686: Chapter 686 Advancement, Jiang Xingwan Breakthrough

The investigation into the traitors lasted for a month, causing panic within the Joyous Union Sect, until it was finally called to a halt by Liu Xuan.

Not many real traitors were caught; instead, Demon Lord Chixia's wanton arrests caused everyone to fear for their own safety.

If this continued, even those who weren't traitors would be forced into becoming ones, so Liu Xuan had to step in and stop it.

As a massive Sect occupying the entire offshore area of the East Sea, the Joyous Union Sect had countless Cultivators. It was normal to have some traitors; it was impossible to ferret them all out, nor was it necessary.

Human hearts are difficult to fathom. Even if someone isn't a traitor today, they might become one tomorrow for some reason. It cannot be eradicated.

Liu Xuan had always only believed in interests and rules, not in ethereal human hearts.

Over at the Merfolk Tribe's Crystal Palace, the Three-Headed Demon Python successfully infiltrated the Merfolk Tribe. Queen of Merfolk did not take its Essence Blood and even gave it many spiritual items to heal its wounds and improve its Cultivation.

Judging from the intelligence gathered by the Three-Headed Demon Python, there was at least one Demon Saint from the Long Whale Clan behind the operation against it last time.

Involving such figures, the traitors within the Joyous Union Sect might not be limited to Nascent Soul True Lords!

This attack on the Joyous Union Sect by the Long Whale Palace was entirely the Long Whale Clan's idea; even Queen of Merfolk and the Great Saint Xumiao did not fully understand the specific reasons.

What exactly was the Long Whale Palace's goal, and who exactly was the traitor within the Joyous Union Sect?

Liu Xuan couldn't be bothered to continue investigating these matters because Jiang Xingwan was about to have a Breakthrough!

Xuanyin Pavilion.

Star-Gazing Terrace.

The brilliant starry sky cast down a soft light, and two auras were intertwined—one purely Yang and scorching, the other purely Yin and frigid.

Beyond the Yin and Yang, there was also a massive aura of blood and Qi that enveloped the entire Star-Gazing Terrace, like a layer of pink mist.

"Hum~"

The Fusion of Yin and Yang formed a massive phantom image resembling a Taiji diagram. A tremendous devouring force was born from this, beginning to draw in the underground Spiritual Vein and the nearby Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

The vacuum left behind by the flow of Spiritual Qi caused Spiritual Qi from further away to gather toward the Xuanyin Pavilion. The Spiritual Qi vortex continued to expand outward, rapidly affecting the entire Yin-Yang Archipelago.

"This is..."

"Is the Daoist Yin-Yang about to achieve the Dao?"

The Late-stage Spirit Transformation, known as a Great Cultivator, is only one step away from Ascension. It requires condensing a Law unique to oneself within the Divine Soul, which is known as achieving the Dao.

When a Late-stage Spirit Transformation Great Cultivator strikes with full force, it is basically equivalent to the will of Heaven and Earth manifesting, truly capable of destroying the heavens and extinguishing the earth.

Achieving the status of a Late-stage Spirit Transformation Great Cultivator means reaching the very pinnacle of the entire Cultivation World, becoming a Dominator from then on, possessing the ability to influence the history of the entire Cultivation World, and having the possibility of Ascension!

Countless Cultivators on the Yin-Yang Archipelago looked up, their eyes filled with yearning and reverence.

In the center of the Star-Gazing Terrace, Liu Xuan's Divine Soul and Jiang Xingwan's Divine Soul fused together, existing in a mysterious state where you are in me and I am in you.

As Jiang Xingwan advanced, Liu Xuan also received huge benefits. His Cultivation soared all the way, about to touch the Late Nascent Soul Stage Bottleneck.

The increase in magic power was secondary. Because his Divine Soul was fused with Jiang Xingwan's, he was able to use the Opportunity of her Breakthrough to experience the mysteries of 'achieving the Dao' in advance, which was of great benefit to his combat power and his understanding of the Dao.

In Liu Xuan's view, so-called achieving the Dao is like intercepting or copying a Law of Heaven and Earth and refining it into the Divine Soul, replacing the heart of Heaven with one's own heart.

"Hum~" While Liu Xuan was immersed in mysterious enlightenment, he suddenly felt that he was being stared at by a massive will.

"That is..." He focused his gaze and saw that in a mysterious place an unknown distance away, something indescribable was watching him.

This will was massive, vast, mysterious, and majestic... yet it lacked even a trace of human emotion, just like an Incarnation of rules.

"The will of the Heavenly Dao?"

When a Cultivator reaches the Late-stage Spirit Transformation, to some extent, they have broken free from the constraints of the Heavenly Dao and become an unstable factor. They will be specially targeted by the will of the Heavenly Dao, making it convenient for it to send down the tribulation of thunder punishment in the future.

"The Xuanyin Dao, wielding the frigid cold, nourishing vitality, the dark side of Heaven and Earth..."

As Jiang Xingwan's Divine Soul sank into the state of Breakthrough, the pressure on Liu Xuan's Divine Soul rose sharply.

His intrinsic Cultivation was only at the Mid-Nascent Soul Stage; although its intensity was comparable to the Soul Transformation, there was still a huge gap between him and Jiang Xingwan, who was about to advance.

It was fine when Jiang Xingwan was conscious, as she could cooperate with Liu Xuan's Cultivation. Now that she was absorbed in her own Dao Breakthrough, Liu Xuan simply couldn't withstand it.

As Liu Xuan's Divine Soul slowly withdrew, the Yin-Yang Taiji phantom gradually turned completely black, and the Yin-cold Qi spread rapidly.

In a short while, the entire Yin-Yang Archipelago turned dark. Only faint starlight remained, and everything else was pitch black.

Some Cultivators were terrified in their hearts and instinctively cast fire-starting spells, only to be surprised to find that the spells had failed; they couldn't ignite any flames at all.

It wasn't just ordinary fire-starting spells that couldn't be cast; all spells capable of emitting light temporarily failed, and the spirituality of lamps and Magical Artifacts or Magic Treasures with light or flame attributes all retreated back into their bodies.

The darkness only lasted for a quarter of an hour before receding like a tide, all gathering toward the Star-Gazing Terrace of the Xuanyin Pavilion.

Jiang Xingwan opened her eyes. Her pair of eyes seemed to contain a night sky, mysterious and powerful.

"Husband~"

"I succeeded!"

The night color in her eyes quickly receded, and then she excitedly threw herself into Liu Xuan's arms.

"Be a little reserved, someone is coming!" Liu Xuan held her slender waist and said with a smile.

As soon as he finished speaking, two streaks of light flew over one after another. Red Dust Daoist Lord Su Qingyan and Hehuan Daoist Lord Cui Siya bowed respectfully and congratulated her loudly: "Congratulations to Senior Sister Jiang on your successful Breakthrough and promotion to a Late-stage Spirit Transformation Great Cultivator!"

"No need for formalities!" Jiang Xingwan waved her hand casually at the two women while still leaning in Liu Xuan's arms, not caring about their gaze at all.

Having advanced to the Late-stage Spirit Transformation, Jiang Xingwan realized more and more what the key to her successful Breakthrough was. The Great Divination Technique gave her premonitions every moment that the person in front of her was the greatest Opportunity of her life and must be grasped firmly.

"I have advanced to the Late-stage Spirit Transformation. You announce this to the world for me and spread the might of our Sect!"

Jiang Xingwan seemed to have changed her face and instructed Hehuan Daoist Lord Cui Siya: "Tell the Long Whale Palace that if they retreat immediately, I can pretend that nothing ever happened."

Whether the Joyous Union Sect has a Late-stage Spirit Transformation expert presiding over it makes a world of difference. If the Long Whale Palace continues to attack the Joyous Union Sect, the only outcome will be mutual destruction.

"Understood!"

"Understood!"

Red Dust Daoist Lord Su Qingyan and Hehuan Daoist Lord Cui Siya cupped their hands to accept the order, feeling relieved in their hearts.

The timing of Jiang Xingwan's Breakthrough was too critical. The world situation was turbulent, and without the protection of a Great Cultivator, they were quite passive.

Jiang Xingwan was in a great mood and was planning to dismiss the two and celebrate alone with Liu Xuan, but she suddenly realized something was wrong and asked: "Where is Yurao?"

Red Dust Daoist Lord Su Qingyan and Hehuan Daoist Lord Cui Siya looked at each other and shook their heads: "We do not know either."

Just then, a streak of blood-colored light streaked across from the east, and a male and a female Cultivator flew over side by side.

"Congratulations to Senior Sister on advancing to a Great Cultivator!" Caixuan Daoist Lord Song Yurao said with a smile, cupping her hands to congratulate her.

Everyone ignored her and looked at the middle-aged Cultivator in dark red robes beside her.