In front of the stone chamber in the Demon Venerable's ruins.
Xiao Xue's chest rose and fell as she breathed rhythmically, steadily, and deeply.
After gaining a point of [Physique] and fusing with the heavenly fox essence blood, her barren chest even showed faint signs of a second growth spurt.
Although, judging by the momentum, it definitely couldn't compare to the Demon Venerable in the stone coffin, it had certainly escaped the state of lifelong poverty.
Hmm, the future is promising.
As time passed, Xiao Xue's aura was slowly strengthening.
Four-Star Dou Master, Five-Star Dou Master... Nine-Star Dou Master.
When her cultivation reached the Peak of a Nine-Star Dou Master, Xiao Xue's mind stirred, and her Soul Power spread out like lightning, beginning to compress the Dou Qi within her body.
Under the pressure of Xiao Xue's Soul Power, which was comparable to that of a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, the Dou Qi within her body was compressed without any surprises.
Her own cultivation dropped back to a Seven-Star Dou Master, and then, with the replenishment of the Essence Blood energy, it rose again.
After several rounds of compression and elevation, her strength finally stabilized at the Peak of a Nine-Star Dou Master.
At this moment, the Dou Qi in her body was incredibly refined, and her physical fitness, tempered by the Dou Qi and Essence Blood, was comparable to an ordinary Third-Rank Demonic Beast.
The remaining excess energy was, without exception, sealed away by Xiao Xue using the System to be used for later.
Generally speaking, the energy contained in a drop of Eighth-Rank Essence Blood is immense; if it were all used for upgrading, it wouldn't be difficult for her to break through to a Dou Ling.
However, for one, a Breakthrough relying on external forces is far from comparable to upgrading by consuming experience points.
If Xiao Xue forcefully used the energy of the Essence Blood to Upgrade to the Dou Ling level, her Dou Qi would definitely be extremely unstable.
This would not be good for her future development.
If she upgraded too much at once, she herself would probably be unable to perfectly grasp her own state.
Secondly, for every major Realm, she must consume experience points to break through.
In other words, as long as she doesn't choose to "Upgrade," no matter how vast the energy of the Essence Blood is, she will not break through the Great Dou Master Realm.
However, being able to take this opportunity to break through directly to a Nine-Star Dou Master was already far beyond Xiao Xue's expectations.
After a long while, Xiao Xue suddenly opened her eyes.
Her eyes were exceptionally bright, shining like stars!
And her ice-blue pupils were actually tinged with a faint pink.
This pink was not intense, but one could still see it if looking closely.
The next moment, two fluffy fox tails emerged from behind her.
With a thought, Xiao Xue retracted the two tails, and with another thought, the tails emerged again.
These two tails felt as if they were a part of her body.
On the Fighting Qi Continent, Demonic Beasts have strength above the First Rank; those below the First Rank are not called Demonic Beasts, but beasts.
For the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox race, every time they break through a major Realm, another tail grows behind the tribesman.
After breaking through to Dou Sheng, they will become the legendary Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox!
These two tails were proof that she had obtained the Heavenly Fox Bloodline.
Xiao Xue retracted and released her tails, never tiring of it.
Just as Xiao Xue was playing with her tails and rejoicing over her skyrocketing strength, a wisp of blue smoke drifted slowly in front of her, condensing into a small fox.
The little fox looked at her in silence, its eyes full of accusation towards Xiao Xue's behavior of "taking money but not working."
That resentful little gaze was almost tangible.
Xiao Xue smiled awkwardly and retracted her tails, "Senior, hello."
Little Fox:...
Xiao Xue:...
"Ahem," Xiao Xue patted her bottom and stood up from the ground, "Senior, I will take you out now."
Taking things from others makes one feel indebted; furthermore, Xiao Xue was not the type to betray her word.