Breakthrough to Dou Zong, System Unlocked

Cao Ying, Cai Lin, and the other five women who had been waiting nearby finally gathered around.

Cao Ying was the first to approach Shen Wen, naturally linking her arm through his.

Her enchanting eyes glanced toward the direction Xiao Xun Er had disappeared, and she asked curiously, "Husband, is the discussion over already?"

One Heaven Rank Dou Skill and one high-grade Di-rank Dou Technique.

"Is it worth it for you, the Pill Tower successor, to be hired to kill a Sixth-Rank Alchemist?"

Shen Wen patted her hand and laughed, "It was done on the way, so no loss."

Just then.

Cai Lin's stunning face, however, held obvious confusion.

Her purple eyes looked at Shen Wen, voicing the confusion everyone felt: "Husband, the thing that puzzles me the most is..."

"...The noble daughter of the Ancient Clan, her status is so revered."

"Why would she have such a deep relationship with Xiao Yan, who is just a minor Dou Practitioner?"

"To the point where she would even pay a Heaven Rank, and a Di-rank Dou Technique for him?"

Her question voiced the doubts in everyone's minds.

Xiao Yi Xian and Dan Chen also looked at Shen Wen; even Qing Lin blinked her large eyes, full of curiosity.

One was a disciple of a small family from a second-rate empire, and the other was the daughter of a Dou Emperor Family. The gap between them was like heaven and earth; they shouldn't have any connection.

Shen Wen smiled as he looked at the five pairs of beautiful, inquiring eyes, but he did not explain further.

He merely said vaguely, "This involves some great secrets and past connections that are far-reaching, so it's not convenient to elaborate."

When the women heard Shen Wen describe it as a "great secret,"

Although they were still curious, they wisely stopped pressing the issue.

After all, knowing too many secrets about a Dou Emperor Family might not be a good thing.

Seeing the atmosphere stagnate slightly, Shen Wen proactively changed the topic, clapping his hands and saying, "Alright, the matter here is settled."

"Next, we should head to the Jia Ma Empire Imperial Palace to have a good talk with Jia Xingtian about the Snake-People Clan's migration."

His gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Cai Lin, and he continued arranging, "Once the Snake-People Clan's relocation is implemented and stabilized,"

"We will set off for the Izumo Empire."

"The matter of the Netherworld Poison Flame is waiting for us there."

...The flying boat broke through the clouds, speeding toward the Jia Ma Empire.

Shen Wen sat quietly at the bow, his eyes slightly closed, his mind immersed in the surrounding world like never before.

Since refining the tai xu ancient dragon essence blood and cultivating the Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art, his perception of space had grown increasingly acute.

At this moment, that feeling was even stronger.

The invisible Spatial Power between heaven and earth.

It was no longer just a perception, but generated a clear response with him, like breathing!

The Dou Qi within him surged continuously, and vast power roared through his meridians, impacting the invisible, intangible, yet truly existing barrier.

The natural chasm between Dou Huang and Dou Zong.

He didn't need the Break-Sect Pill.

His accumulation was already deep enough; with the three Ancestral Talismans on him, the Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art tempered his physique, the Past Amitabha Sutra refined his soul, and the Azure Heaven Tyrant Blood was supremely domineering—his foundation far exceeded ordinary imagination.

"Buzz—"

Centered on Shen Wen, the surrounding space began to tremble slightly, rippling like water waves.

The energy of heaven and earth frantically converged, forming a visible energy vortex that poured into his body.

"This is... Spatial Power resonance?!"

Cai Lin was the first to notice the anomaly.

Her purple eyes snapped open, flashing with astonishment, and she instantly appeared near Shen Wen to protect him.

Being a Dou Zong herself, she was intimately familiar with the spatial fluctuations during a breakthrough.

But the fluctuations Shen Wen caused were several times stronger than when she broke through!

Immediately afterward, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin were also startled and walked out of the cabin one after another.

Cao Ying watched Shen Wen, who was enveloped by vast energy, his surrounding space constantly twisting and folding. Her rosy lips parted slightly, and her enchanting face was full of shock.

"He's... breaking through to Dou Zong already? Without even using the Break-Sect Pill..."

She knew her husband's talent was monstrous, but this breakthrough speed still exceeded her understanding.

Following the shock came overwhelming pride and admiration.

This was the man Cao Ying had chosen!

[Ding! Detected an increase in Madam Cao Ying's favorability toward the Host. Current Favorability: 51%!]

[Reward: space ancestral talisman, Heaven-Slaying King Plate!]

[Do you accept the reward?]

[Wife and Concubine Acquisition System restrictions partially unlocked: When a wife or concubine's favorability toward the Host reaches 50%, they will be unrestricted and can cultivate any cultivation method possessed by the Host!]

A series of system prompts rang out in Shen Wen's mind.

Shen Wen had no time to examine the rewards right now.

His mind was clear and bright, guiding the surging power within him to launch the final assault on that last barrier!

"Crack!"

The obstruction was gone, and the world opened up!

His aura suddenly soared, instantly breaking through the Dou Huang barrier and stepping into a brand new level.

Dou Zong!

The space around him suddenly began to writhe at this moment, and rings of spatial ripples continuously spread outward.

Simultaneously.

The Dan Crystal in his Dantian had disappeared, replaced by a layer of pale azure Dou Qi crystal covering the outside of all his meridians, skin, and bones.

He, who originally needed Dou Qi wings to fly, now only needed a slight thought, and his body naturally levitated, standing steadily in the void.

Vast Spatial Power flowed at his fingertips, obeying his every command. He felt that at this moment, he could easily tear space apart with a single punch.

Shen Wen slowly opened his eyes, a brilliant light flashing within them before receding, and the terrifying aura around him gradually retracted.

Feeling the completely different power within his body, the corner of his mouth curved into a satisfied smile.

Dou Zong, achieved.

Cao Ying was the first to fly forward, disregarding the presence of others, and threw herself directly into Shen Wen's arms. She looked up with her enchanting face, her eyes sparkling, "Husband! You are amazing!"

Shen Wen wrapped his arms around her soft waist, looked down at her undisguised adoration, and felt delighted, laughing, "Just basic operation."

Cai Lin also stepped forward, a trace of imperceptible softness on her cold and stunning face, and whispered, "Congratulations, Husband."

She could most keenly sense Shen Wen's current power; the spatial ripples he caused made her heart palpitate.

She feared that Shen Wen, having just entered Dou Zong, could easily suppress her now.

"An eighteen-year-old Dou Zong..."

Dan Chen gasped slightly.

The boundary between Peak Dou Huang and Dou Zong was extremely difficult to cross; even with the Break-Sect Pill, it only increased the chance by ten or twenty percent.

Yet, it seemed Shen Wen hadn't encountered any difficulties at all.

He hadn't been back from Central Plains for long, yet he had already broken through to Dou Zong.

Shen Wen was, however, pondering the restrictions unlocked by the system.

If this was the case, he could also cultivate the Crimson Emperor Fire Sovereign Qi, as well as Medusa's Ancient Heavenly Serpent inheritance.

Moreover, this way, Cao Ying could also cultivate his Azure Emperor Wood Sovereign Art and the Past Amitabha Sutra.

In this way, Cao Ying's alchemy skills would definitely reach a higher level.

Just then.

Hai Bodong landed nearby and said respectfully, "Congratulations, Lord Shen, on breaking through to Dou Zong. We are almost at the Imperial Capital."

"Mm." Shen Wen collected his thoughts, deciding to handle this matter first.