Yuan Ming closed his eyes, conducting an inner observation of the Nascent Soul within his Dantian.

The purple on the Nascent Soul had grown denser compared to a month ago. Although he didn't feel any discomfort yet, he had a clear intuition that the time of the poison outbreak was drawing increasingly near.

"Hua Zhi, how are things on your side?" Yuan Ming sent a message to Hua Zhi.

"Master, this Purple Fluorescent Poison is too peculiar. I've never seen anything like it before. I've studied it for so long but still haven't figured out its nature." Hua Zhi shook her head, looking exhausted.

"It's fine, you've worked hard during this time. Leave the rest to me." Yuan Ming was not surprised and comforted her.

"Although I haven't figured out the Purple Fluorescent Poison, I have found a way to delay its outbreak." Hua Zhi smiled broadly.

"Oh? What method?" Yuan Ming immediately asked.

"Despite its peculiarities, this poison still falls under the category of lethal toxins. I am born with an Absorption Poison Divine Ability, and my Lifebound Essence Qi has a strong detoxifying effect. My method is to..." Hua Zhi explained a technique, using her Lifebound Essence Qi to lay a seal in Yuan Ming's Nascent Soul to delay the outbreak of the poison.

"It's not suitable." Yuan Ming pondered for a moment and rejected this proposal.

"Why?" Hua Zhi asked with a frown.

"Although this method is possible, it would greatly consume your Lifebound Essence Qi, potentially causing you to fall out of the Returning to Void Stage. Do not mention this again." Yuan Ming firmly refused.

"But..." Hua Zhi hurriedly said.

"Don't worry, there's still some time left, and I have a plan." Yuan Ming waved his hand, interrupting Hua Zhi's next words and ending the messaging.

Yuan Ming calmed his mind, channeled mana into the White Jade Lotus Platform, and continued to enhance the Zhu Rong Heart Technique using the Bright Soul Fire.

Previously, he had been exercising with the Bright Soul Fire by controlling a single flame. Now, with time running out, he decided to go all out and even involved the main soul hovering on the White Jade Lotus Platform.

As a stream of Soul Power flowed out from the main soul and merged with his mana, he began to control five clusters of Bright Soul Fire at once.

The main soul directly contacting the Bright Soul Fire could indeed unleash the effects of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique, but the Divine Soul still felt an intense stabbing pain, almost as if it were about to fall apart.

Yuan Ming gritted his teeth and endured, continuing to manipulate the Bright Soul Fire, constantly making various changes.

He faintly felt that he had made considerable progress towards breaking through to the third level of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique, advancing much faster than before.

Time quickly passed by half a day.

The main soul rapidly weakened under the scorching of the Bright Soul Fire, nearly weakening by thirty percent.

His comprehension of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique also deepened continuously, yet he was consistently just a bit away from the third level and unable to break through.

Yuan Ming furrowed his brows, gritted his teeth, and increased the control to seven clusters of Bright Soul Fire, the stabbing pain in his Divine Soul became ever stronger, creating an illusion of a splitting headache.

Thus, after another small half-day passed, Yuan Ming's main soul's Soul Power was less than half. The Zhu Rong Heart Technique still hadn't broken through, just missing a final hurdle.

"It seems time is still too finite; I haven't truly settled my mind to practice... There's no time left, let's go all out!" Yuan Ming shook his head at first, then his face showed resolute determination.

He took a deep breath, fully integrating the main soul into his mana to control seven clusters of Bright Soul Fire, pushing himself to the limit to enhance his understanding of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique as much as possible.

"Good lad, gutsy!" Somewhere in the Stealing Heaven Tripod, the Artifact Spirit Kong showed a hint of a smile, made a gesture, and pointed to the void ahead.

In Yuan Ming's consciousness, a sea of flames suddenly appeared, reaching up to the sky and descending into Nine Netherworld, burning fiercely.

The flames, either exploding or flickering, continuously changed, demonstrating the profound mysteries of fire.

The fiery vision came and went fast, disappearing almost as quickly as it had appeared.

In the next moment, Yuan Ming's eyes widened, and he seemed to be immobilized, frozen there, unaware that the main soul was continuously being burned by the Bright Soul Fire.

In his Sea of Consciousness, he repeatedly recalled the scene, enhancing his comprehension of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique at an unbelievable speed.

"Haha, I understand now! The third level of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique emphasizes change, from Dao comes one, one generates two, two generates three, and three generates all things; the Daoist Skill is perfected!" Yuan Ming burst into laughter at the sky, the Zhu Rong Heart Technique instantly clicked, breaking through to the third level.

He made a gesture, and the seven clusters of Bright Soul Fire rapidly changed, forming human shapes or beast shapes, flying around more vividly than before by tenfold.

With the completion of the third level of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique, his control over the Bright Soul Fire became more skillful; what previously required ten parts of Soul Power, now only one part sufficed, greatly reducing the impact on his Divine Soul.

At this time, Yuan Ming's face was deathly pale, looking like his Divine Soul had been severely depleted, yet his expression was surprisingly relaxed. After a long exhale, he did not continue further and began to retract his Soul Power.

As long as his Divine Soul was not fundamentally damaged, absorbing Moonlight Power would quickly recover it. With much hustle, he finally broke through the Zhu Rong Heart Technique to the third level within the allotted time, laying a more solid foundation for studying the Artifact Refining and Alchemy Techniques in the future.

But what was that fiery vision about? It didn't seem to be his own comprehension but rather someone assisting him.

"Senior Kong, was that you just now?" Yuan Ming asked, but there was no response.

Without questioning further, he put away the Stealing Heaven Tripod and the Silver Token, then closed his eyes to begin breathing control.

The Undying Tree Roots in his Dantian took root in the void, absorbing the scattered Moonlight Power in the void to heal the wounds on his Divine Soul.

Early the next morning.

A figure appeared in front of Yuan Ming's cell, none other than Mao Yi himself.

"It's time. How well has Fellow Daoist Yuan cultivated the Zhu Rong Heart Technique?" Mao Yi coldly watched Yuan Ming, slowly asking. Sаmplе frоm Мy Virtuаl Librаry Еmpirе—rеаd mоrе оn

Yuan Ming didn't waste words, raised his hands from his sides, and began chanting.

In the next moment, sparks emerged from his body's surface, swirling around him, akin to living creatures, sometimes forming flying birds soaring, other times transforming into schools of fish swimming around.

"Have you learned the Zhu Rong Heart Technique before?" As Mao Yi's pupils flickered with subtle light, his expression became slightly doubtful and uncertain.

"No, but I have studied Artifact Refining Technique diligently, so I have some foundation in fire control." Yuan Ming replied half-truthfully.

This left Mao Yi thoroughly shocked.

Being well-versed in the Zhu Rong Heart Technique, he could clearly see that Yuan Ming had genuinely mastered it, reaching the third realm.

Yet, if Yuan Ming had truly never practiced the Zhu Rong Heart Technique a month ago, his progress to the third level within a month seemed somewhat unfathomable.

Even for himself, re-cultivating and comprehending the Zhu Rong Heart Technique from scratch could not achieve the third realm in such a short time.

"How exactly did this kid accomplish this?"

Though thoughts churned in Mao Yi's mind, he hid his emotions well on the surface without showing direct surprise, only revealing an expression of admiration after a moment of silence.

"Well, as expected of Fellow Daoist Yuan, truly gifted as entrusted. This bottle of elixir can suppress the Purple Fluorescent Poison, take it." Mao Yi couldn't help but praise, then tossed a porcelain bottle into the cell.

"Suppress? I thought you said surviving by cultivating within a month meant you'd cure the poison." Yuan Ming picked up the porcelain bottle, speaking discontentedly.

"Heh, rest assured. Since I promised, I won't break my word. However, I still need your help with a major task. Once it's done, I will rid you of the poison completely and offer unexpected benefits." Mao Yi smiled slightly.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming gripped the porcelain bottle tightly, feeling a semblance of anger, but he said no more, extracting a green elixir from the bottle.

After carefully examining it, he consumed it.

The green elixir melted upon entering his stomach, transforming into a green mist that entered his Dantian, merging with the Nascent Soul within.

The purple within the Nascent Soul quickly receded, yet did not vanish, condensing into a purple-black spot on the Nascent Soul's abdomen.

Yuan Ming's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing.

"Follow me," Mao Yi gestured, and the cell door opened automatically.

Yuan Ming followed him out of the cell in confusion and soon arrived at a spacious room.

Within the room, Huangfu Jue and three other Returning to Void Cultivators were waiting, including Yun Luo Fairy.

As for the other two Returning to Void Cultivators, one was a bald old man and the other a white-faced scholar, neither known to Yuan Ming.

"Mao Yi, I've complied with your demands for a whole month. What exactly do you intend to do?" Upon seeing Mao Yi and Yuan Ming approach, Huangfu Jue glanced at Yuan Ming and asked in a deep voice.

"Heh, Young Friend Huangfu, be patient. Everything will be revealed soon. Before that, I have one last requirement, which is straightforward. There is a Fire Attribute Array that must be controlled with the Zhu Rong Heart Technique. You all meet the conditions. Just master the array, and then use it to do one thing for me, and I'll cure the Purple Fluorescent Poison and grant you freedom," Mao Yi chuckled.

"What do you intend to do with that Great Array? Surely not to make us oppose Dongji Palace? If so, even with freedom, we'll face endless pursuits from Dongji Palace, ultimately boarding your pirate ship anyway," questioned the bald old man.

"Rest assured, everyone. What I ask isn't something difficult or that will affect your future cultivation. After it's done, I'll return your storage magic tools and magic treasures as promised, without fails," Mao Yi continued without anger.

Everyone exchanged glances, still harboring concern and doubts, but given their current situation, they had no means of resistance, and voicing a few refutations was the most they could do.

However… even if they gained freedom, they would still have to live in Dongji Sea, forced to consider Dongji Palace's stance on the matter.

Thus, all eyes turned to Huangfu Jue, attempting to gauge his attitude.

"Senior Mao, being a Dharma manifestation stage existence, you surely wouldn't break your word. I hope you will keep your promise," Huangfu Jue said slowly after a brief silence.

"Heh, you juniors aren't worth breaking faith with, but I won't show mercy to those without value," Mao Yi coldly smiled at the group.

As Mao Yi's gaze settled on them, everyone felt a chill fill their bodies, as though pierced by knives and spears, instinctively averting his gaze, except Yuan Ming, who seemed unfazed.

"Since Senior has said so, we naturally believe it. But, may I ask, what formation do you wish us to practice?" Yuan Ming asked, looking at Mao Yi.