Sure enough, after Xiang Shaoyun channeled the nine energies into his astral cosmos sea, the energies transformed into the nine-colored fog. This was completely unlike the situation outside the astral cosmos sea where the nine energies refused to mix. He then extracted the nine-colored fog and sent it to his spine.

His spine was also his lightning bone, but many of his other bones had also turned purple. Once all his bones turned purple, he would possess the strongest Lightning Bone Physique of the Xiang Clan. It was the Xiang Clan's legendary physique, one that, apart from the clan's ancient ancestor, only Xiang Dingtian had ever possessed.

It was not something Xiang Shaoyun was deliberately working toward. After all, he did not have a good opinion of the lightning bone. Or, to be precise, he did not have a good opinion of the Xiang Clan's bloodline. Otherwise, he would have stuck with cultivating only the lightning power long ago.

When the nine-colored fog reached his spine, the nine stars started flickering in unison. As he circulated his cultivation method, the nine-colored fog started transforming into draconic aura.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, the lightning bone's purple dragon roared and started fusing with the newly formed nine-colored draconic aura, helping increase the speed at which the draconic aura formed and grew. At the tip of the spine, the draconic aura surged with power. His spine, which seemed to have transformed in a dragon's spin, released the vivid projection of a dragon.

Swish! Swish!

The draconic aura formed without stopping. From 10 percent, it reached 20 percent, then 30 percent, and continued until 90 percent when Xiang Shaoyun forcefully stopped it. The speed at which his draconic aura formed stunned Xiang Shaoyun.

He had thought that he would be lucky to form even 10 or 20 percent of his draconic aura. However, its completion rate had actually shot straight to 90 percent, almost reaching 100 percent and directly breaking through into the Emperor Realm.

As for why he suppressed his draconic aura instead of breaking through, it was because he was wholly unprepared to attempt a breakthrough. He needed to first reach optimal condition, and he wasn't sure what would happen if he made the attempt now. When he observed the newly formed draconic aura, he found that it was a colorful dragon that looked very different from what others had. It exuded a divine sensation.

Overjoyed, Xiang Shaoyun muttered to himself, "This is the draconic aura formed of nine energies. Looks like the astral cosmos sea is crucial for cultivating nine powers."

Prior to this, he was so terrified after listening to the gravekeeper elder that he started wavering in his path of cultivation. Now, he had once again reaffirmed his chosen path, and nobody would be able to change his mind anymore.

After a month, Xiang Shaoyun finally ended his seclusion. There was now something different about his temperament, a change brought about by the forming of his draconic aura.

After taking a bath, he looked at his empty villa and sighed, "Looks like I need to find a butler that can look after the villa for me."

The Han Clan sisters had been sent to the Glacier Palace, Lady Shura was in seclusion at her own villa, and Tang Longfei and Ning Wenhuang were busy cultivating. Thus, they weren't able to stay with him all the time. At this time, he forcefully summoned Money and the three birds out of his astral cosmos sea.

"Boss, do you need anything?" Money asked, still maintaining his original form instead of turning into his human form.

"Is the nine-colored fog really that attractive for you guys? None of you ever want to leave!" Xiang Shaoyun asked.

"Yes, it's very attractive. After all, it is a very pure energy capable of advancing my strength and bloodline," said Money forthrightly.

"But your innate element is lightning, whereas the nine-colored fog is formed of nine different powers. Is it really that helpful for you?" Xiang Shaoyun asked in confusion.

"Yes, it is. I don't really know why, but absorbing that energy is really very helpful. Just look at those three. It's obvious. It has only been a year, and they are already at the King Realm," said Money as he swept his gaze at the three birds.

In response, the three big-winged vicious birds cried out cheerfully, expressing their joy. Due to their nature as vicious beasts, their intelligence had been rather low in the past. But now, it seemed like their intelligence had grown considerably and that they possessed a potential surpassing what their original bloodline allowed. That was most likely a benefit the nine-colored fog had brought them.

Xiang Shaoyun was pleased with what he learned. In any case, the stronger the nine-colored fog seemed, the more confidence he had. Currently, he was no longer planning to allow them to enter the astral cosmos sea anymore. He needed to make them accustomed to the outside world, which would be beneficial for their growth.

And thus, Money and the three birds became the villa's guards. Taking the opportunity of the fact that nobody knew he was out of seclusion yet, he went to the academy's Book Pavilion.

During the past four years, he had been focused on cultivation and had not gotten any chances to grow his knowledge. Now that he had a chance, he planned to properly browse through the Book Pavilion. As he walked down one of the academy's serene paths, the disciples walking by recognized him.

After all, he was renowned in the academy for reaching the top 300 ranks on the Serpent Fowl List without being a Dragon Ascension Realm cultivator. That feat spoke volumes about his capabilities.

Many of them quickly spread the news so the geniuses who had recently left seclusion could challenge Xiang Shaoyun. It was as if everyone was in a rush to beat him down before he could enter the Dragon Ascension Realm. If they waited until he entered the Dragon Ascension Realm, probably only those freaks on the Jiao Luan List would be able to deal with him.

As Xiang Shaoyun walked, numerous people pointed at him and whispered, but he did not seem to care. Rather, he flashed each of them a friendly smile. When the female disciples received his smile, they became smitten.

"Hey, did you see that? Xiang Shaoyun smiled at me. Has he taken a liking to me? What should I do? I'm not ready yet!"

"Which eye are you using to see that he looked at you? He was obviously looking at me! He must have fallen for me. Although his strength is nothing impressive, he is still quite good looking. If he can confess to me, I won't mind forcing myself to accept him. I am not very good at saying no."

"I have seen a lot of shameless people, but not someone as shameless as you. You rank below 3,000 on the Serpent Fowl List, and look at how flat your figure is! And you actually have the gals to complain about Xiang Shaoyun? Are you not disgusted by yourself?"

"Hey, I think he likes me. Maybe if I take the initiative, I will be able to make him bow before my skirt."

...

Xiang Shaoyun heard everything, and his mood improved. No men disliked receiving the adoration of women. Soon, he arrived before an imposing building. He could sense powerful auras concealed all around the building. He could also sense that a powerful and complicated formation was protecting the building. This place was one of the most important locations within the Dragon Phoenix Academy, the Book Pavilion.