[author]
I hate Mondays and Wednesdays. I have to work from the office on these days. đ
[/author]
Du Yue accepted the six medicinal pills from Su Wen before quietly sitting down cross-legged. 'Husband's alchemy has improved so much...'
She could feel the astonishing power hidden within each pill and couldn't help but feel amazed and happy.
In this cultivation world, where even blood relatives could turn against one another over a single Spirit Stone, her husband was someone willing to give everything he had for her without asking for anything in return.
She didn't say anything to him. There was no need for words. The warmth filling her heart spoke louder than anything she could ever say.
At the same time, an even stronger determination quietly took root within her heart. She would love him, protect him, and give him anything he wanted in this world.
And buried deep beneath those emotions... the possessiveness hidden within her heart quietly grew a little stronger.
She slowly raised her head and looked at Su Wen's handsome face, and a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on her lips. Only after silently admiring him for a few moments did she slowly close her eyes and calm the emotions within her heart.
She picked up two medicinal pills and placed them into her mouth. The pills melted instantly, and an astonishing amount of pure medicinal essence surged through her body.
Without wasting a single moment, Du Yue circulated the Silent Night Soul-Refinement Sutra. The medicinal energy was carefully guided through her meridians before flowing directly towards her consciousness.
Deep within her Sea of Consciousness, against the endless dark backdrop, lay a small, pure-white Soul Qi Pond. At its centre sat her Immortal Divine Soul, continuously nourished by her Yin-rich Soul Qi.
The medicinal essence poured into the pond like countless streams, and a lake slowly began to take shape. The Soul Qi Pond began to tremble as ripples spread across its surface. As more medicinal energy poured into it, the pond slowly expanded.
After cultivating in the spirit pool, she had already reached the limit of what she could absorb. Now, with the support of the medicinal pills, the boundaries of her Soul Qi Pond continued to stretch outward, and the Soul Qi within became increasingly dense and pure.
Time quietly passed.
The milk-white pond continued expanding until it had grown several times larger than before. The whirlpool above it spun faster and faster, drawing in every remaining strand of medicinal essence.
Boom!
A deep rumble echoed throughout her Sea of Consciousness.
The final barrier shattered, and the small pond rapidly expanded in every direction. Soul Qi surged endlessly, and within only a few breaths, the once tiny Soul Qi Pond had completely transformed into a vast Soul Qi Lake.
The amount of Soul Qi it contained increased severalfold, while its purity reached an entirely new level. A powerful wave of Soul Aura spread throughout her Sea of Consciousness before gradually calming once again.
Du Yue slowly exhaled.
She had finally broken through to the Mid Soul Sea Realm.
Â
Du Yue didn't move, remaining seated cross-legged as she took another two pills. Once again, the medicinal properties burst through her meridians, and this time she circulated her Spirit Cultivation technique, the Pure Yin Vein Resonance Method.
Inside her dantian, her lustrous Golden Core continued spinning as it constantly refined itself.
For a cultivator, when they first broke through to the Early Golden Core Realm, the vast Spirit Sea within their dantian would crystallise into a golden Spirit Core. However, that was only the beginning.
The Golden Core continuously rotated within the dantian, constantly refining and compressing its Spiritual Qi into an even purer and more crystallised form.
Thanks to cultivating within the Spirit Water earlier, a layer of Spiritual Qi, even purer than that contained within the Golden Core itself, had already condensed around it like a thin outer shell. Now, with the support of the medicinal pills, the refinement continued from the inside.
As the medicinal essence surged into her dantian, the speed of refinement increased dramatically. Rich and powerful Spiritual Qi continuously poured towards the Golden Core, nourishing and tempering it without pause.
Time quietly passed.
Gradually, her Golden Core shrank to nearly half its original size as the Spiritual Qi was crystallised even further.
Finally, the entire Golden Core completed its refinement.
All of the Spiritual Qi within the core had been completely transformed, becoming as pure and crystallised as the outer layer surrounding it. Its colour also changed, with the previous lustrous gold gradually deepening into a brilliant Imperial Gold, signifying the astonishing quality and depth of her foundation.
As the newly refined Golden Core continued spinning, pure Spiritual Qi continuously flowed from it, nourishing her meridians, body, and even her soul.
Although the Golden Core had become much smaller than before, it was now far denser, purer, and more perfectly crystallised. The amount of Spiritual Qi it contained had increased severalfold despite its reduced size.
A powerful aura quietly spread from Du Yue's body.
With that, she finally stepped into the Mid Golden Core Realm.
Feeling the incomparably pure Spiritual Qi flowing through her meridians, she only raised her eyebrows lightly before moving on to her next breakthrough.
Â
Du Yue looked at the final two medicinal pills remaining in her hand. Without wasting any time, she swallowed them, and the pills dissolved the instant they entered her body.
Once again, rich medicinal essence surged through her meridians like a rushing river.
This time, she circulated her body cultivation technique... Yin Jade Body Tempering.
Du Yue had already reached the Sevenfold Body Refinement Realm during her previous heavenly tribulation. Within her heart rested a small Yin Vital Qi Pond, which continuously circulated Vital Qi throughout her body, nourishing her meridians, bones, muscles, blood, organs, and even her consciousness.
Not only did it strengthen her as a body cultivator, but the Vital Qi also continuously improved her physique and constitution from the inside out.
Now, she carefully guided the medicinal power towards her heart.
The rich medicinal essence immediately began refining the Yin Vital Qi within. The previously calm Vital Qi Pond slowly began surging violently.
Thanks to cultivating within the Spirit Pool earlier, the Yin Vital Qi Pond had already reached the verge of its limits. Now, with the support of the medicinal pills, it finally began its last refinement.
As time passed, the Yin Vital Qi became increasingly dense and refined. Under the continuous nourishment of the medicinal essence, the boundaries of the pond gradually expanded, and the amount of Yin Vital Qi within her heart steadily increased.
At the centre of her heart, a whirlpool slowly rotated. It continuously drew in the Yin Vital Qi, compressed it to a higher level, and then sent the newly refined Vital Qi throughout every part of her body.
Under the circulation of the Yin Jade Body Tempering technique, the whirlpool spun faster and faster. Every strand of Yin Vital Qi was compressed, refined, and purified to an even greater degree.
Boom!
A deep vibration echoed from within her heart.
The final barrier quietly shattered, and the Yin Vital Qi Pond rapidly expanded.
Within only a few breaths, the once small pond had transformed into a vast Yin Vital Qi Lake.
Compared to before, the amount of Yin Vital Qi had increased severalfold. More importantly, every strand of Yin Vital Qi had become far purer, denser, and stronger than before.
Like countless streams, the refined Vital Qi surged from her heart and flowed throughout every part of her body.
Her meridians became broader and tougher, while her bones emitted faint cracking sounds as they were continuously tempered. Her muscles became increasingly compact, and her blood carried an even richer vitality than before.
Even her consciousness, the very container that housed her soul, became noticeably stronger under the nourishment of the refined Vital Qi.
The Yin Vital Qi continued circulating through her body over and over again, strengthening every inch of her physique. A faint layer of icy, jade-like radiance gradually appeared beneath her fair skin before disappearing once more.
Her physical strength rose rapidly, and every movement of her body now contained considerably greater explosive power than before.
Only after all the medicinal essence had been completely absorbed did the circulation gradually slow.
Du Yue slowly exhaled, and a stream of frosty white air escaped from her lips. Her beautiful blue eyes slowly opened as a powerful aura quietly spread from her body before gradually settling down once again.
She had officially stepped into the Mid Vital Heart Realm.
Â
Du Yue peered inside her body.
Within her heart, the Yin Vital Qi had evolved from a pond into a vast lake, continuously circulating refined Vital Qi throughout her entire body.
Inside her dantian, her Golden Core had become nearly half its previous size, yet its brilliant Imperial Gold radiated astonishing purity and strength.
Finally, within her Sea of Consciousness, the once small Soul Qi Pond had transformed into a vast Soul Qi Lake. The milky-white Soul Qi gently nourished her soul beneath the dark expanse of her consciousness, creating a breathtaking contrast.
Su Wen, who had been sitting a short distance away recovering his Spiritual Qi, glanced towards Du Yue and was momentarily stunned.
The aura radiating from her body had become far more powerful than before.
Yet what left him even more speechless...
...was her beauty.
At that moment, she resembled a heavenly goddess who had descended into the mortal world.
Her flawless jade-like skin, paired with her flowing blue robes, made her appear pure and untouchable, as though even the slightest impurity would tarnish her holiness. A graceful and noble aura naturally surrounded her, while her breathtaking beauty possessed an irresistible charm that drew one's gaze without him even realising it.
Su Wen unconsciously swallowed.
But the next moment, a warm feeling of happiness bloomed within his heart as he sensed the overwhelming aura emanating from her.
His wife had become even stronger.
Just then, Du Yue seemed to notice his gaze.
The holy fairy who seemed distant from the mortal world instantly disappeared.
In her place was once again the cheerful village girl he knew.
"Husband..."
She immediately jumped up from her meditation and landed directly in Su Wen's lap, wrapping both arms around his neck with a bright smile.
"Good... very good." Su Wen smiled proudly. "You broke through. As expected of my wife."
"Hehe..." Du Yue giggled happily. "It wasn't difficult at all. After all..." She puffed out her chest proudly. "...I'm your wife, aren't I?"
Su Wen chuckled before gently rubbing her soft hair. His heart felt incomparably satisfied. "Alright... Let's get up and leave this freezing dungeon." He shivered slightly. "...I'm barely surviving this cold."
A grin appeared on his face. "Also... I'm feeling hungry. Let's have a barbecue."
She immediately stood up, her mouth already watering. "But don't forget my dessert." She reminded him seriously.
Su Wen laughed. "Alright, alright. I know. Let's leave this place first."
With that, the two walked towards the back of the Spirit Pool. There stood an enormous ice door.
Su Wen pushed it open, and the moment they stepped through, the scenery around them changed.
When Su Wen looked around again, he froze. They were already standing at the entrance of the dungeon.
"..."
He blinked several times. "How are we back at the entrance? I thought we'd come out from the other side of the volcanic mountain."
Du Yue smiled sweetly. "Husband... Don't think too much about it. This is a dungeon. The normal rules of the outside world don't necessarily apply here."
Su Wen nodded thoughtfully.
Although he found it astonishing, he didn't dwell on it for long. After all, he himself possessed the Mysterious Mountain, a spatial treasure that could be entered from anywhere. Compared to that, appearing at the dungeon entrance didn't seem so unbelievable anymore.
Su Wen turned around and glanced one last time at the icy dungeon behind him.
Then, together with Du Yue, he began walking down the volcanic mountain.
The moment they left the dungeon, the familiar connection with Heaven and Earth returned. The suppression that had weighed upon them throughout the dungeon instantly disappeared.
Su Wen took a deep breath of the outside air, and a relaxed smile slowly appeared on his face.
"We're finally out."