32: Early stage of the Cave Heaven Realm

As that mysterious power, carrying Nangong Yu's spiritual energy, impacted the Conception Vessel for the third time, a soft sound echoed within his body.

"Pop!"

Accompanying this soft sound, Nangong Yu's consciousness suddenly dimmed, and in a blink, he found himself in a peculiar space.

This space was roughly eight or nine cubic meters, but as spiritual energy continuously entered the space and struck its boundary walls, the space kept expanding.

Seeing this, Nangong Yu understood his current situation: he had broken through!

However, he didn't seem particularly happy; instead, his small face showed a hint of seriousness!

This was because although he had broken through to a new Realm, if he didn't stabilize the grotto-heaven, it would collapse, his Conception Vessel would be destroyed, and his cultivation would regress to the Spirit Absorption Realm.

At that time, unless his Conception Vessel was reshaped, he would find it difficult to ever enter the Grotto Heaven Realm again.

Moreover, even if the Conception Vessel was reshaped, the grotto-heaven that reopened would be much weaker than other grotto-heavens, and subsequent Cultivation would become increasingly difficult!

Nangong Yu's small face was full of seriousness as he sat cross-legged in the center of the space, continuing to observe the changes in the space and the influx of spiritual energy into his body.

Driven by the Grand Void Origin Returning Art, his spiritual energy flowed into the space rapidly. Before long, no new spiritual energy was seen entering the space.

At this point, under the guidance of that mysterious power, his spiritual energy continuously struck the space's boundary walls and diffused into them.

As the spiritual energy diffused, more spiritual energy would replenish it, continuing to strike the boundary walls, and his spiritual energy visibly diminished.

Watching the last batch of spiritual energy completely cover the entire boundary wall and continue to strike it, Nangong Yu's expression grew even more solemn.

He continuously formed strange hand seals, and unique runes appeared one after another, rotating around him.

These were precisely grotto-heaven inscriptions!

Before long, the grotto-heaven inscriptions around him had enveloped him, obscuring his figure.

At this moment, as the last trace of spiritual energy was depleted, that mysterious power also transformed into a stream of light and merged into the boundary wall.

Seeing this, Nangong Yu waved his hand, and countless grotto-heaven inscriptions scattered, continuously falling onto the space's boundary wall.

With each grotto-heaven inscription that fell, a strange light would flash at the corresponding spot on the space's boundary wall, as if it had become clearer and thicker.

Nangong Yu, however, seemed oblivious to this scene, continuing to form hand seals and send out grotto-heaven inscriptions, which constantly flew towards the space's boundary wall.

Before long, as the last grotto-heaven inscription landed on the boundary wall, the entire space vibrated slightly, and a peculiar purple-gold light flashed across the boundary wall.

After the purple-gold light flashed, the clearly visible space boundary wall suddenly disappeared, leaving only Chaos outside the space, without a trace of light.

Compared to the faint purple glow circulating within the space, the Chaos outside was as dark as ink, appearing distinctly separate from this spatial Realm!

Nangong Yu cast another grotto-heaven inscription, but as soon as it appeared, it diffused into the space. Clearly, the space was already stable and no longer needed new grotto-heaven inscriptions.

Seeing this, Nangong Yu couldn't help but smile slightly, "It's finally done!"

"I'm in the Early Stage Grotto Heaven Realm now. If outsiders knew, they'd probably be shocked!"

He looked up and was surprised to find that this space actually had the number of nine nines, which meant eighty-one cubic meters!

One must know that according to the 'Cultivator's General Knowledge Compendium,' nine is the extreme number. Even for Heavenly Spiritual Root or even Saint Spiritual Root holders, their grotto-heavens in the Grotto Heaven Realm are only nine cubic meters. Wasn't he too unusual?

"Never mind, haven't enough anomalies happened to me? I won't bother with it for now!"

Nangong Yu shook his head slightly, no longer thinking about it, and his consciousness withdrew from the grotto-heaven!

He slowly opened his eyes and saw that his mother was still in a semi-conscious state, causing his brows to furrow slightly.

But he didn't have many options, so he simply stopped thinking about it and directly took out a spirit nurturing pill and swallowed it.

Then, he no longer concerned himself with anything else, snuggling into his mother's embrace and slowly closing his eyes... The next day, early morning.

As Nangong Yu was sound asleep, he suddenly felt a familiar gaze upon him and slowly opened his eyes.

"Xiao Yu, are you awake?"

Seeing Nangong Yu open his soft, adorable eyes, Nangong Ruoxue couldn't help but smile.

Nangong Yu saw her, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but there was no other reaction.

He turned his gaze to the side but didn't see his mother's figure, so he blinked adorably.

Just as he was wondering, his mother, Shangguan Yuexi, walked in from outside the door.

She picked up Nangong Yu and smiled, "Yuer, are you hungry?"

Nangong Yu blinked, a hint of confusion in his eyes, looking utterly adorable!

Shangguan Yuexi smiled slightly, then turned to Nangong Ruoxue, "Ruo Xue, please step out for a moment. I'll feed Yuer something to eat."

Nangong Ruoxue was slightly puzzled. Why did she need to avoid her when feeding him?

Just as she was about to ask, she suddenly thought of something, and her pretty face flushed slightly, "Okay, Imperial Aunt, call me when you're done!"

With that, she hurriedly walked out of the room.

Seeing this, Shangguan Yuexi shook her head slightly and looked down at Nangong Yu in her arms.

A moment later, Shangguan Yuexi tidied her clothes and walked out of the room with Nangong Yu in her arms.

By this time, not only Nangong Ruoxue, but also Cui Zhu and Aunt Shen were waiting outside the door.

Seeing Shangguan Yuexi and the child emerge, Cui Zhu stepped forward and said, "Greetings, Grand Consort of Zhenbei Your Highness. Empress Dowager requests your presence for breakfast!"

"Thank you, Manager Cui Zhu, for making the trip personally. Please lead the way!"

Shangguan Yuexi smiled slightly and, with her people, followed Cui Zhu to the Empress Dowager's sleeping quarters.

Upon arriving, Aunt Shen obediently stood outside, with no intention of entering.

Shangguan Yuexi also understood the gravity of the situation and said nothing more, carrying Nangong Yu as she walked inside.

"Yuexi greets Imperial Mother!"

"Ruo Xue greets Imperial Grandmother!"

Seeing Ji Ziyu already seated at the dining table, the two quickly bowed in greeting.

Ji Ziyu smiled, "No need for formalities, come quickly and eat with This Dowager Empress!"

"Thank you, Imperial Mother!"

"Thank you, Grandmother!"

The two thanked her, then sat beside Ji Ziyu.

Cui Zhu, seeing this, quickly brought two sets of chopsticks and bowls for Shangguan Yuexi and Nangong Ruoxue.

Seeing them seated, Ji Ziyu looked at Nangong Ruoxue and smiled, "Little Ruo Xue, here to see Yuer again? Your news travels quite fast!"

Nangong Ruoxue gave a sweet smile, "Imperial Grandmother, Ruo Xue came to see you, but then I heard Xiao Yu was here, so I went to find him first, thinking I'd come with Imperial Aunt and them to pay my respects to you!"

"Slick talker!"

Ji Ziyu chuckled softly, "Alright, eat something quickly and then return to the Supervision Office to Cultivate. This Dowager Empress heard that your Cultivation has fallen behind quite a bit recently!"

"Oh, okay, Imperial Grandmother!"

Nangong Ruoxue nodded obediently, though her face showed some reluctance, and her gaze frequently darted towards Nangong Yu, with a hint of reluctance in her eyes.