No one knew how much time had passed.

A ripple of disturbance swept in from the outside world, jolting Xu Yang awake from his enlightenment.

After a brief moment of confusion, he hurriedly examined himself inwardly.

"Eight feet five inches—hiss!"

This improvement made Xu Yang suck in a sharp breath.

It was even more terrifying than the last boost he’d gotten using the Stone Spirit Jade Lotus.

Don’t forget—the further you progress, the harder it gets to advance!

At the same time, his Minghuo had also made a tremendous leap.

"Wait, my spirit mark..." Xu Yang couldn’t be bothered to feel excited; he stared hard at his spirit mark, immediately noticing something different.

It seemed to have completely solidified.

How could this be?

If it hadn’t hit the nine-feet limit, how could it be fully solidified?

Yet the eight-feet-five-inches spirit mark was indeed condensed into substance.

He couldn’t help but stir his Minghuo and reached out to touch it.

Buzz!

At once, a tangible sensation responded to his touch.

Xu Yang’s heart trembled, his thoughts in chaos—then all at once, he remembered.

"I think I absorbed a Heaven-Locking Divine Chain from the Divine Cauldron Heaven and Earth Barrier. Could it be...?"

He carefully recalled, finally catching a trace of what had happened.

That Heaven-Locking Divine Chain had merged into his spirit mark, causing it to swell and solidify!

Eight feet five inches—a tangible, substantial spirit mark!

Xu Yang was utterly shaken, as if a gate to a brand new world had just been thrown open before him.

"If I could absorb all those divine chains from the surface of the barrier, the boost would be enormous!"

After all, their origin was far too astonishing!

But at the same time, once the divine chains vanished, Heaven and Earth would be left unbound; then that ancient Evil Qi would rampage, Heaven and Earth would collapse, and Evil Qi would gush out unchecked.

Xu Yang couldn’t help but shudder, but soon he shook his head with a self-mocking laugh.

To worry about that was surely a bit too far-fetched!

Those divine chains were endless and inexhaustible—what level would one have to reach to absorb them all?

At the very least, one would have to be Celestial Human, right?

By the time he could absorb them all, those outbursts of Evil Qi probably wouldn’t be able to threaten him anyway.

Thinking this, Xu Yang’s heart finally eased.

Swish!

His consciousness snapped instantly back to his true body!

Xu Yang slowly opened his eyes, meeting the gaze of the divine sparrow.

"Senior, how long has passed?"

"A month. That kid outside sent word—it’s time to set out."

Xu Yang’s expression hardened.

The contest before heading to Xianyun Ancient Land was about to begin.

Immediately, Xu Yang’s entire form trembled—he couldn’t suppress it anymore.

He was on the verge of a breakthrough.

His expression changed; without another word, he let go of all restraint.

BOOM!

An astounding aura soared into the sky, erupting madly outward.

Vast Spiritual Qi from between Heaven and Earth surged in, gathering into dense clouds.

Down below, the blood pool’s feathers were pulled up, soaring into the air and forming an unbroken tide of blood that flooded into his body.

Xu Yang narrowed his eyes and let his power vent without restraint.

Buzz!

In the void, chains manifested, crisscrossing and weaving together, turning this world into a prison cell of iron.

The Blood Ming Divine Sparrow saw this scene, and his eyes filled with shock.

Those bizarre chains again!

Next, a crimson flash blazed, saber-light sweeping wildly!

Finally, ink-black divine fire surged forth.

The whole world was transformed into an indescribable tableau.

Chains, saber-light, divine fire—the three blended and churned, spawning all sorts of strange phenomena.

Godly might threatened to overturn the heavens, vast and boundless!

After several dozen breaths passed—

Xu Yang’s power peaked; he threw his head back and howled, then shot like an arrow into that painting-like domain.

Clang!

Rumble!

Saber-light spread everywhere, its domineering force slicing through all, shattering everything to pieces.

All those strange phenomena slowly crumbled away!

Only one person remained, standing amid emptiness, emanating a fearsome, awe-inspiring dominance that shook Heaven and Earth.

In front of him, his spirit mark stood eight feet six inches tall!

His cultivation had reached True Monarch Perfection!

"A tangible spirit mark?"

The divine sparrow blurted out in shock.

Seeing Xu Yang’s spirit mark—though the sparrow was a peerless power at the level of Shenxiao Realm, even he was utterly stunned, as if seeing a ghost.

"How is this possible?"

"Kid, your spirit mark..."

Xu Yang descended from the heavens, murmuring, "Senior, my spirit mark is a bit special, but to have it solidify at this moment was also a huge surprise to me!"

"Senior, what do you think—how strong is my spirit mark?"

Without anything to compare it to, even Xu Yang couldn’t judge how potent this tangible eight-foot spirit mark was.

The divine sparrow narrowed his eyes, beams of sharp light shooting out.

"It’s not quite at the level of a true tangible spirit mark of the Shenxiao Realm, but it’s not far off at all!"

"Not to mention the divine techniques within—just the power of this spirit mark is several degrees stronger than an ordinary nine-foot spirit mark!"

Xu Yang grinned brilliantly, clenching his fists. That was enough.

"Senior, how will you conceal yourself?"

The divine sparrow gave Xu Yang a long, deep look, then his body suddenly turned translucent.

Swish!

A streak of blood-colored lightning flashed straight into Xu Yang’s body.

Xu Yang’s frame shuddered; he then saw a tiny blood shadow appear at the edge of his Dantian Divine Tripod.

It was the Blood Ming Divine Sparrow.

"Below the Celestial Human Realm, if I don’t act, no one will be able to sense me. Rest assured!"

Xu Yang nodded slightly, then strode out the door.

Halfway, he couldn’t help looking back.

No one was there!

Yet, he somehow felt as if someone was watching him.

Could it be Chi Xue Dao Lord?

This thought flashed by, but Xu Yang didn’t think too hard about it.

The Blood Ming Divine Sparrow had chosen to accompany him to Xianyun Ancient Land—for such a major event, how could Chi Xue Dao Lord not know?

At the plaza, Shi Hu was looking around impatiently. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

When he saw Xu Yang appear, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

With suspicion all over his face, he hurried up and said, "What’d you go off to do? Why did it take so long?"

"True Monarch Perfection? You... you didn’t get some crazy magic treasure again, did you?"

Shi Hu’s eyes went wide, feeling Xu Yang’s cultivation—there was an invisible pressure, and the distance between them felt like several entire worlds. Jealousy and envy churned within him.

What sort of damn lucky dog is this guy?

"There was indeed a bit of fortune." Xu Yang smiled faintly.

"From Lord Divine Sparrow?" Shi Hu’s curiosity was off the charts.

"If I told you, I’m afraid you’d die of fright."

Xu Yang said in mock seriousness.

But it was true.

If Shi Hu knew the Blood Ming Divine Sparrow was right inside him, he’d probably have his eyes pop out!

Shi Hu’s face twitched, and he sighed glumly.

"Let’s get going—the elders have already set off."

"You can keep up, right?"

"No problem. All the factions’ people are arriving ahead—we still have a few days before things kick off."

"Good."

Xu Yang’s thoughts turned; he summoned the Ink Cloud Boat.

The two stepped onto the Spiritual Boat and sped away.

"Where are we headed?"

"Spirit Realm Ancient Dragon Mountain!"

"It’s in the extreme west—the tallest mountain in the whole Spirit Realm. Legend says it was formed when an ancient Celestial Human dragon beast fell here; its body absorbed the world’s essence, and now it stands upright—like a dragon beast looming over the realm!"

Shi Hu said solemnly, "My father already gave me the details of the contest. Three thousand people will compete. Besides the seven top-tier factions and your Daqian, there are also the nine next-most powerful forces!"

"By the way, Ten Thousand Swords Island is among them!"

"That many people?"

Xu Yang was astonished.

Three thousand!

They were headed to Xianyun Ancient Land—no doubt, all three thousand were top-tier cultivators.

Aside from the True Monarch-level prodigies, most of the rest were probably Shenxiao Realm powerhouses.

Just thinking about that lineup was intimidating!

Shi Hu said indifferently, "It’s always the top experts from every faction who go to Xianyun Ancient Land. With that place, three thousand’s nothing—mainly because you can’t be protected."

"Just crossing to the end of the Spirit River Source, only the best Shenxiao Realm can pull it off—everyone else needs protection from elite Shenxiao experts."

"And, to break through the threshold from the end of the Spirit River to Xianyun Ancient Land, only a Celestial Human can do it!"

"However, it seems Celestial Human Realm can’t send their true bodies inside!"