93: Bai Li breaks through to the Immortal Venerable

The Star Palace's aggressive expansion was like driving several red-hot nails into the seemingly impenetrable defenses of the Asura Clan. Not only did it reclaim a vast amount of lost territory, but it also greatly boosted the morale of the remaining forces in the Immortal Realm. Many smaller sects and rogue cultivators, who had been observing or even scattered by the Asura Clan, came to pledge allegiance, and the Star Palace's influence grew like a snowball.

However, Lin Xuan knew in his heart that the current glory was built upon the temporary overwhelming advantage in high-end combat power and the strength of Bi Xiao, Elder of the Void Palace. The Asura Clan, having suffered such a massive loss, would never let it go. The next time they came, it would likely not be the small-scale legions from before. The Star Palace needed a harder fist, and even more, a top-tier combatant who could truly hold down a region and deter powerful enemies.

His gaze fell upon Deputy Palace Master Bai Li.

Bai Li was currently in a side hall, dealing with a mountain of affairs, allocating resources, and integrating newly joined personnel, so busy that her feet barely touched the ground. Although tired, her eyes were bright, as if she had rediscovered her life's purpose. Her cultivation at the peak of Immortal Monarch had long since recovered, and she had even made a slight advancement due to her tireless efforts in managing affairs and comprehending the Great Dao during this period.

Lin Xuan appeared silently inside the hall.

"Palace Master?" Bai Li looked up, a little surprised.

"Leave these trivial matters to Qing Yao and Ru Yan for now," Lin Xuan said directly, "Come with me."

Bai Li was startled but didn't ask further. After giving a few instructions, she followed Lin Xuan to the deepest part of the Star Palace, to the edge of the Chaos Thunder Tribulation Pool. Here, the energy was the most violent and the purest.

"Sit down." Lin Xuan pointed to the edge of the thunder pool.

Bai Li sat down cross-legged as instructed, looking at Lin Xuan with some confusion.

Lin Xuan didn't waste words. With a raised hand, a cluster of liquid, shimmering with seven-colored light and containing endless creation and vitality, floated in his palm. It was one of the three supreme treasures obtained from the core of the Divine Wilderness Realm, the primordial essence formed after he forcefully refined and purified the chaotic airflow with immense power!

This item contained a trace of the true meaning of creation and destruction, making it a supreme treasure for cultivators stuck at the peak of Immortal Monarch, seeking a breakthrough opportunity!

"This item is for you. Open your body and mind, guide its power, and assault the Immortal Venerable barrier." Lin Xuan pushed the cluster of seven-colored liquid towards Bai Li.

When Bai Li saw the liquid and felt the terrifying and profound power it contained, her glass-like eyes instantly widened, and her breathing quickened: "This... this is too precious! Palace Master, you..."

"Stop talking nonsense." Lin Xuan interrupted her, "The Star Palace needs an Immortal Venerable. Your foundation is the strongest, your realm is the highest, and you are the most hopeful person to break through. Hurry, I will protect you."

Bai Li looked at Lin Xuan's unquestionable gaze, and a complex warm current surged in her heart. She knew the value of this item; Lin Xuan could have used it himself to improve his cultivation, but he gave it to her... She no longer hesitated, nodding heavily: "I will not fail the Palace Master's trust!"

She took a deep breath, completely releasing her peak Immortal Monarch cultivation, and guided the cluster of seven-colored Chaos Primordial Essence to slowly merge into her body!

Boom!!!

It was like pouring cold water into boiling oil! Bai Li's delicate body trembled violently, and brilliant seven-colored light burst forth from all around her! A terrifying power, intertwined with creation and destruction, erupted within her, furiously scouring her immortal body, immortal soul, and her comprehension of the laws of heaven and earth!

Her face instantly became incredibly pained, as if countless small snakes were wriggling under her skin. Her aura fluctuated violently, sometimes full of vitality, sometimes as desolate as an abyss!

The Immortal Venerable barrier, like a chasm across the immortal path, was not so easy to break through. It required a deep understanding of primordial laws, a massive amount of energy impact, and a crucial opportunity!

That cluster of Chaos Primordial Essence just provided this most critical energy and that trace of lawful opportunity!

Lin Xuan stood by, his Law-Breaking Chaos Eyes tightly fixed on Bai Li's condition, ready to intervene at any time. He also activated the power of the Chaos Thunder Tribulation Pool, transforming it into pure thunder vitality, which slowly poured into Bai Li's body, helping her stabilize the violent energy.

Time passed little by little.

Bai Li's aura became increasingly terrifying, and the seven-colored light almost submerged her. Behind her, the faint phantom of a Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox emerged. That phantom constantly shattered and reformed amidst the forces of creation and destruction, becoming more solid, noble, and powerful!

Suddenly, a faint but soul-shaking crisp sound came from within her body!

Crack!

That incredibly solid Immortal Venerable barrier was finally violently breached, creating a crack!

Rumble!!!

Even more massive energy poured down from the void, surging into Bai Li's body! Her immortal body became visibly more perfect and flawless, her immortal soul condensed and sublimated, emitting an indestructible golden radiance! Her perception and control of the laws of heaven and earth rose to a whole new level!

Immortal Venerable! Early stage!

The seven-colored light gradually receded and merged into her body. Bai Li slowly opened her eyes, and deep within them, scenes of cosmic birth and death, and the cycle of all things, flashed by. Her aura became vast and majestic, yet carried a hint of the agility and charm unique to the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox.

She stood up and bowed deeply to Lin Xuan: "Bai Li thanks the Palace Master for her completion!"

This bow was sincere. Without the Chaos Primordial Essence bestowed by Lin Xuan and his protection, she didn't know how many tens of thousands of years she would have been stuck at the peak of Immortal Monarch.

"Very good." Lin Xuan nodded with satisfaction, "Consolidate your cultivation and familiarize yourself with your power. From now on, the Star Palace will truly have a place for you."

With Bai Li, a newly promoted Immortal Venerable, in charge, the Star Palace's confidence immediately grew much stronger. Even if the Asura Clan sent Immortal Venerable-level experts, they would have the power to fight!

After settling Bai Li, Lin Xuan himself began his seclusion.

He broke through to Immortal Monarch by relying on the Time Law, and his primary offensive methods were the innate divine ability "Instant Eternity" and the physical attacks of the bronze battle axe. In terms of swordsmanship, although Leng Yuechan and others progressed rapidly, he himself had fallen somewhat behind.

This time, he wanted to integrate the Time Law into his swordsmanship!

He came to the Sword Mound, where Sword Intent soared to the sky, an excellent place for comprehending swordsmanship.

He sat cross-legged among the myriad swords, his mind sinking into his body.

In his Dantian, the time seed rune on the Chaos Nascent Soul's glabella glowed faintly. In his Sea of Consciousness, various insights into the Time Law constantly flowed.

Fast and slow, movement and stillness, past and future, instant and eternity... How to integrate these into Sword Intent and sword domain?

He pointed his fingers like a sword and slowly waved them. At first, it was very slow, as slow as a crawling snail, but where his fingertips passed, a faint, lingering silver trace was left in space – a manifestation of time being slightly distorted.

Gradually, his movements began to accelerate, sometimes as swift as lightning, sometimes as slow as mud. The surrounding Sword Intent was drawn in, beginning to vibrate and resonate with a strange rhythm.

He tried to integrate the explosive power of "instant" into the starting moves of his sword techniques. He tried to integrate the delaying power of "slowness" into the suppression of his sword domain. He tried to peek into the flaws of his opponent's "past" moves and predict their actions half a second into the "future."

This was an extremely difficult process. The Time Law was supreme, and its fusion with swordsmanship was even more challenging. Countless failures, countless deductions.

Within the Sword Mound, sometimes Sword Intent soared to the sky, sometimes all was silent, and sometimes it seemed as if countless Lin Xuans were simultaneously practicing swordsmanship at different points in time, a bizarre sight.

After an unknown amount of time.

Lin Xuan suddenly opened his eyes, and a river of time seemed to flow endlessly within them!

He pointed his fingers like a sword and lightly swiped at the void in front of him.

There was no earth-shattering sword qi, nor was there a black rift tearing through space.

But within a ten-zhang radius in front of him, everything seemed to stand still. Floating dust, flowing sword qi, and even light, were frozen there. It was as if an invisible Sword of Time had severed that fleeting moment!

Although the range was small and the duration extremely short, this was a brand new beginning!

"This sword domain shall be named 'Instant Sword Domain,'" Lin Xuan murmured to himself, his eyes filled with joy. Although it was only aprototype (rudimentary form), its potential was limitless! If it could reach completion in the future, within the sword domain, time would be at his command, and enemies would be like lambs to the slaughter!

While Lin Xuan was in seclusion comprehending the sword, battle reports came from the front lines.

As expected, the Asura Clan was unwilling to accept defeat and once again assembled a large army, led by an Immortal Venerable-early stage Asura Royal Family member, assisted by several Immortal Monarchs. They surged forward, attempting to reclaim lost territory and flatten the Star Palace in one fell swoop!

At this moment, both Lin Xuan and Bai Li were in seclusion consolidating their cultivation, and Bi Xiao, Elder of the Void Palace needed to maintain the overall situation and spatialaisle (passages).

The heavy responsibility of presiding over the front-line situation fell upon Senior Sister Yun Qingyao.

In the main hall, Yun Qingyao, clad in moon-white battle armor, stood tall. Her clear, cold eyes swept over the eager junior brothers and sisters below.

"Master and the Deputy Palace Master are in seclusion. I will temporarily take charge of the front-line matters," her voice was clear and calm, "The Asura Clan is coming aggressively this time, which is the best whetstone!"

"Leng Yuechan, Ye Chen, heed my command!"

"Present!" The two stepped forward, their Sword Intent soaring to the sky.

"I order you two to be the vanguards, leading the Nirvana Sword Hall and the Ascetics, to meet the enemy's left flank. You must entangle that Immortal Monarch-late stage Vice Commander!"

"Understood!"

"Mo Sha, Kong Ming, heed my command!"

"Present!" One demon, one monk, their auras fierce.

"I order you two to lead the Ancient Demon Battle Group and the Martial Monk Corps to charge the enemy's right flank and break their formation!"

"Yes!"

"Ling Long, You Ye, heed my command!"

"Here~"

"I order you two to assist the central army, using demonic sound illusions to disturb the enemy's minds and create chaos!"

"Understood~"

"Su Yuan will oversee the central army, coordinating intelligence and deducing changes in the battle situation! Jin Bao and A Zi will accompany me in the central army, ready to provide support at any time! Chu Xinghe will ensure the smooth operation of formations and communications! The rest of you, fulfill your respective duties!"

"This battle concerns the Star Palace's prestige! Only victory is allowed, not defeat!"

"Yes! Senior Sister!" Everyone responded with a thunderous roar, their fighting spirit burning!

Soon, the massive Star Palace fleet set sail again, heading for the front lines through the passage opened by Bi Xiao, Elder of the Void Palace.

A new round of war was about to erupt!

This battle would be a collective debut for the new generation of the Star Palace's power! They would use the blood of the Asura Clan to sharpen their swords and prove their growth!