153: Chapter 153 Advancement to the Cave Heaven Realm, Family Soars

The White Bone Demon Venerable was executed, and the evil seeds were completely eradicated.

The Southern Border appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents never ceased.

The Black Lotus Cult, like an injured venomous snake, temporarily lay dormant.

Various forces in the Central Region cast scrutinizing gazes, both wary of the Luoxia Sect's rapid rise and covetous of the Star Lord Inheritance and the Southern Border's resources.

Lin Yue was well aware that this calm was merely the prelude to a storm.

The true test would come when the Seal of the Burial Dragon Abyss completely collapsed.

Therefore, this rare breathing space must be seized.

"Haotian, are the conditions for advancing the Cavern Heaven to level 11 met?"

Deep within the Council Hall, Lin Yue sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his consciousness sinking into the Cavern Heaven.

"Master, all conditions have been met."

Haotian's voice echoed like an ancient bell: "First, Master's Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage, with the star dragon nascent soul deeply bound to the Cavern Heaven's Origin, bringing a qualitative change in rule comprehension."

"Second, absorbing the Nascent Soul Origin of the White Bone Demon Venerable, plus the remnants of three evil seed crystal cores, has brought the energy reserves to a critical point."

"Third, the World Tree's Analysis of the evil seed Origin has touched upon the rudiments of the 'Devouring' and 'Transformation' rules, meeting the rule threshold required for advancement."

"Advancement can begin at any Time."

"Good."

Lin Yue opened his eyes, starlight swirling within them: "Then... let it begin now."

He stood up and walked deeper into the secret chamber.

This Time, he was not heading to the outside world, but... to the very core of the Cavern Heaven.

At the center of the Cavern Heaven, beneath the World Tree.

The five hundred square kilometers of land were undergoing subtle changes at this moment.

The star projections in the sky were three Times brighter than before, the earth trembled slightly, the Spirit River's flow suddenly accelerated, and deep within the seven Mineral Veins, low hums resonated.

This was the Cavern Heaven... breathing.

"Master, please stand at the roots of the World Tree."

Haotian manifested a projection of spiritual intelligence—a phantom of an elderly man with white hair and eyes containing stars.

Lin Yue did as instructed and stood still.

In the next moment, the World Tree's massive roots broke through the soil, wrapping around his body like living things, not to restrain, but... to connect.

The tree roots established a mysterious resonance with Lin Yue's Meridians, Dantian, and even the star dragon nascent soul.

"The advancement of a Cavern Heaven is essentially the refinement of a 'Small World embryo'."

Haotian's voice was solemn: "This advancement will unlock three core authorities—Time Acceleration, Spiritual Vein Creation, and Origin Analysis."

"However, the advancement process requires Master to personally guide it, using the Nascent Soul as a bridge to connect the Cavern Heaven's Origin with the resonance of the external Laws."

"This process carries risks. If the Nascent Soul cannot withstand the impact of the Laws, it may lead to a drop in Realm."

"Master, are you ready?"

Lin Yue took a deep breath: "Begin."

As his words fell, the World Tree erupted with light!

Countless silver-golden root tendrils surged from deep underground, each connecting to a Spiritual Vein, a Spirit Field, a Mineral Vein... The energy of the entire Cavern Heaven began to converge towards Lin Yue.

Simultaneously, the star dragon nascent soul automatically left his body, hovering above Lin Yue's head.

The Nascent Soul held stars in its left hand and a dragon shadow in its right, now slowly spreading its arms.

Boom——!!!

At the Cavern Heaven's dome, an invisible barrier was shattered.

The aura of external Laws flooded in like a tide, violently colliding and merging with the Cavern Heaven's Origin.

Lin Yue felt as if his Nascent Soul had been placed in a furnace, with countless unfamiliar rule information impacting his Divine Soul.

These were fragments of the Law of Time, the veins of spatial structure, the principles of material creation... Each fragment contained vast information; an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator might suffer Divine Soul collapse upon contact with even a trace.

But Lin Yue's star dragon nascent soul was a miracle born from the Fusion of dual Origins.

The star Origin acted as the most stable framework, supporting the Nascent Soul's form from dispersing.

The dragon soul Origin acted as the most resilient Meridians, enduring theflushing of rule information.

The two complemented each other, stubbornly... holding their ground within this torrent of Laws.

"Now is the Time!"

Haotian shouted sharply: "Master, draw the Laws into your body, forge the Cavern Heaven's authorities!"

Lin Yue focused his mind, and the Nascent Soul opened its mouth and inhaled.

Those Law fragments flowed into the Nascent Soul's body like rivers converging to the sea.

The first fragment merged—the 'Acceleration' characteristic of the Law of Time.

In the starlight of the Nascent Soul's left hand, an hourglass phantom appeared.

The second fragment merged—the 'Nurturing' characteristic of the Law of Earth.

On the scales of the dragon shadow in the Nascent Soul's right hand, mountain range patterns emerged.

The third fragment merged—the 'Insight' characteristic of the Analysis Law.

On the Nascent Soul's brow, a third eye opened—the Eye of Rules!

Three authority seeds were thus planted.

And the Cavern Heaven's transformation officially began.

The land expanded, from two hundred square kilometers to five hundred square kilometers.

On the newly born land, mountains rose, rivers changed course, and forests spread.

Most miraculous was directly beneath the World Tree—a pool of water appeared out of thin air.

The pool water was clear to the bottom, with fine points of light floating on the surface, as if Time had materialized here.

The time pool was complete!

"Success..."

Haotian's voice carried relief: "Level 11 Cavern Heaven, the Small World embryo refined by one-third. Master, how do you feel?"

Lin Yue withdrew his Nascent Soul, feeling the surging power within his body.

Although the Eye of Rules on his Nascent Soul's brow was not fully open, it could vaguely perceive the 'rule veins' of surrounding things.

For example, the time pool before him—he could 'see' that the Time flow rate of the pool water was ten Times that of the outside world, and he could also 'see' a thread as fine as a hair of the Law of Time connected to the pool's bottom.

"Very good."

Lin Yue's lips curved slightly: "Better than expected."

He walked to the edge of the time pool and reached his hand into the water.

The pool water was cool, its touch like silk.

Even more wondrous, he could feel his Physical Body being slowly tempered in the pool water, and even his Divine Soul seemed to be cleansed.

"The time pool can only be opened once every hundred days, accommodating up to ten people each Time, lasting three days (external Time)."

Haotian explained: "With a tenfold Time flow rate, three days in the outside world equals one month in the pool. Sufficient to complete a minor Realm Breakthrough or achieve Major Achievement in a Cultivation Technique."

"Ten people..."

Lin Yue's eyes flickered.

This number was just right.

"Notify Lin Cang, Lin Hu, Lin De, Lin Shi, Lin Laosan, Lin Yan, and Little Star—seven people—to enter the Secret Realm for 'special training' in three days."

He paused: "The other three spots go to the three most outstanding Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivators in the War Department."

"Master intends to mass-produce Golden Core Cultivators?"

"Not just Golden Core."

Lin Yue gazed into the distance of the Cavern Heaven: "I want the Luoxia Sect to have at least thirty Golden Core Cultivators and three hundred Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivators within three years."

"And the starting point for all this is this... time pool."

Three days later, in the Cavern Heaven Secret Realm.

Lin Cang and the other ten gathered by the time pool, all awestruck by the pool of water emitting temporal fluctuations before them.

"This... this is the legendary Time Secret Realm?"

Lin Shi's voice trembled.

As an Artifact Refiner, he understood the value of Time-type Secret Realms better than anyone—it meant having ten Times the Time for attempts, adjustments, and Breakthroughs during Artifact Refining!

"Three days outside, one month in the pool."

Lin Yue stood by the pool, his voice calm: "In this one month, I want you to accomplish three things."

"First, consolidate your cultivation and solidify your Foundation. Especially you six, Lin Cang and others, although you have already broken through to Golden Core, your utilization of Golden Core power is still crude."

"Second, Cultivate the techniques and secret arts I have selected for you. Lin Cang will focus on the second layer of the 'Earthen Mountain Suppressing Art', Lin Hu on the second form of the 'Army-Breaking Seven Kills Secret Art', Lin De on the fourth-grade Pill Formula from the 'Star Alchemy Chapter', Lin Shi on the Magic Treasure inscriptions from the 'Heavenly Craft Artifact Refining Record'..."

He named each person, with targeted arrangements for everyone.

"Third..."

Lin Yue looked at the three War Department Cultivators: "Your goal is singular—break through to Golden Core."

"In the pool, I have prepared 'Starlight Barrier-Breaking Pills', 'Dragon Soul Tempering Spring', and 'Star Foundation Establishment Platforms', plus the tenfold Time... If you still cannot break through, then it means you are not destined for the Great Dao."

The three Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivators trembled with excitement, kneeling in unison: "We Disciples will not fail the Sect Master's high expectations!"

"Rise."

Lin Yue waved his hand: "Enter the pool."

The ten people stepped into the pool water one by one.

The pool water automatically parted, forming ten independent cultivation compartments at the bottom, not interfering with each other.

The Time flow rate began to change.

Everything in the outside world seemed to slow down, while Time in the pool... accelerated.

Lin Yue did not leave.

He sat cross-legged by the pool, both protecting them and... doing another thing.

"Haotian, the first attempt at Spiritual Vein creation can begin."

"Yes."

Deep within the Cavern Heaven's earth, the World Tree's roots began to grow frantically.

They extended like tentacles into the Void Realm, capturing and extracting energy particles from the void, then through transformation Formations inside the roots, condensed, compressed, and shaped this energy... Three days later (external Time), the one-month period in the pool ended.

The ten people emerged from seclusion one after another.

Lin Cang's aura was as solid as a mountain, having achieved Major Achievement in the second layer of the Earthen Mountain Suppressing Art, his Early Golden Core Stage Realm completely stabilized, even touching the threshold of the Middle Stage.

Lin Hu's Killing Intent surged around him. The second stance of the Army-Breaking Seven Kills Secret Art, 'Slaying the General', had just reached its initial completion. The power of a single strike was comparable to a full-force attack from a Middle Golden Core Stage Cultivator.

Lin De successfully refined his first batch of fourth-Rank Medicinal Pills, the 'Starlight Nascent Soul Condensing Pill'—though only of Low Grade, it was of great significance, marking his official entry into the Ranks of fourth-Rank Alchemists.

Lin Shi forged his first fourth-Rank Low Grade Magic Treasure, the 'Star Pattern Battle Armor'. The armor was inlaid with three hundred and sixty star patterns, capable of automatically absorbing the Power of the Stars for defense, truly a milestone for the War Department's standard equipment.

Lin Laosan's Star Calculation Technique's deduction speed increased threefold, now able to vaguely predict the outcome of Golden Core-level battles.

Lin Yan reforged the star-embracing sword to fourth-Rank Medium Grade. A faint 'Sword Spirit' was born within the blade, promising future growth.

Little Star progressed the fastest—leaping directly from Qi Refining first layer to Qi Refining seventh layer! The terrifying talent of the Star Spirit Body was fully revealed.

And those three War Department Cultivators... all broke through to Golden Core!

Though they were only the most ordinary Golden Cores, with Foundations not as solid as Lin Cang and the others... they were still Golden Cores after all!

The Luoxia Sect gained three Golden Core combatants overnight!

"How does it feel?"

Lin Yue looked at the ten transformed individuals before him and asked with a smile.

"Sect Master... this Secret Realm is truly incredible!"

Lin Hu was so excited he became incoherent: "In one month, I feel I've gained more than in ten years of cultivation!"

"This is what an Opportunity is."

Lin Yue said seriously: "But Opportunities also require strength to protect. What happened today must not be leaked. To the outside world, just say... you obtained a Senior's legacy in the Sect's secret treasury and went into seclusion for a Breakthrough."

"Yes!"

The ten responded in unison.

They understood clearly what a Secret Realm capable of altering Time flow meant—

If word got out, not to mention the Black Lotus Cult, even the top Sects of the Central Region would go mad with envy.

"Go back and consolidate your cultivation. In three days, the second batch of special training will begin."

"Yes!"

The ten respectfully withdrew.

Lin Yue remained alone by the pool, gazing deep into the cave heaven's land.

There, a newly born Spiritual Vein was gestating.

Though only a first-Rank Spiritual Vein, with Spiritual Qi concentration equivalent to a small Spirit Stone mine... this was autonomously created by the cave heaven!

It meant that from now on, the Luoxia Sect would have an endless supply of Spiritual Vein resources, never worrying about Spiritual Qi again.

"Haotian, can the speed of Spiritual Vein creation be increased?"

"It can, but it would consume more of the cave heaven's Origin. Currently, one first-Rank Spiritual Vein per month is the equilibrium point. Accelerating would affect the operation of the cave heaven's other functions."

"Then maintain this pace."

Lin Yue had a clear plan: "Also, has the Origin Analysis function been tested?"

"Preliminary testing has been completed."

Haotian raised his hand, and three item phantoms appeared in the Void Realm—

A fragment of a white bone scepter, remnants of a Spirit Devouring Evil Seed crystal core, and a storage ring from a Black Lotus Cult Elder.

"Analysis of the white bone scepter fragment completed. Obtained the principles of two evil arts: 'Bone Manipulation' and 'Wraith Imprisonment'. Have reverse-engineered a countermeasure—the third layer of Star Purification Art."

"Analysis of the Spirit Devouring Evil Seed crystal core completed. Obtained a rudimentary form of the 'Devour and Transform' rule. Attempted replication... failed, but mastered its energy circulation pathways, allowing for targeted purification Formations."

"Analysis of the Jade Slip containing the 'Black Lotus Bone Corrosion Art' from the storage ring completed. Obtained the complete operational principles of the Cultivation Technique. It has three weaknesses, located at..."

Listening to Haotian's report, the light in Lin Yue's eyes grew brighter.

Origin Analysis—this function was too powerful!

It was equivalent to having a super-intelligent brain capable of deciphering the weaknesses of any Cultivation Technique, Magic Treasure, or Formation!

In future battles, before the opponent even made a move, he would already know their weaknesses and how to counter them.

This was practically... cheating.

"Excellent."

Lin Yue took a deep breath: "For the next three months, the cave heaven has three core tasks."

"First, create one first-Rank Spiritual Vein each month, bury them all beneath the Luoxia Sect, and construct a 'Spiritual Vein Network'."

"Second, analyze all captured Black Lotus Cult Cultivation Techniques, Magic Treasures, and Formations, establishing a complete countermeasure system."

"Third..."

He looked toward the time pool: "Initiate the 'Golden Core Cultivation Plan'. One batch every hundred days, ten people per batch. Goal... within three years, Cultivate at least thirty Golden Cores and three hundred Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivators."

"Master, isn't this too rushed?"

Haotian reminded: "Batch cultivation can easily lead to unstable Foundations, detrimental to future cultivation."

"That's why I have them spend triple the Time consolidating after each Breakthrough."

Lin Yue had already planned: "Three years in the outside world is nearly ten years in the cave heaven's time pool. Ten years is enough for them to solidify their Foundations."

"Moreover..."

He looked toward the Burial Dragon Abyss: "We don't have much Time."

Haotian was silent for a moment: "Understood. I will optimize the cultivation plan to ensure quality."

"Mm."

Lin Yue nodded, his figure slowly dissipating.

It was Time for him to return to the Sect.

One month of the three-month recuperation period had already passed.

In the remaining two months, he had much more to do.

For example... formally establishing the Luoxia Sect's 'Contribution System'.

For example... opening part of the Star Lord Inheritance to motivate Disciples.

For example... deepening cooperation with the Qinglan Sect, Seven Star Alliance, and Star Track Pavilion.

For example... investigating the movements of Central Region forces.

And the prerequisite for all this was—

The Luoxia Sect itself must be strong enough.

Strong enough to reassure allies, make enemies wary, and deter all covetous eyes... making them hesitate.

"The road is still long..."

Lin Yue stepped out of the cave heaven and returned to the secret chamber.

Outside the window, the morning sun was rising.

A new day, a new beginning.

And the Luoxia Sect's rise had only just begun.

[Summary of Data After 11th-Level Cave Heaven Advancement]

[Small World Embryo (Level: 11)]

[Spiritual Qi Concentration: 1200 (Ordinary external environment is 1, core areas can reach 1500)]

[Cave Heaven Land Area: 500 square kilometers (Newly added time pool area, Spiritual Vein gestation zone, Rule Analysis field)]

[Time Flow Differential: Up to 10 Times external world (time pool area, opens once every hundred days)]

[Core Dominator: World Tree·Haotian (Spiritual intelligence fully awakened, controls 30% of the cave heaven's Heavenly Dao authority)]

[New Authority One: Time Regulation]

· time pool: 30-meter radius area, Time flow up to 10 Times external world

· Limitation: Can only open once every hundred days, each session lasts three days (external Time)

· Additional Effect: Pool water can temper the Physical Body and purify the Divine Soul

· Current Capacity: Maximum of 10 people cultivating simultaneously

[New Authority Two: Spiritual Vein Creation]

· Can consume cave heaven Origin to generate Spiritual Veins from nothing

· Current Limit: First-Rank Spiritual Vein (equivalent to a small Spirit Stone mine)

· Generation Speed: One per month (requires consuming 10% of cave heaven's energy storage)

· Spiritual Vein Characteristics: 100% pure, no Impurities, can be directly absorbed

· Upgrade Direction: Second-Rank Spiritual Vein requires cave heaven level 12

[New Authority Three: Origin Analysis]

· Can analyze the compositional principles of any object containing Origin

· Analysis Speed: First-Rank items instantly, second-Rank half a quarter-hour, third-Rank three days, fourth-Rank ten days, fifth-Rank and above require special conditions

· Post-Analysis Capabilities: 1. Obtain weakness information; 2. Attempt replication (success rate 30%-70%); 3. Reverse-engineer countermeasures

· Established Analysis Database: Black Lotus Cult Cultivation Technique system (completion 47%), Spirit Devouring Clan devouring rules (completion 12%)

[World Tree Growth Status]

· Trunk Diameter: 12 zhang

· Canopy Coverage: Approximately 100 square kilometers

· Root Network: Covers entire cave heaven underground, can autonomously create Spiritual Veins

· New Abilities Unlocked: Tactical Deduction (accuracy 85%), Rule Analysis (can analyze rules below fourth-Rank), Karma Sensing (vague foresight), Dragon Language Analysis (fully mastered)

· Star Fruit: First batch maturation countdown 63 days (cave heaven Time), estimated yield 30 fruits

[Resource Output Fully Optimized]

· Spirit Field Efficiency: High-Rank Spiritual Plant growth cycle shortened by 85%

· Spirit River Daily Flow: 8000 liters (Spirit Marrow Crystal powder concentration +50%)

· dragon soul spirit spring Daily Output: 200 liters (Body Tempering effect +30%)

· Mineral Vein Output: Seven major Mineral Veins output doubled, new 'Time Sand' associated ore added (exclusive material for time pool)

· New Output: One first-Rank Spiritual Vein per month (can be transplanted externally)

[Combat Support Functions Upgraded]

· Spiritual Vein Feedback range expanded: Maximum coverage three hundred li

· Spiritual Vein teleportation distance increased: Maximum eight hundred li

· Dragon Soul Protection strength increased: Can withstand Mid Nascent Soul Stage Divine Soul attacks

· New Ability: Rule Lending—Can temporarily grant a designated Magic Treasure one of three attributes: 'Evil Breaking', 'Time', or 'Analysis' (lasts half an hour)