The elevator descended to the third basement level.
Stepping out of the elevator, there was no dimness—instead, the area was brightly lit.
The entire third basement was vast. As Xu Yuan exited the elevator, he couldn't even see the far end.
Massive stone pillars supported the expansive space of the third basement.
Following Hu Jie deeper into the level, Xu Yuan and Mu Ye soon arrived outside a room that appeared to be a laboratory.
A beam of light scanned Hu Jie.
"Identity confirmed: Hu Jie."
The red light turned green, and the door slowly opened.
Xu Yuan and Mu Ye weren't scanned but followed Hu Jie into the room.
It was indeed a laboratory. Numerous precision instruments were in operation, and researchers in white lab coats were busy working.
Hu Jie led Xu Yuan and Mu Ye inside. One of the middle-aged researchers stopped his experiment and approached the trio.
"Director, this must be Xu Yuan?" The middle-aged man immediately recognized Xu Yuan's identity but showed no recognition of Mu Ye.
"One of my juniors," Hu Jie replied.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man didn't press further.
"The sealing solution has been prepared, and the sealing formation has been inscribed, but it still requires some fine-tuning to match his specific condition."
Sealing soul power is this complicated?
Xu Yuan was puzzled.
"The situation inside the Dragon Valley is unique. Bursting above fifty levels of soul power will result in expulsion. Simple suppression works fine in normal environments, but within the Dragon Valley, the primal energy is too dense, easily rendering suppression ineffective and causing expulsion." The middle-aged man explained while preparing various procedures.
"This is a sealing technique developed by our Tang Sect during our exploration of the Dragon Valley. It uses the medicinal properties of various rare materials to form a circulatory system within the soul master's body, creating a long-lasting sealing formation. Even if the soul power fluctuates due to the nourishment of the Dragon Valley's primal energy, this formation will continuously suppress the soul power."
The primal energy in the Dragon Valley was extraordinarily dense.
Though not as extreme as in the Sea God's Pavilion, the opportunities within the Dragon Valley—dragon souls and dragon clouds—were manifestations of primal energy condensed into physical forms. If absorbed, they could rapidly enhance soul power, faster than the nearly liquefied primal energy in the Sea God's Pavilion.
Such nourishment rendered most soul power suppression techniques unstable, unless one avoided absorbing the dragon clouds and dragon souls within the valley.
Thus, to maintain constant suppression of soul power, a stable method was required. Since the soul master couldn't use their own soul power, external forces were necessary.
Among external methods, medicinal properties had the least side effects.
Based on this principle, the Tang Sect researched and refined sealing formations step by step, eventually developing this technology.
The middle-aged man briefly summarized the process while fully preparing the equipment.
"The energy concentration of this set of medicinal compounds is quite high. Are you sure you can handle it?" The middle-aged man gave Xu Yuan a final warning: "This sealing formation relies on the medicinal properties remaining in your body. If you can't fully digest the medicinal properties, the formation will persist. In the short term, digesting the medicinal properties might accelerate soul power absorption, but over time, if the medicinal properties settle in your body, it could cause problems. Although our Tang Sect's formation extends the settling period, it only lasts three months. You must fully digest the medicinal properties within three months."
"I can handle it."
Xu Yuan had no objections.
Digest?
Hah!
If I activate the Devouring Heaven and Earth Technique, what medicinal properties can't be instantly consumed?
Still, the middle-aged director's reminder was useful.
Xu Yuan subtly reined in his Devouring Heaven and Earth Technique to prevent the medicinal properties from being immediately consumed upon entering his body.
---
The middle-aged director operated the equipment. A total of eleven points, corresponding to the eleven parts of battle armor, were targeted. Eleven needles pierced Xu Yuan's skin, injecting the medicinal solution into his body.
Energy fluctuations emanated from the needles.
Xu Yuan's spiritual power remained vigilant, covering his entire body as he carefully observed everything.
The middle-aged director did not interfere.
"These medicinal properties form structures on their own!" Xu Yuan quickly realized that the injected medicinal energy seemed to consist of small units, each composed of intricate patterns.
Once inside his body, these units automatically connected with one another.
These structures facilitated the circulation of the medicinal properties.
Soon, the smallest units combined to form larger secondary units.
The secondary units interconnected, forming larger clusters of medicinal energy.
Xu Yuan frowned slightly.
At this moment, the middle-aged director spoke.
"Noticed it? To create the seal, we used special techniques. These medicinal properties are inherently twice as difficult to digest."
Xu Yuan remained silent, offering no response.
This wasn't an issue.
Seeing that Xu Yuan didn't object, the middle-aged director continued with the sealing process.
The large clusters of medicinal energy resonated slightly with one another.
It seemed that an external energy circulation system was being constructed within Xu Yuan's body!
This was the real reason for Xu Yuan's frown.
Under the control of the equipment, the medicinal energy clusters at the eleven points began circulating with his blood. They quickly linked up, forming a rough cycle in Xu Yuan's body despite the varying injection speeds of the needles.
Xu Yuan noted the meridians involved.
These meridians, combined with the three-layer structure within the medicinal energy clusters, exhibited a very pronounced sealing effect!
Xu Yuan discreetly transported a trace amount of the medicinal energy clusters to his dreamscape for future study. This was, after all, a sealing technique—it might even be integrated into the first three forbidden arts of the Seven Forbidden Techniques.
"Try circulating your soul power. The circulating medicinal energy forms the core of the sealing formation, while the remaining portions will gradually be absorbed by the main structure as you use your soul power, serving as a supplement."
Xu Yuan stood up, moved his body, and sensed his soul power.
Indeed, it had been significantly suppressed.
From his previous fifty-five levels, it had been directly reduced to around forty-one levels!
The sealing effect was highly effective!
Moreover, as the formation took effect, his blood essence naturally began digesting the medicinal properties. Xu Yuan could feel that as the medicinal properties forming the core of the seal were consumed, the formation emitted an attractive force, drawing in stray medicinal energy to replenish its strength and maintain the stable sealing effect.
---
Leaving the laboratory, they returned to Hu Jie's office.
"The longer you stay in the Dragon Valley, the better. But for you, three months should suffice."
After giving Xu Yuan further details about the Dragon Valley, Hu Jie handed him a mask.
"Those entering the Dragon Valley are White-ranked fighters from the Spirit Battle Hall. Though you're not a member of the Tang Sect's Spirit Battle Hall, you'll enter under its banner. Be sure to conceal your identity. Remember, your codename is White Six (Bai Liu)."
------------------------------------------------------
Thank you to our new Patrons: bwuooq, Mike Foster and miney laster! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to 'Chapter 355: Goal Achieved' on Patreon!
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)
Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
40+ Chapters Ahead Guaranteed.