take me back."
Hei Qing grinned broadly. "No problem! I've been bored to death guarding this damned Void Lightning Pool anyway!"
With a sweep of his massive hand, invisible ripples spread outward, and a dazzling spatial tunnel opened up, stretching deep into the endless Void.
The terrifying spatial storms and constant tearing forces around them were completely isolated by the passage. Liu Xi couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
Ordinary experts would need to reach the higher ranks of Dou Zun just to safely traverse such an area—but the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe could move through it with ease.
"Let's go, brother!"
Hei Qing stepped first into the spatial channel. Liu Xi retracted his Heaven Demon Phoenix bone wings, glancing at Hei Qing with a faintly strange expression, but wisely shook his head. Following behind him, he silently decided it would be rather impolite to suggest "riding the dragon." He'd save that conversation for Zi Yan later.
(Hei Qing: I treated you like a brother, and you wanted to ride me…)
The thunderous roar of the Void gradually faded behind them. Deep within the Lightning Pool, where space itself seemed frozen, streaks of pitch-black lightning coiled like serpents, carrying a heavy aura of annihilation.
If Liu Xi had entered that region, even a single bolt of that black lightning could have reduced him to ashes.
Suddenly, a faint white blur flashed through the darkness. The figure snatched one of the black bolts with his hand and vanished before it could resist.
Enraged, the entire swarm of black lightning writhed like furious serpents, hissing sharply as they tore open the Void in pursuit.
The lightning moved fast—but the white figure was even faster. Within a few breaths, he had escaped from the Lightning Pool's depths. The black bolts crackled in frustration before slowly retreating.
When the white figure finally stopped, his appearance came into view—a disheveled old man with long, messy white hair and an unkempt beard, his robes tattered. Yet the aura radiating from him was terrifyingly powerful.
In his dry, withered hand squirmed a strand of black lightning brimming with destructive energy, yet it couldn't harm him in the slightest.
"Hehehe… mere Black Demon Lightning dares to chase me? You're all precious treasures," the old man chuckled darkly. "You'll serve well for my cultivation… this Ninefold Saint Transformation is truly maddeningly slow!"
—
Meanwhile, Hei Qing and Liu Xi had already returned to East Dragon Island. Passing through the protective barrier, they descended from the skies and landed before a grand palace.
Along the way, Liu Xi could sense it clearly—there were far more powerful auras hidden throughout the island than there had been two years ago.
On the surface, Dragon Island looked the same as before, but in truth, many powerful members of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe had awakened from slumber, secretly guarding their sacred homeland.
Just as Liu Xi stepped toward the palace doors, a blur of white suddenly darted toward him, throwing itself into his arms. The soft warmth and faint fragrance that filled his senses made him pause.
"Young Master, you nearly scared me to death! Two years without a single word—do you know how worried I've been?"
Smiling gently, Liu Xi wrapped his arms around Xiao Yixian's delicate figure and whispered reassuringly, "It's alright. I just got too immersed in cultivation and lost track of time. I'm back now."
He didn't mention how close he'd come to losing his soul entirely during seclusion—no need to make her worry about what was already over.
Standing stiffly nearby like an oversized pillar, Hei Qing looked a little awkward, forcing a polite smile despite feeling completely out of place.
A moment later, Yao Tianhuo stepped out from within the hall, stroking his beard as his eyes widened in astonishment.
Unlike Hei Qing, Yao Tianhuo remained calm, though his attention was fixed squarely on Liu Xi's cultivation. In just two years, the young man had already reached 7-Star Dou Zong!
Even with all his experience, Yao Tianhuo had rarely seen anyone—aside from those with freakish constitutions—advance so quickly.
And there was more: from Liu Xi's very soul emanated a subtle pressure that even he, as a Dou Zun, could feel suppressing him.
Yao Tianhuo's brows knit in disbelief as he asked carefully, "Little friend… could it be that you've already broken through to the Spirit Realm of the soul?"
Liu Xi looked up from Xiao Yixian's slender neck and smiled faintly. "You could say that."
Hearing that, Yao Tianhuo's eyes widened. He drew a sharp breath, his hand freezing mid-motion as he nearly pulled out a handful of his own beard.
With a Spiritual Power of that level, Liu Xi could already stand against a Dou Zun expert without falling into disadvantage—provided his methods were used well.
More importantly, as an alchemist, attaining the Spirit Realm meant he now had the qualifications to refine 8th Tier Pills!
"Congratulations, little friend!" Yao Tianhuo exclaimed sincerely. "With your skills, reaching the rank of 8th Tier Alchemist is only a matter of time!"
Before, Yao Tianhuo had treated Liu Xi as an equal mostly out of gratitude. But now, he truly regarded him as a peer.
Even Hei Qing couldn't help but look at Liu Xi differently. On the continent, even the greatest powers treated 8th Tier Alchemists with utmost respect.
For Magical Beasts, who lacked natural talent in alchemy, such individuals were invaluable treasures.
Liu Xi smiled modestly, easily recognizing the note of respect in Yao Tianhuo's tone. "8th Tier Pills aren't so easily refined. Spiritual Power alone isn't enough—you still need the right Pill Recipes and experience. But Elder Yao, you seem more vigorous than ever."
Yao Tianhuo chuckled wryly and glanced enviously at Xiao Yixian, who was still close beside Liu Xi. "I was only a 5-Star Dou Zun before my resurrection. After recovering, I'm now at the peak of 3-Star Dou Zun."
"But Xiao Yixian, now she's truly remarkable. Two years ago, she was only a 1-Star Dou Zun—now she's already advanced to 4-Star Dou Zun. That completely controlled Woeful Poison Body of hers is terrifying."
Liu Xi looked down, surprise flickering in his eyes, and saw Xiao Yixian's soft lips curve into a playful smile. His Spiritual Power swept over her, sensing the immense, turbulent Dou Qi within her body—stronger even than Yao Tianhuo's.
Stepping back from his embrace, Xiao Yixian stood gracefully at his side and spoke softly, "The Poison Pill within my body has greatly aided my cultivation. Before I realized it, I had already broken through to 4-Star Dou Zun."
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Members on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.