16: Ice Soul Tempering Pill! Yan'er... this pill is a bit cold!

Cold Plum Courtyard, Luo Yan's small room.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating Luo Yan's rosy face. She sat by the window, holding a scroll of the Outer Sect basic Cultivation Technique, "Water Condensation Art," but she was somewhat distracted. Her husband, Jiang Linfeng, had been transferred to the Pill Room several days ago. Although he made time to visit her every day, he was always in a hurry each time, with a hint of subtle gravity between his brows. She knew her husband's situation in the Pill Room was delicate, and she couldn't help but worry.

"Yaner." A familiar voice rang out at the door, carrying a hint of the weariness of travel.

Luo Yan looked up in pleasant surprise to see Jiang Linfeng pushing the door open and entering, a gentle smile on his face. He still carried the faint scent of sulfur mixed with medicinal herbs, the unique aroma of the Waste Slag Pit.

"Husband!" Luo Yan put down the scroll and hopped over to greet him, throwing herself into his arms like a young swallow returning to its nest. "You're back!"

"Mn, I'm back." Jiang Linfeng wrapped his arms around her slender waist, feeling the warm, soft touch in his embrace and the vibrant life force in her belly, his heart filled with peace. He lowered his head and kissed Luo Yan's smooth forehead. "Did you miss me?"

"Mn!" Luo Yan nodded vigorously, her small face slightly flushed as she snuggled against his chest. "Is husband... doing okay in the Pill Room? Elder Situ... he didn't give you a hard time, did he?"

"It's nothing." Jiang Linfeng smiled nonchalantly and rubbed the top of her head. "Elder Situ just has me sweep the floors and clear out the trash; it's not heavy work. Look, aren't I perfectly fine?"

He deliberately avoided mentioning the dangers of the Waste Slag Pit and Elder Situ's probing, not wanting to worry Luo Yan.

"That's good..." Luo Yan breathed a sigh of relief, but her eyes still held a hint of worry. "Husband, I... I've been feeling recently that... the child in my belly... seems... seems to really like cold things? Before, smelling the plum blossom fragrance just felt comfortable, but now... now when I smell it, I feel refreshed, and even my Cultivation Technique runs faster..."

Jiang Linfeng's heart stirred! Ice Wood Spirit Root! After being baptized by the Great Dao Pill Patterns, its affinity had increased! Its ability to sense and absorb ice-cold attributes had strengthened!

"This is a good thing!" Jiang Linfeng laughed, pulling Luo Yan to sit down. "It means our child has extraordinary natural talent! Come, husband brought you something good!"

He mysteriously took out a delicate jade bottle from his bosom (System space). The jade bottle was ice-cold all over, and the opening was sealed with wax. As soon as he took it out, a crisp, pure cold air that seemed capable of cleansing the Soul permeated the room, causing the temperature of the entire small room to drop by several degrees!

"This is...?" Luo Yan looked at the jade bottle with curiosity. She could clearly feel that the little life in her belly seemed to have a strong resonance with this cold air, sending out pulses of joy and excitement!

"ice soul tempering divine pill!" Jiang Linfeng removed the wax seal and poured out a Medicinal Pill the size of a longan, completely ice-blue and translucent, with wisps of cold mist flowing across its surface! As soon as the Medicinal Pill appeared, that crisp cold air became even more intense, and tiny ice crystals even condensed in the air!

"Hiss—!" Luo Yan gasped! She had never seen such a pure, such a beautiful Medicinal Pill! Just the escaping aura made the Spiritual Qi in her body circulate faster, and her Divine Soul felt a wave of refreshing coolness! The child in her belly even excitedly "kicked" her!

"Husband... this... this is too precious!" Luo Yan was somewhat uneasy. Although she didn't understand Alchemy, she knew this Medicinal Pill was by no means an ordinary item! Compared to the ordinary Qi-nourishing pills bestowed by the Pill Room, this one in front of her was like a firefly compared to the bright moon!

"No matter how precious it is, it cannot compare to you and our child." Jiang Linfeng's eyes were gentle and firm. "This Medicinal Pill can temper the Divine Soul, stabilize the heart Meridians, and even significantly increase Ice-type Spiritual Root affinity! It's perfect for you and our child to take!"

He handed the Medicinal Pill to Luo Yan's lips: "Come, open your mouth."

Looking at her husband's unquestionable gaze, a warm current surged in Luo Yan's heart. She no longer hesitated and gently opened her cherry lips.

The ice soul tempering divine pill melted as soon as it entered her mouth! An indescribable, extremely pure ice-cold aura instantly swept through her entire body! There was no bone-chilling cold as she had imagined; instead, it was a refreshing coolness, like being in a snowy mountain spring! This aura quickly merged into her limbs and bones, nourishing every inch of her Meridians and cleansing her Divine Soul!

Hum—!

The dormant Ice-type Spiritual Root inside Luo Yan was instantly activated! Like a long drought meeting sweet rain, it greedily absorbed the cold Origin contained within the Medicinal Pill! On the surface of her skin, a thin, crystal-clear layer of frost condensed at a speed visible to the naked eye! Her whole person became like an ice-sculpted, jade-carved beauty, radiating a holy and cold brilliance!

"Mn..." Luo Yan couldn't help but let out a comfortable moan. She could clearly feel that her Spiritual Qi had become more pure and refined, and its circulation speed had increased several times! Her Divine Soul was clear, as if all distracting thoughts had been washed away by ice water! Even more wonderfully, the child in her belly seemed to be bathing in the cold Origin, sending out pulses of incomparable comfort and satisfaction! The aura of the Ice Wood Spirit Root became more active and pure!

【Ding! Partner Luo Yan has consumed "ice soul tempering divine pill (Simplified Version)"!】

【Effect: Divine Soul strength +20%! Heart meridian stability +30%! Ice-type Spiritual Root affinity +15%!】

【Offspring Benefit: Ice Wood Spirit Root Fusion degree increased! Potential: Grade A Low Grade → Stabilized (Ice-type advantage)! Innate Dao Body affinity +0.5%!】

It worked! The effect far exceeded expectations! Jiang Linfeng was overjoyed!

However, just as Luo Yan was fully immersed in the sublimation brought by the Medicinal Pill—

Hum!

An extremely faint, yet cold, probing Spiritual Sense, like an invisible tentacle, silently swept across the Cold Plum Courtyard! It precisely locked onto Luo Yan's small room!

Elder Situ?!

Jiang Linfeng's eyes narrowed! This old fox! He was indeed still monitoring! And this time the target... was Yaner?!

He remained calm, instantly running his Source Spirit Body to the limit! A gentle, pure, yet powerfully shielding Origin Spirit Power quietly spread out like an invisible barrier, firmly locking in the cold Origin aura escaping from Luo Yan due to consuming the Medicinal Pill! At the same time, his fingertips moved slightly, and a wisp of Origin Spirit Power silently injected into Luo Yan's body, helping her to condense the medicinal power faster!

That probing Spiritual Sense lingered outside Luo Yan's room for a moment, seemingly finding nothing unusual (most of the aura had been shielded by the Origin Spirit Power barrier), and finally, with a hint of doubt and unwillingness, it slowly retreated.

Jiang Linfeng sneered in his heart. Elder Situ, your nose is truly sensitive!

"Husband... what's wrong?" Luo Yan opened her eyes, the frost fading away, her skin becoming even more lustrous and glossy, her eyes as clear as an ice spring, carrying a hint of confusion. She had been immersed in the baptism of the Medicinal Pill and hadn't noticed the outside probing.

"It's nothing." Jiang Linfeng smiled gently, tucking a lock of hair at her temple behind her ear. "How do you feel?"

"So comfortable!" Luo Yan's face was filled with unprecedented radiance, like a spring flower after the snow melts. "I feel... I feel like my whole body is floating, and my Spiritual Qi circulation is so smooth! And... the child seems very happy too!" She gently stroked her abdomen, her face full of maternal radiance.

"That's good." Jiang Linfeng set his mind at ease. Elder Situ's probing had been temporarily resolved, and Yaner and the child had received immense benefits. Next, it was his turn!

He needed to break through to the Zhaoshen Realm as soon as possible! Only with sufficient strength could he truly protect them, mother and child!

"Yaner, get some good rest and stabilize the medicinal power. Husband is going to the Pill Room to be on duty." Jiang Linfeng stood up and said.

"Mn! Husband, take care!" Luo Yan nodded obediently.

Jiang Linfeng left the Cold Plum Courtyard and did not go directly to the Waste Slag Pit, but instead took a detour to the Menial Worker area on the outskirts of the Pill Room. He needed to find an absolutely safe place to break through! Room C-3 was obviously not suitable!

His gaze fell on the desolate pile of rocks behind the Menial Worker area, near the cliff behind the mountain. It was full of jagged rocks, sparse vegetation, and thin Spiritual Qi, and usually, even the Menial Workers couldn't be bothered to go there. More importantly, it was far from the core area of the Pill Room, and Elder Situ's Spiritual Sense monitoring was relatively weak there!

This is the place!

Jiang Linfeng found a hidden corner sheltered by a huge rock, forming a natural depression. He sat cross-legged, operated his Source Spirit Body, carefully sensed his surroundings, and after confirming no one was watching, he took out the earth fire flame heart fragment from the System space, which had reached 99% repair progress!

The crimson Ore throbbed slightly in his palm, emitting astonishing heat! The repaired fragment had its light contained, but the core earth fire flame power was even more pure and refined than before! It faintly revealed a hint of the domineering aura of the xuan yang fruit core!

【earth fire flame heart (fragment) repair progress: 99%!】

【Hint: Injecting Origin Spirit Power can activate the core flame power, assisting in breaking through the Bottleneck!】

"Finally... waited for this moment!" Intense light burst from Jiang Linfeng's eyes! He took a deep breath and adjusted his state to the Peak!

Break through to the Zhaoshen Realm! Right at this moment!

He formed hand seals, operating his Source Spirit Body with full power! Vast and pure Origin Spirit Power, like a bursting flood, poured madly into the earth fire flame heart fragment!

Hum—!!!

The fragment shook violently! It erupted with unprecedented crimson light! A flame, refined to the extreme and as thick and scorching as magma, suddenly spewed out from the core of the fragment! The flame was no longer in the form of a fire snake, but had turned into a roaring fire Dragon! It radiated terrifying power capable of burning mountains and boiling seas!

【Ding! earth fire flame heart (fragment) repair complete!】

【Quality: black rank high-grade (Repaired and Reinforced)!】

【Characteristics: Pure earth fire flame power (Reinforced)! Includes a faint xuan yang fire (Evil-breaking)!】

【Activated! earth fire flame Dragon!】

"Come!" Jiang Linfeng let out a low shout! His hands changed hand seals! He guided the roaring fire Dragon and charged it straight toward his Dantian Qi Sea!

Boom—!!!

It was like a volcano erupting inside his body! The violent earth fire flame power, mixed with the xuan yang fire, instantly rushed into his Meridians! Wherever it passed, the Meridians felt like they were being burned by a branding iron! Intense pain struck! But the Source Spirit Body's powerful recovery and inclusiveness activated instantly! The gentle Origin Spirit Power followed closely behind, like the toughest dam, guiding, smoothing, and fusing this violent power!

In his Dantian Qi Sea, the Spiritual Qi of the Tenth Level Great Perfection of Xiantian Realm had already accumulated to the limit! Now, under the impact of the earth fire flame Dragon, it was like a ignited gunpowder barrel!

Rumble—!!!

Muffled, thunder-like sounds echoed inside Jiang Linfeng's body! It was the Spiritual Qi crazily compressing and undergoing qualitative change! The Bottleneck barrier leading to the Zhaoshen Realm let out an unbearable groan under the dual impact of the earth fire flame Dragon and the Origin Spirit Power!

Crack! Crack!

Tiny cracking sounds rang out deep in his Soul! On the Bottleneck barrier, cracks spread rapidly like a spider web!

"Break... for me!!!"

Jiang Linfeng roared in his heart! His Source Spirit Body was driven to the limit! All power condensed into one point! He slammed it fiercely against the crack-filled Bottleneck barrier!

Boom—!!!

As if the Universe had just begun! Chaos exploded!

An indescribable, vast, and majestic aura suddenly erupted from Jiang Linfeng's body! It instantly swept across the entire pile of rocks!

Hum!

The rock beneath him silently turned into powder! The surrounding air twisted violently! An invisible, cold, terrifying pressure that seemed capable of freezing the Soul suddenly spread out with him as the center!

Invincible Domain! Automatically activated!

Within a hundred-meter radius! Space solidified! All things bowed! Even the air stopped flowing! Deep in the Souls of all living beings, an instinctive, irresistible fear and submission arose!

【Ding! Congratulations, Host! Successfully broke through to the first level of the Zhaoshen Realm!】

【Source Spirit Body advanced! Spiritual Qi recovery speed × 20! Compatibility with all techniques increased! Passive included: Domain suppression (weakens enemy Realm within 100 meters)!】

【Invincible Domain range expanded: 100 meters → 150 meters! Suppression effect increased!】

【Obtained new ability: Source Spirit Eye (can perceive energy flow, see through falsehoods)!】

It worked! Zhaoshen Realm!

Jiang Linfeng opened his eyes abruptly! Deep in his pupils, it seemed as if stars were flickering and the Universe was shining! An indescribable and powerful force filled his entire body! With every move, it seemed as if he could tear the Void Realm! His Spiritual Sense perception range had expanded more than tenfold! The whole world became clearer and more "real" in his eyes!

With a thought, the Invincible Domain instantly retracted! The space within a hundred meters returned to normal. He looked down at his hands, feeling the surging Spiritual Qi in his body like a rushing river, and a suppressed, wild joy curled at the corners of his mouth!

Finally! Stepped into this Realm!

However, just as he was immersed in the joy of the Breakthrough—

Thump! Thump!

Two dull thuds of someone falling to the ground came from not far away!

Jiang Linfeng's eyes narrowed! The Source Spirit Eye instantly activated! His vision penetrated the rocks!

He saw that a hundred meters away, two Disciples wearing Inner Sect Disciple attire, responsible for patrolling the outskirts of the Menial Worker area, were now lying on the ground, pale-faced, foaming at the mouth, and rolling their eyes! They had no external injuries, but their auras were chaotic and their Divine Souls were shaken; they had clearly suffered some kind of extremely terrifying mental shock!

Jiang Linfeng: "..."

He understood instantly! It was when he broke through just now, the Invincible Domain had activated automatically! That instantly erupted, terrifying pressure and Domain suppression far exceeding the Innate Realm had directly knocked these two unlucky guys a hundred meters away unconscious!

"Uh..." Jiang Linfeng's mouth twitched slightly. This... does this count as passive showing off? Or... friendly fire?

He hurriedly retracted all his auras, operated his Source Spirit Body to suppress his Realm back to the Tenth Level Great Perfection of Xiantian Realm (upgraded version of Breath Concealment Art), and then his figure flickered, disappearing from the spot like a ghost.

This place is not suitable for staying long!

Not long after Jiang Linfeng disappeared.

A green sword light descended from the sky! Elder Situ's figure appeared above the pile of rocks! His face was grave, and his sharp gaze scanned below! The violent energy fluctuations remaining in the air and a faint, almost imperceptible pressure that made his Soul tremble caused his pupils to shrink!

"Such strong energy fluctuations! Such terrifying pressure! This... this is definitely not something the Innate Realm can have!" Elder Situ was shocked in his heart! Just now in the depths of the Pill Room, he had vaguely sensed the energy eruption from here! That was why he had rushed over immediately!

His gaze swept over the two unconscious Inner Sect Disciples on the ground, his brows locked tightly. These two... were they caught in the crossfire?

He descended and carefully examined the scene. The ground was scorched black, the rocks had turned to powder, and the air was filled with violent fire Qi (residual earth fire flame heart) and a hint of... an indescribable, cold, and supreme pressure!

"earth fire flame power... and... this... could this be... the aura of a Domain?!" Elder Situ's expression changed drastically! A Domain! That was a power that only experts in the Void Tribulation Realm could initially master! Could it be... that the mysterious saint hand of the dao of alchemy had returned? And was fighting someone here? Or... had broken through?!

He looked up abruptly, his gaze like lightning, scanning the surroundings! Trying to find any clues!

However, apart from the residual energy and the two unconscious Disciples, there were no other clues at the scene!

"Damn it!" Elder Situ cursed inwardly! It was like this again! The divine dragon sees its head but not its tail!

He looked gloomily in the direction of the Menial Worker area. Jiang Linfeng... that Menial Worker... seemed to be on duty near here today too? Could it be... that he "ran into" it again?

An absurd, yet haunting thought like a curse, once again crazily impacted his sanity!

"Jiang Linfeng... young friend..." Elder Situ whispered, his eyes extremely complex. "Who... exactly are you?!"

He waved his sleeves, gathered the two unconscious Disciples from the ground, and turned into a sword light to leave. The desire to investigate Jiang Linfeng in his heart had already climbed to the Peak!

And at this moment, Jiang Linfeng, who had long slipped back to the Waste Slag Pit to "be on duty," was holding a broom, sweeping the pill ash with an "innocent" face. Feeling the surging power of the Zhaoshen Realm in his body, a subtle arc curled at the corners of his mouth.

Elder Situ, take your time guessing.

This path of invincibility has only just begun!