The surge of energy within Xiao Ming reached a certain peak, rippling through his body like an unrelenting tide. His heart pounded with a rhythm that resonated with the spirit qi around him, each beat drawing the realm's ambient energy into him. He sat cross-legged, steady as a mountain, but within him, a powerful force was brewing.
The Mystic Realm's air itself seemed to hum in resonance. The surrounding spiritual qi condensed visibly, forming faint ribbons of multicolored light that spiraled toward him.
"Another breakthrough? Right after stepping into the Natural Soul Realm?" Xue Mao's voice carried a mixture of incredulity and irritation. "This kid's freakish potential will either kill him or make him the envy of every cultivator alive!"
Xiao Ming ignored the cat's mutterings, his focus entirely inward. Deep within his soul sea, changes were occurring that he could hardly comprehend.