Qing Huan and Xing Yao lived in a sacred hall. While not particularly large, it was fully equipped.
Upon returning, Xing Yao immediately ran into her room and emerged with a thick album, presenting it to Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor like a treasure.
"It's this one. This is the Saintess who perished with the White Dragon Honored One back then. She was already a Four-Star Dou Zun, which actually made her quite strong among the Saintesses of previous generations," Xing Yao said, flipping through half the album and pointing to an image of a woman in an azure dress.
In the top right corner of the portrait, the Saintess's name was also inscribed.
Saintess Qiwu!
"She started cultivating at ten and reached Four-Star Dou Zun at thirty. That talent is indeed outstanding," Chen Xiao remarked, nodding as he looked at the portrait.
Such talent wouldn't be considered poor even among the eight ancient tribes on the Dou Qi Continent today.
Moreover, the bloodline of the Dou Di within the eight ancient tribes nowadays was far stronger than that of the declining White Tribe.
When compared, it made Saintess Qiwu's exceptional talent even more apparent.
Additionally, the White Dragon Honored One, who wasn't given preferential treatment, yet managed to surpass Saintess Qiwu, was even more unfathomable.
Hearing Chen Xiao's exclamation, Qing Huan shook her head.
"It's not like that. Before Saintess Qiwu, every Saintess lived out her natural lifespan. It was only after Saintess Qiwu's demise that the rule of starting cultivation at ten and heading to that mysterious place at thirty began. When they disappeared, their strength was weaker, mostly at the Dou Huang and Dou Zong levels."
Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor were somewhat surprised, unaware of such a secret.
Without paying too much attention, they flipped through the thick album, looking at the Saintesses of the past, occasionally listening to Qing Huan and Xing Yao's commentary.
On the last page of the album was the previous Saintess, named Saintess Xuanyin.
Perhaps because she was the closest to the present, the two girls knew the most about Saintess Xuanyin.
"Before Saintess Xuanyin left, she was a Nine-Star Dou Zong. Although we never met her, it seems she knew we would be the next Saintesses and left us encouraging words in her chambers," Xing Yao said, clearing her throat. She then pretended to be Saintess Xuanyin and spoke convincingly, "Qing Huan, Xing Yao, congratulations on arriving here. You are twins, different from all previous Saintesses. I have a premonition that you will break the age-old customs of the Dream Realm that have continued for ten thousand years. Cultivate well, and I expect you to surpass me and even defeat me!"
After finishing her act, Xing Yao deflated, feeling a considerable amount of pressure.
Nine-Star Dou Zong was still too distant for them, who hadn't even started cultivating.
Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor were speechless. However, from Saintess Xuanyin's well wishes, they realized that she seemed very certain of actually meeting Qing Huan and Xing Yao.
But according to the High Priest, the previous Saintesses had all perished.
Indeed, there was a significant problem!
Chen Xiao wanted to inquire about the trial with the two girls, but the words caught in his throat.
Based on the current situation, they were unaware of it and wouldn't be informed until they reached the age of thirty. Asking would be pointless.
This matter would have to be investigated with the High Priest.
Without further questions, Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor spent some more time with the two girls before getting up to leave.
Before participating in the trial, both Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor needed to improve themselves further.
At the very least, they had to digest their gains from today.
Returning to their residence, Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor once again took out the cultivation techniques, the Heavenly Wind Soul Scripture and the Heavenly Poison Overturning Void Chapter, and began to meticulously deduce them.
Although the High Priest had no enmity with them so far, and they even shared the same goal of leaving this place, the probability of tampering with these cultivation techniques was slim. However, one should never be careless, and caution was always wise.
"The cultivation techniques are fine. These are Heavenly-tier techniques, the first we've encountered. Without Dou Sheng level strength, one wouldn't have the ability to alter them. The High Priest doesn't possess such capability," Little Fairy Doctor said softly after deducing the techniques several times.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly. The High Priest could produce such precious items due to the accumulated heritage passed down through generations of the White Tribe.
As for the High Priest's abilities...
Currently, not much had been revealed.
For a Dou Zong expert to alter a Heavenly-tier cultivation technique was pure fantasy.
"This Soul Scripture is the same; it can be cultivated. Next, Xian'er, you'll switch to this cultivation technique first, and I'll try this Soul Scripture. Once the Purple Spirit Cold Qi and Dou Qi are completely fused, we can go and check out that so-called trial," Chen Xiao said.
Little Fairy Doctor nodded in agreement.
Having made up their minds, the two wasted no time and immediately began.
Chen Xiao entered the room, sat on the bed, and spread the scroll of the Heavenly Wind Soul Scripture on his knees. He chanted incantations, and peculiar hand seals quietly formed.
At this moment, Chen Xiao could feel streams of peculiar energy emanating from this world, constantly converging towards him. It was the omnipresent yet elusive 'spiritual' energy!
For the soul to advance to the Spirit Realm, spirituality was the key.
In the past, when Chen Xiao cultivated his soul, he could sense his soul's spirituality becoming denser, but it was never as intense as it was now.
The cultivation speed of this Heavenly Wind Soul Scripture was nearly ten times that of the Nine Nether Soul Scripture!
It even gave Chen Xiao an illusion, as if he could cross that invisible, intangible barrier in the next moment and officially enter the Spirit Realm, a goal yearned for by countless alchemists!
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Chen Xiao circulated the soul cultivation methods repeatedly, aiming for a breakthrough.
Under the influence of his cultivation, a large portion of the Holy City, centered around their residence, was enveloped by a peculiar energy. Although those within were unaware of the cause, they all felt an immense sense of comfort.
The unique plants of the Dream Realm grew as if on steroids, extending more in a mere fifteen minutes than they normally would in a year!
Inside the room, Chen Xiao, with his eyes tightly shut, frowned slightly.
He clearly felt that he had already reached the Mortal Realm Peak. After merging with the Spirit Nurturing Dust, the spirituality within his soul had further strengthened, reaching the standard for advancing to the Spirit Realm.
However, after this current surge, there was still no sign of a breakthrough.
"Is the qualitative change of the soul truly this slow without the catalyst of rare treasures?"
With this question, Chen Xiao continued to cultivate. Regardless of whether he could break through today, the spirituality within his soul would significantly increase. This was a good thing, and there was no reason to stop.
In the Divine Hall at the center of the Holy City, the High Priest, who was prostrate over an altar, seemed to sense something and slightly raised his eyes to look in the direction of Chen Xiao's residence.
After a brief scan, a hint of surprise flashed in the High Priest's eyes, followed by a smile tinged with pleasant surprise.
"From Mortal to Spirit, it's a natural progression. However, it will take at least half a month for it to show effect."
If Chen Xiao had heard this, he would have been greatly astonished.
This seemingly ordinary High Priest appeared to be certain that Chen Xiao would break through in just half a month.
"Very well, I shall help you a bit more. Do not disappoint me."
As a murmur escaped his lips, the High Priest's withered hand shot out from beneath his sleeve, forming a dazzling array of hand seals.
At this moment, unnoticed by anyone, the great array's intricate network, hidden beneath the city, suddenly flickered. A spark of spiritual light emanated from it, carried within the ambient energy, and surged towards Chen Xiao's location.
The instant this spark of spiritual light quietly entered his body, Chen Xiao's head buzzed. The Soul Power at his brow suddenly expanded as if it had been injected with a catalyst!
The rapid expansion caused an intense throbbing pain in his brow, as if his head were about to explode at any moment!
Sensing this sudden change, Chen Xiao's heart leaped in alarm.
But this was quickly followed by overwhelming joy.
Quantity had finally led to a qualitative change.
He was about to break through!
Quickly and firmly stabilizing his mind, Chen Xiao observed the changes within his body.
He could clearly sense that at the beginning of the breakthrough, a terrifyingly powerful and peculiar energy was rapidly permeating his soul. Simultaneously, his soul's strength also grew at a pace that astonished Chen Xiao, as if it had consumed something incredibly nourishing.
As his Soul Power rapidly increased, the throbbing pain in Chen Xiao's brow intensified, feeling as though it might burst at any moment.
This throbbing pain lasted for over ten minutes before slowly subsiding.
At this point, Chen Xiao realized that the indescribable, primal, peculiar energy had completely merged with his Soul Power.
Chen Xiao opened his eyes, a look of bewilderment on his face.
He released his soul perception, effortlessly enveloping the entire Holy City and continuously expanding outwards.
His soul perception was now several times stronger than before!
Yet, strangely, Chen Xiao found that his soul did not seem to have entered the so-called Spirit Realm...
"Why is this?"
As the doubt arose, Chen Xiao suddenly sensed that the surrounding ambient energy was being stirred by some peculiar force, whipping up a gust of wind.
And within this howling wind, faint but incredibly familiar wisps of 'spiritual' energy were quietly seeping from space, then surging overwhelmingly towards his brow.
Only now did Chen Xiao realize that the peculiar gravitational pull was emanating from his brow!
These spiritual energies continuously poured into Chen Xiao's brow, finally merging with the soul residing there, making the spirituality within his soul even more intense. The feeling of comfort was so profound he almost groaned aloud.
This level of spiritual energy infusion continued for nearly an hour before slowly ceasing.
Concurrently, an invisible, undetectable fluctuation radiated outwards from the room, encompassing the entire Holy City without any sign of weakening. It spread to cover the hundreds of miles surrounding the Holy City before slowly retracting as he concluded his cultivation.
Images flashed through Chen Xiao's mind. He saw many people within the Holy City looking up at the sky in astonishment, and he saw desolate hills outside the city...
"Boom!"
The next moment, the ambient energy erupted like a boiling oil pan, causing many within the city to look panicked.
Chen Xiao saw the commotion happening outside, but he had no time to pay attention. He was completely immersed in the dense spiritual energy, the feeling of comfort that reached the depths of his soul was akin to being drunk, making one unwilling to wake.
After indulging in it for a long time, Chen Xiao gently bit his tongue, forcing himself to sober up. He recited the incantations of the Heavenly Wind Soul Scripture, guiding the changes in his soul.
In this state, the increasingly vast and profound Soul Power at Chen Xiao's brow began to writhe violently. Faintly, it seemed as though something was gradually taking shape.
Time flowed like water, and in the blink of an eye, half a day had passed.
The crowds within the city began to disperse, and the cold night approached.
Little Fairy Doctor stopped her cultivation and approached Chen Xiao's door, her eyes filled with a hint of worry.
She naturally knew that Chen Xiao was at a critical juncture in his breakthrough, but it was precisely for this reason that she was even more concerned.
After all, once the cold night arrived, the Purple Spirit Cold Qi within Chen Xiao, which had not yet fully integrated, would no longer be obedient. If it acted up, it could cause Chen Xiao's breakthrough to fail.
"Bang!"
At this very moment, a muffled sound suddenly echoed from within the room.
Simultaneously, a vast wave of Soul Power, like a monstrous tide, swept out with lightning speed, startling Little Fairy Doctor.
"Success?!"
Snapping back to reality, the Little Fairy Doctor was overjoyed.
However, her gaze lingered on the closed door, but Chen Xiao still didn't emerge.
Inside the room.
Chen Xiao's consciousness spread outward like a tide, almost instantly surpassing the limits of his previous soul perception.
Moreover, he felt no strain whatsoever.
In this state, his consciousness was like a bird's-eye view, observing everything in sight.
His consciousness swept over mountains and great cities, eventually being swallowed by a vortex and entering a strange place.
Chen Xiao looked around. It was a colossal palace of terrifying scale. Inside the great hall, two thrones were placed, facing each other.
Seated on the thrones were two women who seemed somewhat familiar to him.
Chen Xiao quickly recalled, and soon remembered, that they were figures Qing Huan and Xing Yao had mentioned.
Saintess Qiwu, who had fallen together with the White Dragon Honored One!
And the previous Saintess Xuanyin, who had just disappeared!
His gaze moved past the two women, and Chen Xiao was soon drawn to the cold white flame dancing incessantly in the center of the great hall.
"Bone Spirit Cold Flame!"
This Bone Spirit Cold Flame seemed to be bound to a massive circular disk. The bottom of the disk was connected to dozens of iron chains, as thick as fists. These chains were densely covered with runes and led to long corridors that seemed to have no end.
"Where is this?"
Seeing the scene before him, Chen Xiao was immediately filled with suspicion.
Hearing this, Saintess Qiwu, who was rumored to have perished tens of thousands of years ago, chuckled lightly. She glanced at Saintess Xuanyin on the opposite throne and openly gloated.
"Little fellow, you guessed correctly. This is the place of trial you imagined. However, you infiltrating here with your consciousness is against the rules. Some people are now very unhappy because they've shot themselves in the foot."
Chen Xiao turned to look at the other Saintess.
He saw that Saintess Xuanyin, who would kindly encourage juniors, now had a cold expression.
"Don't let it happen again!"
As the words fell, Saintess Xuanyin waved her sleeve, and an unparalleled force came forth, instantly expelling Chen Xiao's consciousness.
-----------
Machine Translation by: https:// beta.randomtranslator.com/
Read 999+ original & fanfic translations in English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, or Русский at: https:// beta.randomtranslator.com/
Join our Discord: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------