This purplish-gray thunder light was a manifestation of the Secret Technique in operation, not a physical phenomenon. It only appeared as a hazy image within his line of sight.
Its effect far surpassed that of using any single Secret Technique on its own.
Time flew by in the blink of an eye.
Another thirty years passed since he created the Ten Thousand Tribulations Divine Sky Hidden Secret Technique. Combined with the twenty years prior, more than fifty years had now gone by since he first obtained the Dao Fruit.
On this day, deep within the Divine Sky Palace, Xu Yunfan sat cross-legged upon a Cloud Platform of Purple Gold Thunder Light. Suddenly, the aura around him contracted to its absolute limit before erupting like a dormant volcano.
Inside his Dantian Cave Heaven, the three majestic Origin torrents—the purple-gold Divine Sky Thunderbolt, the crimson-flamed Pure Yang Fire, and the deep blue, chilling Taiyin Cold Stream—no longer prodded at each other from a distance. Instead, they connected head-to-tail, forming a perfect, flowing Three Talents Minor Celestial Cycle of Endless Life.
Thunder Fire clashed and surged, Yin and Yang provided mutual aid, and the wheel of Life and Death Reincarnation turned.
The Destruction and creation of the Divine Sky Dao Fruit, the radiant incineration of the Red Sun Dao Fruit, and the Supreme Yin rotation of the Taiyin Dao Fruit—all three achieved a delicate balance and synergy within the cycle.
The violent Thunderbolt gained a more restrained True Intent of Destruction; the scorching, flowing fire now held a light of Endless Life; and the Supreme Yin cold stream gestated a thread of pure Vitality within its stillness.
His Magical Power became unprecedentedly vast and condensed. His Divine Sense, like Divine Gold tempered a thousand times over, was now dense and resilient, capable of bearing even more profound insights into the Great Dao.
On his Attribute Panel, a notification popped up, displaying the glowing words: [Daoist Cultivation: 9998]. He was just a hair’s breadth away from ten thousand years of Daoist Cultivation.
He could feel it clearly: he now stood at the absolute peak of the Golden Core Early Stage.
The threshold to supporting the Grotto Heaven and suspending it high within the Purple Mansion seemed within reach, yet the specific method—how to exert his power, how to truly keep the Grotto Heaven from falling—remained obscured, like viewing flowers in a fog. He could not find the way in.
’Finally... I’ve finally refined this Taiyin Nether Dragon Dao Fruit and formed the Minor Circulation. There’s only one step left: to support the Grotto Heaven and entrust it to the void to reach the Mid-Stage Golden Core Realm.’
His current state was just like that of the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva he had met back in the Netherworld.
Half-Step Mid-Stage Golden Core.
But that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva had taken nine lifetimes to achieve this, whereas Xu Yunfan had done it in a single one.
’If Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s reincarnated self heard this news, he’d probably keel over and die from sheer rage on the spot.’
Just as he was immersed in the feeling of his explosive power increase, pondering his next move, a gentle and serene voice pierced through the multiple restrictions of the Divine Sky Palace, sounding just outside the perimeter of the core defensive Array he had established.
One more step forward, and the core Grand Array would activate, instantly turning the area into a Forbidden Realm.
"Junior Brother Xu, the hundred-year mark has arrived. It is time to go to the Primordial Daoist Palace to pay respects to the Daoist Lord. This is a crucial matter and cannot be delayed."
It was True Monarch Pu Du.
The super-expert of the Mid-Stage Golden Core Realm who oversaw the Primordial Sect, his Daoist Cultivation unfathomably deep.
Xu Yunfan’s Heart and Spirit tensed. He immediately restrained his aura and replied respectfully.
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. I will depart at once."
Paying respects to the Primordial Daoist Lord was one of the most important duties of a Golden Core True Monarch of the Primordial Sect. It was a ceremony held once every hundred years, and no one dared to be negligent.
The will of the Daoist Lord, which surpassed the Golden Core and reached the legendary Nascent Soul Dao Embryo Realm, was usually dormant. However, the occasional gaze he cast down was enough to make the True Monarchs tremble in fear, yet also fill them with aspiration.
Xu Yunfan had felt that gaze when he first achieved his Golden Core and knew just how terrifying it was.
He didn’t dare to delay. He activated the Ten Thousand Tribulations Divine Sky Hidden Secret Technique, completely concealing the surging aura from his recent breakthrough. Only after confirming it was perfectly hidden was he satisfied.
He then transformed into an inconspicuous streak of Purple Gold Thunder Light and shot toward the core forbidden ground of the Primordial Sect, the Primordial Daoist Palace.
The Daoist Palace was situated upon the Central Celestial Vault, encircled by the Nine Great Immortal Mountains. It was not a physical structure but a magnificent, illusory hall constructed from Chaotic Qi Flow and Infinite Pure Light. It emanated a supreme Dao Rhyme that was ancient and boundless, like the origin of all things.
Legend said it was left behind by the Primordial Daoist Lord after he achieved the Nascent Soul Realm, and it was the true foundation of the Primordial Sect.
When Xu Yunfan arrived at the Cloud Platform before the Daoist Palace, he found that a graceful figure had already arrived.
Her Profound Daoist Robe outlined a breathtaking figure, and her body was wreathed in a deep Nine Nether Evil Mist. It was none other than the Nine Abyss Profound Evil Cave Ming True Monarch.
She was leaning lazily against a stone pillar that flowed with chaotic energy, her red lips pursed slightly. She seemed to be resting with her eyes closed, her aura even more profound and unfathomable than when they were in the Aitira Realm.
Evidently, the Eternal Night Descent Dao Fruit had benefited her greatly. She was likely not far from the Mid-Stage Golden Core Realm herself.
At this thought, Xu Yunfan snorted inwardly.
’That’s one way to put it, but if you go by the ten-thousand-year Daoist Cultivation standard for advancing to the Mid-Stage Golden Core, True Monarch Dong Ming currently only has a Daoist Cultivation Value of five thousand. She’s still a long way off.’
’Although Daoist Cultivation doesn’t directly translate to combat power, it is crucial for Realm advancement.’
Xu Yunfan took a few steps forward, a perfectly warm smile on his face. He cupped his hands and spoke.
"Senior Sister Dongming, it’s been ten years. Have you been well?"
True Monarch Dong Ming slowly opened her beautiful eyes, which seemed capable of seeing into one’s heart. She glanced at Xu Yunfan, the corners of her lips curling into a half-smile as her voice carried its usual laziness and a hint of imperceptible mockery.
"Ten years? You jest, Junior Brother Xu. For us Golden Core True Monarchs, ten years is but the blink of an eye. Perhaps just enough time for a short nap in seclusion to comprehend a sliver of Dao Principle or stabilize a trace of Magical Power. How could that possibly be considered a long time?"
She had experienced five reincarnations and lived for nearly ten thousand years in total. Her perception of time was completely different from that of an ordinary Cultivator.
Xu Yunfan was momentarily stunned, but then he understood, sighing with emotion inwardly.
’I’ve been cultivating for less than three hundred years, all told. Despite my considerable power, my understanding of time truly is naive compared to these old monsters who have lived for thousands, even tens of thousands of years.’
He chuckled. "You’re right to correct me, Senior Sister. I was being presumptuous. It seems your seclusion was quite fruitful; your aura has grown even more profound."
He then changed the subject, a mischievous grin on his face. He lowered his voice and said, "I wonder, Senior Sister... are you still interested in exploring that Wonderful Technique of Dual Cultivation?
During my recent seclusion, I had some new insights into the way of Thunder Fire and created a move called the ’Thunderfire Poison Dragon Drill.’ It’s incomparably fierce, has extraordinary applications, and feels amazing. Perhaps it could help you harmonize your Yin and Yang and advance your Cultivation?"
Upon hearing this, a faint blush instantly appeared on True Monarch Dong Ming’s jade-white cheeks. Even for someone as worldly as her, who had lived for ten thousand years, Xu Yunfan’s blunt, almost naked teasing made her breath catch in her throat.
She shot Xu Yunfan a glare, her beautiful eyes a mix of indignation and anger. Her willow-like brows arched, and she was just about to put on a stern face and rebuke this scoundrel, while also probing the truth behind his ’Thunderfire Poison Dragon Drill’.
Just then, a gentle and serene aura, one that seemed to have merged with heaven and earth, quietly descended.
"Junior Brother, Junior Sister, you’re both early."
True Monarch Pu Du of the Nine Heavens Pure Origin, Wondrous Being of Resonant Thunder and Transformation, appeared silently on the Cloud Platform, clad in a simple white Daoist robe and wreathed in Pure Qi, as if he had just stepped out of a painting.
His eyes, as deep as an ancient Cold Pool, swept faintly over Xu Yunfan and True Monarch Dong Ming.