Chapter 619: Body Cultivation Breakthrough, Red-haired Mutation (Two in One)_2
Now that there's Thousand Year Cold Jade to substitute, it's much easier.
Lin Shiming directly fed the Cold Jade to the Star Spirit Clam.
At the same time, he sent word to the family, asking them to deliver all the mined Thousand Year Cold Jade to Thousand Wood Peak.
The Star Spirit Clam wrapped the Cold Jade, placing it between its two shells, and in an instant, dense starlight began to condense.
This starlight emitted a chilling aura, causing the entire Spirit Lake to start freezing over.
Even Lin Shiming couldn't help but shiver uncontrollably.
But soon, a layer of starry moon-glow began to emerge from the clam's shell.
This moon-glow resembled crystalline structures.
It was evidently a tier higher than Spiritual Liquid.
Lin Shiming collected the starry moon-glow.
His body involuntarily activated the Starlight Tempering Body Technique.
Countless Cave Heavens manifested within his body, while a Star Chart appeared in the sky, mirroring the internal phenomena with dazzling precision.
The splendor was boundless.
From afar, Elder Mu, who was observing the Nascent Soul Fruit Tree, also glanced over. Seeing the myriad glaciers, he shrank back slightly, though thanks to the protective formation, he continued to hide near the fruit tree.
Beyond the Nascent Soul Fruit Tree, in the nearby Flood Dragon Nest, several half-Flood Dragons absorbing Flood Dragon Qi let out low growls.
But one Ice Serpent was utterly exhilarated!
After all, this icy energy was immensely helpful for its breakthrough.
With the illumination of the stars, the entire sky grew even more tranquil.
Meanwhile, the Lin Family was experiencing some turbulence.
For the Lin Family, there were numerous preparations to be made.
The first priority was gathering cultivators for battle—to clear out remnants of the Heavenly Demon Sect in Chu Country. This would certainly require many skilled clan members.
Beyond that, large supplies of Spirit Pills and Spirit Formations needed preparation.
Spirit Formations were especially crucial, and Transmission Formations had to be constructed in great quantities—requiring abundant Void Nether Crystals.
The second priority was cultivating large numbers of Devourer Demon Trees. Within Chu Country's territory, overrun with Heavenly Demon Sect remnants, there were endless mass graves, Hundred War Graves, and Demon Head Valleys.
Many of these were filled with demonic and ghostly qi. While a few of these Secret Realms could be left intact for the Lin Family's use, most required purification.
The third priority was concerning mortals.
The Lin Family had relocated numerous mortals to the Southern Sea. The Eastern Domain lacked substantial numbers, but now in the Southern Sea, the Lin Family's mortal population had surpassed one and a half million.
Fortunately, the Lin Family's territories had continued to expand; otherwise, there would not have been enough islands to accommodate all the mortals.
Now that they controlled land in the Eastern Domain, it was natural for the Lin Family to relocate some mortals there.
Moreover, this could be achieved using a one-time Transmission Spirit Formation to transport everything—including the War Treasure Ship—in a single move.
This arrangement would be overseen by Red Leaf True Person.
After all, they required the Lin Family to assign them a territory.
Besides that, the Lin Family's Artifact Refiners needed to begin crafting thunder-attribute treasures, which would be highly advantageous for purging the Heavenly Demon Sect.
In the Eastern Domain, with no affiliated families to command, the Lin Family's footing was weaker, and resistance would undoubtedly be substantial.
At a pavilion.
A gathering was underway, with Lin Shiyi, Lin Shiyuan, and Lin Shilei all present. Lin Shiyi was on the verge of a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Late Stage, while Lin Shilei had already mastered Geng Metal Divine Thunder and was readying for a Golden Core breakthrough.
Lin Shiyuan, who also possessed a Wind Spirit Root, was preparing for a Purple Mansion Middle Stage advancement.
Yet all were focused on the Spirit Map laid out before them.
For them, breakthroughs mattered less than the return to the Eastern Domain.
Even as breakthroughs loomed, they held back, resolved to first clear the Eastern Domain before entering seclusion.
For now, they only waited for Lin Shimo, Lin Shijie, and Lin Shiming's emergence from seclusion.
"Summon Zelu, Zeyun, Shiyun, and Shijin as well—this time, we'll return to the Eastern Domain with grandeur!" Lin Shilei declared.
At these words, the others nodded in agreement.
...
Within the Cave Heaven, five years passed.
The Spirit Lake was now mostly covered with glaciers, and the Star Spirit Clam's twin shells shimmered even more brilliantly. In this span, it had absorbed seven pieces of Thousand Year Cold Jade, pushing its aura closer to the Mid Fifth Rank Demon King level.
In these five years, it had refined a significant amount of starry moon-glow, all of which Lin Shiming had absorbed.
Opening its twin shells, the Star Spirit Clam gazed at Lin Shiming's figure, showing no extraneous movement.
It knew Lin Shiming was now at a critical point in his breakthrough.
In another corner of the Cave Heaven, the frigid energy seemed to have reached the Golden Winged Mantis, whose frosty wings had grown more robust.
Screeching twice, its aura suddenly shifted.
In an instant, golden light surged across half the sky, accompanied by countless spiritual radiances.
It was unmistakably on the verge of breaking through to Demon King.
Almost simultaneously after the Golden Winged Mantis manifested signs of breakthrough, the nearby Red-Haired Demon Monkey refused to be outdone.
Scarlet clouds filled the sky, four-colored Spiritual Fire soared wildly, instantly melting countless glaciers.
The entire Cave Heaven had transformed into a realm divided into three formidable territories.
And it was at this moment that Lin Shiming's body suddenly trembled.
Simultaneously, a terrifying surge of blood-red radiance erupted outward. This time, three Cave Heavens emerged within his body.
These Cave Heavens, distinct from earlier spatial forms, brimming with immense blood energy.
He opened his eyes, astounded.
Finally, he had broken through to the Golden Core Middle Stage in Body Cultivation, forming three Starlight Cave Heavens.
Unlike starlight nodes that could merely store blood energy, these Cave Heavens were capable of holding starlight power.
Once unleashed, it would undoubtedly be cataclysmic.
Especially when paired with the residual Spiritual Treasure, Star Pearl.
Even Golden Core Late Stage Body Cultivators might struggle to endure it—it was akin to carrying three stars within one's form.
This was precisely what Lin Shiming found awe-inspiring, and he sensed that it was possible to condense even more stars.
The only limitation being insufficient Cold Jade. Even so, his breakthrough had finally slowed as the progress plateaued.
Still, the results were particularly gratifying, as his Qi Cultivation level had also advanced significantly. In his estimation, a brief period of seclusion could propel him to the Golden Core Late Stage.
The manifestation of the Starlight Cave Heavens appeared to have improved his constitution.
And it was worth noting that he was already a Thousand Wood Spirit Body user.
The Star Body Refining Technique seemingly exceeded the standard of earth-tier techniques, otherwise, it could never have reached such heights.
Of course, for outsiders, lacking the Star Spirit Clam rendered cultivation impossible.
It wouldn't even measure as yellow-tier.
As Lin Shiming completed his breakthrough, he turned his gaze toward Golden Wing and the Red-Haired Demon Monkey.
"Good thing I came out early, or the two of you would've torn this Cave Heaven apart!" Lin Shiming said with a laugh.
He then led both of them out of the Cave Heaven.
The Red-Haired Demon Monkey took its place on Thousand Wood Peak, while the Golden Winged Mantis settled on an unnamed water-attribute Spirit Peak within the Lin Family territory.
Yet their breakthroughs had drawn the attention of quite a few Lin Family cultivators.
Moreover, Lin Shiming noticed that Lin Shilei, Lin Shiyuan, and the others were standing guard nearby.
Their stance was one of vigilant protection for Lin Shimo.
His eyes turned to Five Flame Peak.
There, a similarly formidable presence brewed, with countless spiritual radiances surging.
This marked a triple blessing.
The breakthroughs of Lin Shiming's two spirit beasts and Lin Shimo alike.
During Lin Shimo's breakthrough, the sound of corpse howls resounded endlessly!
The scene was remarkably shocking.
"It seems we'll need to strengthen the Nine Tribulations Thunder Tower Formation or design a new tribulation-crossing island!" Lin Houshou quipped with a smile nearby.
This occasion had drawn many key Purple Mansion cultivators of the Lin Family to Shuangmu Island.
Lin Shiming was well aware that everyone was waiting for him and Lin Shimo.
Now, with three tribulations underway, the family's anticipation had been met with the best possible response.
As time passed, the Golden Winged Mantis grew its sixth pair of wing feathers first.
It officially became a Twelve-Winged Demon Mantis.
Four of its wings transformed into Frost Wings.
Its blade-like forelimbs became even more lethal, massive, and overwhelming in presence.
Its tribulation arrived first.
Under Lin Shiming's command, the Golden Wing moved toward Thunder Tribulation Island, entering the Nine Tribulations Thunder Tower Formation.
There, it awaited the descent of the thunder tribulation.
Boom!
Due to the congregation of tribulations, the first thunder strike came swiftly, exploding upon the island.
The Golden Wing slashed with its blade-like limb, cleaving the first, weakened thunder strike into two halves.
It allowed the fragments to land upon its flesh, absorbing them gradually.
It was at this moment that an unexpected change occurred. The flames surrounding the Red-Haired Demon Monkey seemed insufficient!