192: Chapter 192: Mid-Stage of Exhaustion

The Aura around Xiao Yuchen was growing stronger and stronger. Soon, the sky darkened once again, filled with thick clouds, accompanied by Arcs traversing within them.

For others, Undergoing Tribulation was a near-death experience, but for Xiao Yuchen, it was a form of enjoyment; only by utilizing the Heavenly Thunder could he upgrade his Arc Seed.

Because he was already well-practiced, Xiao Yuchen continued to use the Great Desolation Spirit Swallowing Technique to absorb the first few waves of Lightning Tribulation. Later on, he directly summoned the lightning locking tower to absorb all the remaining thunder.

When the Lightning Tribulation ended, the sky cleared up once again, and Xiao Yuchen finally raised his cultivation to the Early Stage of Void Refinement.

"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully achieving a Breakthrough to the Void Refinement Stage. You are rewarded with the top-tier Cultivation Technique Soul Heavenly Fire, the first move of the Thunder Control Technique, Thunder Dragon Annihilation, and three top-grade tenglong pills. They have been placed in the System Inventory. Please check them."

Hearing this long-missed voice from the System again, Xiao Yuchen was overjoyed and hurriedly checked the reward descriptions.

Soul Heavenly Fire is a type of Soul attack Cultivation Technique that can directly attack the Soul, causing it to burn and harming others invisibly; its power is determined by the user's Soul Power.

The first move of the Thunder Control Technique, Thunder Dragon Annihilation, can be cultivated once the Arc Seed reaches Level 4. Upon successful cultivation, one can summon Heavenly Thunder to harm enemies invisibly.

The summoned Heavenly Thunder is not true Heavenly Thunder, but rather the transformation of one's own Qi into the power of lightning to be released; its power is determined by the magnitude of the user's Qi.

The top-grade tenglong pill can help a powerhouse at the Void Refinement Stage achieve a 100% Breakthrough to the current Rank, though it cannot cross Ranks, and it is ineffective for those at the Great Perfection of the Void Refinement Stage.

Having obtained two more skills, Xiao Yuchen was very satisfied. Furthermore, both Soul Heavenly Fire and Thunder Dragon Annihilation were extremely domineering skills; when used together, they could directly cause a person's body and Soul to be obliterated.

"I should first upgrade the Arc Seed to Level 4."

Having absorbed the first four waves of Lightning Tribulation, Xiao Yuchen's Arc Seed was on the verge of breaking through to Level 4. As long as he absorbed the remaining thunderous power within the lightning locking tower, he could successfully upgrade the Arc Seed to Level 4, which would allow him to learn the Thunder Control Technique.

With a plan in mind, Xiao Yuchen did not hesitate. He released the lightning power from the lightning locking tower one by one. After absorbing over a dozen bolts of thunderous power, Xiao Yuchen finally upgraded the Arc Seed to Level 4.

"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully achieving a Breakthrough to the Middle Stage of Void Refinement. You are rewarded with one Wind Spirit Stone and 30,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. They have been placed in the System Inventory. Please check them."

Hearing the System's voice, Xiao Yuchen smiled even more happily. The System had finally gifted him an elemental Spirit Stone again, and he could gain another Spiritual Root. Moreover, the Wind Spiritual Root was a rare Spiritual Root.

However, after reaching the Void Refinement Stage, the speed of his cultivation improvement had slowed down significantly. It seemed that trying to improve his cultivation by absorbing elemental power was not that simple.

Putting everything else to the back of his mind, Xiao Yuchen first refined the Wind Spirit Stone and successfully awakened his fifth Spiritual Root, the Wind Spiritual Root.

When the wind seed entered his Dantian, it was immediately swallowed by his fifth Nascent Soul. Xiao Yuchen was already accustomed to this and did not take it to heart.

After Awakening the Wind Spiritual Root, Xiao Yuchen learned Soul Heavenly Fire and the Thunder Control Technique with the help of the System.

What pleasantly surprised Xiao Yuchen was that Soul Heavenly Fire could not only harm others' Souls but also be used to strengthen his own Soul.

Although this would involve enduring some pain, the benefits were great; it could not only increase his Soul Power but also increase his Soul strength.

Having settled all this, Xiao Yuchen did not linger any longer. He stepped on the Void Realm and returned home. With the bonus of the wind attribute, his speed had also increased, and he soon arrived home.

After a long while, three old men appeared on the small island where Xiao Yuchen had just undergone his Lightning Tribulation. Among these three, two had reached the Late Void Refinement Stage, and one was at the Middle Stage of Body Integration.

"Elder, someone must have been Undergoing Tribulation here just now. It looks like it was a Lightning Tribulation for the Void Refinement Stage, and it was actually the rare Nine-Fold Lightning Tribulation. This person's talent is extraordinary."

"Hmm. In Xiyue Prefecture, almost all Cultivators above the Soul Transformation Stage have joined the Four Great Sects and possess a certain status within the Sects. It is impossible for them to come here to undergo their tribulation; the other party is likely a Loose Cultivator. You two go and investigate to see if you can find this person. If you find him, you must spare no cost to recruit this person to Fire Cloud Valley. This matter must be carried out in secret; do not let the people from the Qingyun Sword Sect discover it, otherwise, it will be very troublesome, as this is, after all, the territory of the Qingyun Sword Sect."

"Yes, Elder."

The two bowed in salute and then flew in the direction of Qingshan City.

Xiao Yuchen naturally did not know that his simple act of Undergoing Tribulation had attracted someone's attention, but even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared.

Although he was currently only at the Middle Stage of Void Refinement, if he used all his means, he should be able to fight anyone below the Dongxu Stage. Although he could not yet contend with the Four Great Sects, he at least possessed a certain ability to protect himself.

Upon returning home, the two women were competing in Sword Technique. Although Wen Ruyu's cultivation was not as high as Dongfang Qingcheng's, her comprehension of Sword Technique was not weaker than Dongfang Qingcheng's, and the two were surprisingly evenly matched.

"Alright, you two stop."

Hearing Xiao Yuchen's words, the two stopped their duel and came before Xiao Yuchen.

"Brother Yuchen, how is our Sword Technique? Did we receive your true teachings?"

Wen Ruyu was like a little child waiting for an adult's praise, looking forward to receiving Xiao Yuchen's affirmation.

"Not bad, but don't be proud; you still need to continue working hard. Your cultivation is now stabilized at the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage. I will help you improve further."

"Is that really okay? With your help, I have already achieved a Breakthrough by two levels. Can I continue to break through?" Wen Ruyu was somewhat excited, feeling that all of this was too unreal.

"No problem, come with me."

After speaking, Xiao Yuchen turned to leave, but was stopped by Dongfang Qingcheng.

"Wait a moment. This is unfair. You cannot always give special treatment to Ruyu. I have been stuck at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core Stage for a long time. Help me achieve a Breakthrough as well. As long as you help me achieve a Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage, I will do anything." Dongfang Qingcheng's tone was filled with pleading.

"Anything, really?"

Xiao Yuchen suddenly turned his head, his gaze scanning Dongfang Qingcheng, looking very lecherous.

"What do you want to do?"

Seeing Xiao Yuchen like this, Dongfang Qingcheng crossed her arms over her chest and subconsciously took a step back.

Seeing Dongfang Qingcheng like this, Xiao Yuchen said with a smile, "What do you think? Naturally, I want to be comfortable."

"You... fine. As long as you help me, I will go to your room tonight."

Xiao Yuchen's strength had completely conquered Dongfang Qingcheng. Being able to be Xiao Yuchen's woman did not seem like a bad thing, so after hesitating for only a moment, Dongfang Qingcheng made her final decision.

"No need for tonight; let's do it now."

"Now? Isn't that inappropriate?"

Dongfang Qingcheng was unwilling. This was her first time, after all. Even if she liked Xiao Yuchen, she couldn't give away her first time so easily.

Xiao Yuchen ignored Dongfang Qingcheng. He sat down on a stool, raised his leg, and said, "It's just a leg massage; it's the same anywhere. I'm worried that you'll go back on your word after your Breakthrough, so let's do it now."

"What? You want me to give you a leg massage?"

"That's right. Although, if you are willing, you can also massage my shoulders while you're at it."