Cultivating Disciples to Breakthrough

Whoosh~

Using her now powerful pseudo water domain to create several small spheres of water all around herself, Zu Fei waved her hand as the water spheres flew out in all directions. Capturing any unlucky slime creatures that they encountered along the way before sending them back for Zu Fei to personally kill so she could absorb the blue energy contained inside of them to further strengthen her pseudo domain.

Soon enough, her pseudo domain seemed to have reached a barrier, as Zu Fei had officially managed to reach the absolute pinnacle of the Nascent Soul Realm. Needing only to take a single step to officially evolve her pseudo water domain into a real water domain.

After this, she just needed to fuse her new and complete domain together with her nascent soul to successfully reach the Domain Lord Realm.

”This is it…!” Feeling that her pseudo water domain had reached the limit, Zu Fei didn’t waste any time before breaking through the barrier blocking her-

Rumble-!

Instantly resulting in a terrifying sound echoing out around her, as her domain evolved from what could be considered an early formation of a domain into a true domain.

Whoosh~

Not only that, but with her water domain now turning into a real domain, it began the process of merging together with her nascent soul-

”Aaaaaah-!”

Something that Zu Fei had momentarily forgotten about as she was fully focused on trying to reach the Domain Lord Realm as fast as possible after having experienced the fast and smooth growth that the slime creatures provided her with. Not at all having thought about the inherent danger that was involved in the process of fusing one’s domain and nascent soul together before it was already too late for her to regret.

Even if it was not a tribulation like the cloud tribulation one would have to experience to reach the Nascent Soul Realm, the process of fusing one’s domain and nascent soul was far more deadly.

Just looking at the Sky Empire as a whole was more than enough to tell just how difficult it was to successfully make it through this process, as someone in the Nascent Soul Realm could be found everywhere in the Sky Empire, while there was at most a few hundred people in the Domain Lord Realm inside the entire Sky Empire…

”Zu Fei!”

I-I should have waited until I got out of this place… Hm… Is that… Feng Chen…?

Barely managing to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure appearing at the entrance to the small cave she had decided to break through to the Domain Lord Realm inside of, Zu Fei was forced to close herself off to the outside world and focus her full attention on breaking through to the Domain Lord Realm. Doing her best to ignore the terrifying pain originating from the depths of her soul that was slowly starting to spread throughout her entire body.

…

A short time earlier, in one of the tunnels that Zu Fei had run through not too long ago while collecting slime creatures to increase her own strength, Shu Yao and Feng Chen both came to an abrupt stop as Shu Yao frowned visibly before examining the walls of the tunnel.

”Her presence is growing stronger, she should be somewhere nearby and from the looks of it, her strength has also increased by quite a bit. If I’m not wrong, she should have successfully managed to form a pseudo domain…” Muttering this to herself as she felt something wrong about the sudden increase in strength that Zu Fei had seemingly archived out of nowhere, Shu Yao decided to keep her suspicions to herself.

For now, it was not important how Zu Fei had suddenly managed to increase her strength. Instead, it was far more important to get out of the underwater structure that they were currently inside of before it ended up sinking below the surface of the lake… And from the time that Elder Song had given them, they should only have a little over 40 seconds left before this ended up happening!

”Looks like she got rid of the demon beast chasing after her or we should have seen far more signs of fighting along. Now we just have to find her before this entire place sinks below the lake…” Understanding this as well, Feng Chen didn’t say anything more than this before both of them continued moving in the direction of Zu Fei’s presence.

Rumble-!

Just at this moment, the entire cave system began violently shaking before a terrifying aura spread through the countless tunnels, carrying with it a distinct calm yet powerful feeling that forced both Shu Yao and Feng Chen to freeze on the spot. Not because the powerful aura had overwhelmed them or caused them to have second thoughts about continuing deeper inside the cave network, but instead because both of them almost instantly realized what this terrifying aura represented and more importantly, who it belonged to!

”This aura… Someone is breaking through to the Domain Lord Realm!”

”Yeah… And from the look of it, that person is very likely Zu Fei…”

As both of them just stared at each other for a few seconds as they came to terms with this, Shu Yao, and Feng Chen both rushed into the area now covered by Zu Fei’s brand-new water domain. Protecting themselves with the help of their own domains to not end up getting killed by the chaotic water domain that was still far from being under Zu Fei’s control.

”Zu Fei!”

Spotting Zu Fei only a short time later, Feng Chen tried to call out to her, but ended up getting no response as she was completely focused on trying to break through to the Domain Lord Realm. Nothing could get through to her, as even the slightest bit of error at this point in time could result in the fusion between the nascent soul and domain failing. Killing her on the spot.

”No need, she can’t hear you. Let’s work together and try to get her out of here while we still can…” Understanding this, Shu Yao didn’t waste a single second as she rushed forward while saying this before using her domain to create an enormous flower that completely engulfed the unresponsive Zu Fei before carrying this flower to leave in the direction they had come from.

”This…”

Leaving Feng Chen completely speechless at the display. Although he knew that Shu Yao’s domain could be considered a flower domain that dealt in the Dao of Nature, it was the first time that he had seen her use it outside of combat… And it was far more versatile than his sword domain that could almost exclusively be used for fighting…

”Ah!? Wait for me!” Suddenly realizing that Shu Yao and Zu Fei were getting further and further away from him, Feng Chen didn’t continue linger around either as he chased after Shu Yao.

Luckily, due to the fact that Shu Yao was also carrying Zu Fei who was currently in the process of breaking through to the Domain Lord Realm, it did not take long to catch up with her. Not only that, but he also realized that he had to help carry the burden of transporting Zu Fei, as the pressure caused by Zu Fei’s water domain trying to expand inside the flower was getting more and more powerful.

Even if Shu Yao was stronger than Zu Fei, putting a halt on her breakthrough was not something she could do with her current strength. At most, she could forcibly delay it for a few seconds until they had made their way back to safety.

Crack~!

But… Considering that the flower surround Zu Fei had already begun cracking the moment they reached the spiral staircase. Even with Feng Chen’s help, it was doubtful whether or not they would be able to make it back out in time.

Whoosh~!

However, having seemingly sensed the trouble that Feng Chen and Shu Yao was going through to try and help her, Zu Fei managed to successfully fuse with part of her domain. Resulting in the expansion of her water domain slowing down just enough for Shu Yao and Feng Chen to make their way out of the underground structure.

Craaaack-!

And not a second later, the flower created by Shu Yao’s domain began shattering-

Whoosh~!

Giving Shu Yao just enough time to throw Zu Fei inside the protection of the formation before it fully shattered, while Feng Chen quickly grabbed her exhausted body and carried her inside the formation as well before the chaotic qi had a chance to cause any problems.

As for Elder Song…

”Huh?! What is that terrifying aura? Did Shu Yao and Feng Chen escape? Hm? A flower- Wait! Why is it coming directly towards me!?”

He suddenly found himself running for his life as a certain large flower with Zu Fei inside of it was heading directly towards him without showing any signs of stopping…