Yun Xi dared not show even the slightest negligence. She circulated the spiritual energy from the Xianling Grass throughout her body for a full cycle, then carefully expanded the width of her meridians, finally channeling the pure essence into her dantian.
The Golden Core in her dantian absorbed the incoming energy as it rotated, slowly growing larger, churning the dantian into a chaotic storm.
After an hour, the Golden Core reached its absorption limit. With a sharp crack, a fissure appeared on its surface. The crack spread rapidly until the entire Golden Core was covered in fine lines, eventually shattering completely.
Fragments of the Golden Core scattered throughout the dantian, successfully enlarging it once more. At the very center, a vortex appeared, swallowing the refined spiritual energy within.
The eye of the vortex expanded, and in a moment, a small head poked out. It was a miniature version of Yun Xi, with a round face, large apricot-shaped eyes, and a smile that revealed deep dimples.
Next, Yun Xi noticed the spiritual energy in her dantian had been depleted, but her Yuányīng had not yet fully formed. She immediately sent a voice transmission: "Xiao Xian, my spiritual energy is insufficient."
"Understood!"
Xiao Xian intensified the flow of spiritual energy, knowing this was not a time to hold back.
Yun Xi also accelerated her cultivation technique, sending a continuous stream of refined energy into her dantian.
Gradually, the Yuányīng's arms, body, and legs took shape. The miniature Yun Xi bounced twice in place within the dantian, flashing purple, cyan, and white, marking her as a mutated soul root of thunder, wind, and ice.
The miniature Yun Xi beckoned to the Mystic Frost Needle and the Seven Stars Soul-Shattering Staff, holding both treasures close before smiling sweetly at Yun Xi. She floated in a lotus position at the center of the dantian and closed her eyes in satisfaction.
When Yun Xi's consciousness returned, she opened her eyes and looked at the sky, knowing the next step would be the triple-nine thunder tribulation of the Nascent Soul stage.
"Master, you need not look. This is a secret realm, an incomplete mini-world. Thunder tribulation cannot descend here. You can only face it after leaving the realm," the Xiao Xian said, swaying her leaves.
Yun Xi agreed, sensing the strength of a Nascent Soul cultivator. She smiled and performed a Cleansing Hand Seal, tidying herself before standing.
After packing away the fourth-grade array plate, Yun Xi held the Nine Nether Dragon Umbrella and approached Yun Chen Fózǐ and Han Lian Zhēnjūn, bowing politely. "Thank you both, Zhēnjūn, for protecting me."
Yun Chen Fózǐ smiled slightly. "Congratulations, Feng Daoyou, on your breakthrough. You are now a Yuányīng Zhēnjūn."
Han Lian Zhēnjūn only smiled faintly, saying two words: "Congratulations."
Yun Xi humbly returned the gesture. "This time it was truly lucky. If I hadn't been with both of you, I don't know if I could have escaped the bamboo forest!"
She then bowed to the three Yuányīng Zhēnjūn on the opposite side. They only nodded slightly, ignoring her newly formed Yuányīng. Yun Xi did not mind; after all, she had successfully formed her Yuányīng.
"Amitābha! The evil spirits in the bamboo forest have been dealt with. Fellow Daoyou, you are aware of the evil cultivator situation, so please inform your sectmates to stay alert.
We have already notified our sectmates, but received no response. Therefore, we will try another direction to see if we encounter other sect members," Yun Chen Fózǐ began.
Before he could finish saying "farewell," a Kunmo Zōng cultivator spoke. "I will accompany the three of you."
His words surprised his companions. A female cultivator from Huaxian Gate said softly, "If we meet here, it is fate. We may as well travel together. If we encounter evil cultivators, we can fight as one."
"This…"
Yun Chen Fózǐ did not want to decide for the others, so he looked at Han Lian Zhēnjūn. She nodded, giving no objection. Yun Xi calmly nodded as well.
The six of them exchanged names. The three on the opposite side were Huaxian Gate's Xian Yao Zhēnjūn, Xian Xu Zhēnjūn, and Kunmo Zōng's Xun Kun Zhēnjūn. All were mid-Nascent Soul cultivators, and they had temporarily formed a team to explore the secret realm.
Yun Xi realized the team had split into two groups and members were not familiar with each other. The two from Huaxian Gate were aligned, which was why Xun Kun Zhēnjūn wanted to join their trio. Coming from the east, west, and north domains, it was easier for him to blend in.
Xian Yao Zhēnjūn looked at everyone and smiled. "It seems fate has brought us together. Each of the five domains has one Zhēnjūn. Dao, demonic, and Buddhist cultivators are all gathered."
Yun Xi raised an eyebrow. Indeed, this team was strong for hunting monsters, though as a new Nascent Soul who had not faced tribulation, she was the weakest.
She reassured herself: "No matter, if my strength is lacking, my gear will make up for it. I still have two valuable treasures, enough spirit stones, and if we face tough enemies, I can run."
With this mindset, she stayed at the rear, letting the stronger cultivators lead.
Xian Yao and Xian Xu naturally led the team. They did not seek opinions from the others because Huaxian Gate prided itself as the largest sect in the central region and were used to leading.
Yun Chen Fózǐ sought no conflict, Han Lian Zhēnjūn was too lazy to argue, Xun Kun Zhēnjūn was a demon cultivator uninterested in competing with Daoists, and Yun Xi had no power to voice opinion.
Yun Xi analyzed the temporary team and followed silently.
Relying on intuition, Xian Yao and Xian Xu entered a desolate gobi. After one incense stick's time, their consciousnesses simultaneously detected a Iron Tree and Silver Flower.
Their eyes lit up, ready to claim this fourth-grade spirit plant, when a black fissure suddenly appeared ahead, like a monstrous mouth ready to swallow them.
The two reacted quickly, barely avoiding the spatial rift.
The remaining four had not approached the fissure yet. As they tried to detour, the wind from the rift pulled all six into it. Yun Xi struggled briefly before Xian Xu Zhēnjūn grabbed her, and she fell in. The rift closed, satisfied.
Tornadoes swept across the gobi, erasing all traces of their appearance.
Meanwhile, Wei Yunqing and his companions had just escaped the water beetle insects after two days and nights, charging into the arid desert. The beetles dared not enter and returned to the marsh in frustration.
Wei Yunqing's hand trembled holding the spiritual sword, narrowly avoiding falling into the swarm.
At that moment, a talisman flew straight at Wei Yunqing's face.