The 501st Chapter Refining Mystic Crystals
ors within the palace. Even Zhao Yanzi's initial cultivation was啟蒙於她。這些女修白天在各處修煉，夜晚則回到星月長老的宮殿裡休息。星月長老的弟子比其他長老的弟子要多得多，自然也就說得響亮一些。隻是郝仁的事情，夏丞相說不上話，星月長老也使不上力。從大局來看，東海龍宮確實冇有必要為了一個還未確定的駙馬，去跟整個西海龍宮為敵反東海聯盟。同樣...Chapter 501 Refining the Mystic Crystal
Refine the Mystic Crystal!
Hao Ren was slightly shaken when he heard this.
The "Seven-Hearted Five-Colored Lotus" that he had given Zhao Kuo had yet to be refined by him!
Zhao Guang's expression became solemn, “Alright, we can't be careless about this matter. I will triple the number of troops and strictly guard the Purple Bamboo Island so you can feel at ease to refine it!”
"Thank you, Brother!" Zhao Kuo gave a deep bow before striding towards the palace through the viewing platform.
“Son-in-law, here’s your clothes!” At this time, Chancellor Xia returned with a blue robe to the viewing platform.
Hao Ren put on the robe and turned to Zhao Hongyu, “Refining Mystic Crystal is dangerous”
"Of course it's dangerous," said Zhao Hongyu. "Cultivation is an act against nature, competing with heaven for vitality. The dragon race already receives a great favor from Heaven through their Dragon Core. So reaching the Exchange Rank where no further advancement in cultivation is possible is the natural way of things. Therefore, to implant Mystic Crystal into one's body is forcefully going against nature and extremely dangerous."
Hao Ren was enlightened. It seemed that this was Zhao Kuo’s second time refining a Mystic Crystal. Since he had successfully survived his last attempt, there was no guarantee that this time would go smoothly either. That was why both Zhao Guang's and Zhao Kuo's expressions were very solemn.
Those Heaven Earth Ranks experts, including Su Han, who hadn’t gone through such life-and-death crises, surely weren't many among those materials which had already obtained Mystic Crystals but died in the process of refining them.
Zhao Kuo’s willingness to accept Hao Ren's "Seven-Hearted Five-Colored Lotus" was a trial and probing path for Hao Ren!
Practicing all five elements at once, this had never happened before among dragon race cultivators!
In fact, implanting Mystic Crystals that were complete in the five elements had never been attempted by any dragon race cultivator!
Zhao Kuo was testing it with his life using his experience from having reached the peak of Heaven Earth Rank before. Just like when he practiced "Dividing Light Sword Reflection Art", he imparted all his understanding and insights about this art to Hao Ren without reservation!
Thinking that, Hao Ren felt no regret in giving the Seven-Hearted Five-Colored Lotus to Zhao Kuo; instead, he was filled with admiration for him.
Dat dat dat...
Zhao Yanzi worried about Zhao Kuo and immediately ran towards the palace.
Hao Ren’s heart was uneasy as well. He hurriedly entered the palace too.
“Third Uncle! Third Uncle!” Zhao Yanzi called out to him ahead.
Zhao Kuo stopped walking, looking at Zhao Yanzi and smiling with a dark face, "A Zi, my third uncle is fine."
"Third Uncle has already passed the thunder tribulation. This time there’s nothing to worry about!" said Zhao Yanzi confidently.
“Mm.” Zhao Kuo nodded his head. Then he looked at Hao Ren who had run over, "Kid, after I finish refining my Mystic Crystal, come out and fight with me! At that time, you must put in your full strength to battle!"
"Alright." Hao Ren immediately agreed.
The Star Moon Elder walked steadily up, “I will... protect you.”
This light sentence contained boundless concern.
Zhao Kuo looked at her, gazed for a few seconds, and then clasped his hands together respectfully, saying, "Then I'll leave it to you."
Gush...
Hao Ren even thought that Zhao Kuo was too wooden.
"It's fine." Elder Star Moon waved her hand indifferently and followed Zhao Kuo into the palace’s secret chamber.
Sigh, these two people…
Hao Ren felt anxious for them and pulled Zhao Yanzi to follow quickly behind.
After Zhao Kuo and Star Moon entered the secret chamber, Hao Ren and Zhao Yanzi could only stay outside.
To refine the Mystic Crystal requires thorough preparations. A cultivator who can serve as protector during a breakthrough in realm must possess a high cultivation level and have a close relationship with the cultivator attempting to break through, allowing them to be on the same wavelength—this way, they can intervene decisively when necessary to turn danger into safety.
Elder Star Moon guarding Zhao Kuo indicates that their connection goes beyond words.
The stone door of the secret chamber closed. Standing outside, Zhao Yanzi and Hao Ren had no idea what was happening inside.
A while later, Zhao Guang, Zhao Hongyu, Elder Lu, and Elder Sun all arrived at the entrance to the secret chamber one after another.
"Mom, will Uncle Three be okay" asked Zhao Yanzi anxiously.
"Foolish child, what are you saying!" Zhao Hongyu helplessly glanced at Zhao Yanzi. "Refining a Mystic Crystal takes at least a day and night; your uncle has experience with it before, so he should be fine."
Her tone was not particularly confident either. After all, refining Mystic Crystals, especially the Five Elements Mystic Crystals, is unpredictable.
Zhao Guang and she had never refined a Mystic Crystal because they didn't plan to break through further realms: Zhao Guang managed the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace with no time left over for cultivation, while Zhao Hongyu lacked confidence in her ability to refine the Mystic Crystal—she wasn’t afraid of death herself but feared losing her daughter.
Zhao Yanzi clenched her fists, somewhat anxious.
The last time Zhao Kuo refined a Mystic Crystal was before she was born, but his failure at breaking through to Heavenly Dragon left an indelible impression in her mind.
She really hoped that nothing would happen to her uncle this time.
"Dragon King, the forces around Purple Bamboo Island have been tripled," Chancellor Xia reported when he arrived at the entrance of the secret chamber.
Hmph. Zhao Guang nodded solemnly.
He watched the stone door nervously as well; his bond with Zhao Kuo was deep, and Zhao Kuo was one of the few experts in the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace capable of breaking through to Heavenly Dragon.
The vast majority of dragon clan cultivators, even if they reached peak Heaven Rank, were already more than eight or nine hundred years old. If their attempt at breaking through to Heavenly Dragon failed, it would mean death; even if one managed to survive, there wouldn’t be another chance to break through.
Zhao Kuo was only two hundred years old; a failure left him with the opportunity for resurgence. What did Heavenly Dragon signify It meant turning乾坤(heaven and earth) upside down!
No matter from a public or private perspective, Zhao Guang didn’t want any mishaps to occur during Zhao Kuo’s process of refining the Mystic Crystal.
Time ticked by; there was no sound from inside the secret chamber at all.
Hao Ren's heart was suspended high up.
Zhao Yanzi was very nervous, tightly holding onto Hao Ren's wrist; her slender fingers were slightly sweaty.
"Prime Minister Xia, how long has it been" Zhao Hongyu suddenly asked.
"According to the Dragon Mother, six hours have already passed," Prime Minister Xia replied.
"Six hours..." Zhao Hongyu murmured to herself as she stared anxiously at the gray stone door.
Boom!
Boom boom!
Outside the palace, there was a sudden loud noise.
Hearing this sound, Hao Ren looked at Zhao Guang in surprise.
"Ren, Zi, Elder Lu, and Elder Sun, go out to assist!" Zhao Guang gave an order.
Although Hao Ren didn't understand what was happening, he quickly followed Elder Lu up the stairs leading to the ground floor.
Zhao Yanzi stepped forward with her delicate legs, following closely behind Hao Ren.
Hao Ren ran outside the palace along with Elder Lu and found that a whirlwind had already formed around Purple Bamboo Island.
Heavy black clouds covered the sky, sweeping towards Purple Bamboo Island in an overwhelming manner. Waves of five to six meters high were pounding against the island relentlessly.
If not for this palace being built on higher ground, such huge waves would have already flooded it!
The red barrier protecting the island from rain and sea spray flickered intermittently under the impact of the waves. This barrier was merely used to shield humans from sight; it didn't block water.
Several days ago when a sudden downpour hit the sea, Hao Ren practiced cultivation in Purple Bamboo Grove while enduring the rainfall.
The instability of this barrier now must be due to the spirit stones that were set up for protection being washed loose by the waves.
"Elder Lu, what's going on" Hao Ren asked Elder Lu.
"Demon beasts!" Elder Lu said in a concentrated manner as he looked around. "Third Master refining xuan crystal has triggered unusual natural phenomena. These demon beasts are seeking this."
"Most of these demon beasts are near the level to transform into human form and seek an opportunity for celestial tribulation, hence their approach," Elder Sun added.
Located in deep sea, Purple Bamboo Island was not far from Wanyao Sea. The dramatic changes in nature attracted a large number of demon beasts.
However, if xuan crystal were to be refined near the shallow East Sea Dragon Palace, the violent weather changes would affect ordinary people!
"Mr Hao doesn't need to worry, these demon beasts are seeking celestial tribulation and generally won't attack Purple Bamboo Island," Elder Sun said.
"Humph! Cut them down one by one!" Zhao Yanzi confidently declared.
She had already learned the second form of Beidou Sword Art; she could work with Hao Ren to force Zhao Kuo back, feeling very powerful. She had no concept of demon beasts nearing the level to transform into human form.
Boom...
A giant whale surfaces on the sea.
This giant whale's body measures over a hundred zhang in length, even longer than a hundred connected ZHAO Yuanzi. Its red mouth gapes wide as it swallows large amounts of seawater.
ZHAO Yuanzi is stunned and immediately regrets her boastful words.
Right at the moment when this giant whale surfaces, another enormous black fish emerges from the sea surface. It’s more than ten times larger than the whale, almost like a small island appearing suddenly.
The black fish spits out a beam of dark light, instantly cleaving the hundred-zhang-long whale into two pieces.緊接著，殘軀化為一灘血水，浮現出一顆白色的妖丹，被這條黑魚一口吞掉。
ZHAO Yuanzi is speechless with her mouth agape, holding a long sword in her hand and at a loss for words.
"Heighten the alert level across the entire island!" Chancellor Xia stands on top of the hill's high platform and shouts loudly.
The soldiers here were originally led by ZHAO Kuo, but since he is currently refining the Mystic Crystal, they are temporarily under his command for this emergency situation.
Acknowledged!
Five thousand plus soldiers scattered across the entire island respond in unison.
The soldiers hold their long spears straight towards the outside of the island. They will resolutely counterattack any demon beasts that attack!
Bang! Bang!
In the dark clouds above, lightning flashes and thunder rumbles.
Hao Ren has broken through several cultivation realms before, so he knows very well that when a cultivator reaches the point of breaking through their realm, it will trigger surrounding celestial phenomena. This is actually a process where, as the body fully opens up at this critical moment in the breakthrough, it resonates with nature.
The higher the cultivation realm, the more intense the change to heaven and earth. So these violent weather conditions indicate the intense reactions within ZHAO Kuo's body!
Swish-swish!
In the water, two giant pythons rise up in a shocking manner.
Their tails as thick as buildings slap against the sea surface and they struggle to soar into the sky.
Crack! Crack!
Two bolts of lightning strike from the dark clouds, hitting these two giant pythons' bodies.
These two giant pythons have been cultivating in the sea for many years and are about to face their Lightning Tribulation for transformation. When they sense the celestial phenomena, they specially swim over here. It’s worth noting that this type of lightning triggered by a high-level cultivator's realm breakthrough could give them an opportunity to successfully transform.
Even if it doesn’t help them succeed in transforming, it can still allow them to "preview" it and get a feel for the lightning. This is quite beneficial for them to endure their transformation Lightning Tribulation.
Dong… Dong…
The heads of these two giant pythons are struck by lightning and fall back into the sea, stirring up hundred-meter-high waves.
ZHAO Yuanzi has never seen such a scene before; she’s truly stunned.
"Princess, some demon beasts don’t dare to confront heavenly thunder but harbor grudges against our Eastern Sea Dragon Palace and will take advantage of the chaos to attack Purple Bamboo Island. We should be cautious," Elder Sun reminds her when he sees ZHAO Yuanzi's shocked expression.experience.Hao Ren turned his head to see Su Han lying on her side on the white jade bed. He had been immersed in cultivation and didn't even realize he'd spent half an hour doing it.The white jade be...