174: Source Qi Refining, the Opportunity for the Fourth Transformation

In the Pill Tower Holy Domain, on the top floor of the star tower, within a quiet room.

Xiao Chen sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, his aura subtly resonating with the entire star tower and even the surrounding Heavenly Stellar Array. The majestic Power of Starlight gathered within the tower flowed into his body like a gentle stream, continuously and effortlessly devoured and refined by the Chaos Sacred Realm, solidifying his Fighting Saint cultivation.

However, his primary focus was entirely on the Origin Qi crystal in his palm, which contained only a faint trace of Primordial Ancient Palace.

The crystal was only the size of a thumb, displaying an indescribable chaotic color throughout, as if nebulae flowed within it, a miniature scene of the universe's birth and destruction. Even though its energy was almost depleted, it still exuded a supreme aura that transcended the laws of this realm and stood above all things. This wisp of Origin Qi was the spoils of war he had snatched from Hun Tiandi's Projection and the Pavilion Master Tianji in the Primordial Ancient Palace, almost self-destructively, and it was also the crucial cornerstone for his future Impacting the Doudi Realm.

“Origin Qi... the origin of all things, the source of laws...” Xiao Chen's Great Perfection of the Heaven Realm soul power, like the most precise carving knife, meticulously peeled away and guided the faint yet extremely high-essence energy within the crystal. He dared not be careless; while Origin Qi was good, its level was too high, and a slight misstep could lead to an energy backlash, or even assimilation.

The complete Heaven Burning Furnace Art quietly operated to its extreme within his body, and the Chaos Sacred Realm in the center of his Qi Sea emitted a joyful hum. Within the sacred realm, the nascent laws of earth, water, fire, and wind became exceptionally active, sensing the proximity of the Origin Qi. Xiao Chen guided the wisp of Origin Qi, as fine as a wisp of smoke, slowly into the core of the sacred realm.

“Boom—!”

It was as if a drop of water had fallen into a sizzling oil pan! The moment the Origin Qi entered the realm, the entire Chaos Sacred Realm trembled violently! The originally relatively calm chaotic airflow instantly boiled! The four fundamental laws of earth, water, fire, and wind, as if receiving a supreme command, began to accelerate their evolution, collision, and fusion!

“Sizzle sizzle sizzle—”

The barriers at the edge of the sacred realm, stimulated by the Origin Qi, slowly and steadily expanded outwards at a visible speed! One hundred zhang, one hundred and twenty zhang, one hundred and fifty zhang... Although the increase was not large, with every bit of expansion, the stability of the sacred realm and the completeness of the laws it contained improved! On the realm wall, the blurry mountain and river outlines also became much clearer, and there were even faint signs of budding vegetation and phantom creatures appearing!

This was no longer a simple accumulation of energy, but the growth of the world's Primordial Ancient Palace!

Xiao Chen's consciousness was completely immersed in this profound realization, akin to creation. He “saw” how the clear and turbid qi separated, how the earth condensed, how water flowed, how fire burned, how the breeze swept past... The operation of each law contained the ultimate truths of heaven and earth. His comprehension of the “chaos” and “creation” artistic conceptions also rapidly improved.

Time flew by during his deep cultivation. Outside the quiet room, the Anti-Alliance operated efficiently under the leadership of Xuan Kongzi and others. The teams sent to support the Flower Sect and Sound Valley successfully lifted the siege, allowing the main forces of the two sects to be preserved, further deepening their gratitude and awe towards Xiao Chen. Remnant Anti-Alliance forces across the continent were also rapidly consolidating; countless rogue cultivators and small to medium-sized powers, hearing of Xiao Chen's return and his reputation for repeatedly slaying Soul Hall Dou Saints, flocked to join, making the Anti-Alliance's momentum unparalleled for a time.

However, there was not much joy on the faces of the higher-ups. All the scouts sent to the Soul Burial Mountain Range had, without exception, disappeared. That area seemed to have become a black hole that swallowed everything, silently erasing any approaching life and energy. A sense of impending storm, a heavy oppression, shrouded everyone's hearts.

On this day, within the quiet room, a sudden change occurred!

“Boom—!”

The steadily expanding Chaos Sacred Realm suddenly burst forth with unprecedented dazzling light! In the center of the sacred realm, that wisp of Source Qi Origin was finally completely refined and absorbed, transforming into a tiny yet incredibly stable origin qi seed, deeply rooted in the core of the sacred realm! The entire sacred realm's scope had actually broken through two hundred zhang! The laws within it operated as a unified whole, clearly already a nascent miniature world!

Xiao Chen's aura also surged violently with it! The barrier of the peak Fighting Saint shattered with a roar! Even more vast and majestic Chaos Sacred Realm power, like a breached flood, washed over his limbs and bones! A crisp shattering sound came from the soul level; the shackles of the Great Perfection of the Heaven Realm were broken, and his soul realm officially stepped into the profound Saint Realm Soul level! His perception range instantly expanded to millions of miles, and his insight into the laws of heaven and earth increased by more than tenfold!

Fourth Revolution Dou Sheng! Achieved!

Moreover, it was a Fourth Revolution Dou Sheng with an unimaginably solid foundation! His Chaos Sacred Realm, its quality and potential, had already surpassed the domain world of ordinary Six-Revolving Dou Saints! Now, even if he faced a Seven-Revolving Dou Saint, he would have the power to fight!

Xiao Chen slowly opened his eyes, the chaotic light within them restrained, yet appearing even more profound. He gently clenched his fist, feeling the immense power within his body that seemed capable of controlling a region of heaven and earth, his heart filled with heroic spirit.

“Fourth Revolution Dou Sheng... origin qi seed... It's time to take the initiative and strike!”

He stood up, taking a step out of the quiet room.

Outside the quiet room, Xuan Kongzi, Flame Emperor, Flame Heart, and others seemed to have a premonition and were already waiting. When they felt the terrifying aura emanating from Xiao Chen, profound as the sea yet returning to simplicity, everyone was deeply shocked once again!

“Fourth... Fourth Revolution Dou Sheng?!” Venerable Feng's voice was dry. How much time had passed?!

“Good! Good! Good!” Xuan Kongzi's beard trembled with excitement, repeating “good” three times. Xiao Chen's growth rate repeatedly broke his understanding.

“Brother Chen!” Flame Heart's beautiful eyes sparkled with admiration and joy.

Xiao Chen nodded slightly to everyone, his gaze then turning towards the Soul Burial Mountain Range, his eyes as sharp as blades: “Teacher, Your Majesty, I wish to personally go to the Soul Burial Mountain Range to investigate! We cannot allow Soul Hall and the Heavenly Secret Pavilion to continue their arrangements at their leisure!”

“Absolutely not!” Flame Emperor immediately objected, “That area has now become a forbidden zone, fraught with unknown dangers! Although your strength has greatly increased, venturing alone is too dangerous!”

“Your Majesty, rest assured, I know my limits.” Xiao Chen said confidently, “Now that my soul has entered the Saint Realm, my perception of danger far exceeds what it was before. Furthermore, with the Chaos Sacred Realm protecting me, even if I cannot win, escaping should not be a problem. If I can disrupt Hun Tiandi's ritual before he fully awakens, or uncover the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's conspiracy, we can seize the initiative!”

Seeing Xiao Chen's firm resolve, and that his strength had indeed reached a profound level, Xuan Kongzi pondered for a moment, then said: “Since that is the case, be extremely careful! If the situation is impossible, retreat immediately! The Anti-Alliance cannot be without you!”

“I will.” Xiao Chen nodded, then looked at Flame Heart, saying softly, “Wait for me to return.”

With that, he no longer hesitated, his figure flickered, and he had already merged into the void, disappearing. His speed was so fast, his movement technique so strange, that even a powerful expert like Xuan Kongzi found it difficult to track his traces.

“Sigh, I hope everything goes smoothly...” Flame Emperor looked in the direction Xiao Chen disappeared, filled with worry.

“Believe in him.” Xuan Kongzi sighed, stroking his beard, “This child... has already become our only hope.”

At this moment, Xiao Chen had already passed through layers of space, approaching the Soul Burial Mountain Range, which was enveloped in dense death qi and an eerie mist of fate. An ultimate investigation, delving deep into the tiger's den, was about to begin! And in the depths of the mountain range, the “surprise” Hun Tiandi and the Pavilion Master Tianji had prepared for him had long been waiting... The true danger had only just arrived!