Jin Shi did not leave the summit of Tian Mountain, watching Mu Chen's every move with astonishment.
When Mu Chen sat down on a meditation cushion, Jin Shi noticed that the cushion emitted a circular light, enveloping Mu Chen's body.
"That's actually a treasure!" Jin Shi exclaimed in surprise.
As the leader of the Golden Devouring Rat Clan, Jin Shi had a certain sensitivity to treasures. Being a Dou Zong (Martial Ancestor) level expert himself, he could sense the energy fluctuations emanating from the cushion and judged that even a powerhouse like him would not be able to break through the colorful barrier.
"What is he trying to do?"
Jin Shi was extremely curious and did not leave, quietly observing Mu Chen's actions. As time passed, Jin Shi noticed that the surrounding water elemental energy began to grow increasingly dense.
As a Magical Beast, Jin Shi could feel that the water elements around him were extremely active, almost as if they were dancing.
Many days later, the surrounding energy suddenly trembled violently. The water elements frantically converged around Mu Chen, forming a massive water sphere with a diameter of twenty meters around him.
"Such dense water elements!"
Because of this, Jin Shi specifically instructed some clan members whose Dou Qi (Martial Energy) attributes were water-based to quietly cultivate near Mu Chen. These clan members discovered that their cultivation speed was five times faster than usual. As a result, several members of the Golden Devouring Rat Clan managed to break through their previous bottlenecks.
"I understand now."
Mu Chen suddenly opened his eyes, which had turned blue. The blue color gradually faded, returning to their normal hue.
Mu Chen extended his hand and lightly moved his fingers. The water elements that had gathered around him began to condense and compress in his palm, forming a spear one moment, a sword the next, and then a blade… ever-changing, entirely according to Mu Chen's will.
"Energy Shaping!"
Jin Shi muttered in a daze.
Energy Shaping, like Heavenly Flame Shaping, could only be achieved when one's control over energy reached an unparalleled level, allowing the energy to be condensed into any shape the Battle Practitioner desired.
It sounds simple, but it is incredibly difficult to achieve.
Even among the Dou Zong, Battle Venerate, and even Battle Saint level experts in the Central Continent, few could achieve Energy Shaping. In the end, it all came down to insufficient comprehension.
As the saying goes, laymen watch the spectacle, while experts discern the essence.
Clan Leader Jin Shi did not notice that Mu Chen was not merely performing simple Energy Shaping. Within the ever-changing water elements, there were distinct blue lights resembling the meridians of a human body.
That was the profound understanding of the water attribute of heaven and earth that Mu Chen had just comprehended.
Do not underestimate those fine threads. It was precisely because of their existence that Mu Chen's water attribute attacks had transformed from quantitative to qualitative changes.
"Without your permission, I took the liberty of allowing my clan members to cultivate near you. I beg for your forgiveness." Jin Shi set aside his status and bowed to Mu Chen with utmost reverence, glancing at the Golden Devouring Rats around Mu Chen.
"How long have I been cultivating?" Mu Chen asked.
"Two months," Jin Shi replied.
"Two months have passed," Mu Chen gazed down at the blood pool below. His eyes could penetrate the crimson liquid of the Tianshan Blood Pool, seeing Ruo Lin, Xue Ni, Bibi Dong, and Xiao Yu cultivating at the bottom. Oh, and there were also Feng Qing'er and Mu Qingluan.
Boom
Just as Mu Chen's voice fell, a deafening roar of energy erupted in the air around the volcano crater. Immediately, the energy in the surrounding area began to fluctuate violently.
"What's going on?" The sudden change startled Jin Shi.
"Have they broken through?" Mu Chen smiled.
Everyone at the volcano crater stared intently at the blood pool. On the surface of the water, a massive whirlpool dozens of feet in diameter had formed. At the center of the whirlpool was a dark void, and the surrounding energy of heaven and earth surged into it.
"Clan Leader, could this commotion be caused by them?"
"Most likely."
"But with their strength at the Battle Emperor level, how could they possibly stir the energy of heaven and earth?"
"Perhaps one of them has broken through to the Dou Zong level."
"Dou Zong?"
"Yes."
"Really? Although our Tianshan Blood Pool at Tianmu Mountain has the effect of helping people break through bottlenecks, no one has ever successfully broken through within the pool."
"Just because it hasn't happened before doesn't mean it's impossible. They've been at the bottom of the pool for so long, probably aiming to break through to Dou Zong in one go."
Boom
Not long after, the surrounding energy of heaven and earth erupted with another deafening roar.
"Someone else is about to break through!"
Boom
"The third one!"
Boom
"Four! Normally, no one succeeds in breaking through within the blood pool, but today we have four at once!"
After the energy of heaven and earth roared four times in succession, it finally stopped increasing. With four people on the verge of breaking through to the Dou Zong level, Tianmu Mountain was enveloped in a dazzling and chaotic energy, creating a spectacular scene.
This sudden change naturally caught the attention of the entire Golden Rat Clan of Tianmu Mountain. Even some human forces around Tianmu Mountain, including old monsters thousands of miles away, were shocked and turned their gazes toward Tianmu Mountain.
Bang
A water column shot up from the Tianshan Blood Pool, and a figure stood in mid-air, appearing above the volcano crater.
"Xiao Yu, congratulations on breaking through to Dou Zong."
Bang
Another water column shot up.
"Yes, and you too, Xue Ni. Congratulations."
Bang
Immediately after, a third water column emerged, and a woman in a purple dress hovered above the volcano crater.
"Xiao Die, congratulations to you as well."
Mu Chen congratulated Bibi Dong as she flew out of the Tianshan Blood Pool.
"Mu Chen, I must leave now," Bibi Dong said.
"So soon?" Mu Chen was taken aback.
"Yes, the purpose of this trip has been fulfilled. We'll meet again if fate allows," Bibi Dong replied.
For Bibi Dong, she dared not spend another moment with Mu Chen. Upon meeting him again, she found that the captivating aura around him had become even more pronounced. Bibi Dong was afraid, deeply afraid that she might fall for Mu Chen just as she had fallen for Yu Xiaogang.
Bibi Dong was well aware that Mu Chen was her son-in-law and also the husband of her student, Hu Liena. She could not afford to develop feelings for him.
"Xiao Die, you're really..."
Mu Chen wanted to say something more to Bibi Dong, but the words that had already reached his throat were forcefully swallowed back. He turned around, his gaze fixed in a certain direction, his expression turning extremely grave. In that direction, he sensed two terrifying auras.
This was the Battle Qi Plane, and Mu Chen's soul realm had reached level 204, surpassing the Emperor-level soul. Mu Chen's body was the Eight-Star Indestructible Golden Body, making him immortal and indestructible. In the Battle Qi Plane, even Gu Yuan and Hun Tian Di were no match for him. But at this moment, he sensed two auras that made his heart tremble.
Xiao Yu noticed Mu Chen's grave expression and asked, "What's wrong?"
Mu Chen replied, "Someone is coming."
Bibi Dong followed Mu Chen's gaze and looked in that direction. After a while, her delicate brows couldn't help but furrow: "Indeed, someone is coming!"
(End of Chapter)