230: Chapter 230 Refining the Thunder Eagle's Inner Core

Ye Tian held the warm, smooth inner core in his hand, feeling the vast energy contained within, his thoughts stirring slightly.

He had just fought a fierce battle, his True Qi was heavily depleted, and his injuries had not fully healed; this was precisely the time he needed a large amount of spiritual energy to replenish himself.

Although the energy of this Thunder Eagle inner core appeared violent, he possessed the Dragon Elephant Art, a miraculous Body Refining technique, and was also a Five Elements Sword Body. His Physical Body was far tougher than his peers, and he had the chaos bead stationed in his Sea of Consciousness, sufficient to suppress and refine the Yao Beast power Impurities contained within.

"I won't sell it." Ye Tian pondered for a moment, then said decisively, "I intend to use the power of this core to attempt to break through to the True Martial Sixth Stage!"

"Here?" Hou Xiaojie was startled, looking around the deep, secluded forest, "Senior Brother, this place is fraught with danger. Isn't it too risky?"

"It's fine; you just need to act as my Protector. The commotion from the battle just now was not small. If it attracts other Yao Beasts or petty villains, you must warn me early."

After Ye Tian finished speaking, he glanced at the Mini Dragon Ape beside him, "Little one, you also need to be vigilant."

The Dragon Ape cub let out a "wo" in response. Although it could not fully understand the meaning, it was highly spiritual. It leaped onto a tall rock and sat down, its golden eyes scanning the surroundings, looking just like a little sentry.

Ye Tian immediately sat cross-legged, first taking a few Spirit Pills for healing and recovery. He silently circulated his profound technique, adjusting his breathing for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Once his internal Aura had stabilized slightly, he placed the Red-Feathered Thunder Eagle inner core between his palms.

He focused his mind and will, slowly circulating the Star Qi Induction Art Mind-Cultivation Technique, while simultaneously sinking his consciousness into his Sea of Consciousness to activate the chaos bead.

In his Sea of Consciousness, the chaos bead spun slightly, emitting a cool stream of air that nourished his heart Meridians like sweet dew, protecting his Purple Mansion, and further assisting in purifying the wisps of Yao Beast power Impurities within the inner core.

As the Cultivation Technique circulated, the inner core in his palms gradually emitted a soft light. The pure yet violent thunder-attribute spiritual energy, as if guided by an invisible force, turned into a trickling stream, seeping in from the Laogong acupoints in his palms, following his Meridians, and slowly flowing into his Dantian Qi Sea.

"Sss..."

As the spiritual energy entered his body, it carried a unique tingling and stinging sensation, as if tiny electric currents were darting through his Meridians.

Ye Tian guarded his spiritual platform tightly, using his will to precisely control this external energy. Following the circulation path of the Star Qi Induction Art, he moved it through his cycle, refining it bit by bit into pure innate True Qi.

This process sounds simple, but it was actually slow and arduous.

The thunder-attribute spiritual energy was incomparably violent, constantly impacting and expanding Ye Tian's Meridians, bringing waves of tearing, bloating pain.

However, his will was firm, and he gritted his teeth to endure. The light of the chaos bead in his Sea of Consciousness remained stable, effectively smoothing out the restlessness of the spiritual energy and eliminating the tiny Impurities one by one.

Time passed quietly; the moon rose to the center of the sky and then sank to the west.

Ye Tian's body was gradually shrouded in a layer of faint silver-blue electric light. His hair moved without wind, his sleeves billowed slightly, and his Aura was steadily climbing, becoming increasingly condensed and heavy.

Hou Xiaojie did not dare to be the slightest bit slack, gripping his long sword as he stood guard to the side. His eyes were bright, listening to all directions, fearing that any disturbance would interrupt his Senior Brother's cultivation.

The Dragon Ape cub on the rock was also dutiful, its small ears twitching from time to time, catching every strange sound in the forest.

By the dawn of the next day, as the morning light faintly appeared, dappling onto Ye Tian's face through the gaps in the Purple Mist Cedar Forest, the inner core in his palm had lost all its luster. The last trace of energy had been completely absorbed, and with a slight "crack," it turned into a pile of fine powder.

And Ye Tian's Aura had by this moment climbed to its Peak!

Inside his Dantian, the True Qi surged like a tide, turbulent and agitated!

"Break!"

Ye Tian gave a low shout in his heart, guiding that massive True Qi like a dam bursting, launching a final assault against the solid barrier between the Middle Stage and Late Stage of the True Martial Fifth Stage!

"Boom!"

As if a spring thunderclap exploded in his Niwan Palace, that shackle broke upon the sound!

An Aura nearly twice as powerful as before erupted from within Ye Tian's body!

The silver-blue electric light around his body suddenly retracted, all of it submerging into his limbs and bones!

He suddenly opened his eyes, a bright light surging in his pupils like cold lightning streaking across the sky, then it quickly retracted, returning to a deep and peaceful state.

True Martial Sixth Stage Early Stage, thus achieved!

Carefully experiencing the endlessly surging and increasingly pure and condensed True Qi within his body, as well as the feeling of lightness brought by his almost completely healed injuries, a satisfied arc could not help but appear at the corners of Ye Tian's mouth.

This Breakthrough had solidified his Foundation.

"Senior Brother! You... you succeeded?"

Hou Xiaojie felt the Aura on Ye Tian that was significantly stronger, his voice trembling with a mixture of surprise and joy.

Ye Tian stood up, slightly loosening his muscles and bones, and a series of popping sounds like roasted beans immediately came from within his body. He felt brimming with energy and full of vitality.

He glanced at the Thunder Eagle remains on the ground, then removed the valuable Materials from its body, such as the feathers containing thunder power and the sharp, hook-like claws, and put them away properly.

"Let's go. We've been delayed here for a night; we need to hurry to Cangya County."

The two and the ape set off again.

After a night of quiet cultivation and Breakthrough, Ye Tian felt refreshed, and his steps were much lighter.

Hou Xiaojie followed closely behind, looking at his Senior Brother's increasingly upright and steady back, the look of admiration in his eyes growing deeper.

"Senior Brother, you are now a True Martial Sixth Stage expert, so you must be even more powerful! I wonder... I wonder if you can match that Fairy in red?"

Hou Xiaojie was outspoken and couldn't help but ask the question that was on his mind.

Hearing this, Ye Tian paused slightly. In his mind, the figure of Yun Zhiying, with her peerless grace and unfathomable depth, immediately surfaced, along with her terrifying method of turning the True Martial Tenth Level Xue Wuya into dust with a flick of her finger. He couldn't help but smile bitterly and shake his head: "Still far from it! However..."

He paused slightly, then clenched his fists again, feeling the newly added, abundant power. His gaze became firm and distant, looking toward the direction of Cangya County at the end of the ancient path, and he said in a deep voice: "The Dao of martial arts is boundless; one must only advance with a firm will. As long as I keep getting stronger, one day, I will!"

Leaving the Qinglan Ancient Path, they traveled for another half a day, bypassing a hill covered in strange red rocks, and the view before them suddenly opened up.

A wide bluestone road, large enough for four carriages to travel side by side, appeared before their eyes. The number of pedestrians and carriages on the road had clearly increased.

At the end of the road was a majestic city built against a mountain.

The city walls were not the common blue-gray, but presented a weathered dark red color, as if built from huge reddish-brown mountain rocks, shining with a heavy luster under the afternoon sun.

The city towers were tall, banners fluttered, and the figures of patrolling armored soldiers could be vaguely seen.

Above the city gate, three large characters were engraved—Cangya County!

"Wow! Senior Brother! Is this Cangya County? The walls are so high! And they're red!"

Hou Xiaojie pointed forward excitedly; it was his first time seeing a city wall of this color.

Ye Tian also nodded slightly. The Aura of this Cangya County was indeed no worse than Liuli City, and because it was built against a mountain, it added a few points of steepness.

He could feel that there were quite a few strong Auras in the city; there were no small number of True Martial Realm Cultivators.

"Let's go, enter the city."

Ye Tian habitually circulated his breath-concealment technique, steadily suppressing his external Aura to the Ningyuan Eighth Stage.

When traveling, it is always right to keep a low profile.