Back at the Sect, Green Leaf Peak.

Inside his Immortal Cave, Song Yan sat cross-legged on a stone bed, slowly breathing in and out, emptying his anxious thoughts.

A Breakthrough in Realm was inherently a risky endeavor.

If he were to become overly eager and his state of mind were to fall into disarray, not only would he fail to Breakthrough, but he might also suffer Qi Deviation.

Once the distracting thoughts in his mind dissipated, he flicked his finger, setting up a Small Spirit Gathering Array.

Spirit Stones were held in his palm, radiating a warm luster.

The Spirit Gathering Array was bought from the market previously and had been used several times.

He estimated it would become ineffective after a few more uses.

Song Yan did not have the habit of hoarding spiritual resources; he would basically use any Spirit Stones he had to buy Spirit Gathering Arrays and Medicinal Pills from the market.

Wealth was always an external possession; only when it was used on oneself could it truly be called one’s own.

The path of Cultivation was the same; there was nothing to regret or cherish, only by refining Heaven And Earth Treasure into oneself could it truly become the sustenance for the path of seeking the Dao and eternal life.

He sat cross-legged, maintaining a state of tranquility.

This time, he no longer hesitated, and the Huang Ya Pill went directly into his mouth.

The pill melted upon entry, and Spiritual Qi, like a spring stream thawing, surged into his Meridians.

The Dao Seed within the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion flickered between bright and dim, inhaling and exhaling spiritual energy, stirring up ripples.

The surrounding lotus-shaped Sword Qi also vibrated with it.

A surge of pleasant surprise swept through Song Yan’s heart; at this moment, Qi Circulation flowed smoothly, and the refinement of spiritual energy truly felt divinely assisted.

"Could it be because the Dao Seed is nearing completion?"

He immediately focused his mind, fully operating the Qi Condensation Scroll.

Beneath the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, as the Spiritual Qi was transported and spiritual power condensed, the Dao Seed slowly vibrated like breathing.

Circles of spiritual patterns slowly spread out.

The surrounding lotus-shaped Sword Qi also surged more intensely.

As the Spiritual Qi poured in, Song Yan felt a subtle sensation of fullness in several acupoints throughout his body.

"The Breakthrough, it might be today."

Another Huang Ya Pill entered his mouth, transforming into pure spiritual power, which, combined with the dense Spiritual Qi gathered by the Spirit Gathering Array, was refined into pure spiritual power during the circulation of the heavens, finally converging into his Dantian.

After about half an hour, he suddenly heard the sound of a clear spring over stones by his ear.

Several previously blocked acupoints were now completely open.

The spiritual power circulating within his body was like a clear mountain spring, flowing into a stream.

Qi Refining Stage 6, achieved naturally.

This Breakthrough was so smooth that Song Yan felt somewhat surprised.

After much thought, it must have been the benefit brought by the change in his Dao Seed.

"Hoo—"

He gently exhaled a breath of turbid Qi.

Three years to reach Qi Refining Stage 6 was already considered quite fast.

The six Realms of the early and Middle Stage of Qi Refining could only be described as accumulating spiritual power.

The subsequent three Realms of the Late Stage of Qi Refining, stages seven, eight, and nine, were the true three great mountains of the entire Qi Refining phase.

However, Song Yan did not feel suppressed or disheartened.

Above Qi Refining was Foundation Establishment, and after Foundation Establishment was Golden Core... Step by step, climbing steadily, to see the scenery from higher up.

Wasn’t this the most captivating part of the process of seeking the Dao and eternal life?

The path of Cultivation was like climbing a sheer cliff; the more perilous the place, the grander the sea of clouds.

On the Sword Dao Seed, the nascent Dao Heart hummed softly.

Unnoticed by anyone, the young man’s sharp ambition was now undeniable!

He continued to Cultivate for half a day until his Realm was completely stable, only then did Song Yan truly relax.

He shed his clothes and jumped into the pool, washing away the sweat from his Breakthrough.

"Huh? Where did Xiao He run off to?"

Ever since he entered the Cultivation state for his Breakthrough, Xiao He had disappeared, and he still hadn’t seen any trace of Snake Babe.

This child had been very suspicious lately, he didn’t know what she was busy with.

"When she comes back, I’ll have to question her thoroughly."

Although the atmosphere throughout the Cave Abyss Sect was generally benevolent, and their attitude towards spiritual beasts and demons was also good.

But it was hard to guarantee that there wouldn’t be someone with ill intentions who would abduct her, drain her blood, and refine her into a Medicinal Pill.

He still needed her to be more careful.

Having nothing else to do, Song Yan took out the dilapidated small sword he had obtained from Senior Lin Qinglong’s Immortal Cave.

After washing it with water, there was a thick layer of grime on it alone.

After a brief cleaning, it didn’t improve much.

"The old Senior placed a short sword of this quality, and a broken one at that, at the entrance of his own Immortal Cave..."

Song Yan was utterly bewildered.

But it didn’t matter; when he used to pick up trash, he never expected everything he picked up to be useful.

He casually tossed it into his qiankun bag.

In a few days, he would visit an Artifact Refining workshop and find an ordinary Artifact Refining apprentice to repair this small sword a bit.

Make it look a little better, while preserving its antique feel.

Then, according to the original plan, he would give it the title of "found in the Immortal Cave of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Senior" and sell it on a black market day.

Without even considering whether any fool would fall for it, Song Yan had already begun to praise his own cleverness.

"Who came up with this idea..."

"A brilliant idea."

...Half a month later.

Within the Liangyi Realm, dark clouds surged.

Song Yan quietly watched a gnarled, withered tree made of ink-colored branches, next to the Dao Seed phantom.

Golden light flowed where wind and thunder faintly appeared, astonishingly identical to the withered tree on Fengyue Cliff in the painting world.

Wind and thunder pulsed on its branches.

For the first time, the Liangyi Realm, which had only been black and white, now had other colors.

This filled Song Yan with an inexplicable joy.

The Unmoored Boat was currently suspended quietly above the Dao Seed phantom.

Occasionally, a wisp of golden light would be drawn, separate, and gracefully float out from the withered tree’s wind and thunder.

From top to bottom, it would circle around the Flying Sword.

Finally, it would merge into the Dao Seed phantom along the sword’s spine.

Song Yan didn’t know what this was doing; the Spirit Transformation Chapter hadn’t mentioned it.

However, with his current knowledge, he could make an educated guess.

Perhaps the liangyi pearl was using the unique properties of the wind and thunder’s extreme spirituality to nourish the Natal Flying Sword’s body.

Looking closely, he couldn’t tell if it was his imagination, but wherever the golden light passed, the sword body became even more flawless.

It shouldn’t be a bad thing, either way.

However, gazing at this mysterious scene before him, his thoughts wandered, and he considered some other possibilities.

"If I can obtain other elemental spiritual objects in the future..."

"Will they also appear in this Realm?"

"Will they also, like the wind and thunder’s extreme spirituality, nourish the sword body and feed back into the Dao Seed..."

Song Yan felt that his exploration of the liangyi pearl was far from enough; many things he could only guess at.

"My strength and Realm are still insufficient..."

He sighed softly.

After estimating the time, Song Yan had to leave his Immortal Cave for something.

So he controlled his Divine Sense and left the Liangyi Realm.

"..."

Within this Realm, all was silent.

Aside from the golden light dancing on the withered branches, it was still a world of black and white.

The ink-colored heavenly waterfall flowed ceaselessly.

It extended all the way to not far from the Dao Seed phantom.

On the bank, the tao tail flute floated quietly.

"Whoosh—"

The water of the Ink Pool was like the tide on the shore, rising and falling with the seasons.

"..."

Suddenly.

A completely ink-colored, jet-black hand slowly emerged from the Ink Pool.

It hovered in front of the tao tail flute.

Then, as if in a test, it gently plucked it.