CHAPTER 707: CHAPTER 95: PERFORMING QI INTO BLADE, HUA DAN STAGE 2

Breaking through the Shell Barrier is an extremely perilous endeavor. Within the Mingcang Sect, when disciples undertake this task, they often have elders or mentors by their side for protection and guidance, lest a single misstep ruins their foundation.

Especially for disciples who have attained the upper three grades of Elixir Formation, reaching the Hua Dan Realm step by step is no easy feat. With such achievements, they must tread with utmost caution, as if walking on thin ice, and not make a single mistake.

Zhang Yan, having achieved the first grade of Elixir Formation, a rarity through the ages, had no prior experience to draw from on how to break through the Shell Barrier. Even Cave Heaven True Masters would likely be powerless to help and could only rely on his self-exploration.

Previously, in the Jingluo Academy, he had perused numerous books and records, many of which contained detailed explanations on how to break through the Shell Barrier.

However, they proved to be of little help to him. The authors of those Daoist books were often cultivators of the middle three grades of Elixir Formation, and there were even cases among them belonging to the lower three grades. While there were aspects that could be referenced, they were too few to offer substantial guidance.

But he was not worried. With the Broken Jade in hand, he was willing to boldly attempt and explore. At worst, he would merely spend more time figuring it out.

This endeavor of breaking through is critically important, tied closely to his future achievements, and thus could not tolerate any form of interference.

Therefore, Zhang Yan instructed the Mirror Spirit to handle all matters within the mansion without disturbing him under any circumstances. He even ordered the prohibition arrays within and outside the Zhao You Heavenly Pool Mansion to be activated. He then retreated into the True Artifact Small Bottle Realm, sealing the entry and exit.

After ensuring all preparations were impeccable, Zhang Yan took out the Broken Jade from his sleeve bag, sinking his heart and spirit into it.

The avatar within the jade suddenly sat up, its eyes opening to reveal a gleam of spirited light.

Zhang Yan moved his limbs slightly, then directed his inner sight toward the Golden Core, focusing on the membranous shell, as if searching for a weakness.

That membrane now resembled a glazed tile, faintly tinged with a jade-like luster, translucent inside and out, with nine orifices clearly visible. It was about a finger’s thickness, and even the entry and exit of the Elixir Evil could not damage it in the slightest. On the contrary, the turbid Qi emanating from the Golden Core had reinforced and solidified it further.

After pondering for a moment, he cautiously gathered the Elixir Evil, concentrating it entirely within the Golden Core and forming it into a single mass.

Then, after a few deep breaths, Zhang Yan gave a low cry, driving the full force of the Elixir Evil to crash against the membranous shell!

Suddenly, a muffled boom echoed, like thunder resounding beside his ear. His head roared as an overwhelming force rebounded, ricocheting wildly within his body, churning ceaselessly. This caused the Golden Core to tremble violently, producing a cracking sound, as if it might shatter at any moment. Blood spurted from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, and his entire body seared with pain, his limbs weak and numb, as though he had just fought an exhausting battle and drained himself of all Essence Qi.

Looking inward again, Zhang Yan noticed that the membranous shell now bore a fissure from his forceful Elixir Evil strike. However, the Golden Core had also developed fine, web-like cracks, indicating a significant injury. Even the Elixir Evil had been depleted by more than half.

Had this occurred to his true body instead of the Broken Jade avatar, just this single attempt might have left him severely wounded with his Primordial Qi gravely damaged.

Zhang Yan reflected silently, no wonder the Elixir Shell is so difficult to break through—it must be approached with extreme caution. If too much force is used without breaking past the barrier, it’s akin to taking a full-powered strike from oneself. How could one possibly endure that?

He carefully recalled the sensations from the previous attempt but did not rush to try again. Instead, he activated the God Contract Technique within the avatar to repair his physical form.

Within the Broken Jade, it took him as much as thirty days to completely recover.

Strangely, as his physical wounds healed, the membranous shell also repaired itself, returning to its original state.

Zhang Yan nodded to himself, silently confirming his suspicions. The membranous shell was formed from the Golden Core’s turbid Qi, intrinsically one with the Elixir Evil. Additionally, it also contained mixed energy absorbed from Spiritual Energy. The two forces had merged, so as the Elixir Evil gradually recovered, the shell likewise benefited, drawing in that mixed energy to mend its ruptures.

Contemplating this, he realized that relying on such a brute force approach to break open the shell in one attempt would not work.

Initially, he had thought that with his strong physique, he could endure the backlash and use immense force to shatter the membranous shell.

However, this rebound force had already damaged the Golden Core. If it sustained further damage without recovering fully, his Elixir Formation grade would decline as well.

This method is commonly used by lower three-grade cultivators and is the simplest Dharma technique.

Their Elixir Evil is thin, and the membrane is fragile. If they consume a Protecting Elixir and have fellow disciples or mentors to safeguard them, even the rebound force can be withstood.