87: Breakthrough, Void God Realm

In the Immortal Academy's teleportation array plaza, Huang Mu tidied his slightly disheveled robes, then bowed solemnly to Su Chen and Tantai Qinghuang, expressing his gratitude: "Thank you both for your help today."

He was truly emotional; after this incident, not only did he defeat his long-time rival Zhang Wen, but his path to promotion was now unobstructed, and his future immortal journey held infinite possibilities.

Huang Mu straightened up, took out a jade box from his storage bag, and handed it to Su Chen: "This is Thousand-Year Red Mushroom. When cooked with Tai Ling Fish, it can amplify the medicinal effects and greatly benefit cultivation improvement. Consider it a small token of my appreciation."

Su Chen raised his hand to take the jade box, opened it, and saw a mushroom, entirely crimson, lying inside, emitting a faint spiritual aura. It was indeed a high-quality Thousand-Year Red Mushroom.

He nodded slightly: "Thank you, Inspector Huang."

At this moment, Ye Gufeng walked over, took out a palm-sized wooden token from his embrace. The token's surface was carved with intricate patterns and marked with an address.

He handed the token to Tantai Qinghuang, saying gently: "I know your heart is with your family, and you probably don't wish to cultivate with me immediately."

"Once your family is safe, if you wish to join my sect for cultivation, you can come find me anytime."

Tantai Qinghuang took the token with both hands, carefully placed it into her embrace, and bowed: "Thank you, Master."

Ye Gufeng chuckled, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes: "Seeing you reminds me of some past events from my youth. You possess the Fighting Saint Body, and you'll need a suitable cultivation method to unleash its true power."

With a flick of his finger, a pale green jade slip flew into Tantai Qinghuang's hand.

"This is the 'Heavenly Battle Art,' a cultivation method specifically created for the Fighting Saint Body. Consider it your initiation gift."

Tantai Qinghuang held the jade slip. This cultivation method was a rare semi-saint level technique. Although it was far from comparable to her Void Emperor Scripture, it was extremely rare in this world. Furthermore, being specially designed for the Fighting Saint Body, its effects might not be inferior to a Saint-level cultivation method.

"Disciple thanks Master for the gift."

Ye Gufeng waved his hand, saying no more.

The teleportation array glowed again. Su Chen and Tantai Qinghuang exchanged a glance, then, with a flash of spiritual light, vanished within the array.

... In the Enlightenment Pool secret realm, the purple-robed woman's figure appeared, followed closely by the gray-robed elder.

"Reporting to the Supervisor, the candidates performed exceptionally well this time, but there was one woman who seemed a bit different. She appears to be from the East Mu Continent..."

The purple-robed woman glanced at him indifferently, "Do you think your little schemes with Huang Mu can fool me?"

"However, these are minor matters. Where are the fish?"

"Fish?"

The gray-robed elder was stunned, then seemed to be calculating something.

The next second, cold sweat streamed down his face.

Of the nearly a thousand Tai Ling Fish in the pool, only a few dozen remained, and most were just small fry.

"This subordinate, this subordinate does not know. It must be a candidate who tampered with them."

The next second, a slap landed heavily on the elder's face.

"A joke! How could those juniors tamper with it without triggering the array? Besides a Saint, who else could do it?"

"Still not confessing? Abolish his cultivation and throw him into the death prison."

... Half a day later, in the open space of the Tantai Family's backyard, a large iron pot was set on a stone-stacked stove. Fire blazed under the stove, and milky white fish soup bubbled within the pot. The fresh aroma of fish, mixed with spiritual energy, permeated the entire backyard, attracting many clansmen to stop and watch.

These were the hundreds of Tai Ling Fish Tantai Qinghuang had obtained in the Enlightenment Pool secret realm.

The effect of Tai Ling Fish was simple: it could slightly enhance a cultivator's comprehension and improve cultivation without side effects.

However, after consuming a certain amount, the effect would gradually weaken until it completely disappeared.

And with the addition of the Thousand-Year Red Mushroom gifted by Huang Mu, not only could the medicinal effect of the Tai Ling Fish be increased by thirty percent, but it could also increase the maximum amount a cultivator could consume, making it an excellent combination.

Qin Ze stood in front of the stove, holding a special long spoon, carefully stirring the fish soup in the pot.

As the family's alchemist, he had precise control over heat and ingredients. Although cooking and alchemy were different fields, they shared similarities in meticulous control.

He looked at the constantly bubbling Tai Ling Fish in the pot, the rich aroma wafting to his nose, and couldn't help but be secretly astonished.

He had never seen this Tai Ling Fish, nor had he read about it in any ancient texts. But judging solely from the concentration of spiritual energy emanating from the fish meat, its grade was definitely far beyond ordinary spiritual materials.

What shocked him even more was that there were hundreds of them in the pot. Such a quantity of Tai Ling Fish, even a seventh-rank noble family might not be able to produce all at once.

Actually, Tantai Qinghuang had initially caught less than two hundred Tai Ling Fish from the secret realm.

But before leaving the secret realm, she had put away the activated 'One Net to Catch All Talisman.' This talisman had collected nearly four hundred Tai Ling Fish that were subsequently attracted by her enlightenment aura, making up the full pot's quantity.

Xie Chi stood by, stroking his chin, his eyes fixed on the Tai Ling Fish in the pot, his face full of disbelief.

He had heard his father, Xie Budai, mention this Tai Ling Fish before.

His father had once been fortunate enough to be rewarded with one by the imperial court. Its taste was extremely delicious, and he still often talked about it.

Such a treasure, ordinary people would find it as difficult as ascending to heaven to even see one, let alone eat it. Yet, in the Tantai Family, hundreds were being cooked at once, which completely refreshed his understanding.

His gaze inadvertently swept towards the family's main hall. At this moment, on the central wall of the main hall, a calligraphy work was hung, on which was written:

"Though the Dao is near, without cultivation, one cannot reach it; though achievement is difficult, without effort, one cannot succeed."

The handwriting was vigorous and powerful, faintly exuding the Dao rhyme of a Saint. The inscription also bore the seal of the 'Grand Immortal Academy.'

Xie Chi's heart was once again stirred by a tempest. This was clearly a 'Saint's Strategy' written by a great scholar with a Saint's foundation, imbued with his own insights into the 'Dao'!

Family disciples who cultivated under its influence for a long time would subtly improve their cultivation efficiency and their understanding of the Dao.

Such a treasure, even fifth-rank or fourth-rank families would covet it, as it not only represented practical value but also symbolized a connection with the Grand Immortal Academy's main branch.

Yet now, it was casually hanging in the main hall of a family that had just been promoted from eighth-rank to seventh-rank, which was truly inconceivable.

"It's ready! The Tai Ling Fish feast can begin!"

Su Chen stood at the front of the crowd, looking at the bubbling fish soup in the pot, a smile on his face. He loudly addressed the surrounding clansmen: "Everyone, don't be shy, come and eat the fish and drink the soup!"

The clansmen had long been captivated by the aroma of the fish soup. Hearing Su Chen's words, they immediately gathered around.

But surprisingly, no one moved first. Instead, Tantai Lie took the lead, scooped a bowl of the fattest fish head soup, and respectfully presented it to Su Chen.

All the clansmen bowed together and said in unison: "Please, Old Ancestor, eat first!"

Su Chen looked at the scene before him, feeling both comforted and a little amused.

He waved his hand, his tone relaxed: "Don't make it seem like you're offering tribute. I'm not dead yet."

As his words fell, his figure transformed into a streak of spiritual light and disappeared before everyone. He needed to return to the real world to digest the impending cultivation feedback.

Tantai Lie looked in the direction Su Chen had disappeared, letting out a soft sigh, his voice full of emotion: "The Old Ancestor has worried himself sick for the family, yet we haven't been able to share any of his burden. We can only express our feelings with this food."

Tantai Qinghuang held a bowl of fish soup and silently took a sip.

The powerful medicinal effect of the Tai Ling Fish instantly exploded within her body. She immediately sat cross-legged, circulated the 'Heavenly Battle Art,' and began to refine the medicinal power.

Everyone clearly saw that her aura was increasing at a visible rate.

Spirit Sea Realm peak...

Void God Realm first layer...

Void God Realm second layer...

In just a short moment, she had broken through three realms, and was still steadily growing.

In the real world, Su Chen sat in the villa's cultivation room. As soon as he calmed his mind, he clearly felt a surge of majestic cultivation feedback, like a tide.

His cultivation, which had been at the middle stage of the Spirit Sea Realm, began to break through rapidly. The barrier of the late stage of the Spirit Sea Realm was easily shattered like paper, and then he soared all the way to the peak of the Spirit Sea Realm!

What surprised him even more was that as his cultivation at the peak of the Spirit Sea Realm stabilized, his original ten-thousand-zhang soul power began to surge, as if reaching some critical point.

"Not enough."

Su Chen took out a drop of fresh blood, which was what Tantai Qinghuang had obtained after her enlightenment, and had mysteriously appeared in his backpack.

'Tai Xu Dragon Blood · Essence Blood' 10ml (Gold): Can permanently enhance physical strength, improve physical recovery ability, and increase spell casting effects by fifty percent.

As the essence blood burst forth with astonishing energy within his body, the next second, Su Chen's soul suddenly underwent a qualitative change. A pressure far exceeding the Spirit Sea Realm erupted from his body, and the surrounding air trembled with it.

Void God Realm!

Yue Yao, who had been guarding by his side, was completely stunned by the change in Su Chen's aura.