In less time than it took to drink half a cup of tea, an impossibly dense sea of spiritual energy blanketed a radius of tens of thousands of li. Martial artists standing within it found themselves unable to see clearly, and even Maple Forest City, some two thousand li away, reaped tremendous benefits. Countless martial artists rushed to the city walls, gazing into the distance with eyes full of excitement, spreading their arms wide to embrace the thick spiritual energy washing over them.
Rumble rumble rumble...
The sound of invisible shackles breaking rang out suddenly from every corner of Maple Forest City. These strange sounds emanated from within the bodies of countless martial artists, causing them to tremble all over with peculiar expressions on their faces.
"I... I actually advanced! I've broken through to the second stage of the Void King Realm!"
"To think that in my lifetime I could touch the threshold of the Return to Void Realm! I can die in peace now!"
"Ha ha ha ha! As expected of this young master's prodigious talent — an unprecedented genius! Three minor realm breakthroughs in an instant, soaring straight to the Spirit Wandering Realm! This young master is now unrivaled in the world!"
The joyous cries of martial artists rang out one after another. Amidst this impossibly dense spiritual energy of heaven and earth, martial artists were constantly breaking through their realms, ascending to higher levels of martial cultivation.
Minor realm breakthroughs brought little commotion, but major realm breakthroughs would usher in a baptism of heavenly energy.
And so, the skies above Maple Forest City quickly darkened. A darkness that devoured all light descended over the entire city as if the end of the world had arrived. Then, wind and clouds churned overhead as energy gathered and spiraled downward — bolts of heavenly might striking from above, pouring into the bodies of those experiencing major breakthroughs, cleansing their spiritual souls and physical bodies.
Maple Forest City had completely erupted into a frenzy.
And for Yang Kai and the others at the sealed site outside the city, the benefits were even more pronounced.
Every Dao Source Realm expert stood frozen in place, eyes closed, savoring the richness of the surrounding spiritual energy, opening their minds to absorb it. No cultivation technique was needed — simply standing still was enough for the omnipresent spiritual energy to pour ceaselessly into their limbs and bones, filling their bodies and minds with a comfort beyond their control.
Cracking sounds emanated from within Yang Kai's own body, making his expression turn odd before becoming one of excitement.
"Brother Yang..." Qin Zhaoyang suddenly called out with a strained expression.
"What is it?" Yang Kai turned to look at him.
"I... can't hold it in any longer..." Qin Zhaoyang's face looked terrible, as if he'd been constipated for days without relief. He gave Yang Kai a long look and said, "I think I need to find somewhere quiet to... break through!"
Yang Kai's eyebrows shot up, and he broke into a broad grin: "Then congratulations, Patriarch Qin!"
Qin Zhaoyang was well advanced in years and had shown no signs of a breakthrough before, but now, struck by this sea of spiritual energy, an opportunity had suddenly arrived. This was his personal fortune.
Without this opportunity, given Qin Zhaoyang's talent and age, he likely would never have touched the threshold of the second stage of the Dao Source Realm before dying. If he could break through now, it would be a tremendous boon not only for the Qin family but for all of Maple Forest City.
Qin Zhaoyang smiled bitterly: "The timing couldn't be worse — everything's in chaos right now. I'll need you to protect me for a while, Brother Yang!"
"Done!" Yang Kai agreed readily, then looked around and noticed quite a few martial artists wearing expressions of excitement, the source power within their bodies churning violently — alarmingly so, by the looks of it. They seemed poised on the verge of breakthroughs themselves.
"Come on — let's head to the source!" Yang Kai grabbed Qin Zhaoyang and shot forward.
There were too many people here, all at the Dao Source Realm. The turbulence from multiple simultaneous breakthroughs would be chaotic — not a suitable place to stay. Since Qin Zhaoyang was on the verge of breaking through, they couldn't afford to waste the opportunity.
So he decided to venture into the tiger's den.
"The source?!" Qin Zhaoyang's eyes narrowed as he quickly understood what Yang Kai meant.
He was pulling him straight toward that massive crater, plunging downward against the overwhelming torrent of spiritual energy.
As it turned out, Yang Kai's instinct was absolutely correct. The further down they went, the purer and denser the spiritual energy became. What they'd felt on the surface had already been astonishing, but compared to what lay below, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.
With such vast, ocean-like spiritual energy to aid him, Qin Zhaoyang felt that failing to break through this time would be impossible. His spirits lifted, his face radiating vitality as if he'd been restored by decades of youth.
The two plummeted downward for what must have been over a thousand zhang before finally reaching the ground.
The underground was the same as above — blanketed in inconceivable spiritual energy. Being within it was like submerging in water.
Except this was no ordinary water. It was spirit liquid.
Yang Kai didn't pause. He picked a direction and continued charging forward.
Only after a long while did he suddenly stop, glancing around: "Patriarch Qin, break through here. No one should come this way for the time being."
Everyone was busy absorbing the pure spiritual energy to prepare for their own breakthroughs — who would have the mind to go exploring? Yang Kai's reasoning was sound.
Qin Zhaoyang really couldn't hold on any longer. At Yang Kai's words, he simply nodded, sat cross-legged without a word, formed hand seals, and silently circulated his cultivation technique, quickly entering a state of deep meditation.
Yang Kai waved his hand, and three figures instantly appeared before him.
"Master... where is this?" Zhang Ruoxi had barely materialized when she sensed something extraordinary about the place, involuntarily covering her red lips in astonishment.
Hua Qingsi, however, stared with wide, beautiful eyes and said in a trembling voice, "Yang... Yang Kai, you didn't just barge into some great sect's blessed realm, did you?"