Chapter 059: A Roar That Shakes the Immortal Sect

The minor incident that occurred that night had little impact on Xu Xuan’s cultivation life within the inner sect. He continued his training as usual, his confidence in the ancient body-refining technique, "Nine Transformations of Dragon and Serpent," steadily increasing.

In the typical hierarchy, the Qi Refining stage surpasses the Body Refining stage. An ordinary cultivator at the eighth level of Body Refining stands little chance against a first-level Qi Refiner. Even one at the ninth level of Body Refining may not defeat a Qi Refiner wielding immortal arts. In theory, the first level of Qi Refining is a tier above the ninth level of Body Refining. The Body Refining stage merely lays the foundation for further cultivation, solidifying the physical form.

Yet, with a strength just shy of the eighth level of Body Refining, Xu Xuan had thoroughly defeated a first-level Qi Refiner, nearly delivering a fatal blow—an accomplishment that defied imagination.

In the days that followed, he devoted himself more diligently to the eighth transformation, the "Roar" technique, hoping to break through to the eighth level of Body Refining soon. Over the past month, he had consumed two bottles of Qi-accumulating pills and reached the pinnacle of the seventh level, only a step away from advancing.

If the other disciples and teachers of the immortal sect learned of this, they would surely be astonished, perhaps even disdainful. Typically, upon reaching the seventh level of Body Refining, cultivators choose a path suited to themselves. Life is finite; few linger long at the lowest stage of body cultivation. Only in certain time-honored immortal sects do exceptional prodigies, seeking a firmer foundation, push their body refinement beyond the eighth level—provided they possess extraordinary talent and abundant resources.

Ordinary disciples of lesser sects have neither the means nor the ambition for such feats. Yet Xu Xuan, neither a prodigy nor blessed with resources, chose to pursue heights above the seventh level. Such a decision would invite ridicule for his overreaching ambitions.

But Xu Xuan, armed with insights from a previous life and the "Nine Transformations of Dragon and Serpent," could not be measured by conventional standards.

After days of relentless effort, he finally completed the eighth transformation, the "Roar," in one fluid sequence that night. In the moonlit courtyard, his silhouette stood tall as an ancient barbarian king, fists and feet unleashing a series of explosive, piercing roars. Each strike sent the air howling and cracking; within ten meters, fierce winds raged as if a miniature storm had erupted.

The courtyard’s trees swayed, leaves rustling and swirling. As he accelerated his movements, the explosive roars grew ever more rapid, thundering like a storm, as if every blow embodied the spirit of ancient cultivators who defied heaven and earth, struggling against nature’s wrath, ultimately standing unyielding between heaven and earth, scornful of gods and demons.

In that moment, Xu Xuan felt himself forget everything around him. In this boundless sky and vast earth, with infinite divine power and the great Dao commanding all living things to worship and bow, he realized that the only trustworthy force within heaven and earth was the self.

When the sequence reached its peak, Xu Xuan stood as a king amid the storm, his gaze sharp and cold, emanating a primal, essential aura surpassing that of ordinary Qi Refiners.

The final move of the "Roar" technique concentrated his vital energy, and with one breath he unleashed:

"Ho—!"

A roar, like a dragon or lion, shook the night, thunderous and wild. Above the storm, a faint flash of lightning echoed, its force rivaling heavenly might—not drawn from heaven and earth, but from the self—an insignificant human body influencing the world.

Had any immortal cultivator witnessed this, they would have been shocked beyond measure. A mere body-refining mortal, without magical powers, relying only on flesh and blood, had triggered such a wondrous phenomenon.

That roar, accompanied by the storm and thunder, unleashed an invisible power that swept across a radius of one or two miles, driving Xu Xuan's eighth transformation to its utmost peak.

Within those few miles, countless creatures in the mountains trembled and prostrated themselves. Nature itself seemed to pause for an instant, falling into a profound silence.

Meanwhile, about a mile away, a squad of law-enforcing immortals was thrown into chaos. In the darkness, they felt a dragon-lion-like roar echo from the direction of the northern cliff’s abyss. The roar churned their blood, faces flushed, and the lower-ranking immortals coughed up blood.

"What a terrifying aura..."

The entire squad froze, faces pale with shock, as an overwhelming aura and storm swept toward them from that direction.

Among them, the captain, standing mid-air on a flying artifact, staggered as his magical power and vital energy surged. He exclaimed in horror, "What is this power? It’s not immortal magic at all."

The aura diminished quickly after sweeping the area, becoming nearly imperceptible; ordinary creatures and immortals could hardly sense it.

Yet within the Windfeather Immortal Sect, above the Qi Refining immortals, were the mysterious "Spirit Refining" masters, whose powers, magical arts, and senses far exceeded those of most living beings.

In a jade-green spirit manor within Windfeather Immortal Sect:

"What a strange aura... utterly different from immortal cultivation. Is it martial cultivation? But it doesn’t quite fit."

A man in a broad jade robe abruptly opened his eyes from meditation. Handsome and dignified, his gaze flashed like lightning, piercing the night, and an overwhelming spirit aura radiated, many times greater than that of Qi Refining immortals.

From over ten miles away, he could sense the disturbance from the direction of the northern cliff’s pavilion.

"Husband, only immortal and sword cultivators dwell atop Starfeather Mountain. How could such an aura appear—perhaps it's from the 'Endless Abyss'?"

A gentle voice, like morning breeze, sounded. A palace-clad woman appeared, serene and graceful, as beautiful as jade, noble and elegant, with clear eyes filled with surprise and worry.

She was the renowned beauty of Windfeather Immortal Sect, known as "Lotus Moon Immortal Lady," Master He.

"Manager Huang, send someone immediately to investigate the northern cliff. Perhaps this phenomenon originates from the 'Endless Abyss.'"

The man’s voice, powerful and commanding, echoed from the spirit manor, like thunder descending from heaven across the surrounding miles.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

A strong voice answered from a nearby spirit tower.

"Perhaps send Le Feng to assist. That child is careful, and though he lacks a bit of experience, he’s dependable."

Lotus Moon Immortal Lady smiled gently.

The Windfeather Sect Master replied calmly, "Let him gather information first. In a few days, I’ll join several elders to investigate the 'Endless Abyss' in depth."

...

Meanwhile, after completing the eighth transformation, the "Roar," Xu Xuan sensed trouble—he hadn’t expected such a commotion from this transformation.

Among the nine transformations of the "Nine Transformations of Dragon and Serpent," the "Roar" may not have the greatest power, but its momentum was unmatched, nearly rivaling the earlier "Blood Essence Forbidden Wave."

Having finished the sequence, Xu Xuan felt a fierce storm-like numbness surge through his body, agony soaking him in cold sweat.

At the same time, he sensed a breakthrough—a qualitative leap in his physique, another metamorphosis.

The subsequent metamorphoses brought changes in Xu Xuan's strength beyond imagination.

At the sixth level of Body Refining, he could strike with six or seven hundred pounds of force with one hand.

At the seventh level, a single hand could deliver a thousand pounds of force.

At the eighth level, a single arm swung with a piercing, thunderous wind, each movement unleashing two thousand pounds of force.

Two thousand pounds of force!

This was far beyond human limits. One punch, with its externalized power, could shatter underprepared magical defenses in a single blow.

Swish!

After completing the eighth transformation, Xu Xuan hastily cleaned up and leapt into the spirit tower, lying on his bed. He activated the "Calm" technique, gathering his vital energy, a cold chill spreading through his body.

Through this method, he concealed his aura to the utmost. Most immortals would struggle to discern his true cultivation.

As expected, soon several squads of immortals arrived, investigating the abyss near the northern cliff.

A few even entered Xu Xuan’s pavilion to question him, led by Senior Brother Le Feng.

"Junior Brother Xu, you live near the 'Endless Abyss.' Do you know what happened just now?"

Le Feng asked with a smile; he remembered Xu Xuan well for his outstanding performance in the bandit suppression.

"I was sleeping when a roar erupted from the abyss, startling me so much I coughed up blood."

Xu Xuan replied, still shaken.

"The abyss?" Le Feng mused, a faint smile on his lips, kindly advising, "Junior Brother, you'd best move elsewhere for your cultivation. The 'Endless Abyss' was a forbidden place long ago."

"Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother Le."

Xu Xuan was secretly relieved—his chosen spot was remote and secluded, perfect for avoiding detection.

That night, after much commotion and confusion, the immortals departed.

Xu Xuan drifted into slumber, thinking, "Two days more, and I can return home."

But that very night... within the sea of memory, a familiar aura stirred.

In a bright region of the starry sea, a tattered phantom sat quietly atop the third star, its radiance extremely dim.

"You... have finally awakened."

Xu Xuan was overjoyed, calling out in excitement.

(Two updates today. Many thanks for your support—this week’s recommendation votes have surpassed ten thousand! Also: a chapter will be updated at midnight.)