Although his strength had increased considerably since bearing the Divine Sparrow’s breath, the refining of this drop of ancient blood essence was far from easy as he had anticipated.

It took a full three days before the refinement was complete.

The process needs no elaboration—agonizing beyond words!

Yet the enhancement it brought to his physique was significant indeed, most pronounced.

"Not bad. At present, beneath the Shenxiao Realm, few indeed can match your physical body!"

"Though at such a realm, the advantage of physical might means far less, at crucial moments it might still yield unexpected miracles."

The Blood Ming Divine Sparrow’s voice was tinged with admiration.

Xu Yang understood thoroughly in his heart.

Once the True Lord realm and beyond is reached, save for a scant handful of Martial Artists cultivating specialized Cultivation Techniques, few bother to temper their bodies.

In contests of magic, superior physique offers little benefit among myriad Divine Secret Skills.

Yet just as the Blood Ming Divine Sparrow said, in certain critical moments, it can bring forth miraculous effects.

For him, a strong body meant he could withstand the shock of ancient Evil Qi—a tremendous boon.

Boom!

The void was rent by sudden thunder.

Everyone simultaneously lifted their heads to gaze skyward.

They beheld the boundless emptiness cleaved open as if by a divine blade, splitting and caving in at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In but a few blinks, the magnificent source of the Spirit River emerged from the depths of the void, reflecting into the eyes of all present.

Immeasurable, ethereal to the extreme, vast and limitless—a spectacle that thundered against the heavens!

"These are the methods of the Celestial—how terrifying!"

"To unveil the Spirit River between heaven and earth—unthinkable indeed!"

The mighty ones were left shaken to their cores!

This was clearly the handiwork of a Celestial.

Even Xu Yang, for the first time in his life, witnessed the true Spirit River appear before his own eyes, amidst heaven and earth.

Such grandeur was unlike any wonder under the heavens—no beauty, no grace could compare, words failed utterly to describe it!

"Prepare yourselves!"

"We depart in one moment!"

The voice of Elder Yun Zheng resounded from within the Spirit River.

Dimly amid the river’s rim, five indistinct figures swayed in the haze.

"It’s time to set forth."

"Hurry!"

"Everyone, make ready!"

"The rest of you, return to your sects at once. Until our return, keep the gates sealed!"

...

The various factions began to move.

The War King Clan’s selected group of more than four hundred assembled together.

A mere handful would be returning.

With Xu Yang present in this contest over quotas, Stone Peak was well prepared.

Most of the Martial Artists brought were, indeed, destined for the Ancient Celestial Fallen Land!

Swish!

Stone Peak swept his sleeve.

Jade-like radiance surged forth as if a tidal wave, in an instant enveloping the region above those present.

When the light receded, there appeared a massive stone—white as jade, wondrous and strange.

The stone was oval, its surface sleek, with neither mark nor spirit inscription to be seen.

Though it appeared peculiar, it was not particularly imposing at first glance.

But as Stone Peak tapped with a finger, the giant stone began to hum—its surface suddenly splitting open with an audible crack.

In that instant, an overwhelmingly ancient aura burst forth.

The momentum was like a flood—overpowering the very heavens.

The pressure of that aura caused every member of the War King Clan to fall into absolute silence!

It felt as if it should not exist in this world at all.

Even the vast Spirit Realm was sullied in its presence!

It belonged to the Spirit River that manifested from the void!

Supremely noble, shockingly beyond compare!

Such magnificence left Xu Yang utterly astonished.

This was his first time experiencing such a sensation.

Utterly extraordinary.

Such a supreme treasure—capable of traversing the Spirit River—defies all imagination.

The Blood Ming Divine Sparrow’s spirit quaked, murmuring in awe: "Worthy of a top-tier power—such treasures born of ancient times are simply overwhelming! Even peerless Shenxiao Realm experts would struggle to wield them with ease!"

Hearing this, Xu Yang’s shock deepened.

Even top-tier Shenxiao experts would struggle?

It can only be said that the deep foundations of Spirit Realm powers are terrifying beyond measure.

He could not help but scan the surroundings with a sweep of his gaze.

At this moment—

Multicolored spiritual radiance nearly drowned all of Ancient Dragon Mountain.

Dense brilliance spilled from the mountain’s summit, cascading downward, stirring the spiritual qi in the surrounding ten-thousand-zhang region into a roaring surge; heaven and earth changed color, sun and moon lost their light.

Vast mountains and rivers—everywhere quivered in fear.

Looking up from below, one would see a boundless source of the Spirit River coiled above!

Like an incomparable sacred land!

Within that multihued glow stood ancient mottled giant trees, the purple aura of mysterious scales swirling, and spirit boats emblazoned with images of dragons, tigers, luan birds, and pengs...

The one that most caught Xu Yang’s eye was the Five Elements Celestial Realm.

A vast spirit ship!

Encircled by five colors, resplendent like colored glaze!

A banner was raised, brimming with five-colored fortune—seen from afar, visions of all phenomena within heaven and earth, the interweaving of the Five Elements, manifesting myriad scenes of wonder—all truly incredible.

Bright Mirror Grotto Heaven, on the other hand, was a flawless mirror as pure as jade.

One glance into the mirror could seize your soul, drawing you uncontrollably into its depths, showing boundless brilliance and light—peace suffusing the heart, yet evoking a yearning to bow in devotion.

Star Nebula Infinite Sea—there was a celestial chessboard, paved with starmap nebulae, just like a sea of stars; upon it, countless chess pieces glimmered with dazzling spiritual light, sparkling as if myriad stars in the night.

Daqian—a Profound Gold Ancient Seal; Xu Yang even traced the vast expanse of Daqian Empire’s domains upon it, lifelike beyond words—the ancient seal seemed truly to encompass all of Daqian, suffused with majestic dominion, the might of an emperor streaming forth.

The Jun Family—a mountain range itself!

They had forged an entire mountain range into a supreme treasure; heaven and earth shone in concert, yin and yang energies intertwined, pure and turbid blending together.

Dongyang Profound Sect—a great sun hung suspended in mid-air, golden fire surging like molten rivers, writhing thickly as ancient firebirds flapped their wings within.

Cloud Dream Soul Sect was a giant!

Vast in form as a mountain, its body inscribed all over with mysterious runes—so uncanny at a glance, imparting dizzying giddiness. The giant looked as if countless realms of heaven and earth overlapped and interwove within its body, crossing in impossible ways.

This sight left everyone shocked.

Martial Artists of each faction gazed upon the treasures of rivals and allies alike.

This was a scene never before witnessed.

Treasures vied for splendor—making even heaven and earth pale and tremble!

Even the very fabric of cosmos could not suppress them.

"Astounding!"

"All this completely overturns everything I thought I knew!"

"Each of the great powers wields such terrifying treasures!"

"Should these clash... what kind of grand spectacle would that be?"

"I feel even my cultivation is growing under this baptism of spiritual light."

...

Ancient Dragon Mountain trembled, filled with awestruck whispers.

Brilliant spiritual radiance gradually condensed, rendering every supreme treasure in sharp clarity.

The nine first-rate factions could only gaze and sigh in longing.

Though they too possessed treasures, none could compare to those assembled here.

This time, they all chose to follow behind their closest allied top-tier powers on this journey.

After all, to traverse the Spirit River—the slightest misstep could mean a horrific death!

"Go!"

Stone Peak uttered a low command.

Xu Yang snapped out of his reverie, his expression resolute.

Watching shadow upon shadow rush into the fissure in the giant stone, he too raced forth with the crowd.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!

On the summit, the tide of people surged.

In but a few dozen breaths—

All had vanished without a trace, leaving only the eight supreme treasures suspended in their places, illuminating millions of miles of void with crystal clarity.

In a certain moment—

The eight treasures soared skyward, trailing long streams of light, hurtling toward the origin of the Spirit River with breathtaking speed.

Within the Spirit River—

The five Celestials exchanged glances, each nodding in turn.

Then—

The five Celestials unleashed earth-shattering divine might, shaking the Spirit River; vast spiritual sigils surged forth from their bodies, merging together to form an immense barrier, enveloping all the treasures.

"Depart!"

Swish!

The five led the way, sharp as a blade—inside the boundless Spirit River, they carved open a passage by sheer force.