Chapter 1271: Breakthrough

"High Venerable, what's wrong?" the maid attending nearby asked worriedly.

From what she remembered, the High Venerable was usually silent, preferring not to speak with others. She had even declined the last summons from Sage Wanyun. So, what was happening today?

It wasn't just this morning. When the High Venerable had been drinking tea while holding a fragment, she had seen something that made her lose control and spit out her tea. She had even been sent to deliver a Hundred Spirits Pill to Taicang Great State. Now, things were even more bizarre. The High Venerable was holding a fragment and giggling for a long time, as if she were a different person. The maid was perplexed, wondering what extraordinary item this fragment contained that could engross the High Venerable so completely.

"A'Luo, I've met a very interesting group of people," the High Venerable said, her pure and flawless face lifted, still unable to stop laughing. "They always come up with the strangest things. Just now, a new member joined. She thought the Moon Realm was for private chat and said a lot of shameless things. As a result, she annoyed the woman named Zhenggong." The High Venerable covered her mouth, laughing uncontrollably, "I can just imagine how embarrassed she must be right now."

A'Luo's forehead twitched as she responded, "High Venerable, why are you chatting with a bunch of juniors? You'd be better off traveling and accumulating merit to break through to the Great Sage Realm sooner."

"No hurry," the High Venerable replied. "I need to finish this 'melon' first." She continued, "Zhenggong is currently digging up the scandalous past of someone named 'Good Name.' It's said that when he was still in the Core Formation stage, he stole the Demon Emperor's concubine. Then, after reaching the Nascent Soul stage, he brought a female Venerable to bed, making two women serve one man. Now, he has lovers in the sky, underground, and in the sea; the only place left is outside the states." She paused, then added, "Good Name doesn't dare to speak now."

A'Luo mumbled, "Isn't 'Good Name' a bit too outrageous? High Venerable, you should be careful around him."

The High Venerable glanced at her. "What nonsense are you talking about? I don't even know him. How could he possibly flirt with me?" With that, she lowered her head and continued playing in the Moon Realm.

It was a long time later when the chat finally ended. The High Venerable, still feeling a lingering desire to continue, put away the Moon Realm, stood up, and stretched. Her chest tightened, outlining a graceful and upright curve.

"It is time to go out and travel," she murmured. "I shall travel through the states and spread benevolence and virtue."

Entering the Sage Realm through destiny was forbidden in all states. All Supremes undergoing the Five Decays of Heaven and Man could only enter the Sage Realm by accumulating merit. Thus, she, too, could only gradually accumulate merit this way.

Meanwhile, Jiang Fan, accompanied by Revered Mirror, rode swiftly to the easternmost part of the Great Barren State. This was an uninhabited wilderness where not only spiritual objects were scarce, but even common vegetation struggled to grow. As a result, there were no demonic sects or ordinary people.

"Let's put the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar here," Revered Mirror said. "It's a pity the Great Barren State doesn't have a perilous land like your Taicang Great State. Otherwise, placing the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar in such a place could create some trouble for the ancient giants when they descend."

Jiang Fan remembered Ji Qingxuan mentioning before she left that there was a highly dangerous land in Taicang Great State. The broken bone of misfortune she had given him came from that very place. Revered Mirror's words reminded Jiang Fan that he could move the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar to that dangerous land after returning.

Jiang Fan put down the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar he was holding and said hesitantly, "Revered Sister, your injuries haven't healed yet. How about you guide me after you've recovered?" He continued to find excuses to delay.

Revered Mirror waved her hand. "It's fine, my injuries are stable. I can guide you while I heal; it won't be a hindrance." She sat cross-legged and continued her healing, simultaneously sensing Jiang Fan's cultivation.

She was surprised. "A Five-Orifice Nascent Soul, and you also cultivate the lightning path? What a coincidence."

Jiang Fan almost broke out in a cold sweat. "Revered Sister, what are you talking about?"

Fortunately, Revered Mirror didn't connect the two. After all, one was a heroic youth who bravely ventured into the Heavenly Realm without fear of sacrifice, while the other was a small swindler. They were two different extremes, and a normal person wouldn't think they were the same person.

"That unlucky fellow, all my injuries are because of him," she grumbled. "Once I've recovered, I'll split him in two with a single strike! But enough about him. I'll help you hone your realm."

A thought sparked in her mind, and numerous mirrors appeared around her, simultaneously shining on Jiang Fan. Then, figures of Jiang Fan stepped out of the mirrors! Without a word, they unleashed many of Jiang Fan's divine abilities and attacked. Jiang Fan immediately understood that Revered Mirror was using her domain to create powerful enemies for him, intending to quickly hone his current realm through combat.

"Thank you, Revered Sister," Jiang Fan said, suppressing his unease and meeting the attack.

"Soul-Stunning Thorn!""Indestructible Blade!""Dark Sky Eye!""Soul-Binding Lock!"

Several powerful and extraordinary secret arts assailed Jiang Fan, instantly overwhelming him and leaving him in a disheveled state. These secret arts felt incredibly satisfying when he used them against others, but now that they were turned on him, he realized how troublesome they truly were. Within a few rounds, he was repeatedly pushed back by his own shadows. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and managed to stabilize his footing, engaging them in a difficult fight.

Revered Mirror watched in utter astonishment. "A soul path, a lightning path, and a body refinement path… how is there also an invisibility art? What? There's also a Fire Origin? What?! A Wind Origin too? And so many spiritual artifacts?"

Unbeknownst to her, she had stood up in surprise, her eyes fixed on Jiang Fan with intense disbelief. She had initially thought this would be a simple tempering exercise, but Jiang Fan was displaying incredibly astonishing abilities. It was one thing for him to have cultivated many divine abilities to their peak, but he had even cultivated two types of Origins? Some Venerables who had just entered the Deity Transformation Realm hadn't even comprehended a single Origin yet! Furthermore, strange spiritual artifacts emerged one after another.

Feeling the powerful fluctuations erupting from him, she was secretly amazed. "What is this young man's background? Are you sure there isn't a High Venerable or even a Sage behind him? With such strength, even an Eight-Orifice Nascent Soul would likely have little chance of victory."

After a long moment of surprise, she couldn't help but ponder. "Such a talented individual, perhaps I should bring him back to Young Emperor Mountain? Isn't Feng'er recruiting heroes from all over the world? He would surely appreciate someone like this." Her gaze flickered.

She continued to sit cross-legged, healing her injuries while observing Jiang Fan's life-and-death struggle against his shadows.

Five days passed in a flash.

On this day, Jiang Fan was utterly exhausted, yet his eyes gleamed with excitement. Compared to the Jian family's Slaughter Stele, fighting his own shadows was far more challenging and dangerous. In just five short days, his foundation had become completely stable. Next, he would only need powerful resources to open his Sixth Orifice.

Revered Mirror had long since recovered from her injuries and was quietly waiting for Jiang Fan to finish his tempering. Her eyes sparkled as she said, "Jiang Fan, your foundation is stable, and you can break through to the Six-Orifice Nascent Soul at any time. I don't have the appropriate resources on me right now. Why don't you come with me back to Tianzhou? I'll find a way to acquire them for you."

Would a grand cultivator undergoing the Four Decays of Heaven and Man really lack such resources? Clearly, she was trying to trick him into going to Tianzhou. Fortunately, Jiang Fan already possessed the necessary resources.

He cupped his hands and replied, "Revered Sister, I appreciate your kindness. However, I have already prepared the items for my breakthrough." With a flip of his palm, a Dragon Marrow Seed appeared! As an ancient spiritual object, it guaranteed a breakthrough to the next stage for those at or below the Mid Nascent Soul realm. He had given it to many others but had never used one himself. His purpose was to save it for breaking through to the final stage of the Mid Nascent Soul realm—the Six-Orifice Nascent Soul. Today, he could finally use it!