After scouting the Central Siberian Plateau, Zhang Fan surprisingly found several Earth-grade spiritual herbs, enough to refine three Earth-grade pills.
"As expected of a treasure land containing the Zhiwu Yuanguo, its mere aura leakage can birth Earth-grade spiritual herbs around it," Xue Jing remarked with emotion. He had lived on Earth for over a thousand years without encountering a single Earth-grade spiritual herb.
"What's so strange about that? Don't forget, Ao Si Tan obtained a companion flower of the Zhiwu Yuanguo here!" Zhang Fan said with a smile.
Upon hearing about the Zhiwu Yuanguo's companion flower, Xue Jing became agitated. He stared intently at Zhang Fan, about to speak, but was stopped.
Zhang Fan waved his hand and casually said, "Don't worry, the Zhiwu Yuanguo is within this immortal mansion. Once I obtain it, I won't treat you unfairly."
"Thank you, Master!" Xue Jing gratefully bowed.
After scouting the surroundings, Zhang Fan stepped into the void. Looking down at the snow-covered plains, the lake formed by the 'Black Dragon Cloud Flame Dew' had now frozen over and completely disappeared.
"Go!"
Zhang Fan retrieved thirty-six arc-shaped artifacts from the Stellar Space and casually tossed them out. Under his divine sense, the thirty-six artifacts landed in an orderly fashion around the snowfield, forming a massive circle that enveloped the slowly emerging immortal mansion. These artifacts were formation plates crafted by the Sect Master of Wenxin Sect, which Zhang Fan had slightly modified before using.
"Tiangang Snow Ape Formation!"
With a peculiar palm print from Zhang Fan, imprinted onto the formation plates, they began to absorb the icy power from the surroundings, slowly condensing into a colossal snow ape exceeding fifteen feet in height.
It took Zhang Fan nearly three days, continuously manipulating the thirty-six formation plates, to complete the 'Tiangang Snow Ape Formation'.
"Formation rise!"
Zhang Fan activated the formation's power. Thirty-six massive snow apes stood erect in all directions, roaring to the heavens with terrifying might.
"So powerful!"
Xue Jing's eyes widened at the sight. Even having witnessed Zhang Fan's skill in formations, he found it incredibly marvelous. Each snow ape formed by absorbing icy power possessed strength on the verge of a second-grade Golden Core. Connected by the formation, the thirty-six snow apes acted as one. If trapped within the formation and attacked by all of them, even he would be in a dire state, facing mortal peril.
As for Lin Yun, he felt his own insignificance. A single snow ape casually formed from icy power had combat strength comparable to his own.
"With this formation, even if the Saber Master brought ten second-grade Golden Core cultivators, they wouldn't be able to break through in a short time," Xue Jing said with awe, his usually white face filled with respect.
"It's not enough!"
Zhang Fan shook his head and retrieved seventy-two transparent round beads from the Stellar Space. He waved his hand, scattering the finger-nail-sized beads into the air.
"Earth Fiend Illusory Fox Formation!"
Zhang Fan again manipulated the formation plates, distributing the seventy-two Earth Fiend beads around the 'Tiangang Snow Ape Formation'. It took nearly a week to set up an illusion formation.
"Tiangang Snow Ape Formation, Earth Fiend Illusory Fox Formation. With these two formations, one illusory and one real, one for offense and one for defense, it should be sufficient for me to cultivate in peace."
Zhang Fan had a premonition that when the Saber Master descended again, it would be another earth-shattering battle. Furthermore, after the previous encounters, the Saber Master would have a rough understanding of his strength. Having suffered losses at Zhang Fan's hands twice, the forces brought by the Saber Master would surely aim for an overwhelming advantage. If Zhang Fan's strength did not improve, he might not be able to seize this opportunity. Therefore, Zhang Fan planned to use the 'Black Dragon Cloud Flame Dew' to temper his body, hoping to elevate his divine body to true minor accomplishment. At that point, below the Nascent Soul stage, no one except peak first-grade Golden Core cultivators would be able to fight him.
Lin Yun, having received several auxiliary Qi-cultivation spirit pills from Zhang Fan, including the Golden Scale Breaking Origin Pill, also began his seclusion upon seeing Zhang Fan's preparations, hoping to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.
As for Xue Jing, although he had cultivated to the peak of the Golden Core stage, he dared not break through, just as Zhang Fan, currently at the peak of the Condensing Core stage, dared not condense his Golden Core. He wished to use the companion flower of the Zhiwu Yuanguo to elevate his Golden Core to first-grade, so he could only enhance his strength through other means.
Thus, under the shroud of these two formations, the three of them began their cultivation.
Zhang Fan sat cross-legged on the wind-swept snowy ground, retrieved the Black Jade Treasure Bottle from the Stellar Space, gently uncorked it, and carefully dripped one drop of 'Black Dragon Cloud Flame Dew' into his palm.
"Hiss!"
Like being roasted by fierce fire, Zhang Fan's palm rapidly turned red, especially the center, which glowed a deep crimson as if on the verge of melting. The Black Dragon was a pure-blooded true dragon, similar to a Blood Dragon, and the Black Dragon Flame was considered the most formidable among all true dragons. The breath of a pure-blooded Black Dragon could even refine True Immortals, demonstrating its ferocity. At this moment, the trace of dragon flame on the 'Black Dragon Cloud Flame Dew', though extremely faint, was still beyond the endurance of ordinary Golden Core cultivators. Otherwise, Li Yangzi, skilled in alchemy, would not have been helpless against this 'Black Dragon Cloud Flame Dew'.
Zhang Fan's expression remained calm. Looking at the drop of cloud dew emitting a faint Black Dragon Flame in his palm, he made up his mind and abruptly swallowed it.
Upon ingesting the drop, Zhang Fan's fair skin instantly turned flushed, and his entire body felt as if it were being steamed. In the sub-zero plateau temperatures, he emitted wisps of steam. The surrounding ice and snow melted, and Zhang Fan's body gradually sank, covered by the meltwater. The faint Black Dragon Flame raged within Zhang Fan's body, constantly damaging his physique. Fortunately, he cultivated the Myriad Domains Suppressing God Body and had already reached the quasi-minor accomplishment stage, which was not only robust but also possessed extremely strong recovery capabilities. As the Black Dragon Flame wreaked havoc within his body, the Black Dragon Cloud Flame Dew continuously nourished and repaired Zhang Fan's physique. With each repair, Zhang Fan's body grew stronger. Even so, it took Zhang Fan several days to fully refine this single drop of 'Black Dragon Cloud Flame Dew'.
"One drop is still far from enough!"
Zhang Fan sensed the strength of his physique. Although it had improved significantly, it was still a considerable distance from qualitative change. Therefore, he retrieved three more drops of Black Dragon Cloud Flame Dew from the jade bottle and swallowed them without hesitation. The first consumption was a test, gauging his tolerance. Zhang Fan assumed that swallowing three drops at once would be within his limits, but the moment those three drops were ingested, he felt his judgment might have been mistaken. The Black Dragon Flame generated by three drops was far from a simple sum of three; the pain increased geometrically. Even with Zhang Fan's resilience, he couldn't help but roar.
"Holy crap!"
A colossal roar echoed across the vast plateau. Fierce beasts on the plateau, hearing the roar, couldn't help but cower in fear.
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