169: Eightfold Heaven Ancient Beast Remains

"Such potent Origin power."

Li Jiangchen's Divine Soul connected with the mountain peak imprint on his brow, and a majestic heavenly might immediately enveloped him, causing his aura to surge.

If the Origin power Lion Ascent had previously drawn upon was merely a trickling stream, then the current Origin blessing was a surging river.

Clang—

A Sword Tomb appeared in his palm, emitting a profound aura.

At this moment, under the blessing of Origin power, it subtly broke through that boundary, touching the threshold of the Eighth Heaven.

"From this perspective, the Lord of a Middle Thousand Worlds, without leaving their world, can roughly rival a Nine-Star Seventh Heaven Emperor Realm expert."

"Next is to refine the entire Black Wind Shattered Star Belt and bring it back to the Human Realm."

Whoosh—

With a flick of his hand, the jade mountain artifact merged into the Void Realm, frantically absorbing Origin power.

Visibly, the Black Wind Shattered Star Belt was slowly shrinking.

This was a treasure born from the Origin, perfectly suited for this task.

"Judging by this speed, refining and moving the entire Shattered Star Belt will still take quite some time..."

...One month later.

Fishing Mountain.

In front of a clear pond, The Fisherman held a jade bamboo rod and pulled sharply. A fish with a Jiaolong (Jiaolong) dragon's head emerged from the water, then rapidly shrank. By the time it landed on the cutting board, it had transformed into a Golden Scaled Dragon Fish.

With a silver-white dagger, scales flew off, followed by bleeding, deboning, and slicing... In no time, a plate of Golden Dragon Fish sashimi, thin as cicada wings, was served.

"You two, please try it. This fish is delicious, and paired with mountain delicacies like Taishui meat and Enlightenment Tea, it's a perfect match," The Fisherman said with a smile.

Hearing this, Li Jiangchen picked up a chopstick. The fish meat, thin as cicada wings, combined with the roasted Taishui meat, entered his mouth. After a slight chew, it transformed into an indescribably sweet flavor that slid into his stomach.

Immediately after, two streams of Qi rose.

One transformed into vital blood, integrating into his four limbs and hundred meridians.

The other transformed into pure Soul Power, heading directly for his Soul Sea.

When the two forces converged, it was like a volcanic eruption. Drinking the Enlightenment Tea brought by Phantom Star Emperor immediately dissolved this fiery Qi.

"Excellent."

Li Jiangchen smiled slightly.

This Golden Dragon Fish and mountain delicacy Taishui, if consumed regularly, would greatly benefit Body Refining and Divine Soul for Cultivators below the Seventh Heaven.

"Today, I also benefited from Senior's presence. Normally, when I ask this fellow for some, he always makes excuses," Phantom Star Emperor said, picking up a piece of fish.

"I've already said, we can just treat each other as equals," Li Jiangchen laughed. "By the way, there are three Origin Mountains in the Three Mountains Star Domain. You two each occupy one. Who is the controller of the last one?

I've never heard of it."

Hearing this, Phantom Star Emperor explained, "This last Origin Mountain is not controlled by a Cultivator, but by the Eight-Winged Gluttonous Dragon Beast Emperor from the Ancient Beast Mountain Range.

This fiend is vicious and slightly weaker than us in strength. However, when connected to the Origin, its combat power can barely rival a Nine-Star.

Even if the two of us join forces, it's truly difficult to kill."

"So the last Origin Mountain is actually deep within the Ancient Beast Mountain Range," Li Jiangchen nodded, then inquired about the Eight-Winged Gluttonous Dragon's information one by one.

Half a day later, after exchanging pleasantries and bidding farewell, he transformed into a streak of light and sped away.

"He's gone..." Phantom Star Emperor looked at the disappearing streak of light in the sky. "Senior Li, he's not going to kill that Beast Emperor, is he?"

"Hard to say. How can we possibly fathom such a brilliant and talented individual?"

"Come, come, come, I still have a bottle of Bitter Bamboo Cold Pond Wine in my collection..."

Ancient Beast Mountain Range.

Li Jiangchen delved deep into the inner region, manifesting thousands of Incarnations, frantically slaughtering ancient beasts. The remains of ancient beasts were stuffed into his spatial artifact without any hesitation.

These days, he had already melted the spiritual bones of the Golden Crown Demon Emperor, successfully achieving a Body Refining Breakthrough to the Sixth Heaven.

Now, with the three Dao balanced, his combat power had risen another notch.

He was getting closer and closer to the Nine-Star limit.

Finally, a beast roar echoed from the deep mountains. Invisible ripples spread, causing even Li Jiangchen's Divine Soul to tremble slightly.

Immediately after, a strange giant Dragon, with eight ribs, a ferocious face, and a single horn on its forehead, crawled out. Its enormous mouth seemed to occupy two-thirds of its head, exuding an indescribable strangeness.

"Finally out..."

Li Jiangchen turned and left, the ground behind him shaking as the Eight-Winged Gluttonous Dragon rapidly pursued him.

According to the intelligence revealed by Phantom Star Emperor, this beast was cunning and cautious by nature. Once it sensed danger, it would flee into its Origin land.

Dozens of breaths later.

"That's enough..."

Li Jiangchen's aura changed. Three flowers appeared above his head, his essence, Qi, and spirit fused into one. He brandished the demon slaying sword in his hand, and a thick Sword Qi tore through the Void Realm, spanning thousands of miles, instantly blasting the Eight-Winged Gluttonous Dragon into a sky full of blood mist.

The next moment, Origin power gathered, and the Eight-Winged Gluttonous Dragon's body reformed. Its eyes filled with terror, it frantically fled towards its Origin land.

"I knew it wouldn't be that easy to kill."

Wings appeared behind Li Jiangchen, and he transformed into a swift streak, crossing layers of space, instantly blocking the Eight-Winged Gluttonous Dragon's retreat.

Another sword strike, and the Eight-Winged Gluttonous Dragon once again turned into blood mist, but it continued to recover under the blessing of Origin power.

However, each time it was killed, its aura decreased by a notch, as Origin power was not invincible after all.

After dozens of consecutive times, the Eight-Winged Gluttonous Dragon's aura was weak, and it clearly couldn't last much longer.

At this moment, a hint of desperation appeared in the Eight-Winged Gluttonous Dragon's eyes. A massive amount of Origin power blessed its body, the ground trembled, and the remains of a gray-white, four-hoofed giant beast shot out from underground.

"This is... an Eighth Heaven Ancient Beast's corpse."

Li Jiangchen frowned slightly.

He hadn't expected an Eighth Heaven Ancient Beast to be buried here.

Roar, roar, roar!

Under the blessing of Origin power, the gray-white, four-hoofed giant beast, which was already dead, slowly opened its eyes. An aura like that of a primeval fierce beast enveloped the entire Ancient Beast Mountain Range.

Hiss—

As the gray-white dead eyes opened, a gray-white ray shot out. Space violently fluctuated, turning into gray-white rock along the way, exuding a strong Death Qi.

Li Jiangchen dared not hold back. His body was covered in the eight divisions startling insect demon god armor, and the jingzhe aspect on it transformed into a Divine Soul thorn, violently piercing into his Divine Soul, frantically stimulating his Soul Power.

In an instant, the 'Flower of Heaven' representing the Divine Dao among the three flowers above his head rapidly bloomed.

The next moment, the fused power of his essence, Qi, and spirit gathered as one and poured into the demon slaying sword.

With a single sword strike, a thin gray line streaked across the heavens and earth, precisely striking the gray-white ray.

Demon-Quelling Sword Dance!

Boom—

The two annihilating energies exploded, and a spatial turbulence storm rose in the center, rapidly spreading outwards.

After the residual power dissipated, more than half of Li Jiangchen's body had turned into gray-white rock. Yet, his expression remained unchanged. His gaze pierced through the sky full of dust, looking at the rapidly fleeing Eight-Winged Gluttonous Dragon.

The Demon-Quelling Sword Dance was activated, transforming this part of the world into a sword domain. Accompanied by a wail, the Eight-Winged Gluttonous Dragon lost all vitality, its blood staining the mountain range.

"Troublesome, that petrification power almost seeped into my Divine Soul..."

Li Jiangchen's True Essence circulated, shattering the petrified part of his body and regenerating a vibrant body.

Whoosh—

His figure flashed, soaring above the gray-white, four-hoofed giant beast.

Ever since it unleashed that petrification ray, it had fallen silent once more.

"An Eighth Heaven Saint Remains... I never thought that Body Refining would be the first to Breakthrough to the Seventh Heaven, ahead of the Divine and Qi paths."