Chapter 640: Cheating?

The main purpose of coming to Huanyu Imperial Capital was for this Purification Pool. After waiting so long, it finally opened with a bang amid everyone's expectant gazes.

"Let's go!"

Zhang Xuan and Xing Yuan, without further ado, followed closely.

Upon reaching the surging pool water, they realized that Ye Qian had not exaggerated.

The pool water, like raging waves, emitted spiritual energy while carrying a force that inspired awe, as if anyone who dared to rush in would be torn to shreds on the spot, leaving nothing behind.

"Look!"

Seeing everyone's astonishment, Ye Wentian flipped his wrist, and a mid-grade spirit weapon appeared in his palm. He casually tossed it into the pool.

Crack!

In the blink of an eye, the weapon, which even a Mortal Transformation Realm Level 8 expert could hardly destroy, was completely melted into a pool of liquid, sinking to the bottom.

"This..."

Everyone's faces twitched.

Although their physical bodies were not weak, compared to a mid-grade spirit weapon, they were far inferior—no comparison at all! Such a powerful weapon had instantly turned into liquid; if they were to enter, they would probably be left without a single hair!

No wonder Crown Prince Ye Qian had said that even Mortal Transformation Realm Level 8 experts would struggle to survive. Now it seemed to be true.

"The pool water is violent. It's best for everyone to cultivate in the pool eyes and not go elsewhere. Otherwise, even I, or even gods, would find it hard to save you!"

Having said this, Ye Wentian's tone carried a warning.

"Rest assured, we won't be reckless!"

"Cultivation is to improve strength, not to seek death. Your Majesty need not worry!"

"It's too terrifying. We certainly won't take risks..."

...

Everyone quickly shook their heads.

Even a mid-grade spirit weapon could turn to water in an instant; who would be foolish enough to go seek death?

"Alright, everyone choose a pool eye! The ten pool eyes are all the same. Those from the same vassal state can choose to be together, so you can look out for each other..."

Ye Wentian waved his hand and said no more.

The ten pool eyes were all at the edge of the Purification Pool, identical in effect, with no distinction between primary and secondary. One could choose whichever, nothing to fuss about.

Zhang Xuan glanced around and led Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai toward the pool.

The innermost pool eye, shrouded in thick spiritual energy, was invisible even to Mortal Transformation Realm Level 8 experts. His cultivation involved the Heavenly Dao Divine Art and many other aspects; he preferred tranquility and did not want to be observed.

"Let's stay here!"

Finding a pool eye with the richest spiritual energy where nothing could be seen clearly, Zhang Xuan stopped and instructed Luo Xuan and the other: "You two cultivate in the pool eyes on either side. If any problem arises, we can help each other!"

"Okay!"

The two nodded and, holding the Spirit Purifying Incense, were about to enter when a shout was heard.

"You two, move aside!"

Zhang Xuan turned to see Princess Fei'er and Luo Qiqi arriving beside him.

"We..."

Seeing the princess contending with them for a spot, Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai didn't know what to do.

"You go over there. We want to be closer to Teacher!" Luo Qiqi said calmly.

"This... Yes!"

With Princess Fei'er and Luo Qiqi coming together, they didn't dare to argue and quickly moved to another pool eye.

After all, the effect was the same; being close to one or the other made little difference.

"Hmph, since we made a bet, I want to see with my own eyes whether you're cheating. Don't flatter yourself!"

Seeing Zhang Xuan look over, Princess Fei'er snorted.

"Flatter myself? You're overthinking."

Zhang Xuan shook his head: "I was just wondering which nerve of yours is acting up..."

"You..."

Princess Fei'er gritted her teeth: "Don't be smug. The Purification Pool isn't about who has the glibbest tongue to win!"

Flicking her sleeve, she shook her body and, without further ado, leaped into the pool eye.

The Spirit Purifying Incense in her hand immediately floated in the water, ignited automatically, and emitted curling smoke.

Whoosh!

Closing her eyes, Princess Fei'er began to cultivate. With her breathing, the spiritual energy in the pool eye surged rapidly, and the smoke from the Spirit Purifying Incense grew thicker, as if burning faster and faster.

Seeing that this girl, eager to surpass him, started cultivating without pause, Zhang Xuan shook his head and also jumped into one of the pool eyes.

Luo Qiqi also jumped in, flanking Zhang Xuan with Princess Fei'er on either side.

He was her alchemy teacher and they had just met, so it wasn't to the point where she would specially come to cultivate with him. She came because she was afraid her friend might fight with him again.

Princess Fei'er seemed somewhat domineering, but deep down she was extremely proud and unwilling to admit defeat. Since she wanted to see his speed of absorbing spiritual energy with her own eyes, she naturally had to come along, at least to mediate if they fought.

Otherwise, yesterday's situation might repeat itself.

Although the Sixth Princess hadn't mentioned who left the two big footprints on her buttocks yesterday, it could be inferred from her words that it was related to this alchemy teacher of hers.

Logically, entering the Purification Pool without clothes would yield the best effect. However, due to gender differences, undressing would cause more trouble. Even so, the pool water soaked their clothes, revealing the two women's slender figures.

Zhang Xuan glanced left and right, didn't think much, and focused his mind. He placed the Spirit Purifying Incense into the pool water and began to cultivate.

Closing his eyes, he mobilized his soul and immediately felt a rich spiritual energy flowing along his acupoints into his entire body, nourishing his soul and bringing him comfort.

"This absorption is too slow..."

After absorbing for a while, he found that although the spiritual energy in the pool eye greatly benefited the soul, filtering through the body not only weakened the effect but also slowed the speed considerably.

Moreover, the body was like a shackle, and the soul like cotton trapped in an iron cage; every increase required an extremely long time.

"Can I separate my soul from my body?"

A thought struck him.

With the soul inside the body, the body was a natural barrier. What if... he took it out and faced the spiritual energy directly?

Would progress be faster?

"Let's try!"

Glancing around and seeing the two women cultivating with eyes closed, and that no one else could see here, he focused his mind and activated the Soul Spirit Master technique. A soul identical to him flew out from between his eyebrows.

As soon as the soul entered the pool eye, it felt rich spiritual energy filling its limbs and apertures, invigorating it.

"This is indeed much faster!"

His eyes lit up.

Before even starting to cultivate, he felt the speed at which spiritual energy nourished his soul was faster than before. Zhang Xuan hesitated no longer, activated his technique, and absorbed wildly.

Rumble!

The entire pool eye began to shake. The vigorous spiritual energy surged straight toward his soul, gradually increasing its size.

Although he only had the Mortal Transformation Realm Level 5 Heavenly Dao Soul Spirit Technique and couldn't break through to Level 6, like with true qi, reaching the peak and accumulating more would make his soul body larger and larger.

This was like the difference between water and mercury.

Different levels corresponded to the difference between the two, a qualitative distinction.

But both were mercury; a vat and a pond were necessarily different—that was the quantitative gap.

Now, although he didn't have the Mortal Transformation Realm Level 6 Heavenly Dao Soul Spirit Technique, he could make his Level 5 soul larger and larger, gathering more soul power.

"Huh?"

As he began to absorb spiritual energy frantically, Princess Fei'er, not far away, heard the roar of spiritual energy surging and couldn't help but look over. She was stunned and nearly fainted.

She saw that the Spirit Purifying Incense beside Zhang Xuan had already burned through two sticks, and the third was already lit, seemingly about to be consumed at any moment.

Was this real?

How long had it been?

Five minutes? Or ten?

Three days' worth of Spirit Purifying Incense, used up in five minutes?

Did you eat the stuff?

Her body swayed, and Princess Fei'er wanted to spit blood.

She had thought that as a Mortal Transformation Realm Level 6 expert with a strong soul, she would surely win against him. She never dreamed that... she had just started, and her incense hadn't even burned a tip, while he had already used up three sticks...

Wasn't this too exaggerated?

How could she compete like this? Was she going to lose again?

"What's going on?"

Luo Qiqi was also awakened by the roar of spiritual energy. Seeing Zhang Xuan's incense, she was also shocked: "His incense..."

"He's almost finished. How can I bet with him..."

Princess Fei'er was about to cry.

"This..."

Luo Qiqi scratched her head.

Neither of them was a Soul Spirit Master, nor did they have the Insightful Eye. Zhang Xuan's soul was hidden in the pool water, invisible under the spiritual energy. From a distance, it looked as if he alone had absorbed all the spiritual energy through cultivation.

"Huh?"

Hearing their discussion, Zhang Xuan stopped cultivating, returned his soul to his body, looked up at the Spirit Purifying Incense in front, and was also startled.

"Who stole my Spirit Purifying Incense?"

Raising his eyebrows, he couldn't help but exclaim.

There had been three sticks just now; how had they become half a stick in the blink of an eye? Who dared to steal his things?

"Stole?"

Both women were speechless: "You absorbed it all yourself..."

"Me?" Zhang Xuan was stunned: "No way? How can the spiritual energy here be so little? How is it enough for three days?"

He had just started absorbing and hadn't felt much before the spiritual energy was almost exhausted. Was this real?

He had come to the Purification Pool hoping to absorb more and boost his strength, but it was over before it began... Wasn't this too disappointing?

"Little?"

Hearing his lament, Princess Fei'er and Luo Qiqi's eyebrows twitched simultaneously.

They had also cultivated just now. Although the pool eye was not large, the spiritual energy inside was very abundant, inexhaustible no matter how much they cultivated. Probably only you would find it little!

"Teacher must have absorbed it too fast... How did he do it?"

Luo Qiqi couldn't help asking.

When this Teacher Zhang was cultivating just now, the pool eye boiled and spiritual energy surged—this was caused by absorbing too fast. A Mortal Transformation Realm Level 4 peak cultivator, not only could his soul absorb spiritual energy, but also so quickly...

How did he do it?

"Yeah, are you cheating?"

Princess Fei'er frowned.

Even Luo Qiqi, a top genius in her second year, couldn't understand and couldn't absorb that fast. Wasn't this guy cheating?