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Chapter 60: Breakthrough to Lian Qi Stage 9 – Decapitating the Lion King
Chapter 60: Breakthrough to Lian Qi Stage 9 – Decapitating the Lion King
There was no denying this treasure hailed from the Fire Crystal. Its contained fire spiritual energy wasn’t merely purer than ordinary flames—it was far more readily absorbed.
Even ordinary cultivators could achieve tenfold cultivation speed by refining it. Yet Xiao Chen had absorbed its entire reservoir of fire spiritual energy in a single day.
The Fire Spirit Crystal’s greatest distinction from the ordinary Fire Crystal lay in its dual utility—it could not only convert into mana but also be assimilated directly into a cultivator’s physical body. Most of the overflowing energy had melted into his limbs and bones.
Leveraging the Fire Spirit Crystal, Xiao Chen didn’t just advance directly to Lian Qi Stage 9—surplus energy had even spontaneously activated his Luotian Xuan Fire Raven technique.
He couldn’t tell whether this was the Fire Spirit Crystal’s inherent potency or if his particular specimen held unique properties. Regardless, under the ceaseless infusion of fire spiritual energy, his Xuan Fire Raven art had leapt from mere initiation to Minor Mastery.
Previously, achieving Minor Mastery granted ten Xuan Fire Ravens. Now, a full hundred circled him—each one vastly stronger than before.
To his astonishment, Xiao Chen noticed bright crimson markings resembling tiny Fire Spirit Crystals atop each raven’s head. Flipping through the Luotian Three True Cultivation Methods, he found no mention of this phenomenon.
“This must be another miracle of the Fire Spirit Crystal,” he mused, uncertain yet pleased by the advancement.
According to the Luotian Xuan Fire Raven manual, reaching Grand Mastery allowed one to form the Great Fire Raven Formation with a hundred ravens. This array could unleash Xuanyang Bing Fire, its power tenfold stronger than Toxic Raven Black Flame.
With his hex-granted precocious abundance of ravens, Xiao Chen eagerly attempted the formation ahead of schedule. After half a day of painstaking adjustments, he managed a stationary—if immobile—Great Fire Raven Formation.
“Xuanyang Bing Fire!”
With a pointed finger, a roaring fire tornado erupted, obliterating nearby ore deposits. Even a embedded Fire Crystal detonated under its intensity, exploding with a thunderous boom.
“Damn!” Xiao Chen first startled, then grinned. Finally, he possessed a potent, reusable offensive technique.
“Villainous beast, show yourself!”
Returning to the cave entrance, he anchored the Great Fire Raven Formation and roared into the depths. His mana-amplified voice thundered through the tunnels.
“Roarrr!”
A deafening counter-roar shook loose stones from the cavern ceiling. The Three-Headed Lion charged, its three mouths unleashing serpentine fire streams as it lunged.
But Xiao Chen was prepared. He commanded his ravens to unleash Xuanyang Bing Fire.
Time seemed to slow as the icy flames collided with the beast. A water-like ripple expanded outward. He felt like he had been holding his breath for a dozen counts before the shockwave shattered the cavern walls. Explosions erupted in the hundreds—perhaps thousands—collapsing the mine and shrouding the battlefield in dust.
The Xuan Fire Ravens shielded him, vanishing in an instant. Golden light flared across his body as he staggered backward a dozen paces, barely stabilizing.
He squinted through the settling debris, desperate to discern the aftermath.
When the winds died and smoke cleared, the Three-Headed Lion lay silent.
After waiting cautiously for half an hour, Xiao Chen deployed the Green Gourd’s Green Wood Spirit General to excavate the rubble, maintaining a safe distance himself.
An hour later, the debris cleared, revealing the beast’s corpse. Despite the devastation, its body remained largely intact—save for its three heads, their orifices charred to ash.
With effort, Xiao Chen skinned the beast using the Evergreen Sword and extracted its massive heart. The organ, as large as his head, oozed golden blood.
“A bloodline mutation—likely ancestral Nine-Headed Lion lineage.”
This mutated Lion Heart was an unparalleled fire-attribute treasure, rivaling the Yunling Xuelian. It could serve as a fire-attribute Foundation Building Spirit Artifact.
Now at Lian Qi Stage 9, Xiao Chen faced the impending Foundation Building tribulation. Having acquired both the Yunling Xuelian from Daoba and this Lion Heart, he immediately considered the Heavenly Path Foundation Building technique.
Legends claimed cultivators following this path experienced weakened bottlenecks during Foundation Building. Even insurmountable cultivation realm barriers could be ground through with persistence. Additionally, their affinity to the Five Elements sharpened—accelerating both spell refinement and combat potency.
The sole drawback? It required five top-tier Five Elements spiritual treasures—a steep cost.
“I only have two Foundation Building Spirit Artifacts now. Three more to go… won’t be easy.”
He resolved to pursue dual strategies: “Continue seeking Foundation Building Pills while investigating the remaining Spirit Artifacts. If opportunities arise, strive for the Heavenly Path.”
Compared to Foundation Building itself, Xiao Chen secretly anticipated his next hex more. But that would wait until after the tribulation. For now, gathering more Fire Crystals remained urgent.
Clearing a new path, he ventured deeper into the mine. After navigating winding passages, he emerged into an open expanse devoid of Fire Crystals—but his attention fixated elsewhere.
A broad avenue stretched ahead, leading to a distant, majestic palace. Though twenty li away, its golden, sunlit rooftops gleamed like a mythical wonder from ancient tales.
He recalled Su Wanning’s words aboard the flying vessel: “The Yan Chi Secret Realm may originate from an ancient great sect.” Could this be the very hall left behind by that sect?
Heart pounding, Xiao Chen strode forward eagerly.
(End of Chapter)
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