670: Outer Realm Map, Cultivation Direction

The night was as dark as ink. Beside the official road on the western border of the Xuanhuang Realm, a campfire crackled, its sparks illuminating the faces of Li Fan and his three companions. Having just slain the Outer Domain Evil Creatures' vanguard in the Black Wind Abyss, the four were taking a temporary rest. On a bluestone beside the campfire, the Outer Domain Map taken from the vanguard's Storage Pouch was spread out. The beast hide material possessed a dull luster and was densely marked with eerie Outer Domain evil runes. It emitted a faint, sinister aura, but it was firmly suppressed by the Grandmist spiritual light surrounding Li Fan, preventing it from eroding their surroundings.

This map was tattered yet crucial, serving as the only current clue for the Seven Realms to understand the Outer Domain Evil Creatures. Li Fan sat cross-legged, Grandmist spiritual light flowing at his fingertips as he lightly touched the map. The purification power of the hongmeng sword was injected through his fingers, causing the Outer Domain evil runes to flicker violently as if encountering their natural enemy, slowly revealing clear outlines. Zhao Hu, Su Miao, and Huang Ming gathered around, watching the map with solemn expressions, even tempering their breathing.

"Is this the power distribution of the Outer Domain Evil Creatures?" Zhao Hu's eyes widened as he looked at the pitch-black area on the edge of the map labeled as the Savage Domain, unable to help but click his tongue. "This range is far too vast! No wonder they dare to invade the Grandmist; they actually have such a massive Foundation!"

At the core of the map, a hideous evil rune marked the position of the Outer Domain Evil Creatures' main force—the Savage Domain beyond the Grandmist. That place was shrouded in a thick, inseparable black-red mist. Beside the evil rune were several twisted lines. After Li Fan analyzed them using the Outer Domain Evil Creature Tracing Technique, they turned out to be combat power levels; the lowest were comparable to the Soul Transformation Stage, and the leader of the main force was even more unfathomable, far exceeding the current understanding of the Seven Realms' Cultivators.

Huang Ming's face was grave as his finger traced the boundary line between the Grandmist and the Savage Domain on the map. "This boundary line is a natural barrier between the Grandmist and the Outer Domain. Ordinary Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators simply cannot cross it. Only by breaking through to the Soul Transformation Stage and condensing a Godhead can one tear through space and travel between the two Realms. In other words, even if we know where the main force is now, we are powerless."

These words were like cold water being poured over them, causing the atmosphere by the campfire to instantly turn heavy. Slaying a Mid Nascent Soul Stage vanguard had already been a narrow escape; facing the main force of evil creatures primarily composed of those at the Soul Transformation Stage, their current combat power was clearly far from enough. A heavy stone seemed to weigh down on everyone's hearts.

However, Li Fan's gaze remained sharp, and he was not crushed by the predicament. Staring at the Savage Domain marker on the map, a more intense fighting spirit ignited within him instead. "If we cannot cross it, then we shall Breakthrough until we can! The Outer Domain main force will only invade in a grand scale in a hundred years. We still have time; the Soul Transformation Stage is not unreachable!"

As his voice fell, Li Fan took out the fragment of the Myriad Realms Total Guardianship Art - Final Chapter from his robes and placed it together with the previous introductory and Middle Stage Jade Slips. The three Jade Slips instantly resonated strongly, their brilliant spiritual light intertwining into a light screen that merged into his Sea of Consciousness. Simultaneously, he spread out all his techniques in his Sea of Consciousness, including the War Immortal Dao Unification Art - Middle Chapter, the High Grade Sealing Technique - Introduction, and the Outer Domain Evil Energy Immunity Technique, and began to operate the newly comprehended technique prototype to perform an unprecedented Fusion of techniques.

He intended to integrate all his abilities—including War Immortal Dao Unification, Myriad Realms Total Guardianship, multi-Realm spiritual power, and Outer Domain immunity—into an exclusive composite technique, thoroughly shattering the cultivation barriers to charge toward the Mid Nascent Soul Stage!

"Multi-Realm techniques, converge into one! The Way of the War Immortal, with guardianship as its core!" Li Fan closed his eyes and focused as the war immortal nascent soul within his Dantian spun frantically. The Early Nascent Soul Stage spiritual power, Hongmeng Spiritual Qi, Void Power, the guardian light of the Transcendence Spirit Crystal, and the purified Outer Domain Evil Energy—these five powers were like five surging rivers, intertwining and colliding within his body.

The Profound Truth of the Myriad Realms Total Guardianship Art - Final Chapter fragment acted like a key, opening the door to the Fusion of multi-Realm powers, allowing spiritual powers of different attributes to no longer repel each other but instead complement one another. The War Immortal Dao Unification Art - Middle Chapter injected a War Immortal charm into the fused power, giving it the characteristics of both fierce evil-breaking and gentle guardianship. The Outer Domain Evil Energy Immunity Technique formed a special immunity membrane on the outer layer of the spiritual power, putting a stop to the erosion of the Outer Domain Evil Creatures.

As the Fusion deepened, the aura around Li Fan began to climb rapidly, and the Early Stage Bottleneck of his Nascent Soul shattered like paper! The air beside the campfire vibrated violently, and pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathered frantically, forming a massive Spiritual Qi vortex that enveloped the four of them. Even the sparks from the campfire were drawn into the vortex, becoming part of the Spiritual Qi.

"Boom—!"

A low rumble erupted from within Li Fan's body, and his cultivation level abruptly broke through to the Mid Nascent Soul Stage! The war immortal nascent soul in his Dantian expanded significantly, the patterns on its golden armor becoming increasingly clear. The Grandmist mark on its forehead shone like a star, and the void wings on its back solidified like ink, clearly showing the intertwined War Immortal runes and Outer Domain patterns. The hongmeng sword it held also gained a faint golden glow, its power surging to the point where it could already sever ordinary spatial barriers!

At the moment of the Breakthrough, a brilliant five-colored spiritual light condensed from the Spiritual Qi vortex and landed heavily on the bluestone with a "clack." The Jade Slip was surrounded by the aura of multi-Realm spiritual power; it was precisely the Multi-Realm Technique Convergence Art! This High Grade, High Grade technique could perfectly fuse techniques from different Realms and systems, taking the strengths of each to compensate for weaknesses and forming an exclusive composite combat power far exceeding that of a single technique. It was the key method for Li Fan to break through to the Soul Transformation Stage, and he thoroughly comprehended it with a single sweep of his Divine Thought.

"Fantastic! Li Fan, you've reached the Mid Nascent Soul Stage!" Zhao Hu was the first to react, laughing with wild joy as he punched Li Fan's shoulder. Even his Peak Golden Core Battle Qi couldn't help but surge. "Now, even if we encounter an evil creature at the Early Soul Transformation Stage, we'll have the power to fight!"

Huang Ming's eyes were full of admiration. He could clearly feel that Li Fan's aura after the Breakthrough far exceeded that of an ordinary Mid Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, and he could even contend with a Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator. This talent and Opportunity were truly astonishing.

A gratified smile also appeared on Su Miao's face. Taking advantage of the Spiritual Qi vortex triggered by Li Fan's Breakthrough, she brought out the Spiritual Plant seeds collected from the Black Wind Abyss Spirit Plant Garden. These seeds had absorbed the residual energy of the Outer Domain Evil Creatures and had been purified by the Grandmist spiritual light, giving them the potential for cross-Realm growth. Su Miao operated the Great War Auxiliary Spirit Plant Art, injecting the Spiritual Qi of the spirit ruins origin seed into them, emerald spiritual light flowing from her fingertips as she softly chanted an incantation.

Nourished by the pure Spiritual Qi, the seeds instantly broke through the soil, growing unique leaves that were half emerald-green and half golden-yellow. They could absorb the Vitality and Spiritual Qi of the Lingxu Realm while also accommodating the fierce Battle Qi of the Xuanhuang Realm; they were precisely Cross-Realm Spiritual Plants that could simultaneously absorb the Spiritual Qi of the Seven Realms! The Spiritual Plants emitted a faint spiritual light, and the aura they released could soothe a Cultivator's Dao Heart and convert Spiritual Qi of different attributes for one's own use, making them a treasure for cross-Realm tempering.

Right at the moment the Cross-Realm Spiritual Plant was successfully cultivated, an emerald spiritual light flashed, and a Jade Slip carved with Spirit Plant patterns dropped—the High-Grade Spirit Plant Cultivation Technique! This High Grade, Medium Grade technique could Cultivate various cross-world Spiritual Plants, optimize their attributes, and even allow them to possess special Divine Abilities. Su Miao instantly comprehended it with a sweep of her Divine Thought, her eyes full of joy. In the future, when the team went on cross-Realm temperings, they would no longer have to worry about Spiritual Qi repulsion.

"I've cultivated Cross-Realm Spiritual Plants; they can simultaneously absorb the Spiritual Qi of the Seven Realms and help everyone convert Spiritual Qi attributes!" Su Miao said softly, plucking a few leaves from the Spiritual Plants and handing them to the three of them. "The Spiritual Qi contained in these leaves is very pure; taking them can stabilize your Realm."

Zhao Hu took a leaf and swallowed it in one gulp, feeling a gentle Spiritual Qi surge into his body. His Peak Golden Core Battle Qi became increasingly refined, bringing him a step closer to breaking through to the Mid Nascent Soul Stage. He said excitedly, "This Spiritual Plant is too useful! Li Fan, you've reached the Mid Nascent Soul Stage, and Su Miao has cultivated Cross-Realm Spiritual Plants. Huang Ming and I can't fall behind either. Let's agree to charge toward the Mid Nascent Soul Stage as soon as possible, so that in the future, we can together trample the Savage Domain and slay the main force of the Outer Domain Evil Creatures!"

Huang Ming nodded solemnly, a raging fighting spirit igniting in his eyes. "Good! After I return, I will enter secluded cultivation and use the resources of my Family Legacy to strive for an early Breakthrough, so I can fight side-by-side with Fellow Daoist Li Fan to protect the Grandmist and its many Realms!"

Li Fan looked at his companions, who were perfectly in sync, and felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He said solemnly, "Good! Today we agree: once we all reach the Mid Nascent Soul Stage, we will head to the Lingxu Realm to find the Soul Transformation Legacy and make full preparations for the great war in a hundred years!"

At that moment, the Outer Domain Map on the bluestone suddenly vibrated slightly. In a blank corner, a faint golden line automatically emerged, outlining the contours of the Lingxu Realm. The core position was precisely deep within the Lingxu Realm's Reincarnation Pool, and beside it was carved a Spirit Plant rune, which resonated strongly with the spirit ruins origin seed in Su Miao's hand!

This was exactly the clue to the Soul Transformation Stage Legacy! The blank space on the map had automatically revealed the location of the Legacy, perfectly echoing Su Miao's Spirit Ruins Origins. Clearly, it was the resonance between the hongmeng fragment and the spirit ruins origin seed that had triggered the map's hidden information.

Su Miao felt the throbbing of the spirit ruins origin seed, and her eyes lit up. "This is the Reincarnation Pool of the Lingxu Realm! I can feel that the Spirit Plant aura there is of the same source as mine; it must be the location of the Soul Transformation Stage Legacy!"

Li Fan gripped the Multi-Realm Technique Convergence Art Jade Slip and looked at the marker for the Lingxu Reincarnation Pool on the map, his eyes full of determination. With the threat of the Outer Domain main force ahead and the threshold of the Soul Transformation Stage to the side, the Reincarnation Pool of the Lingxu Realm was precisely their next key destination to break through to Soul Transformation and prepare for the Outer Domain.

The campfire gradually went out, and the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon. The four packed their belongings and, stepping into the morning light, galloped off in the direction of the Lingxu Realm. An Outer Domain Map had pointed out the future battlefield; a Nascent Soul Breakthrough had solidified their current combat power; and a clue to a Soul Transformation Legacy had illuminated the path ahead. A new journey concerning the Breakthrough to Soul Transformation and the protection of the Grandmist had slowly begun in the direction of the Lingxu Realm's Reincarnation Pool.