274: Refining the Soul from the Source, Advancing the Strength of All

Deep within the Heavenly Tomb, a vacuum zone.

Li Ao sat cross-legged before the ten thousand zhang stone stele, holding the gray-white light sphere that sealed the soul of the heavenly tomb. Light flowed on the surface of the sphere, and a tiny phantom could vaguely be seen struggling inside, yet it could never break through the Seal that fused the Power of Gui Xu, Purification Lotus Demon Flame, and the aura of the nirvana ancient talisman.

His face was still pale, but his aura had gradually stabilized. The powerful recovery ability of the Nirvana Hegemon Body was at work; the wounds on his skin had long healed, leaving only faint traces.

"Senior Brother, are you alright?" Xiao Yan stepped forward, asking with concern. Gu Xun'er, Medusa, and Xiao Yi Xian also gathered around, their eyes full of worry.

"It's nothing, just a bit of exhaustion. I'll be fine after a short rest." Li Ao waved his hand, his gaze falling on the light sphere in his hand. "This soul of the heavenly tomb is formed from the Origin will of this Heavenly Tomb Space, containing the purest Nirvana Power. For me, it is a great supplement."

He then looked at the ten thousand zhang stone stele, which seemed much quieter after losing the control of the soul of the heavenly tomb: "This stone tablet should be the core manifestation of this Heavenly Tomb fragment. The ancient energy and rule fragments contained within it are excellent Cultivation resources for you."

Upon hearing this, everyone's spirits lifted. They could all feel that although the place was still filled with a deathly silence, the heart-palpitating pressure had disappeared, replaced by a pure and vast ancient energy that seemed easier to absorb.

"Next, I will enter seclusion to refine this soul of the heavenly tomb, which may take a while." Li Ao looked at everyone. "You can Cultivate near this stone tablet. The energy here is the most dense and pure, and it's relatively safe. Junior Brother Xiao Yan..."

He specifically looked at Xiao Yan: "You possess multiple Heavenly Flames and Cultivate the Burning Technique. Although the ancient energy in this Heavenly Tomb carries Death Qi, after being transformed by the stone tablet, the 'ancient' and 'sedimentation' Concept it contains might help you further Fuse Heavenly Flames, solidify your Foundation, and Breakthrough to a higher Realm."

Xiao Yan nodded heavily: "I understand, Senior Brother!"

Li Ao then said to Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian: "Shasha, Xian'er, you two should also Cultivate well here. Shasha, your Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Bloodline can further Awaken with this ancient energy. Xian'er, your Chaos Poison Body can also try to absorb and refine the pure Death Qi here, which might lead to new changes."

Both women nodded in agreement.

"Miss Xun'er," Li Ao finally looked at Gu Xun'er, "Thank you, Gu Clan, for this Opportunity. You may use the Opportunity here as you wish."

Gu Xun'er smiled faintly: "Hall Master Li is too polite. Xun'er also needs to work hard so as not to drag you down." Her gaze swept over Xiao Yan, her eyes full of encouragement.

With arrangements made, Li Ao no longer delayed. With a flicker of his figure, he appeared at the top of the ten thousand zhang stone stele, where it was closest to the core of the tablet and the energy was most concentrated. He set up a simple Gui Xu Barrier, isolating the inside from the outside, then sat cross-legged, holding the gray-white light sphere in his hands, and closed his eyes.

"Let's begin."

His mind sank into his body, the Guixu Great Dao slowly circulated, and at the same time, he guided a trace of the nirvana ancient talisman's aura, enveloping the sealed light sphere in his hand.

"Refine!"

With a low shout, a gray light burst forth from Li Ao's palm, and the white halo of the Purification Lotus Demon Flame also flowed out, intertwining with the Power of Gui Xu, beginning to carefully refine the surface of the light sphere.

The soul of the heavenly tomb within the light sphere seemed to perceive the coming of its doom, emitting silent screams and struggles, but under the suppression of the nirvana ancient talisman's Supreme aura, its resistance appeared pale and weak.

The refining process was slow and meticulous. Li Ao did not crudely devour it, but like the most skilled artisan, he meticulously peeled away and analyzed the Nirvana Origin and ancient memories contained within the soul of the heavenly tomb.

This was a will nurtured by an ancient fragment tainted with the aura of the nirvana source core. The true meaning of Nirvana contained within it was more ancient, primitive, and closer to the essence than anything he had encountered before. It was an 'absolute nothingness' after the end of all things, an ultimate state where even 'Return to Nothingness' had to evolve further.

Li Ao's mind was completely immersed in this profound realization. His Guixu Great Dao was like parched land encountering sweet rain, madly absorbing these ancient Origin true meanings, constantly perfecting, expanding, and deepening.

The Gui Xu Domain naturally appeared around him, not vast in scope, but becoming deeper and more introverted, its gray color seemingly capable of devouring all light. The Hegemon Body Texture beneath his skin reappeared, this time not flickering, but deeply etched into his flesh and bones like a brand, exuding an eternal and indestructible charm, steadily advancing towards true 'Physical Body Achieving Sainthood'.

Time silently flowed in this desolate space.

Below the stone tablet, Xiao Yan and the others also entered a deep Cultivation state.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged in front of the stone tablet, his Burning Technique operating to its extreme. The Green Lotus Core Flame, Fallen Heart Flame, and even several Beast Fires obtained from other Opportunities (due to Li Ao acquiring some Heavenly Flames in advance, the number of Heavenly Flames Xiao Yan currently possessed differed slightly from the original work) rose and fused around him. The pure ancient energy emanating from the Heavenly Tomb stone tablet surged into his body like a tide, not only rapidly increasing his Dou Qi Cultivation but also elevating his control over flames and his understanding of the 'Dao of Fire' to a whole new level. His aura soared, breaking through from Six-Star Dou Zun, steadily advancing towards Nine-Star Dou Zun through Seven-Star, Eight-Star...

A golden flame lotus platform appeared beneath Gu Xun'er. The sub-flame of the Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame exuded an emperor-like majesty, further purifying and refining the surging ancient energy. Her aura had already reached Peak Dou Zun, and at this Opportunity, the barrier leading to Half-Saint began to loosen violently, and traces of a Saint's aura began to linger around her.

Medusa directly revealed her Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python true form. Her massive serpent body coiled on one side of the stone tablet, the seven-colored light on her scales reflecting the gray light of the tablet. The ancient Bloodline aura contained within the ancient energy continuously stimulated the further Awakening of her Supreme Bloodline, and her aura was also surging towards the Peak of Eighth Rank (Peak Dou Zun). Even in the depths of her Bloodline, a trace of the domineering pressure belonging to the Ancient Heavenly Serpent Emperor was slowly reviving.

Xiao Yi Xian was the most unique. A gray-purple poisonous mist formed a vortex around her, not only absorbing ancient energy but also actively drawing in the pure Death Qi permeating the Heavenly Tomb Space. The Chaos Poison Body was like a bottomless pit, devouring and transforming all these negative energies. Her aura became increasingly enigmatic and unpredictable. Although she was only Peak Dou Zun, she gave off a dangerous feeling that even a Half-Saint would be wary of.

Yao Lao (Soul body) floated to the side, using the pure Soul energy and ancient aura of this place to further stabilize his Heavenly Realm Great Perfection Soul Realm, and that wisp of Half-Saint pressure also became more solid.

At the top of the stone tablet, Li Ao's refining also reached a critical moment.

The gray-white light sphere had shrunk to the size of a fingernail, and the phantom of the soul of the heavenly tomb within it was almost imperceptible. Endless Nirvana Origin true meanings and ancient memory fragments surged into Li Ao's Sea of Consciousness like a torrent, absorbed and integrated by his Guixu Great Dao.

His Cultivation had long been stable at One-Star Dou Sheng Middle Stage, and at this moment, he was charging towards One-Star Dou Sheng Late Stage and Peak! The Saint power within his body was like a vast galaxy, flowing endlessly, each circulation becoming more condensed and magnificent.

The Nirvana Hegemon Body emitted a thunderous roar, and his flesh and bones were undergoing their final transformation. Traces of true 'Saint Radiance' began to emerge from beneath his skin, a sign that his Physical Body was about to fully cross into the Saint rank!

"Buzz—!"

After an unknown period, the last wisp of gray-white light from Li Ao's hand completely merged into his palm. The soul of the heavenly tomb had been completely refined and absorbed by him!

At this very moment, the fragment of the 'nirvana ancient talisman' in his Sea of Consciousness suddenly trembled, emitting an unprecedentedly bright light! Countless clearer and more complete pieces of information flowed out from the ancient talisman, corroborating and supplementing the memory fragments of the soul of the heavenly tomb he had just absorbed!

Li Ao suddenly opened his eyes, and the Chaos light in his pupils surged. In the depths of his left eye, a Universe seemed to Return to Nothingness, while in his right eye, a pure white lotus floated. And at the innermost core of his eyes, an extremely ancient gray mark, seemingly composed of countless 'ending' runes, flashed and disappeared!

His aura erupted with a bang, like an ancient sleeping god or demon Awakening!

Two-Star Dou Sheng!

After thoroughly refining the soul of the heavenly tomb and fusing its Origin true meaning, his Cultivation finally broke through the barrier, stepping directly into the Early Stage of Two-Star Dou Sheng! Not only that, his Nirvana Hegemon Body also completed its final transformation at this moment. The dark gold luster on his body became introverted, his skin was as smooth as jade, yet it exuded a texture tens of thousands of times harder than divine iron. Physical Body Achieving Sainthood was completely achieved at this moment!

With this Physical Body alone, he dared to contend with a Three-Star Dou Sheng without defeat!

The greater gain, however, lay in his understanding of the essence of 'Nirvana'. Through the memory fragments of the soul of the heavenly tomb and the supplementary information from the nirvana ancient talisman, he finally understood many things.

The so-called 'nirvana source core' is not unique. It is more like a projection or fragment of an ultimate 'Concept' or 'plane' across the myriad worlds. The nirvana star core he previously obtained, the source core space node guarded by the Medicine Clan, and even this Heavenly Tomb fragment, are all 'fragments' of different sizes and forms. And the complete 'nirvana ancient talisman' is one of the 'keys' to finding and opening the path to the true 'nirvana source core'.

The 'bridge of the other shore' and 'Guiding Ancient Palace'... this information also became clearer. They seemed to be 'paths' and 'stations' connecting different 'fragments' or leading to the true source core.

Suppressing the shock and enlightenment in his heart, Li Ao restrained his aura and stood up. His gaze swept downwards.

Flames blazed around Xiao Yan, and his aura had surprisingly reached Peak Nine-Star Dou Zun, just a step away from Half-Saint! The various flames within him had fused more perfectly, their power incomparable to before.

The golden flames around Gu Xun'er receded, and a faint Saint's might permeated the air. She had successfully Broken through, becoming a One-Star Dou Sheng! Although she had just entered, with her Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame and Gu Clan Bloodline, her combat power was by no means comparable to an ordinary One-Star Dou Sheng.

Medusa transformed back into human form. Her exquisite beauty now carried an added touch of majesty and allure. Her aura was stable at eighth rank peak (Peak Dou Zun), but the trace of Ancient Heavenly Serpent Emperor Bloodline pressure within her even made Li Ao glance sideways.

Xiao Yi Xian's aura was the most obscure, still at Peak Dou Zun, but Li Ao could feel that her Chaos Poison Body had undergone some qualitative change. Once it erupted, it would probably be enough to threaten a true Dou Sheng.

Yao Lao's Soul body also became more solid, and his Half-Saint pressure stabilized.

Seeing that everyone had made great gains, Li Ao nodded in satisfaction.

This trip to the Heavenly Tomb had yielded far more than expected.

Just then, the entire Heavenly Tomb Space suddenly vibrated slightly, and a repulsive force began to emerge.

"The three-month period is up," Li Ao realized.

The Heavenly Tomb was about to close; they had to leave.

With abundant gains and a clearer understanding of the path ahead, Li Ao and his party transformed into streaks of light, flying towards the exit of the Heavenly Tomb.

Outside, how would the situation of the Gu Clan, and even the entire Fighting Qi Continent, change with their return?