The rain clouds gradually dispersed, and sunlight pierced through the thin mist, dappling the sea surface.

"Ugh, it's hot~"

Huo Ling'er sensed the changes within her body and was startled. Without caring that she was unclothed, she sat down cross-legged beside Yu Yuan and began to focus her mind and steady her breath, contemplating the transformation of her mana.

Around her body, the spiritual power fluctuations grew stronger and more intense, as if an incredibly scorching storm was forming inside her. With time passing, Huo Ling'er's aura climbed higher and higher. She soared through the ranks from the lower rungs of the Golden Immortal Realm, all the way to the peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm before finally halting.

This was because to realize the Dao Fruit of Daluo, her accumulation was still far from enough.

Moreover, to achieve the Dao Fruit of Daluo, one had to cut off the Three Corpse Worm.

Even so, the speed at which her Dao Xing was hinting was still incredible.

When she opened her eyes again, two beams of sharp light shot out; both her mana and Dao Xing had leaped qualitatively. She looked at Yu Yuan with wonderful surprise in her eyes, filled with confusion, "Junior Brother, what exactly is going on? How could my Dao Xing Realm suddenly improve so much?"

Yu Yuan nodded to himself as he looked at Huo Ling'er's joyful appearance.

With his current Dao Xing and his overwhelmingly powerful physical strength, it was natural that his Life Essence was incredibly potent.

After Huo Ling'er received his Life Essence, as long as she refined it a bit, her Dao Xing Realm would naturally experience a significant improvement.

Of course, this method was akin to 'helping the shoots grow by pulling them upward' and was not the correct path.

However, considering the impending Divine Enthronement War soon to come, he still chose to help Huo Ling'er enhance her strength as much as possible, to prevent her from encountering any accidents during the great calamity.

He didn't explain this directly but instead smiled and said, "This is because you've made a breakthrough in your state of mind, and your mana naturally improved with it. Senior Sister, you're now at the peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm; such strength is among the top in the Three Realms."

Huo Ling'er slightly wrinkled her nose, "Don't lie to me, I know it must be your doing... but such a sudden improvement feels somewhat unreal."

A playful look flashed in Yu Yuan's eyes as he deliberately countered, "How could it be me? It's clear that Senior Sister, you absorbed all of my Dao Xing. Did you learn some potent Gathering and Replenishing Technique from someone?"

Huo Ling'er's face turned red with Yu Yuan's questioning, knowing that he was teasing her. She playfully slapped him, "It was clearly you who brought it upon me, but now you're blaming me... Hmph, is this how you are with Bai Ling too? No wonder she improves leaps and bounds every time after meeting you, soon she'll catch up to me!"

Yu Yuan shook his head with a smile, "Senior Sister, rest assured, I'll make sure she can't catch up with you in the future."

Huo Ling'er felt her doubts fading away after hearing Yu Yuan's words. She looked at him deeply, her heart filled with gratitude. She knew that if not for Yu Yuan's arrangement today, she would have needed many more years of arduous cultivation for such a breakthrough.

Her hand gently rested on Yu Yuan's hand, feeling his warmth. Looking at the glittering waves on the sea, her heart was filled with indescribable satisfaction and joy.

...

While Yu Yuan was busy taking a break, war re-erupted within the Great Shang Territory of the Southern Continent.

General Deng Jiugong of the Three Mountain Pass received the imperial edict and immediately ordered his troops to prepare for a swift march to Qingxia Pass to intercept Wen Zhong. Deng Jiugong, tall and burly with a resolute face and eyes bright as torches, fostered a presence of awe as his beard, sharp as steel needles, prickled out. When he furrowed his brows, the chilling aura emitted was enough to strike fear into one's heart.

He wore a black suit of armor, a long sword hung at his waist, one hand stroking his beard, the other holding a map, his eyes firmly fixed ahead as if he had already foreseen the intense battle to come.

As Deng Jiugong was arranging his military affairs, his daughter Deng Chanyu walked in. With a graceful figure and beautiful appearance, her eyes betrayed a determination and resolve uncommon for her age. Having practiced martial arts since childhood, her skills were formidable. She was not only proficient in sword techniques but also adept at military strategy.

"Father, I've heard that Wen Zhong's troops are marching towards Chaoge. I wish to serve as the Vanguard Commander, leading the elite forces to set off first," Deng Chanyu said with an unwavering tone, standing before Deng Jiugong.

Deng Jiugong looked at his daughter with a mix of pride and concern in his eyes, but knowing her abilities were not inferior to any man, he nodded, "Chanyu, though you are skilled in martial arts, the battlefield is merciless. You must be cautious. Wen Zhong might be a rebel, but his military blade is not to be underestimated."

"Father, rest assured, I will handle it with care. I will strike swiftly like thunder and return victorious over the enemy," Deng Chanyu confidently replied.

Deng Jiugong looked deeply at his daughter, finally giving her a firm pat on the shoulder, signaling her to prepare.

Before long, Deng Jiugong led an army of one hundred thousand soldiers on a mighty march. They traveled swiftly, day and night, and finally arrived at Qingxia Pass on schedule. Outside the pass, General Deng Jiugong personally directed the deployment; his soldiers swiftly arranged their formation according to his orders.

The soldiers clad in iron armor with long spears in hand were arrayed in neat rows. The banners fluttered in the sky, the drums roared, and the atmosphere was as vibrant as a rainbow. Deng Jiugong stood at the forefront of the formation, his gaze as sharp as ever, scrutinizing his army while calculating all the possibilities of the battle in his mind.

Deng Chanyu, clad in armor, sword in hand, stood at the forefront of the army. Her gaze was steadfast, filled with anticipation for the looming battle. She knew that this fight was not only about the security of Chaoge but also an excellent opportunity for her to prove herself.