Chapter 86: Chapter 82: Eighth Layer Pinnacle, Dharma Hall

Time flows like water passing.

In the blink of an eye, three years have passed.

The chain reaction of the True Dragon’s fall is still fermenting, causing unrest throughout the entire East Mountain Realm, with undercurrents surging, and many sects itching to move, leading to fierce friction with the Demon Race occupying the Spirit Mountain Ore Vein.

The war between the Sunset Glow Sect and the Purple Gold Six-Winged Carving grows increasingly intense, dragging multiple surrounding sects into the conflict. Both sides have victories and losses, but overall, the Sunset Glow Sect holds the upper hand, having conquered almost half of the Thundering Mountain Range.

Amidst the fierce battles, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Sunset Glow Sect successfully achieved Core Formation, becoming a Golden Core Ascendant, causing a sensation across the region, and even the Cyan Peak Daoist School sent someone to present their congratulations.

The external world is ever-changing, extremely restless.

But fortunately, the Cyan Peak Daoist School has deep roots, and within the mountain gate’s territory, everything remains under control.

The Hidden Flood Dragon Institute, in particular, remains tranquil.

In the Qianyuan Cave, Gu Yuan, barefoot and dispersed of his aura, sits cross-legged under the Little Giant Divine Wood.

The Little Giant Divine Wood has grown taller and more robust, resembling an ink-colored flood dragon twisting upward. The ten-foot-high Qianyuan Cave seems barely able to contain its thick trunk.

And on the twisted trunk, there are clusters of emerald green leaves, dozens layered like a jade-colored treasure tower, radiating with a gentle glow.

Among the emerald green leaves, three cyan fruits tremble slightly, as if eager to drop off the branches.

"Hiss!"

Just then, the sound of inhalation suddenly arises from beneath the tree, followed by a cyan fruit that abruptly falls, transforming into a trail of cyan light, falling into Gu Yuan’s mouth.

"Boom!"

The sound of mana stirring is like a great river flowing, resounding endlessly, causing the entire Cave Mansion to seem as if it’s shaking.

But the barriers of the bottleneck are incredibly solid, and although the mana supplied by the cyan fruit is surging, it still lacks a bit, unable to completely break through it.

"Alas!"

A sigh rises beneath the tree, followed by another cyan fruit that quietly falls, turning into a stream of light, and landing in Gu Yuan’s abdomen.

"Boom!"

"Crash!"

With another cyan fruit taken, the dense mana fiercely reaches its peak, breaking through everything.

The spiritual energy within the cave frantically surges like tides into Gu Yuan’s abdomen.

His entire presence instantly skyrockets, his skin seemingly glowing with a gentle light.

But he doesn’t open his eyes; instead, he closes his eyes and opens his mouth as if a dragon whale swallowing water, sucking fiercely towards the sky.

"Rustle rustle!"

The entire Little Giant Divine Wood trembles suddenly, with more than thirty broad leaves rustling and falling from the branches, converging into a rich cyan glow, swallowed by Gu Yuan.

"Rustle rustle!"

His aura, which had already surged, once again stirred, the mana rolling with a weight similar to molten silver, and in just the blink of an eye, it reached the peak of the new realm.

Yet, feeling the one remaining cyan-green fruit on the branch, Gu Yuan ultimately refrained from consuming it, opening his eyes instead.

"Peak of Qi Refining Eighth Layer!"

"Just one step away from Qi Refining Ninth Layer, but that step is not so easy to take..."

Feeling the weighted mana within himself, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

The further along in cultivation, the more difficult it becomes.

Because the pills for Qi Refining Seventh Layer are cheaper than those for Qi Refining Eighth Layer, over these three years, Gu Yuan didn’t consume the Magic Leaf of the Little Giant Divine Wood but instead regularly bought pills, combining with his arduous cultivation to elevate his mana to the peak of Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

Originally, he planned to directly break through Qi Refining Eighth Layer with one Dharma Fruit from the Little Giant Divine Wood, and then consume all the accumulated Magic Leaves in one go, finally using the power of two Dharma Fruits to directly break through Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

But contrary to his wishes, the barriers in the later stages of Qi Refining Realm were even more resilient than before, and one Dharma Fruit simply couldn’t help Gu Yuan break through Qi Refining Eighth Layer, leaving him no choice but to consume two in one go.

Then, consuming all the accumulated Magic Leaves in one go, he finally elevated his mana to the peak of Qi Refining Eighth Layer.

But for the bottleneck of Qi Refining Ninth Layer, Gu Yuan temporarily dared not attempt to break through.

The final bottleneck of Qi Refining Realm is harder than Qi Refining Eighth Layer, not to mention one Dharma Fruit, even if there were three Dharma Fruits together, Gu Yuan dared not attempt it lightly.

"It seems I need to think of other ways."

"Fortunately, I still have enough resources..."

Gu Yuan gently caressed the bulging Storage Bag at his waist, feeling calm at heart.

Before heading to Wave Mountain, excluding the expenditure on purchasing the Golden Seal, he had eight hundred Spirit Stones on him; after the profits from his journey to Wave Mountain and selling unwanted items, Gu Yuan now had nearly three thousand Spirit Stones.

A figure sufficient to astonish ordinary Humble Lineage Disciples.

But in these three years of cultivation, the expenses were also considerable.

Daily Spirit Gathering Pills, Jade Void Pills, Cyan Spirit Pills... all together costing nearly eight hundred Spirit Stones.

Without these pills, Gu Yuan, with his Five-Aperture Body, couldn’t have reached the peak of Qi Refining Seventh Layer in three years.

And in these three years, it wasn’t all hard work for Gu Yuan; during his leisure time, he mastered the "Wind-Pushing Seal" and "Cyan Lotus Seal" left in Yun Hanyou’s Storage Bag.

These two Dharma Seals alone cost him more than four hundred Spirit Stones.

But aside from spending, Gu Yuan also had income.

This year, he hadn’t yet gone to Cyan Moon Peak, but he did go in the previous two years, and after selling the produce, he gained seven hundred Spirit Stones.

Through the back and forth, Gu Yuan still had nearly two thousand four hundred Spirit Stones.

This figure gives him the confidence to break through Qi Refining Ninth Layer!

It’s even fair to say, he has the confidence to explore the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"However, having Spirit Stones alone isn’t enough; without the right methods, it’s useless..."

Gu Yuan pondered briefly, then set off on his Jade Shuttle, first heading to the Celestial Star Dark Market to make some purchases, then set off on his Flying Shuttle to another place.

...

...

Hidden Flood Dragon Hall, Dharma Hall.

Though the disciples of the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute do not have a master to impart teachings with care, it doesn’t mean they are without guidance.

In the Dharma Hall of the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute, seasoned Qi Refining cultivators or Foundation Establishment Stage stewards come periodically to impart teachings, and occasionally, even a Golden Core Ascendant has personally taught.

Ever since the Daoist School began its external conquests, splitting into the "Battle" and "Defend" veins, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Dharma Hall has increased. Every so often, stewards from various halls come to impart teachings, guiding the disciples through their confusions.

Furthermore, if one manages to win the favor of a Junior Martial Uncle of Foundation Establishment or passes the tests of the Dharma Hall, they may be blessed with Dharma Seals.

Thus, over the years, the Dharma Hall has remained constantly filled with people coming and going.

When Gu Yuan descended in his Escape Light, dozens of disciples were already waiting there.

The Dharma Hall is hidden within a bamboo grove, the sound of flowing springs providing a serene ambiance, yet there are only sixteen prayer mats inside the hall.

Meanwhile, outside the main hall, there are seventy-two prayer mats.

However, there’s an unwritten rule in the Dharma Hall that the prayer mats outside the main hall are not for asking questions.

Only the sixteen people within the hall can speak up to inquire with the senior teachers.

Even the Defend vein is competitive; among cultivators, there’s no true inaction.

And at this moment, when Gu Yuan entered the Dharma Hall, the sixteen prayer mats inside were already fully occupied.

All of them were cultivators above the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.