Inside the Earth Milk Celestial Pool.

Zhang Yao sat cross-legged in the pool, surrounded by steaming white mist, which faintly evolved into countless lines, forming an incredibly complex Spirit Pattern Array Vein.

The magical power within him had been circulating and strengthening continuously for over a dozen hours, becoming significantly stronger than before, yet it seemed to have hit some sort of bottleneck.

Meanwhile, on the other side:

Beside Nether Abyss Ancestor, the white mist of Spiritual Qi transformed into the scene of the Black Abyss swallowing the sun, and his aura continued to rise.

"Boom!"

Until a certain moment, his aura suddenly erupted, his magical power surged dramatically, leaping an entire level.

"Hmm?"

The commotion also woke Zhang Yao nearby.

"Fellow Daoist Mingyuan? What is this..."

Zhang Yao glanced over instinctively, his expression changing instantly:

"You’ve already broken through to Golden Core Perfection?"

"Indeed! Hahaha..."

Nether Abyss Ancestor laughed heartily:

"The long-cherished wish of hundreds of years, achieved in a day, the Nascent Soul is within reach!"

The power of the Earth Milk Celestial Pool is extremely vast, far beyond the level of a Golden Core Cultivator.

Even though the main force is used to transform the Dharma Body, the leftover is enough to significantly boost the merit of Golden Core Cultivators, which is one of the additional benefits of the Earth Milk Bathing Body.

Nether Abyss Ancestor has now advanced to Golden Core Perfection, leaving him just one step away from the lofty Nascent Soul Realm.

"Fellow Daoist Qingxu."

Nether Abyss Ancestor’s smile faded, seemingly noticing the anomaly in Zhang Yao:

"I see your aura hidden and unmanifested, as if intentionally suppressing its vitality. Why is this?"

Theoretically speaking:

Under the immense implantation of pure spiritual energy, the vitality should be rising like the ascendant sun, and any Golden Core Cultivator with decent accumulation should be able to break through to a minor realm.

From what he knows, Elder Qingxu broke through to the Golden Core a few decades ago, so his accumulation should be absolutely sufficient; this shouldn’t be happening.

"You are unaware, Fellow Daoist."

Zhang Yao shook his head and said:

"My cultivation technique is special, it is not yet time for a breakthrough."

He has already gathered the Endless Yin Earth and will soon refine the Infinite Shadow Walking Technique, thereby achieving the Five Elements Divine Wheel. If he breaks through to the middle stage Golden Core now, it would be in vain.

In any case, thanks to the Earth Milk Celestial Pool, his magical power accumulation at the early stage Golden Core is complete, so he can break through later.

"I see."

Nether Abyss Ancestor realized but didn’t inquire further, instead saying:

"The effect of the Earth Milk Bathing Body has ended."

"You must have felt it too? Our compatibility with the surrounding spiritual energy is completely different from before."

"Indeed."

Mentioning this, Zhang Yao couldn’t help but smile:

"This time we were right to come, despite the peril and struggles we faced along the way."

Coming from Five Spirit Roots, Zhang Yao is more sensitive in this aspect, and now even in breathing, he feels the spiritual energy rushing in, a vast difference from before.

This remarkable effect is very close to some legendary special Innate Dao Bodies, naturally making Zhang Yao extremely satisfied.

"The builder of this Earth Milk Celestial Pool must be an extraordinary Demonic Cultivator Ancestor and seemingly very knowledgeable about Qi Refining Immortal Dao."

Zhang Yao glanced at the Earth Milk Pool, which showed almost no change, and secretly marveled inside.

The Earth Milk here has accumulated over countless years and undoubtedly counts as one of the foundations of the Wujin Tribe.

During their immersion in the Earth Milk, Zhang Yao noticed that the Earth Milk itself seemed unchanged; what was consumed was the vast spiritual energy gathered here by some unknown means.

In other words, the Earth Milk itself is just a conversion medium and tool, sufficient to prove the builder’s extraordinary methods.

"Let’s go, we should be leaving now."

"I reckon the time is pretty close to twelve hours."

Nether Abyss Ancestor called out, then left the Earth Milk Celestial Pool with Zhang Yao.

"Young Clan Leader!"

As soon as the two left the Celestial Pool, they saw Wuhe waiting at the cliff entrance.

"Mr. Mingyuan, Mr. Qingxu."

Wuhe greeted them with a smile.

The three chatted as they walked, but after a few sentences, Zhang Yao and Nether Abyss Ancestor simultaneously sensed his peculiarity.

"Young Clan Leader Wuhe seems to have something on his mind?"

Nether Abyss Ancestor proactively asked.

"Alas..."

Wuhe sighed, not concealing, and said:

"While you two were in seclusion in the Earth Milk Celestial Pool, you probably didn’t perceive."

"The Underworld underwent a minor alteration; my father dispatched several forces for investigation, but they found no anomalies."

"Is that so..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao exchanged a glance with Nether Abyss Ancestor, both feeling somewhat puzzled.

They had just arrived at the Wujin Tribe, and the Underworld experienced some unknown change; such coincidence?

"Fellow Daoist Qingxu."

Nether Abyss Ancestor suddenly transmitted his divine thought:

"The Underworld is inherently not a place to stay for long, now with unexpected changes happening, I think it’s best we leave soon."

"The sooner we return to the surface, the sooner we can be at ease."

"Hmm."

Zhang Yao nodded without changing his expression.

Wuhe seemed to understand their eagerness to depart and soon led them to a tightly guarded stone gate.

"Young Clan Leader!"

A few warriors with powerful auras greeted Wuhe and stepped aside.

"Rumble..."

Wuhe launched a black radiance onto the stone gate, and the massive stone gate thunderously opened.

"Behind this stone door is the ’Spiritual Energy Secret Vault’ of our Wujin Tribe."

"The items inside were collected and accumulated by us over many years. They are of no use to us but extremely valuable to you."

He said, stretching out his hand with a smile:

"You two, please go ahead."

"Alright."

Zhang Yao and Nether Abyss Ancestor nodded, making the most of their time as they entered the Spiritual Energy Secret Vault.

The vault was not large, about three zhang square, with around a dozen black shelves, illuminated by treasures resembling luminous beads inside.

"Wow!"

A cursory sweep with Zhang Yao’s Divine Thought made him exclaim in awe.

The treasures on these black shelves weren’t concealed by any kind of restriction, so his Divine Thought took it all in at a glance.

There weren’t many items here, but each one was at least a Grade Four Spiritual Object; Grade Three Spiritual Objects or ordinary treasures weren’t qualified to be placed here.

Zhang Yao also saw the Mitian Sand, which previously caused many Golden Core Cultivators to fight fiercely, placed in a corner, looking quite inconspicuous among the many treasures.

"Swish!"

Nether Abyss Ancestor almost didn’t choose, extending his hand to directly capture a black spherical object into his hand.

The black sphere was about the size of an adult’s heart, born with eighteen apertures, continuously exhaling black fog like ink-dyed lead clouds.

"Hmm..."

Nether Abyss Ancestor rubbed the black sphere in his hand, satisfied, and put it away.

Zhang Yao withdrew his gaze, looking at the dazzling array of Spiritual Objects and treasures on the dozen black shelves, momentarily unsure of how to choose.

The majority of the treasures here were of the dark attribute and could easily fetch astronomical prices outside, but he happened to have no use for them.

"If it’s purely based on value and just picking the most expensive treasure, it seems a bit of a waste of this opportunity..."

As Zhang Yao was hesitating, Nether Abyss Ancestor spoke up:

"If Fellow Daoist is unsure, why not choose this item!"

He said, pointing towards a black ink stone-like slab, looking ordinary and without a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation.

"Oh? This is..."

Zhang Yao raised an eyebrow.

"This is a rare treasure of the Yin earth attribute known as the ’Shadow-eliminating Stone.’ I’m not too clear on its specific uses."

Nether Abyss Ancestor replied:

"Although this item’s value is not the highest, the ’Shanyang Qu Family’ of the ’Nine Heavens Alliance’ has been acquiring this kind of rare treasure for the past few centuries."

"If one day Fellow Daoist visits the Nine Mansions of the Celestial Continent, you can use this item to exchange for other treasures with the Shanyang Qu Family or to establish a valuable connection with them, which is very beneficial."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao nodded immediately and said:

"Alright, thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist."

The Shanyang Qu Family is a member of the Nine Heavens Alliance, which means it is one of the nine strongest forces in Central Plains, part of the ruling class of the Hundred Countries of Central Plains.

Being able to build connections with them or use their channels to exchange for treasures would be of considerable help to him.

Soon, Zhang Yao put away the Shadow-eliminating Stone and left the Spiritual Energy Secret Vault with Nether Abyss Ancestor.

Wuhe escorted them out of the Wujin Tribe, to the watchtower where they first met, where they bid each other farewell.

"Young Clan Leader, please stay here."

"Take care, gentlemen."

They said polite goodbyes, both knowing full well in their hearts—barring any surprises, this was likely the last time they would see each other in this lifetime.

......

"Boom!" "Boom!"

Escape Light streaked across the sky, tearing through the darkness.

Thanks to Nether Abyss Ancestor breaking through to Golden Core Perfection, greatly increasing in power, their return journey was much smoother than their arrival.

In this underworld region, any threats comparable to Nascent Soul Cultivators had long been eliminated by the Wujin Tribe, so even Golden Core Perfection strength could roam unimpeded.

After spending a little over two hours:

Zhang Yao and Nether Abyss Ancestor returned to the vicinity of the Magnetic Barrier, where the traces of their previous battle with Ascendant Tianying still lingered.

"Let’s go home!"

They chatted and laughed, in high spirits, as their Escape Light soared upward, preparing to traverse the Magnetic Barrier and return.

But within a few breaths, they were stunned.

"What!!"

The original passageway was thoroughly sealed by an immense and infinite force, and as they approached, they felt extremely uncomfortable.

That formless and intangible force was nearly suffocating, leaving Zhang Yao and Nether Abyss Ancestor utterly dazed.

"How did this happen?!"

Nether Abyss Ancestor reacted, roaring in anger.

His eyes were bloodshot, his magical power swirling around him, seemingly unable to accept the reality before him:

"How could the Magnetic Barrier close ahead of time?! What’s going on?!"

He had planned his time very well, with several hours of buffer time reserved for unexpected situations.

But what Nether Abyss Ancestor never dreamed of was that—the Magnetic Barrier, which was thought never to have accidents, closed ahead of time this time!

What does this mean?

This means all his ambitions, all his plans for the future, are completely ruined!

What significance is there to his great increase in power, with a Nascent Soul in sight? With the closure of the underworld’s Magnetic Barrier, it can only be breached again in the next massive Black Tide outbreak, which would take at least several hundred or thousand years!!

He has already lived over five hundred years; where could he find those many years to wait?

"No...no!!"

Nether Abyss Ancestor’s eyes were dull as he stared at the vast and endless Magnetic Barrier, with even a hint of despair in his eyes.

If they truly had to wait a few hundred years, he would be long dead of old age; as for breaking through to Nascent Soul to extend his lifespan, that was impossible, because in the underworld dominated by Muddy Qi, Immortal Dao Cultivators couldn’t even practice normally.

Unless the Wujin Tribe could lend him the Earth Milk Celestial Pool for unlimited use, but that would be nothing more than a fool’s dream.

"How did this happen..."

Zhang Yao’s face was dark as water, his brows tightly knit together.

The sudden closure of the Magnetic Barrier not only made it hard for Nether Abyss Ancestor to accept but also disrupted his plans.

What shocked him even more was—

In over ten thousand years, the Magnetic Barrier which had never failed, how could an accident suddenly occur?!