Chapter 427 Yuan Ying

Lin Lee’s brows furrowed as he watched the changes within his dantian. "Is it possible for there to be a grade higher than the flawless golden core?" he wondered, feeling his doubt rise. He had always believed the flawless golden core was the highest possible stage, but this strange purple color felt ancient. It was heavy with a pressure he had never encountered in his entire life.

He did not lose a single moment. Suspecting that his golden core needed a massive, overwhelming amount of energy to finish this mysterious evolution, he waved his hand. He dumped out everything he had taken from Luo Shen’s storage bag. Dozens of jade bottles, spirit pills, and rare, energy-filled herbs landed on the stone floor. They dissolved immediately as his boundless heaven art aggressively pulled the energy out of them.

The result happened quickly. The core began to spin with much more force. The friction of the energy being absorbed made a low, vibrating sound that traveled through the stone floor underneath him. The purple color spread with the speed of a hunter, covering the gold without hiding it completely.

The original gold color of Jindan changed, glowing beneath the purple layer until it looked like millions of tiny, flickering stars in a deep, purple aurora sky. The energy became so dense it felt ready to explode, causing a frightening pressure that made his bones feel as if they were being crushed by the weight of a mountain. Then, there was a sound like breaking glass, and cracks began to spread from the very center of the core.

Crack!

Lin Lee did not feel any pain; instead, he felt a sense of relief. A calm, confident smile appeared on his face as the cracks grew wider. The golden light shone through the purple gaps with blinding brightness. The core was no longer just a center point; it was like a shell, and something else was moving deep inside, waiting to come out. "Finally," he whispered, his voice shaking with the importance of the moment, while the air around him moved violently because he had broken through the final barrier. "Yuan Ying realm."

Suddenly, the pressure reached its peak. The shell of his core did not just crack; it burst apart.

Bang!

The core in the middle of his body exploded, and the pieces merged with his energy channels, expanding the space inside his dantian rapidly. It felt as if his entire body was being rebuilt, the old limits of his cultivation being torn down to make room for a vast, new horizon. At the same time, a small Yuan Ying soul appeared, sitting in the place where the core used to be. It looked exactly like a tiny version of Lin Lee, with a faint, purple layer of energy flickering over its pure, invisible surface.

Suddenly, the soul opened its tiny eyes and looked around.

Yuan Ying Realm, Achieved.

’So this is the feeling of the soul inside the shell. It is the second time I am feeling such a sensation, and it is really addictive,’

Lin Lee thought as his mind, now sitting inside the nascent Yuan Ying, felt everything around him with perfect clarity. His awareness grew, easily covering every corner of the cave that belonged to him. He could sense the rough texture of the stone walls, the faint hum of the protective barrier he had set up, and even the dust particles dancing in the dim light. However, he kept strict control, refusing to let his consciousness go outside the borders of the cave. He knew well that in a sect, spiritual spying was a sensitive matter; he did not plan to fight anyone in this sect before fully stabilizing his new power.

While he was busy getting used to his new, spiritual form, the world outside responded to the huge shift. A strange, natural event linked to a perfect breakthrough began to show. A thick, white cloud gathered above the mountain peak where Lin Lee lived, and from its middle, it started releasing a soft, purple light that covered the entire slope in an unnatural glow.

Other core disciples and a few elders came out of their private caves, their heads turning toward Lin Lee’s peak.

"Brother Luo Shan has broken through to the Yuan Ying realm," One core disciple said, his voice full of a mixture of shock and jealousy. Meanwhile, a few elders stood outside their own homes, their eyes narrowed as they watched the shimmering purple clouds.

Elder Lin, the man who had healed Lin Lee, spoke quietly, looking toward Elder Yao. "I thought this young man was too reckless. Even though he had enough resources, he should have waited longer before trying such a risky breakthrough. The foundation is more important then structure."

Elder Yao looked at the glowing purple clouds and shook his head, his face stern. "It is fine. It seems the attack on him pushed him to do this. Regardless, this kind of lesson is good for his future growth."

Elder Lin thought of something else, his forehead wrinkling as he spoke in a lower voice. "What about the rogue cultivator? Did they find anything?"

Elder Yao shook his head, looking far away. "He was tracked back to the eastern ocean. After that, we lost him. The trail went cold." Elder Lin was shocked, his eyes widening. "Is he one of those outsiders?"

Elder Yao shook his head thoughtfully. "I am not sure. His strength and talent almost reached the level of a core disciple in our sect. Why would an outsider with that much talent attack our own disciple? This matter is very strange."

While they were busy with the mystery of the rogue cultivator, Lin Lee opened his eyes inside the cave. He breathed out a long, steady breath, feeling the incredible power now moving through his body. It was easily ten, maybe even a hundred times stronger than before.

A slow, proud smile appeared on his face. ’Well, tonight I will start the next phase of my plan,’ he thought, and then he glanced toward the entrance of the cave, noticing someone was visiting him.

The air shimmered as Lin Lee turned off the barrier. Stepping out of his home, he was greeted by the sight of the Inner and Core disciples standing on the terrace, their faces showing a mix of envy, curiosity, and respect.

Among them, the handsome men stood straight, while two female disciples with very beautiful features watched him with wide, observant eyes. "Congratulations, Brother Luo Shan! A breakthrough to the Yuan Ying realm at such a young age... you really are the pride of our sect!" One disciple called out, starting a chorus of good wishes.

Lin Lee kept a humble, gentle smile, nodding to them. He knew how to act the part; a rising star should be confident but not arrogant. His eyes moved past them, finding the two figures standing a little way off: Elder Lin and Elder Yao. He straightened his back and gave a formal salute. "Elder Lin, Elder Yao."

Elder Lin walked forward, a rare, warm smile on his face. He waved his hand, telling Lin Lee there was no need to stand in the ceremony. "There is no need to be so formal anymore, Luo Shan. You are already in the Yuan Ying realm; you are now our equal, not just a disciple. We are here to offer our personal congratulations, but more importantly, the Sect Master has asked to see you inside the Main Sect Building."

Lin Lee’s nod was sharp. "I understand." He looked toward the large building, a structure that felt like it towered over the entire mountain range.

After a short walk on the stone paths, they reached the grand entrance. The inside of the Main Sect Building was huge, filled with a heavy, ancient spiritual feeling. At the center stood a man who looked to be in his late twenties, with handsome, refined features that hid his true age.

Lin Lee did not let the Sect Master’s young appearance fool him. He knew better... cultivators in the Yuan Ying realm lived for over five hundred years, and those who reached the Soul Formation realm, like the man in front of him, lived for over a thousand years. Many experts liked to keep a youthful look to show control and strength.

The Sect Master’s presence felt like a physical weight. Lin Lee could feel the heavy, swirling spiritual power coming from him... a massive ocean of energy. His soul had already begun to separate from his physical body, letting him travel thousands of miles with his mind alone and use the laws of the world at will. Lin Lee felt a sense of worry; he had to be very careful with every word he spoke.

He walked forward, stopped at a respectful distance, and bowed deeply. "I have seen Sect Master."

In his mind, memories of the real Luo Shen resurfaced. The Sect Master had been a mentor, providing the resources and help that paved the way for this breakthrough. He was the only Soul Formation expert in the whole realm, a mountain Lin Lee could not afford to move just yet.

... Chapter End ...