Chapter 59: Mid-virtual Realm

Five days after acquiring the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, Zhou Yuan's seventh meridian was finally completely unblocked. This undoubtedly brought him closer to the Qi Nourishing Stage. At the same time, he became increasingly eager to gather the origin materials required for the first layer of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture.

In the hall.

“Father King, are the origin materials I need ready?!” Zhou Yuan entered, his eyes fixed on Zhou Qing with anticipation.

Seeing Zhou Yuan's expectant gaze, Zhou Qing couldn't help but smile wryly. “You brat, do you really think our imperial treasury has everything?”

Even Zhou Qing shivered a little upon hearing about the four types of origin materials Zhou Yuan needed.

“Moreover, are the origin materials you need truly just for cultivating a 5th-grade origin energy?” Zhou Qing was quite knowledgeable; he had seen 5th-grade origin energy before, but the materials required for it in his experience had never been as rare and advanced as what Zhou Yuan was asking for.

Zhou Yuan let out a dry laugh. Because Yaoyao had told him that the Ancestral Dragon Scripture must be kept secret, he had only told Zhou Qing that he wanted to cultivate a 5th-grade origin energy technique.

“The imperial treasury can’t even gather them?” Zhou Yuan asked, troubled.

Zhou Qing sighed helplessly, then took a jade box from behind him. He opened the box to reveal a clear, translucent jade bottle. The bottle was filled with water, and within the water floated a drop of golden, viscous liquid, slowly swirling.

This was the Heavenly Gold Marrow!

Next to the jade bottle was a black crystal, riddled with holes, from which an astonishing cold air emanated, causing frost to condense in the air. Simultaneously, within the crystal, water seemed to flow, producing a gurgling sound.

This was the Nine Nether Profound Spring Crystal!

“Our imperial treasury only has these two,” Zhou Qing said, pointing to the jade box.

Zhou Yuan scratched his head. “Then, there’s no Origin Devouring Stone or 4th-grade Python Origin Beast Soul?”

Zhou Qing glared at him in annoyance. “You greedy boy. If we were to calculate the value of these four origin materials you want, they would likely approach 500,000 origin crystals. Moreover, many of them are priceless and hard to find.”

Their Great Zhou Dynasty's annual tax revenue was only a few million, which highlighted just how valuable the four origin materials Zhou Yuan needed were.

Zhou Yuan smiled awkwardly. 500,000 origin crystals was indeed a terrifying sum. That amount could practically buy a mid-to-high-grade Profound Origin Armament at an auction.

As for top-grade Profound Origin Armaments, in the imperial family, only Zhou Qing possessed one – the Nine Flames Spear.

“Then what should I do?” Zhou Yuan asked, looking distraught. If he couldn't gather these four origin materials, he wouldn't be able to cultivate the first layer of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the "Profane Sky Profound Python Qi."

Zhou Qing frowned in thought. “However, I have heard of the Origin Devouring Stone.”

“Oh?” Zhou Yuan's eyes lit up. As long as there was a lead, he could find a way.

“There’s an Origin Devouring Stone in the Great General’s residence. This stone can constantly absorb and release origin energy from heaven and earth. The origin energy it releases is purer than what it takes in, so having one in a room can increase cultivation efficiency,” Zhou Qing explained.

“The Great General, Wei Canglan?” Zhou Yuan was surprised. What a coincidence; he was soon heading to Canglan Prefecture.

“Indeed. However, this item is precious. Whether you can obtain it from the Great General depends on your own abilities,” Zhou Qing said, indicating he couldn't force the Great General to give the Origin Devouring Stone to Zhou Yuan.

“I’ll find a way to try.” Zhou Yuan nodded. At least there was a lead. As for how to get it, he would figure that out later.

“What about the 4th-grade Python Origin Beast Soul?” Zhou Yuan pressed Zhou Qing again.

Zhou Qing immediately got a headache upon hearing this. He said helplessly, “A 4th-grade Python Origin Beast Soul… that level of origin beast is troublesome even for me to deal with. And you, boy, actually want its beast soul.”

“I haven't heard much about this item either, but I’ll help you look. Besides, you're going to Canglan Prefecture, which is right next to the Black Abyss. The Black Abyss has countless origin beasts, and countless origin masters hunt them there. Perhaps you'll get lucky and find one.”

Zhou Yuan sighed in resignation. It seemed he would have to try his luck in Canglan Prefecture for the remaining two origin materials.

“Father King, when are we departing?” Zhou Yuan asked. His mind was now completely focused on quickly gathering the two remaining origin materials and then cultivating the first layer of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the Profane Sky Profound Python Qi.

Seeing Zhou Yuan's impatient demeanor, Zhou Qing smiled helplessly. “In five days, I will have Lu Tieshan lead a contingent of the Imperial Guard to protect you on your journey to Canglan Prefecture.”

Time flew by, and in a blink, four days had passed.

On the fourth night.

On the bed, Zhou Yuan's eyes were closed, a faint glow flickering between his brows, subtly resembling a phantom figure sitting in meditation – it was Zhou Yuan's spirit.

Rumble!

At this moment, a rumbling sound emanated from between his brows. It was the "Chaos God Mill" rotating. Clearly, Zhou Yuan was operating the "Chaos God Mill Contemplation Method" to temper his spirit.

Since he began cultivating the "Chaos God Mill Contemplation Method" nearly half a year ago, Zhou Yuan's spirit had become increasingly tough and powerful through constant grinding.

In the chaotic starry sky, the boundless, mottled God Mill slowly rotated. Anything thrown into it would be ground into nothingness.

At this moment, within the great mill, a phantom-like spirit was struggling to endure.

The upper and lower millstones slowly ground over its body. Each grind caused the phantom spirit to tremble continuously, as if enduring immense pain.

Under this arduous persistence, suddenly, on the two slowly rotating millstones, two golden vertical marks began to align little by little.

Nine Rotations of the God Mill, each rotation a new heaven!

After more than half a year of tempering, Zhou Yuan's spirit had finally endured the complete first rotation of the God Mill.

Crack!

As the golden vertical marks aligned, Zhou Yuan’s phantom-like spirit finally reached its limit and shattered directly. However, very quickly, in front of the God Mill, invisible fluctuations converged, and a phantom figure slowly reformed and reappeared.

It was Zhou Yuan’s spirit.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan’s spirit had its eyes closed. Compared to before, his spirit was undoubtedly much more solidified, and a peculiar fluctuation emanated from the phantom spirit.

In the room, Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, and a flash of light shot out from them. The spirit fluctuations in his glabella suddenly intensified!

“Illusion Realm Middle Stage!”

Feeling the surging spirit in his glabella, Zhou Yuan's face showed a look of wild joy. After more than half a year of cultivation, his spirit had finally advanced from the Illusion Realm Early Stage to the Middle Stage.

At this level, spirit power could be manifested externally, allowing for some spirit attacks, just like the “Soul Needle Rune” Qi Yue had used in the Jade Spirit Waterfall. When used by surprise, it could have a very good effect.

Of course, most importantly, with his spirit reaching the Illusion Realm Middle Stage, Zhou Yuan would be able to learn to inscribe 2nd-grade origin runes!

The power of 2nd-grade origin runes would be a deterrent even to enemies in the Qi Nourishing Stage.

Originally, Zhou Yuan had been troubled by his inability to quickly master the "Profane Sky Profound Python Qi," but now, with the assistance of 2nd-grade origin runes, even when facing Qi Nourishing Stage opponents who had cultivated their origin energy techniques, he would be unafraid.

Zhou Yuan exhaled a long breath, his body gradually relaxing.

“Now, I can finally go to Canglan Prefecture with peace of mind.”