Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

A powerful aura roiled around Ye Chen!

If Ye Chen hadn't been desperately suppressing the fluctuations, the violent power would have likely shattered the meditation chamber, alerting the entire Treasure Pavilion and even the people of Luoyun City!

'Forming a golden Spiritual Sea requires a staggering amount of Spiritual Qi!'

'It's still not enough! Absorb!'

With a determined glint in his eyes, Ye Chen gritted his teeth and continuously absorbed the Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Stones.

The small mountain of over two million low-grade Spirit Stones was being consumed at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Finally, after he had consumed hundreds of thousands of low-grade Spirit Stones.

BOOM!

An incredibly profound fluctuation suddenly erupted like a volcano!

But within a single breath, the fluctuation instantly receded, converging entirely within Ye Chen's body!

Despite lasting for only a fleeting moment, the fluctuation still alerted many powerful existences.

「Outside Luoyun City, before a majestic mountain range.」

A figure exuding a powerful aura sat cross-legged.

He was clad in heavy armor. Suddenly, he snapped open his eyes, and a brilliant light seemed to erupt from within them!

"What is it, Grand Commander? Has something happened at the Dragon Prison Cave again?"

Behind the tall figure, the members of the law enforcement squad from the provincial capital murmured in alarm, seemingly startled by the man before them.

After all, the Grand Commander was known for his inscrutable expression. He was a renowned expert in the provincial capital and a figure whose very name struck fear across Lei Province!

Very few things could ever startle him.

And yet, he was now staring toward Luoyun City, his face a mask of shock.

'That flicker of a fluctuation just now... Was it my imagination?'

He shook his head, the shocked disbelief yet to fade from his eyes. 'Have I been watching the Dragon Prison Cave for so long that I'm starting to see things?'

'Or has some powerful existence from outside Lei Province arrived in Luoyun City?'

He desperately wanted to investigate in Luoyun City, but duty bound him to his post, making it impossible to leave.

"I heard that the Yan family in Luoyun City captured a demonic path remnant connected to that Ye Chen?" the Grand Commander asked suddenly.

"That's right! The Yan family is currently trying to extract information about Ye Chen from the remnant!" the others replied.

"He killed two of our province's commanders... If it weren't for the Dragon Prison Cave, the Governor himself would have likely taken action personally."

The Grand Commander let out a soft sigh, a cold, murderous intent swirling in his eyes.

...

「Inside the Treasure Pavilion's meditation chamber.」

Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes. A powerful aura instantly swept out, causing the entire meditation chamber to tremble slightly.

Behind him, the phantom of a vast, brilliant golden ocean materialized.

Spiritual Power, shimmering with golden light, flowed within the ocean, though at the moment, it still looked somewhat sparse.

'I finally did it!'

Ye Chen let out a long breath, his heart pounding with excitement.

The successful formation of the golden Spiritual Sea meant his combat prowess would increase dramatically.

'In the future, I'll even have a chance to reach the ultimate state of the Spirit Sea Realm!'

'As I am now, I'm unrivaled by anyone beneath the Primordial Mansion Realm!'

'Even a true Primordial Mansion Realm Cultivator would have to think twice before taking me on.'

Ye Chen clenched his fist. He could feel a terrifying power, like that of an ancient tyrannosaur, coursing through him, and he couldn't help but feel exhilarated.

His Spiritual Power was now fundamentally different from that of an ordinary Cultivator.

The Spiritual Power drawn from his golden Spiritual Sea could effortlessly crush the power from any other Spiritual Sea!

It was like the absolute dominance a god holds over a mortal.

Even if an opponent cultivated a top-tier purple Spiritual Sea and possessed ten times his Spiritual Power, Ye Chen could still crush them with ease!

'It's rare to have such an abundance of medicinal herbs. I might as well refine a batch of Realm-Breaking Pills and make another breakthrough!'

With a glint in his eye, Ye Chen immediately set to work.

Realm-Breaking Pills came in different grades, each corresponding to a specific cultivation realm.

Ye Chen was currently in the third major cultivation realm, the Spirit Sea Realm, so he needed to refine Third Grade Realm-Breaking Pills.

Before long, a fresh batch of Third Grade Realm-Breaking Pills was ready.

Ye Chen casually picked one up and swallowed it. He began circulating the Demon God's World-Shaking Record, rapidly refining the medicinal energy within his body.

BOOM!

Peak of the First Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm... Second Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm...

Third Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm!

The golden Spiritual Sea within Ye Chen's body now looked considerably more substantial than before.

'I only managed to break through to the Third Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm?'

'And that was from a Top Grade Realm-Breaking Pill!'

Ye Chen sighed, slightly disappointed.

The golden Spiritual Sea was certainly a rarity in the world, its power unparalleled.

But by the same token, advancing through its ranks was exponentially more difficult—far harder than a breakthrough for an ordinary Cultivator.

Ye Chen put away the remaining Third Grade Realm-Breaking Pills.

Only one such pill could be consumed per major realm; taking more would have no effect.

Therefore, Ye Chen decided to sell the rest to the Treasure Pavilion.

Ye Chen glanced out the meditation chamber's small window and saw that it was already completely dark outside.

'Time really does fly when you're cultivating. Has more than half a day passed already?'

Ye Chen shook his head. He didn't plan on leaving just yet.

After spending so much time in the meditation chamber, it would be far too suspicious to emerge with nothing to show for it.

He had just made a breakthrough, and there were still plenty of medicinal herbs left in the chamber.

He decided to refine some more high-grade pills and trade them for Spirit Stones.

After all, he had already used up hundreds of thousands of low-grade Spirit Stones in this one session.

Spirit Stones were certainly consumed at an astonishing rate.

...

"Elder Ye, are you still performing alchemy?"

After an unknown amount of time, the Shopkeeper's voice suddenly sounded from outside the meditation chamber.

"What is it?" Ye Chen suddenly pulled open the chamber door and asked calmly.

He was still wearing his bamboo hat, however, making it difficult for anyone to see his face clearly.

"Elder Ye, you..."

The Shopkeeper stared at Ye Chen, opening his mouth to speak but finding himself momentarily at a loss for words.

They hadn't seen each other for more than half a day, and while it was still the same Elder Ye...

...he couldn't shake the feeling that something about him was different.

Ye Chen wasn't revealing the slightest trace of his aura.

And yet, an invisible pressure emanated from him that made the Shopkeeper feel as if he couldn't catch his breath!

Ye Chen noticed the change in the Shopkeeper's expression and knew this was a result of cultivating the golden Spiritual Sea!

According to legend, the golden Spiritual Sea granted its wielder a sliver of a god's divine authority!

The quality and might of one's Spiritual Power underwent a massive transformation, granting even a Spirit Sea Realm cultivator the ability to challenge experts of the Primordial Mansion Realm!

Ye Chen did his best to retract his aura, and the Shopkeeper's complexion finally returned to normal.