453: Return to Heaven

Xun Xiuyuan himself, however, remained in a mysterious and profound Realm.

He had not yet fully realized just how strong he had become, only vaguely sensing that his strength was still increasing slowly and steadily in silence.

What was even more incredible was that even if he stopped actively Cultivating, his power continued to grow—all because the boundless world within his body was still expanding and evolving without end.

Xun Xiuyuan narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at the translucent Void Spirit Beast before him, and without hesitation, raised his hand to cast a Soul Control Technique, aiming it precisely at the target's Sea of Consciousness.

Although he was unsure of the strength of the Void Spirit Beast's Mental Energy and whether it could resist such control techniques, the Void Spirit Beast clearly had no intention of resisting; instead, it actively accepted the imprint of the Soul Control Technique, allowing the mark to sink deep into its Sea of Consciousness.

Afterward, it bowed its head and whined, expressing absolute loyalty to Xun Xiuyuan in the most respectful manner.

Seeing this, Xun Xiuyuan curled the corners of his lips into a satisfied smile, and said in a calm yet unquestionable tone, "You will guard this place. If there is any disturbance, report to me immediately."

Upon hearing this, the Void Spirit Beast nodded repeatedly; its docile and well-behaved appearance was exactly like a fawning pug, appearing incredibly submissive.

Xun Xiuyuan then turned his gaze to the Shadow King beside him, asking slowly with a hint of respect in his tone, "Senior, do you still remember me?"

The Shadow King smiled, a glimmer of approval flashing in his eyes, and he nodded in response, "Naturally, I remember. It is just unexpected that your progress has been so rapid, truly beyond my expectations."

Xun Xiuyuan understood what he was implying, simply smiled faintly, and said nothing more, though he was clear about it in his heart.

Just then, the xuanhuang one qi pagoda suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light, the brilliant radiance instantly illuminating the entire Artifact Spirit Hall. Even the usually composed Xun Xiuyuan could not help but show a look of surprise and suspicion, his gaze locked tightly onto the Ling Tian Pagoda.

The Aura of the Ling Tian Pagoda surged like a tidal wave, rising continuously. A powerful pressure permeated the area, and even the highly cultivated Xun Xiuyuan felt an unprecedented pressure rushing toward him, making it almost difficult for him to breathe.

In this tense atmosphere, the Aura of the Ling Tian Pagoda finally stabilized, no longer rising, but that majesty still shrouded the surroundings.

By this time, the Shadow King and the Void Spirit Beast had already been forced to retreat outside the Artifact Spirit Hall. Their expressions were solemn, and their eyes were filled with awe and shock. One could imagine how terrifying the pressure released by the Ling Tian Pagoda just now was, as even experts like them found it difficult to endure.

Suddenly, a red figure slowly coalesced. Little Xuan, dressed in red, appeared in the center of the hall. Her expression was calm but carried a hint of joy as she softly said to Xun Xiuyuan, "Master, I have recovered."

Although her voice was soft, it carried a power that could not be ignored.

As the Soul core of the xuanhuang one qi pagoda, the importance of the pagoda bead went without saying.

Previously, due to the missing pagoda bead, Little Xuan had fallen into a long coma, her consciousness and memories sealed. If not for the powerful, quantifiable Mental Energy that Xun Xiuyuan possessed, which constantly provided her with nourishment and support, Little Xuan would likely have had to wait countless years to regain consciousness.

Not to mention that retrieving the pagoda bead from an expert of the Guiyi Realm was an almost impossible task.

Xun Xiuyuan nodded slightly. Although he did not say much, a glimmer of relief and determination flashed in his eyes.

He turned his gaze toward the Shadow King, his tone calm yet decisive, "Senior, I would like to return to the Yuan Ling Universe." Although his voice was not loud, it carried an unquestionable determination.

Just as the Shadow King was about to respond, he saw the three people from Mortal World appear in the hall without warning.

Although they had been inside the Ling Tian Pagoda, they could see everything that had happened outside clearly.

Regarding the astonishing strength displayed by Xun Xiuyuan, there was nothing in their hearts but amazement and shock; there was no room for any other emotion.

The Shadow King swept his gaze over the three figures that had suddenly appeared, a meaningful smile lifting the corners of his lips as he slowly said, "Come to think of it, I have not truly traveled within the Universe for many years. Since there is this opportunity today, I would also like to go in and have a good tour."

Xun Xiuyuan smiled gently upon hearing this, his expression composed, and then the five of them turned into streams of light, entering the vast and mysterious Yuan Ling Universe.

Only the Void Spirit Beast was left to guard the spot alone, its thin figure appearing exceptionally lonely in the silent base. It let out a low whimper, as if knowing its fate of being abandoned, yet it still dutifully guarded this Void Realm.

After arriving inside the Yuan Ling Sect, Yuan Yi's expression was slightly solemn as he asked Xun Xiuyuan, "Brother Xun, is that Void Spirit Beast... truly trustworthy?"

Xun Xiuyuan just smiled indifferently, saying in a relaxed tone, "Do not worry, I have already planted a Divine Soul imprint deep within its Sea of Consciousness. As long as I am willing, I can end its life at any time; there will be no trouble."

His words were calm and unhurried, as if the Void Spirit Beast, possessing the cultivation of the Hongmeng Realm, was nothing more than a small beast that could be disposed of at will, not worth worrying about at all.

After hearing this, Yuan Yi did not ask any more questions and turned to leave.

Just then, Xun Xiuyuan called out to the three of them, saying in a gentle tone, "Wait, I still have some Law Comprehension Pills in my hands. These pills can help practitioners comprehend the Laws of Heaven and Earth more quickly. After you have gained some insights, you can search for the corresponding cosmic core based on the Laws you have comprehended."

Having said that, he flipped his hand and took out a pile of Medicinal Pills swirling with profound radiance, each one exuding an Aura of Dao that calmed the mind, and then distributed these precious pills to the three of them one by one.

The three of them took the pills without saying much, each nodding slightly to Xun Xiuyuan in acknowledgment, their expressions revealing a sense of tacit understanding, and then they turned and left.

The Shadow King stood to the side, his expression calm, showing no interest in these pills.

He had already completed the Fusion of ten cosmic cores and knew deeply that the remaining Time System cosmic core was an extremely rare treasure in the world; even if it appeared, it would be extremely difficult to obtain.

Therefore, he appeared indifferent toward such pills that assisted in comprehension.

Without waiting for Xun Xiuyuan to ask, the Shadow King spoke first, "Since we have arrived here, I will take this opportunity to have a good tour of the magnificent mountains and rivers of the Yuan Ling Universe. Little brother, if you have things to do, please go ahead."

Seeing this, Xun Xiuyuan did not insist on staying, nodded slightly, and his figure immediately turned into a wisp of light smoke, dissipating into the Void Realm.

This time, for his quiet departure, Xun Xiuyuan did not choose to use the massive and precise teleportation array of the Yuan Ling Sect, but instead, with just a single thought, cast a teleportation Divine Ability, arriving instantly at the location of the distant Heavenly Palace.