Chapter 244: This Is Your Last Chance, Hun Tiandi. Will You Keep Hiding?
In the chaotic void currents, Xiao Tiance listened carefully to Ling'er's words. Her observations about Gu Yuan's inner demons and his inability to break through to Dou Di resonated deeply.
Nodding thoughtfully, Xiao Tiance agreed, "Let him be. At this point, he's no longer a threat. With the Emperor's Origin Energy in our hands, his chances of ascending to Dou Di are gone."
Ling'er smiled gently and replied, "That's true, Little Master. Let's not dwell on others. Instead, focus on restoring your energy and adjusting your mindset. The process of ascending to Dou Di will be long and fraught with dangers. Any mistake could lead to failure."
Taking her advice to heart, Xiao Tiance nodded and sat cross legged to prepare for his ascension.
Beginning the Ascension
A day later, Xiao Tiance opened his eyes, brimming with resolve. Gazing at the Emperor's Origin Energy hovering before him, he murmured, "Let's begin. It's time to see the view from the Dou Di realm."
With that, he activated his high tier Heavenly technique. As his energy circulated, the surrounding Dou Qi surged toward him, forming a massive vortex above his head. Like a funnel, the vortex continuously funneled energy into his body.
"Buzz... buzz..."
The sheer speed of absorption created a series of sonic booms, reverberating like thunder.
Ling'er, watching from afar, was awestruck by Xiao Tiance's unprecedented absorption rate. "Little Master is truly extraordinary. I've never seen or heard of anyone absorbing Dou Qi this quickly."
But she quickly refocused, realizing the danger. "If he continues at this rate, the overwhelming influx of Dou Qi could become a hindrance. I need to intervene to help balance the flow."
Raising her delicate hands, Ling'er waved them gracefully. In response, the surrounding Dou Qi intensified, surging toward Xiao Tiance like waves in a stormy sea.
The Painful Transformation
As the Dou Qi poured into Xiao Tiance, his body began its transformation. Initially, he felt a surge of power as his flesh absorbed the energy, enhancing his physical strength.
"Mmm..."
However, the pleasant sensation quickly turned into excruciating pain. His muscles felt as though they were being shredded apart and reformed. Despite the agony, Xiao Tiance gritted his teeth and maintained his focus, holding firm to his mental clarity.
Ling'er observed with bated breath. "It's happening faster than expected. He's already reached the stage where his flesh is being reconstructed by Dou Qi. This process is agonizing, but it's only the beginning. Little Master, you must persevere!"
As she watched, her concern deepened. "Most people fail at this stage. The pain overwhelms their minds, causing them to lose control and ultimately perish. Little Master, I believe in you!"
A Mysterious Phenomenon
Moments later, Xiao Tiance's upper garments were torn to shreds, revealing a body that radiated power his muscles gleamed with an otherworldly brilliance. At the same time, strange, ancient symbols began appearing on his skin.
Ling'er's eyes widened in shock. "What... what are those symbols?"
She could sense the immense energy emanating from the mysterious runes. They resembled spirit array patterns but were also unlike anything she had ever seen.
"This isn't normal. None of the Dou Di ascensions I've witnessed in the past ever involved something like this. Little Master, what is happening to you? Why do these patterns make even me, the Plane Embryo, feel fear?"
Her worry grew as she noticed Xiao Tiance's fingers moving subtly. Despite the excruciating process of ascension, his hands formed intricate spirit seals.
Ling'er gasped in realization. "Is he... is he inscribing a spirit array into his flesh and bones during the ascension?!"
A Bold, Dangerous Move
Ling'er's mind raced. "He's not just ascending to Dou Di he's trying to integrate spirit arrays into his body at the same time! This is incredibly dangerous. Even Tuoshe Di Huo, a prodigious being, didn't attempt anything like this during his ascension. He simply focused on stabilizing his foundation."
She continued to analyze the implications of Xiao Tiance's actions. "Little Master is using the Dou Qi washing over his flesh and bones to carve spirit arrays directly into his body. If successful, this will undoubtedly make him even more formidable. But the risks... the risks are astronomical!"
Just then, the Dou Qi vortex above Xiao Tiance intensified, emitting deafening sonic booms that echoed across the void.
"Boom! Boom!"
Ling'er clenched her fists tightly, watching with a mix of awe and anxiety. "Little Master, you've never followed conventional paths. But this... this is beyond bold. You must succeed!"
A Hidden Threat
While Xiao Tiance was fully immersed in his ascension, a faint, sinister presence stirred deep within the void.
A cold, mocking voice echoed faintly, directed at Xiao Tiance. "Xiao Tiance, so you've finally reached this stage. Impressive, but let's see if you can truly surpass me."
The voice belonged to none other than Hun Tiandi, the enigmatic leader of the Hun Clan. For years, he had been biding his time, observing Xiao Tiance's every move.
Ling'er's Alert
Ling'er's expression suddenly changed. She had sensed the faint trace of malice lingering in the void. Her tone turned sharp as she muttered, "Hun Tiandi... you've been hiding for so long. Will you continue to lurk in the shadows, or will you finally show yourself?"
Though her voice was low, it carried a weight that seemed to ripple through the void.
Yet, Hun Tiandi remained silent, his presence fading once more.
Ling'er's gaze darkened as she whispered, "If you dare interfere with Little Master's ascension, I will not stand idly by."
Ling'er watched in growing anxiety as Xiao Tiance's absorption of Dou Qi accelerated.
"This isn't good! The Dou Qi supply can't keep up. At this rate, Little Master might die from insufficient energy!"
Without wasting time, Ling'er waved her hands again, rapidly gathering Dou Qi from the Dou Qi Continent. The immense energy between heaven and earth began surging into the vortex above Xiao Tiance.
A Surge of Energy
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
The Dou Qi vortex above Xiao Tiance expanded further, glowing brighter with power. Suddenly, a black lightning bolt struck from the vortex, hitting the top of Xiao Tiance's head.
"Crack!"
The intense strike instantly reduced his jet black hair to ash, but miraculously, Xiao Tiance's body remained unscathed. He didn't even flinch, his focus unwavering.
As the Dou Qi washed over his body, the mysterious runes and patterns on his chest and back began to spread across his entire body. Slowly but steadily, they extended to every corner of his frame, etching themselves into his skin, like inscriptions carved by the heavens.
Three Months of Transformation
Three months passed, and Xiao Tiance's body was now fully covered in glowing, ancient symbols and intricate patterns. The inscriptions extended from his limbs to his face and even his scalp, emitting an aura of profound mystery.
Ling'er observed in awe.
"How incredible! Little Master's body is transforming at an unprecedented rate. It feels as if his flesh has become indestructible. Even if several half emperor powerhouses attacked him at once, they probably wouldn't leave a scratch."
For three months, Ling'er had assisted in gathering Dou Qi and carefully observed Xiao Tiance's physical changes. The process left her more astounded with each passing day.
The Next Phase: Bone Refinement
Suddenly, a powerful surge of energy erupted from Xiao Tiance, radiating outward like a shockwave.
Ling'er's eyes lit up. "The flesh refinement is complete! Next comes the bone refinement. But this stage is ten times more painful than the last. Can Little Master endure it?"
Her excitement gave way to worry.
Moments later, Xiao Tiance let out a muffled groan, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The agony etched across his face hinted at the unbearable pain of the bone transformation.
As the Dou Qi coursed through his skeleton, washing away impurities and reconstructing it, Xiao Tiance's body trembled violently. Above him, the Dou Qi vortex grew unstable, its intensity faltering.
Ling'er quickly intervened, summoning more Dou Qi from the heavens to stabilize the vortex.
A Glimpse of the Divine: The Golden Dragon
Suddenly, from within the vortex, a massive golden dragon materialized.
"Roar!"
The dragon let out a deafening roar that seemed to shake the heavens. It spiraled upward before diving toward Xiao Tiance with lightning speed.
"Boom!"
The dragon pierced into Xiao Tiance's body, causing his veins to bulge as if the golden beast was coursing through them. Ling'er watched in shock.
"Is that... the manifestation of the dragon entering his body? Incredible!"
Manifestation of the Four Divine Beasts
Before Ling'er could process what had just happened, the vortex above Xiao Tiance produced another figure a massive white tiger. Its mountainous frame radiated an aura of ferocity and bloodlust.
"Roar!"
The white tiger mirrored the golden dragon's actions, charging into Xiao Tiance and triggering another surge of pain. His skin stretched taut over his bones, seemingly ready to burst.
One by one, the manifestations appeared: a blazing phoenix wreathed in fire, followed by a black tortoise with a snake like tail.
Each of these sacred beasts mirrored the dragon's path, entering Xiao Tiance's body and enhancing his transformation.
A Never Ending Process
As the sacred beasts entered, the vortex produced additional phenomena: thunderstorms, hurricanes, and torrential rain. The intensity of the display left Ling'er speechless.
Her jaw dropped in disbelief. "Most people only manifest two or three phenomena when ascending to Dou Di. Little Master has already manifested over twenty! How is this even possible?!"
But her awe quickly turned to worry. "The more phenomena that appear, the greater the pain. Can Little Master's body withstand this?"
As if responding to her fears, Xiao Tiance coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face contorted in agony. Despite this, the aura emanating from him grew even stronger.
The Final Challenge: Soul Refinement
Another three months passed.
Xiao Tiance's body erupted with a powerful surge of energy, nearly collapsing the vortex above him.
Ling'er's expression turned grim. "The flesh and bone refinement stages are complete, but the most dangerous test remains: soul refinement. This step is the hardest, the most mysterious, and the most perilous. If he succeeds, he will become a Dou Di. If he fails, his soul will be destroyed, and he will die!"
She clasped her hands together, silently praying for Xiao Tiance's success.
The Hidden Threat
Suddenly, Xiao Tiance opened his eyes and let out a soft chuckle.
"This is your final chance, Hun Tiandi. Will you continue to hide?"
Ling'er froze in shock, her gaze darting around the void.
"Hun Tiandi?! He's been lurking this whole time?"
Far in the distance, a faint, malevolent aura stirred. It was as if Hun Tiandi had been silently observing Xiao Tiance's ascension, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Ling'er clenched her fists. "If he dares to interfere, I won't let him!"
Xiao Tiance's voice carried an unshakable confidence, as if daring Hun Tiandi to act. The final phase of his ascension would be a battle not just against himself but also against any lurking enemies.
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