Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

In a technique practicing room of the south courtyard, Jiang Yi circulated the black essence force and smashed on the stone wall vigorously, which instantly glistened with a black light. The light glittered for dozens of time before the wall returned to tranquility.

“Fifty times? The power of fifty horses? How is it possible?”

Jiang Yi silently counted the number of glitters of the black light and was filled with disbelief. The black light radiated for fifty times, which meant he had the power of fifty horses.

A peak-stage Cast Tripod Realm possessed the power of nine horses while the first stage of Purple Mansion Realm possessed the power of ten horses. One would have the power of twenty horses at the second stage of Purple Mansion Realm, which would steadily increase. The power of fifty horses was the strength that only the fifth stage of the Purple Mansion Realm would have.

He was originally at the second stage of the Purple Mansion Realm, and on normal occasions, he would only have the power of twenty horses. Even with the black essence force enhancing his strength, it would be praiseworthy to have the power of thirty horses. Right now, his strength was equivalent to the power of fifty horses? The only explanation was that… his cultivation stage increased significantly, at least on par with a fourth-stage Purple Mansion Realm martial artist.

“A single celestial stone can increase two cultivation stages?”

Jiang Yi’s was gasping silently. The celestial stone was the peak grade cultivation item which was abnormally rare. He heard that a single celestial stone could possibly be exchanged for a few heaven artifacts. Ling Xue even mentioned that if he could refine all five celestial stones, he would be able to attain the Soul Travel Realm, but he didn’t expect it to be this incredible.

“No wonder the Azure Dragon Empire has plenty of Soul Travel Realm experts!”

Jiang Yi lamented. The Azure Dragon Empire had countless artifacts and could rely on the celestial stones to constantly produce more Soul Travel Realm experts. Had it not been for the demonic beast insurrection, the Empire might have even more Soul Travel Realm experts after building their strength for hundreds of years. After all, a normal Soul Travel Realm expert’s lifespan was up to three hundred years.

“Where did the Azure Dragon Empire get so many celestial stones?”

A questionable doubt revolved around Jiang Yi’s mind. It was said that the celestial stone was a divine stone gifted by the gods, which fell from beyond the nine heavens. Jiang Yi didn’t actually believe that explanation. If it truly fell from the sky, then those great aristocratic clans would surely have some of them. Since it fell from the sky, it wouldn’t just fall within the Stellarsky City, right?

“An ore vein!”

Jiang Yi thought of a possibility. Perhaps the Azure Dragon Empire controlled a giant ore vein. The other six vassal kingdoms surely had ore veins, too; but it certainly wasn’t as big as the one that Azure Dragon Empire had. Such ore veins were the lifeblood of the imperial clan and the six other royal clans. Those powerful aristocratic clans didn’t qualify to get a share of it.

“What cultivation stage am I exactly at now?”

Jiang Yi was confused. He circulated his black essence force and circled around the technique practicing room like an afterimage moving around. He only stopped after a few rounds and sighed while left unconvinced. “My speed is barely on par with a fourth-stage Purple Mansion Realm? But my physical strength is equivalent to a fifth-stage Purple Mansion Realm…

“I don’t care anymore; I will go back and continue refining it. I shall refine the two leftover celestial stones and think about it later on. I wonder what kind of transformations will happen after the nine star spheres are filled with black essence force.”

Jiang Yi mumbled for a moment before he went outside. He met many of the cadets of the college, and when everyone saw Jiang Yi walked over, they would stand one side and look on with passionate eyes. Jiang Yi felt as though he was being looked upon like a monster.

After resting for several days in his own courtyard, Jiang Yi went into seclusion again and came out after five days while the aura from his body felt as though it was much stronger.

“Boss, why didn’t you get more celestial stones from Princess Ling Xue? Just based on your contribution to the imperial court, she should have given you a hundred or two hundred celestial stones. Wahaha! If you have one hundred or two hundred celestial stones, you will be able to cultivate all the way to the peak stage of Soul Travel Realm.”

When Qian Wanguan felt Jiang Yi’s aura growing stronger, he exclaimed excitedly. To him, the stronger Jiang Yi was, the better. At least if he was killed by someone in the future, Jiang Yi could help him take revenge, right?

“…”

Jiang Yi looked at Qian Wanguan and remained speechless. Did he think that celestial stones were like cabbages? A request for two hundred celestial stones? If Jiang Yi was to truly ask for it—while putting aside two hundred of it, Ling Xue would probably give him a few dozens.

Once he obtained these few dozens of celestial stones, he would be tightly bundled up with the Azure Dragon Empire’s war chariot. He had yet to make any decision to commit himself to any of the influential forces.

“One or two hundred celestial stones?”

Jiang Yi thought of something and asked, “If this celestial stone has so much energy, one would only need more than a dozen of them to cultivate to the peak stage of Soul Travel Realm, right? Why would a single person require one or two hundred pieces of it?”

“…”

This time, it was Qian Wanguan who was speechless while Jiang Yunhai, who was sitting by the side, laughed and explained: “Young Lord, the Soul Travel Realm requirement for energy is several tens of folds than at Purple Mansion Realm. The further you cultivate, the harder it will get. If it is based on your calculations… then the Azure Dragon Empire would be crawling with peak-stage Soul Travel Realm experts.”

“So that’s how it is!”

Jiang Yi felt relieved as he spoke with excitement, “I will rest for two days before I refine the final celestial stone. I reckon my strength would improve even more.”

Jiang Yunhai then gave his advice: “Young Lord, don’t be in such a hurry. Rest a few more days. Consecutive refinement of spirit herbs and spirit stones might cause the body to suffer.”

…

Time flew quickly as Jiang Yi had been back at the college for an entire month. After completing the refinement of the three celestial stones, his physical strength was equivalent to the power of ninety horses, which was on par with a peak-stage Purple Mansion Realm. His speed was comparable to a seventh-stage Purple Mansion Realm while his defenses… were around the third stage of Purple Mansion Realm. His reaction speed was around the fourth or fifth stage of Purple Mansion Realm. Jiang Yi was in a state of confusion because of his transformed dantian as he had no way to know what cultivation stage he was currently in.

When a martial artist refined the celestial stone, it was considered an accelerated process by relying on the artifacts of the heaven and earth to increase one’s strength. The result of the increase would be like Jiang Yi who was surging with essence force and had exceptional physical strength. However, his movement and reaction speed would be slightly inferior while his physical defenses were even worse. He didn’t cultivate steadily and took small steps to increase his strength. The drastic increase in cultivation stage didn’t allow his body sufficient time to be nourished by the essence force so it was naturally weaker.

For the later period of time, Jiang Yi had been cultivating and trying to stabilize his cultivation realm. Jiang Xiaonu and Jiang Yunhai had finally set their mind to stay in Mt. Spirit Beast because the people in the college were all very polite to them, treating them like family.

Qian Wanguan remained mysterious and was vanishing all the time. He was in charge of the merchant associations in three kingdoms; Jiang Yi didn’t find it weird and didn’t bother either. He just cultivated in peace.

“Bang!”

On this day—at midnight, there were fireworks which burst open in the nearby vicinity of Mt. Spirit Beast College. It shocked and awakened everyone in the college. Jiang Yi, who was in the cultivation room, abruptly opened his eyes, too.

“Signal flare? Enemy attack?”

Jiang Yi blinked his eyes and bounced off the ground, rushing out of the cultivation room. He then saw Qian Wanguan who rushed out while holding onto his clothes and pants in an untidy manner. The two of them looked at each other with surprise while Qian Wanguan yelled out, “Liu Lao, what is the situation?”

“Swish!”

Qian Wanguan’s Soul Travel Realm secret guard flashed in and spoke in a grave expression, “We do not know yet, but this is the signal flare with the utmost emergency. It should be a formidable enemy that is attacking.”

“Swish-swish-swish!”

Countless shadows burst out from the inner courtyard as Principal Qi and the others dashed to the outside of the college at their fastest speed.

Jiang Yi gritted his teeth as he followed everyone outside while he shouted to Qian Wanguan, “Wanguan, give extra attention to Xiaonu and my Grandfather. I will go take a look.”

“Do not panic. There is no attack from the enemy.”

At this moment, a forceful voice echoed which calmed down the college’s uproar. Since Zhuge Qingyun already announced it like this, then it surely wasn’t anything major.

Jiang Yi paused and didn’t know if he should go out to take a look or return when suddenly his ears echoed with Zhuge Qingyun’s message: “Jiang Yi, you make a trip down the mountain. That little fox brought along two Demon Kings and are at the foot of the mountain. I reckon that it is here to look for you.”