150: breakthrough

As the absorption of the blood-colored giant egg progressed, Zhu Yan's strength rapidly increased, along with the Shadowlight Realm.

However, before either of them could achieve a noticeable breakthrough, changes began to happen to Xu Yan first.

Xu Yan's spiritual power had already reached Commander Rank 9 due to a series of previous opportunities and the effects of the Soul Cleansing Spirit Tea. His research into Monarch Rank spirit food and potions some time ago further enhanced his spiritual power, coupled with the later experience of facing Kui Fang's killing intent and emerging from it on his own.

With various factors superimposed, Xu Yan's spiritual power had already reached a critical point, needing only one catalyst to achieve a breakthrough.

The feedback Xu Yan received from Zhu Yan and the Shadowlight Realm during their absorption of the blood-colored giant egg provided exactly the final push he needed.

Xu Yan showed no panic regarding the changes happening to himself.

When he bid farewell to Mo Yi and Du Gui previously, both men had already noticed that Xu Yan's spiritual power had reached the Marshal Rank Upper Grade. Before leaving, they had explained all the precautions for breaking through to the Monarch Rank, and each gave him a personal account of their breakthrough experience.

Xu Yan was fully prepared for the current situation; all he needed to do now was proceed with the breakthrough step by step.

As Zhu Yan and the Shadowlight Realm improved, Xu Yan's spiritual power rose once more. Under Xu Yan's control, it slowly but surely charged the barrier between the Commander Rank and the Monarch Rank, attempting to break through to a higher level.

With Xu Yan's spiritual power impacting it repeatedly, the once incredibly solid strength barrier gradually loosened and, as time passed, slowly began to shatter.

When he gathered all his spiritual power for one last charge against the barrier between the Commander Rank and the Monarch Rank, Xu Yan seemed to hear a “crack” sound. The bottleneck that had been hindering his strength dissolved, and Xu Yan successfully broke through to the Monarch Rank.

Instantly, a vast and pure spiritual power surged within him, spreading outwards like a raging tide.

He felt as if his consciousness could pierce through space, clearly perceiving every movement in the surrounding Power of Heaven and Earth. Even the slightest fluctuations in the air could not escape his notice. The Power of Heaven and Earth, which previously required him to activate Elemental Sight to see, could now be tracked simply by focusing his spirit and relying on his own perception.

Furthermore, Xu Yan's senses became sharper, and his speed of thought multiplied several times over. Previously obscure knowledge that he had only managed to memorize without understanding now appeared clearer to him, and he gradually began to absorb it.

Feeling the changes after his breakthrough, and before Xu Yan could rejoice for long, the surrounding Power of Heaven and Earth became active in his perception, rapidly converging toward his location.

Having witnessed the scene when the two Wind Flame Lion Kings broke through to the Monarch Rank, Xu Yan quickly understood what was happening.

Heaven and Earth Baptism.

However, the Heaven and Earth Baptism triggered by Xu Yan's breakthrough to the Monarch Rank—in terms of momentum, scope, and the types of elements involved—far exceeded the one caused by the two Wind Flame Lion Kings' breakthrough.

Due to the Innate Talent of Myriad Affinity, Xu Yan naturally possessed an extremely high affinity for various elements.

Therefore, in the Heaven and Earth Baptism initiated by Xu Yan, nearly all the elements in this realm joined the “feast.”

Sensing the immense Power of Heaven and Earth converging upon him, Xu Yan felt no joy; instead, he secretly muttered, “This is bad.”

It is true that the stronger the existence's Innate Talent, the greater the Heaven and Earth Baptism it triggers, and the greater the benefits gained after enduring it.

But similarly, the stronger the Heaven and Earth Baptism, the greater the trial and suffering endured during the process.

Xu Yan still remembered the roars and pain of the two Wind Flame Lion Kings when they underwent the Heaven and Earth Baptism.

It must be known that Xu Yan had never suffered much hardship or even sustained serious injuries growing up, even when he previously ventured into secret realms for training.

The most painful thing he had experienced in both his lives combined was merely the six years of the “796” schedule during junior and senior high school. When it came to willpower and tolerance for pain, Xu Yan was actually not very strong.

Under these circumstances, Xu Yan genuinely lacked great confidence that he could definitely endure the trials and suffering of the Heaven and Earth Baptism.

Not to mention, this was a multi-element mixed, enhanced plus version of the Heaven and Earth Baptism.

However, no matter how worried or unconfident Xu Yan felt, what needed to be faced still had to be faced.

In this situation, he couldn't possibly give up immediately due to a little worry and lack of confidence, or ask this realm for a negotiation, saying something like, “The Heaven and Earth Baptism is too strong, can you lower the intensity?”

Setting aside whether Xu Yan could even use such a method, even if he could, before personally experiencing and feeling the Heaven and Earth Baptism, no matter what thoughts Xu Yan entertained, deep down, he would still be unwilling to just give up or lower the difficulty.

After realizing the unwillingness deep within his heart, Xu Yan swept away all the worry and lack of confidence in his mind. He stopped thinking about trivial matters and focused on dealing with the impending Heaven and Earth Baptism.

However, something was quite unexpected for Xu Yan.

As the Heaven and Earth Baptism enveloped him, the Power of Heaven and Earth of various attributes converging from all directions did not bring the anticipated pain and torment. Instead, it gave Xu Yan a feeling of warmth and security, like soaking in warm water.

It gently, rapidly, and massively integrated into Xu Yan's body, nourishing his entire being and internal meridians.

Every cell in Xu Yan's body, as if starved for over a decade, ravenously absorbed and devoured the Power of Heaven and Earth integrating into him via the Heaven and Earth Baptism, using it to strengthen himself.

This situation brought Xu Yan an intense feeling of comfort, causing him to involuntarily narrow his eyes. Inside, he developed a craving for the current pleasure, as well as a sense of laziness toward continuing to grow stronger.

He really wanted this to continue, forever.

After all, his strength had already reached the Monarch Rank, which was considered quite powerful in Huaguo, and the fame and achievements he had gained were already sufficient for his current self.

It wouldn't be bad to just sink into this pleasure, no longer needing to study incomprehensibly difficult knowledge day and night, and no longer having to endure any pain.