Chapter 165: Chapter 138: Breakthrough to the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment: Profound Celestial Immortal Palace

’Who would’ve thought I’d acquire so many Top Grade Magical Artifacts on this trip?’

Ever since advancing to Foundation Establishment, Xiao Chen had never been short on Magical Power. Because of this, he hadn’t given the matter much thought.

But now, with the Lotus Jade Ruyi in his possession, he was finally starting to feel the pressure.

’Hmm, aside from breaking through in my cultivation, I also need to focus on nurturing my Fake Pill.’

Previously, he had refined Spiritual Objects, which had increased his Fake Pill’s capacity by three units of Magical Power.

Since he wasn’t lacking Magical Power at the time, he hadn’t invested any more resources into it.

He considered that he would likely acquire even more Top Grade Magical Artifacts in the future. The gains from a simple cultivation breakthrough clearly wouldn’t be enough to keep up.

Therefore, it was essential to set aside some Spiritual Objects to nurture the Fake Pill.

’Hiss... The Spirit-Nurturing Technique in my Dantian needs Spiritual Objects, the Fake Pill outside it needs them, and cultivating Magic needs them as well.’

Xiao Chen ran through the calculations in his head and couldn’t help but shake it. ’And the worst part is, every single one is crucial.’

’Forget it. I won’t worry about all that. I’ll just focus on refining the Pure Wood Essence Qi first.’

After selecting his reward, he had learned from the stone stele before him that there would be an additional enlightenment session later on.

However, he had to wait for the other cultivators—especially those who had entered after him—to either pass their trials or be eliminated.

Thus, he had no choice but to wait here for the next several hours.

Naturally, Xiao Chen wasn’t going to sit idle. He opened a bottle of Pure Wood Essence Qi and drank it all in one gulp.

It had to be said, the effects of the Pure Wood Essence Qi were truly extraordinary.

Xiao Chen felt as if his body were a field, baked under the summer sun for months on end, suddenly drenched by a downpour.

He felt like a traveler who, after trekking through the desert for three days and nights, had finally found an oasis and could drink from its sweet spring.

His entire being was nourished.

In the past, Xiao Chen had consumed various Spiritual Liquids and felt his body fill with vast amounts of Wood Spiritual Power.

But never before had he felt, as he did now, that he *was* the Wood Spiritual Power itself.

In that moment, Xiao Chen felt a burgeoning vitality, the return of spring to the earth as all of creation reawakened.

He felt the nature of Wood to bend and straighten—the flexibility and adaptability of trees as they grow and face different environments.

He felt the falling of autumn leaves and the wilting of a hundred flowers, the progression and transformation of decay and death.

...

This profound and unprecedented sensation completely immersed him.

The Spirit-Nurturing Technique within him began to operate spontaneously, cycling repeatedly through the Grand Circulation on its own accord.

During this process, Xiao Chen felt he had gained a clearer and more intuitive understanding of the Path of Wood, of Life and Death, and of Life and Death.

The entire process had actually lasted only six hours.

But to Xiao Chen, it felt as if he had experienced the passing of three entire years.

He snapped his eyes open, and a brilliant light flashed within them.

"Haaaa..."

He let out a long, greenish breath. For a moment, it hung in the air, condensed and unmoving. It remained for a full ten breaths before slowly dissipating.

Coming to his senses, Xiao Chen quickly performed a Divine Sense Internal Observation of his Dantian.

Inside his Dantian, the originally small bud of the Spirit Flower nurtured by the Spirit-Nurturing Technique had grown larger than its leaves.

It was on the verge of blooming.

This undoubtedly meant he had unknowingly broken through to the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment.

And, though he wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, Xiao Chen felt the leaves of the Spirit Flower had become even more vibrant and green than before.

Furthermore, the breakthrough had also increased his Dantian’s capacity by another six units of Magical Power. Combined with his Inner Core, he now possessed a total of one hundred thirty-five units of Magical Power.

This was more than enough to support him in simultaneously wielding all seven of his Top Grade Magical Artifacts.

’This stuff is incredible.’

Xiao Chen exclaimed in admiration. He was about to take out a second bottle of Pure Wood Essence Qi and strike while the iron was hot.

However, before he could act on the thought, the sound of a moving wall echoed.

It was followed by that same stiff, robotic voice: "The trial has ended."

"Please proceed along the corridor to the Enlightenment Stele."