Chapter 1233 Obtaining the Lotus Seed

The mutated ice-fire two-headed python's corpse crashed to the ground... causing the entire core area to tremble slightly. Liu Yang, panting heavily, leaned on the Yin-Yang Sword to barely stand... the stinging pain from the black flames still lingered on his arm—during the final attack... although he avoided vital points... he was still hit by the aftershocks of the flames... fortunately, his spiritual energy shield blocked the attack... preventing serious injury.

Su Qingyao quickly stepped forward... a pale blue ice-type spiritual energy condensed in her hand... and gently covered Liu Yang's wound: "Master... are you alright? This wound is very corrosive... I'll use ice-type spiritual energy to suppress it temporarily... and then treat it with spiritual medicine after we get out."

The cooling sensation from the ice-elemental spiritual energy relieved the stinging pain... Liu Yang shook his head: "It's nothing... This little injury is nothing. Let's go check on the Ice-Fire Lotus Seed first."

The two strode towards the stone platform in the center of the core area. At this moment, the light on the stone platform had stopped flickering... The protective shield that had previously enveloped the lotus seed had completely dissipated with the death of the two-headed python... revealing the true form of the lotus seed—it was a lotus seed the size of a fist... its entire body was translucent and two-colored... half of it was an ice-crystal-blue... half of it was a fiery-red... the two colors flowed slowly inside the lotus seed... intertwined with each other as if they were alive... emitting extremely pure ice and fire yin-yang power.

Just by getting close to the stone platform... Liu Yang could feel the terrifying energy contained within the lotus seed... The dual-colored spiritual energy within his dantian even began to stir on its own... as if yearning for the nourishment of the lotus seed. He took a deep breath... suppressing the excitement in his heart... and carefully held the lotus seed in his hands.

The lotus seed felt slightly cool to the touch... yet carried a gentle warmth... the two sensations intertwined... creating a strange sense of comfort. He could clearly feel... the energy within the lotus seed slowly seeping into his body through his palm... nourishing his depleted spiritual power.

"Master...this Ice-Fire Lotus Seed truly lives up to its reputation!" Su Qingyao's eyes were filled with amazement..."The ancient Su family records...this rare treasure only matures once every thousand years...after consuming it, not only can it instantly restore all spiritual power...but it can also cleanse the marrow and meridians...greatly enhance cultivation...and there is even a chance to break through the realm barrier!"

Liu Yang nodded... He could sense that the energy within the lotus seed was far more powerful than described in ancient texts. His previous battle with the mutated two-headed python had nearly exhausted his spiritual energy... Now, simply by holding the lotus seed, he could feel his spiritual energy rapidly recovering... The golden core within his dantian also began to slowly rotate, absorbing the energy emanating from the lotus seed.

"This place is not safe to stay for long... Let's find a safe place first... I will take the lotus seeds immediately." Liu Yang carefully put away the lotus seeds... His gaze swept over the surrounding environment. Although the core area is safe for the time being... no one can guarantee that there won't be other dangers... Moreover, taking lotus seeds to break through to a higher realm requires an absolutely quiet environment... It cannot tolerate the slightest disturbance.

Su Qingyao nodded... pointing to the passage that led into the core area earlier: "There is a stone chamber at the end of the passage... I explored it before... there is no danger inside... and the spiritual energy is more concentrated than outside... suitable for the master to cultivate in seclusion."

The two returned along the passage and soon arrived at the stone chamber Su Qingyao had mentioned. The stone chamber was not large, about ten zhang square, and several luminous pearls were embedded in the walls, illuminating the chamber. In the center of the chamber was a flat blue stone with a simple spirit-gathering array carved on it, which could automatically gather the surrounding spiritual energy, making it an excellent place for seclusion.

Liu Yang walked to the bluestone, sat down cross-legged, and said to Su Qingyao, "After I take the lotus seeds, I may fall into deep seclusion. If there is any disturbance during this time, do not disturb me. Just guard the entrance to the stone chamber."

"Don't worry, Master... I will guard the entrance and not let anyone get close!" Su Qingyao said solemnly... Then she walked to the entrance of the stone chamber... holding the Ice Soul Sword... vigilantly observing the movement in the passage.

Liu Yang said no more... closed his eyes... adjusted his breathing... then took the Ice-Fire Lotus Seed out of his storage bag... and slowly put it into his mouth.

The lotus seeds melted in his mouth... without the slightest unpleasant taste... instead, they had a hint of sweetness. The next second... an unimaginably vast force of ice and fire erupted within him... like two surging rivers... sweeping towards his limbs and bones.

"Such powerful energy!" Liu Yang was shocked... He quickly circulated the "Ice and Fire Yin-Yang True Scripture"... guiding this energy to flow through his body. He could feel... this energy was not only pure... but also carried a trace of ancient primordial power... Wherever it passed... his damaged meridians were rapidly repaired... the wounds from the black flames healed instantly... even the tiny cracks on his golden core in his dantian were slowly repaired.

The energy continued to flow... and soon gathered in the dantian. The golden core in the dantian seemed to receive rain after a long drought... and began to absorb this energy frantically... The size of the golden core also slowly increased... and its color gradually became deeper from the previous light blue and light red... and the boundary between the blue and red colors became clearer and clearer.

As energy continued to be injected, the Golden Core spun faster and faster, emitting an increasingly powerful aura. Liu Yang could clearly feel that his cultivation was rapidly improving—steadily progressing from the peak of the mid-stage Golden Core realm towards the late-stage.

However... just as his cultivation was about to break through to the late Golden Core stage... an invisible barrier suddenly appeared in his dantian... blocking the continued injection of energy. This was a realm barrier... an obstacle that every cultivator would encounter when breaking through a realm... If this barrier could not be broken through... no matter how much energy was absorbed... it would be impossible to break through to the next realm.

Liu Yang was prepared... He concentrated his mind... He pushed the "Ice and Fire Yin-Yang True Scripture" to its limit... He guided the remaining energy in the lotus seed... and condensed it into a two-colored spiritual energy pillar... which crashed fiercely against the barrier of realm.

"boom!"

The pillar of spiritual energy collided with the barrier... producing a dull thud... Liu Yang felt a sharp pain in his dantian... as if countless knives were cutting through his meridians. He gritted his teeth... refusing to give up... continuing to mobilize the energy within the lotus seed... striking the barrier again and again.

Once, twice, three times...

Each impact subjected Liu Yang's meridians to immense pressure, and blood began to trickle from the corner of his mouth. But he knew that this was the necessary path to breaking through to a higher realm. If he gave up, all his previous efforts would be in vain, and the next breakthrough would only be more difficult.

Hearing the commotion inside the stone chamber from the doorway, Su Qingyao was filled with anxiety but dared not enter rashly. She could only grip the Ice Soul Sword tightly and guard the entrance with even greater vigilance. She could sense the energy emanating from the stone chamber growing stronger and stronger, sometimes as scorching as fire, sometimes as cold as ice. Clearly, Liu Yang was undergoing a critical period of breakthrough.

After an unknown amount of time... when Liu Yang struck the barrier of his realm for the tenth time... a more immense primordial power suddenly erupted from the lotus seed... this power acted as a catalyst... instantly merging into the two-colored spiritual energy pillar.

"Crack!"

A faint cracking sound rang out within Liu Yang's dantian... The barrier to his cultivation that had troubled him for so long... finally showed a crack.

"Now!" Liu Yang was overjoyed... He quickly mobilized all his remaining energy... and slammed into the crack.

"boom!"

This time... the barrier of realm could no longer withstand it... and shattered completely. The enormous energy surged into the golden core in the dantian like a flood bursting its banks... the golden core instantly doubled in size... and its color became as deep as black jade... the blue and red colors intertwined... forming a perfect balance.

At the same time... a powerful aura erupted from Liu Yang's body... instantly sweeping through the entire stone chamber... even causing the luminous pearls on the stone chamber walls to tremble slightly.

"Breakthrough! Master has broken through to the late stage of Golden Core!" Su Qingyao felt this aura... and an excited smile appeared on her face... her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.

Liu Yang slowly opened his eyes... a glint of light flashed in them... he could clearly feel that his strength had increased at least three times compared to before. Not only had his spiritual power become purer and more abundant... his control over the ice and fire elemental powers had also reached a new level... he could even perfectly fuse the two types of spiritual power in an instant... unleashing even stronger moves.

He stood up... stretched his limbs... and felt a surge of strength throughout his body... the fatigue and pain from the previous battle vanished without a trace. He walked up to Su Qingyao... and nodded with satisfaction: "Thank you for your hard work... Qingyao."

Su Qingyao quickly shook her head...and said respectfully, "It is my duty to protect my master...and it is my honor to witness my master's breakthrough."

Liu Yang smiled slightly... took out a top-grade spirit stone from his storage bag... and handed it to Su Qingyao: "Take this spirit stone... it will be beneficial to your cultivation. Now that I have broken through... we should leave the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Prison... and return to Qingyang City."

Su Qingyao accepted the spirit stone... feeling extremely grateful... and quickly thanked her, "Thank you, Master!"

Without further delay, the two returned to the core area along the passage and headed towards the entrance of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Prison. At this moment, Liu Yang's strength was vastly different from before. Even if he encountered the Ice Armor Bear, the Flame Lion, or even the mutated two-headed python again, he could easily handle them.

Along the way, the two encountered no further danger and soon arrived at the stone wall at the entrance. Liu Yang took out the Ice Thunder Token, pressed it into the groove, and infused it with a wisp of spiritual power. The stone wall slowly opened to both sides, revealing a passage leading to the underground of Qingyang City.

"Finally, we're going back." Su Qingyao looked at the familiar scenery outside the passage... a trace of emotion appeared on her face. She never thought... that she could come out of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Prison alive... and witness Liu Yang obtaining such a powerful inheritance and opportunity.

Liu Yang nodded, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes: "After we get back... we should also take a look at the situation in Qingyang City. The Li family should have taken control of Qingyang City after we left... but the remnants of the Wang family may still be operating in the shadows... we need to deal with these hidden dangers as soon as possible."

The two walked out of the passage side by side... and then followed the same route... back to Qingyang City. When they emerged from the underground passage and arrived on the streets of Qingyang City, they found the streets even more bustling than before... pedestrians came and went... their faces all bearing peaceful smiles... it was clear that after the Li family took control of Qingyang City, they had taken a series of measures to stabilize the situation... and the city's order was quickly restored to normal.

Just then... a familiar figure walked over from the opposite side... it was Li Shan, the elder of the Li family. Li Shan saw Liu Yang... a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes... then he quickly stepped forward... and respectfully said, "Mr. Liu! You're finally back! The Li family patriarch and we have all been waiting for you!"

Liu Yang nodded...and asked, "What's the situation in Qingyang City? How are the remaining forces of the Wang family being dealt with?"

Li Shan hurriedly replied, "Mr. Liu... since you left... we have followed your instructions and quickly taken control of all the key departments in Qingyang City... most of the remaining forces of the Wang family have been eliminated by us... only a few escaped and are still operating in the shadows... they are nothing to fear. The clan leader told me to wait for you here... once you return... I will immediately take you to see him."

Liu Yang nodded in satisfaction: "Well done. In that case... let's go see the Li family patriarch now."

"Yes! Mr. Liu, please follow me!" Li Shan said respectfully... and then led the way.

Su Qingyao followed behind Liu Yang... looking at the bustling streets around them and Li Shan's utmost respect for Liu Yang... her determination to follow Liu became even stronger. She knew... that by following such a master with unlimited potential... her future would surely be brighter.

The three headed towards the Li residence... A new storm... was about to unfold in Qingyang City. And Liu Yang... would establish himself in Qingyang City... laying a solid foundation for his future path of cultivation.