Four drops of Heavy Water hung suspended in the void, and in mere moments, they had devoured all the Netherworld Qi in the surroundings, leaving not a trace behind.
After returning to his Qi Sea, Zhang Yan carefully observed and discovered that not only had the original three drops of Heavy Water been completely restored, but the newly formed drop of Heavy Water was also as flawless as a Xuanzhu, crystalline inside and out, with faint Treasure Light shimmering.
The unexpected gain of another drop of You Yin Heavy Water filled Zhang Yan with amazement. He reflected that, in the past, when he condensed Heavy Water, the You Yin Qi emerging from the Earth Veins would face numerous obstructions before reaching the surface, becoming considerably diluted in the process. Thus, while he could directly refine it into his body, it was far inferior in purity compared to true Netherworld Qi.
Now, he could clearly see that pure Netherworld Qi was an incredible boon for Heavy Water. If a sufficient quantity could be accumulated, refining a drop of Heavy Water would be as effortless as a mere thought.
After pondering for some time, Zhang Yan concluded that it was unwise for each drop of Heavy Water to remain completely full. Instead, it was better to keep them slightly lacking, ensuring they could immediately absorb and refine the Netherworld Qi as it became available. The excess Netherworld Qi could then be used to condense additional Heavy Water.
With this in mind, he immediately formed a hand seal and extracted a stream of Essence Qi from each of the four drops of Heavy Water. He combined these into a single current, guided it through his chest using a Dharma technique, and shortly after, as he anticipated, it coalesced into another drop of Heavy Water. Now there were five drops of Heavy Water floating and sinking within his Qi Sea.
However, with his current level of Xuan Guang Cultivation, this was the most he could achieve.
Even with an abundant influx of Nether River Water, the Netherworld Qi he could refine from it was barely enough to condense one additional drop of Heavy Water.
The Nether River Water came once every seven days. At this rate, over the course of a month, he could only condense four more drops of Heavy Water. To reach the hundreds of drops he previously envisioned to fully refine the Nether River, this pace was woefully insufficient.
After deliberating, Zhang Yan realized that his only solution was to quickly advance his Taiyin Xuan Guang to the Second Realm. Only then could this issue be resolved completely.
Determined not to waste any time, he turned and returned to the Flying Carriage. Seizing the moment, he focused his concentration and resumed his breathing meditation.
Time slipped by, and a month and a half later, the intricate prohibitions on the once-luxurious Flying Carriage succumbed to the corrosive Netherworld Qi, causing the carriage to completely decay.
Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Yan discarded it. From his Sleeve Bag, he produced another Flying Boat.
Back when he had obtained nine Flying Boats from Wang Pan, one was subsequently destroyed. Now, eight Flying Boats remained at his disposal.
He transferred all the items from the Flying Carriage onto the Flying Boat. Activating the prohibitions, he paid no heed to the ferocity of the surrounding Netherworld Qi, dedicating himself completely to Cultivation.
During this time, Lu Ge arrived to activate the Great Array every seven days. Though he never failed to mock and provoke Zhang Yan with his words, Zhang Yan did not react, letting him curse and shout from outside. Except for when the Nether River Water surged upward, during which Zhang Yan avoided its flow, he spent the rest of his time sitting steadfastly within the Flying Boat, refining Qi and absorbing Spirit, striving toward a breakthrough in Cultivation.
Although he cultivated day and night and absorbed the Dharma Power Essence originating from the four Cave Heaven True Masters, his Daoist Cultivation progressed exceedingly slowly.
Even so, he remained neither anxious nor impatient, refraining from reckless advances. Instead, he followed a steady, systematic approach, and his Daoist Cultivation subtly but persistently improved over time.
After abandoning his sixth Flying Boat, on one particular day, as Zhang Yan sat unmoving in meditation, his eyes suddenly opened. A flash of gold and red flickered deep within his gaze as he felt a surge of energy rise within his chest. Unable to suppress it, he opened his mouth, exhaling a long breath that carried with it a cloud of grayish turbid Qi. The Qi shot nine feet forward before dissipating into a wisp of smoke that gradually vanished.
As the turbid Qi left his body, Zhang Yan felt as though a constricting garment had been torn away. The Heavenly Gate opened wide, and Spiritual Energy poured down like a flood, washing through his entire being. From his organs to his meridians and bones, not a single part of him felt obstructed, and even his pores and hair flowed freely.
Just as he was reveling in this sense of bliss, a sudden sensation of heat and then coolness rose within his heart. His ears were filled with the sound of rushing tides as his throat contracted, forcing a burst of Essence Qi downward. His body trembled involuntarily, and with a resounding roar, Xuanhuo Jinze erupted from every acupoint on his body, transforming into blazing True Flame and surging Golden Wind.
Above his head, a radiant halo of light spanned over sixty feet, with its shimmering edges flowing downward like Chen Zhuo’s Gong Water. When it touched the ground beneath him, it struck an invisible barrier, instantly stirring up ripples of brilliance. Waves of starfire danced wildly, flecks of golden water splashed, and the void seemed to be illuminated by countless golden lamps, turning the ravines into a dazzling landscape as bright as daylight.
Zhang Yan stood tall, his mind entirely unshackled. He threw his head back and let out a long, resounding whistle that echoed into the heavens.