Chapter 549 - 524: Immortal Eighth Layer

Lu Yan’s face showed joy.

Just now, the great tree within his Primordial Spirit had devoured the energy released by the explosion of the streak of dawn light, and now, pure Immortal Power surged forth, merging with Lu Yan’s own Immortal Power, slightly enhancing it.

And within the dawn light, that terrifying chill was gone without a trace.

The great tree within his Primordial Spirit could actually refine the dawn light, erasing the harmful substances within and purifying the pure Magic inherent inside.

"This kind of dawn light is indeed similar to the Spirit of Magic, though it’s a low-grade version of a low-grade version."

Lu Yan murmured to himself.

While running across the lake, he stimulated the great tree, spreading a mass of roots that spread out like meridians throughout his body and then down his legs, extending from the soles of his feet.

With a whoosh, another streak of dawn light was absorbed by the roots and began to be refined.

Before long, more pure energy surged forth, enhancing Lu Yan’s Immortal Power once more.

Lu Yan carefully sensed this energy and found that it indeed contained a trace of Magic Imprint, albeit very light and dilute, incomparable to a true Spirit of Magic.

However, no matter how faint or scarce, accumulation would still amount to a considerable power.

As long as enough was refined, the Magic Imprints within the Immortal Power would strengthen and become more concentrated, laying a solid foundation for the later Tao Realm.

Soon after, Sword Saint Situ pursued him, slashing several streaks of Sword Light. Lu Yan dodged two and forcefully took one, getting injured once more.

However, with the mysterious function of the Nine Death Sutra, he would soon recover.

Before long, the two had moved closer to the center of the lake.

By now, their speed was getting slower and slower.

This was because the chill here was too terrifying; even tiny ice crystals floated in the air, creating enormous resistance and pressure on them.

These ice crystals, minute to the extreme, were each sharp and edged, and even Lu Yan’s Pure Light could not ward them off.

Upon contact, they would pierce through persistently, land on the skin, then breach the flesh, eroding the vitality of the flesh and blood within.

Lu Yan was relying entirely on the Nine Death Sutra and the vitality of the Primordial Spirit’s great tree to recover.

And Sword Saint Situ’s expression was also solemn; his domain could barely keep these ice crystals at bay, and he could only frantically draw on the power of the Magic River to form an illusory Magic Long River Phantom to barely keep the ice crystals out.

But he was also under great pressure, moving at a snail’s pace, warily avoiding areas dense with ice crystals.

Yet, he was still not ready to give up, keeping his eyes on Lu Yan.

In a place like this, he was convinced that Lu Yan would surely die before him.

He intended to cut off Lu Yan’s retreat, leaving him no way out, and ultimately bury him here.

"Situ you bastard, are you a dog, biting me and not letting go? Do you really think you can kill me? Be careful you’re the one who dies here."

Lu Yan sneered mockingly.

"What’s the use of tough talk? Today, you’re finished, with no escape to the heavens or the earth."

Sword Saint Situ replied coldly.

"Really? Let’s see if you last longer, or if I do."

Lu Yan continued to step slowly towards the center of the lake, while he also began to try controlling the great tree, attempting to swallow two streaks of dawn light at once. He found that it wasn’t a problem; he could still eradicate the chill within the dawn light and purify the pure energy.

Encouraged, Lu Yan began to swallow three, four streaks at the same time...

Only upon simultaneously absorbing seven streaks of dawn light did he feel the pressure, as the great tree began to tremble slightly.

"Hm?"

Sword Saint Situ sharply noticed that the dawn light on the ground was diminishing.

A puzzled look appeared in his eyes, and he didn’t understand what use Lu Yan could have for collecting such dawn light.

He would never have guessed that Lu Yan could refine that kind of dawn light because such dawn light, even he had tried to refine unsuccessfully, was impossible to refine.

"But, this dawn light is similar to the Spirit of Magic, perhaps if I bring it back, those in the Creator Realm could use it for pill making; not bad, that must be what Lu Yan is aiming for."

An idea struck Sword Saint Situ as he thought he guessed Lu Yan’s plan. Then, he took out a jade bottle with intricate Formation Patterns carved all over it.

With a tap of his finger on the bottle, the Formation Patterns on the jade bottle emitted a dazzling dawn light, and a swallowing force burst forth, enveloping some of the dawn light on the ground and collecting it into the bottle.

"This guy is competing with me for the dawn light."

Lu Yan watched, speechless, and could only continue moving towards the center of the lake, competing with Sword Saint Situ for the dawn light.

As he simultaneously absorbed and refined seven streaks of dawn light, Lu Yan’s rate of improvement increased significantly, and his body’s Immortal Power grew more and more robust.

Thus, the two of them stood off on the lake for half the day.

Sword Saint Situ gritted his teeth, keeping his eyes fixed on Lu Yan without retreating.

"This guy is really like dogged plaster."

Lu Yan’s gaze swept coldly towards Sword Saint Situ, but his heart gradually began to relax.

Because, in this half-day’s time, Lu Yan’s Cultivation Level had nearly reached the peak of the Immortal Seventh Layer.

He believed it wouldn’t be long before he could attempt to break through to the Immortal Eighth Layer.

In the blink of an eye, another half-day passed.

They had been in a standoff on the lake for a full day.

"It’s done, so, let’s break through."

Lu Yan’s eyes were bright, and he shouted mentally. His aura suddenly surged, transforming into a towering blade, cutting through shackles and bottlenecks.

In an instant, his strength also began to increase explosively, and the energy of heaven and earth started to converge frantically towards him.

"A breakthrough?"

Sword Saint Situ was taken aback and then his eyes flashed with murderous intent.

"That kind of dawn light, yes, it’s that kind of dawn light, this kid is not collecting it, but refining it. This kid can actually refine that kind of dawn light, damn it..."

Sword Saint Situ had a flash of insight, his anger growing stronger.

He burst into a frenzied eruption, exerting all his power to move closer to Lu Yan, trying to stop Lu Yan’s breakthrough.

Deep in his heart, he was extremely apprehensive.

Back when he was in the Immortal Seventh Layer, Lu Yan’s strength was already extremely formidable. If he were to break through again, it would become even more terrifying.

By then, would he still be able to take down Lu Yan?

He had no certainty.

Therefore, he could only kill Lu Yan before Lu Yan’s breakthrough.

But how could Lu Yan not know what was on Sword Saint Situ’s mind? As Sword Saint Situ approached, he retreated, always maintaining a certain distance from Sword Saint Situ.

In this environment, Sword Saint Situ’s speed couldn’t be fully utilized, as if he moved like a mortal.

After a short while, Lu Yan’s cultivation level completely entered the Immortal Eighth Layer, his body surging with the overwhelming Immortal Power, several times stronger than before.

His flesh and Primordial Spirit were also rapidly transforming.

"Damn it..."

Sword Saint Situ roared in his heart, knowing that it was a done deal, Lu Yan had successfully broken through, and it was no longer possible to stop him.

He was already considering beating a retreat.

Now that Lu Yan had broken through, it would probably be difficult to kill him. Instead of continuing to entangle with Lu Yan, it was better to leave.

"Sword Saint Situ, why do you want to leave? Didn’t you want to battle with me? Seeing me break through and you retreat, you really are a coward."

Lu Yan spoke with mockery.

The cold light in Sword Saint Situ’s eyes flickered, but ultimately he didn’t respond to Lu Yan, taking steps back.

"Sword Saint Situ, come, fight me."

Lu Yan cried out sharply, advancing instead of retreating, pressing towards Sword Saint Situ.

Now, having just broken through in his cultivation, his strength had greatly increased, and his body was filled with explosive power, eager to test it against an opponent.

"You little bastard..."

Sword Saint Situ was proud and arrogant, unable to tolerate such provocation. He stopped retreating, stood his ground, a field around him, the Magic River from The sky’s Vault emerged, and torrents of astonishing power fell as he waited for Lu Yan.

Bang bang bang...

Lu Yan treaded on the lake, with each step he took, the viscous water exploded, the four kinds of Magic Fusion surrounding him, emitting a hazy radiance.

Clothed in Pure Light, his body rang with a metallic sound as he quickly approached Sword Saint Situ.

At last, he leaped forth like a diving hawk, his palm chopping down, the Sword Light tearing through the air, compressing space along its path and heading straight for Sword Saint Situ.

"You little bastard, even if your cultivation level has broken through, I’ll still slay you."

Sword Saint Situ, holding the Primitive Symbiotic Life in his hand, sent sword intent into the heavens as he slashed towards Lu Yan.

Clang!

A deafening boom resonated, and amidst the surging energy, the sticky waters beneath exploded, forming a crater of hundreds of meters around.

Both figures trembled simultaneously, stumbling backward.

"Again."

Lu Yan discovered that his palm had directly withstood the opponent’s Primitive Symbiotic Life, this time without any injury, leaving only a white mark.

This greatly increased his confidence.

Though the Saint Soldier’s Formula had not yet broken through, his rise in cultivation level and surge in Immortal Power enhanced the force of the Magic Fusion. The Pure Light had also become tougher, and with his flesh and blood, he was already capable of clashing with the opponent’s Primitive Symbiotic Life.

With a long howl, Lu Yan charged at Sword Saint Situ once more.

"Damned little bastard..."

Sword Saint Situ bellowed, swinging his sword to meet Lu Yan’s charge.

Boom boom boom...

The two exerted their full strength, and even in such an environment, their speed was still extremely fast, engaging in swift and fierce combat. After dozens of exchanges, they were evenly matched.

But Lu Yan showed signs of growing stronger as the battle wore on.

At this moment, his body and Primordial Spirit were about to complete their transformation.

After a dozen more exchanges, Lu Yan’s flesh and Primordial Spirit finally finished transforming, and he was firmly established in the Immortal Eighth Layer.

"Soul Spike..."

With a thought, seven Soul Spikes flew out, stabbing towards Sword Saint Situ.

"Soul Attack, block it for me."

Sword Saint Situ shouted, the phantom of the Magic River circling his body, spinning rapidly.

The seven Soul Spikes, striking against the phantom of the Magic River, encountered considerable resistance and struggled to advance.

The leading Soul Spike trembled violently, shattering one after another.

In the end, only the last three Soul Spikes pierced through the phantom of the Magic River and rushed into Sword Saint Situ’s sea of knowledge, where they were blocked by Sword Saint Situ’s Soul Defence Treasures.

"Indeed, against such a prodigy, the soul is not invincible..."

Lu Yan thought to himself.

Having broken through to the Immortal Eighth Layer, speaking solely of the soul, he definitely surpassed Sword Saint Situ.

Attacking Sword Saint Situ with a soul attack, in theory, should have a significant impact on him.

But the Primitive Symbiotic Life also had a way to block the Soul Spike’s assault.

Ten Thousand Illusory Kingdom.

If one method doesn’t work, try another.

Lu Yan’s eyes turned into two swirling black vortexes, rotating ceaselessly.

After one glance with Lu Yan, Sword Saint Situ felt as if the heavens and the earth had shifted, the environment around him dramatically transformed.