"As expected of an eighth-grade pill—truly extraordinary!" Gu He couldn't help but marvel as he gazed at the crimson pill in his palm.
'I wonder when I'll be able to refine an eighth-grade pill myself.'
Without hesitation, he raised the Holy Soul Pill to his lips and swallowed it.
The moment the pill slid down his throat, an intense buzzing erupted in Gu He's mind. His soul power, concentrated between his brows, surged violently as if catalyzed by some overwhelming force.
The rapid expansion brought with it excruciating pain—so severe that it felt as though his skull might split open at any moment!
Alarmed by this sudden change, Gu He steadied himself. Now was not the time for panic. He focused his mind, channeling all his concentration into observing the transformations within his body.
As the Holy Soul Pill dissolved, a scorching heat spread through his veins, branching out into countless fiery streams that raced toward his limbs and bones.
Soon after, wisps of gray dou qi emerged within him, swiftly converging toward the center of his brow.
The moment this gray dou qi intertwined with his soul power, Gu He sensed an immense, foreign force flooding into his spiritual essence.
To his astonishment, his soul power began growing at a terrifying rate—as if nourished by some supreme tonic.
At first, he was elated. But then, his expression twisted in pain.
The swelling agony between his brows intensified, throbbing relentlessly.
Gu He had never imagined the Holy Soul Pill's effects would be so overwhelming.
As the pain worsened, his soul power continued to soar, visibly expanding with each passing second.
More and more gray energy surged in, fueling the growth of his soul.
Now, he truly understood what it meant to suffer a splitting headache.
The temples on either side of his head bulged like taut drums, pulsating with every heartbeat.
"It's going to burst!"
Gu He's soul had grown far beyond what his body could withstand.
Finally, after enduring the torment for what felt like an eternity, he reached his limit.
BANG!
A deafening explosion sounded in the depths of his mind, nearly shattering his consciousness.
Gu He's vision blurred, flooded with golden light, and his thoughts plunged into chaos.
Just as he teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, a cooling energy emerged from within, pulling him back from the brink.
A refreshing power flowed into his brow, merging with the soul power entrenched there.
Gu He felt as though his spirit had been submerged in a warm spring—soothing waves washing over him, filling him with an indescribable comfort that nearly drew a moan from his lips.
This state persisted for a long while before gradually subsiding.
As his awareness returned, he realized the pain in his mind had lessened.
Even in his dazed state, he could sense it—his soul power had multiplied several times over.
Yet despite this staggering growth, it still fell short of the legendary Spirit Realm.
The absorption process lasted nearly an hour before the energy at his brow intensified once more.
An invisible ripple spread outward, escaping the cave and rippling across the mountain's skyline.
BOOM!
The moment this ripple expanded, the area around the mountain seemed to tremble, as if boiling over.
The sudden disturbance drew the attention of countless magical beasts in the mountain range.
But to most, the fluctuations in soul power were too intangible to grasp. Only the most powerful high-tier beasts could vaguely sense it—the rest merely stared blankly at the shifting sky, oblivious to the anomaly.
Inside the cave, Yun Yun, who had been deep in slumber, stirred. A mysterious force tugged at her senses, and her eyes snapped open, locking onto Gu He, who sat cross-legged nearby.
"Gu He… is he cultivating some profound dou technique?" A flicker of surprise crossed her beautiful eyes.
Given her strength and perception, she couldn't discern the changes in his soul power. Yet she could feel it—a pressure emanating from him so immense that it sent tremors through the depths of her own soul.
"So strong…" Yun Yun watched, awestruck, as Gu He meditated in silence, her heart in turmoil.
Unaware of the external reactions, Gu He remained immersed in the cooling energy, reveling in the euphoric sensation that made him reluctant to wake.
Meanwhile, earth-shaking transformations unfolded at the center of his brow.
The soul, by nature, was an ethereal and elusive existence—the very root of life, shrouded in mystery.
Even for an alchemist of Gu He's caliber, the soul had always been an intangible force, a wisp of soul power that could be manipulated outside the body.
But now, it was different.
No longer formless, his soul power had coalesced into a pulsating mass, throbbing faintly like a heartbeat.
Infused with boundless spiritual energy, it squirmed ceaselessly, as if something were gestating within.
Yet Gu He couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing—some crucial element preventing its full maturation.
After pondering in vain, he abandoned the thought.
As the fluctuations in the heaven and earth's energy intensified, more and more spiritual power poured into the cave, saturating the once-empty space with vibrant vitality.
But as the energy continued flooding in, Gu He's expression darkened.
No matter how much spiritual energy was absorbed, his soul remained in that writhing state—unable to take that final step.
He frowned.
He had reached his limit.
The Holy Soul Pill's power had taken him as far as it could.
Time flowed like water, and before he knew it, a full day and night had passed since he ingested the pill.
The next morning, the celestial phenomena finally dissipated, and silence reclaimed the cave.
Exhausted from watching over him, Yun Yun closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.
Not long after, Gu He's eyelids fluttered open.
A brilliant light flashed within his dark pupils.
…
Outside the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave, Gu He appeared, clutching several plump fish in his hand—his catch from a waterfall deep in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
Since consuming the Holy Soul Pill, his soul power had undergone a monumental transformation.
He was certain—he had reached the peak of the Mortal Realm.
Only a single step separated him from the fabled Spirit Realm.
But that step was a chasm as vast as heaven and earth.
Even at the pinnacle of the Mortal Realm, breaking through was no easy feat.
Yet Gu He wasn't disheartened.
Opportunities would come in time.
Entering the cave, he found Yun Yun lounging on a stone platform, her cheeks resting on her palms.
Spotting him, she smiled faintly. "You're back."
Gu He nodded, raising the fish. "I caught a few. I'll cook them for you—consider it a treat."
With his current soul power, he could envelop the entire Magic Beast Mountain Range in his perception.
Anywhere his spiritual energy reached, he could traverse in an instant.
That was why he dared to leave Yun Yun alone—if danger arose, a single thought would bring him back to her side.
After setting the fish over a crackling fire, he turned to her. "How are you feeling?"
Yun Yun rose gracefully, the scent of wind accompanying her movements as she approached.
She sighed. "My injuries have mostly healed, but the sealing technique on me… is troublesome."
Gu He adjusted the fish over the flames before meeting her gaze. "Don't worry. Once you've fully recovered, I'll find a way to break the seal."
Since her cyan dress had been ruined, she now wore his white robe.
On anyone else, the plain garment might have looked dull—but on her, it accentuated her ethereal beauty.
With every step, the hem swayed, revealing glimpses of her jade-like calves, an alluring sight.
Gazing at her, Gu He couldn't help but wish her recovery would take just a little longer.
That way, their time together would stretch on.
…
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