Chapter 209 - 203: Breakthrough
To Yu Changsheng, this clear ringing held no malice, only benefits. His Qi Sea began to churn and swirl, and the Spirit Platform at its center suddenly began to glow.
The second layer of his Spirit Platform, which had stalled after reaching eighty percent completion, suddenly resumed its solidification.
The first ring faded as a second one echoed. This time, Yu Changsheng’s Divine Soul began to tremble rhythmically, and his breathing fell into a specific cadence. In a state of pure clarity, a faint light bloomed before his eyes, pulling him into a wondrous state. In what felt like an instant, the second layer of his Spirit Platform finished solidifying, reaching ninety percent completion.
As the second ring faded, a third one rose. This one was exceptionally long, with a distinct, undulating rhythm. As the sound washed over his mind, Yu Changsheng’s Physical Qi and Blood Power was also stirred into a frenzy. The Thousand Mountain Armor began to form on its own, and a faint, bloody light bloomed on the surface of his skin.
Under the influence of the three rings, Yu Changsheng was plunged into that same wondrous state, as if he were undergoing a sublime, almost divine, transformation.
And in this state, the second layer of his Spirit Platform finally completed the last ten percent of its solidification. A vast surge of Magical Power erupted within him, and nature’s spiritual energy flooded madly into his body.
A flash of white light passed over Yu Changsheng, and he naturally began to exude an ethereal, otherworldly aura.
His Cultivation had grown far more profound, and a sense of fullness pervaded his entire body. But as the three rings faded, the feeling of clarity in his Divine Soul slowly dissipated.
WHOOSH...
Exhaling a breath of pure air, Yu Changsheng opened his eyes. The confusion in them was gone, replaced by a flash of brilliant light.
’I’m at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer...’
Feeling the surging power within his body, a hint of a smile appeared in Yu Changsheng’s eyes.
He remembered everything that had just happened. Although he didn’t know why he had acted that way, the outcome was clearly beneficial. It had turned into a stroke of good fortune.
With that, Yu Changsheng slowly let his fingers fall away from the Profound Celestial Giant Sword. The whole process seemed to take a long time, but in reality, it had only lasted for a single breath.
As the three blood-red lines of the Seal flickered, the Profound Celestial Giant Sword stopped trembling and returned to its tranquil state. The three clear rings also seemed to lose their momentum, coming to an abrupt halt.
"Are you all right?"
Shen Xingchen snapped back to his senses and hurriedly checked on Yu Changsheng, a panicked look on his face. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief when he saw that everything was normal.
He hadn’t been able to grasp what happened in that instant. His Divine Sense couldn’t get close to the blade, so he could only rely on his naked eye. And since he was standing behind Yu Changsheng, his view was partially obscured, so he hadn’t realized Yu Changsheng had actually touched it.
"That’s the Profound Celestial Giant Sword! Are you trying to get yourself killed? How could you even think of touching it?"
Shen Xingchen gritted his teeth, his worry plain to see.
"I’m fine," Yu Changsheng said, shaking his head with a faint smile. "I just had a moment of insight. Sorry to have worried you, Senior Brother Shen."
"As long as you’re really okay. Otherwise, I don’t know how I’d explain this to Master. That was far too risky."
Shen Xingchen let out a long breath, the unease on his face finally fading. Still, he scanned Yu Changsheng carefully with his Divine Sense, unable to hide the look of wonder in his eyes.
"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Shen," Yu Changsheng said with a chuckle.
Shen Xingchen shook his head, the wonder in his eyes intensifying. He slowly asked, "Did you feel something just now? Is that what made you act so involuntarily?"
With Shen Xingchen’s sharp eye, he could naturally tell that Yu Changsheng’s actions had not been of his own volition.
"Felt something?"
Yu Changsheng paused, a blank look in his eyes. He shook his head and said, "I don’t know. I just suddenly had this feeling, an uncontrollable urge to do it."
"But it’s fine. It looks like there was no harm done."
Yu Changsheng finished with a lighthearted laugh.
He didn’t intend to reveal the specifics.
Seeing that Yu Changsheng was unwilling to say more, Shen Xingchen knew better than to press the issue. He just gave Yu Changsheng a deep, thoughtful look before congratulating him.
"I knew you had profound fortune, Changsheng! Look at you. Just one trip to the Sword Cleansing Pool, and not only did your physical body break through, but your Cultivation also reached the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. I’m truly envious."
"It was all just a fluke," Yu Changsheng said with a hearty laugh. "Didn’t you also gain a lot, Senior Brother Shen?"
Shen Xingchen neither confirmed nor denied it. After showing his concern a bit more, he turned to look at the Profound Celestial Giant Sword. A flash of hesitation crossed his eyes as he felt its immense power. In the end, he sighed softly, shaking his head and dismissing the thought.
Yu Changsheng didn’t say anything more either. Instead, he slowly closed his eyes and submerged his consciousness, carefully observing every change in his body. Inwardly, he was far from calm; a storm was raging in his mind.
’Those three clear rings...’
’I’ve heard them before. In Yuntai Valley, during the Beast Taming tournament, I heard the exact same clear ring. How strange...’
Suppressing the shock in his heart, Yu Changsheng thought back carefully, lost in contemplation.
’But this time, those three rings seemed to contain some other power. That’s why I was able to break through—it felt like it was guiding me...’
An almost imperceptible frown crossed Yu Changsheng’s brow as he continued to think.
’Regardless, I’m certain that those three rings were no accident; they were intentional. And compared to the ring I heard last time, this one seemed much weaker. It felt like it was lacking in energy.’
Hearing this sound twice in a row set Yu Changsheng’s mind racing. He knew that the Profound Turtle Ancestor was sealed in Yuntai Valley, and this Profound Celestial Giant Sword was also a Seal.
It was obvious, then, who had produced the sound. But even so, Yu Changsheng was still puzzled.
’Whatever. In any case, it’s a good thing.’
Shaking his head, Yu Changsheng stopped dwelling on the matter. Instead, he focused on the Small Sword floating in his Sea of Consciousness, his brow furrowed.
’What is this...? Does it have some connection to the Profound Celestial Giant Sword?’
This Small Sword—a miniature version of the Profound Celestial Giant Sword, shrunk down countless times—had appeared in Yu Changsheng’s Sea of Consciousness the moment he touched the great blade.
He tried to sense it carefully, but the Small Sword gave no reaction. For now, Yu Changsheng pushed the thought aside and tried not to overthink it.
Soon, six hours passed in a flash. With two flashes of light from the Teleportation Array, both of them were transported out of the secret area. When they opened their eyes again, they were already in the main hall, with Lu Ruikai standing before them, looking at them with concern.
"It seems you both gained a lot this time. Your physical bodies have improved greatly. Excellent. The sect will be relying on you as its pillars in the future."
Lu Ruikai said with admiration, patting Yu Changsheng’s shoulder. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes.
With his Realm, he could naturally sense that the change in Yu Changsheng’s physical body was nothing short of a qualitative leap.
’He’s clearly a Beast Master, yet his physical body is even more profound and astonishing than those who specialize in it. I have no idea how he cultivates.’
Lu Ruikai thought to himself, a complex look flashing through his eyes as he watched Yu Changsheng, gone in an instant.