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"I sense a change in your aura. Have you broken through to a higher level of cultivation?"

The woman with double pupils temporarily suppressed her shock at Zhu Chen's "future emperor body" and instead asked him more practical questions.

She could vaguely sense that Zhu Chen possessed a power far beyond the ordinary, but the specific level was somewhat vague, as if it was obscured by the boundless blood energy of the Heaven-Opening Dao Body.

Faced with the woman with double pupils' questioning, Zhu Chen did not hide anything and directly said, "Just now, I used the Great Dao of Creation that I triggered when reshaping my physical body to temper myself and was fortunate enough to ignite the Divine Fire, which means I have officially entered the Divine Fire Realm. At the same time, I was also fortunate enough to condense a few strands of immortal energy in my body."

"You've already cultivated immortal energy after just igniting the divine fire; it seems you've achieved quite a bit of good fortune!"

Xiao Ta's attention was also drawn back.

Igniting the divine fire is an extraordinary achievement in the eight lower realms, but in the upper realm, it can only be considered the starting point of the true path to becoming a prodigy.

"Immortal aura" is the key to measuring the potential of those of the same level!

In the Immortal Ancient Era, being able to cultivate one strand of immortal energy makes one a top genius, two strands are considered unparalleled, and three strands are practically legendary!
"With your achievements, you must have cultivated at least two strands of immortal energy, right?"

The woman with double pupils slightly contracted her pupils, and her cool voice carried a hint of inquiry.

She knew that Zhu Chen had a mysterious background and an incredibly deep foundation, but the condensation of immortal energy was extremely difficult and closely related to one's personal foundation, cultivation techniques, opportunities, and even the mysterious fortune.

According to her estimation, Zhu Chen must have cultivated more than one stream of immortal energy within his body.

It should be somewhere between two and three paths.

Zhu Chen looked at them, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said frankly, "I have cultivated a total of nine strands of immortal energy."

"what?"

"Nine strands of immortal energy?"

Xiao Ta and the woman with double pupils looked at each other in bewilderment.

Zhu Chen's words at that moment were like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploding directly in the minds of each of them.

Xiao Ta couldn't help but exclaim, "Kid, do you know what you're saying? Even in the most glorious era of the Immortal Ancient Era, those peerless geniuses who were known as the Children of the Era could only cultivate three strands of immortal energy, which was already unprecedented. But to be cultivated as the core of the core by various forces and cultivate nine strands of immortal energy... This is simply impossible. There has never been any record of it in ancient books. This has already violated the common sense of the Great Dao!"

Although the woman with double pupils did not cry out in shock, her hazy face revealed an expression of near-absence for the first time, clearly indicating that she too had suffered an unimaginable shock.

"Zhu Chen, immortal energy is the foundation of the Great Dao, a manifestation of life's level and potential. A single strand of immortal energy requires a massive accumulation and immense opportunity. Nine is the ultimate number, symbolizing perfection and the end among the many Great Daos. To cultivate nine strands of immortal energy... this cannot be explained by talent or opportunity alone. We cultivators defy the heavens, but we must also follow some fundamental rules of the world. As far as I know, nine strands of immortal energy are merely a theoretical 'perfect extreme' in ancient legends, never truly achieved by anyone. Are you... sure you have cultivated nine strands of immortal energy?"

The woman with double pupils took a deep breath and asked.

She wasn't questioning whether Zhu Chen was lying, but rather that the matter itself was too unbelievable and exceeded the limits of her understanding of cultivation.

This is like someone saying they can shatter a star with one punch; some people might believe it.

But if someone were to say that a single punch could destroy the entire universe, it would instinctively feel unreal.

Zhu Chen couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at Xiao Ta and the woman with double pupils, who were practically questioning their existence.

"Yes or no, you can tell at a glance."

Zhu Chen's mind stirred slightly, and he stopped deliberately concealing his aura.

"--boom!"

In an instant, a pure and vast Daoist aura rose from his body! Immediately afterwards, nine dazzling immortal energies, like nine awakened primordial dragons, began to manifest outside his body.

These nine streams of immortal energy were not the ethereal, white-gold aura of ordinary cultivators.

Instead, they are of various colors, with nine colors interwoven: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, black, and white. Each one is thick and solid like an arm, and inside it seems that countless miniature stars and worlds are being born, dying, and evolving.

Furthermore, there are Daoist runes floating and flowing within it, emanating an unparalleled aura of supreme divinity and holiness!

What's even more astonishing is that these nine streams of immortal energy are not static, but rather slowly circulate and hover around Zhu Chen!
Its shape is constantly changing!
Sometimes it transforms into a real dragon, its scales and claws flying, its roar faintly audible!
Sometimes it transforms into a divine phoenix, its feathers dazzling and its cry clear and melodious!
At other times, it transforms into a Kunpeng, soaring upwards with wings that cover the sky!

Nine different forms of supreme beings appeared in turn, as if each wisp of immortal energy possessed its own life and spirit!
Nine streams of immortal energy, flowing in nine colors!
At this moment, Zhu Chen stood in the void, surrounded by these nine supreme immortal energies, like a celestial king descending to earth!

That sacred and majestic aura illuminated the entire sky above the ruins of Peacock City, making it shimmer with light and resonate with the grandeur of the Great Dao!
"It really is the Nine Paths..."

The little tower stammered, and its body trembled slightly.

It wasn't fear, but rather extreme excitement and disbelief.

"Nine dragons guarding, nine colors intertwined... This is simply a miracle of the Great Dao manifesting itself! The 'perfect immortal foundation' from the ancient legends... actually exists!"

The woman with double pupils stared intently at the nine ever-changing illusory figures of immortal energy.

She could sense that these nine streams of immortal energy were not simply parallel; there seemed to be an extremely mysterious cycle and resonance between them, nourishing each other and endlessly regenerating, forming a self-contained "Immortal Energy Domain"!
This is far more terrifying than simply adding up numbers!
Nine strands of immortal energy!

One and only in all time!

Zhu Chen allowed the nine streams of immortal energy to surround him for a moment, feeling their close connection with his own Heaven-Opening Dao Body. Then, with a thought, he slowly withdrew them back into his body, and the strange phenomena in the world gradually subsided.

He looked at the small tower and the woman with double pupils, who were still immersed in shock, and calmly said, "These nine strands of immortal energy are just the beginning. Nine is the ultimate number of the Dao. It may be the pinnacle for others, but for me..."

He paused, a sharp glint of light flashing in his eyes like the light of creation: "This is not the end."

"what?"

Little Tower was startled again.

It floated in front of Zhu Chen and said incredulously, "Kid, isn't that enough for you? Nine strands of immortal energy is already an achievement that breaks through cognition and defies the laws of time. You actually want more? That's just wishful thinking!"

The woman with double pupils echoed, "The Great Dao is flawed. If one part is removed, nine is already the perfect limit that the mortal world can contain. To break through the extreme number of nine is to create a new 'Great Dao' out of thin air, which is almost impossible. It will be backfired by the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, leading to eternal damnation!"

The woman with double pupils paused here, slowly raised her head, and looked at Zhu Chen with a flickering gaze before continuing, "Zhu Chen, the nine immortal energies have already forged an invincible foundation. Among those of the same level, it is probably difficult to find an opponent even in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. Being greedy for more will only bring trouble. What you should do now is to stabilize these nine immortal energies and deeply explore their potential. That is the right path."

Both Xiaota and the woman with double pupils were speaking from the bottom of their hearts.

Nine strands of immortal energy is already a mythical achievement. To pursue the elusive "ten" is, in their view, unrealistic ambition and could even shake the hard-won perfect foundation of their Dao, resulting in more harm than good.

However, Zhu Chen still shook his head.

"Nine is the 'extreme number' under the rules of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth in your understanding, but my Dao is never bound by the 'rules' of Heaven and Earth. The so-called 'peak of the Dao' and 'shackles of the extreme realm' are just barriers that predecessors have not broken through. Just because they can't do it doesn't mean I can't."

Zhu Chen's voice was not loud, but it carried a power that penetrated people's hearts: "My path is the path of transcendence. Nine strands of immortal energy are just the 'stage results' that I can gather in this realm with my current resources. When I touch deeper into the Great Dao and accumulate more profound foundations... ten strands, twenty strands, or even more, why not?"

"How can my path be limited by the mere number 'nine'?"

...(End of chapter)