Chapter 461 - 327: Refining the Soul Ascension Fruit, Golden Core Peak Soul Power

The world brightened.

The eternally lingering dark Soul Mist and Soul-shaking Wind atop Soul-shaking Peak were cleaved open by a beam of light.

Words could hardly describe the swiftness of this light.

It was as if the Great Sun had fallen, as if Thunder was enraged, all the domineering Supreme Yang Power was condensed within this single light.

The sword light was terrifyingly intense!

"Rise!"

The White-Haired Youth’s expression changed dramatically, but at this moment he had no time to think; he roared in fury, his face savage, his robe tearing apart to reveal strong muscles.

Upon his skin, streaks of treasure light suddenly flared, like lamps suddenly lit, soaring into the sky with dazzling brilliance. At this moment, the White-Haired Youth seemed no longer a person, but a Golden Cauldron, within which the treasure light converged, forging a frame of steel and iron.

Not only that, but within his palms, there was also a hazy treasure light, seeming capable of capturing all Techniques in the world, emanating a strange Spirit Charm.

"Bang!"

But when that sword light descended, everything seemed to turn into thin paper.

The sword pill, akin to a Tier Four Spiritual Treasure, empowered by Gu Yuan’s nearly full-strength Mana, nothing left uncut; this was no empty boast!

In an instant, a large hole surged at the palm of the White-Haired Youth, and then the sword light carried on, abruptly piercing through his shoulder, like a golden pillar of light dragging him a hundred feet away, nailing him firmly to the cliff.

It all sounded slow, but it happened in the blink of an eye.

Gu Yuan’s sword pill darted forth like light, as if thunder struck. The White-Haired Youth was nailed to the cliff directly.

The mountain wind stirred, the Soul Mist gathered, and everything returned to its original state, as if nothing had ever happened.

Except for the immobile figure.

"I lost!"

After a moment of silence, the low voice of the White-Haired Youth echoed from the cliff.

Beyond the Soul Mist, he gazed at the mirror-smooth wounds on his shoulder and palm, the shock still lingering in his eyes.

Gu Yuan’s Sword Technique was mighty, the sword pill sharp; it was beyond his expectations.

He had long achieved Tier Three Great Success in the Seven Treasures Dharma Body, yet he did not even withstand a single strike and was directly pierced through.

If not for the opponent’s restraint, and had the sword pill aimed not at his shoulder but at his brow or head, he would already have perished.

The Seven Treasures Dharma Body was powerful, but within the Golden Core Realm, the head was still a vulnerability. If shattered, instant death followed with no chance of survival.

And just now, even given another chance, he had no confidence in blocking that sword light.

The disparity being clear, he could only concede.

"The fruit is yours!"

The White-Haired Youth looked up and said, word by word.

"Thank you for making this possible!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan didn’t hesitate, smiling slightly as his Mana swept up the Taiyin Soul Ascending Fruit in the stone pool, securing it in a superior jade box. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, the sword pill soared back into his sleeve.

"For an ordinary person, receiving such a strike, even with my restraint, would lead to severe injury, yet with your Mysterious Techniques, perhaps just a little price to restore, should not hinder you from going to Treasure Burial Lake in five days."

Having acquired the Soul Ascension Fruit, Gu Yuan, in high spirits, spoke to the White-Haired Youth with a smile.

The Seven Treasures Dharma Body, as long as it didn’t die, could rapidly recover, being no ordinary flesh.

It was precisely this Dharma Body that had an extraordinarily resilient physique; otherwise, even if Gu Yuan only injured his shoulder, the violent Sword Qi would have shredded him.

"Shi Yan!"

The White-Haired Youth clutched his shoulder, stood up, and uttered to Gu Yuan.

Seeing the confusion, he added, "My name!"

Then, not waiting for Gu Yuan to respond, a silver treasure light appeared at his feet; he stamped his foot, turning himself into a blurred shadow, disappearing from Soul-shaking Peak.

"Shi Yan, interesting..."

Seeing this, Gu Yuan did not prevent him, only stood in place, softly murmuring the name.

Zuiyun Mountain was merely the first gate of the Spirit Treasure Cliff Secret Realm.

Previously, those who entered the Secret Realm mostly lingered here, seeking fortunes.

The second gate is Treasure Burial Lake!

Treasure Burial Lake was a vast lake.

This lake buried countless discarded Artifacts and spiritual materials, the former "Treasure Burial" ground of the Spirit Treasure Sect, giving it its name.

The lake was arranged with a unique Array by the Spirit Treasure Sect, along with countless abandoned Artifacts’ Evil Qi and turbid Qi, eventually birthing a layer of peculiar "Burial Yin Illusion Fiend" in the lake.

Within this fiend was boundless Power of Illusion; any cultivator attempting to fly over the lake would be bewildered by the fiend, involuntarily letting their Escape Light fall into the lake, drowning unknowingly.

Not only that, countless "Soldier Souls" wandered within this fiend, possessing the ability of Artifacts despite having no physical form, proving to be troublesome.

In groups, they were enough to slay any Mid-Stage Golden Core cultivator.

This lake was deemed impassable, challenging even Late Stage Golden Core cultivators.

However, this Secret Realm was, after all, a trial for the Spirit Treasure Sect, thus leaving behind the "Path of Trial."

Within the Treasure Burial Lake was a bay, wherein a treasured ship lay. This ship, crafted by the Spirit Treasure Sect specifically for trials, could shield against much of the Power of Illusion and Soldier Souls.

However, controlling the treasured ship required the collaboration of six Mid-Stage Golden Core cultivators.

This detail was unknown to the "Elder of the Secret Realm" upon first entering, as many cultivators entered, focusing only on seizing opportunities, leaving little thought to joint efforts required.

Later, some information was explored, but it remained unclear amidst scheming and conflict, causing this gate to remain unbreached.

Gua Daoist gathered information from all sides, adding the Divination Technique to confirm this information, thus agreeing with others to temporarily endure and see through the Treasure Burial Lake first.