The numerous Heavenly Rankers exchanged glances. Eventually, their gazes settled on Zhao Yi and Hai Jian.
"Haha, with this array, we no longer have any concerns," Zhao Yi chuckled. "Furthermore, our three holy sanctuaries took extensive efforts to eradicate the Chu-Jiang Empire. That tiny Cloudstride Sect believes they can resurrect Chu-Jiang? A preposterous dream!"
"Indeed," Hai Jian chimed in from the side, "Great Jin, united by our three holy sanctuaries, must work in harmony.”
"Marvelous!" Outwardly, Jin Ji smiled with satisfaction. However, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. In terms of the amount of wealth and treasures accumulated, the Jin royal family far surpassed any other organization, including the Starcom Consortium. However, in terms of the number of qi refiners the royal family produced, there were only three to this day.
Initially, Jin Qing's breakthrough had brought immense joy to Jin Ji. But in a cruel twist of fate, his brother met his demise in the Fourth Eldritch Realm.
Shadow Blade, you have to die! Jin Ji vowed to himself. Simultaneously, a different thought crossed Jin Ji's mind. That Shadow Blade, could it be that he obtained an invaluable treasure from the Eldritch Chamber? I must do everything in my power to obtain it.
While other forces across the thirteen continents were oblivious to the existence of eldritches, the Jin royal family's precious Amethyst Cradle Jade Record contained explicit accounts of these formidable cultivators.
"Right, Daoist Jin Ji," Zhao Jian interjected suddenly. "Has the Starcom Consortium still not responded to Wu Jianzhong’s death?"
The other Heavenly Rankers turned their gaze towards Jin Ji, awaiting his response. It had been a month since Wu Jianzhong's defeat, and the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin chose to observe the ongoing conflict between the Starcom Consortium and the Cloudstride Sect from afar. Little did they expect that the Starcom Consortium would remain idle.
"Wan Xing sent us a message, stating that the Starcom Consortium shall remain impartial in this war," Jin Ji revealed in a hushed tone. "They have only one condition: if we can eliminate Fang Xia, it will serve as vengeance for the Starcom Consortium. In return, they will not dispute our claim over the Jiang Continent."
"That cunning old fox!"
"Coward, afraid of death above all else."
"The Jiang Continent? The Starcom Consortium is speaking as though they’re doing us a favor by not blocking our troops after we kill Fang Xia." The Heavenly Rankers of Great Jin were full of indignation.
They were indeed wary of Wan Xing. The Starcom Consortium was universally acknowledged as the foremost power in the world due to its martial might. The Great Jin Empire could only stand a chance against them when the three holy sanctuaries joined forces.
"Very well. We cannot force Wan Xing to join the battle." Jin Ji's gaze swept across the assembled crowd. “It will take several days for us to learn how to operate the Septet Ignis Array. Once we learn the controls, we will march forth to conquer Cloudhill."
The six Heavenly Rankers nodded in agreement.
"Cang’er," Jin Ji turned his attention to Jin Cang beside him.
"Ancestor," Jin Cang lowered his head respectfully.
“Inform the armies mobilized in the Yuan Continent, Jiang Continent, and Chu Continent to make preparations," Jin Ji spoke softly. "As soon as the battle at Cloudhill concludes, they are to immediately invade the Jiang Continent, removing the greatest obstacle that stands in the path of Great Jin's unification."
"Understood," Jin Cang's eyes gleamed. He knew that once the Jiang Continent was theirs, the unification of the world would be within the Great Jin Empire’s grasp.
Despite the arrival of autumn, Cloudhill still offered gentle breezes and pleasant temperatures.
Ever since the climactic battle between Heavenly Rankers that concluded in August, the world had been thrown into a frenzy. In the month of September, the Cloudstride Sect had relentlessly expanded their influence, their banners now fluttering in ten out of the sixteen states of the Jiang Continent, causing ripples of awe and fear throughout the land.
Gu Wang, Lu Feng, and Zhang Changsheng displayed Grandmaster-level strength during the battle, becoming overnight legends.
Atop Cloudhill, however, all was tranquil. The various factions of the world had been made aware that Shadow Blade was an expert of the Cloudstride Sect, and soon to enter the Heavenly Rankings. However, only a select few were privy to the fact that Shadow Blade was none other than Wu Yuan.
After Wu Qiming, Wanqin, and Wu Yijun had consumed the Redwood Spirit Fruits, Wu Yuan escorted them down the mountain.
With the visitors gone, tranquility returned to Wu Yuan's private courtyard house. Within the dimly lit meditation chamber, Wu Yuan sat in silence.
Blood mist! Like a tidal surge, the blood-red mist rushed to permeate every fiber of his body. Wu Yuan's body functioned as a sponge, eagerly absorbing and assimilating the energy coursing through him.
Before Wu Yuan, a row of jade vials stood, emptied of the Ancient Immortal Dew they originally contained. Wu Yuan's eyes snapped open, and he grabbed another vial of the spiritual liquid. Tilting his head back, he consumed dozens of drops.
Fueled by the combined powers of the blood-red mist and the spiritual liquid, Wu Yuan could feel his entire musculoskeletal system undergo a rapid metamorphosis. Countless impurities were expelled, and his tendons, bones, skin, and membrane underwent a swift and remarkable improvement. The rate of this transformation surpassed even the initial fusion with the eldritch tattoos.
For two full days, visible impurities continued to surface on Wu Yuan's skin, before finally coming to a stop as his metamorphosis ended.
What a peculiar sensation! I never imagined that consolidating second-degree eldritch tattoos coupled with the effects of blood-red mist would allow my body to evolve to this extent after just one month of cultivation. Is it possible that the blood-red mist amplified the potency of the eldritch tattoos? The mere thought of it left Wu Yuan in shock.
In late August, when Wu Yuan had entered the Fourth Eldritch Realm, the force behind his one-armed punch had been a modest 240,000 catties. However, after consolidating the eldritch tattoos, that power had surged to 330,000 catties.
For the past month, Wu Yuan had cultivated in seclusion, and his strength had advanced without stopping. Subsequently, he attempted to assimilate the blood-red mist, resulting in an astounding transformation.
Exerting the slightest force, he felt overwhelming might coursing through his veins. His eyes lit up.
520,000 catties! It had increased by more than 100,000 catties, surpassing even his wildest expectations.
Even Heavenly Rankers are no match for me now in terms of pure physical strength. Even though they have reached the Qi Sea phase, their advancement from the first stage to the ninth primarily depends on the accumulation of essentia!
The strength of qi refiners lay in essentia!
Whether at the first or the ninth stage of the Qi Sea phase, their single-arm strength rarely exceeds 400,000 catties, perhaps only reaching 410,000 or 420,000 catties at most. The immortal slip had provided Wu Yuan with this invaluable insight. Qi refiners did not prioritize physical might, for a robust physique often proved to be a hindrance in their later cultivation.
My mastery over heaven and earth's power... Wu Yuan's Soul Force dispersed, attuned to the subtle undulations of the invisible, yet indescribably grandiose power that permeated the world.
With a mere thought, he could summon a force of 200,000 catties! This meant that in just a single month, Wu Yuan reached the pinnacle of the Unity level. The next step was the Domain stage.
In terms of skill, I now stand on equal footing with most mid-stage and late-stage Qi Sea cultivators. However, they far surpass me in practical application, as they excel at combining their essentia with heaven and earth's power.
At the very least, when in close combat, I have a high chance of inflicting serious injuries, or even slaying weaker Heavenly Rankers in a sudden outburst of strength.
Essentia was highly versatile, allowing one to eliminate adversaries from afar. Meanwhile, the advantage of physical strength lay in its unending yet concealed power, which, when unleashed through the Threefold Power Surge, resulted in incredible force.
Time slipped away as Wu Yuan keenly perceived and comprehended the changes within his own body.
Hm? Wu Yuan abruptly opened his eyes, sensing the tumultuous changes in the surrounding spiritual qi.
"Young Master," a voice suddenly echoed in his mind, "The killing array is completed, please have a look."