Chapter 450: Devouring, Breakthrough


    With just a few words, Xiao Ming dismissed the group and left the area.


    After flying for half a day, he found a secluded spot in a remote location and carved out a cave-like space within the mountains. There, he began the process of refining the Endless Spirit Ice.


    Though referred to as a cave, it was essentially a well-concealed mountain hollow.


    Seated cross-legged at the center of the cave, Xiao Ming didn''t immediately swallow the Endless Spirit Ice. Instead, he summoned the "Spirit" to devour it.


    The Endless Spirit Ice wasn''t easily devoured. As the "Spirit" approached it, a faint energy tide surged from within the spirit ice, creating a barrier that kept the "Spirit" about five centimeters away. This caused a temporary deadlock between the two forces.


    Not only that, Xiao Ming also sensed the swift umtion of ice-attribute energy from the surrounding environment. The cave itself seemed to fill with countless fragments of ice, akin to grains of sand.


    Faced with this situation, the "Spirit" didn''t show any weakness.


    Dealing with ice naturally required the use of intense mes.


    A roaring white me erupted from the void, raising the temperature in the cave by several degrees.


    The white me and the Endless Spirit Ice affected nearly half of the cave each - extreme cold and extreme heat, leaving Xiao Ming caught between the two.


    As these opposing energies shed, the very structure of the cave began to exhibit signs of copse within moments.


    ''This can''t go on like this.''


    Xiao Ming furrowed his brows. At this rate, it would take a long time to sessfully devour the Endless Spirit Ice. He''d already invested a significant amount of time in this endeavor, and he couldn''t afford any more dy.


    Lifting his right hand, he channeled a potent surge of fire attribute Dou Qi. This force pushed away the energy surrounding the Endless Spirit Ice and exerted pressure on its core.


    With thebined effort of Xiao Ming and the "Spirit," the Endless Spirit Ice was quickly subdued and devoured.


    After devouring the Endless Spirit Ice, the "Spirit" transformed from pure white to blue, and Xiao Ming could feel the conflicting energies within it.


    Opening his mouth, he swallowed the "Spirit" into his abdomen, then closed his eyes and began to circte the "Rising of Twin Spirits" Qi Method.


    If anyone had the ability to see through, they would notice that within Xiao Ming''s body, the "Spirit" was flickering with a blue light. With each flicker, the blue light dimmed slightly.


    After an unknown amount of time, the blue light almost vanished entirely.


    Observing the "Spirit" return to its pure white state, Xiao Ming knew that the Endless Spirit Ice had been mostly refined.


    ''Rise of Twin Spirits, Refine!''


    Xiao Ming muttered in his mind as his hand seals shifted.


    Within him, a small surge of energy appeared. Soon, a torrent of liquid-like energy swept through his body.


    His robe disintegrated into a powder in an instant. A formidable wave of energy emanated from within him, causing the nearby ice and stones to crack and form fissures.


    He had no time to spare for the outside world''s situation. Right now, he could only focus on assimting the energy within his body.


    Steadying his mind, he started to gradually converge the various energies at a steady pace. Under his almost perfect control, the surging and tumultuous energy gradually returned under hismand.


    In just a moment, his meridians were filled to the brim. Flesh, muscles, bones, cells - everything within him devoured the boundless energy like famished ghosts that had gone decades without food.


    <em>Rumble!</em>


    Sensing the rapid influx of energy within him, Xiao Ming''s mind moved, and an invisible me appeared within his body. The immense and unparalleled energy surged into the me like a tide, pouring into it frantically.


    As the cycle continued, streams of energy flowed out from the "Spirit", circting through Xiao Ming''s body before entering the Fallen Heart me for further refinement. After being tempered by the me, they would be returned to his meridians.


    With each return, the energy grew purer and more refined.


    Apanied by this repeated cirction, a perfect cycle gradually formed within Xiao Ming''s body.


    The boundless energy tirelessly scrubbed every inch of his body. His aura, under this prolonged refinement, continued to steadily rise.


    "Hoo..."


    Seated cross-legged at the center of the cave, Xiao Ming exhaled, releasing a thick aura of energy. Like a dragon, it coiled upward, eventually fading into the expanse of heaven and earth.


    ...


    ''About time for a breakthrough.''


    After an unknown span of time, Xiao Ming sensed that his umted Dou Qi had reached a certain threshold. Deciding it was time, he pushed the "Rise of Twin Spirits" technique to its limits.


    A violent fluctuation echoed through the space. The energy of heaven and earth seemed to be drawn at this moment, surging uncontrobly. Eventually, above Xiao Ming''s cavern, the amassed energy transformed into a colossal energy storm, piercing through the cave before converging at the top of his head.


    Xiao Ming''s tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open. A burst of radiant energy shot forth, boring two indeterminate depths of ck holes through the rock wall in front of him. Immediately after, he lifted his head and took a deep, forceful breath.


    <em>Boom!</em>


    As he inhaled, the immense energy storm, spanning hundreds of meters, surged down. It rushed into his body through his throat, flooding within him.


    <em>Crack! Crack!</em>


    With the increasing influx of energy, faint energy fluctuations began to spill out. These fluctuations shattered the surrounding icy stones, creating countless enormous cracks. Massive boulders tumbled down with resounding booms. Finally, the cavern copsed entirely, leaving Xiao Ming exposed beneath the blue sky.


    <em>Swoosh!</em>


    Themotion caused by a Dou Saint breakthrough was far from subtle.


    The tumult near the Fallen Spirit Abyss naturally attracted the attention of numerous local powerhouses.


    From a distance, several light streaks converged above the copsed cave of Xiao Ming. They appeared to be from two distinct factions based on their clothing.


    These several elderly figures with Half-Saint strength or higher stared in awe at Xiao Ming, who was devouring the energy of heaven and earth.


    "Such formidable aura! This person is probably on the verge of breaking through the two-star Dou Saint," eximed an elderly man with a scorpion tattoo on his face.


    Another tattooed elder nodded in agreement and added, "It seems like he''s attempting to break through. I''m uncertain whether he will seed."


    "Who knows where this person came from? Should we take advantage of the situation and make a move? A Dou Saint''s wealth is beyond imagination," suggested one of them.


    "Forget it. The three old fellows from the Fire Toad Pce are also present. If we take action, they might intervene. We might end up inviting disaster upon our Ice Dragon Scorpion Tribe."


    The proposal was tempting, but ultimately, it was rejected.


    A simr conversation unfolded among the members of the Fire Toad Pce.


    <em>Boom!</em>


    While these individuals conversed in the sky, the massive energy storm waspletely swallowed by Xiao Ming and absorbed into his body. With the entry of the final trace of energy, the world gradually quieted down.