Starting with being handed over to the Imperial Concubine, building a family with a thousand-year hi

Lai Chunshan narrowed his eyes and pondered for a long time before saying, "We can only go back to that level nine fire phoenix to discuss countermeasures again."

"No need to worry. With Senior and Fire Phoenix joining forces, they will surely be able to kill Su Mu in one fell swoop," Songhe reassured him.

The group took to the east and finally found the level nine fire phoenix on the east coast at dawn the next day.

"He directly refused to cooperate?" After listening to Lai Chunshan's account, Huo Huang looked surprised. "Did you mention that I possess a divine talisman?"

"It wasn't mentioned," Songhe replied. "He was only told that the elder had two left, but he didn't mention Senior Lai or Senior Lai."

The Fire Phoenix was utterly perplexed: "The opportunities in the Martial Mystic Realm are incredibly precious, how could he be completely unmoved? Even I, a mid-stage level nine divine bird, yearn for them immensely, how could he be so indifferent?"

"I speculate there are two reasons," Lai Chunshan analyzed. "First, he is cautious and unwilling to take risks rashly; second, he has ample resources and is confident that he can cultivate to the Martial God level on his own before the Ghost Clan launches a full-scale invasion. His growth rate is too terrifying, and he will indeed be able to stand against the Ghost Clan in the future."

"Senior, we can't let him continue to grow stronger," Songhe hurriedly interjected. "The black mist is constantly shrinking our living space, and sooner or later we'll have nowhere to retreat. While we can still put up a fight, we must go all out."

Fire Phoenix wholeheartedly agreed; what Pine Crane said was by no means an exaggeration. With Su Mu unwilling to form an alliance, the only path left for both sides was a fight to the death.

"When do we make our move?" Lai Chunshan asked.

"Wait a few more days." Fire Phoenix was still searching for the level nine sea turtle and had not fully recovered from her injuries. "You all go and wait around the Great Qian Imperial City. I will arrive in ten days at most. If the sea turtle has already perished, I will stop searching."

"Alright," Lai Chunshan agreed. Within ten days, Su Mu would find it difficult to make any significant breakthroughs; the higher the realm, the longer it would take to advance.

...In a superior room of a restaurant in the Great Qian Imperial City. Sun Fang had returned yesterday and was quietly recuperating, taking two Dao Soul Foundation Building Pills. Late at night, after digesting the medicinal effects, he swallowed a Profound Spirit Creation Pill. He ate a simple meal this morning, and after absorbing the medicinal effects throughout the morning, he took a Grade Six Nirvana Pill at noon. By dusk, he had completely broken free from the repulsion and suppression of the Heavenly Origin World. His divine soul realm had improved, and both his Profound Spirit and physical body had undergone transformation, resulting in a significant increase in overall strength. As a top genius of the Heavenly Martial Sect, with a solid foundation and the large number of high-grade pills given to him by Su Mu, he was confident that he could break through to the early stage of Martial Emperor in a short period.

"My godfather disregarded past grievances and devoted himself to cultivating me; I must never betray this kindness," Sun Fang secretly resolved.

As time passed, it was late at night on the fifteenth of July. Su Mu did not engage in tender dual cultivation with Xiao Yunshang. Instead, he successively swallowed six Qian Yuan Shen Xia Pills, finally tempering and transforming his own Imperial Dao Profound Spirit, and condensing the Imperial Dao Divine Embryo.

Su Mu's divine sense sank into his Qi Sea, carefully observing the newly born Imperial Divine Embryo. The Imperial Profound Spirit, which had previously been clad in a purple-gold robe, was now wrapped in a thick cocoon of radiant light. The cocoon was covered with countless divine patterns of the Great Dao, flowing with iridescent divine light. The newborn divine embryo was not as wide as the former Profound Spirit, but it was still a full ten feet tall. Within the thick cocoon, a continuous stream of powerful divine fluctuations emanated, like a nascent deity being conceived.

Ordinary late-stage Martial Emperor cultivators, with sufficient foundation, only need one Qian Yuan Divine Cloud Pill to cultivate a Divine Embryo. Su Mu used a full six pills, which is enough to prove that his Imperial Divine Embryo foundation far surpasses that of all other cultivators of the same level.

At dawn, the cultivation session came to an end. Su Mu stepped out of the library and settled in the courtyard to adapt to the all-around amplification brought by the Divine Embryo. The quality and inherent power of the cultivation produced by the Imperial Divine Embryo far surpassed that of his previous Profound Spirit, containing pure natural power and rich divinity. Su Mu summoned the Seven Star Dragon-Slaying Sword, and with his top-tier swordsmanship, he activated the Divine Embryo's power. This top-grade Heavenly Rank longsword instantly erupted with dazzling sword light.

Su Mu was very satisfied. Not only could the Imperial Divine Embryo activate higher-grade magic weapons, but the power of all his martial arts techniques would also increase significantly.

"The next step is to transform the Martial Aspect into the Divine Aspect, and advance the Profound Fire to the Divine Fire. As for the Divine Embryo transforming into a Divine Spirit, it is by no means something that can be accomplished in a short time. The stronger the foundation of the Divine Embryo, the greater the obstacle to transforming into a Divine Spirit, but once it is broken through, the power of the Imperial Divine Spirit will be unparalleled throughout the ages." Su Mu pondered to himself.

With the crisis facing the Ghost Clan imminent, Chai Min, Ding Chao, Chang Wei, Li Sheng, and others dared not slacken their efforts, burying themselves in rigorous cultivation every day; even Xiao Anxun and the rest of the royal family diligently cultivated without ceasing. Jinzi continued to consume the inner cores and essence blood of demonic beasts daily, occasionally receiving a few drops of his own Overlord Body essence blood as a form of nourishment from Su Mu. Now that Su Mu's physical body had become a divine body, the primal power contained within his Overlord Body essence blood was even stronger, greatly accelerating Jinzi's evolution.

Another day passed quietly. On the morning of July 17th, Sun Fang entered the palace again and went to the library to pay his respects to Su Mu.

"Godfather, I have made all the preparations to break through to the Martial Emperor realm. I wish to stay in the palace to refine my Martial Phase. I humbly request your protection."

"So fast?" Su Mu was slightly surprised. Sun Fang had only been his godfather for six days, yet he had already reached the bottleneck.

"It is all thanks to my godfather's generous bestowal of a massive amount of high-grade pills that I had the opportunity to break through so quickly," Sun Fang replied respectfully.

"The pills are just an aid; your own accumulated knowledge and experience are the foundation." When Su Mu took Sun Fang in, he could tell that Sun Fang was only one step away from becoming a Martial Emperor, but he didn't expect the breakthrough to come so quickly. "Since you're ready, stay in the palace and break through."

"Thank you, godfather!" Sun Fang bowed and expressed his gratitude.

At noon that day, with everything prepared, Sun Fang released his primordial spirit and fire dragon martial soul, officially beginning the condensation of his martial form. The fire dragon martial soul, over a hundred feet long, bared its fangs and claws, exuding overwhelming power. His primordial spirit was solid and tall, with ample foundation, only needing the final step to take shape. Su Mu, Xiao Yunshang, and others stood around him, protecting him throughout the entire process.

A hundred miles south of the Great Qian Imperial City, Lai Chunshan and Song He's group could see a fiery dragon soaring into the sky above the city.

"Someone in the city is refining their martial arts." Lai Chunshan frowned.

"It's Sun Fang." Song He squinted at the imperial city, his expression complex.

"Is he the Martial King disciple that your Tianwu Sect sent to deliver a message and acknowledge Su Mu as his godfather?" Lai Chunshan asked.

"That's right." Song He nodded, his heart filled with emotion. He never expected that Sun Fang would break through to the early stage of Martial Emperor in just a few days after recognizing his relatives.

"That eunuch's methods are truly terrifying." Lai Chunshan was full of displeasure. "When Sun Fang returned to report last time, we should have killed him directly. He was cursed by Su Mu's Blood Soul Curse, and he will only be loyal to Su Mu for the rest of his life. He has already become our enemy and should not be let go so easily."

"Firstly, we might need him to pass on messages later. Secondly, he is a genius carefully cultivated by the Tianwu Sect, and we cannot kill him casually," Songhe explained. "Moreover, even if he breaks through to the early stage of Martial Emperor, his cultivation is weak and he will not pose a threat to us. On the contrary, he will consume a lot of high-grade pills for Su Mu. Killing him would be a loss."

"That makes sense." Lai Chunshan was filled with frustration, complaining that the level nine fire phoenix was too slow. Several days had passed since the agreed date, and it was still nowhere to be seen. He had thought that once he arrived at the Tianyuan Continent, he could roam freely without restraint, with no rivals except for the Ghost Clan. Now, however, he was constrained at every turn. He wanted to kill Su Mu and seize the opportunities in the secret realm, but he dared not act alone and could only passively wait for an alliance. Now that someone on the enemy side had successfully broken through, his group could only watch from afar, powerless to stop them, and he felt extremely frustrated.

"Senior Lai, there's no need to be impatient. Good things take time," Songhe comforted him. "Huohuang only said it would take ten days at most, so we're only waiting three or four more days."