Millennia?!
Yun Ze was stunned for a moment, but quickly came to his senses.
Right!
One must remember that this person was from ancient times, unlike them now. Not only was he one of the four clan inheritors, but he also wielded countless secret arts, knew the whereabouts of numerous secret realms, and possessed top-tier talent.
By the standards of ancient times, he should have broken through to the Emperor Realm and reached the peak of ancient strong cultivators.
Although Yun Ze didn't know what that realm was called, it certainly shouldn't have been the Emperor Realm.
Yet, Shi You was still in the Mahayana stage, and ranked third at that, which was a problem in itself.
But after hearing his explanation, Yun Ze understood what was happening.
So, he had been holding back for the past thousand years!
Wait!
Holding back?
Couldn't he just dissipate his cultivation? Why endure such suffering by holding back?
Could it be...
Yun Ze was stunned, his eyes filled with horror as he looked at Shi You!
Could it be that a thousand years ago, he already knew this would happen!
"Shh."
Shi You saw that Yun Ze had figured something out and put a finger to his lips, hushing him.
"Don't forget what I told you."
Don't ask!
Don't ask what will happen next! Don't ask about his future!
Yun Ze instinctively closed his lips, silently feeling the exhilaration of spiritual energy surging into his body!
In just ten breaths, Yun Ze had broken through from the Nascent Soul stage to the peak of the Out-of-Body stage!
He was just one step away from the Spirit Severing stage, and Shi You was still increasing the speed of spiritual energy infusion!
Two major realms in a single day! And it was still continuing!
Such speed made the others nearby envious, and they naturally understood the terrifying nature of the material called Chaos!
Ten breaths later, the breakthrough to the Out-of-Body stage was complete!
Yun Ze reached the Spirit Severing stage. The sea of energy within his body was now comparable to that of a normal Integration stage cultivator, perhaps even larger!
But under Shi You's infusion, his cultivation realm continued to climb at a visible rate!
Early Spirit Severing, mid Spirit Severing, late Spirit Severing, peak Spirit Severing, complete Spirit Severing!
Integration stage!
At this point, Shi You's spiritual energy infusion speed was no longer sufficient for him.
Shi You was naturally prepared. He had already anticipated this when he told Yun Ze to remain still and had the others undergo their tribulations separately.
He raised his hand, and the remaining demon liquid from beneath the Nine Nether Gate surged into the sky!
Like a torrent, like a tide, it all poured into Yun Ze's body!
Even at the Integration stage, Yun Ze could feel his cultivation constantly rising, the speed only slightly slower than before.
But at this moment, the first Emperor Realm cultivator arrived!
"Daddy!"
Dan Chenyu seemed to sense something and was the first to look up at the sky, spotting Dan Jingsheng's figure.
"Be good, little one."
Seeing Dan Chenyu cry out in surprise, Dan Jingsheng no longer hid and landed beside her, looking at everyone.
More precisely, he looked at Shi You and Yun Ze not far ahead: "Destiny, what are you doing?"
Direct!
If he wanted to ask something, he would ask it directly.
Since Destiny had summoned them and wasn't hiding his actions, he wouldn't be secretive.
He couldn't be bothered to guess.
"Can't you tell?"
Shi You retorted with a smile, "This is my disciple, and we are cultivating!"
Cultivating?
I don't believe you, you shrimp!
What kind of cultivation involves pouring the source from beneath the Nine Nether Gate into one's body? Even at the Integration stage, without being contaminated by demonic energy, one would be burst...
Huh?
That's not right!
His cultivation was still rising, early Integration, mid Integration, late Integration... and now it had reached the peak!
There were no obstacles whatsoever!
This didn't look like he was about to burst, but rather like he was truly cultivating. But this wasn't healing or recovery! Didn't he have bottlenecks?
Wait, bottlenecks!
Dan Jingsheng frowned. He didn't ask the riddle-speaking person who only spoke half-truths but turned to his own "little cotton jacket": "Little Yu, what's going on here?"
Dan Chenyu frowned.
Although she was a well-behaved daughter at home, she knew that this matter concerned the survival of humanity, which was far more important than blood relations.
So, she instinctively looked at Yun Xiao, then followed Yun Xiao's gaze to Shi You.
"Go on, speak."
Shi You's voice rang out, "I didn't plan to hide anything from them when I called these guys over. After all, breaking through to that realm isn't something I can do alone."
He said that,
But Shi You had half a sentence he didn't say.
Even if he could do it alone, he would have to sacrifice himself. Yun Ze's wings were not yet strong, and he wouldn't do such a foolish thing.
"Hmph!"
Dan Jingsheng snorted and continued to look at Dan Chenyu.
He knew his own daughter well. Unless it was a matter of utmost importance, she wouldn't be in this state.
It seemed... this matter was indeed difficult.
"Alright!"
Dan Chenyu agreed and told Dan Jingsheng everything she knew.
The more she spoke, the tighter Dan Jingsheng's brow furrowed.
It wasn't that he thought it was bad, but he was in doubt!
He doubted whether these dreamlike events were real.
However, as he was still in doubt, he heard a clear sound...
Tribulation Transcension stage!
Dan Jingsheng looked up at the sky. There was no sign of tribulation clouds. This evidence alone was enough to prove that everything Dan Chenyu had said was true!
"How is it?"
Shi You smiled at Dan Jingsheng and asked in return, "What do you think of this matter?"
"How do I think? I'm standing here thinking!"
Dan Jingsheng frowned at Shi You, "I knew you old rascal had no good intentions! The first thing you wanted was for me to sacrifice my cultivation to help your disciple break through? If I weren't the closest, I wouldn't have come at all!"
"Hmm?"
Shi You sounded confused, looking at Dan Jingsheng with some bewilderment.
He had watched Dan Jingsheng rise from a prodigy to one of the contemporary Emperor Realm cultivators.
This kid was good at everything, except for this one point.
He would say that the common people had nothing to do with him, but every time something happened to the common people, he would find a reason to rush to the forefront.
His current attitude was likely related to Yun Ze.
Shi You's gaze swept over Dan Chenyu, then to Yun Ze, as if he had understood something and couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile.
Dan Jingsheng might care about all sentient beings, but he might not care about a pig that could potentially steal his daughter's cabbage!
"Little Sheng..."
Shi You sighed helplessly and said, "Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. You can't keep your daughter in your pocket for thousands of years, can you?"
"Who says I can't!"
Dan Jingsheng retorted, "Can't I live for thousands of years?"
For a moment, Shi You didn't know what to say.
The lifespan of a normal Emperor Realm cultivator was already tens of thousands of years.
Given Dan Jingsheng's current age, let alone middle-aged, he wasn't even young.
It was indeed too early to hand his daughter over at this point.
"Wait..."
Dan Chenyu suddenly spoke. She felt the atmosphere was a bit off and asked her father, "Daddy, what are you talking about? I... I don't like Yun Ze!"
"Ah? Not this kid?"
Dan Jingsheng was stunned. He scratched his head, "Then what did your letters say..."
"You peeked at my letters!"
Dan Chenyu immediately realized and her pretty face turned red, "Daddy!"
"Ahem!"
Seeing that he had let slip, Dan Jingsheng quickly shifted his gaze to Yun Ze, "You are Yun Ze, right? The little fellow with Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment?"
He understood his daughter best. Since Little Yu had this reaction, it meant she wasn't lying, and this young man in front of him was indeed not the one who had stolen her heart.
Since that was the case, there was nothing to worry about.
"Yes."
Yun Ze was too preoccupied to pay full attention, but he still forced himself to open his eyes and cupped his fists towards Dan Jingsheng, "Junior Yun Ze greets Senior."
"No need for formalities."
Dan Jingsheng waved his hand, rolled up his sleeves, and came to face Shi You, "Destiny, according to your words, I just need to pour my spiritual energy into him, right?"
"Nothing else needs to be adjusted?"
"You cultivate a fire-element technique, so no adjustment is needed," Shi You replied.
"That's good."
Dan Jingsheng replied, then placed his hand on Yun Ze's shoulder.
Yun Ze felt a wave of warmth, and his cultivation progress surged again!
He was about to reach the early Tribulation Transcension stage!
Even though two Emperor Realm cultivators were pouring spiritual energy into him simultaneously, the sea of energy at the Integration stage and the Tribulation Transcension stage were vastly different in size.
Moreover, Yun Ze's foundation was already incredibly solid. The sea of energy at the Tribulation Transcension stage was almost twice the size of a normal Emperor Realm cultivator's!
To fill it and reach the complete Tribulation Transcension stage, and then break through to the Emperor Realm!
This was no simple task.
Soon, the third Emperor Realm cultivator arrived!
Yun Ze could already sense something at this point.
When he opened his eyes, he didn't see the expected Demon Venerable, but a female Emperor Realm cultivator in a red robe.
She didn't approach the group but observed from a distance, asking everyone through telepathic transmission.
"Immortal Venerable, may I ask what you are doing..."
"Little Gong, you've come at the perfect time!"
Dan Jingsheng called out, "Quick, come and help, come and witness history!"
"...Yes."
The female Emperor Realm cultivator, known as Little Gong, responded and flashed to Dan Jingsheng's side.
"Here, Little Yu, you explain it to your Aunt Gong."
"Aunt Gong."
Dan Chenyu greeted her obediently when she saw her approach.
"Good girl, Little Yu."
Emperor Gong smiled and replied, "What's going on?"
"It's like this."
Dan Chenyu recounted what had happened here, just as she had explained before.
Emperor Gong was horrified!
She had originally been at the late Tribulation Transcension stage. After thousands of years of arduous cultivation, she had finally broken through that bottleneck and become the third Emperor Realm cultivator in the Immortal Mansion!
She had rushed here so quickly, wanting to meet the Emperor Realm cultivators in her capacity as a newly ascended Emperor Realm cultivator, but instead, she had encountered such a surprise!
At less than twenty years old, he had the opportunity to touch the final bottleneck!
This... this kind of monstrous talent was simply too terrifying!
However, she quickly regained her composure and asked Dan Jingsheng, "Emperor, so I also need to help him cultivate now?"
"You don't need to for now. You've only recently broken through your realm, and it would be troublesome if your cultivation dropped. Just wait on the side. We will likely convene a grand meeting later."
"Yes."
"By the way."
Dan Jingsheng called out to Yun Ze, "Kid, greet your Senior Gong. She is the third Emperor Realm cultivator in our Immortal Mansion, named Gong Chiyi. You should have heard of her name."
Gong Chiyi!
When Yun Ze heard Dan Chenyu call her 'Aunt Gong', he had already suspected it might be her.
He just hadn't expected her to break through from the late Tribulation Transcension stage to the Mahayana stage and become an Emperor Realm cultivator.
It was indeed quite a coincidence.
Yun Ze opened his eyes and smiled at Gong Chiyi, "Junior Yun Ze greets Senior Gong."
Yun Ze?
That name sounded a bit familiar.
"Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment!"
Gong Chiyi exclaimed. She didn't know that Yun Ze and Tu Sheng were the same person, but she recalled the uproar caused by the ancient certification back then.
"It is I."
Yun Ze naturally wouldn't mention the matter of the Gong family's collateral branches back then. To him now, it was just a trivial matter. kuAiδugg
"Truly... a divine blessing."
Apart from these four words, Gong Chiyi couldn't think of any other adjectives.
Yun Ze said no more and closed his eyes again, continuing to digest the spiritual energy from the Elder of Destiny and the Immortal Venerable.
A few breaths later, mid-Tribulation Transcension stage!
By this time, quite a few Emperor Realm cultivators had arrived, but like Gong Chiyi, they did not intervene in the spiritual energy infusion.
Firstly, they themselves had not yet reached the peak of Mahayana. If they supplied spiritual energy to Yun Ze, it would be less beneficial than cultivating amidst the spiritual energy tide caused by Yun Ze's breakthrough. Perhaps they could even break through a realm.
Secondly, Shi You was worried that their spiritual energy was not pure enough and would affect Yun Ze's breakthrough to the final realm.
This would be an insult to any Emperor Realm cultivator, but compared to him and Dan Jingsheng, it was indeed the truth.
Everyone understood this and did not disturb the three of them, instead occupying the outer perimeter and beginning to cultivate using the spiritual energy tide.
Every breakthrough would trigger a spiritual energy tide. If it were just a breakthrough of a few minor realms, the resulting spiritual energy tide would not be enough for Emperor Realm cultivators to cultivate like this.
But if one person continuously broke through from the late Golden Core stage to the late Tribulation Transcension stage, the chain reaction and the spiritual energy tide created would be terrifying!
In less than fifteen minutes, those near Yun Ze were about to break through to the Nascent Soul stage!
This should also be considered a complimentary benefit.
After another twenty minutes, Yun Ze officially broke through to the late Tribulation Transcension stage, reaching the complete Tribulation Transcension stage!
He was only one minor realm away from breaking through to the Emperor Realm.
Dan Jingsheng's spiritual energy was depleted. He gave Shi You a meaningful look, then took out several seventh-grade spirit pills to replenish his spiritual energy.
This old rascal was indeed hiding his strength!
He even claimed to be the third in the world!
With such spiritual energy reserves, even if he claimed to be the first in the world, I would believe him!
It was at this moment that a black shadow suddenly flashed across the sky!
A strong smell of blood filled the heavens and earth. The sixteen Emperor Realm cultivators who were absorbing spiritual energy and cultivating in place all looked up at the sky, only to see a black dragon circling in the sky!
The last Emperor Realm cultivator had arrived.
The Demon Venerable!
Xiu Litian!
He looked down at everyone present, his gaze quickly locking onto Yun Ze and Destiny, and he couldn't help but frown.
Yun Ze?
This kid seemed to be called that, yes.
It seemed he had been deceived back then.
Hmm?
Wait!
His current realm... late Tribulation Transcension?
Didn't he only break through to Foundation Establishment less than a year ago!?
Xiu Litian frowned, his mind filled with confusion. He leaped from the black dragon and landed in front of Yun Ze and the other two.
He didn't say much, just glanced at Dan Jingsheng, then looked at Shi You, "Destiny, what is the Emperor's Decree about? I have urgent matters on my side. If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation, I'm leaving."
"Don't worry, it's naturally a major matter."
Shi You said, then looked at Dan Jingsheng, "Little Sheng, your daughter has already said it so many times. This time, you tell him. You're not busy anyway."
"...You old fellow!"
Dan Jingsheng cursed inwardly but did not refuse.
After all, among the many Emperor Realm cultivators, only Xiu Litian had the right to receive his explanation.
Soon, Dan Jingsheng explained everything that had happened here and Yun Ze's current condition to Xiu Litian.
"So that's how it is."
Xiu Litian replied, saying no more, and then asked Shi You, "Is my spiritual energy useful?"
"Yes!"
"Then it's easy."
Xiu Litian said, stepping forward and placing his hand on Yun Ze's shoulder.
Instantly!
A surge of powerful spiritual energy poured into his sea of energy!
Yun Ze felt a light click behind his head...
Crack!
Breakthrough, Mahayana stage!
Almost simultaneously, the spiritual energy in the entire Southeast Heaven was mobilized and surged towards this place!
The numerous Emperor Realm cultivators also accelerated their absorption progress!
It would be a waste not to absorb this scattered spiritual energy!
Yun Ze felt a clarity in his spiritual platform. As he opened his eyes, he was about to greet the newcomer according to the rules.
But as his eyelids trembled, he heard Xiu Litian's calm voice in his ear.
"Absorb it well, no need for formalities."
Xiu Litian's voice was cold, but it gave a sense of extreme reliability.
Completely unlike certain riddle-speaking individuals who only spoke half-truths.
As expected of a reliable senior!
No wonder he could teach a prodigy like Xiu Yun.
A warmth rose in Yun Ze's heart, but he soon heard Xiu Litian's voice again.
"You deceived me with a puppet. I'm holding that against you. I'll settle the score after you break through."
So vengeful!
Yun Ze smiled helplessly, but he also knew Xiu Litian's true intention.
Once he broke through, he would be above the Mahayana stage. Xiu Litian settling the score with him was just an excuse; his true intention was to witness the power beyond the Mahayana stage, wasn't it?
Yun Ze didn't expose him and continued to cultivate silently.
Fifteen minutes later, mid-Mahayana stage!
Another half an hour later, late Mahayana stage!
Another hour later, peak Mahayana stage!
After another three hours, complete Mahayana stage!
In less than a day, the world had gained another complete Mahayana stage cultivator!
Furthermore, an Emperor Realm cultivator with a complete Heavenly Cycle Sea of Energy, Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, five Nine-Pattern Glazed Golden Pills, Heavenly Spirit Body, and an eternally stable soul!
Just to help him break through from the early Mahayana stage to the complete Mahayana stage required Xiu Litian and Dan Jingsheng to take turns three times!
This was equivalent to the spiritual energy of at least six complete Mahayana stage cultivators being poured into Yun Ze's sea of energy.
No, more than that!
There was also the Emperor Realm cultivator, ranked third in the world, who had been continuously pouring spiritual energy into him.
When calculated this way, Yun Ze was equivalent to at least twelve Emperor Realm cultivators!
No... twelve Immortal Venerables or Demon Venerables!
"Alright, stop!"
As soon as Yun Ze broke through to the complete Mahayana stage, Shi You shouted.
Xiu Litian, who was taking turns, immediately stopped.
"Hoo..."
Shi You let out a long sigh of relief, and Yun Ze opened his eyes simultaneously.
Instantly, the feeling of having the world in his grasp made him feel a little dizzy!
He swayed and almost fell to the ground!
Was this the after-effect of increasing power too quickly?
Fortunately, Shi You quickly stepped forward to support him, "You feel it, don't you?"
"Mmm."
Yun Ze sighed helplessly, "I feel like I have a treasure trove but don't know how to use it."
"That's right!"
Shi You looked at Yun Ze and smiled, "The second step is to teach you how to use it. Otherwise, why would I call so many people here?"
"What?"
Yun Ze was stunned. He seemed to have guessed what would happen next, but he was still taken aback, finding it hard to believe.
*Clap, clap, clap~*
Shi You clapped his hands and smiled at the Emperor Realm cultivators, "Everyone, everyone, it's time to get to work!"
"I'm not asking you to teach him to any particular level, nor am I asking you to impart secret techniques or cultivation methods. I only have one request!"
"One by one, give it your all, and let him experience death!"
"Huh?"
Yun Ze was stunned, as if he hadn't heard clearly, "Senior Shi You, are you going to..."
"Who's first?"
Before Yun Ze could finish his question, Shi You interrupted him.
The Emperor Realm cultivators exchanged glances. The Immortal Venerable and the Demon Venerable naturally wouldn't speak. Although they were all at the same realm, with Yun Ze's current control over his power, they could kill him with a single move.
There was no point in training.
"I'll go!"
Gong Chiyi stepped forward first.
As a newly ascended Emperor Realm cultivator, she was indeed the most suitable!
"Good!"
Shi You snapped his fingers and instantly enveloped the two of them.
In a dim environment, only he, Yun Ze, and Gong Chiyi remained.
"Begin."