Jing Wuming stepped forward and whispered, "Marquis, the Royal Capital seems calm on the surface, but there are many undercurrents in secret. Since Ji Xuan returned, the number of hidden sentries around the Prince Mansion has increased by thirty percent. These days, someone in the city has been secretly inquiring about your movements."

Chen Canghai added, "There’s also another issue: yesterday, Beicang King went to the Imperial Palace, but his intentions are unclear."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded.

He glanced at Chen Canghai and Jing Wuming and said, "I’m roughly aware of these matters. The Prince Mansion is staying put for now, likely because of the losses Ji Xuan suffered battling the Yellow Heaven Taoist in the south, needing time to recover. Since you’ve arrived in the Royal Capital, settle down for now and pay attention to all movements in the city, especially news about the Yellow Heaven Sect.

Jing Wuming clasped his fists and replied, "Rest assured, Marquis, I understand." Chen Canghai also nodded slightly.

Jiang Ning pondered for a moment and added, "The situation in the Royal Capital is treacherous; you must act with caution."

The two responded in unison. Seeing no other matters, Jiang Ning instructed them to withdraw and familiarize themselves with the environment.

Qinghe also bowed and left, restoring tranquility to the courtyard.

Once they had left, Jiang Ning found a clean spot in the courtyard, sat cross-legged, and began his meditation.

His thoughts stirred, and the mountain-like stacks of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures within his Jiezhi Leaf appeared in his perception.

This time, the gains from the Grotto Heaven of Yang Lake included not only a large number of Spirit Grass and ores containing Great Sun Essence Qi but also rare items like Fiery Sun Ginseng and Mysterious Yin Jade Marrow, both treasures for refining the organs and nurturing the Divine Soul.

"I’ll refine these first to aid progress in the Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill, enhancing Source Points, which might lead to a breakthrough!" He took out a stalk of Fiery Sun Ginseng, which was shaped like red jade, warm to the touch, and emanated Pure Yang Essence Qi like a small furnace.

Then, he turned his attention to his status panel.

[Skill]: Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill (Five times limit-breaking 18917/60000) (Trait: Longevity Species (Light Gold), Pure Yang Body (Dark Purple), Great Sun Furnace (Dark Purple))

The last breakthrough in the Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill had greatly increased his vitality, granting him a lifespan and life force far superior to ordinary people as a foundation.

But having already broken the limit five times, the next breakthrough would require more progress and Source Points.

Thinking of this, he glanced at the Source Points section.

[Source Points]: 41.4

"The next breakthrough in the Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill requires fifty experience points, and the accumulation of Source Points is not far off. As for the progress of experience points, with the numerous Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures acquired from the Grotto Heaven of Yang Lake, which have absorbed pure Great Sun Essence Qi after days of sunshine, increasing this progress should not be difficult!"

He mused silently to himself while looking at the status panel.

Then, he took out a stalk of Fiery Sun Ginseng and inhaled it, turning it into a warm stream that entered his abdomen.

In an instant, the immense Yang energy exploded in his limbs and bones, as if countless tiny flames were traversing through his meridians.

He concentrated and guided the Qi-Blood as a furnace, wholly refining this pure energy, channeling it into his limbs and bones.

Amidst this pure energy, rolling Great Sun Essence Qi flowed into his organs and viscera.

His mind sank into his internal organs, guiding that abundant Great Sun Essence Qi to refine them.

Under the influence of the Great Sun Essence Qi, he could clearly feel as if an eternal lamp ignited within his chest, emanating warm and vigorous energy spreading from the core to his limbs and bones.

[Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill experience value +217]

[Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill experience value +223]

[Source Points +0.1]

[...]

Within moments, the valuable Fiery Sun Ginseng was entirely refined by him.

[Skill]: Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill (Five times limit-breaking 19877/60000) (Trait: Longevity Species (Light Gold), Pure Yang Body (Dark Purple), Great Sun Furnace (Dark Purple))

"Experience points increased by several hundred."

[Source Points]: 41.6

"The Source Energy Points also increased."

He mused silently.

Then, he took out another flame-shaped red Spirit Grass.

This was obtained by the Magma River and contained extremely pure Great Sun Essence Qi, though he did not recognize it.

Upon swallowing it, an intense hot stream exploded from his abdomen as if he had swallowed a small sun.

An overwhelming heat wave erupted within him, causing a faint golden sheen on his body, and his organs emitted a light hum under the scouring of the heat, as if infused with boundless vitality.

"So powerful!!" he mused silently.

Then he focused on digesting this immense energy.

[Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill experience value +371]

[Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill experience value +366]

[Source Points +0.2]

[...]

As he digested, the experience value on his status panel steadily increased, with Source Points continuously growing.

Once digestion was nearly complete, he did not stop but took out a fist-sized, fiery red "Fiery Sun Stone" from the Jiezhi Leaf.

The naturally patterned surface of the stone resembled a sun-wheel, scalding to the touch, and contained the essence of Pure Sun Fire deep within.

With power from his palm, the Fiery Sun Stone shattered, transforming into a handful of red crystal powder.

He then inhaled, and the crystal powder merged into his body like starlight.

This time, the energy influx was even more explosive, rushing through his meridians like a magma flow.

Jiang Ning’s expression remained unchanged, his Pure Yang Body naturally activating, slightly opening and closing his pores, releasing wisps of white steam to mitigate the excessive heat.

Simultaneously, the Great Sun Furnace trait operated at full capacity, holding and refining the ferocious Pure Sun Fire, transforming it into the purest nutrients for his internal organs.

[Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill experience value +411]

[Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill experience value +380]

[...]

Time passed in silence.

Jiang Ning, like an old monk in meditation, continuously took out and refined Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

There was the completely golden "Rising Sun Flower."

There was the "Earth Fire Lotus" growing at the edge of the magma.

And there were precious ores exposed outside but sedimented in magma.

Through continuous refining, the organs in Jiang Ning’s body seemed to undergo repeated baptisms.

His heartbeats became increasingly steady and powerful, each beat like a drum, with blood seeming to have flames rising within.

With each breath, sunlight gathered before him.

His digestion power of the spleen and stomach greatly increased, almost achieving perfect energy absorption.

His liver and kidneys stored essence and absorbed qi, building a foundation visible to the naked eye.

On his status panel, the growth of experience value varied depending on the preciousness of the refined Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and the essence they contained.

Yet, it consistently showed significant growth.

Source Points were also continuously growing.

Meanwhile, time kept passing throughout this process.

From day to night, and from night till the break of dawn.

Swoosh——

When the last Spirit Grass turned into a warm stream and merged into his abdomen, being refined, he exhaled a long breath.

The hot expelled impure energy visibly distorted the air.

Then, he looked at his status panel.

[Source Points]: 131.7

Seeing this line, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

Within one day, after refining the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures obtained from the Grotto Heaven of Yang Lake, Source Energy increased by nearly a hundred points.

Then, he looked down at the skills section.

[Skill]: Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill+ (Five times limit-breaking 60000/60000) (Trait: Longevity Species (Light Gold), Pure Yang Body (Dark Purple), Great Sun Furnace (Dark Purple))

The progress of Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill had also substantially increased through his persistent refinement, reaching Perfection in progress.

"Accumulating more than forty thousand experience points, as expected from Spiritual Objects nurtured in a Cave Heaven Blessed Land." He nodded to himself, feeling quite satisfied.

If these resources were in the outside world, one can only imagine how much wealth it would cost to acquire them.

The journey to the Grotto Heaven of Yang Lake was just an ancillary harvest, bringing him such enormous accumulation.

More importantly, his internal organs, after this round of refinement, gained even more abundant vitality, with a firmer foundation.

Even without a breakthrough, the continuous refinement greatly enriched the True Yuan accumulated within his Dantian.

"Breaking through the Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill again will surely strengthen my foundation and further enhance my strength!" he thought to himself.

Then, looking at the familiar plus sign next to the Inner Elixir Cultivation Skill, he no longer hesitated.

With a great enemy before him, he needed to enhance his strength as much as possible, increasing his odds of victory.

Then, with a thought.

Source Points decreased by fifty in an instant.