As moments gradually turned into minutes, Shun Long started to find it difficult to even open his eyes, while the only thing he could do was simply keep gritting his teeth and try to suppress the purple-colored earth flame that was now wreaking havoc within his spiritual sea.
And yet, Shun Long knew that this was anything but easy, since the earth flame itself didn't show any signs of stopping as it kept absorbing his spiritual strength.
After fighting for 3 full days, Shun Long finally managed to suppress the earth flame and stop it from rampaging around his spiritual sea any longer. The earth flame could no longer wantonly absorb his spiritual strength either, allowing Shun Long to heave a sigh of relief, before he could finally relax and focus on the scene within his spiritual sea.
Shun Long could clearly sense that more than half of his spiritual strength had been depleted during the last 3 days, but other than that, the only other change was the single, purple-colored flame that was floating in the center of his spiritual sea.
At this point however, Shun Long also understood that although he had managed to suppress the earth flame to a certain extent and stop it from rampaging around, he had yet to make it integrate itself in his spiritual sea so he could truly 'tame' it.
That was the most difficult, as well as most time-consuming part of the taming process.
...
At the same time, a month had passed since the Grand Elder had visited the 'Southern Dragon's courtyard' along with Sun Wen and Mao Jing, and today, another person seemed to have come for a visit as well.
Jiang Chen, Bai Longtian, and Xingyi... and even Jiang Tianfang himself all bowed as they cupped their hands and greeted the beautiful, silver-robed woman in front of them.
''Greetings senior Northern Sovereign!''
The Northern Sovereign nodded her head calmly as she faced the 4 people in front of her, her gaze lingering on Jiang Tianfang's body for a few more moments before she turned to look at Xingyi and the others and asked
''Shun Long still isn't out of his seclusion? It's already been a month since the 'City of Immortals' opened!''
Nodding his head, Bai Longtian cupped his hands at the Northern Sovereign and answered seriously
''Senior, brother Shun hasn't come out even once during this time, so he must probably be at a critical point in his cultivation.''
Nodding her head, the Northern Sovereign pondered for a few moments in silence, before she simply waved her hand and said calmly
''In that case, tell Shun Long to come and find me when he is out of his seclusion.''
Bai Longtian and the others all cupped their hands and bowed slightly, before the Northern Sovereign's figure disappeared from the courtyard soon after.
''How interesting. No matter how talented these brats are, I'm certain that they are all training in immortal-grade cultivation techniques, otherwise their cultivation bases couldn't possibly rise so quickly.
As for that Liu Mei... I am even more curious about her cultivation technique.''
Of course, the Northern Sovereign wasn't surprised that she didn't see Liu Mei in the 'Southern Dragon's courtyard', since she already knew that Liu Mei had actually left the city a month ago to go out and train.
At the same time, an expert like the Northern Sovereign was naturally much more experienced than most Sovereign realm experts, and she clearly understood, that unless Liu Mei, Xingyi, Bai Longtian, and Jiang Chen, all happened to be born with special unique physiques that allowed their cultivation base to rise quickly like Qiao Min's 'Blackwater unique physique', then the only other explanation for their terrifying rate of growth had to be an immortal-grade cultivation technique.
In fact, the Northern Sovereign knew that even most immortal-grade cultivation techniques out there wouldn't allow someone to reach the peak of rank 3 in the Dao King realm from the early rank 1 in merely 6 months, which was why she had been so interested in the cultivation techniques that Jiang Chen and the others were training in, even though the Northern Sovereign herself was also someone who was training in an immortal-grade cultivation technique too.
Jiang Tianfang stared solemnly at the Northern Sovereign's disappearing figure for a while, and after a moment of silence, he turned his gaze towards Jiang Chen and the others and said seriously
''The Northern Sovereign is bound to start asking you all some questions sooner or later. The longer we stay in the Northern Sovereign's estate, the more dangerous things will start to become as well. It's better to start preparing yourselves. As soon as Shun Long comes out of his seclusion, you should leave for the 'City of Immortals'!''
Xingyi, Jiang Chen, and Bai Longtian were all startled when they heard Jiang Tianfang's words, before Jiang Chen seemed to have suddenly realized what his father meant, as he asked in a solemn voice
''Father, are you talking about our cultivation techniques?''
Jiang Tianfang nodded his head and answered with a serious look in his eyes
''Don't underestimate the Northern Sovereign! Her knowledge of immortal grade cultivation techniques and martial skills can't be compared to someone like the Grand Elder.
I am sure that she has already guessed that you are all training in immortal-grade cultivation techniques, and she probably knows that it's not just 1 technique either.
For a small group of Dao Kings to possess more than 1 immortal-grade cultivation technique, forget about the Northern Sovereign, practically every single expert at the central region would end up going after you if they found out!''
Jiang Chen, Xingyi, and Bai Longtian, all nodded their heads seriously as they stared at Jiang Tianfang.
Indeed, considering that the Northern Sovereign was a peak expert who stood at the peak of the Sovereign realm, it would be surprising if she hadn't already realized that Liu Mei's and the others' rate of growth was heavily influenced by an extremely high-level cultivation technique.
In fact, even the Northern Sovereign's own cultivation technique wasn't anywhere near as fast, which made this matter even more surprising and worthy of her attention.
Most likely, Jiang Chen and the others guessed, that the reason why the Northern Sovereign had yet to make a move on them, was because Shun Long had yet to come out of his seclusion and because she wasn't willing to break off all ties with him just yet.