Liu Xi's eagerness to leave caught Valley Master Luo a little off guard, though she quickly understood — he must have wanted to refine the cold essence as soon as possible. Letting out a soft sigh, she simply allowed him to go.
Feeling that the icy poison within her body could finally be suppressed, Valley Master Luo suddenly found herself longing to step outside. Ever since the uncontrollable outbreak of her cold poison, she had sealed herself away within this hall — it had been far too long since she'd seen the sunlight.
And so, she acted on impulse.
Her graceful figure glided forward, swift as the wind, and in the blink of an eye she crossed the threshold and stood beneath the warm sun.
Narrowing her eyes slightly, she gazed at the familiar scenery before her. A faint smile curved her lips as she inhaled deeply, the air so refreshing it almost made her dizzy.
"Mother!"
"Valley Master!"
Voices filled with shock and joy rose all around her. Hearing them, a rare warmth stirred in her chest.
Her phoenix-like eyes swept slowly across the gathered disciples and attendants. Seeing those familiar faces, she raised her head slightly, her tone calm yet commanding.
"This Seat... has returned."
——
Meanwhile, Liu Xi had hurried straight back to the Tideborn Pavilion. Extending his Spiritual Power, he sensed that Xiao Yixian was still cultivating, and so he didn't disturb her.
He quietly entered his own room, and with a flick of his sleeve, the crimson Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron appeared on the floor, its surface etched with the vivid engravings of countless stampeding beasts.
Turning his hand over, Liu Xi summoned a glowing azure lotus — the same flame that sealed the source of the cold poison.
This wisp of cold essence was no small matter. Even Liu Xi had to exert his full strength to refine it completely — purging the impurities while retaining its energy essence.
With a flick of his wrist, the azure flame-lotus drifted toward the cauldron, slipping through the opening and vanishing inside.
Liu Xi's sharp brows lifted slightly as his gaze locked onto the cauldron, anticipation flickering in his eyes.
"Don't disappoint me… Azure Flame, refine!"
At his command, a torrent of azure flames burst to life within the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron, filling every corner with roaring fire. Within, the mass of white frost churned violently, battering against the cauldron walls as if trying to escape.
The azure flames formed a blazing net, tightening around the cold essence. A searing explosion followed — hiss! hiss! hiss! — as flame and frost clashed, sending waves of energy rippling outward and making the cauldron ring with deep metallic echoes.
Fortunately, the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron was no ordinary relic. As one of the Thirteen Heavenly Cauldrons, its durability was beyond imagination, easily withstanding such violent shocks.
Still, without the support of medicinal power, Liu Xi's Dou Qi was rapidly consumed — ten percent, thirty percent, fifty, seventy...
Just as his brows furrowed and he prepared to take a Rejuvenation Pill, the violent cold essence began to falter. The frost, unable to find purchase, finally shattered into fragments under the relentless azure fire.
In moments, the icy corruption was erased — leaving behind a sphere of pure, radiant energy, gleaming like liquid jade and floating serenely within the cauldron.
Liu Xi's eyes lit up, and his throat moved in an involuntary swallow. Even his body reacted instinctively, producing a surge of saliva as if urging him to consume it immediately.
This energy was astonishingly pure — even denser and cleaner than his own Dou Qi.
'Such incredible quality…'
But Liu Xi forcibly suppressed his impulse. The breakthrough to Dou Zun could not be rushed — one failed attempt could cripple future chances of advancement.
Moreover, this energy alone wouldn't be enough. He would need to extract the remaining cold essence from Valley Master Luo's body to have sufficient power for his ascension.
Having made his decision, Liu Xi inhaled slightly, and the glowing energy stream flew from the cauldron straight into his mouth. Wrapped by the azure flame, it settled safely within his body.
The path to Dou Zun now lay clearly before him, and the thought brought a faint smile to his lips. Folding his hands into a seal, he entered meditation to restore his strength.
'It's only a matter of time now. I wonder when the Sound Valley will gather the next batch of medicinal ingredients…'
——
A day passed quietly.
Liu Xi was jolted from his cultivation by a sudden surge of powerful energy. His eyes snapped open, gleaming with alertness as his Spiritual Power spread in all directions — then relaxed as he recognized the familiar presence.
A smile crept onto his face.
"Xian'er really is remarkable. She's successfully broken through to 6-Star Dou Zun. Once her realm stabilizes, she can take the Zun Shi Pill to reach 7-Star — a true high-level Dou Zun."
Having recovered most of his Dou Qi, Liu Xi rose lightly to his feet. With a wave of his hand, he stored the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron back into his ring, then stepped out of his room to guard Xiao Yixian's breakthrough.
In the courtyard, the energy fluctuations grew increasingly intense. Heaven and Earth Energy churned like a storm, surging toward Xiao Yixian's room.
Before long, others had noticed as well. From every corner of Sound Valley, powerful auras converged.
After all, the advance of a Dou Zun — one of the continent's top existences — was a matter of great significance.
Moments later, Liu Xi sensed several formidable auras approaching rapidly: Valley Master Luo, Luo Yinzhu, and three elderly women of immense strength.
A gentle breeze swept across the courtyard as they descended gracefully, their gazes drawn to the pulsing light of Xiao Yixian's breakthrough.
Liu Xi turned toward them, mildly astonished. Besides Valley Master Luo, a Half Saint, the other three elders were also Dou Zun experts — and with Luo Yinzhu's exceptional talent, Sound Valley's strength was truly formidable.
It seemed the valley's low profile had merely concealed its true power — stronger even than Burning Flame Valley or Ice River Valley.
Liu Xi smiled. "Xian'er's sudden breakthrough must have startled everyone. I apologize for the disturbance."
Valley Master Luo chuckled softly. "There's no need, Master Liu. For one so young to reach 6-Star Dou Zun — she's truly extraordinary. But then, those who walk beside you are always geniuses in their own right.
"You already know my daughter, Yinzhu. And these are our Elders — the First, Second, and Third Elders. Upon sensing the commotion, they came to see for themselves."
The three elderly women smiled kindly at Liu Xi, gratitude shining in their eyes — clearly aware that he was the one who had dispelled Valley Master Luo's cold poison.
The First Elder spoke in a hoarse yet sincere tone.
"Master Liu's aid to the Valley Master is a blessing not only to her, but to all of Sound Valley. We owe you our deepest thanks."
Liu Xi nodded casually, his expression calm. He had come expecting only medicinal materials or Dou Techniques — yet instead, he had found the key to his Dou Zun breakthrough.
(End of Chapter)
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This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on P4 treon, For those who want to read 2 chapters ahead for free, you can find me on P4 treon by searching for my username: Fallen_Archangel_.
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