On the other side, inside the defensive formation, the blue markings on Fu Young’s forehead flickered and vanished in an instant.

He coldly glanced at the clear sky, then rubbed his cheeks and returned to his usual bright smile.

He opened the defensive formation, collected the array disc and flew toward Xiao Shou’s location.

At this moment, another mass of milky white clouds gathered in the sky, sprinkling down fine droplets.

Sensing the dense life force contained within the droplets, Xiao Shou immediately understood that this was a gift from the Heavenly Dao.

It was meant to heal the bodies of cultivators who successfully passed through the heavenly tribulation.

However, because both he and Fu Young practiced special techniques, their bodies had not suffered any damage.

Allowing this gift to go to waste felt somewhat regrettable.

Thinking of this, Xiao Shou had a sudden inspiration.

He recalled a cultivation novel he had once read, where the protagonist could store spiritual energy in all the acupuncture points throughout his body.

During battle, he could activate these points temporarily, effectively gaining more than three hundred additional dantians, making it extremely powerful.

After transmigrating, he learned from the original owner’s memories that this was not feasible, because many acupuncture points were vital weaknesses of a cultivator’s body.

Not only could they not store spiritual energy, even a heavy strike to them could cause serious injury.

However, while other points were unsuitable, the famous middle dantian near the heart might actually work.

It seemed that cultivators in this world did not utilize the middle dantian at all.

Perhaps he could try to open it and use it to store life force.

Even if there was risk, the presence of life force itself could minimize potential harm.

Xiao Shou was someone who acted immediately upon thought.

He instantly split his focus, using his divine sense to separate the life force, and guided it into the middle dantian just as he had done when opening the lower dantian through energy induction.

After the middle dantian was successfully opened, he guided spiritual energy back into the Nascent Soul, then stored the life force within the middle dantian.

Seeing that the life force remained stable inside without any discomfort or harm, Xiao Shou immediately transmitted this discovery to Fu Young who had just arrived.

After hearing his explanation, Fu Young performed deductions and then tried opening his own middle dantian, introducing a large amount of life force into it according to the derived method.

The result was very ideal.

He immediately transmitted back, "Master, try using the middle dantian to circulate this meridian method. You will surely gain something."

"Did you create this?"

Without hesitation, Xiao Shou followed his instructions and began circulating his energy.

At the same time, he used his divine sense to refine the extracted life force and absorb it into his middle dantian.

Only a small portion escaped and fell to the ground, nourishing the land that had been ravaged by the heavenly tribulation.

Fu Young who had already flown over nodded at him.

"It is still quite rough. When I have time later, I will refine it further and try to create a complete cultivation technique."

"It already works very well," Xiao Shou said.

"I only thought of storing life force in the middle dantian and releasing it when needed. You are the impressive one. You even figured out such an unusual meridian circulation route, absorbing the faint life force from external spiritual energy into the middle dantian. Even if one only runs a single major circulation per day, the accumulated life force would be quite significant."

Fu Young shook his head and said in dissatisfaction, "Not yet. Compared to Master, who can independently create the Hidden Spirit Returning Soul Art and even discover the middle dantian, this disciple is still far behind."

"Do not be modest."

You are not being modest at all.

You are just showing off your talent in front of me.

Creating a cultivation technique in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Shou felt a stab of pain in his heart as if he had been pierced.

The discovery of the middle dantian was not even his own achievement and the inspiration for the Hidden Spirit Returning Soul Art also came from Chen Yufei’s contribution.

Sigh.

Without guidance, someone as foolish as him would never have thought of it.

In the distance, the group watching the scene looked at each other, all wearing strange expressions.

Gou Guangming coughed lightly and cupped his hands toward Xiahou Bo and the brothers Chen Zhiyi and Chen Qingzhi.

"City Lord Xiaohou, and fellow Daoists Chen, today’s matter involves the secrets of our sect. Please treat everything you have seen as if it never happened and do not spread it outside."

What sect are you even talking about?

You have not even joined it yet.

Gou Yue internally complained about his own master, but outwardly remained very supportive.

At the same time, he and his two brothers released Nascent Soul pressure.

No, Gou Zhi actually released a Deity Transformation pressure.

He had broken through to the Deity Transformation stage inside the secret realm.

As expected of the eldest, his cultivation speed was truly fast.

Gou Yue glanced at Gou Zhi in admiration.

Xiahou Bo lightly smiled and said, "Of course. Even if you did not remind us, those who have been helped many times by Senior Xiao would not speak carelessly. Moreover, we are bound by heart demon vows."

This trip into the secret realm had brought him tremendous gains.

Not only had his cultivation advanced, but the resources he obtained were enough to cultivate a new Golden Core cultivator to take over as city lord.

He could finally leave and search for his Nascent Soul opportunity.

Chen Zhiyi also nodded.

Only Chen Qingzhi scratched his head restlessly and could not help asking, "What level are Senior Xiao and Senior Fu actually at? I heard that cultivators only undergo heavenly tribulation at the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Spirit Tribulation stages. Other realms only require sufficient accumulation of spiritual energy, overcoming inner demons, and comprehending the Dao to advance. Spirit Transformation cultivators are not allowed in this world. If both of them are undergoing tribulation together, does that mean they are at least Golden Core or Nascent Soul? But can those levels really be that strong? I do not have much experience, so please do not fool me."