'The Profound Celestial Sect really is extravagantly wealthy. She's just a maid; does she really need to be this rich?'
Inside Feng Ling'er's Storage Ring, Yang Xiao found another Little Black Flag, the one that imprisoned the Earth Fire Qilin Beast.
But he also found an Eighth-Grade Middle-Grade Spirit Medicine, a Tier Four Low-Grade Inner Core, a Seventh-Level Upper-Grade Spirit Medicine, and a large pile of fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade Spirit Medicines.
Yang Xiao was stunned speechless.
What an incredible surprise!
She was more than ten times richer than Wang Xiyan!
And as for Wang Qianhe, there was simply no comparison.
That single Eighth-Grade Middle-Grade Spirit Medicine could probably buy the entire Spirit Medicine Peak of the Purple Sun Sect. And all this belonged to a mere maid from the Profound Celestial Sect.
The Upper Three Sects were truly on a different level than the Lower Six Sects.
The gap was immense.
Of course, Yang Xiao was mistaken. The Eighth-Grade Middle-Grade Spirit Medicine was actually the one that had been guarded by the mutated White Jade Rhinoceros.
It hadn't been a gift from Xuan Tianzhan.
However, even without the Eighth-Grade Spirit Medicine, the remaining items were still astounding.
A Seventh-Level Upper-Grade Spirit Medicine and a Tier Four Low-Grade Inner Core.
Those two items alone were extraordinary.
He recalled how Wang Qianhe, the esteemed Master of the Medicine Peak, had gone to great lengths just for a single Tier Four Low-Grade Inner Core.
'Unfortunately, even if I refine all these Spirit Medicines into a Level 9 Fire Essence Pill, it probably won't be enough to help me break through to the Yellow Flame Realm,'
Yang Xiao sighed softly.
'My cultivation is just too difficult.'
Breaking through to the Orange Flame Realm had required the Inner Core of an Earth Fire Qilin Beast, which was equivalent to an Eighth-Grade Spirit Medicine.
Who knew what kind of Spirit Medicine would be required to break through to the Yellow Flame Realm.
At the very least, a so-called top-tier Spirit Medicine, a Level 9 one, would likely not be enough.
Still, while these Spirit Medicines weren't enough to get him to the Yellow Flame Realm, if he refined them into a Level 9 Fire Essence Pill, he was confident he could break through from the Mid-Orange Flame Peak to the Late-stage Orange Flame Realm without any issues.
'If I can get a few more Inner Cores and high-tier Spirit Medicines here in the Celestial Cloud Mountain Range, it might even be possible to reach the Great Success of the Orange Flame Realm, or perhaps even its absolute limit.'
At that point, he could temper his body and spirit once more.
With his body currently at the Peak of the Innate Realm, another round of tempering would surely result in a breakthrough, granting him Physical Strength equivalent to the Martial Grandmaster Level.
That was the strength of at least two young Demon Flood Dragons.
Perhaps even more.
Beyond just strength, his constitutionâhis Mid-grade Fire Spirit Bodyâwould also improve significantly. He might not break through to an Upper-Grade Spirit Body, but it would become much stronger than it was now.
After all, even Spirit Bodies of the same grade varied in strength.
For instance, a Low Grade Spirit Body could automatically absorb Primordial Power from the outside world, but its range was only about three to six li. A Mid-grade Spirit Body, on the other hand, had a range of at least ten li.
Yang Xiao was currently at this level.
However, this wasn't the limit for a Mid-grade Spirit Body. Some formidable ones could affect an area with a twenty-li radius.
Nearly double his current range.
As for his Spiritual Power, it would likely also advance after the second tempering from the Orange Flame Realm.
'Right, my Spiritual Power! If my Spiritual Power can advance further and reach the Observing Micro High Level, I can finally try cultivating the Nine Yang Celestial Skill.'
The Nine Yang Celestial Skill was a Technique created by Yang Xiao's master from his first life, the Nine Yang Supreme.
It was a supreme Technique capable of leading one to the Saint Dao.
The reason Yang Xiao hadn't practiced any other Cultivation Technique was twofold. First, his Heaven and Earth Origin Flame allowed him to improve continuously even without one.
Second, he was waiting to cultivate this specific Technique.
To cultivate this Technique, one had to meet two absolute minimum requirements.
One was to have Physical Strength equal to that of a young Demon Flood Dragon.
Yang Xiao had already achieved this.
The second was for one's Spiritual Level to reach the Observing Micro High Level.
Otherwise, attempting to cultivate it forcefully would likely result in failure to even master the First Level.
By the same token, however, once he could begin, this supreme Cultivation Technique would undoubtedly lay the foundation for his path to the Saint Dao.
'I have the Divine Communication Grass, so reaching the Observing Micro High Level shouldn't be difficultâit's just a matter of time. Besides, I still need more Inner Cores and Spirit Medicines to reach the limit of the Orange Flame Realm. I'll just keep training in the Celestial Cloud Mountain Range for the next five months.'
In five months, the Purple Sun Sect would hold its Sect Grand Competition.
Yang Xiao had to participate.
Previously, when Yang Xiao participated in the Sect competition, he was only eligible for the Outer Sect's division.
Back then, his only goal was to remain in the Sect so as not to affect his father, Yang Zhentian's, position.
Now, however, Yang Xiao had become the Vice Medicine Peak Master. Even though it wasn't a formal position, he had already established a firm foothold in the Purple Sun Sect.
His initial reason for participating in the Sect Grand Competition was merely due to Ye Chengzong's challenge.
But now, because of Xuan Tianzhan, he was forced to treat the competition with a whole new level of seriousness.
To participate in the Nine Sects Grand Competition, one needed the Sect's official endorsement.
Only the strongest among the younger generation would even have a chance to attend.
Yang Xiao hadn't known this before, but Yang Ziling had mentioned it to him. Her return to the Pure Yang Sword Sect was, in fact, to prepare for the Nine Sects Grand Competition a year from now.
Therefore, in order to kill Xuan Tianzhan at the Nine Sects Grand Competition, he absolutely had to participate in the Purple Sun Sect's competition five months from now.
BELLOW!
But just as Yang Xiao made his decision, an earth-shattering roar echoed from the distance.
Yang Xiao's expression changed instantly.
He could faintly see an enormous behemoth charging in his direction.
At the same time, vast numbers of Fierce Beasts and Barbaric Beasts surged out from all directions.
Most were Tier Three, but there were also quite a few Tier Four beasts.
They stampeded forward.
It was like a massive army on the charge.
However, they didn't stop as they passed Yang Xiao.
Instead, they accelerated, fleeing into the distance.
They didn't look like soldiers charging into battle.
They looked like they were running for their lives.
'Could an overlord of the Celestial Cloud Mountain Range have made its move?'
Yang Xiao froze.
But soon, he saw the cause of the commotion.
It was huge.
Incredibly huge.
He estimated it was at least thirty meters tall, with a terrifying body length of around fifty meters.
The terrifying beast looked almost identical to the White Jade Rhinoceros that Yang Xiao had killed earlier.
Its body was as white as jade, as if carved from a single piece of flawless precious jade.
However, the long, sharp horn protruding from its forehead was an azure-green color.
It seemed to faintly gather the Wind Elemental Power of the heavens and earth around it.
Despite its massive body, it was incredibly fast when it charged.
A closer look revealed azure-green ripples circling its four massive hooves.
It was Wind Power.
'It's a parent of that White Jade Rhinoceros! Not good, it's coming for me!'
The color drained from Yang Xiao's face.
This creature was likely a Fifth Tier Barbaric Beast at the very least, and a Fifth Tier Barbaric Beast was comparable to a Martial Saint.
A Martial Saint was an existence that had all but transcended the Mortal Realm.
In his current state, Yang Xiao was no match for it whatsoever.
A single blow would probably annihilate him, leaving not even dust behind.
'Run!'
Without a moment's hesitation, a pair of fiery red wings materialized on Yang Xiao's back. He beat them with all his might, shooting through the air like an arrow loosed from its bow.
But just then, the behemoth seemed to spot him.
BELLOW!
It let out a furious roar, and a stream of azure-blue energy shot out from its massive mouth.
It shot straight toward Yang Xiao in the sky.
BOOM!
It struck him in an instant.
Yang Xiao was blasted out of the sky.
Plummeting to the earth!