It was because...
Miao Yinuo's strength had directly soared to the Nascent Soul realm!
Keep in mind that just moments ago, when he rescued Miao Yinuo from the Evil King, she was only at the Core Formation realm!
Of course, this level of strength was already exceptionally formidable compared to Miao Yinuo's past self, as she hadn't even been considered a Grandmaster before.
But this progress...
From the Core Formation realm to the Nascent Soul realm, that was a leap across two major tiers!
Even Bai Zihe's cultivation speed back then was nowhere near as astonishing.
"Miao Miao..."
In his shock, Bai Zihe quickly asked, "What did you just do? How did your strength increase so rapidly, to a point that I find it hard to believe?"
"Haha..."
Miao Yinuo was clearly delighted by Bai Zihe's shock.
She chuckled and explained, "Brother Bai, this might be a bit difficult to explain, but overall, I received the legacy of the Gu King, and then I can improve my strength by raising Gu."
"For example..."
"If I can raise incredibly powerful Gu worms, those Gu worms will also feed back into me, and then I will gain strength."
Bai Zihe fell into thought.
It seemed...
There was indeed a sliver of logic to it.
However, the underlying reasons were certainly not something an outsider like him could fully comprehend.
"And just now..."
Miao Yinuo continued, "When you brought me in from outside, the spiritual energy here was too abundant."
"So..."
"The Gu worms I've been raising all experienced significant breakthroughs, quickly surpassing their original levels and reaching higher stages."
"My strength grew accordingly, and that's how I became like this."
So that's how it was.
Bai Zihe suddenly understood and also felt happy for Miao Yinuo.
In the past, Miao Yinuo's insufficient strength had led to her being constantly pursued. Now, as long as she continued to cultivate within the Haotian Pagoda, she could continuously grow stronger.
By then, she would possess sufficient self-preservation capabilities.
"Moreover..."
"As my strength increases, and as I absorb the Gu King's Spirit Pearl completely, the variety of Gu I can raise will also expand."
"This will form a virtuous cycle."
"I continuously grow stronger, continuously unlock new Gu worms, and then the new Gu worms continuously grow stronger, making me even stronger..."
Alright.
Bai Zihe finally understood.
Miao Yinuo's arrival at the Haotian Pagoda was like finding a paradise.
This was her sacred ground for cultivation!
"As long as..."
"I reach the Integration realm, I will be able to raise a Gu worm that all Gu masters dream of, one capable of annihilating the world – the Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu!"
Miao Yinuo's eyes were alight.
Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu?
Without needing an explanation, Bai Zihe could roughly grasp it.
This thing was likely a Gu worm whose special ability was consumption, growing stronger through the process of devouring, and in turn, making Miao Yinuo stronger.
"However..."
Miao Yinuo then shook her head slightly, "The energy and food required for the Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu to complete its evolution are beyond imagination; ordinary people wouldn't even dare to consider it."
Bai Zihe asked curiously, "What does this thing primarily eat?"
Miao Yinuo explained, "The growth of the Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu mainly relies on flesh, blood, and spiritual energy."
"The more powerful the beast or demonic beast's corpse, the more energy it can provide. The more abundant the spiritual energy, the faster it devours."
"And upon reaching a certain level..."
"The Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu's devouring ability will reach an entirely new stage, capable of devouring everything in the world – rivers and mountains, insects, fish, birds, and beasts, everything, absolutely everything!"
Bai Zihe couldn't help but secretly gasp.
This thing, it sounded truly formidable!
He wondered who the founding ancestor of the Gu master lineage was, to have created such a heaven-defying creation; truly a figure of unparalleled talent.
It could be said that generations of geniuses emerged, each dominating for centuries.
As Bai Zihe mused in his heart, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him.
If this thing could eat so much, could it devour the dark and eerie energy?
The moment this thought arose, Bai Zihe became ecstatic.
That's right.
While the dark and eerie energy was filled with darkness, its essence was still a form of power, a type of spiritual energy, albeit corrupted.
According to Miao Yinuo's description, it should be feasible!
Of course.
Bai Zihe didn't know whether the Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu would also turn dark after consuming the dark and eerie energy, becoming a corrupted Gu worm.
So he asked, "Miao Miao, no matter how powerful the Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu becomes, will it still obey your commands?"
"That is natural!"
Miao Yinuo stated proudly, "The Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu is bound by the master's command from the moment of its birth. That is its destiny."
Bai Zihe's heart stirred.
If that were the case, even if the Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu was corrupted after devouring the dark and eerie energy, it would still obey Miao Miao's commands.
If she told it to die, it would have no choice but to die!
"Miao Miao..."
Amidst his excitement, Bai Zihe had one last question, "How many Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu worms can each Gu master raise?"
"This..."
Miao Yinuo didn't understand why he asked, but she truthfully replied, "Brother Bai, as far as I know, the Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu worms are hatched from eggs. I currently have three eggs from the Gu Emperor's tomb, so I can raise three."
"However..."
"It takes an enormous amount of resources and endless energy for just one of these to grow. I don't think anyone would try to raise multiple simultaneously."
Bai Zihe understood and felt relieved.
He had been worried that if each Gu master could only raise one, and he had Miao Miao raise one to devour the dark and eerie energy, then once it was corrupted and eliminated, that path would be closed.
Since there were three, this concern was no longer an issue.
Therefore.
Bai Zihe's mind began to fill with ideas.
Firstly, they could raise the Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu to counter the great tribulation of dark and eerie energy.
Secondly, they could raise the Heaven Devouring Earth Devouring Gu to devour the dark and eerie energy within the Heart of the Ten Thousand Year Willow Wood, allowing him to obtain the pure Heart of the Ten Thousand Year Willow Wood.
At the very least, it could continuously enhance Miao Miao's strength!
This was a plan that achieved multiple objectives!
"Since that's the case..."
Bai Zihe said excitedly, "Miao Miao, you should cultivate diligently here in the Haotian Pagoda, strive to reach the Integration realm as soon as possible!"
Miao Yinuo didn't know why Bai Zihe was so happy.
However, becoming stronger certainly had no downsides, and Brother Bai would certainly not harm her.
"Okay!"
Immediately, Miao Yinuo continued her cultivation – raising more Gu worms, continuously absorbing the spiritual energy here, and then enhancing her own strength.
As for Bai Zihe...
He began to search through the storage rings of the Tribulation Crossing realm cultivators he had killed earlier for some medicinal ingredients.
He intended to refine pills!
To refine pills that could help Miao Yinuo reach the Integration realm as quickly as possible.
Of course.
These pills would all be flawless.
Bai Zihe would not resort to such methods as pulling up seedlings to help them grow in his haste to save time when dealing with Miao Yinuo.
Half an hour later.
Miao Yinuo's aura grew increasingly potent.
Meanwhile, Bai Zihe had already successfully refined a batch of fresh pills, all of them of divine quality!