Lin Haotian needed to study hammer techniques upon obtaining the spiritual treasure, while the Blood Demon Flood Dragon needed to study the Blood Dragon Body Refinement technique. For cultivators who followed the path of body refinement, high-grade Qi and Blood Pills were no less effective than spirit crystals. Therefore, neither the man nor the beast lingered underground.
As for the Wuchen Sword Immortal, his cultivation had already reached the peak of the Core Formation realm. Further absorption of spiritual energy would have little effect on him. What he needed now was to comprehend more sword intent, engrave the Dao patterns of his Golden Core, and thus, he returned to the surface just as Zhang Fan was preparing to enter seclusion.
Zhang Fan, Xue Jing, and the three Blood Clan princes, positioned themselves at the five cardinal points of the spirit脉, sat cross-legged, and began to cultivate using the spirit脉.
Zhang Fan's seclusion was not only to improve his cultivation but also to deduce the Gluttonous Feast Scroll in his mind and cultivate the divine ability 'Chaos Devour'.
After all, if he were to fully activate his cultivation technique to absorb spiritual energy, with the domineering nature of the Gluttonous Feast Scroll, Xue Jing and the others would likely not be able to absorb much spiritual energy, and this entire spirit脉 would be drained by him.
As everyone began to circulate their cultivation techniques, the spiritual energy within the spirit脉 transformed into vortexes of qi, continuously surging into their bodies…
Just as Zhang Fan and his companions entered seclusion, in the island at the center of the lake, Ailebella and the others, spurred by Zhang Fan's words, also began their secluded cultivation one after another.
The island in the center of the lake was shrouded by the Spiritual Rain Formation, and within the island, spiritual energy was dense, with spiritual rain falling everywhere. The spiritual rain dripped onto the ground, with a small portion absorbed by the soil, slowly altering the environment. The majority was absorbed and transformed by the formation, then recycled.
Although the cultivation environment here was not comparable to the spirit脉 beneath the Half-Moon Immortal's cave dwelling, for a group of cultivators who had not yet condensed their Nascent Cores, it was undoubtedly a celestial realm.
Even Ailebella, the strongest among them, felt her bloodline stir within her body in the third month of her seclusion on the island, ready to break through at any moment.
…
While Zhang Fan and his group were in seclusion, the outside world appeared somewhat turbulent.
First, the video of Zhang Fan leading people into the intrusion was made public, causing a strong backlash in Western countries. They believed Zhang Fan posed a significant threat to the national defense and security of Western countries, demanding that China sanction Zhang Fan and compensate for the damage caused by Zhang Fan and his group to the West.
The reclusive Core Formation cultivators dared not show themselves, only daring to instigate from the shadows. Even the world's leading superpower issued a statement, vowing to resolutely crack down on lone individuals who disrupt world peace and demanding full cooperation from China, or else China would face sanctions.
In response to the external clamor, China's internal opinions were remarkably unified.
Both the government and the Chinese martial arts world expressed disdain for the Western blustering. Although there was indeed a gap in their overall strength, China was, after all, one of the five major powers at that time. With China's current comprehensive strength, any attempt by anyone to sanction China would be a complete joke.
Moreover, Zhang Fan's current strength had already completely surpassed human limits. Whether nuclear weapons, humanity's ultimate weapon, could pose a threat to Zhang Fan was even a question.
The United States had only been founded for just over two hundred years, and they did not have much advantage in terms of cultivation powerhouses. Therefore, the United States was vigorously researching super-soldier programs.
When Lin Haotian was in the Secret Organization, he accompanied Tianyi on a mission to Africa to destroy a military base established by the United States in a small African country. At that time, they had encountered American Sanctuary-level super-soldiers.
However, Sanctuary-level super-soldiers were only considered the backbone of the American super-soldier program. Above them were God-level and Super God-level super-soldiers.
It was precisely because they were confident in their research results that even after witnessing the video of Zhang Fan's battle with Austen, the United States still dared to make arrogant pronouncements.
However, Zhang Fan remained silent amidst all the external rumors and criticisms. The Dark Emperor of the Secret Organization had once brought Tianyi to visit Zhang Fan on the island regarding this matter, but upon learning that Zhang Fan was in seclusion, they had to return empty-handed.
…
Time passed, and this seclusion lasted for two full years…
During these two years, the four Core Formation cultivators and one Golden Core cultivator sat on the spirit脉, alternately circulating their cultivation techniques to absorb spiritual energy and practicing their divine abilities, appearing incredibly harmonious.
The spirit脉, dozens of meters long and originally emitting a dazzling silver glow, had completely dimmed and lost its luster. The energy contained within the spirit脉 had been entirely depleted.
Over these two years, everyone had made significant gains. Xue Jing, in particular, who was originally at the peak of the early Golden Core realm, had directly advanced his cultivation to the late Golden Core realm after two years of secluded cultivation.
As for the three Blood Clan princes, without exception, their strength had all reached the peak of the Core Formation realm. The strongest among them, Prince Cyril, had even comprehended a trace of Blood Sea intent and engraved a Dao pattern for his Golden Core.
"Two years, and I've finally elevated my cultivation to the late Core Formation realm," Zhang Fan felt the Nascent Core in his body constantly circulating. In these two years, it had become more than ten times stronger.
"It's a shame about this spirit脉."
Zhang Fan looked down at the spirit脉 beneath his feet, now devoid of spiritual energy, and sighed inwardly.
Zhang Fan had originally intended to use this spirit脉 as a sustainable resource for his parents and disciples to use when breaking through their cultivation realms. However, it had now been completely consumed, which was indeed a pity.
But fortunately, effort always yielded rewards. The price of a spirit脉 in exchange for the advancement of cultivation was worthwhile.
Although Zhang Fan was only at the late Core Formation realm, the vast mana contained within his Nascent Core was more than ten times richer than that of an ordinary peak Core Formation cultivator, comparable to some third-tier Golden Core cultivators.
After the spiritual energy in the underground spirit脉 was absorbed, the area was no different from ordinary underground. Only the dozens of meters of transparent crystal ore indicated the unusual nature of the place.
Zhang Fan enveloped Xue Jing and the others with his divine sense, and then returned to the cave dwelling on the surface.
His greatly increased strength gave Xue Jing much more confidence in facing future crises, so he appeared much more lively.
"Master, do we really not need to search for the opportunities left by Immortal Ziwu?" Xue Jing asked Zhang Fan.
Zhang Fan shook his head and said, "No need. Ziwu left the Ziwu Yuan Fruit on Earth, which shields against divine sense detection. To find it by visual inspection, even with your vast Blood Clan population, it would take decades or even centuries to find it.
Austen was able to find it by relying on the church's extensive network to conduct a carpet search on Earth, and even then, it took hundreds of years to find it.
Furthermore, how precious is the Ziwu Yuan Fruit? Ziwu must have left behind measures and layered formations and restrictions to protect it. With our current strength, it would be difficult to break them. It's better to wait patiently. When the time comes, it will naturally open."
"When will the time be considered right?" Xue Jing hurriedly asked. He had been on Earth for over a thousand years, and if he had to wait another thousand years, his lifespan would be nearing its end.
After all, Golden Core cultivators only had a lifespan of three thousand years. If they did not break through to Nascent Soul within three thousand years, they would die of old age!
…