In the depths of the forest, the concept of time became hazy, and in that tranquil valley, it was even more so. It had been a month since Xiao Yan had gone into seclusion, yet there was still no sign of activity within the valley. Even the immense purple light cocoon formed by Zi Yan continued to emit a steady, bright glow, showing no indication of breaking open.
Meidusa found herself quite helpless with this situation. She had somewhat underestimated the immense energy required for Zi Yan’s advancement. Sitting cross-legged on a boulder, Meidusa supported her chin with one hand, her gaze lingering on the light cocoon for a moment before turning toward the stone-strewn cave. Sighing softly when she saw no movement there, she pondered over the situation.
On the third day after Xiao Yan entered seclusion, his aura completely vanished, even for someone of Meidusa’s strength, it could only be faintly sensed after exerting full effort. She knew that Xiao Yan was now at the peak of Dou Wang (Duke) and was advancing towards the Battle Emperor (Monarch) level.
She sighed, “These two are truly trying.”
With a sigh, Meidusa closed her eyes and entered a state of cultivation. The tedious task of waiting and guarding could only be relieved by cultivation; otherwise, it would indeed test one’s patience.
And so, the days in the valley passed, calm and uneventful, as if sealed off from the outside world. This tranquility provided the perfect environment for both Xiao Yan and Zi Yan.
About two months into Xiao Yan’s seclusion, a slight disturbance broke the calm. One day, as Meidusa began her usual vigil, she suddenly felt a surge of energy in the valley, like boiling water. She followed the source of the fluctuation, finding it to emanate from Xiao Yan’s secluded site.
“Could it be…?” Her fine brows furrowed as she sensed a dense energy converging towards the cave, creating a massive vortex in the sky above the valley. The center of the vortex directly above the cave perplexed her.
“His need for energy is colossal!” Gazing at the energy vortex, Meidusa felt a sense of awe. She knew that the process of advancing from Dou Wang to Battle Emperor required an enormous amount of energy, but not to such an extent as Xiao Yan’s.
Of course, Meidusa did not know that ordinary Dou Wangs would not draw such a vast amount of energy. They refined the energy they absorbed through their techniques, but Xiao Yan was different. With his ‘Burning Flame’ technique and three types of heavenly flames, the energy underwent stringent purification, making it much denser and more potent. This refinement process, however, demanded a vastly larger and more powerful amount of energy.
While the volume reduced, the purity of the energy greatly benefited Xiao Yan, providing a solid foundation for his advancement. However, the downside was the need for an overwhelmingly large and fearsome amount of energy, leading to the spectacular phenomenon.
The colorful vortex of energy slowly spun in the air, drawing in a continuous stream of energy from the surroundings. As the vortex’s suction strengthened, energy even from beyond the valley began to converge. Meidusa, noticing this, grew concerned. The fierce magical beasts in the mountains were highly sensitive to energy, and the intense fluctuations might attract them.
Simultaneously, the purple light cocoon also emitted a strong glow, influenced by the surging energy around it. The dense energy split and rushed into the cocoon, creating a maelstrom of energy.
Meidusa, seeing this, shook her head and appeared in the sky above the valley. She swiftly formed intricate hand seals, causing the space above the valley to warp and distort, gradually covering the energy vortex.
“Spatial Seal!” she shouted, and the space around the valley hardened, enveloping the entire area. The chaotic energy suction gradually faded, and Meidusa let out a relieved breath.
She then checked the valley, ensuring everything was in order, before descending. As she reached a certain point, the space rippled, and her figure vanished.
Reappearing in the valley, she looked up at the colorful energy vortex, wiping sweat from her brow. Even with her power, maintaining the spatial seal was draining, but it was necessary to conceal the commotion.
“Now, even if someone or a beast flies over the valley, they won’t detect anything, as long as their strength isn’t greater than mine,” she muttered, sitting down to recover from the exertion.
Three months into Xiao Yan’s seclusion, the valley remained undisturbed, but the colorful vortex in the sky only grew more intense. The light cocoon and the cave continued to absorb the vast energy.
One day, while in deep meditation, Meidusa’s eyes suddenly snapped open, her face cold. A rainbow-colored snake scale appeared on her forehead, radiating a soft glow. This scale, connected to her soul, was signaling a dire situation in the Snake People Clan.
Meidusa, realizing the gravity of the situation, stood up abruptly. Glancing at the cocoon and the cave, she hesitated, then created another secure spatial seal.
“I have added defenses here to protect you. The Snake People Clan seems to be in great danger. I must return. I will come back once I resolve the crisis!”
After leaving a scroll on the boulder, she touched the heated snake scale on her forehead, her expression turning cold and filled with murderous intent. With a swift movement, she broke through the spatial barrier and disappeared.
As Meidusa left, the valley returned to its silence, the only witness being the gently glowing purple cocoon.
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