Chapter 22: Signing In To The Great Emperor Dao Fruit

"What? My soul now bears sword intent?" Xian Zhan was shocked, feeling this new energy coursing through his body. "I never thought that the fusing of these ancient physiques actually made my soul mutate!"

This was almost too much to stomach; his heart is beating excitedly as the revelation broke in. As mutation went, this was no small thing, especially in cultivation realms where power derived from the soul. Xian Zhan's soul now infused with sword intent was something that far surpassed an ordinary soul formation realm, almost ethereal in nature.

Smiling blissfully, he sat down in a lotus position and was keen to test this newfound power. With his eyes shut, he began circulating the just-learned Saint Grade technique into his body. The ancient energy blew through his veins, with the sacred power of the Eternal Sword Body awakening deep within him.

There stood, between his brows, a shining golden sword mark that glimmered faintly at first, but rapidly bloomed into a brilliance that blinded and borne an immortal aura. No man could describe beforehand the actual form that the Eternal Sword Body was to take—its power shook out in every direction, reshaping the world around him.

Meanwhile, an infinite ocean of sword qi rolled within his Ni Gong Pill, boiling and raging like the tidal wave in a violent storm. No ordinary power-this was that boundless energy that had lain dormant in him, now stirring to life. Xian Zhan's mind turned briskly to the construction of his soul palace.

The crux of the Soul formation Realm was to create soul palaces inside the sea of consciousness. The stronger the cultivator's soul, the more overwhelming his combat power would be, the more the palaces he built. This was something that may take months or even years of arduous effort for most people to construct even a single soul palace, but for Xian Zhan, it felt like second nature. His affinity with the Eternal Sword Body was making everything infinitely easier for him.

But what surprised him was not only that he was able to construct the palace easily but that his practice speed was exaggeratedly fast, impossible to think of even. As the energy circulated inside him, his practice speed went to unbelievable levels.

"This speed.". Xian Zhan sighed, his breath whisper-like, his eyes suddenly wide open with shock. "This isn't just fast-this is something beyond anything I have ever been through. I dare say that even the term 'super speed' doesn't begin to do it justice!" He stared in amazement at the flow of qi within him, the power dancing around his body at a speed that seemed unbelievable.

As he trained, so did the rest of the Xian family. Like him, they had also received resources and the rare Saint Grade techniques he had brought back were now studied. While some clan members gathered in the courtyard, others secluded themselves in training chambers, but all were focused on cultivating with the newly provided methods and pills.

The martial techniques Xian Zhan had learned were not just techniques but high-level martial arts and martial techniques that most of the members of the family were still struggling to grasp. Mastering a new martial technique was the cornerstone of advancement for cultivators. Kung Fu was more than the source for acquisition-it was the one thing guiding each step in cultivation. Divine abilities and martial techniques were, essential tools with which to augment combat power, making them something they can't do without.

Meanwhile, in an isolated training hall, Xian Yin felt a burst of power rush through his body. He opened his eyes and sprang up from the bed, laughing in shock. "Hahaha! The effect of this divine power pill is unbelievable! I have broken through to the Eighth body tempering Realm with just one pill!" His laughter reverberated through the chamber, loaded with unconstrained joy.

Breaking through a realm was also an impossible task. Xian Yin had spent months, perhaps even years in his previous life, training to advance just one step in the qi gathering Realm. However, now with the divine power pill supporting him, it became something that was effortless - something he had never thought possible.

Yet not all the Xian family members were doing that well. On the other side of the estate, Xian Yan sat in a deep thought, but frown furrowed in frustration, growled softly, the face darkened with confusion. "What's happening? Why did the energy used to temper my body disappear after I consumed the divine power pill?

It had been three long, agonizing years, and he still hadn't made any serious progress. He was still stuck at the Three-body tempering Realm, unable to break through, and now even the pill seemed to offer no solution. His fists clenched tightly in frustration, but after a few moments, Xian Yan forced himself to calm down. His patience, honed through years of discipline, kept him grounded.

"Let's see how much you can swallow, body," he mumbled, the tone sharp with a hint of defiance, "I've got all the time in the world and am not going to let go."

It was his family that made him strong. They never looked down on him even when he was failing to make progress. The supporting hands he was receiving and the resources they kept pouring into him filled him with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. His heart swelled with determination. No matter how long it took, he would break through not only for himself but for the sake of his family.

He paused for a moment. "Should I ask brother Xian Yue to help me figure out what's going wrong? As patient as I am, I also want to leave Feihua City and find the mother I've never met." He gently touched the green ring on his finger, the only thing his mother had left him. His eyes drifted toward his father, sitting alone outside the house, lost in drink.

He had never seen his father the same since his mother had disappeared, but wine began to fill his days now. His mind was clouded with sorrow, and his eyes seemed to plead for anybody to notice it. His heart ached at the sight, he perhaps thought it would help bring his father back from the brink if he could find his mother.

In the meantime, the many members of the family in Sutra Pavilion were meditating over the techniques that Xian Zhan had returned. The scrolls contained the very same techniques and practices that for so long had been reserved for merely those who belonged to Saint Grade. Now they were open to everybody's study within the family. While the techniques could have been reserved for the elites of the clan, a policy which, if it continued, would have remained valid but is abrogated due to Xian Zhan's insistence that they be given out to whoever had the capability to use them.

Still, not everyone was this lucky. Many could not even begin to understand the profound mysteries recorded on the ancient scrolls. Techniques of the Saint Grade were, of course, too sophisticated and complex for the masses; there was barely enough understood. For the few who could grasp it, however, the rewards were limitless.

Xian Yue lay semi-asleep by an incredibly calm lake when suddenly, he heard a voice he knew inside his head.

[System Notice: Congrats to the host for getting the Great Emperor Dao Fruit.]

Xian Yue opened his eyes and sat up. A smile broke across his face. "Great Emperor Dao Fruit? It can really assist anyone in ascension into Great Emperor? Not bad at all."

Just the day before, he received 10,000 divine power pills, a number that could certainly be adequate to support the cultivating of many members in the Xian family. Of course, those pills were no longer particularly useful for him; however, they are of great use for the family. The pills would let many easily break through Golden core Realm.

"But the Great Emperor isn't the highest level of cultivation," Xian Chen thought, analyzing what it meant. "Still, it's a strong realm in this world. I'll let Father absorb it."

As Xian Chen stretched, he suddenly realized an imposing presence was heading to the city. The aura was oppressive, suffocating even, and stood out like a blazing sun amidst flickering candles.

"A half-step Law Manifestation Realm cultivator?" Xian Chen narrowed his eyes. "And in Feihua City, no less."

The mentioned man, Lu Zhui, had arrived. He was a storm of raw power, his aura unchecked. He walked along the streets of the city as if he were untouchable, with cultivation at the half-step Law Manifestation Realm.