Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

Upon hearing that the Fire Spirit Falcon would be required to fly with people for an entire day, Wu Bao immediately clung to Jiang Yining's arm, pleading for his two uncles.

"Mother, don't let the big red chicken fly too high. It can't even pick up the earth dragon's teeth now, so it definitely can't carry the two uncles."

Lou Xiaotian leaned against the bedpost for a moment, then cooperated by showing a weak expression.

"If you are willing to plead for your uncle in April, the earthworm fang will be ground down to half its original size tomorrow."

Seeing that he was taking the opportunity to coax the child, Fan Chenxin raised her hand and tugged at the demonic vine that was still wrapped around her wrist.

"If you want Wubao to spare you punishment, you should at least admit what you did wrong tonight."

"I have already apologized to Ning'er, so I don't need to explain it to you a second time."

Jiang Yining retracted all the demonic vines into her dantian, but the two forces absorbed by the Myriad Spirits Divine Tree did not immediately subside.

Dark gold Buddha blood sank into her heart meridian, while the primordial green wood essence protected her dantian. Between the two was the residual power of the not-yet-fully-refined qi, causing her body temperature to fluctuate between hot and cold.

She raised her hand to her heart and quickly made a decision.

"After you finish repairing the doors tomorrow, come with me to the Stormy Thunder Pool outside the city. I need to use the lightning to temper my blood and qi so that I can break through to the Condensation Realm before the final round of selections."

Fan Chenxin immediately sat up straight, the red marks on her wrists from the demonic vines still showing.

"Your right rib was torn open again today. Entering the Stormy Pool now could very well worsen your injury."

Lou Xiaotian also put away his joking expression and slowly stood up, supporting himself on the bedpost.

"The center of the Stormy Thunder Pool is constantly filled with heavenly lightning, and even martial artists at the Qi Refining Realm dare not venture deep into it. If you only wish to harmonize your origin, I can prepare a milder Green Wood Spirit Marrow."

"The gentle medicinal effects can only allow them to coexist temporarily, but cannot truly transform them into my own power. The Heavenly Desolate Secret Realm is about to open, and I do not have time to slowly wait for my meridians to recover on their own."

Fan Chenxin walked to the bedside and fastened the last button on her collar, her fingertips avoiding the marks on the sides.

"I will not stop you from entering the Thunder Pool if you decide to break through, but I must take responsibility for the position of Dharma Protector."

Lou Xiaotian picked up the scattered outer robe from the other side and casually draped it over Jiang Yining's shoulders.

"I know the terrain around the Stormy Thunder Pool better than you do, and the Azure Wood Qi can form a barrier in a thunderstorm. If you insist on coming along, you'd better not interfere with me setting up the protective formation."

"You two can protect me together. If either of you tries to take my place while I'm breaking through the barrier, you'll have to jump into the lightning pool to wake yourself up."

The next day, before dawn, the sound of knocking to repair the wooden door could be heard in the courtyard of the inn.

Fan Chenxin re-installed the door frame, and Lou Xiaotian straightened the last stone pillar of the pavilion.

Although the two did not speak, they surprisingly did not try to trip each other up when handing over the wood and fixing the array patterns.

Jiang Yining changed into a purple outfit that allowed for easy movement and carried the Five Treasures onto the back of the Fire Spirit Falcon.

"It takes two hours to get from the inn to the Stormy Thunder Pool. In April, you must not leave the Fire Spirit Falcon midway, and you must not approach the edge of the Thunder Pool."

Wu Bao hugged the soft feathers on the Fire Spirit Falcon's neck tightly and earnestly raised one of its little hands.

"In April, I will stay on the shore and help my mother keep an eye on my two uncles so they can't secretly continue the tug-of-war."

After checking the protective rope on the Fire Spirit Falcon's back, Fan Chenxin looked at Lou Xiaotian.

"After we leave the city, I'll be in charge of the left and rear, while you'll be responsible for scouting the mountains and forests on the right. If anyone follows us, capture them alive and question them about their origins."

Lou Xiaotian put the several green wooden array stakes into his sleeve, unusually refraining from making any sarcastic remarks.

"The terrain to the east of Thunder Pool is higher. I will set up a lightning protection array after I arrive. You protect Wu Bao and Ning'er's retreat route and do not let anyone approach the valley entrance."

Jiang Yining walked between the two and nodded slightly after hearing the arrangement.

"You've finally figured out how to focus your energy on the right things. If you can maintain this understanding today, I can relieve you of half of the repair work when I return."

Inside the Mu family's underground cave in the south of the city, dozens of blood oil lamps were slowly burning on the stone walls.

The head of the Mu family sat on a bare bone bench, his palm pressing down on the shattered qualification token of his daughter, Mu Ziying, from the semi-finals.

The second elder of the Lou family sat opposite him, wearing a black cloak. His broken ebony staff had been replaced with a blood-patterned iron staff.

A masked warrior knelt in the center of the cave and placed the bone whistle he had just received in front of the two men.

"Jiang Yining has already left Yunhe Inn with the child. The only people accompanying her are Lou Xiaotian and that Buddhist cultivator. They are leaving the city through the east gate, and their destination is indeed Storm Thunder Pool."

The head of the Mu family picked up the bone whistle and slowly traced the dark red patterns on it with his fingertip.

"She forced Ziying to swallow the Blood-Devouring Gu on the semi-final stage, causing Ziying to be unable to circulate her internal energy to this day. If this woman enters the Heavenly Desolate Secret Realm alive, the Mu family's reputation will be completely trampled under her feet."

The second elder tapped the ground with his iron staff, his voice still filled with the hatred he felt after being humiliated the day before.

"I only ask that you kill Jiang Yining, and Lou Xiaotian be brought back to the Lou mansion alive. He is currently only bewitched by that woman; after she dies, he will naturally understand who truly cares about him."

"Lou Xiaotian can even throw away the Young Master's Order in the street, do you still think he'll obediently go back with you?"

"Once the Primordial Trapping Killing Formation is activated, anyone who enters it will have their life force drained by lightning. As long as the formation doesn't directly attack Lou Xiaotian, he will eventually run out of power."

The head of the Mu family pushed a pitch-black array core in front of the masked warrior.

"Your people don't need to show themselves beforehand. Wait until Jiang Yining is at the crucial moment of breaking through to the Condensation Realm, then activate the formation from the bottom of the Thunder Pool. I want her meridians to be shattered, and I want her to watch helplessly as the two people around her are powerless to save her."

The masked warrior did not immediately take the array key; a hoarse voice came from behind the mask.

"The power of Thunder Pool is already difficult to control. If the Trapping Killing Formation attracts the Ninefold Thunderstorm, Lou Xiaotian and that child may not be able to leave safely."

The Second Elder's eyes suddenly darkened, and he pressed his iron staff directly against the array core.

"Lou Xiaotian must be spared. If that child can be captured alive, do not harm him easily. As for the Buddhist cultivator and the others, you can deal with them as you see fit."

The head of the Mu family threw a storage bag full of top-grade blood crystals at the feet of the masked warrior.

"Take half the resources first, and collect the rest after you bring back Jiang Yining's body. Remember not to reveal the formation beforehand; that woman's sense of danger is more acute than that of ordinary martial artists."

The Storm Thunder Pool is located 300 miles east of Tianhuang City and is covered by thick, dark clouds all year round.

Before the valley even came into view, a muffled rumble of thunder echoed from the ground, shaking rocks off the mountainside every few breaths.

When Jiang Yining arrived at the valley entrance, she noticed two groups of people spying on her along the way.

Fan Chenxin did not take direct action, but instead used his dark gold blood energy to seal the mountain path behind him.

"There were three people on the left cliff. Their aura was unlike that of ordinary hunters, but they retreated on their own after we approached."

Lou Xiaotian returned from the woods on the right, a crushed communication bone fragment between his fingers.

"There were also signs of spying on the right side, but these people did not approach the Thunder Pool. They should just be spies sent by various families in Tianhuang City."

Jiang Yining took the bone fragment and examined it for a moment, confirming that there was no special blood or qi residue on it.

"Today I'm going to attempt to break through to the Qi Condensation Realm. No matter who those people are, we can't let them get close to the valley. Just seal off the entrance; there's no need to chase them too far."

Fan Chenxin set up a dark gold barrier at the entrance of the valley and then took the five treasures off the back of the Fire Spirit Falcon.

"After you enter the Thunder Pool, I will guard the nearest stone platform. If any abnormalities occur in your meridians, I will immediately use my qi and blood to shatter the Buddhist markings I left on your wrist."

Lou Xiaotian drove twelve green wooden array stakes into the mountain wall, where the pale green barrier and dark golden Buddhist light overlapped.

"There is a natural lightning-attracting stone to the east of the Thunder Pool. I will control the flow of lightning from there. If you feel the power is too strong, raise your left hand towards me, and I will divert 30% of the lightning away for you."

Jiang Yining looked at the two interlocking barriers, a hint of satisfaction appearing in her eyes.

"You only need to maintain the stability of the formation; you don't need to share the burden of the lightning for me. The lightning spirit root has been suppressed by the laws of the Martial Spirit Realm for too long, and I can use this place to reawaken it."

She walked to the edge of the danger zone, took off her outer tight-fitting clothes, leaving only the purple-gold soft armor that fit her body.

The soft armor covered his vitals and waist, but his shoulders, neck, and limbs were exposed to the raging lightning.

Fan Chenxin turned around to block the valley entrance for her, her voice much more tense than before.

"The lightning plasma will penetrate the bones through the skin. Before you enter, have the Myriad Spirits Divine Tree protect your heart meridian."

Lou Xiaotian stood on the lightning-attracting stone, his gaze lingering for a moment before shifting to the distant dark clouds.

"When the Green Wood Source encounters lightning, it will actively protect the dantian. If you feel that it is out of control, do not forcibly sever the connection with me."

"You two are only responsible for protecting me today. You don't need to continue instructing me on how to cultivate from across the line."

Jiang Yining stepped into the lightning mash, and her snow-white ankles were instantly swallowed by the purple-blue lightning.

Countless arcs of lightning climbed up his calves, and fine array patterns lit up the surface of his close-fitting soft armor.

When she landed the second time, the lightning had already reached her waist.

The long-dormant Thunder Spirit Root seemed to be awakened anew by the might of Heaven. The purple-gold Qi and blood no longer circulated along fixed meridians, but instead transformed into hundreds of thunder snakes that burrowed into the bones.

Jiang Yining's body suddenly tensed up, and the roots of the Myriad Spirits Divine Tree immediately wrapped around her heart meridian, dragging the first wave of violent lightning into her dantian.

"Why didn't the shiny little snakes on Mother's body tear her clothes?"

Wu Bao nestled in Fan Chen's arms, its eyes fixed on the center of the Thunder Pool.

"Those aren't snakes that bite; they're the lightning your mother used to temper her body. If you think the sound is too loud, April can cover her ears first."

"April is not afraid of thunder. My mother used to use lightning to roast meat for April."

Upon hearing this, Lou Xiaotian couldn't help but look at Jiang Yining in the Thunder Pool.

"How many things is she still hiding from us? She even used lightning to roast meat for her child."

Fan Chenxin protected the Five Treasures' ears with his palms, his gaze never leaving the Thunder Pool.

"Once you truly stay by her side, you will naturally learn what she has been through in the past."

In the center of the Thunder Pool, Jiang Yining slowly opened her arms.

The three main branches of the Myriad Spirits Divine Tree lit up simultaneously. The branch on the left was wrapped in dark gold Buddha blood, the roots on the right were wrapped in the green wood essence, and the main trunk in the middle attracted a purple lightning bolt as thick as a bucket.

The moment the lightning struck, the entire valley was illuminated by a blinding light.

Jiang Yining's internal energy and blood were scattered by the lightning, but they were gathered again under the guidance of the Myriad Spirit Divine Tree.

The purple-gold qi and blood that originally filled his limbs and bones gradually condensed into liquid, sinking drop by drop into the bottom of his dantian.

The barrier between the Qi and Blood Realm and the Qi Condensation Realm finally cracked for the first time amidst thunder.

Fan Chenxin sensed the change in her aura and placed his hand on the hilt of the black sword.

"The first round of condensing essence has begun. The next three bolts of lightning will be even stronger than before. Lou Xiaotian, expand the lightning-attracting array on the east side by another ten zhang."

Lou Xiaotian immediately activated the twelve green wood array pillars, without arguing even though the order came from his rival.

"You continue to hold the barrier at the valley entrance, and I will redirect all the excess lightning towards the mountain wall. If she fails to break through, we must both enter the pool and bring her out."

The next bolt of lightning struck down from the depths of the dark clouds, and the marks on both sides of Jiang Yining's collarbone lit up.

Dark gold lotus petals slowly bloom along the left collarbone, while pale blue tooth marks emerge from the wood grain on the right side.

The two colors flashed alternately with the lightning, making her originally delicate features even more stunning.

Her long, damp hair clung to her shoulders and back, and her purple-gold soft armor was outlined with smooth lines by lightning.

She was clearly enduring heavenly lightning powerful enough to tear apart a martial artist at the Qi Refining Realm, yet she remained clear-headed and calm throughout.

Wu Bao looked at it very carefully, and suddenly reached out and pointed to the marks on both sides.

"Uncle Chenxin's golden flower is glowing, and Uncle Zhonghua's blue teeth marks are also glowing. It's as if two flowers are blooming on Mother's body at the same time."

Fan Chenxin's breathing clearly paused for a moment, and his gaze fell on the dark gold lotus petal.

"That's not an ordinary golden flower, but a Buddha's blood mark used to protect her heart meridian."

Lou Xiaotian's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his gaze fixed on the faint blue mark.

"The green wood tooth mark also protects the main vein on the right side, and it is now noticeably brighter than the Buddha mark."

"If you're still interested in comparing which side is brighter, then shift your gaze away from her collarbone."

"If you could truly not look, why would you have been gripping the hilt of the knife so tightly from the beginning?"

As the third bolt of lightning struck, several black array patterns buried deep in the mud and sand at the bottom of the lightning pool silently lit up.

They slowly extended from the first drop of Qi and Blood Essence that Jiang Yining had condensed, quietly connecting to the entire Thunder Pool.

The two people on the shore held their breath, watching the increasingly breathtaking figure amidst the lightning, neither of them looking away first.

Lou Xiaotian stared at the two alternating flashing marks and finally squeezed out a whisper from his taut throat.

"This woman... she's practically killing us."