280: Huge gains

When Jiang Donghua cast his gaze upon Mu Chen, who was still sitting opposite him with his eyes closed, regulating his breath, the original relief and emotion on his face were instantly replaced by a hint of undisguised shock!

His keen Soul Power clearly detected that the aura within Mu Chen's body had not completely stabilized; instead, it was undergoing an extremely intense, yet somewhat rhythmic, fluctuation!

"The intensity of this aura is wrong!"

Jiang Donghua's pupils contracted slightly.

"How has he already broken through to the Dou Zong level?!"

According to his previous estimation, the energy accumulated within Mu Chen's body mainly originated from two parts: first, the essence of Dou Qi that had been devoured over the past five years; and second, a portion of the Dou Zun primordial energy that dissipated when Venerable Huanhai self-destructed.

Although the former was pure and vast, the total amount was limited, enough at most to support Mu Chen's recovery to the peak of the Dou King stage, or perhaps even attempt a breakthrough to the Dou Sovereign stage.

Although the latter was of extremely high quality, it was only a very small portion of dissipated energy.

Combining the two, Jiang Donghua had originally predicted that Mu Chen stabilizing at the Dou Sovereign level would already be the limit.

Yet, the reality before him was that Mu Chen's aura had clearly and steadily stepped into the Dou Zong realm!

Moreover, it was still fluctuating and climbing upward!

"It seems the energy left behind by Venerable Huanhai—its purity and vastness—far exceeds my imagination. Or perhaps, Mu Chen's body has developed a strange resonance with this energy, making his absorption efficiency astonishingly high?"

Jiang Donghua seemed lost in thought.

He carefully observed the flow of energy within Mu Chen's body and quickly discovered the clue.

Mu Chen's Dou Qi cultivation was not rising in a smooth, straight line; instead, it was undergoing intense oscillation and compression within an extremely high range!

At times, his aura would suddenly contract and condense, forcefully suppressing and purifying the massive amount of Dou Qi, causing his cultivation realm to temporarily drop back to the strength of around a Seven or Eight-star Dou Sovereign.

Other times, it would suddenly erupt and expand, completely releasing and integrating the compressed, pure Dou Qi, and his cultivation would instantly soar to the height of a Six or Seven-star Dou Zong, like riding a rocket!

"So that's it! He is actively tempering his Dou Qi!"

Jiang Donghua suddenly realized, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

This was an extremely brilliant method for solidifying one's foundation!

Through repeated compression, expansion, and re-compression, like forging refined iron, the massive yet slightly volatile Dou Qi suddenly obtained within his body was refined repeatedly, removing the impurities and preserving the essence. This made it more solid and pure, allowing it to perfectly integrate with his body, thereby laying an incredibly sturdy foundation and preventing the weakness or unstable realm that often results from a sudden surge in cultivation.

"He's a guy with foresight and perseverance!"

Jiang Donghua nodded inwardly.

This approach undoubtedly prolonged the breakthrough time and involved enduring more pain, but the benefits it brought were also enormous.

Over the next few days, aside from the necessary meditation to regulate his breath and stabilize his Soul Realm at Mortal Realm Great Perfection, Jiang Donghua spent most of his time observing Mu Chen's peculiar breakthrough process with great interest.

He was like a patient spectator, watching Mu Chen's aura repeatedly jump between the high-level Dou Sovereign stage and the middle-level Dou Zong stage, like a roller coaster.

However, the frequency and amplitude of this fluctuation were noticeably slowing down and stabilizing as time went on.

The trajectory of the aura fluctuation also gradually changed from a violently oscillating sawtooth pattern into a smoothly rising curve.

The energy pressure emanating from Mu Chen's body also became increasingly reserved, profound, and unfathomable.

"It seems the tempering is nearing its end."

Jiang Donghua could sense that Mu Chen's consciousness was gradually awakening from the deep refinement process, and his control over his own strength was becoming increasingly proficient.

"He will likely wake up completely in just a few more days."

By then, a completely transformed Mu Chen, whose strength had soared, would reappear in the world!

It was another early morning when, suddenly, a vast and immense aura, carrying immense power, like a sleeping giant dragon awakening, fiercely shot up from somewhere in the Inner Academy, instantly sweeping across the entire sky above the Inner Academy!

The intensity of this aura had clearly reached the Dou Zong level!

Furthermore, it was definitely not a newly advanced Dou Zong; its level of condensation and pressure suggested it was at least at the Three-star Dou Zong stage!

"Dou Zong?!"

"Who is breaking through?!"

"This aura is so unfamiliar! It doesn't belong to any Inner Academy Elder we know!"

Countless Inner Academy Students and ordinary Inner Academy Elders were startled by this sudden powerful aura, raising their heads one after another to look in the direction the aura came from, their faces filled with shock and confusion.

Great Elder, Ye Tianxing, who was handling affairs in his residence, had his expression suddenly change, and he abruptly stood up from his seat!

As a Dou Zong, he was intimately familiar with the auras of the powerful individuals in the Inner Academy.

He could be one hundred percent certain that this Dou Zong aura, which was currently stabilizing its realm, absolutely did not belong to any Inner Academy Elder or senior in seclusion that he knew!

"A completely unknown Dou Zong is breaking through right here in my Inner Academy?!"

A sharp light burst from Great Elder's eyes, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind instantly.

"Is he a friend or an enemy? What is his intention?"

This matter was far from trivial!

A Dou Zong of unknown identity lurking in the Inner Academy posed a threat far exceeding the previous vague Dou Zun fluctuations!

"I must investigate immediately!"

Great Elder hesitated no longer; the abundant Dou Qi within his body erupted, and his figure appeared high above his residence as if teleporting.

He stepped on the empty air, gave a fierce shake, transforming into a streak of light, and sped directly toward the Medicine Spirit Pavilion!

His speed was extreme, leaving behind a piercing sonic boom in the air!

Inside the secret chamber.

Mu Chen slowly opened his eyes.

In his eyes, there was no longer the fatigue and dimness of the past, but a radiating brilliance, filled with unprecedented confidence and a sense of power!

A vast and solid Dou Zong pressure naturally emanated from within his body.

Carefully sensing the boundless Dou Qi surging like a great river within his body, and feeling the immense power that could mobilize the energy of heaven and earth with a mere gesture, an expression of disbelief first appeared on his face, which then transformed into uncontrollable ecstasy!

"Hahaha! Hahahaha—!"

He couldn't help but burst into loud laughter, which was filled with the satisfaction of finally being vindicated and the joy of being reborn!

The laughter made the secret chamber hum, and it completely dispelled the gloom and despair that had accumulated in his heart for five years!

After laughing for a good while, he finally managed to stop, and his gaze sharply turned toward Jiang Donghua, who was smiling as he watched him.

The next moment, the ecstasy on his face instantly turned into immense gratitude and reverence, and his knees bent, ready to kneel again!

"Brother Jiang! This profound kindness is like giving me a second life!"

However, before he could kneel, he felt a gentle yet incredibly tenacious invisible force firmly supporting his body, preventing him from bowing down.

It was Jiang Donghua utilizing his powerful Soul Power at the Mortal Realm Great Perfection stage.

"Brother Mu, there is no need for this."

Jiang Donghua smiled faintly, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable authority.

"Our acquaintance is fate. This was merely a small effort; there's no need to always perform such a grand ceremony."

Mu Chen felt the unfathomable Soul Pressure contained within the force supporting him, deepening his reverence for Jiang Donghua. He straightened his body, still bowing deeply, his voice choked but resolute.

"Great kindness needs no verbal thanks! Mu Chen will engrave this in his heart!"

Driven by excitement, he subconsciously intended to take a step forward, moving closer to Jiang Donghua.

However, he forgot that he was now a Dou Zong!

He merely moved his foot slightly, and his body naturally lifted off the ground, lightly floating in mid-air!

Walking on air! The hallmark of a Dou Zong!

Feeling the empty air beneath his feet and the sensation of freely controlling space, Mu Chen was stunned for a moment, then a childlike expression of novelty and excitement reappeared on his face!

He tried slowly walking two steps in the air, experiencing this unprecedented feeling, and the excitement in his heart was beyond words!

"Walking on air—is this the power of a Dou Zong?"

He murmured to himself, tears shimmering in his eyes.

"This strength is already far greater than that Old Ancestor of my clan who has been in seclusion for many years!"

Thinking of how he had transformed from a cripple whose cultivation kept plummeting and who was on the brink of despair, into a Dou Zong whose strength far surpassed the pillar of his clan, Mu Chen felt as if everything were a dream!

And all of this was thanks to the seemingly young, yet unfathomably profound, junior before him!

The look in his eyes when he gazed at Jiang Donghua was already filled with the intention of unwavering devotion and allegiance.