Skysoar Realm! Who wouldn't want to reach this realm as soon as possible? The moment one reached that realm, one would gain an ability to fly and undergo a complete change in status, akin to the transformation from a carp to a dragon.
Zi Changhe was already a late-stage Transformation Realm cultivator back when he was at the Martial Hall Palace. After receiving a high-level cultivation method from Xiang Shaoyun, he was able to advance three stages in two years, reaching peak Transformation Realm, getting infinitely closer to the Skysoar Realm.
Recently, he had been hesitating whether he should attempt a breakthrough, as he had a feeling he would have a chance to succeed if he was supplied with enough spirit crystals. But his master disagreed with taking the risk. Instead, he was suggested to take two or three more years consolidating his cultivation base. After building a firmer foundation, he could then attempt the breakthrough.
That was a very safe and stable way of growth, and it had the lowest amount of risk. But Xiang Shaoyun was actually telling him to attempt a breakthrough within the month, which caused him to start hesitating again. Should he listen to his master or should he listen to Xiang Shaoyun?
"The earlier you break through, the more beneficial it would be for your future cultivation. The higher the cultivation level you reach when young, the more perfect your spirit, flesh, and vitality will be. It will be of great help when pursuing the Emperor Realm, or even the Sovereign Realm," said Xiang Shaoyun firmly.
"I-is that even possible for me?" Zi Changhe trembled. He had never even dreamed of reaching the Emperor Realm.
"Why not? You think those Emperors were born Emperors? They have merely relied on astonishing talent, firm willpower, and hard work to reach that realm. Senior brother, you are still young. If you can enter the Skysoar Realm now, you will have a wider path ahead of you. The longer you wait, the narrower your future path will be," said Xiang Shaoyun.
Xiang Shaoyun was not a Skysoar Realm cultivator and definitely not an almighty Emperor Realm cultivator. However, he was far more knowledgeable than Zi Changhe. As Zi Changhe listened on, he appeared visibly moved as he found himself believing almost everything Xiang Shaoyun was telling him.
"Senior brother, do you have any other misgivings that make you hesitate?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.
Zi Changhe hesitated slightly and said, "You may be right, but I am completely unprepared for a breakthrough attempt right now."
"You're worried about spirit crystals?" Xiang Shaoyun asked.
An awkward look covered Zi Changhe's face as he said, "I can ask for some spirit crystals from my master, but my master recommends that I only attempt the breakthrough after two or three years."
No matter what, he still couldn't fully commit to it. Xiang Shaoyun pondered for a bit and said, "Come to my place, senior brother. We'll talk about it."
Zi Changhe agreed and went along to Xiang Shaoyun's estate. At the estate, Xiang Shaoyun brought Zi Changhe into his private cultivation room. Before Zi Changhe could say anything, strands of innate purple lightning surged out of Xiang Shaoyun's body. Zi Changhe's eyes instantly widened when he sensed the pure power of natural lightning coming from Xiang Shaoyun’s body.
"T-this is...innate purple lightning!" Zi Changhe cried out in alarm.
"Good eyes, senior brother. That's right. This is the innate purple lightning. With my innate purple lightning and these mid-grade spirit crystals serving as the foundation for your breakthrough attempt, will it be enough?" said Xiang Shaoyun while taking out a few thousand mid-grade spirit crystals.
These were not the spirit crystals he had earned from Xie Sanqian. Rather, they were the crystals he had traded for using his top-quality goldsteel stones. He hadn't spent them all during the previous auction.
Staring at the pile of mid-grade spirit crystals, Zi Changhe was stunned. He had a feeling not even his master could afford giving him that many spirit crystals for a breakthrough attempt. These were mid-grade spirit crystals, not some ordinary low-grade spirit crystals.
"Shaoyun, are you sure?" Zi Changhe had an unreal feeling.
Ignoring the innate purple lightning, just these mid-grade spirit crystals were worth more than everything Zi Changhe had. That was why it felt so unreal to him.
Xiang Shaoyun smiled, "Since when did you become such a hesitant person? The innate purple lightning is something I can regenerate at any time. As for the spirit crystals, this really isn't much. I have more coming my way soon. How can all this be more important than your breakthrough to the Skysoar Realm, senior brother?"
Xiang Shaoyun had always felt gratitude toward Zi Changhe. If Zi Changhe hadn't brought him into the Martial Hall Palace back then, he really couldn't imagine where he would be now. Just for that alone, he wished that Zi Changhe could be even stronger. That would be his way of repaying Zi Changhe.
"Fine, am I a man if I still hesitate after you said all that?" Zi Changhe finally made up his mind.
"That's more like it!" Xiang Shaoyun smiled.
He then started planning the breakthrough with Zi Changhe. First, he would transfer his innate purple lightning to Zi Changhe, allowing the latter to refine his innate purple lightning. Zi Changhe was a cultivator of the lightning power and would benefit greatly from refining the innate purple lightning.
Although he still wouldn't be able to regenerate an endless amount of innate purple lightning like Xiang Shaoyun, refining some innate purple lightning would still help him further increase his combat prowess and his compatibility with the lightning power.
After Zi Changhe was done refining the innate purple lightning, when he was in his peak state, he could then make use of the spirit crystals to start the breakthrough attempt. By doing that, the odds of him succeeding would be much higher.
"Senior brother, just attempt the breakthrough in my estate. I will send someone to notify Elder Liu," suggested Xiang Shaoyun.
"Ok. Let's start. Let me have a taste of the power of innate purple lightning," said Zi Changhe after taking a deep breath.
Xiang Shaoyun started transferring his innate purple lightning to Zi Changhe. He had only transferred a tiny bit, but the moment Zi Changhe took the power in, he started twitching and wailing in pain.
"Senior brother, hang in there! Guard your mind and refine the energy as quickly as possible," shouted Xiang Shaoyun.
With the reminder, Zi Changhe clenched his teeth, ignored the pain, and started refining the innate purple lightning. After four full hours, Zi Changhe's condition finally stabilized. The pain on his face vanished, and his entire body was shrouded by a purple luster. His aura had also grown more powerful.
"Again, Shaoyun!" said Zi Changhe after finally opening his eyes.
Xiang Shaoyun wasted no time and started transferring innate purple lightning to Zi Changhe again. This time, Zi Changhe only needed two hours to finish the refining process. His speed had increased considerably.
Then, Xiang Shaoyun transferred some innate purple lightning to him again. This time, he transferred double the amount, making Zi Changhe take on even more lightning power at once.
This continued for three whole days before Zi Changhe was done absorbing 49 strands of innate purple lightning energy from Xiang Shaoyun. He had absorbed as much as he could. He now needed to focus on consolidating his gains and preparing himself for the breakthrough attempt.
The somewhat exhausted Xiang Shaoyun left the cultivation room, thinking to himself, Senior brother will succeed!