Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

"The night is approaching!" He gazed at the scene at the edge of the sky in the distance, murmuring to himself.

Then, he turned his head to look above.

He could see the entrance to the grotto heaven directly overhead.

The evening wind at this moment blew from afar, from the south, bringing a slightly stifling heat.

Even though the sun had set, the temperature remained oppressive.

He gazed far into the direction of the Royal Capital, not leaving immediately, his eyes calm, a flash of contemplation flickering within.

He knew that once he returned, the unresolved friction between him and Wang Jixuan would likely erupt.

Ji Xuan had been in seclusion for many days, and although he didn’t make a direct move during today’s court meeting, his gaze made it clear that Ji Xuan had set his sights on him, and that look said it all.

He had been publicly taken away by the Martial Saint, which further stirred some thoughts in Ji Xuan.

Returning now was to walk willingly into the eye of the storm.

If Ji Xuan disregarded the Martial Saint’s influence and chose to strike, he would face Ji Xuan directly.

Facing Ji Xuan head-on, he had some confidence but no absolute certainty of victory.

The outcome of an all-out struggle was uncertain.

Furthermore, unleashing all of his strength would not be to his advantage.

"The time is not yet right," Jiang Ning whispered to himself.

He turned his gaze to the distance.

He needed time to thoroughly digest the gains from his journey to the Demon Country.

He also needed to wait for the final transformation of the Yin Yang Dao Embryo within the Spirit Platform.

The rupture of his Primordial Spirit was close at hand.

With his mind made up, he hesitated no longer, his form transforming into a barely perceptible stream of light, heading in the opposite direction of the Royal Capital, towards the depths of the remote and deserted mountain range.

That place, with its towering mountains and dense forests, was far removed from the clamor of the world and was the perfect spot for secluded refinement.

A moment later.

An expanse of undulating ancient forested mountains appeared before him.

The ancient trees stood tall, stretching in waves like the sea.

The mountains were magnificent, stretching across like a dragon.

He did not know what place this was.

Nor did he need to know.

He didn’t even know which region of the Thirty-six Prefectures of the Nine Provinces he had arrived at.

But he knew he must certainly be a good distance from Shangjing County and even further from the Royal Capital.

The next moment.

He descended straight into the heart of a mountain range.

In mid-air, he selected a cliff.

On the cliff, there was a hidden natural cave.

The cave entrance was obscured by dense vines, spacious and dry within, with an underground dark river flowing through, bringing in fresh air.

He delved deeper, then casually sat cross-legged on a damp boulder.

Beneath him, a trickling stream could be heard.

He then took out the "Dragon Origin" gifted by the Martial Saint during the day.

The fist-sized dark golden orb floated in his palm, with dragon shadows swimming within, emanating boundless, pure Origin Energy like the sea.

It also held a trace of dragon’s majesty.

Just holding it, Jiang Ning felt his Qi-Blood slightly begin to boil, and a clear yearning pulsation came from the Yin Yang Dao Embryo within the Spirit Platform.

"The quintessence of nearly five thousand years on the verge of Dragon Transformation!" he murmured to himself.

Gazing at the Dragon Origin in his hand, his expression was somewhat moved.

The preciousness of this object was evident from the fact that the Demon Emperor had faced off against the Martial Saint to claim it.

Then, he opened his mouth and inhaled, and the dark gold Dragon Yuan transformed into a stream of warmth, directly entering his abdomen.

Bang!

It was as if a dormant volcano within erupted violently!

An energy torrent far more violent and pure than any Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures he had consumed before instantly overwhelmed the limit his meridians could bear.

It surged madly toward his limbs, bones, internal organs, and even every cell.

Jiang Ning’s body trembled violently, the pale golden Great Sun Divine Body patterns on his skin flared brightly like molten gold.

In an instant, the originally dark, lightless underground cave was illuminated as bright as day by the golden light.

The bright golden light filled the underground cave, making the ordinary dark river look like a river of flowing gold.

Within the Dantian.

The originally dormant Dragon and Tiger Golden Core suddenly manifested dragon and tiger shadows, the roars of dragons and tigers resonating within, fully suppressing, guiding, and refining this terrifying power of the Dragon Origin.

Pain! A tearing pain! But accompanying the pain was a profound ascent in life’s essence.

Every bone crackled, every muscle fiber tore.

The blood in his body surged crazily, like great rivers, rushing and roaring, as if a golden river continuously traversed within.

His internal organs were repeatedly washed and refined by the Dragon Origin essence, functions multiplied, and vitality flourished.

The entire body, under the influence of the Dragon Origin, once again grew and enhanced.

He instantly understood that this thing in the hands of the Martial Saint would also aid the drying vitality of the Martial Saint.

[Source Points +3.3]

[Source Points +3.5]

[...]

As the process continued, on the panel, the value of the Source Points was constantly growing.

The energy contained in this Dragon Origin far exceeded ordinary Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, each piece refined brought considerable growth.

Meanwhile, the fierce will and residual dragon might belonging to the flood dragon in the Dragon Origin also attempted to impact Jiang Ning’s Heart Spirit.

In a trance, he seemed to see a hideous and fierce flood dragon roaring in the depths of his soul, wanting to take over as the master.

However, accompanied by the explosion of mysterious light from the Yin Yang Dao Embryo, the hideous flood dragon instantly dissolved like snow in spring wind.

As the remnant thoughts dissolved, he suddenly felt a pure energy merging into the Yin Yang Dao Embryo,

His heart was calm like an ancient well, unperturbed, immersing all his Heart Spirit into refining and absorbing the Dragon Origin.

Not knowing how long it had been, the surging, roaring energy torrent within his body finally slowly calmed, most of the essence absorbed by the flesh, strengthening the foundation.

A small portion of the purer energy was infused into the Dantian, absorbed and refined by the Dragon and Tiger Golden Core, transforming into more pure and profound True Yuan, and nourishing the Golden Core itself, making the Dragon and Tiger patterns on its surface ever clearer and dynamic, enveloped in purple aura.

When the last trace of Dragon Origin was completely refined and absorbed, Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes, a flash of gold and purple in his gaze that quickly returned to deepness.

He exhaled a long breath of impure energy, his breath long and thick, causing a slight echo in the cave.

After a slight introspection, he felt his Qi-Blood full and surging like the sea, True Yuan mighty and refined like mercury, the strength and power of the flesh increased by at least one-tenth.

More importantly, the Life Origin was greatly nourished and expanded, and he could feel his longevity invisibly increased significantly.

"As expected of the Dragon Origin from a nearly five thousand-year-old flood dragon, the effects are extraordinary." He was satisfied in his heart.

Then, he took out the piece of flood dragon meat weighing several thousand pounds from the Jiezhi Leaf.

This dragon meat also contained abundant Blood Qi essence, which he had already tasted in the Grotto Heaven; though not as pure as the Dragon Origin, it was plentiful.

He had just refined the Dragon Origin and was not in a hurry to return to the Royal Capital.

He still needed to wait, waiting for the breakthrough in the Spirit Platform of the Yin Yang Dao Embryo.

Then, he joined his fingers as blades and cut a large piece of flood dragon meat, directly roasting it with True Sun Fire.

The dragon meat he ate before had been completely digested by his body, and now his stomach was empty, recalling the deliciousness of the dragon meat.

Just the memory of the flavor made his mouth water, saliva firing away.

A moment later, the aroma of the meat spread everywhere.

Not waiting for it to be fully cooked, Jiang Ning began his feast indulgently.

He roasted and ate these pieces of flood dragon meat one by one, swallowing them into his stomach.

The surging Blood Qi essence once again merged into his body, further enhancing his physique.

[Source Points +0.3]

[Source Points +0.2]

[...]

Piece by piece of flood dragon meat entered his stomach, refined by his body, transforming into Essence Qi and spreading throughout it, he gradually felt his body conveying a sense of being full.

This fullness, not in the ordinary sense of a belly unable to hold more.

But the cells unable to hold more.

Every cell, becoming increasingly full during continuous devouring and refining.

"No more, really can’t fit more!" He swallowed the last piece of dragon meat, unable to help but burp.

He looked again at the remaining dragon meat in front of him, re-storing these pieces in the Jiezhi Leaf for next time.

At this moment, he also felt his condition had reached the Peak, his Essence Qi at full, his Spirit Platform clear and bright.

"In this state, the Primordial Spirit breakthrough should be foolproof!" He thought to himself, eyes barely closed.

In the Spirit Platform.

The Dao Embryo at this moment was enveloped by rich Yin Yang Mysterious Light, slowly rotating, like a primordial egg, nurturing the greatest miracle of the world.

This primordial egg seemed to come alive at this moment.

Its rhythmic pulsation grew increasingly strong, like a divine egg ready to break its shell at any moment.

He knew, the Primordial Spirit breakthrough was today.

Close at hand.

What he had to do next was wait.

Wait for the Yin Yang Dao Embryo to break out of its shell, wait for the Primordial Spirit to emerge.

Wait for him to lay the foundation of the Nine Profound Yin Yang Immortal.

Only by returning to the Royal Capital in a state of full strength is the most cautious choice.

Life does not have a return path.

There is only one life, and opportunities are often only once.