With the Xuanyuan Water Control Flag now on her person, along with the golden brick gifted by Ye Jingyu, she possessed the strength to fight even against a Heavenly Immortal master.

Lin Xiaoyi’s cultivation had also reached the Ninth Heaven realm. He had almost completely inherited Dugu Ba Chen's saber techniques, practicing day and night in pursuit of reaching the Martial Venerable realm as soon as possible.

Hu Yanqi and Hu Yanmeng’s own strength had also reached the Ninth Heaven realm. Relying on the divine arts in their hands, even Heavenly Immortal masters had to be exceedingly cautious, lest they be wiped out directly.

Even Yao Yao, relying on her innate Nine Yin Severed Meridians, had reached the Eighth Heaven realm under the ** of the Drought Demon, and her seductive arts were unparalleled; even a Heavenly Immortal master could lose their wits if they were not careful.

However, the fastest progress was made by Hei Ming Shixuan, who, without relying on any external power, reached the Demon King realm in just one year. After using the Haotian Bead to temper her physical body, Hei Ming Shixuan became the second Demon King of the Blazing Demon clan since Yan Senxu.

To become a Demon King at such a tender age shocked everyone, but what surprised Ye Jingyu even more was a seal residing within Hei Ming Shixuan’s body—a seal clearly set by Hei Ming Ba himself. Just how immense a power did she harbor within her? Why would Hei Ming Ba place so many seals upon her? Was it for fear that her body and soul could not bear it?

In the same year, Liang Xiaoke stabilized his cultivation and once again manifested two clones. Perhaps due to his lingering obsession with the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, he ignored the Drought Demon's advice and manifested another form—a monk—along with himself. The three of them often sought the Dao together, cultivated together, and even shared women; in short, the three bodies cultivating simultaneously meant their speed was three times that of others.

And both the Corpse of Blood Wood, Gongsun Lu, and the Corpse of Blood Fire, Lin Yuanmu, had barely reached the Heavenly Immortal realm, meaning he possessed the combat power of five individuals by himself.

Fang Zhuguo had finally achieved the Heavenly Immortal status within this year, but Xue Ming remained stuck in the Ninth Heaven realm, as reaching the Heavenly Immortal realm was far from easy.

This was evident from the fact that Xue Wuqing had not broken through to the Demon King realm after such a long time.

As for Ye Jingyu, his personal strength was firmly established in the Upper-Tier Heavenly Grade. He only needed to condense one more Golden Core to break through the Heavenly Grade and reach the Desolate Grade.

Furthermore, thanks to several great battles where he devoured the vital essence and blood of millions, Tian Wu had also condensed his true form. Like Zhurong, once his true form was materialized, Tian Wu’s strength surged rapidly, quickly reaching the peak of the Heavenly Grade.

When he reached the peak of the Heavenly Grade, the power of the Twelve Heaven Witches’ Extinction Grand Array multiplied several times over. Facing Yuan now, he was confident he could fight him.

During this year and more, the human world experienced an unusual tranquility. Luo Ruofeng had even built a Prince Ping Tian Mansion for Ye Jingyu on the former site of the White Cloud Manor, carrying a clear meaning: to stand equal to the Son of Heaven.

On this day, Ye Jingyu was cultivating assiduously three hundred feet beneath the manor. This area connected deep into the earth beneath the South Sea, and the dense Earth Elemental Force continuously surged in. He needed to condense his fifth Golden Core as soon as possible to break through the Heavenly Grade and reach the Desolate Grade. Only by reaching the Desolate Grade could he step into the Abyss to rescue Luo Linger.

Over the past year, Ni Bo had found countless elixirs and miraculous medicines for him, but the energy required for him to condense the Golden Core was too vast; it was difficult to achieve without a significant opportunity. Now, the Earth Acupoint on his spleen was completely shrouded by yellow mist. This vaporous moisture was almost solidifying; as long as the Earth Elemental Force flowed ceaselessly, it would take at most half a year for him to condense the Earth Golden Core and achieve a breakthrough to the Heavenly Grade in one go.

Only half a year; just half a year was needed. Linger, you must wait for me, you must wait for me...

Ye Jingyu roared inwardly, and the speed at which he absorbed the Earth Elemental Force quickened. The yellow mist in the Earth-Water Acupoint grew denser.

It was at this moment that Liang Xiaoke’s divine sense transmitted to him, urging him to come up immediately...

Ye Jingyu was momentarily stunned. Nothing of major consequence had happened in the past year, so they would not disturb him. What was going on? Without further thought, his body shot out, arriving in the main hall of the manor. As soon as he materialized in the hall, a figure clad in azure appeared before his eyes. Focusing his gaze, he realized it was Gongsun Xiangyi.

“Xiangyi, it’s you?” Ye Jingyu could scarcely believe it. A sweep of his divine sense revealed that Gongsun Xiangyi’s cultivation had reached the Heavenly Immortal realm. Unlike Jiu Feng, Liang Xiaoke, and the others, the aura emanating from her body was pure Immortal Spiritual Energy. Was the cultivation method she practiced the most genuine path of Immortality cultivation?

“Young Master…” Gongsun Xiangyi’s eyes misted over when she saw Ye Jingyu’s striking white hair, and she couldn't help but burst into tears. How long had it been since they last parted? Only a year or so had passed in the mortal world, but she had spent a full hundred years inside that senior’s magical artifact. A hundred years! Her strength had reached a level she had never dared to dream of, but what about her longing for the Young Master?

How many people could know the sorrow she had held in her heart for these hundred-plus years?

“Heh heh, Xiangyi, it really is you. When Medusa told me you were studying under that senior, I never imagined that after just over a year, you would reach this realm. It seems that senior is truly a master!” Hearing Gongsun Xiangyi’s call, Ye Jingyu laughed heartily, reaching out to gently wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes as he spoke softly.

“Young Master, Teacher he... Teacher he…” Mentioning that senior, the tears in Gongsun Xiangyi’s eyes welled up even more profusely, and her voice became choked with sobs.

“What happened to the senior?” A premonition of disaster suddenly flashed through Ye Jingyu’s heart. That feeling had lingered since he met Yuan a year ago, but at this moment, it felt intensely strong...

“Teacher is dead…” Gongsun Xiangyi found a sudden surge of courage and cried out the words...

“What?” Ye Jingyu’s expression changed drastically. That master was the tutor of Dugu Ba Chen and Xuanyuan Jue. How could he possibly be dead?

“Before he died, Teacher asked me to give this to you… everything he wanted to say is contained within this jade slip…” Gongsun Xiangyi, still crying, retrieved a painting and a jade slip from her bosom and handed them to Ye Jingyu.

And the moment this painting appeared, Zhurong, the Drought Demon, and Tian Wu, who were constantly within Ye Jingyu’s Sea of Consciousness, simultaneously exclaimed: “The Map of Mountains and Rivers and State Altars!”

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