This new halo had arrived at the perfect moment!
Without hesitation, Su Zhan immediately activated the Refinement Halo panel and deactivated all other halos, leaving only the Refinement Halo active as he continued processing the Ziyang Flower.
Almost instantly, the Ziyang Flower in his stomach rapidly decomposed into pure medicinal energy that was absorbed into his meridians and transformed into true qi, enhancing his cultivation base. Simultaneously, a portion was absorbed into his bones and muscles, improving his overall physical condition!
In less than an hour, one entire Ziyang Flower had been successfully refined!
Su Zhan's cultivation had reached the peak of the Qi Sea Realm—only half a step away from breaking through to the Yuan Condensation Realm!
"This Refinement Halo is truly extraordinary!"
After directly experiencing the halo's incredible power, Su Zhan felt absolutely delighted.
While the Cultivation Halo could also enhance the effectiveness of spiritual medicine refinement, it primarily focused on improving his natural cultivation talent. The Refinement Halo, however, was specifically designed for processing treasures and herbs with maximum efficiency.
Su Zhan glanced toward Su Zhaoyue, who was still painstakingly refining a single Ziyang Flower petal.
"After three years of silence, this girl suddenly awakens... she doesn't seem to be an ordinary person at all!"
Recalling the somewhat familiar plot elements, Su Zhan murmured with an amused smile and continued refining his second Ziyang Flower.
Upon completing the refinement of his second flower, the qi within his body compressed and condensed toward his dantian's center. Finally, the gaseous qi transformed into liquid true qi!
Yuan Condensation Realm!
Upon reaching this cultivation stage, Su Zhan felt his strength increase several times over. If he were to encounter Yang Tiangui now, a single sword strike could easily cleave him in half.
Su Zhan continued systematically refining the remaining Ziyang Flowers throughout the night.
Time passed slowly.
The Next Day, Before Noon
Su Zhaoyue suddenly opened her eyes, looking slightly fatigued but wearing a satisfied smile.
"Finally finished! My true qi has nearly reached the middle stage of the Qi Sea Realm!"
She wiped perspiration from her face and looked toward Su Zhan, who had just opened his eyes. With a hint of pride, she began, "Su Zhan, this time I completed my refinement before you... oh wait, you refined an entire Ziyang Flower while I only managed one petal..."
Recalling that she had struggled to process just a single petal while Su Zhan had consumed a whole flower, Su Zhaoyue smiled awkwardly.
"Just one plant..." Su Zhan replied with an enigmatic smile, offering no further explanation as he stood and walked toward the one-eyed giant wolf's corpse nearby.
"It's still not noon yet... I should probably eat something first."
As he spoke, he drew his pale crimson sword and began slicing portions from the giant wolf's body.
When he channeled his true qi into the blade, even the one-eyed giant wolf's notoriously tough hide was cut as easily as tofu—bones included!
At this point, all sixteen Ziyang Flowers had been fully refined by Su Zhan, and his cultivation had advanced directly to the middle stage of the Yuan Condensation Realm!
His current strength was almost ten times greater than when he had been in the Qi Sea Realm!
Soon, he had prepared the meat, lit a fire, and began roasting their meal.
Su Zhaoyue sat across from him, watching with curious eyes. "Su Zhan, after refining the Ziyang Flower, how much did your abilities improve? Did you almost reach the Yuan Condensation Realm?"
"Not almost—I've already surpassed it. I believe I've just entered the middle stage of the Yuan Condensation Realm," Su Zhan replied matter-of-factly while tending to the roasting meat.
"What?!"
Her beautiful eyes widened in shock. "The effects of just one Ziyang Flower were that remarkable? You immediately jumped from reaching the Yuan Condensation Realm to the middle stage?"
"Who said I only refined one Ziyang Flower?"
"Then how many did you refine?"
"I refined all of them."
"You refined everything?!"
Su Zhaoyue stared at him in disbelief.
Su Zhan looked at her with genuine curiosity. "If not for refining, why would I keep them?"
Su Zhaoyue fell silent. "...Your logic is sound. I can't argue with that."
"The meat is ready. Cut what you want and eat!" Su Zhan said, slicing off a piece for himself.
Although Yuan Condensation Realm cultivators could maintain their physical strength for three to five days without eating, they would still experience hunger.
"I'm not hungry," Su Zhaoyue said softly.
The thought that Su Zhan had refined all sixteen Ziyang Flowers overnight filled her with overwhelming pressure.
I could accept it if he had managed to refine one or two Ziyang Flowers overnight. But sixteen at once? What kind of monstrous talent is this?
I thought I was special because I received Senior Lin's inheritance and possess an unusual fire constitution, but today I realize there are some people whose talents are so extraordinary they can hardly be described as human...
Su Zhaoyue sighed inwardly and glanced at the sun's position in the sky.
It was already noon!
As long as I can merge with that strange fire, I still have hope of surpassing Su Zhan!
Su Zhaoyue felt her excitement building.
Half an hour later, she arrived at the open clearing in the center of Extreme Yang Valley and began circulating her cultivation technique.
Soon, a layer of ethereal white flames appeared around her body, making her appear holy and radiant.
Su Zhaoyue formed hand seals and pointed toward the air before her. Fire emerged from her fingertips and transformed into mysterious runes that multiplied with each gesture. Eventually, the runes coalesced into a complete formation array!
"Open!" she commanded, and the runic formation descended to the ground with a resonant impact!
The entire Extreme Yang Valley began to tremble!
The earth cracked, and brilliant light emanated from the fissures. Even the ambient temperature suddenly spiked!
"What is that? What kind of treasure could cause such a tremendous commotion?" Su Zhan observed with intense curiosity as golden radiance emerged from the fracturing ground.
After several moments, he noticed that within the golden light were small flowers no larger than a finger.
"Is this the treasure you mentioned?" he asked.
"Yes!" Su Zhaoyue replied with evident enthusiasm. "This is the Sun God Flower. Thirty thousand years ago, a powerful senior planted it here, and it has been absorbing solar energy from the heavens for all this time. Today, we can finally witness its maturation!"
"What I truly seek is the strange fire contained within the Sun God Flower—the Sun Spirit Fire!"
"Strange fire?" Su Zhan's eyes widened with surprise.
Su Zhaoyue hesitated momentarily but ultimately decided against concealment. "Strange fires are flames with powerful and unique abilities. Ordinary people cannot even approach them, but due to my special constitution, I can contain any strange fire in existence. I also require this particular strange fire to enhance my cultivation technique. That's why I said the treasure in Extreme Yang Valley could only be claimed by me."
"After three years of silence, suddenly awakened... with a special constitution that can absorb strange fires from across the world... a cultivation technique that can be enhanced using strange fire... This script feels incredibly familiar..."
"What did you say?"
Su Zhaoyue didn't catch Su Zhan's muttered words clearly and asked with confusion.
"Nothing important. I just want to ask one question."
Su Zhan wore a peculiar expression as he inquired, "Do you happen to know someone named Xiao Yan?"