Chapter 599 - 423: Breaking Through to the Middle Stage of Integration, Spirit Mountain Daoist

With Yan Zhen standing guard, Lin Chang’sheng could finally focus on breaking through.

Sitting cross-legged in deep meditation, Lin Chang’sheng raised his head and swallowed a Divine Healing Pill.

This elixir was incredibly potent, refined from Heaven and Earth Spirit Marrow along with various Spirit Medicines.

The pill melted as soon as it hit his throat, waves of overwhelming medicinal power surging through every bone and sinew in Lin Chang’sheng’s body.

With the experience from his previous two absorptions, Lin Chang’sheng had already mastered the process this time. No matter how powerful the effect, he circulated the Void Primordial Technique to absorb the pill without the slightest unease.

The mighty medicinal power dissipated through him, amplifying his Primordial Power, flesh, and bones to a great extent.

Once Lin Chang’sheng sensed his Primordial Power reaching its peak, he began using all his strength to assault the bottleneck again and again.

Cultivation is a path against the heavens, and every breakthrough is laden with hardship.

In just moments, beads of sweat the size of beans were streaming down Lin Chang’sheng’s forehead.

Clearly, every stage of Hao Zhix was far from easy to surpass.

This breakthrough lasted a full two hours.

Again and again, Lin Chang’sheng rammed against the bottleneck, but it remained utterly unmoved.

The strain was starting to get to him.

Because he could faintly sense a number of figures racing toward this place.

The cultivation of these people was formidable; among them were definitely Mahayana Stage experts.

Fortunately, Lin Chang’sheng waited until Yan Zhen had finished healing before attempting his breakthrough, or he could’ve found himself in serious trouble midway.

Outside the mountain gate.

Yan Zhen had also sensed several powerful presences rushing toward her.

She’d already been waiting at the entrance for quite a while.

In the next instant, five figures descended, landing just ten zhang before Yan Zhen. All eyes were fixed on her.

Five had arrived: four men and one woman.

Two men were much older, appearing to be in their sixties or seventies, with white hair and long mustaches.

One wore white, the other wore blue.

The elder in white seemed much more distinguished, clearly the leader of the group.

He was also the strongest among them, with Early Stage Mahayana Cultivation.

The blue-robed elder was merely Late Stage of Integration.

The other two men were much younger, around thirty, and their cultivation was only at the Void Refining Stage.

Both men were fairly handsome, but the way they appraised Yan Zhen suggested impure intentions.

The last was a middle-aged woman, with delicate features—not especially beautiful, but carrying a strikingly sharp aura.

"Senior Brother Meng, the corpse qi just drifted from here. There might be an Evil Cultivator refining corpses nearby!"

The blue-robed elder spoke to the white-robed elder at the front.

It seemed they’d detected the strong corpse qi in the area, which led them here.

If it were just normal Corpse Puppet Qi, they might not have noticed.

But the Evil Qi from Mahayana Stage Corpse Puppets was far too intense—sensing it even from hundreds of li away was no problem.

Most likely, when Lin Chang’sheng commanded the Corpse Puppets to attack, the spreading corpse qi led them to believe an Evil Cultivator was operating here.

"Fellow Daoist, have you seen any Evil Cultivators lurking in this area?"

The white-robed elder fixed his gaze on Yan Zhen and asked directly.

They’d found no one else upon arrival, only Yan Zhen. There was a fair chance she was connected to the Evil Cultivator.

"No!"

Yan Zhen replied curtly. After all, she’d just witnessed Lin Chang’sheng controlling the Corpse Puppets—how could she possibly sell him out?

That was simply impossible!

"How could there be none? The corpse qi is right here—it’s no mistake. Are you in league with the Evil Cultivator?"

The blue-robed elder was growing impatient.

This person possessed extraordinary cultivation—how could she have missed seeing the Evil Cultivator?

The only explanation was that she was covering for him, guarding the rear so the Evil Cultivator could escape or hide.

"Utter nonsense! I said there’s no one, so there’s no one. You’re not welcome here—leave, before you bring trouble on yourselves!"

Yan Zhen didn’t fear these people. If it came to a fight, they’d be the ones to fall.

As her words faded, a wave of intense Cold Ice Qi erupted from Yan Zhen, instantly transforming the area into a world of frost.

The sudden, overwhelming aura left all five reeling. They reflexively retreated, desperate to avoid the icy assault.

"Tribulation Crossing Stage?"

The white-robed elder was floored—he hadn’t been able to gauge her cultivation at first, assuming she was hiding her true strength.

Turns out his own power was simply lacking; he couldn’t see through her cultivation at all.

"Forgive us, Senior. Sorry for intruding, we’ll be on our way."

The white-robed elder bowed respectfully, then wisely led his companions away.

If a fight broke out now, they’d likely lose their lives.

That would be a very poor bargain.

Only after retreating a hundred li did the group of five finally pause.

"Senior Brother Meng, that corpse qi was right there—are we just going to walk away and leave it unchecked?"

The blue-robed elder asked in confusion.

Their Spirit Mountain sect would never tolerate Evil Cultivators.

"Leaving isn’t an option. Go call for Spirit Heaven Daoist! The woman’s cultivation is unfathomable—we can’t handle her alone!"

Meng Zheng answered at once.

If they’ve encountered an Evil Cultivator, there’s no way they’ll let it slide.

"Yes, sir!"

The blue-robed elder and two younger disciples promptly set off.

This place was under Spirit Mountain’s jurisdiction.

Just days ago, Heaven and Earth phenomena appeared here—there must be a treasure or a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land surfacing.

No way could they allow Evil Cultivators to seize it.

...

Meanwhile, Lin Chang’sheng, deep in the throes of breaking through Hao Zhix, couldn’t be bothered about any of that.

He could sense a number of figures approaching, but couldn’t afford to split his focus.

This was the crucial moment for his breakthrough.

Crack—

At long last, after countless assaults, Lin Chang’sheng finally felt a fracture in the Hao Zhix barrier.