Chapter 119: Sudden Surge in Cultivation (Third Watch)

Without hesitation, he crushed it outright, examined it carefully, and even tasted a bit of the powder, finding nothing amiss. He inspected the other three types just as thoroughly. Jiang Fan firmly believed that caution would prevent any major mistakes.

Just as he was about to consume the Body Tempering Pill, his body stiffened.

A terrifying thought crossed Jiang Fan’s mind.

“Did I just arrive here and receive such a fortuitous opportunity?”

“In the grand scheme of this ancient battlefield relic, this chance is insignificant!”

“But the crucial point is, this Body Tempering Pill is perfectly suited for me to take right now to enhance my cultivation!”

“And the Great Treasure Pills are all part of a series of medicines to temper the body!”

“The Essence Condensing Pill is meant for the breakthrough from Purple Mansion to the Nascent Soul stage!”

“This coincidence is just too extraordinary!”

Jiang Fan closed his eyes.

Such an uncanny coincidence surely meant something was amiss.

“This is my first time here!”

“And this place very likely dates back to the Great Hong Immortal Realm, left untouched for at least a million years.”

“If this is all targeted at me...?”

“Or is it truly just my incredible luck?”

Exhaling a foul breath, Jiang Fan cast aside hesitation. He tossed a Body Tempering Pill into his mouth and swallowed it, immediately activating the Profound Dao Technique to begin refining and tempering his physique.

He couldn’t just discard such good things right before him.

Come what may!

On the Enlightenment Platform, Jiang Fan’s spiritual reservoir was exceptionally clear. The pace at which he refined the pill was unimaginably swift.

Bones, muscles, fascia, skin, internal organs, blood vessels, even the bone marrow rapidly reorganized. His entire physique was crushed and reshaped anew.

This was the terrifying power of body refinement.

Every step forward was a complete reconstruction of the body from within, accompanied by agonizing pain. Even Jiang Fan gritted his teeth tightly, guarding his mind with the Purple Mansion.

This was a transformation akin to shedding one’s old self and being reborn.

Boom!

Jiang Fan’s body suddenly expanded to a height of thirty feet, then quickly shrank back.

During this process, some red-black substances oozed out from his pores — old blood and filth.

This happened nine times consecutively before it finally ceased.

Jiang Fan’s aura surged dramatically.

“Profound Dao Technique, mid-stage of the third layer!”

Mid-stage here corresponded to the Nascent Soul realm, the second step of the Nascent Soul phase.

A smile spread across Jiang Fan’s face.

He sat cross-legged with closed eyes, motionless, continuing to circulate the Profound Dao Technique, slowly assimilating the surged power into his body to master it.

After quite some time, his aura stabilized.

“Let’s continue!”

Jiang Fan took out an Essence Condensing Pill and swallowed it.

Within the Purple Mansion, over a hundred miles in every direction, the calm liquid mana began to ripple and spiral.

The whirlpool accelerated, encompassing a hundred-mile radius, forming a massive vortex. Coincidentally, the center of the vortex was that glimmering spot capable of traversing into another world.

That light still showed no movement, remaining quietly still.

Hum...

At the vortex’s peak rotation, guided by the Golden Radiance Technique, the liquid mana suddenly condensed, and in an instant, underwent a monumental transformation.

The liquid mana within the hundred-mile radius coalesced into a platform ninety-nine zhang in circumference — or more fittingly, a Soul Dao Platform.

The platform was covered with dense, innate patterns converging at its center. There, an object the size of a fist, resembling a placenta, pulsated rhythmically like a beating heart.

“Success!”

Joy filled Jiang Fan’s mind.

The three steps of the Nascent Soul stage were: Purple Mansion, Nascent Soul itself, and Spirit Transformation.

The Purple Mansion he created was unprecedented and unparalleled. Supported by the Spirit Spring, he had long reached its peak. With his current accumulation, breaking through to the second step seemed a matter for an indeterminate future.

But now, one pill solved the problem.

It directly condensed the Nascent Soul.

In fact, this step was extremely difficult. One had to first condense the liquid mana into a Soul Dao Platform, then nurture the Nascent Soul embryo atop it.

The platform served as the foundation; the embryo was the core.

A one-step completion — the path was smooth and natural.

Jiang Fan had successfully nurtured the Nascent Soul embryo. Next came the cultivation of the embryo itself, a task that took time and patience.

With the Spirit Spring nourishing him, much time could be saved.

“Profound Dao Technique, mid-third layer, Nascent Soul second step!”

Jiang Fan rose, refreshed and invigorated.

He did not leave immediately but reforged the Earth-Shaking Bell to facilitate control. At the same time, he refined spiritual liquid, once again filling the Purple Mansion’s space.

With everything ready, Jiang Fan appeared in the ruined palace beneath the Earth-Shaking Bell, overlooking Jade Spring Mansion.

Bang!

No sooner had Jiang Fan settled than a murderous aura struck him, accompanied by a streak of light aimed at his face.

He narrowed his eyes, mana trembling as the Earth-Shaking Bell above him flared with blinding light, deflecting the sneak attack.

“A single strike blocked?” came a woman’s astonished voice.

Jiang Fan glanced over and sneered coldly, “The Black Rose of the Demonic Sect, huh? Seems like when there’s a road to heaven you won’t take it, but when hell has no door, you come running!”

“You little brat, you’re really full of yourself!” The Black Rose sneered, her expression turning icy. “Where did you just vanish to? How did you suddenly appear?”

“Guess,” Jiang Fan replied thoughtfully, not rushing to fight. “You all got in?”

“Of course,” the Black Rose squinted, sizing him up. “I didn’t expect this to be an ancient battlefield, probably left behind after the Immortal-Demon War, so it must contain many benefits. Your sudden appearance just now means you must have obtained some kind of secret treasure, right? A spatial artifact! Hand it over, along with that Earth-Shaking Bell above your head, and I’ll protect you. Join the Demonic Sect under me. We may not have much, but we have plenty of beautiful girls—not just a handful, but hundreds. With your talent, it’s not a problem!”

“Give you the Earth-Shaking Bell?” Jiang Fan said oddly, “Give the bell, give the bell. You want me to give you a send-off? You must be quite old already, at least over a hundred years. Giving you this old lady a send-off wouldn’t be a loss for me!”

“Sharp tongue!” The Black Rose’s killing intent flared. “Don’t think that killing that fool Yuan Cheng means you can match us.”

“Tell me why Yuan Cheng conspired with you, and I’ll consider it,” Jiang Fan smiled.

“You little brat, too green to fool me. Say it once more: will you give it or not?” The Black Rose’s aura surged to its peak.

“I’ll give it!” Jiang Fan said, and suddenly the Earth-Shaking Bell above exploded with a roar.

Buzz buzz buzz!

Sound waves rippled outward in circles, instantly destroying the centuries-old, nearly decayed palace.

“Trying to guard against you!” The Black Rose sneered. A circle of black light bloomed on her forehead—eighteen layers of defense encasing her.

But the next moment, her expression changed.

One by one, the eighteen layers shattered, broken through in an instant.

“How is this possible?” The Black Rose panicked, about to retreat, when Jiang Fan was already stepping forward.

“Old witch, killing you is like slaughtering pigs and dogs. I held back before just to extract information from you. Since you refuse to cooperate, I’ll erase you from this world!”

At this moment, Jiang Fan was utterly merciless.