Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Breakthrough to Spirit General

It was two days later when Shen Haoran saw Yang Zhentian again. He was in his room, deep in his Cultivation, when an anxious Yang Yu rushed in and woke him.

"Brother Shen, something’s happened to my father!"

Hearing this, Shen Haoran mentally calculated the time and knew exactly what was happening. ’The Nether Poison in Old Master Yang Zhentian has flared up again!’

Shen Haoran hurried with Yang Yu to Old Master Yang Zhentian’s Palace. Inside, Yang Zhentian was sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his brows tightly furrowed. A faint, toxic miasma swirled around his body. It looked like the Nether Poison had broken through the Seal Shen Haoran had previously set and erupted once more!

Seeing this, Shen Haoran quickly stepped forward and awakened the dormant Changmao within him. The devouring Talent of the Taotie manifested once again, consuming the spreading Nether Poison. Then, the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian drilled back into Yang Zhentian’s body and located the Nether Poison Source.

At this point, the black flames covering the mass of dark poison had almost dwindled to nothing. Wisps of black toxin continuously seeped out, eroding the remaining flames. It seemed that in just a few hours, the Nether Poison was about to have a truly massive eruption!

Seeing the slowly expanding, pitch-black toxic mist, Shen Haoran quickly gathered the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, preparing to place a second Seal on it!

This time, the Nether Poison’s black mist resisted with even greater force. Shen Haoran exhausted all of his mental energy, nearly resorting to using Elder Yan’s power. Moreover, Yang Zhentian was severely tormented by the struggle between the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian and the Nether Poison inside him. He fainted several times, only to be jolted awake by the searing pain!

Fortunately, Shen Haoran managed to hold on in the end. The Nether Poison in Yang Zhentian’s body was finally suppressed once more!

"Nephew Shen, I truly don’t know how to thank you!" Yang Zhentian said, looking at Shen Haoran’s pale face.

"Old Master, I promised Brother Yang I would resolve the Nether Poison in your body. This is simply what I ought to do," Shen Haoran replied. His brows then furrowed, and he said to Yang Zhentian, "Old Master, the Nether Poison in your body has been absorbing your Spiritual Power and growing stronger. I’m afraid I won’t be able to control it the next time it erupts. We have to eliminate it completely before it breaks the Seal again!"

Yang Zhentian gave a bitter laugh. "As if I didn’t know that. It’s just that I’m completely helpless against it! Does Nephew Shen have a solution?"

"I can indeed resolve it, but it won’t be a quick process. Besides, my current strength is too low. The Spiritual Power in my body isn’t enough to support a full round of treatment," Shen Haoran said in a low voice.

"Nephew Shen, just tell me what you need. I will give you my full support!" Yang Zhentian said.

"I need... to break through to the Spirit General realm!"

Hearing this, Yang Zhentian pondered for a moment before taking out a piece of Glowing Jade Marrow from his robes. As soon as the Jade Marrow appeared, a faint, sweet fragrance filled the room. The scent instantly swept away Shen Haoran’s fatigue, and he stared at the Jade Marrow with a scorching gaze!

What Yang Zhentian had taken out was, of course, the Thousand Illusion Spirit Marrow!

"Nephew Shen, this is the Thousand Illusion Spirit Marrow. I promised it to you before, and now I’m giving it to you. I trust it will help you break through to the Spirit General realm!" There wasn’t the slightest hint of reluctance in Yang Zhentian’s eyes. Shen Haoran had done so much for him and for Black Wind Stronghold; his worth was far greater than this piece of Thousand Illusion Spirit Marrow!

Shen Haoran didn’t stand on ceremony. He reached out, accepted the Thousand Illusion Spirit Marrow, and cupped his fist. "Thank you, Old Master. I will break through to the Spirit General realm as quickly as possible. While I’m in seclusion, you must not use any Spiritual Power, or the Nether Poison will erupt prematurely!"

After giving Yang Zhentian a few more instructions, Shen Haoran rushed back to his room, unable to wait any longer.

After shutting the door and windows, Shen Haoran summoned Elder Yan. Looking at the illusory figure before him, Shen Haoran asked impatiently, "Elder Yan, how do I consume this?"

Seeing the Thousand Illusion Spirit Marrow, Elder Yan couldn’t help but lick his lips and say with envy, "I can’t believe a brat like you actually managed to get your hands on the Thousand Illusion Spirit Marrow. I’m practically dying of envy!"

"..." Shen Haoran was speechless.

"Elder Yan, this isn’t the time for that. Just tell me how to consume it!" Shen Haoran pressed.

"What’s the rush? In your current state, consuming the Thousand Illusion Spirit Marrow would be a complete waste! First, take out the Spirit Medicines I had you prepare. I’ll help you concoct them while you hurry up and recover!" Elder Yan said, rolling his eyes at the impatient Shen Haoran.

"Oh, oh, right!" Hearing this, Shen Haoran tossed his Storage Ring to Elder Yan, then quickly closed his eyes, cleared his mind of stray thoughts, and began to restore his condition.

Looking at the spent Shen Haoran, Elder Yan sighed helplessly. With a wave of his hands, several stalks of Spirit Medicine flew out of the Storage Ring. A mass of black flame erupted from Elder Yan’s hand, enveloping both the Thousand Illusion Spirit Marrow and the Spirit Medicines to begin the Refinement process.

...

Time passed, minute by minute. By the time the lamps were lit at dusk, Shen Haoran finally emerged from his state of Cultivation. Floating before him was an exquisite Jade Bottle. Inside, a milky-white liquid slowly swirled!

"I’ve finished the Refinement of the Thousand Illusion Spirit Marrow. You just need to drink this. Whether or not you can break through to the Spirit General realm will all come down to your luck," Elder Yan said, looking exhausted.

"Thank you, Elder Yan," Shen Haoran said, looking at him.

"Tch, sentimental nonsense," Elder Yan scoffed, rolling his eyes at Shen Haoran before handing him the Jade Bottle.

"Let’s begin."

"Right." Shen Haoran looked at the swirling, milky-white liquid and took a deep breath. ’Whether I can break through to the Spirit General realm is all up to you!’ he thought, before downing the entire thing in one gulp!

BOOM! The moment the Thousand Illusion Spirit Marrow entered his mouth, it transformed into a stream of pure Energy that rushed into Shen Haoran’s meridians!

At this, Shen Haoran quickly activated the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian within him. Black flames surged violently from his Dantian, forming a black curtain to block the massive, pure stream of Energy!

Shen Haoran had consumed his fair share of Treasures of Heaven and Earth before, so he handled the situation with practiced ease. The Energy of the Thousand Illusion Spirit Marrow had to undergo a second Refinement by the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian before it could be infused into his Dantian!

As the pure Energy was infused, the Spirit Sea in Shen Haoran’s Dantian began to churn. Countless waves of Spiritual Power crashed against the Energy, quickly submerging it!

Slowly, the Spirit Sea in his Dantian began to expand, and a taut, painful sensation emanated from it. This was a sign that his Spiritual Power was reaching its limit!

"Compress the Spirit Sea and form a Spirit Crystal!" Elder Yan’s voice rang out at the perfect moment. Hearing this, Shen Haoran immediately focused his Heart Spirit on the Spirit Sea in his Dantian!

The most distinct difference between a Spirit General and a Spirit Pupil is the solidification of the Spirit Sea into a Spirit Crystal. A crystal’s capacity for storing Spiritual Power is far greater than a liquid’s, which is why a Spirit General’s Spiritual Power is so much more abundant than a Spirit Pupil’s!

And condensing the Spirit Sea into a Spirit Crystal was no small feat.

Shen Haoran mobilized the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian within him and began to spin his Spirit Sea frantically. Terrifyingly high temperatures continuously roasted the Spirit Sea!

WHOOSH... The frantic rotation of the Spirit Sea inside him resonated with the Spiritual Power in the outside world. A Spiritual Power Vortex formed around Shen Haoran, and the resulting storm threw the room’s contents into disarray!

Seeing this, Elder Yan waved his hand, isolating the commotion to prevent anyone from disturbing Shen Haoran.

Beads of sweat began to form on Shen Haoran’s forehead. But no matter how hard he tried, the Spirit Sea in his Dantian still showed no signs of condensing into a crystal. Instead, his Dantian grew increasingly taut and painful, as if it were about to explode!

"Faster!" Seeing this, Elder Yan’s brows furrowed, and he barked in a low voice.

Hearing him, Shen Haoran gritted his teeth against the searing, taut pain and pushed the rotation speed inside him to its absolute maximum. The external Spiritual Power storm grew even more terrifying. Cracks began to appear on the room’s walls, spreading outward as if the entire structure might collapse at any moment!

"AHHHH...!" Shen Haoran roared. The Spirit Sea in his Dantian spun faster and faster, and the temperature of the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian rose higher and higher!

TING... At a certain moment, a crisp sound echoed in the room. When Elder Yan heard it, his face lit up with ecstasy. ’That sound... it’s the sound of a Spirit Crystal successfully forming!’

Sure enough, the Spiritual Power storm outside Shen Haoran’s body slowly dissipated. The Spiritual Power within his Dantian began to converge toward a tiny crystal at its center. Seeing this crystal, Shen Haoran finally let out a long breath, his heart bursting with elation. ’From now on, I am a Spirit General expert!’