Chapter 243 - 174: Breakthrough, Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation, Conflict Arises

Chapter 243: Chapter 174: Breakthrough, Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation, Conflict Arises

Time passed. Zhao Zuo had honed himself to a perfect state. He had even stopped his Cultivation for a day to relax his mind, striving to become Spiritual and Physically Strong for the upcoming breakthrough.

The day after his rejection, Zhao Zuo received a transmission from Liu Heng. He and Wang Yao had chosen a friend they knew well to explore the suspected Foundation Establishment Cave Mansion and were already planning to depart.

He reminded Liu Heng to be careful.

October 9th was a very ordinary day. The night’s moonlight was dim, obscured by a thick layer of clouds, shrouding the world in near-total darkness.

The Array outside the Cave Mansion was fully activated, providing sufficient security. Coupled with the constantly active Spirit Jade Barrier in the corner, his safety during the Cultivation breakthrough was assured.

In the bedroom, Zhao Zuo sat cross-legged in the ’Five Hearts to Heaven’ posture. Several inches in front of him, three thick sticks of Concentration Incense burned. His spirit and Soul were calmer than ever before. The Mana inside him flowed like a gentle, unhurried stream, exceptionally pure and free of any impurities.

The Huayang Bead not only burned away Pill Poison but also, more importantly, removed impurities from his Mana, making it even purer. This was its true function. Boosted by numerous Supporting Magical Artifacts, the purity of Zhao Zuo’s Mana far exceeded that of other Cultivators in the same Realm.

Zhao Zuo waited quietly for his condition to reach its peak. Then, he abruptly began circulating his Mana, devouring the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power. His Dantian, already at its limit, immediately felt a slight swelling. A large amount of Mana then began to surge out into the Meridians throughout his body, where the Minor Circulation absorbed and stored it.

Four hours passed. The Meridians in Zhao Zuo’s body finally reached their Mana capacity, and a sharp pain emanated from nearly every inch of them. He knew... the moment for a breakthrough had come. The Mana scattered throughout his Meridians suddenly converged, surging back into his Dantian like countless rivers flowing into the sea.

He could even feel the Mana Pimples surging within him, all eventually returning to his Dantian. His Dantian’s volume expanded bit by bit, sending waves of sharp pain radiating from his abdomen. Finally, his Dantian could expand no more, and he sensed the bottleneck.

The speed of his Mana circulation suddenly doubled. Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power, like a white mist, swarmed toward his body. But even with this influx, added to the Mana already stored in his Dantian, Zhao Zuo did not launch his assault. Instead, he did his best to saturate his body completely.

A dazzling Golden Light radiated from the surface of his skin. Amplified by his Qi Blood, Zhao Zuo’s physical strength surged. The veins all over his body bulged, looking like worms writhing beneath his skin. Sweat trickled down his forehead and dripped from his jaw onto the soft cushion before him.

Before long, Zhao Zuo reached his body’s physical limit. His temperature approached forty degrees Celsius and was still climbing. His Dantian felt like a volcano about to erupt, its condensed and compressed Fire Series Mana reaching an unprecedented temperature.

The next second, the Mana stored in his Dantian began to surge outward in all directions. It formed a monstrous tidal wave that crashed against the walls of his Dantian, attempting to break through the restraints and enter a new Realm.

The Mana was repelled, but it immediately assaulted the barrier again. His body temperature continued to climb.

The next second, the Mana gathered again, unleashing an astonishing amount of Energy as it continued to hammer the walls of his Dantian. The bottleneck seemed indestructible, repelling the Mana’s assault time after time. In reality, however, tiny tremors and cracks had already appeared after several charges.

Zhao Zuo estimated that the barrier could crumble at any moment. The pressure made his body grow hotter and hotter. He gritted his teeth, his resolve as sharp as a blade, completely unwavering.

Again and again, the Mana charged. Searing Energy surged within his Dantian, and Zhao Zuo felt as if the scorching power would tear it apart. His Taoist Robe was already soaked with sweat.

’Should I use the Clear Dragon Pill?’

The thought had just arisen when he suppressed it.

Zhao Zuo took a deep breath and temporarily halted his assault on the barrier. Instead, he continued to channel his Mana, compressing the scorching Energy within his Dantian. He pushed himself until the capillaries on his skin began to bleed and his body temperature rose to nearly fifty degrees Celsius. Then, he unleashed his roiling Mana like an avalanche. It was a searing torrent of unparalleled force. The barrier lasted less than a second before it was obliterated, collapsing completely with a mighty crash.

The size of Zhao Zuo’s Dantian abruptly expanded, increasing its capacity by a third. The once-searing Mana began to reform within it, now docile and gentle. He certainly wasn’t going to miss this opportunity. His internal Mana immediately began to draw in the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power.

Under the force of his Mana, his sealed Hidden Veins were broken open one by one, integrating into his Minor Circulation. The flow of his Mana accelerated, greedily absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power. At the same time, the Qilin Seal and the Source Water Bead activated, nourishing his Meridians and repairing the ruptured blood vessels on his skin.

Gradually, Zhao Zuo became completely immersed in absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power. Sixteen hours passed in what felt like a blink of an eye, and he finally reached his limit. A sharp pain pulsed through the Meridians all over his body. He wearily opened his eyes. Despite his exhaustion, they seemed to glow with a dazzling white light.