Chapter 167: Departing from the Xia Capital

Inside the dantian sea of energy,

A hazy space filled with crimson mist—this was Dongbo Xueying’s extraordinary combat qi! This combat qi had consumed over five hundred jin of source stones over the years, and after being cultivated with the profound mysteries of laws, it had already reached its limit, exuding a sense of imminent eruption. As Dongbo Xueying willed it, a sharp buzzing sound erupted. Countless threads of red mist underwent an immediate qualitative transformation. Within the crimson mist, wisps resembling electric sparks and fine threads emerged.

Like dancing silk! Like darting electric snakes!

All the red mist rapidly transformed, condensing into a more concentrated and denser power. Each thread was formed from a vast amount of mist, condensed and transformed.

Soon, all the combat qi had transformed.

Innumerable threads of fiery combat qi entangled instantly, forming a crystal sphere. Then, it transformed into a miniature version of Dongbo Xueying. Following that, it morphed into a tiny divine dragon. Each form was vivid and lifelike, their expressions animated, with occasional glimmers on their skin.

“After reaching the Saint level, my combat qi is indeed different,” Dongbo Xueying mused inwardly. “It can condense into forms, even into combat qi clones!”

“First, nourish the body and soul.”

Dongbo Xueying calmed his thoughts.

The silk-like, electric combat qi began to seep into his muscles, bones, and skin, then into his internal organs, and finally into his mind to nourish his soul.

Nourishing the soul was the slowest process. After reaching the Saint level, one could generally manifest a combat qi clone, which required splitting a portion of one’s soul. Most Saint-level warriors weren’t in a hurry, taking their time to nourish their souls gradually. But Dongbo Xueying wanted to complete the process in one go. After leaving Xiadu City, he would likely travel far and wide.

Thus, he wanted to leave his combat qi clone behind at Xueshi Castle to guard the Dongbo Clan!

During the Demon War, he had been relentless in protecting his family. If anything went wrong, it would be too late to regret.

…

Jin after jin of source stones were consumed—one after another.

After nineteen pieces, Dongbo Xueying finally felt his soul’s growth begin to stagnate. The nourishment from Saint-level combat qi was no longer effective.

“Phew.”

Dongbo Xueying opened his eyes.

“Saint-level combat qi, huh?” He smirked slightly, glancing aside.

Whoosh—

Crimson light flowed from Dongbo Xueying’s body, flying to the side and rapidly condensing into a red-robed, black-haired youth. He looked exactly like Dongbo Xueying, but his face, skin, and hair faintly shimmered with light, clearly revealing that this was not a real flesh-and-blood body—it was merely a form of condensed combat qi.

“Splitting off a fragment of my soul feels really unpleasant,” Dongbo Xueying muttered softly.

“Good thing it’s only a tiny bit. It won’t affect my main body’s strength much.”

He wasn’t a mage—mages relied on spiritual power in battle, so splitting their souls significantly impacted their strength. But knights relied on combat qi, weapons, secret arts, and cultivation realms. A slight soul split had minimal effect.

“Just don’t let the combat qi clone get destroyed,” Dongbo Xueying warned himself, gazing at the clone before him.

“If it gets destroyed and the fragment of soul within is annihilated, I’ll suffer a major loss and need time to recover,” Dongbo Xueying thought grimly. Ancient texts had recorded that the split soul and the main soul remained connected. However, if the fragment of soul within the combat qi clone was destroyed, it would harm the soul’s very origin.

Though only a tiny portion, it was still damage to the core essence. Mages could exhaust their spiritual power and soul force during battle, but those were external forces that could be replenished quickly.

But damage to the soul’s origin—even a tiny bit—required slow recovery.

If the damage was severe, one might even become a fool or a madman. If it was too grave, death could follow instantly.

Even half-gods, when using combat qi clones to explore dangerous places, would first rest and recover if their clones were destroyed. Only after full recovery would they dare to use another clone. Usually, they wouldn’t risk using a second clone immediately.

These were all common knowledge.

“Source stones are consumed so quickly,” Dongbo Xueying looked at the remaining small piece in his hand. “From the early Saint stage to the peak, I need over three thousand jin of source stones! As for reaching the half-god stage? Well, I don’t need to worry about that for now.”

“My body requires fifty thousand jin of source stones just to reach the early Saint stage. I need to prepare for that.”

Dongbo Xueying pondered.

The ancient bloodline body was extremely difficult and costly to enhance. Before, he hadn’t dared to dream of it. But after winning the Hundred Battles Secret Chamber, Dongbo Xueying no longer hesitated. He decided to absorb vast amounts of source stone energy to break through his body to the early Saint stage. This would bring his body closer to an “undying body” and increase the chances of a second awakening of the ancient bloodline.

…

Spring of Year 9663.

Outside Xiadu City, at the towering mountain’s World Gate, a large crowd entered one after another.

“Brother Dongbo.”

“Congratulations! Brother Dongbo, you’re so young yet have already reached the Saint-level. Truly enviable!”

In midair,

A large group of Transcendents, accompanied by their families, hovered in the sky, waiting to enter the World Gate. During the wait, they exchanged greetings.

News of Dongbo Xueying reaching the Saint level had spread widely in the past half month, causing great admiration among the Transcendents in Xiadu City. Dongbo Xueying was so young—barely over twenty years since he became a Transcendent—and already broke through to the Saint level. Truly incomparable! The old masters who had been stuck at the Flying Immortal level for hundreds of years could only feel ashamed.

“Now, the Water Source Taoist Monastery may enter,” beside the World Gate, Master Chen of Xinfu Palace personally presided over the event.

Today, all the titled knights and mages, all Transcendents below the Half-God level, and their families were being sent out! This was a major event—never let demons attack and sabotage it.

Swish, swish, swish~~~

A large number of titled experts from the Water Source Taoist Monastery began to enter.

“Everyone, I’ll go first. If you have the chance, come find me in Qinghe County,” Dongbo Xueying bid farewell to some friends. Some of these friends had fought alongside him on various missions, others were fellow apprentices from Chiyun Mountain.

“Jing Qiu, let’s go,” Dongbo Xueying said to Yu Jing Qiu, and together with their families, they flew toward the World Gate.

A large crowd entered the World Gate.

Dongbo Xueying and Yu Jing Qiu, along with their families, also flew into the World Gate.

“How lively,” on the vast snowy plains in the far north of Longshan Empire, the usually quiet Water Source Taoist Monastery was bustling with activity this morning, as numerous titled experts and Transcendents had arrived.

“Everyone!”

A mighty voice echoed throughout the monastery.

All looked up at the half-robed man in midair radiating immense pressure—it was Master Sikong Yang of the Water Source Taoist Monastery.

“Starting tomorrow, all Transcendents and titled experts must follow orders to hunt demons,” Master Sikong Yang announced. “Today is your preparation time. You have two hours to get ready. You may exchange for needed secret techniques or weapons and treasures. After two hours, the Water Source Taoist Monastery will send you back. Now, go prepare.”

“Yes!”

The Transcendents and titled experts responded respectfully, while the families stood silently, too afraid to utter a sound. The Invisible Pressure from Sikong Yang was simply terrifying.

The families stayed inside the monastery to rest temporarily, while the Transcendents and titled experts went to exchange for what they needed.

In the future, tracking down demons would inevitably lead to confrontations. At such times, contribution points should naturally be converted into personal strength. Those who valued their families would also exchange for powerful formations to protect them.

“Keep fifty thousand contribution points, and convert the rest into weapons and formations,” Dongbo Xueying had already decided. “Of these fifty thousand points, use thirty thousand first to exchange for source stones!”

“Senior Long, Senior Que, I’d like to exchange for a semi-divine artifact,” Dongbo Xueying isolated his voice and spoke.

The weapon pavilion displayed only human-tier and Saint-tier transcendental weapons.

As for semi-divine artifacts? They were hidden.

One had to reach the Saint level to even qualify to see them!

“Kid, not bad,” the crisp voice of the Water Source Taoist Monastery’s artifact spirit, Senior Que, echoed in Dongbo Xueying’s ear. “The last time Senior Long and I saw you, you had just become a Transcendent. Now you’re already a Saint-level warrior with enough contribution points to exchange for a semi-divine artifact?”

“Alright, I’ll send you over now.”