68: Great Sun Crystal Body

With his course of action decided, Yao Delong no longer hesitated.

He held his breath, focused his mind, and his hands formed mysterious hand seals.

Step One: Bone Forging!

"Guide the fire into the marrow, a Hundred Refinements make steel!"

Guided by his intent, the cluster of Innate Pill Fire within his Dantian, brimming with rich vitality, shuddered violently;

it then transformed into thousands of emerald-green fire threads, as thin as gossamer, which seeped along his Meridians toward the depths of all two hundred and six bones in his body!

"Urgh—!"

The instant the threads of fire touched his bone marrow, Yao Delong's body jolted violently!

An irrepressible grunt was squeezed from between his clenched teeth!

Pain!

Indescribable, excruciating pain!

It felt as if billions of red-hot steel needles were being fiercely driven into the deepest parts of his bone marrow!

Every nerve was frantically transmitting signals of burning, piercing, and tearing!

The wisps of green Pill Fire, while carrying abundant vitality, were simultaneously calcining and purging the Impurities, inertia, and weaknesses hidden deep within his bone marrow during the tempering process!

Beads of sweat as large as beans instantly welled up on his forehead, only to be steamed into white vapor by the high temperature rising from his body.

His muscles were taut as iron, and the blood vessels beneath his skin bulged like twisted horned dragons; he gritted his teeth until they clicked, enduring this terrifying ordeal that burned from the inside out and deep into his marrow!

Time seemed to freeze.

Every breath felt as long as a century.

It was unknown how much time had passed when the emerald-green fire finally retreated slowly from the depths of his bones and returned to his Dantian.

At this moment, Yao Delong's entire skeleton seemed to have been plated with a layer of warm jade luster, its toughness having increased by who knows how many times!

Step Two: Meridian Refining!

With the bone-deep pain of the Bone Forging as a foundation, the process of Meridian Refining, while equally agonizing, seemed much more "gentle."

Thanks to the long-term tempering and widening of his Meridians by the Great Evolution Mixed Yang Scripture, his foundation was already extremely solid.

The emerald Innate Pill Fire once again transformed into thousands of fine streams, this time targeting his entire meridian network.

The fire streams acted like the most precise carving knives, repeatedly washing over and scorching the inner walls of his Meridians, purging minute Impurities and strengthening their resilience, enabling them to better withstand the impact of violent spiritual power.

At the same time, it also guided the pure Yang spiritual power within his body, imprinting it deep into the Meridians to give them more spiritual charm.

Under the dual tempering of the pure fire power and spiritual essence, his Meridians faintly revealed a pale golden luster, becoming tough and resilient.

Step Three: Essence Fire Body Forging!

"The furnace is the body, the glaze is naturally formed!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Yao Delong's eyes, and his hand seals changed once more!

Hum!

The emerald Innate Pill Fire was no longer confined to his interior and erupted explosively!

Yao Delong's entire figure was instantly plunged into a sea of fire!

Sizzle!

The robes and hair on his body instantly turned to ash under this terrifying high temperature, not even leaving behind a wisp of smoke!

He himself had turned into a blazing, pale-green fire man!

The raging flames were like countless scorching forging hammers, frantically pounding every inch of his skin, muscles, and fascia!

Yao Delong felt as if he had been thrown into a Pill Furnace!

Every inch of flesh and blood in his body was being calcined, squeezed, and reshaped!

The intense pain was like raging waves, crashing against the dam of his willpower, each wave stronger than the last!

He held fast to the single point of clarity in his mind, frantically circulating the techniques of the Great Sun Body Forging Art, guiding the power of the flames to temper every corner of his body.

His skin turned crimson from the burning, then rapidly recovered under the vitality of the Pill Fire, becoming even tougher.

His muscle fibers were repeatedly stretched and condensed amidst destruction and Rebirth, harboring explosive power.

Gradually, the crimson color on his naked body began to fade, replaced by a warm and restrained luster.

It was like the finest glaze, pure and flawless, yet containing unimaginable solidity and power!

A faint golden halo flowed around his body, emitting a scorching, heavy, and heart-palpitating aura reminiscent of an ancient Vicious Beast!

After the Innate Pill Fire tempering was complete, Yao Delong took out the golden crow setting sun and infused it with pure Yang spiritual power.

Upon the sword body, golden-red Solar True Fire boiled and surged out like magma!

Just as he had done with the Pill Fire tempering, Yao Delong began a second body forging, from the inside out.

Time flew by amidst the agonizing torment and the transformation of life.

Outside the hut, the sun and moon rotated, and time passed in a flash.

"Clang—! Clang—! Clang—!"

Nine loud and melodious bell tolls, resounding throughout the mountains of the Yin Yang Sect, suddenly broke the silence of the morning!

The sound waves oscillated, carrying a solemn and grave tone as they spread to every corner.

From the direction of the Sect plaza, the roar of a mountain-toppling, sea-overturning clamor faintly drifted over; it was buzzing with people!

The Inner Sect assessment officially began today!

The simple wooden door of the hut on Luoxia Peak was slowly pushed open.

A tall and straight figure stepped out.

Yao Delong was casually draped in a newly changed cyan cloth robe, his bare feet treading upon the mountain rocks.

His physique did not seem to have changed much, but the aura he exuded was now completely different!

His skin presented a warm, glazed jade color, faintly revealing a restrained, precious light.

As he walked, his steps were as steady as a moving mountain, and the movement of every muscle seemed to contain the great power of heaven and earth.

When his deep eyes opened and closed, sharp glints like lightning flashed, and an indescribable, scorching, intertwined aura permeated the air.

Great Sun Glazed Body, Major Achievement!

Although his Physical Body had only just entered this stage, his current physical strength was enough to withstand attacks from an ordinary Early Golden Core Stage cultivator!

He felt that as long as he completed the first layer of body forging, he would be able to reach the physical limit of the "Hunyuan as One" Foundation Establishment Stage recorded in the Great Evolution Mixed Yang Scripture!

Yao Delong looked up toward the direction from which the bell tolls came, the corners of his mouth slowly curling into a sharp and confident arc.

Golden-red flames seemed to flash and vanish in his eyes.

"Inner Sect assessment... I, Yao Delong, have arrived!"

He took a step, and the hard mountain rock beneath his feet was silently pressed down, leaving a shallow imprint.

He summoned his Flying Sword, which transformed into a stream of light, and broke through the air toward the stone pillar plaza on the main peak of the Yin Yang Sect, where countless young Prodigies had gathered!

The stream of light that Yao Delong had transformed into descended rapidly, landing steadily on the vast plaza of the Yin Yang Sect's main peak, which was paved with a single piece of massive Azure Steel Rock.

Upon landing, a wave of human voices crashed over him!

The scene before him could truly be called a sea of people!

As a top immortal Sect of the Ba Xia Dynasty, the Yin Yang Sect had thousands of new Disciples entering every year.

Those with outstanding talent might be spotted by Elders or even Peak Masters upon entry and taken as named or direct Disciples; however, their status still needed to be accumulated starting from the most basic Outer Sect Disciple.

Those with good talent who were not directly spotted were randomly assigned to various peaks, also starting from the Outer Sect.

As for those with average talent, the Sect also left a glimmer of Opportunity—the Utility Disciple.

If they could break through to Qi Condensation Perfection before the age of fifty, they could be promoted to Outer Sect Disciple.