As night fell and it neared eight o'clock, Zhang Yuhe quickly entered Yufantian.
Time passed gradually, and news of Daosheng Sect gaining an additional inner disciple slowly spread among the other disciples. However, no one had seen him, and his origins remained unknown. From time to time, disciples walking by Galaxy Peak couldn't help but glance up at the mountain. Yet, with the Galaxy Peak formation activated, nothing could be seen from the outside.
A week had passed in Blue Star time, and Zhang Yuhe had been practicing in Daosheng Sect for nearly two years.
On this day, countless spiritual energies surged toward Galaxy Peak. Zhang Yuhe sat cross-legged on the training platform, feeling slightly nervous. He continuously guided the spiritual energy into his Dantian.
Time seemed to stretch as the gathered spiritual energy slowly dissipated. Finally, Zhang Yuhe let out a long sigh of relief.
"Finally, I've reached the Golden Elixir realm."
After nearly two years of training without stepping outside, Zhang Yuhe had advanced from the Building Foundation stage to the Golden Elixir realm right here on Galaxy Peak. Such a cultivation speed was definitely unique within Yufantian.
Zhang Yuhe had accomplished in two years what most cultivators took a lifetime to achieve.
"What's going on here?" Zhang Yuhe muttered, inspecting his Dantian. His expression grew blank as he observed only a golden bead suspended above the sea of spiritual energy, shining like a golden sun.
"Am I really in the Golden Elixir realm? Is this golden bead my Golden Elixir?"
Zhang Yuhe couldn't help but question the situation. According to his understanding, the process of condensing the Golden Elixir should involve solidifying all the liquid spiritual energy in the Dantian into a tangible elixir. But his sea of spiritual energy still existed, with just the extra golden bead.
"This should count as the Golden Elixir," Zhang Yuhe reasoned, feeling his aura—much stronger than before.
"Yes, it's the Golden Elixir realm," he confirmed after repeated checks. After all, aura didn't lie.
Rising to his feet and leaving the pavilion, Zhang Yuhe waved his hand, summoning a purple flying sword to float before him.
"Go."
The flying sword soared through the sky, striking the lake at the foot of the mountain with incredible speed. The sword's light cleaved through the entire lake, splitting it into two, and countless fish floated to the surface, dead.
After a long pause, the lake calmed, and Zhang Yuhe made a casual gesture. The purple flying sword flew back into his hand instantly.
"Good."
Zhang Yuhe nodded, satisfied with the sword's performance. After breaking through to the Golden Elixir realm, his strength had clearly improved by leaps and bounds. With his current power, he would undoubtedly be considered a master if he walked down the mountain. After all, Golden Elixir cultivators were formidable no matter where they were.
Zhang Yuhe also felt that he was far stronger than other Golden Elixir cultivators at the same level, despite never having formally fought anyone.
"Why am I thinking about this? I don't fight with anyone anyway," Zhang Yuhe muttered to himself, shaking his head.
He was someone who sought to cultivate immortality quietly; fighting prowess wasn't his pursuit. His goal was simple: to practice in peace, overcome the tribulations, and ascend.
Zhang Yuhe gestured lightly, and the purple flying sword landed smoothly in his hand.
It was a high-grade magic weapon: the Milky Way.
This flying sword was one he had refined himself. The flying sword used by the sixth son of the Wu family had already been discarded by him.
Over the past two years, while cultivating, Zhang Yuhe had also devoted time to studying alchemy, array talismans, and refining. He had achieved some success. Rather than searching for materials, he had bought them from the game system's trading market.
During this time, the strength of other players had also gradually improved. Many had firmly established themselves within Yufantian. Some players, who were progressing quickly, had already reached the fourth or fifth level of Qi Refining. Such strength was enough for them to traverse small places within Yufantian.
As player strength increased, the trading market's inventory grew richer. Some items were dropped by players fighting monsters, while others were resold by the natives.
Business was in the blood of Blue Star people, even in Yufantian.
Zhang Yuhe bought materials from the trading market, refined low-end elixirs and magic weapons, and occasionally drew talisman paper or made array disks. To the other players, Zhang Yuhe appeared to be a wealthy businessman in the world of immortality.
No one would believe that he made these things himself. Most assumed he was working with some indigenous power, helping them run their business.
"It's time to refine a life magic weapon for myself," Zhang Yuhe decided.
He put away the Milky Way sword and entered the refining room within the pavilion.
After reaching the Golden Elixir realm, cultivators could refine a magic weapon into a life magic weapon. The life magic weapon would grow more powerful as the cultivator's cultivation progressed and consumed less energy compared to ordinary magic weapons.
Every cultivator above the Golden Elixir realm possessed their own life magic weapon. Zhang Yuhe, of course, needed one as well. The life magic weapon he planned to refine was called the Nine Heavens Hunyuan Sword.
This method of refining a life magic weapon was part of the Hunyuan Heavenly Scripture. In fact, most cultivation techniques provided methods for refining personal magical powers and life magic weapons. However, the Nine Heavens Hunyuan Sword was unique because it consisted of nine flying swords.
When used together, the nine swords formed the Nine Heavens Hunyuan Sword Formation, which was both offensive and defensive, extremely powerful.
Zhang Yuhe was eager to see if the Nine Heavens Hunyuan Sword lived up to the power described in the technique.
Inside the refining room, a tall, four-legged cauldron stood quietly.
It was a top-grade magic weapon: the Four Beasts Tripod.
Zhang Yuhe sat cross-legged and began taking out the materials for the Nine Heavens Hunyuan Sword, one by one. He had spent a long time collecting these materials, some of which were procured by other players on his behalf. These materials were too precious to be sold in the trading market.
In the past two years, Zhang Yuhe had refined pills, magic weapons, drawn talismans, and crafted array plates. The spirit stones he earned had mostly gone toward purchasing these materials.
There was only one set of materials. If he failed, collecting them again would take a great deal of time.
However, Zhang Yuhe wasn't worried. Since his first attempt at refining, he had never experienced failure. Success was always guaranteed.
One by one, he threw the materials into the Four Beasts Tripod and began pinching magic formulas with his hands. A scorching flame ignited beneath the cauldron.
While practicing the Hunyuan Heavenly Scripture, Zhang Yuhe separated his spiritual consciousness to monitor the changes within the cauldron at all times.
As the materials melted, Zhang Yuhe used his spiritual consciousness to shape the liquid into nine small flying swords.
After a long while, Zhang Yuhe waved his right hand, and the cauldron's lid flew off. Nine flying swords slowly emerged from within.
Though different in appearance, the aura of the nine flying swords was interconnected.
Zhang Yuhe extinguished the flame, took out the swords, and carefully examined one. The flying sword was crystal clear, its surface shimmering like flowing water. This was a water-attributed flying sword.
The hilt bore the inscription "Galaxy. Water" in flowing cursive characters.
"Not bad," Zhang Yuhe commented, nodding in satisfaction.
After leaving his mark on the sword, he placed it into his Dantian. One by one, the nine flying swords settled around the golden bead in the sea of spiritual energy.
The life magic weapon had to be nurtured within the Dantian before its power could be fully realized.
"Done."
Zhang Yuhe walked out of the refining room and sat cross-legged on the training platform.
"Time to continue practicing."
Refining the life magic weapon was just a small detour. The real focus was on cultivation. After all, without consistent practice, when would he ever ascend?