Elixirs?

Xu Yang smiled and said, "Senior, those elixirs are actually unfinished combat techniques researched by a few of the Pill Dao elders from the Martial King Noble Family; I can only barely execute them myself."

He did not conceal anything.

This Pill Dao combat technique—no one else could reproduce it.

Even if someone could use it, only after a long period of accumulation could it reveal some power.

Just like the Life Fire Elixir he now refined, which accumulates Evil Qi.

In fact, it’s all prepared in advance!

It’s just that, if spiritual marks and Heaven-locking Intent are further comprehended, and with the boundless ancient Evil Qi within the Divine Cauldron, he could unleash it at any moment.

With such a simple explanation, the Blood Ming Divine Sparrow understood.

Indeed, it is unfinished!

However, Xu Yang was actually a top-tier alchemist, which truly surprised him.

Pill and Martial Arts Dual Excellence?

"When do you plan to leave?" the Divine Sparrow asked.

Xu Yang thought for a moment and said, "There’s no rush for now. I plan to further improve my spiritual mark!"

It would be best if he could reach eight feet!

"Spiritual mark..."

The Divine Sparrow’s gaze flashed, then suddenly he laughed: "I might be able to help you a bit."

Xu Yang’s face revealed surprise and doubt: "How will senior help?"

"Very simple!"

"At the True Monarch level, it is extremely difficult to set foot into the Spiritual River!"

"Some treasures that allow a True Monarch to comprehend a spiritual mark can help them approach the Spiritual River infinitely, or even protect a martial artist so they may merge directly into the Spiritual River; if I act, you can step right in."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yang immediately thought of the Stone Spirit Jade Lotus given by Shi Feng!

It was precisely its effect, carrying him into the Spiritual River, that made his spiritual mark soar.

Just as the Divine Sparrow had said!

Xu Yang suppressed his delight and said, "I shall trouble you, Senior."

The Divine Sparrow shook his wings and soared into the air.

"Prepare yourself!"

"Yes."

Xu Yang nodded quickly, his expression solemn.

At once, he slowly closed his eyes, his consciousness stretching out from his body, Life Fire blooming between heaven and earth, swaying gently—like a lotus of black flame.

Cry! 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The Divine Sparrow raised its head and shrieked, unleashing a terrifying flood that swept across the heavens.

Xu Yang’s consciousness quivered, yet he felt no devastating impact.

A vast and mighty mystery suddenly wrapped around his consciousness.

Whoosh!

The next moment, Xu Yang saw the world spin; his consciousness shot skyward at an astonishing speed, plunging straight into the void.

The surrounding void retreated, gales splitting in every direction!

No existence could threaten this soaring momentum.

Such speed was even more astonishing than the Stone Spirit Jade Lotus.

In just a few blinks, the source of the vast and resplendent Spiritual River appeared before his eyes, hurtling closer.

As always, its matchless majesty crashed down, making him feel utterly insignificant.

But by now, Xu Yang was somewhat able to withstand it and quickly calmed himself.

Boom!

The surrounding void shook violently, warping and surging like a tide.

Xu Yang’s consciousness blurred for an instant; when clarity returned, he found he had already set foot in the Spiritual River.

Once more, that indescribable supreme intent wrapped around him, bringing an utter sublimation of body and soul.

On instinct, he glanced down—and couldn’t help swallowing hard.

Beneath him was the illusory shadow of a Divine Sparrow.

And his consciousness-transformed form was actually seated upon the Divine Sparrow.

It was the Blood Ming Divine Sparrow bearing him into the Spiritual River.

The Blood Ming Divine Sparrow was a supreme Shenxiao Ancient Beast!

Even if this was merely a projected avatar, it was no small matter.

Riding the Divine Sparrow to ascend to the heavens?

A Divine Sparrow Rider?

Xu Yang’s thoughts tumbled chaotically.

If word of this spread, countless people would be stunned.

"Why are you spacing out?"

Detecting Xu Yang’s state, the Divine Sparrow sent a puzzled transmission.

Xu Yang shuddered, immediately banishing stray thoughts.

Being a Divine Sparrow Knight or whatever could wait until after.

He steadied his mind, extended his consciousness, and—enshrouded by the Spiritual River—plunged into the Heaven-locking Seal!

Comprehension gradually arose, while at the same time thick spiritual radiance from the river drifted over, encircling him, and gently merged into the spiritual mark.

At a certain moment.

Xu Yang’s heart stirred, his spirit abruptly sinking into the Divine Cauldron, arriving at the edge of the Tripod of Heaven and Earth.

Feeling the countless Heaven-Locking Divine Chains along the surface of the world-barrier, with a trace of anticipation, he gave a soft jolt.

Buzz!

Divine chains appeared, swaying without rest, emanating mysterious, obscure meanings.

In their profoundness—

These divine chains were what the former master of the Celestial Refining Divine Tripod bequeathed, the most fundamental roots—the Heaven-locking Intent contained within was unfathomable.

Even the mere traces that leaked out left Xu Yang perplexed and overwhelmed.

But he did not give up.

This was a once-in-a-millennium chance!

The Spiritual River’s essence increased his spiritual mark and aided comprehension of divine techniques!

With the Heaven-locking Intent on the surface of the Tripod of Heaven and Earth—even a tiny bit would be a tremendous advance.

Without fatigue, he stirred the Heaven-Locking Divine Chains again and again, concentrating as he comprehended.

Time raced by.

On a distant edge of the Spiritual River, the Divine Sparrow’s phantom hovered, carrying Xu Yang, as if frozen in time.

At a certain moment, the Divine Sparrow’s phantom quivered, its eyes widening in surprise at Xu Yang.

"Even here, I can sense that ancient Evil Qi..."

"How strange... What is it that dwells within him?"

Though the Divine Sparrow harbored no covetousness toward Xu Yang’s fortune, to find that presence barely perceptible in the Spiritual River was truly astonishing.

One must know, not just anything could manifest within the source of the Spiritual River.

That ancient Evil Qi clearly feared neither the majesty nor the oppression of this river!

Suddenly—

Xu Yang’s form trembled, the surging of Evil Qi abruptly intensified.

Immediately after—

The surrounding spiritual radiance was devoured in a flash, plunging straight into the spiritual mark.

The seven foot, seven inch spiritual mark swelled in a single instant, reaching seven feet, eight inches!

The Divine Sparrow was severely shaken.

"Is this brat a monster?"

He hasn’t even broken through to True Monarch Perfection, yet can absorb such astonishing spiritual energy in the Spiritual River.

The Divine Sparrow was silent for a moment, then suddenly carried Xu Yang deeper in.

The surrounding spiritual essence grew even denser and stronger!

Boom!

The Tripod of Heaven and Earth trembled madly, countless chains almost taking physical form, on the verge of erupting.

Xu Yang released all his Heaven-locking Intent.

At this instant, it was as if the two sides resonated with each other.

Whoosh!

One of the divine chains suddenly broke away from the world-barrier, and with lightning speed, shot straight at Xu Yang.

Xu Yang was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

He instinctively wanted to dodge, but the chain was far too fast.

Thud!

The divine chain pierced directly into his consciousness!

Xu Yang’s entire body shuddered, as a boundless, majestic intent roared through his mind.

An indescribable mystery flooded his heart.

Boom!

The spiritual mark suddenly surged, rising to eight feet!

Finally, it stopped at eight feet, two inches.

Xu Yang seemed to be within an illusion, his spirit lost, utterly immersed within.

He did not even notice as the divine chain perfectly fused into his spiritual mark, making it all but fully solidified, shedding the illusory state of the True Monarch level.

Meanwhile, in the world outside—in the Spiritual River—a terrifying suction erupted from Xu Yang, devouring clumps upon clumps of astonishing spiritual energy.

The Divine Sparrow blinked blankly, unable to understand.

"The pressure here is even stronger; how is he suddenly able to devour such vast spiritual essence?"

"His spiritual mark seems to have jumped an entire level in an instant."

"Strange."

The Divine Sparrow could not detect even the slightest ripple.

The Heaven-Locking Divine Chain from the barrier within the Divine Cauldron’s world merged with Xu Yang’s consciousness and spiritual mark, as if they were now utterly beyond the Shenxiao realm—even with the Divine Sparrow’s highest Shenxiao strength, he had no right to glimpse a thing!