Above the cloud-veiled mountain peak, at the edge of a cliff, the space rippled incessantly.
The faintly mottled dou qi of heaven and earth surged forth rapidly, flooding into the body of the middle-aged man seated cross-legged at the mountain's edge.
Despite the endless infusion of dou qi, his body seemed like a bottomless pit, never overflowing no matter how much dou qi poured in. This had been Gu He's state for nearly three days since consuming the Emperor's Pill.
During these three days, his body remained as still as a rock. The only movement on the mountain peak was the dou qi vortex swirling above his head, emitting a low, whistling sound.
Within Gu He's body, the immense medicinal power of the Emperor's Pill, refined by the divine flame of his natal life, transformed into surging battle dou qi. It flowed through his meridians like a tidal wave.
Moreover, a steady stream of heaven and earth dou qi poured into him, refined by the divine flame into pure dou qi, merging into the vast reservoir of dou qi.
However, despite the abundance of heaven and earth dou qi, repeated refinement left only a modest amount of pure dou qi for Gu He to absorb.
Yet, even this small amount was significant. Accumulating sand into a tower or water dripping through stone—such gradual accumulation could lead to an astonishing outcome.
For most cultivators, dou qi is built up in this manner. Relying on pills to enhance strength is merely a shortcut and cannot be overused, lest the battle dou qi within the body becomes hollow.
Gu He, however, had no such concerns. The Divine Flame Tempering Body technique, recorded in the Divine Flame Art, allowed him to temper both his body and the battle dou qi within.
After being refined by the divine flame, no matter how impure the battle qi, it became exceptionally pure.
This cultivation session lasted a considerable time. The medicinal power of the Emperor's Pill had been fully refined a day prior, yet Gu He chose to continue. He sensed that the pill's power alone might not suffice to significantly boost his cultivation.
Gu He always sought perfection. This was an opportunity, and he aimed to maximize his strength. With this mindset, nearly four days passed. During this time, he devoted almost all his focus to absorbing the dou qi of heaven and earth.
Under his relentless absorption, the battle dou qi flowing through his meridians grew increasingly vigorous.
Every movement brought an almost boundless surge of power, filling him with an urge to howl at the sky. Of course, he suppressed this impulse, knowing that giving in would render his hard work futile.
Time flowed swiftly amidst his cultivation, and the mountain peak remained tranquil. Occasionally, Xiao Jin, nearby, would unleash a fierce golden sword aura, striking down any beast that ventured within a hundred meters of the peak.
Over time, this mountain had become a restricted zone within the range. Magical beasts, having learned their lesson, now gave it a wide berth.
On the eighth morning of Gu He's cultivation, a change finally occurred. The dou qi vortex above his head trembled before slowly dissipating, and the rippling space around him gradually calmed.
Shortly after the vortex vanished, Gu He's eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes. His pitch-black eyes were calm, as if he had just awoken, showing no signs of disturbance.
With a gentle motion, he dissolved the cultivation seal in his hands. Slowly raising his head, he spread his palms and, with a thought, the surging battle dou qi within his meridians surged forth like an unbridled horse, merging into his body.
As the torrential battle qi infused every part of his being, a sharp, intense light ignited in his dark eyes, growing brighter. His aura soared, swiftly breaking through the eight star and stepping into nine stars!
Upon reaching nine stars, his aura did not halt but continued to surge wildly. His clothes fluttered as if caught in an unseen wind, and the boulder beneath him cracked, spreading fine lines across its surface. The surrounding clouds and mist seemed pushed aside by invisible hands.
The momentum rose rapidly, finally stabilizing at the late nine-star stage. At this point, an invisible barrier appeared, suppressing the surging dou qi.
Feeling the faint resistance, Gu He clenched his fists tightly. Instead of forcing a breakthrough, he stood abruptly and let out a long, piercing howl towards the sky!
The clear, resonant cry pierced through the clouds, echoing across the mountain range for a long time. The prolonged howl turned his face red, veins pulsing like earthworms, giving him a somewhat fearsome appearance.
"Break for me!" he roared, clenching his fists. The boulder beneath him exploded with a bang, scattering shards in all directions.
In the darkness, it seemed as though an invisible membrane ruptured. Gu He's aura, which had paused, surged once more, breaking through the late nine-star stage and finally stabilizing at the peak of nine stars!
As his aura settled at the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Emperor, Gu He's body slumped as if drained. He propped himself up on the ground, his face flushed, breathing heavily.
Despite his physical exhaustion, an unmistakable joy shone in his eyes. He knew that, aided by the Emperor's Pill and his unwavering determination, he had reached the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Emperor Realm!
In other words, Gu He was now a Nine-Star Dou Emperor, just one step away from the Dou Ancestor Realm!
Feeling the immense power within him, Gu He's eyes sparkled with excitement. The peak strength of a Nine-Star Dou Emperor was enough to let him traverse the Jia Ma Empire with confidence.
At this moment, Gu He finally felt the power to protect himself. Then, recalling something, he slowly sat down.
With a thought, the natal flame enveloped his entire body. Gu He activated the Divine Flame Tempering Body technique, beginning to temper both his body and the somewhat unstable battle dou qi caused by the Emperor's Pill.
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