Divine Transcendence

Chapter 339: Meeting in Purple Thunder City

Yuan Ming calmed his emotions, closed his eyes, and continued to examine the changes within his body.

Now, his main soul had also shifted from the sea of consciousness to the dantian along with the Soul Pill, but his body did not feel any obvious discomfort.

Firstly, his split soul still remained in the sea of consciousness, which was now empty. Yuan Ming instructed the split soul to continue operating the heart method to refine the willing power and convert it into soul power, as the split soul had been depleted.

Earlier, to condense the Soul Pill, a significant amount of soul power was used. Yuan Ming had integrated half of the refined willing power into the split soul to help it recover quickly, while the remaining willing power was injected into the sea of consciousness.

The originally empty sea of consciousness gradually became full again. Yuan Ming was still somewhat uneasy about this, so he continued to operate the Death Moon method.

After a day and night, he felt that his soul power had completely stabilized. Only then did he relax, knowing that the Soul Pill had been successfully cultivated. Next, he needed to push his magical power to the peak of Foundation Establishment, while also searching for the Elixir Washing Liquid and cultivating the Hidden Vein Condensing Elixir method to prepare for forming the Golden Elixir.

Yuan Ming pondered for a moment, then got up and went out. He first went to a shop in the city that sold elixirs and spent a large sum of money to buy a batch of Insect Elixirs, enough to last him for two years.

He then went to the outer city to meet Xu Che, gave him a few artifacts, and instructed him to temporarily stop managing the mortal followers in Quicksand City and make a trip to Purple Thunder City to find clues about the Elixir Washing Liquid.

After completing these two tasks, Yuan Ming returned to his residence and directly entered the secret chamber.

Days passed, and everything in Quicksand City operated smoothly. Mortals continued to engage in their lowest-level work to earn a living, with scenes of worldly love and hate, joy and sorrow playing out daily.

Cultivators also led busy lives, hunting demonic beasts in the Black Wind Desert, searching for spiritual materials, outwitting desert bandits, or meditating and cultivating, all striving to improve their strength. No one would linger.

In an ordinary, almost inconspicuous house in the inner city.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a year and a half had passed.

The tightly closed door of the cave dwelling opened, and Yuan Ming walked out with Zuo Qinghui.

At this moment, Yuan Ming's gaze was gentle, and his eyes emitted a faint glow, making him look completely different from before.

After more than three years of arduous cultivation, relying on a large amount of Insect Elixirs and the assistance of spiritual incense and other items, he had broken through to the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Zuo Qinghui had also been continuously taking Insect Elixirs for cultivation over the past year, and his cultivation had also improved significantly, reaching the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Yuan Ming did not linger at the door, taking Zuo Qinghui straight out of Quicksand City.

He summoned the White Jade Flying Shuttle, and the two of them soared into the sky. Yuan Ming had already mastered the Hidden Vein Elixir method, sealing a large amount of magical power in his meridians, ready to be called upon at any time to assist in forming the Golden Elixir.

Additionally, this trip was to find something to assist in forming the Golden Elixir.

Ten days ago, Xu Che had sent news that he had finally found clues about the Elixir Washing Liquid in Purple Thunder City.

Forming the Golden Elixir was his top priority, so Yuan Ming did not dare to be careless and set off immediately.

However, before heading to Purple Thunder City, he had to go to another place first.

Moments later, the White Jade Flying Shuttle descended near a hidden valley northwest of Quicksand City.

A figure with arms reaching past his knees stood in the valley, bathing in the scorching sun, motionless.

When Yuan Ming had settled the mortals and returned to Quicksand City, Hua Zhi had left to hunt beasts and cultivate in the Black Wind Desert.

To his surprise, Vajra had also requested to leave, intending to train alone in the Black Wind Desert.

Vajra had a strong physique and formidable strength, so Yuan Ming did not worry about his safety. He gave him two Earth Escape Talismans and two Avoidance Talismans and let him enter the Black Wind Desert.

Yuan Ming controlled the flying shuttle to land and was about to greet Vajra when a flash of surprise appeared in his eyes.

At this moment, Vajra's appearance had changed dramatically. He had shrunk significantly, now only as tall as an average person. His muscles and bones were more robust, and his skin and fur had become more vibrant, with a golden sheen, looking as if he were cast in bronze.

Vajra's eyes were closed, and his breathing was irregular, hissing like a snake.

Yuan Ming used his spiritual consciousness to examine Vajra's body, and his surprise deepened.

Not only had Vajra's form changed, but his body had also undergone a complete transformation. All the yin energy within him had disappeared, and his muscles, bones, and internal organs had become vibrant, indistinguishable from a true demonic beast.

Moreover, his demonic power had vanished, replaced by a new type of energy that filled his entire body.

This energy was somewhat similar to magical power but much more intense and substantial.

With Vajra's breathing, the energy flowed through his body, causing his internal organs to rhythmically expand and contract, occasionally emitting muffled sounds, as if they were being refined.

Waves of scorching spiritual energy from heaven and earth gathered and poured into Vajra's organs, making them exceptionally strong, no less than his muscles. His body, from the inside out, seemed like a solid iron plate, giving an unshakable impression.

Yuan Ming was astonished. In just over a year, Vajra's body had undergone such a significant change. Could it be due to consuming that brass beetle?

"Master, why are you here?" Vajra sensed Yuan Ming's arrival and opened his eyes.

"Using breathing to temper the internal organs." Yuan Ming's eyes flickered.

This method of body training was something he had never heard of, possibly a secret technique of body cultivation.

"How do you feel now? How does your combat strength compare to before?" Yuan Ming asked after some thought.

The air around Vajra suddenly exploded, sending out a wave of scorching air.

Yuan Ming saw clearly that the air explosion was caused by Vajra's energy flowing out when he clenched his fist, creating a powerful impact. The energy's power was indeed impressive.

"That's good. Let's go pick up Hua Zhi." He summoned the White Jade Flying Shuttle, carrying the three of them towards the other side of the Black Wind Desert.

After picking up Hua Zhi, Yuan Ming did not stop and headed straight for Purple Thunder City. Purple Thunder City was located deep in the Black Wind Desert, quite a distance from Quicksand City. Even at the speed of the White Jade Flying Shuttle, it took a day and a night to reach.

Like Quicksand City, Purple Thunder City was also built underground. The entrance was a huge fissure several miles long, dark and deep. Occasionally, beams of light from cultivators flew in from all directions, entering the fissure, while many cultivators flew out from the cave, making it quite lively.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming sighed inwardly. Purple Thunder City was indeed Zhao Country's largest city in the Black Wind Desert.

He slowed down and flew into the fissure.

The deeper he went, the larger the fissure became. The entrance above quickly receded, and the light dimmed rapidly.

There was some light, though. Purple and yellow mushrooms, as large as umbrellas, grew on the sides of the fissure, emitting a soft glow and providing some illumination.

Yuan Ming had been in the Black Wind Desert for several years and had gathered some information about the area. He knew these mushrooms were called "Spiritual Light Mushrooms," living underground in the Black Wind Desert, surviving by absorbing the spiritual power from underground mines.

Rogue cultivators searching for spiritual materials often relied on Spiritual Light Mushrooms to find treasures. Where the mushrooms grew abundantly, there might be hidden mines.

Judging by the current situation, this fissure likely contained a mine, though it was unclear if it had been mined.

While Yuan Ming's thoughts wandered, the fissure finally reached the bottom.

The bottom of the fissure was flat, about twenty or thirty miles wide, resembling a plain. A majestic underground city stood there.

From a distance, the entire city was enclosed by a massive wall made of purple stones, with seven or eight city gates, some for entry and some for exit. Inside, towering buildings stood tall, grand and imposing, far surpassing Quicksand City.

It was unclear whether special lighting restrictions were set up underground or if the protective array had its own lighting effect, but the entire underground area was as bright as day, almost indistinguishable from the surface.

Yuan Ming landed in a designated area for cultivators to ascend and descend near the city, putting away the White Jade Flying Shuttle.

He then led Zuo Qinghui, Vajra, and Hua Zhi towards a nearby city gate.

Several cultivators in purple robes stood there, with Wulei Sect's emblem embroidered on their collars and cuffs, collecting entrance fees.

Although Vajra and Hua Zhi wore cloaks to conceal their forms and auras, their figures were still somewhat unusual, looking rather odd. However, the gatekeepers from Wulei Sect didn't bother to ask questions, adopting an attitude that anyone could enter Purple Thunder City as long as they paid the spirit stones.

So, Yuan Ming paid the required spirit stones and entered the city without any obstacles.

The architecture in Purple Thunder City followed Zhao Country's style—tall, ancient, and majestic. The streets were wide, lined with shops selling spiritual materials, elixirs, rune talismans, and other cultivation items.

Unlike Quicksand City, where shops selling elixirs and rune talismans were scarce, Purple Thunder City had plenty, comparable to Xiaohu City and Wangyue City, showing that Wulei Sect had put considerable effort into managing it.

The streets were bustling with people, lively and vibrant.

"Master, you have arrived." Near the city gate, a figure quickly approached from a shadowy corner.

It was Xu Che, wearing a robe that concealed his aura and a veil covering his face.

"What's the situation now?" Yuan Ming withdrew his gaze from the surroundings and asked.