Suddenly, the rune that represented the Wind Stabilizing Rune transformed directly into a small bead the size of a peanut, emitting a shimmering silver-white light.
Ten directions of brightness flickered on the bead, with endless Dao rhythms flowing through, and that Wind Stabilizing Pill unexpectedly transformed from the rune into an innate treasure.
"Wind Stabilizing Pill? Is the tier above the twelfth Tier innate? Does innate mean it can’t be further enhanced?" Zhang Chen’s eyes revealed a hint of contemplation.
"I wonder how effective this Wind Stabilizing Pill is." Zhang Chen extended his palm, and the Wind Stabilizing Pill quietly appeared in his palm. Its light became restrained, transforming into a silver-white bead, smooth as a mirror without a trace of imperfection.
"This is an innate spiritual treasure!" Zhang Chen caressed the Wind Stabilizing Pill, thoughts flickering in his mind: "If rune-based skills with carriers evolve into innate treasures, do all skill-type divine techniques eventually advance to innate divine techniques?"
However, Zhang Chen dared not be too sure, as the potential of each divine technique varies; some evolve to higher levels, while others remain at lower levels, and the two cannot be compared.
Just like Zhang Chen’s Qi Cultivation Technique, its limit was too low, and it directly reached the end.
Zhang Chen carefully sensed the Wind Stabilizing Pill, noticing a mysterious power on the Wind Stabilizing Pill that enveloped a three-foot radius around him, instantly calming all air currents within that range.
"This is simply the nemesis of all wind attribute superpower users." Zhang Chen channeled his magical power into the Wind Stabilizing Pill. As magical power poured into it, the mysterious force field spread, covering a one-meter radius around Zhang Chen.
But it was only a one-meter radius, as any further expansion would deplete Zhang Chen’s magical power.
After a series of repeated experiments and validations, Zhang Chen concluded that the maximum spread of the Wind Stabilizing Pill’s power was one meter, which was his magical power’s limit. Within the one-meter radius, he could activate it for the duration of one incense stick. Beyond one meter, his magical power would be instantly drained by the Wind Stabilizing Pill.
"The so-called one-meter distance is merely the basic range for the Wind Stabilizing Pill to self-activate its power; my magical power only serves to stimulate the Wind Stabilizing Pill’s operation. Beyond one meter, the Wind Stabilizing Pill will draw on my magical power, which is negligible compared to the massive consumption of the Wind Stabilizing Pill." Zhang Chen understood the situation; the upgrade in the Wind Stabilizing Pill’s power level had both advantages and disadvantages for him.
The advantage is that the Wind Stabilizing Pill’s power has increased, but the disadvantage is that it has become more strenuous to activate and the covered area is smaller.
"But for me, it’s sufficient. What need is there for such a large area?" The next moment, as he focused his thoughts, the Wind Stabilizing Pill vanished from his palm, reappearing within his Magical Power Cyan Lotus. With the addition of the Wind Stabilizing Pill, Zhang Chen felt his Cyan Lotus grow a bit more substantial and vivid, with a mysterious Qi mechanism flowing.
Zhang Chen focused his mind and began to meditate again, stepping into the First Heaven of the spiritual world. Now, his form appeared directly in the midst of a black whirlwind. The overwhelming black wind billowed, but at one meter from Zhang Chen, it instantly became calm, all the black wind disappearing completely. Only black sand grains, like a pile of sand, fell down, covering Zhang Chen in dust.
At this moment, the Wind Stabilizing Pill activated on its own, enveloping Zhang Chen. Regardless of the world outside turning dark with flying sand and rolling stones, Zhang Chen remained unaffected in his surroundings.
Seeing this, Zhang Chen was overjoyed and hurriedly walked down the mountain, heading deeper into the black wind. As he moved, the wind and sand around him ceased; indeed, the overwhelming black wind no longer caused him any trouble.
Though the entire world was blown into a murky blackness, obstructing his vision so that he couldn’t see any scenery beyond ten meters.
"Now that I’ve stabilized the boundless black wind, by following the path down, I can exit the grand array. But this grand array was originally a fortuity for me. If I can collect the entire array, it would also be a great creation." Zhang Chen had thoughts about the grand array.
Then, he summoned the Great Freedom Celestial Demon, "I want to break this array; do you know how to break it?"
"The core area of this black wind is probably at the eleventh tier. If you want to break the array, you must first find a way to control the eleventh-tier violent wind." The Great Freedom Celestial Demon looked at Zhang Chen, with a teasing tone in his voice, "Do you have the ability to control the violent wind?"
"Of course, I have that ability," Zhang Chen replied with a smile, "You’re one to underestimate others; just point out the direction."
Hearing this, the Great Freedom Celestial Demon didn’t waste words, briefly identifying and then pointing out a direction. He was hoping Zhang Chen would crash and his soul would be lost in this place, and then he could regain his freedom.
The black wind roared, sending flying sands and stones, but Zhang Chen remained as steady as an old dog, unmoving in the storm. Seeing this, the Great Freedom Celestial Demon looked surprised. As they got closer to the core area, the hurricane’s power grew more intense. Walking in the black wind, Zhang Chen quietly mused: "The power of this hurricane has reached the tenth tier. If it blows up, not even a ninth-tier strongman could withstand it. Fortunately, the rocks in the mountains have been pulverized by the black wind; otherwise, the flying sands and stones might overwhelm me. Even with the Wind Stabilizing Pill, I might not withstand large stones’ blows."
After about the time of one incense stick’s burning, Zhang Chen noticed his magical power nearing depletion, so he quickly retreated out.
Inside the cave
Zhang Chen opened his eyes from meditation. Outside, the sun was already high in the sky, its scorching rays penetrating inside, brightening the entire cave.
"Ever since achieving Qi Cultivation Perfection, I’ve always felt my magical power was enough for use, but who would have thought I’d run out now. I must quickly find the cultivation formula of a higher level Qi Cultivation technique; otherwise, my magical power will be the biggest shortcoming in performing divine skill." Sitting cross-legged, Zhang Chen quietly began to recover his magical power. Fortunately, his skills were inherently innate, similar to innate divine techniques, not requiring magical power support.
Zhang Chen wanted to recover his magical power, but at this moment, the howling from the Eight Trigrams Furnace grew louder, the fierce flames’ roars transforming into dragon chants and tiger roars.
"I wonder about my Golden Scissors; can they withstand it?" Zhang Chen worried, "This is a furnace forged by heaven and earth itself; hopefully, it won’t melt through my Golden Scissors."
Zhang Chen felt concerned, but with his body devoid of magical power, he couldn’t inspect the furnace.
"This has sounded an alert for me; during treasure refining, my magic power shouldn’t be excessively depleted. Otherwise, if the furnace shows any anomaly, I won’t be able to adjust it in time." Zhang Chen sounded the alarm in his heart.
"Woo-aow~"
Just as Zhang Chen was about to recover his magical power, the nearby Demon King Zhao Lie woke up, letting out a heart-wrenching roar towards Zhang Chen: he was hungry!
Not just any hunger, he was incredibly hungry.
Zhang Chen glanced at the little tiger but ignored it, instead summoning Fox Fairy Nannan: "Go, feed the cat for me! I plan to give this little cat away later on; take good care of it for me."
Called out by Zhang Chen, the Fox Fairy Nannan had no complaints. She picked up the honey Zhang Chen had prepared and approached Zhao Lie: "Where did you catch this little wild..."
Fox Fairy Nannan only got halfway through her sentence before falling silent, struck as if by lightning, staring incredulously at the little wild cat before her.
What had she seen? The great demon king Zhao Lie of the demon race?
He was the supreme overlord, the great demon king Zhao Lie, how could he have been caught by Zhang Chen and become a little wild cat?
Fox Fairy Nannan rubbed her eyes hard, suspecting her recent mental fatigue had led her to see things. After rubbing her eyes, she and Zhao Lie simply stared at each other in silence.
"It must be a mistake, just a resemblance," she muttered under her breath.
Fox Fairy Nannan recognized the great demon king Zhao Lie, and Zhao Lie, of course, recognized her as well—after all, she was the demon race’s prodigy, and there was no reason for him not to know her.
Back in the day, when Zhao Lie discussed Dao with the Fox Race elder, he had seen Fox Fairy Nannan and even offered advice on her cultivation.
When Zhao Lie recognized the presence of Fox Fairy Nannan, tears welled up in his eyes, his eyes turning moist.
It was all too overwhelming!
In the past, Zhao Lie had been the overlord of the demon race, but look at him now.
Baby’s heart was heavy with bitterness!