"How is it? Are you feeling well?"

After finishing her meditation, Gu Hong heard Li An speak.

Gu Hong's face was radiant, her blood vigorous. Having been married to Li An for just a few years, her appearance seemed younger by several years!

The small wrinkles had disappeared, and her life state seemed to have rejuvenated by decades.

"My dantian is full, my life essence is abundant... even my spirit root has grown."

"Thank you, my husband!"

She looked at Li An with complex emotions, her eyes filled with deep admiration and gratitude.

As a cultivator, she was well aware of what this meant.

She had practically encountered a great fortune, granting her the possibility to once again glimpse the higher Great Dao.

Originally, she was over two hundred years old, her vitality beginning to wane, her life essence diminishing, signifying an inability to advance any further, reaching the ceiling of her cultivation path.

Yet, the mysterious substance Li An had given her reversed her aging, making her feel as if she had regained her youth, her vigor rejuvenated, even slightly altering her spirit root, increasing her sensitivity!

Li An thoroughly examined her state, then nodded in satisfaction.

Over the years, he continuously cultivated the demon skill with a group of concubines, generating the celestial demon qi, which was incessantly absorbed by the Life Seed, then the Life Seed would release a green aura.

This green aura was merely a product of his cultivation, serving no purpose for him personally.

Therefore, he gave it all to Gu Hong.

After a few years, Gu Hong's cultivation caught up, reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection, her vitality rekindled.

"Now you can attempt to break through to Core Formation..."

Li An smiled slightly, then took out a box and handed it to Gu Hong.

Upon opening it, Gu Hong's beautiful eyes widened in shock, and she hurriedly closed the box, exclaiming:

"This... Primordial Spirit Pill!"

"No, I cannot accept this. This pill should be taken by you, husband, to achieve Core Formation!"

She forcefully pushed the pill back into Li An's hands, earnest and sincere, tears welling up in her beautiful eyes:

"To have your consideration, husband, makes Gu Hong's life worth living, with nothing more to ask even in death!"

At that moment, she suddenly understood everything. A few years ago, when Li An was collecting spirit stones everywhere, it was likely to acquire this Primordial Spirit Pill.

But she never expected Li An would give this pill to her.

Using the mysterious green aura to alter her aptitude, rejuvenate her vitality, and even prepare a Primordial Spirit Pill for her...

At this moment, her heart felt exhilaratingly happy.

The words of her master back then were entirely wrong, entirely wrong!

Li An gently embraced her, wiping away her tears, "You must break through to Core Formation to help me."

"Don't worry, I have another Primordial Spirit Pill, but you break through first, alright?"

"If you can successfully form a Core, perhaps we can still survive... but if we fail, both of us might not live until next year."

Li An's words were gentle yet heavy.

Rendering Gu Hong momentarily stunned.

"We've already been targeted by the Demon Sect..."

Li An briefly shared some information, knowing that without such urgency, Gu Hong would never agree to undergo Core Formation first.

After speaking, Gu Hong's expression turned to shock.

It turned out, for all these years, her husband had been under the surveillance of the Demon Sect, navigating carefully...

"Core Formation!"

Li An placed the pill back into her jade-like hand.

In that moment, determination gradually filled Gu Hong's eyes, and she said:

"Core Formation—"

She whispered, taking a deep breath, "Husband, rest assured... I will do my utmost!"

...

That day, Li An issued an order, stating that no one in the mansion was allowed to set foot outside, as he would attempt to achieve Core Formation.

He instructed other concubines to act as protectors, while he led Gu Hong and Ma Xiaorong into the secluded room for closed cultivation.

On the surface, he set up two Tier Two arrays, one outside the secluded room and the other outside the mansion, preventing the other concubines from approaching the secluded area.

He then meticulously selected, secretly laying down six Tier Two and two Rank Three arrays.

Li An's strategy was simple:

Since the Demon Sect believed he was achieving Core Formation, he would follow their assumption.

Except, the one breaking through would be Gu Hong.

The Demon Sect would never anticipate that he would give such an opportunity to Gu Hong, from the outside they could merely observe that someone was indeed undergoing a closed Core Formation breakthrough.

Meanwhile, he continued transferring demonic qi within the secluded room.

When Gu Hong successfully reached Core Formation and the Demon Sect arrived, they would discover that it was not Li An who had formed a Core, nor was there demonic qi within him.

Li An would then have the chance to break free.

After he left, with the assistance of the trapped array and Chen Qingwan, Gu Hong would likely escape too, as she would have reached Core Formation by then, making it difficult for fellow Core Formation cultivators to intercept her.

This was all Li An could do to address the predicament!

Utilizing all resources to their fullest extent.

"Master, you could have taken me with you during the breakthrough, why allow Sister Gu in the next room?"

In the secluded room, Ma Xiaorong pouted, "She's eavesdropping from the next room, how improper..."

"When you undergo the breakthrough, I can't help but scream..."

Li An laughed, "Then feel free to scream if you wish..."

In fact, Li An had placed an Upper Grade Tier One soundproof array between him and Gu Hong, preventing any noises here from affecting Gu Hong.

He continued transferring demonic qi.

...

Meanwhile.

In a certain residence in Celestial Yang City.

"Madam, this Zuo Wen certainly has an attitude, summoning us here, only to enter seclusion himself..."

A maid voiced her frustration.

She had accompanied Chen Qingwan to Celestial Yang City for a month.

But she only found out about Zuo Mansion being in closed seclusion and unavailable.

"Why the rush,"

Chen Qingwan remained calm, "Zuo Wen is the chief of Treasure Pavilion, having some airs is normal."

"Besides, if he really achieves Core Formation, our Chen family would have a supporter... waiting is worthwhile."

"Let's wait."

...

White Tiger Mountain.

"Taking over Celestial Yang City means the Northern Border, and even the entire Great Li Empire, will belong to us."

The White Tiger Master sat regally, gazing at the sixteen disciples before her.

Among these sixteen, there was one True Core, four Fake Pills, and the others were at least Late-Stage Foundation Establishment.

Their strength was indeed formidable.

"Act according to the plan; anyone who dares to jeopardize it shall be executed without mercy—"

Everyone received their orders and dispersed.

The True Core disciple Mo Xuan stayed behind, "Reporting to Master, Celestial Yang City is completely sealed now, and we cannot contact Junior Sister Qiu Hui..."

"Do not concern yourself with her."

The White Tiger Master spoke calmly; by now, Xu Qiuhui held no further value.

...

A blink of an eye.

Another year passed.

Over this year, celestial phenomena continuously graced Celestial Yang City, leading to the constant emergence of anomalies.

At times, the sound of waves echoed from the clouds, as if the sky transformed into rivers, and occasionally heavy rain descended, with statuesque figures seemingly sitting within...

All this indicated the phenomena associated with breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage!

The manifestation of water vapor, wave sounds, and the like was related to King Jingbei's own spirit root.

He evidently possessed a Water Spirit Root.

"The phenomena are becoming more intense, it seems that King Jingbei is about to attempt the Nascent Soul breakthrough!"

"It might be within just a few days..."

"Indeed, amidst the resplendent clouds, at the source of the drizzling rain, the shadow of King Jingbei grows increasingly vivid, almost becoming solid. It should be soon—"

Amidst the world's speculation.

Bang!

A loud noise resounded.

Celestial Yang City erupted instantly, a vast power unleashed, countless layers of auspicious clouds swirling...

The Nascent Soul breakthrough had begun!

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