Three days had passed silently since Li Xuan began opening his divine mansion on Su Nu Peak.
For these three days, Li Xuan had remained completely still since he started.
The spiritual energy that continuously flowed from heaven and earth all entered Li Xuan's body through the crown of his head. As this spiritual energy surged in, the aura emanating from Li Xuan's body reached its peak.
His entire physique was as crystal clear as glazed jade.
Bai Suxin, known as Bai Zun, who was sipping spiritual tea not far away, nodded slightly as she observed all this.
*Boom!*
As the scorching sun began to set, a muffled sound echoed from within Li Xuan. In the area of Li Xuan's spiritual sea, immense waves instantly surged, rolling and churning like a furious dragon's roar.
After more than ten minutes, the spiritual power within his dantian surged towards Li Xuan's body like a mountain collapsing.
In the area of Li Xuan's spiritual sea, there was not a trace of spiritual sea springs. However, the collapsing and even cracking land momentarily turned illusory.
Time gradually passed, and this process continued for nearly an hour. After an hour, another change occurred within Li Xuan's body.
First, a white mist appeared in the previously empty spiritual sea. The white mist continued to ferment, and then it completely filled the area where Li Xuan's spiritual sea had been.
Another hour passed, and with a booming sound, the mist turned black, and nothing could be seen. Simultaneously, the spiritual energy circulating within Li Xuan's body poured out through his pores, encircling him like a silken cocoon.
Within the spiritual energy, specks of golden light flickered and floated, then merged together.
A vibrant, five-colored flower drifted upwards.
A spiritual dragon, over a meter long, soared above Li Xuan's head as if riding the clouds.
As both these entities appeared, Bai Suxin, Bai Zun, looked on with a hint of surprise. Then, under Bai Suxin, Bai Zun's gaze, the two entities dissolved once more.
After more than ten breaths, a golden substance, the size of an egg and resembling liquid, suddenly shot into Li Xuan's mind.
*Boom!*
Following the entry of the golden substance, another booming sound resonated from within Li Xuan. The area where Li Xuan's spiritual sea had been began to rapidly condense, as if constructing a skyscraper.
"I didn't expect it to start directly with a golden divine mansion. I wonder what kind of divine mansion it will be when it's finished. However, this can be considered the true beginning of opening a divine mansion. And how many Star Spiritual Beads you can condense will depend on your own fortune. I hope you'll surprise me." xxs1
Bai Suxin, Bai Zun, set down her teacup. After glancing at Li Xuan, she pondered for a moment, and her figure slowly merged into the void, disappearing.
Within the divine mansion, as time flowed, the golden divine mansion also began to transform. Amidst the golden light, radiance gradually appeared. After a display of vibrant colors, the hue shifted to purple. Only when everything had turned into a purple divine mansion did the transformation gradually cease.
If Li Xuan could see it now, he would find that although the area of his divine mansion was no different from his spiritual sea, all the mountains, rivers, lakes, and barren grasslands within it were lifelike. The entire divine mansion was like a world unto itself.
Despite being a world, it was pitch black and devoid of light.
At the same moment, the spiritual energy circulating around Li Xuan's body, as if guided by a force, surged back into his body. As it circulated independently, a round bead, the size of a fist, slowly took shape.
In the next instant, it appeared within the divine mansion, emitting a faint light that illuminated the surroundings.
The Star Spiritual Beads had finally materialized.
One by one, then ten by ten.
Ten days passed, and the Star Spiritual Beads within Li Xuan's divine mansion reached a staggering six hundred. Meanwhile, the density of spiritual power within Li Xuan's body was like a surging river, showing no signs of depletion. The Star Spiritual Beads continued to condense without end.
"Sister Suxin, how many Star Spiritual Beads do you think he will ultimately condense?" In the pavilion, Mo Ningxiang put down her teacup, glanced towards the mountain spring, and then asked Bai Suxin, Bai Zun.
Bai Suxin pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then replied, "At least, it should be above nine hundred and ninety. As for the final count, it will depend on his own foundation."
"Nine hundred and ninety... Sister Suxin, your expectations for him are truly high." Mo Ningxiang smiled wryly upon hearing this, but she did not dismiss Bai Suxin, Bai Zun's judgment.
The limit of the Nine Extremes was enough to allow Li Xuan, upon first entering the quantitative realm, to condense nine hundred spiritual powers around him. His own spiritual power density would undoubtedly add to this.
Mo Ningxiang naturally believed the figure of nine hundred and ninety. However, she, even this esteemed wife of the Grand Venerable, held some anticipation for the ultimate number.
After all, Li Xuan possessed the blood of ancient gods and demons within him.
Time continued to pass, and twenty-five days had elapsed since Li Xuan arrived at this place. Currently, the Star Spiritual Beads within Li Xuan's divine mansion had reached nine hundred and ninety-two.
As Bai Suxin, Bai Zun, had predicted, it had already exceeded the count by two.
The spiritual energy circulating within his body was now dwindling. At this moment, Bai Suxin, Bai Zun, and Mo Ningxiang both stopped sipping their tea, their gazes fixed on the mountain spring behind the mountain.
These two figures, naturally, understood that the more beads were condensed, the more difficult it became. Otherwise, there would not be the watershed of nine hundred beads.
Furthermore, Li Xuan had now reached nine hundred and ninety-two, so the difficulty was beyond words.
At the mountain spring, Li Xuan, who sat like a steadfast stone, maintained his previous posture. Within the divine mansion, it was now as bright as daylight. The light emanating from the myriad of Star Spiritual Beads made this world appear full of vitality.
The remaining spiritual energy within his body was now as if being clutched by an invisible, enormous hand. After a full three hours, the nine hundred and ninety-third Star Spiritual Bead finally condensed.
As the nine hundred and ninety-third Star Spiritual Bead condensed, Li Xuan's tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open.
"Nine hundred and ninety-three... still six short of the Three Nines." Li Xuan murmured to himself, his eyes exceptionally bright.
Although it had not yet ended, Li Xuan now felt the vast difference between the present and the past. This single bead was enough to make countless people exert all their might. While nine hundred and ninety-three beads were enough to make him stand out from the crowd, Li Xuan was not satisfied.
"All the spiritual energy in my body has been converted, and there is no more to be used. How can I achieve the remaining six?" Li Xuan's mind raced, and he understood his own situation clearly. If he lacked the power to continue, the nascent divine mansion realm would face its conclusion.
A fierce wind raged, and the spiritual energy enshrouding the sky and earth could not be absorbed by Li Xuan for his own use. Li Xuan's eyes bloodshot, his hand seals changed, and he roared in a low voice, "Condense for me!"
Strands of spiritual energy slowly flowed into Li Xuan's body. As the divine mansion operated, they were directly stripped and converted into spiritual power for condensation. However, due to insufficient spiritual energy, this process became extremely slow.
Moreover, as Li Xuan forcibly absorbed spiritual energy, his skin began to show signs of cracking. Traces of blood seeped out, and within moments, Li Xuan was covered in blood.
"This brat is trying to court death!" Mo Ningxiang exclaimed in a low, scolding tone as she looked at Li Xuan, whose eyes were slightly unfocused.
Bai Suxin, Bai Zun, however, sighed with a complex expression, then said, "Fortune is in seizing the essence of heaven and earth. Whether he can endure this ordeal depends on himself."
*Buzz.*
As time passed, more and more areas of Li Xuan's skin cracked. Even his meridians and internal organs were now breaking.
Just as Li Xuan's consciousness began to blur, a strong radiance erupted from within his meridians and flesh. Accompanied by a buzzing sound, Li Xuan's body rapidly began to heal.
However, in the next instant, a purple light shot out from the divine mansion, and the energy that was repairing Li Xuan's body was directly drawn into the divine mansion. Another Star Spiritual Bead condensed.
One, then two, then six. In less than half an hour, five more Star Spiritual Beads were condensed.
The Three Nines limit was only one bead away!
"He's truly insane..." Mo Ningxiang could not help but murmur as she witnessed this scene. Bai Suxin, Bai Zun, on the other hand, remained silent. No external force could assist in opening a divine mansion and condensing Star Spiritual Beads.
Even individuals of their stature could only watch as Li Xuan forged his own destiny.
"Condense for me!" Although the healing of his body had stopped, Li Xuan's consciousness had also regained some clarity.
Perhaps by instinct, Li Xuan let out a roar. A blood-red light flashed within his flesh and blood, and a blood-red Star Spiritual Bead, to the astonished gaze of Bai Suxin, Bai Zun, and Mo Ningxiang, shot into the divine mansion.
The Three Nines limit was finally reached!