Chapter 251: Liuli Lotus Heart Liquid, Early Stage of Third-Level Body Refinement

After speaking, Takii hesitated for a moment, then said, "Give me another half month to digest this, and then I'll begin forming my core."

According to her, the Dragon Vein baptism had accumulated a mass of golden vital energy within her Qi Sea, giving her confidence in successfully forming her Golden Core.

Wang Yu, however, had no such accumulation within his body. This kind of fortuitous encounter seemed to be highly individual. Wang Yu's main benefits were concentrated in the Dark Nether Demonic Dragon Art and physical enhancements, with minimal gains elsewhere. Xue Yu's gains, conversely, were entirely focused on her bloodline potential.

If Takii succeeded in forming her Golden Core, she would achieve further breakthroughs in array mastery, which would prove highly beneficial for their subsequent explorations. However, without engraving a Natal Divine Ability or possessing a Natal Magic Weapon, her direct combat power increase wouldn't be overly dramatic.

While Takii began her preparations, Wang Yu delved into studying the Dark Nether Demonic Dragon Art. This cultivation method had always only provided the core practice, completely lacking supplementary secret arts, medicinal formulas, or diagrams for bloodline artifacts. Correction: there was one — a formula for a dragon blood elixir. It was better than nothing.

After the Dragon Vein baptism, which felt like a profound natural augmentation, the art now contained many new elements for Wang Yu to delve into. The most valuable thing for him to study was the Demonic Dragon Fist—a combat technique for body refiners. This fist art was perfectly compatible with the Dark Nether Demonic Dragon Art, allowing him to fully unleash the immense power of his physique.

Compared to divine abilities like the *Lesser Asura Killing Fist* or the *Yellow Springs Great Hand Seal*, Wang Yu felt its most distinctive feature was its resemblance to a martial skill. A true fist technique! It detailed how to exert force, utilize joints, and harness the physique honed by the Dark Nether Demonic Dragon Art. Its most potent ultimate move was a physical divine ability. This was a true fist art, unlike the mind-based *Lesser Asura Killing Fist*.

The most powerful move in the Demonic Dragon Fist, named "Dragon Tail Whip," appeared to be a simple spinning kick but could actually stimulate the vital energy-transformed Dark Nether Demonic Dragon to its absolute peak. Crushing mountains and splitting earth would be trivial. If he could cultivate it to perfection, not only would Wang Yu's combat proficiency skyrocket, but his close-quarters fighting ability would also significantly surpass others. Its efficacy in crucial life-or-death situations would be remarkable. Before he broke through to the Golden Core stage, this *Demonic Dragon Fist* would be his most formidable trump card, powerful enough to surpass the *Yellow Springs Great Hand Seal* divine ability. After all, the latter required magic power, whereas the Demonic Dragon Fist, once he broke through to the third stage of body refinement, would allow him to perfectly manifest its profound mysteries, truly establishing him as a powerful cultivator.

Time passed quickly while immersed in cultivation. Another ten days went by.

When Takii was almost ready, she notified Wang Yu, then sat cross-legged at the spot where the Lightning Corpse had previously undergone its tribulation, preparing to form her Golden Core. She hoped to absorb some good fortune, as the Lightning Corpse had successfully overcome its tribulation there, and her only reliance was the Spirit-Scattering Thunder Array Banner.

Generally, forming a Golden Core takes years, as it involves condensing the vast sea of true essence into a solid core to transform it into magic power. This process involves two quality transformations: from gas to liquid, then from liquid to solid. After the Golden Core is formed, the magic power reverts to its initial gaseous state. Golden Core cultivators then absorb and refine spiritual energy, channeling it into their core to generate more magic power. Once sufficient magic power is accumulated, it is used to nourish the Golden Core, increasing its size and perfecting its roundness, a process that also involves three distinct thresholds.

The mass of dragon vein vital energy within Takii's Qi Sea acted like a supreme spiritual item for core formation. It elevated her essence, qi, and spirit to their utmost limits, rendering the three critical hurdles—spiritual sense, true essence, and vital energy—completely surmountable for her. Moreover, her speed was astonishing. She breezed through the crucial and normally time-consuming accumulation phase, completing it in just one month. For a rogue cultivator with her foundational background, this was nothing short of a miracle. The inherent value of the Dragon Vein baptism was further underscored.

However, when it came to compressing the sea of true essence, her progress inevitably slowed. She painstakingly toiled for half a year to barely achieve her goal. This made Wang Yu realize that Takii's spiritual root aptitude was not exceptional, nor was her talent for comprehension particularly good. Her current mastery of array formations was entirely the result of persistent effort over time. She was nearly two hundred years Wang Yu's senior, a figure of "ancestral grandmother" status.

After the initial successful condensation, spiritual sense and vital energy began to infuse the Golden Core, helping it stabilize its form. This process lasted another half year.

Once again, dark clouds enveloped the sky above the Heavenly Soul Sect's secret realm. The lightning tribulation descended!

Takii successfully navigated the first lightning tribulation using her array master techniques, which filled her with confidence. The second lightning tribulation, however, delivered a harsh blow. The layers of her array formations were instantly shattered by the heavenly lightning, and the residual force slammed into her, nearly costing her life! Fortunately, she possessed several defensive magical artifacts. Sacrificing them, she barely withstood the aftermath, and despite some charred flesh, her condition remained above the critical line. For the subsequent third lightning tribulation, she didn't try to endure it directly; instead, she wisely used the Heavenly Heart Spirit-Scattering Thunder Array Banner that Wang Yu had lent her. This time, it went incredibly smoothly. As the lightning tribulation dissipated, her aura quickly stabilized. Once her injuries healed and her realm was consolidated, she would have successfully formed her Golden Core.

Seeing this, Wang Yu didn't wait for her to awaken. He retrieved the twelve treasured banners, moved away from Takii's meditation spot, and commenced his own breakthrough journey.

For a body refiner, breaking through to the third stage hinges on the successful condensation of divine marrow, a process considered extremely perilous, often a matter of life or death. Such pressure can easily induce fear. However, Wang Yu was brimming with confidence. He was certain that the foundation cultivated through the "placement system" was incredibly deep and solid, and no expense had been spared on resources for his body refining path. From the initial Dragon Blood Elixir, Dragon Blood Essence, Myriad Spirit Poisonous Marrow, Bloodthorn Tiger Cane, and more, culminating in the crucial Dragon Vein baptism. If he couldn't succeed, then no one else could.

After three days of peaceful meditation, Wang Yu retrieved the Lapis Lazuli Lotus Heart Elixir, renowned for its realm-breaking properties. For his previous breakthrough to the second stage of body refinement, he had used Vajra Liquid. Both these treasures were spiritual items for body refinement, born from the influence of Buddhism on this world. Coupled with the *Prajna Heart Sutra*, his affinity with Buddhism was undeniably deep.

Enclosing himself with ice walls, Wang Yu stripped off his clothes and applied the precious elixir to every inch of his skin, not even neglecting sensitive areas like the perineum. The Lapis Lazuli Lotus Heart Elixir had an astonishing effect; even before he began, he felt his vital energy surge, and a chilling aura started to spread through him. Within his dragon spine, nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine drops of essence blood began to fuse as he circulated his cultivation. The final "three condensations and three dissolutions" was completed with astonishing speed.

As the third drop of blended true blood dispersed throughout his limbs and bones, the true essence from the previous two dispersals began to resonate with it. Every part of his body—flesh, bones, tendons, and internal organs—was stimulated, unleashing an unprecedented surge of vital energy. This energy continuously converged into his dragon spine, while the Lapis Lazuli Lotus Heart Elixir simultaneously provided vast amounts of pure power. Upon permeating his body, this power restored his drained physique. Immediately, even more Yin-Nether vital energy was extracted, demonstrating its crucial role in body refining breakthroughs.

The condensation of divine marrow hinges on vital energy. The more abundant the vital energy, the higher the chances of successful condensation. The Lapis Lazuli Lotus Heart Elixir continually replenished his depleted body. This cycle of "restore-drain-restore-drain" continued tirelessly. After three such cycles, the elixir's restorative effects reached their limit.

"Dong—"

In the ethereal realm, Wang Yu seemed to hear the chime of an ancient temple bell, imbued with profound Zen meaning. Within his dragon spine, an indescribably vast amount of vital energy completely filled the space. Wang Yu struggled to control it with his spiritual sense, compressing it using the "Marrow Condensation Art" from his cultivation method. The effect was remarkable; his progress, which had only reached one-third, suddenly accelerated by several magnitudes after hearing the bell chime. His thoughts seemed to accelerate, allowing him to quickly grasp crucial points. In one swift go, he condensed sixty percent of the divine marrow. By this point, the divine marrow had taken initial form, and the probability of failure was virtually zero. Wang Yu's pace inevitably slowed as he meticulously perfected every detail, aiming to emerge even stronger after his breakthrough.

The bell chime was undoubtedly another effect of the Lapis Lazuli Lotus Heart Elixir; the additional vital energy it provided had tripled Wang Yu's total vital energy. The Zen-infused chime also allowed him to quickly grasp the essence of marrow condensation. This powerful effect stemmed from a high-grade realm-breaking spiritual item; with his solid foundation, failure was virtually impossible.

Next came the lengthy process of consolidation. Wang Yu's inner vitality grew increasingly dense, yet his body became withered and lifeless due to the sudden draining of vital energy. It was as if he had entered nirvana, with the mysteries of decay and prosperity manifesting at that very moment: breaking down to establish anew, one withered, one flourishing!

Another half year passed. On this day, Takii, who had just awakened from consolidating her realm, saw a naked man floating in mid-air. His magnificent, muscular physique was enough to make her blush. Aside from being a little pale, he presented the very image of perfection.

Above the firmament, within the secret realm, the third lightning tribulation was gathering its power. The figure suspended in mid-air was Wang Yu, having completed half a year of condensation. After the divine marrow was born within his spine, three-colored blood—black, gold, and blue—immediately flowed from the dragon spine, reaching every part of his body through his blood vessels. Wherever it coursed, everything became imbued with vitality and divine power. A distinct network, separate from blood vessels and meridians, spread throughout his body, intertwined with the divine marrow blood.

At this moment, Wang Yu had officially reached the early stage of the third Body Refining realm, needing only the final lightning tribulation to achieve full completion. The divine marrow granted him two new abilities:

—Mountain-Throwing Divine Strength!—Vajra Body!

The former, as its name suggests, would grant him an exaggerated level of strength. The latter was akin to the "Indestructible Golden Core" divine ability of Golden Core cultivators, bestowing upon Wang Yu's body formidable defensive power along with a trace of indestructibility. His physical form would become incredibly difficult to destroy, essentially gaining vastly enhanced resilience and greatly improved resistance to various forces. Furthermore, Wang Yu's divine soul could now reside within fragments of his body, achieving the unique effect of "hiding the soul in bone." If he were to cultivate a soul-snatching technique, he could use a single body fragment to seize another's physique, thereby achieving rebirth. His vitality and regenerative capabilities would also be greatly enhanced.

Just then, as the lightning tribulation began to descend, Wang Yu, having experienced the divine marrow talent of the Vajra Body, spread his arms wide to welcome the thunderous baptism. This was the true power of a pure body refiner! Enduring the lightning tribulation was like a cleansing bath, capable of further refining his physique.

In an instant, the three lightning tribulations passed, and the dark clouds dispersed. He had no need for any tribulation-crossing treasures; as long as his physical body could endure, it was the ultimate defensive tool.