Chapter 275: Breakthrough
RUMBLE!
Inside Shen Daoxing’s Dantian, the Seven-Colored Profound Platform erupted in brilliant light. Immediately after, a beam of seven-colored light, like a Wandering Dragon, spiraled upward, shot into the sky, and burst out of his body.
He had broken through again, reaching the Third Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm.
However, his cultivation showed no signs of stopping and continued to climb.
RUMBLE!
RUMBLE!
RUMBLE!
RUMBLE!
...
Six more beams of seven-colored light shot out one after another, spiraling into the sky like soaring Wandering Dragons.
Shen Daoxing’s cultivation level rose steadily.
Fourth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm!
Fifth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm!
Sixth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm!
Seventh Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm!
Eighth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm!
Ninth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm!
His cultivation actually soared all the way to the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm before slowly coming to a halt.
Shen Daoxing snapped his eyes open, and a seven-colored glimmer flashed through them.
He was stunned. He looked down at himself in astonishment, feeling an unparalleled power surge through his body. When he looked inward, he saw the magnificent Seven-Colored Profound Platform in his Dantian. It was now ten times its original size, slowly spinning and glowing with a dazzling light so brilliant one dared not look at it directly, exuding a primordial, boundless aura.
Above the Profound Platform hung a magnificent seven-colored rainbow, like a celestial bridge of seven hues spanning mountains and rivers.
Shen Daoxing raised his head and looked forward. The brilliantly colored, burning mountain had now been completely extinguished. It was pitch-black, like the ashen remains of something whose essence had been entirely consumed.
At that moment, the Blood Dragon’s voice echoed from within Shen Daoxing. "TSK TSK TSK. To use an entire Celestial Essence Mine as Elixir Materials... Some Earth Profound Realm cultivator was defying the heavens to refine a Creation Pill for their breakthrough into the Refining Dust Realm. For you, a mere Spirit Transformation cultivator, to use such a precious Elixir just to raise your cultivation... what a waste! It’s like feeding an Immortal Pill to a pig!"
"..." Shen Daoxing was speechless.
"SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!"
The Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat’s squeaks rang out.
Then, with a POP, its small head poked out from within the Celestial Essence Mine, its large, mousy eyes blinking repeatedly.
The moment Shen Daoxing had broken through the rock wall, the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat had turned into a black shadow and dashed inside, burrowing straight into the mine.
Even though the mine had now been reduced to dregs, the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat didn’t let it go to waste. It opened its mouth to reveal sharp teeth and began to CRUNCH and MUNCH its way through, moving as fast as a fish swimming through water.
Seeing this, Shen Daoxing shook his head.
"Kid, this Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat is cunning. It won’t just submit and follow you willingly. I’ll teach you a soul-binding Contractual Technique so it can never betray you."
The Blood Dragon’s voice resonated in Shen Daoxing’s mind.
Shen Daoxing nodded.
Meanwhile, the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat darted back and forth, having already gnawed the entire Celestial Essence Mine down to almost nothing. Suddenly, it stopped and sniffed the air as if it had caught a scent.
The next moment, the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat blurred into a gray shadow, shot upward, and smashed through the ceiling to fly out.
Seeing this, Shen Daoxing pushed off lightly with his feet and soared hundreds of feet into the air, leaping out after it.
Outside, Shen Daoxing slowly descended. He turned his head and found himself in a large, antique hall.
The hall was vast, its furnishings simple and elegant. In the center of the room was a painted Tai Chi Diagram with its yin-yang "fish eyes."
In the middle of the Tai Chi Diagram stood a massive, ancient cauldron hundreds of feet tall. This was far from its full size, however, as half of it was buried deep underground.
Lining both sides of the hall were rows of wooden shelves. A shimmering light flowed over them, upon which sat countless bottles of Elixirs. As Shen Daoxing approached, he was immediately greeted by a refreshing, fragrant aroma.
He picked up a red sandalwood gourd and poured a few Elixirs into his palm. Looking down at them closely, he realized they were Earth Source Pills, precious Elixirs used by Earth Profound Realm cultivators to restore their Spiritual Power.
Shen Daoxing then picked up another bottle of Elixirs nearby, poured out a few, and saw that they were high-grade Earth Spirit Pills, used by Earth Profound Realm cultivators to heal their injuries.
The Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat was already in the hall. Upon seeing the rows of Miraculous Elixirs, it showed no courtesy. It pounced forward, chewed open the bottles, and GULP GULP GULP, swallowed all the Elixirs inside.
Shen Daoxing could only think what a pity it was. ’Those Elixirs aren’t meant to be eaten like that! What a waste!’ He quickly waved his hand, storing the few nearby bottles of Earth Source Pills and Earth Spirit Pills in his Sumeru Ring, managing to save a few.
In no time at all, the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat had made short work of all the Elixirs in the hall. It then patted its belly with a look of contentment, still wanting more. Suddenly, it flashed again, appeared before a large door, and BANG! It smashed the door open and rushed out.
Seeing this, Shen Daoxing quickly gave chase. Outside the hall was a long, winding corridor with smooth walls, leading to an unknown destination.
The Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat charged ahead, eating almost everything it saw. It would even rush up to gnaw on the stone statues lining the corridor—truly, it refused nothing.
The corridor twisted and turned with many forks. Shen Daoxing lost track of how long he had been following the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat when they pushed open a stone door and entered another antique hall.
Shen Daoxing looked up and saw a huge, golden statue. Its Dharma Aspect was majestic, resembling a Sword Immortal, with one hand raised before its chest, fingers pointing up, and the other holding a sword behind its back.
"SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!"
The Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat’s eyes lit up when it saw the statue. It squeaked a few times, and with its limbs spread wide, WHOOSH, it was about to pounce.
Seeing this, Shen Daoxing quickly reached out, grabbed it by the scruff of its neck, and lifted it up. "You’d really dare to eat anything, wouldn’t you!"
Blocked by Shen Daoxing, the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat’s eyes darted around. It struggled free, jumped to the ground, and could only turn to WHOOSH away again.
But it had only taken a single step before Shen Daoxing reached out, grabbed the back of its neck, and lifted it up again.
"Why the hurry? Are you trying to escape?" Shen Daoxing asked sternly.
The Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat immediately shook its head like a rattle drum, but its eyes couldn’t help but dart to the side.
Suddenly, it raised a forepaw, pointed it to the sky, and began to chatter and chirp as if swearing an oath to the heavens.
After it was done, the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat grinned at Shen Daoxing, its eyes narrowing into slits.
Seeing it act this way, Shen Daoxing wasn’t about to believe it.
"I’m going to form a master-servant contract with you," Shen Daoxing said calmly.
The Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat was startled and immediately panicked.
But just then,
"TAP TAP TAP TAP!"
a series of footsteps echoed from outside the hall, growing closer. Someone was coming.
Shen Daoxing paused, then leaped lightly up to the rafters with the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat in hand, hiding himself from view.