On the metal-element star, Lu Yang’s cultivation yielded results, and an inscrutable smile appeared on his visage.

Advanced Divine Transfiguration Stage. That means I’m one step closer to undergoing tribulation and advancing to the Void Refinement Stage... Wait, that doesn’t seem like something worth celebrating.

Yun Mengmeng sat beside Lu Yang on a small stool, happily munching on pastries. As she possessed an Everlasting Incipient Dao Fruit, she was unaffected by the metal-element energy.

Come to think of it, this is my second time in space. It’s still so cold.

There’s nothing in space—no food, no entertainment, just cold emptiness. If the Second-in-Command hadn’t been cultivating here, I wouldn’t have bothered flying up here.

“Advanced Divine Transfiguration Stage? You’re so amazing, Second-in-Command! Have a peach.”

Yun Mengmeng had just taken a bite of her pastry when she saw Lu Yang break through successfully. She was too excited to finish the pastry, yet unwilling to put it down, so she held it in her mouth while offering him a freshly picked immortal peach from her hometown.

Then she brought Gan Tian’s guqin, which she had borrowed, and infused it with spirit energy. As a grand melody echoed in the air, she hurriedly applauded to celebrate the Second-in-Command becoming an Advanced Divine Transfiguration great cultivator.

“Thanks.” Lu Yang instinctively took the immortal peach and began eating it, only to realize something was amiss.

“Wait, Sister Mengmeng, why are you here?!”

“Oh, I heard you were about to break through, so I waited here to congratulate you.”

Lu Yang was deeply moved. I’ve been in seclusion on the metal-element star for so long, yet Sister Mengmeng has been waiting here all along.

“Sister Mengmeng, how long have you been waiting?”

“I just got here.”

Lu Yang. “...”

He drew the Qingfeng Sword, and sword intent soared to the heavens. With a single slash, he left behind a spatial rift that refused to heal for a long time.

Throughout his cultivation, Lu Yang had been absorbing metal-element energy. Now, his sword qi had reached an almost inconceivable level of power.

Lu Yang tossed the immortal peach high into the air and gently pushed the sword guard. Light flashed, and the peach landed back in his hand, its skin peeled away cleanly with its flesh intact.

“So impressive!” Yun Mengmeng applauded enthusiastically. Whenever I peel a peach, some flesh sticks to the skin. “Peel one for me, too.”

Lu Yang drew his sword again and peeled an immortal peach for Yun Mengmeng, whose applause grew even more vigorous.

After eating the immortal peach, Yun Mengmeng placed a flower crown on Lu Yang’s head, giving the occasion a strong sense of ceremony.

“Let’s go back. I still need to consolidate my realm.” Lu Yang was still affected by the metal-element energy and Seven Emotions Incipient Dao Fruit. He couldn’t stop smiling, too happy to settle down and consolidate his realm.

~~~

After flying back to the Dao-Seeking Sect, Lu Yang headed straight for the Great Snow Mountain behind Heaven’s Gate Peak and found Moonchaser True Person.

“Senior Moonchaser, could you retract your mighty ability?” Right now, Lu Yang could slap himself twice and still be overjoyed.

Moonchaser True Person was chatting with Gan Tian, listening to her recount her experiences in the Demon Region. Though they weren’t as thrilling as Lu Yang’s, by the standards of ordinary cultivators, they were still considered colorful and eventful.

Moonchaser True Person glanced at Lu Yang. “Advanced Divine Transfiguration Stage?” As she spoke, she activated her Seven Emotions Incipient Dao Fruit and removed its influence.

“Your qin.” Yun Mengmeng passed the guqin back to Gan Tian.

“Little Junior Brother, your cultivation speed is faster than mine and Second Senior Brother’s. It’s probably faster than our shifu’s, too.” Gan Tian sighed with emotion as she played the guqin, helping Lu Yang consolidate his realm.

“And how do I compare to Big Senior Sister?” Lu Yang asked excitedly. I feel better than ever in my current state. Even Big Senior Sister wouldn’t be my match at the Intermediate Divine Transfiguration Stage.

“That I don’t know. Big Senior Sister has never talked about her cultivation speed.”

“It seems my cultivation speed is either faster or slower than Big Senior Sister’s.” Lu Yang was quite satisfied with this answer. It means I have a fifty percent chance of surpassing her.

Wait, isn’t my thinking pattern different from usual? Lu Yang suddenly realized something was wrong with him.

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy appeared to explain. “This is perfectly normal. You’re now at the Advanced Divine Transfiguration Stage and will soon reach the Void Refinement Stage. After that, you will fuse with your Unbeatable Primordial Soul and advance to the Fusion Stage. Second-in-Command, you’re exceptionally gifted. You’ve already shown preliminary signs of fusion and an unbeatable mindset.”

Lu Yang. “...”

Why on earth did I condense an Unbeatable Golden Core back then?

Bai Ye swapped places with Moonchaser True Person and pulled a paper bag from her storage ring. “Senior Brother Lu Yang, freshly picked petals from me.”

Ever since Lu Yang had praised the petals as delicious at the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace, Bai Ye had kept that in mind. After coming to the Dao-Seeking Sect, she made it a point to give him petals regularly.

Lu Yang had corrected her several times, hoping she wouldn’t call him “Senior Brother Lu Yang,” but Bai Ye had grown accustomed to it and refused to change. Lu Yang had no choice but to let her be.

“Thanks.” He placed a petal in his mouth, and it was as sweet as ever.

After eating the immortal peach and Moon Laurel Tree Ancestor’s petals, and with Gan Tian playing the guqin, Lu Yang consolidated his realm without needing a second seclusion.

“Old Meng, I’ve broken through to the Advanced Divine Transfiguration Stage. What about you?” Lu Yang went to Meng Jingzhou’s cave abode, smelling a pungent spicy smell from a distance.

Meng Jingzhou peered out from behind a hotpot, his lips and cheeks pale white. He was pouring duck blood into the boiling pot.

“Naturally, I’m one step ahead of you, grandson!” Meng Jingzhou replied grumpily. He had been circling the sun every day, cultivating while letting out his blood. His progress was so rapid that he had reached the Advanced Divine Transfiguration Stage before Lu Yang did.

The only drawback to this method was severe blood loss, requiring replenishment through food.

If I weren’t so weak right now, I would have dragged Lu Yang into a fight.

“Come, come, come, let me have some too.” Meng Jingzhou ate hotpot every day, but Lu Yang hadn’t had it in a long time. The last time was at the Sword Tower, where he first met Yun Mengmeng.

Lu Yang treated Meng Jingzhou’s cave abode as his own. He sat down, whipped out a bowl and chopsticks, and began digging in.

“Hey, hey, leave some for me!” Meng Jingzhou was furious. Not only is this brat impolite, but he’s also snatching my duck blood. Doesn’t he know I lack blood now?

“So stingy. Add some meat, add some meat,” Lu Yang urged, pointing out that the pot only contained duck blood.

Meng Jingzhou extended a hand and tore open space, bringing out a plate of meat and dumping it into the hotpot.

Lu Yang raised an eyebrow. “Spatial spells?” I don’t recall Old Meng knowing such a technique.

“Envious? Founding Ancestor Vast Sea taught me.” Meng Jingzhou smirked smugly. While drawing his blood, the Vast Sea Daoist Lord had also taught him spatial spells.

“You’ve just broken through, haven’t you? Don’t you need to consolidate your realm?” Meng Jingzhou asked as he got up. He picked up a piece of ginger that looked like meat and placed it in Lu Yang’s bowl.

“I got lucky this time. After breaking through, Sister Mengmeng gave me an immortal peach, Junior Sister Bai Ye gave me petals, and Third Senior Sister played the qin.” Lu Yang picked up a slice of meat coated in Sichuan peppercorns and put it in Meng Jingzhou’s bowl.

Crack.

Meng Jingzhou unconsciously tightened his grip, snapping his chopsticks in half. His face was flushed red with anger.

Lu Yang looked at him in bewilderment. “What’s wrong? Can’t control your strength after breaking through?”

In Meng Jingzhou’s eyes, Lu Yang was blatantly showing off. I’m certainly not going to admit it and give him even more reason to gloat.

“Nothing, nothing. I just think you’re truly lucky.”

“If I were truly that lucky, I wouldn’t have met you.”

“Get lost!”