Celestial Refining Divine Scripture

First and foremost, the most eye-catching sight was the three sets of white robes emanating a rich Immortal Spirit Qi.

Emblazoned upon them were delicate patterns of mountains and rivers, within which the most striking was a cluster of lifelike, milky-white celestial flames intertwined like a seed of fire.

This emblem signified the identity of a seed disciple of Black Fire Immortal Mountain.

An Inner Sect Disciple bore only the flame pattern.

Seed disciples, however, wore flames enfolding together, celestial fire blossoming and gathering like the very source of flame.

The seed disciple’s robe was a second-tier immortal treasure, spotless and pure; possessing impressive defensive power and symbolizing distinguished status.

"And there’s the Pill Master’s garb, too—if I wore this to stroll through Black Fire Immortal Mountain, I’d definitely look imposing."

Xu Yang grinned widely, but for now, he couldn’t wear it.

If he put it on, he’d be exposed!

He pushed the robes aside and looked at the rest: a token representing the identity of a seed disciple.

Five Third-Turn True Immortal Elixirs, and ten First-Turn True Immortal Elixirs.

Plus dozens of other types of pills for cultivation and restoring immortal essence.

Just these alone were enough to make one’s heart race.

There was also a mountain-sized stack of various immortal jades, all first-tier, numbering in the tens of thousands.

Finally, there was an immortal technique.

Blazing Heart-Burning Saber.

A second-tier Immortal Technique.

Its momentum was unparalleled and fierce, rooted in celestial flame—brutal and ferocious, surging like a mighty tide, blending fire with blade for unrivaled power.

Additionally, it concealed a ’heart-burning’ Primordial Spirit impact!

Especially with the saber’s wild, violent force, it often made people overlook the Primordial Spirit attack hidden within.

This was clearly picked out specifically for him by Dan Qi.

After a simple inspection, Xu Yang was extremely satisfied.

These resources were enough for him to embark on the path of forging his Immortal Foundation.

Without delay, he started cultivating immediately.

With his mind split three ways, he threw all the pills and resources into the divine cauldron to maintain its refining of Purest Essence Qi; at the same time, he absorbed essence to cultivate his Divine Scripture; and most of his focus poured into mastering Blazing Heart-Burning Saber.

Astounding resources gradually transformed into surging Purest Essence Qi, filling the divine cauldron, wave after wave rushing into his body and spreading throughout his sinews.

Purest Essence Qi, flawless and immaculate, far surpassed the effects brought by Immortal Pills.

All the low-grade energies and vitalities in his bones were forced out, leaving behind utterly pure power.

His supreme, flawless physique advanced step by step toward perfection.

And his Dantian’s Immortal Seed, once irrigated by Immortal Spirit, expanded at a terrifying pace.

One day.

BOOM!

His Immortal Seed shook violently, its black radiance lighting up nearly ninety-nine percent of the surrounding void.

Just like a boundless expanse of dark space, at the center, the Immortal Seed shone hauntingly bright, spinning and stirring up tides of mighty black celestial light that twisted and spread in all directions, surging like rivers, waves rising and falling in a frenzy.

"It’s time."

Xu Yang murmured, clearing his mind of all distractions, then abruptly formed a seal with both hands.

"Celestial Refining Divine Scripture—Hundred Refine!"

The seal skill struck the void!

BOOM!

In an instant, his Dantian erupted in a monumental tempest, roaring like mountain cliffs collapsing and rivers overturning.

With the Immortal Seed at the center, a twisting vortex rapidly expanded and intensified.

The Immortal Seed was like the sole core anchoring the vast starry river at the universe’s center.

As it expanded, mysterious and profound runes emerged, spreading into the void, causing the vortex’s waves to multiply dramatically.

A mass of black star clouds stormed, churning like a vast ocean, accelerating without pause.

During this process, the Immortal Seed and all the immortal essence it held and exuded underwent repeated refinement.

Xu Yang’s sealing motions never paused, his sinews shuddering throughout.

Countless impurities and inferior immortal essence were forced out and vanished into nothingness.

His physique felt as if oppressed by a supreme divine mill, crazily tempered!

Each refinement lasted most of a day, from inside out, every inch of immortal essence condensed to the limit, pushed beyond extremes, then transformed again.

Until—Hundred Refine!

BOOM!

The Immortal Seed abruptly stilled, the vortex gradually calmed, and the surging waves merged into the void of the Dantian.

Everything settled with astonishing speed.

Xu Yang’s stance became stable, the aura around him soared explosively.

Whoosh!

The secret chamber erupted with a stormy commotion, a tremendous commotion indeed.

"Hundred Refine Realm—such powerful improvement."

"On the original basis, relying on the unique immortal seal of the Celestial Refining Divine Scripture, I’ve withstood a hundred rounds of extreme refining."

Without exaggeration, his original strength had transformed several times over.

But the resources consumed were truly terrifying.

The seed disciple’s and that millstone-like immortal jade’s reserves were used up, leaving only several thousand immortal jades.

"And this is only the Hundred Refine stage!"

"After this comes Thousand Refine, Ten Thousand Refine, and a hundred and twenty thousand Refines!"

Xu Yang clicked his tongue repeatedly, what he’d estimated for resources proved far from enough after the breakthrough.

Just a Hundred Refine was so astounding—Thousand Refine would require ten times more than ten Hundred Refines.

Ten Thousand Refine!

The Twelve-Grade Immortal Foundation would need twelve rounds of Ten Thousand Refine!

Terrifying!

"For Ten Thousand Refine, the needed resources must be at least second-tier."

"Does a Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation require such shocking amounts?"

Xu Yang rubbed his nose; by then, he worried Yi Que and Dan Qi might suspect his ambitions for forging a Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation.

Nevertheless, the Twelve-Grade Immortal Foundation was something he couldn’t give up.

If he didn’t have it, fine, but since such fortune lay right before his eyes, how could he let it go?

"Besides what the immortal sect provides, I’ll need to find much more myself."

Xu Yang’s expression grew serious, settling his mind to calculate the time.

Over two months had passed.

"With my current strength, the newcomer competition shouldn’t hold any surprises."

Xu Yang got up, planning to make a run to the Fire Demon Lair.

He could gain resources and temper his Primordial Spirit there.

If his Primordial Spirit broke through again before the newcomer competition, both Ten Thousand Blades Melody, Blazing Heart-Burning Saber, and Windfall Immortal Wilderness would all become even fiercer.

Who could rival me?

Xu Yang licked his lips with a faint smile, exuding an air of dominance that quietly faded away as he stepped out of the chamber, returning to his usual demeanor.

He left Dan Feng quietly, heading toward the back of Inner Peak.

The immortal mountain’s design was simple: the Outer Peak on the outside, then the Inner Peak, and behind its perimeter lay Dan Feng and the peaks where some elders resided.

As for places meant for trials, those lay in an orderly array on the rear flanks of Inner Peak.

On the way, many Inner Sect Disciples in twos and threes were seen passing by.

Some were clearly new Inner Sect Disciples, while those from previous generations were even more obvious—their cultivation higher, most at the Middle or Late Stage of True Immortal.

Xu Yang wasn’t afraid of being recognized.

Few newbies went to the Fire Demon Lair, most were old-timers. Even if he ran into a fellow newcomer, he hadn’t shown his face for over two months, and with his sleepless days and nights of cultivation and his unkempt look, hardly anyone could recognize him now.

"The newcomer competition’s just about to start, and this batch of rookies is impressive."

"You’re telling me—let’s not even mention Yang Xiao, but Yang Yuan’s little brother, though a bit less talented, is overflowing with resources and treasures. Who would dare disrespect him?"

"And then there are those ranked on the Dragon and Tiger List; one dragon, three tigers. All of them joined with a cultivation at Middle Stage of True Immortal, and I heard the one called ’the dragon’—Duan Tianyang—was taken as disciple by the fourth elder of the sect, likely to become a Golden Immortal’s disciple. That’s something else."

"Those three tigers—all top of their level. One of them even fought several old-timers without falling behind. The newcomer competition involves two seed disciple spots; it’s sure to be a battle of dragons and tigers."

"I also heard this batch had an incredibly gifted guy, pretty much the top scorer, but offended Yang Xiao, and after joining was forced to pick the lowest grade of cave abode, then vanished. No one’s seen him since; rumor is he was so scared of Yang Xiao and his brother, he ditched his disciple status and fled."

"Seriously?"

"I’d say, just bow to Yang Xiao, admit fault—it’s the Yang Family, after all. They’ve even got geniuses on the Immortal Pride List. Backing down’s no shame; ditching and running, I can’t tell if he’s gutsy or just dumb!"

...

Xu Yang walked on expressionless, only glancing backwards after the gossip had faded behind him.

One dragon, three tigers?