Chapter 400 74: Body Refining Fifth Realm, Dao Foundation Perfection, Departure

As the Crossing Essence Pill dissolved within him, a cool stream of energy surged into his Sea of Consciousness, and his Divine Soul Power rose with it.

The higher one's Cultivation, the fewer elixirs that are effective.

Spiritual Medicines that strengthened the Divine Soul were rarer still.

As a top-tier Soul Nourishing Spirit Pill, countless Dao Foundation Cultivators dreamed of obtaining even a single Crossing Essence Pill.

Tides swelled in his Sea of Consciousness.

With each surging wave, it expanded outward, and his Divine Soul Power grew stronger in turn.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Zhu Ju slowly opened his eyes.

To his senses, the world had never been clearer.

The transformations of Yin Yang and the Qi of the Five Elements were perfectly clear to him. Everything within a half-mile radius fell under his perception.

With a single thought.

The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi quietly gathered at his side, transforming into fierce flames and flowing water. Plants sprouted and withered in an instant; the earth buckled and condensed into iron ore.

With a thought,

the world was his to command!

'My Divine Soul Power was already stronger than others at my level. After taking the Crossing Essence Pill, I've taken another great stride forward.'

Zhu Ju muttered to himself:

"Right now..."

"It should be comparable to that of an Early-Stage Golden Core Cultivator."

Of course.

This was because the Crossing Essence Pill had the temporary effect of increasing Divine Soul Power. After a few days, the effect would fade, and his power would surely fall below the Golden Core level.

However...

"It's enough!"

He activated a spell, and his vast Divine Soul Power abruptly contracted inward, reaching out like a great hand into the void.

Sensing Soul!

Guiding the Soul!

Entering the Body!

He had performed this step four times before; he was well-practiced.

He had already drawn the Power Spirit, Essence Spirit, Heroic Spirit, and Qi Spirit into his body. Now, it was time for the fifth: the Central Spirit.

Linking with the souls was like adding weights to a spring.

The first was the easiest, the second required twice the power of the first, and so on.

To link with the fifth spirit, the Central Spirit, one needed Divine Soul Power on par with the Golden Core Realm to even have a possibility of success.

HUUUFF...

HISS!

His chest rose and fell, his breathing growing ragged.

A faint spiritual light began to emanate from Zhu Ju's physical body. Around him, the High Grade Spirit Stones he had arranged began to shatter, one after another.

BANG!

Dense plumes of Spiritual Qi, like smoke, were devoured by the physical body sitting cross-legged in the center of the quiet chamber.

The Central Spirit!

The core of the Seven Spirits!

Experience from the Divine Treasure World showed that Martial Saints who successfully linked with this spirit established an unshakable foundation and possessed limitless potential.

Linking with the other six of the Seven Spirits granted a variety of special attributes.

Like the Essence Spirit.

It granted astonishing regenerative abilities, allowing one to even regrow severed limbs.

Like the Heroic Spirit.

It bestowed mastery of lightweight body techniques, making one's movements phantom-like and so swift that none could give chase.

...

The Central Spirit, however, was unique. It possessed all the attributes of the other six spirits, albeit in a weaker form.

But with steady cultivation, Martial Saints who had linked with this spirit would eventually display potential and a foundation that far surpassed their peers.

As the Central Spirit entered his body, Zhu Ju let out a muffled grunt. The skin and flesh across his entire frame tensed, and the devouring force of his cultivation surged once more.

Dozens of High Grade Spirit Stones exploded in unison.

The dense Spiritual Qi transformed into a swirling mist that enveloped him, being refined at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Spirit Stones shattered one after another, and Spiritual Qi poured in endlessly.

After a long time.

Zhu Ju slowly pressed his palms down. The turbulent energy within him gradually settled, and the spiritual light in his eyes receded.

SWISH!

With a light wave of one hand.

The Ten Directions Cross Sword flew out like lightning, turned in mid-air, and slashed down toward his arm.

CLANG...

The sound of metal striking metal rang out.

The skin and flesh on Zhu Ju's arm rippled as a fierce power burst forth, leaving him completely unscathed.

SHIIING...

The Sword Light flashed again.

This time, the Ten Directions Cross Sword was imbued with Magical Power, its might enhanced. It easily left a bloody gash on his arm.

But the wound healed in an instant.

"Body Refining Fifth Realm!"

Zhu Ju stood up and stretched his limbs.

'In terms of pure physical strength, it's slightly inferior to my Outer Body Incarnation Wukong. But with the enhancement of the Five Spirits, its resilience and recovery are much stronger. It should also be stronger than the physical body of an Early-Stage Golden Core Cultivator.'

'Hmm...'

'Assuming that Golden Core Grandmaster hasn't cultivated a secret technique to strengthen their physical body.'

Physical strength was just the foundation; how to apply that power was the key.

A Force Transmission Method is like a lever; the better the technique, the more effect the Power of the Physical Body can exert.

The Primordial Spirit Stone Embryo was indestructible; in terms of sheer hardness and strength, it was naturally superior.

But it lacked a complete set of meridians within it, so it naturally couldn't use various methods like Zhu Ju could.

If they were to face each other head-on now, Wukong would probably no longer be a match for Zhu Ju.

Beyond that...

"Dao Foundation Perfection!"

While linking with the Central Spirit and achieving the fifth realm of Body Refining, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit had also increased.

Right now.

Zhu Ju now possessed the cultivation of Dao Foundation Perfection, also known as Fake Pill Cultivation.

*

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*

"An Immortal Mansion?"

Zhu Ju looked up at the Immortal Mansion shrouded in radiant light amidst the void, his expression one of pure awe.

"That's right."

Pei Jingque nodded.

"The Immortal Mansion has appeared in the world, manifesting from across the void. There should be many good things to be had inside."

"And..."

She pursed her lips.

"If I'm not mistaken, the stone stele in the center of the Immortal Mansion should be the so-called Town Stele."

"The Town Stele?" Zhu Ju asked, his interest piqued.

"The legendary core of a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land? The Town Stele that allows its controller to become the master of the Grotto Heaven?"

"Exactly!" Pei Jingque nodded.

"If we can refine the Town Stele, we'll be able to control the entrance and exit of the Jade Void Cave Heaven."

Hm?

Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow.

"Can you refine it?"

'With his current strength, if he were to encounter Guu Qinghuan of the Blood Demon Sect again, while he couldn't say he would have the upper hand, he would have enough power to protect himself.'

'With Wukong's help...'

'He would be no weaker than an Early-Stage Golden Core Cultivator.'

'Considering the strength of the Cultivators who had entered the Jade Void Cave Heaven, the two of them together would be a force to be reckoned with.'

"I can't!"

Pei Jingque shook her head.

"My situation is special. I can't refine other Magical Artifacts or Magical Treasures, not even the Town Stele."

"But as for you..."

"I can't either," Zhu Ju shook his head.

"The Town Stele of a Grotto Heaven World is of such a high grade that it surely surpasses a Magical Treasure. I am only a Dao Foundation Cultivator. If something like that were placed before me, it would probably take me decades to refine."

'Even a Golden Core Grandmaster would need over a month to refine a Spiritual Artifact.'

'The grade of the Town Stele could not possibly be lower than a Spiritual Artifact.'

"We can cooperate with others," Pei Jingque said thoughtfully.

"With the Immortal Mansion's appearance, all the Golden Core Grandmasters who entered the Grotto Heaven will surely want to refine that Town Stele. If we offer to help, we're certain to receive considerable benefits after it's been refined."

"No!" Zhu Ju's eyes glinted.

"We should leave this place as soon as possible."

"Hm?" Pei Jingque tilted her head.

"Why?"

"The Nascent Soul True Men will be here soon," Zhu Ju said gravely.

"According to what Huike told me in secret, the Jade Void Cave Heaven can lead to any location in the outside world. This means that whoever occupies this grotto heaven, whether from the Righteous or Evil Dao, can place their forces anywhere within their opponent's territory at will."

"This is far more convenient than the legendary Teleportation Arrays. How could the Nascent Soul True Men allow such an ultimate treasure to fall into anyone else's hands?"

"You're right!" Pei Jingque's expression changed.

"I'll go gather our people. We must leave at once."