Mystic earth essence energy.

This was an extremely rare energy. Although it was not a type of origin energy, it was comparable to one. As an essence energy that had formed over 10,000 years of slumbering underground, it was an existence at the level of a 10,000-year flame. It wasn't a vicious energy, yet it contained the attributes of vicious energy, granting it the ability to decay everything.

It was incredibly useful, and if one could refine it into one's body, not only would one's combat prowess grow, one's offensive power would also increase. Furthermore, the mystic earth essence energy was also an excellent material for forming one's soul foundation, and it was much more valuable than the black tides mystic stone that Xiang Shaoyun had obtained not long ago.

If the mystic earth essence energy continued to evolve, it would eventually become earthly mother energy, the most primordial of earth energies. It was extremely rare, and even the mystic earth essence energy was rare enough to be coveted by Saints, to say nothing of the earthly mother energy.

Who would have imagined that something this rare would appear at the outer fringe of the Dragon Phoenix Mountain Range and remain hidden all this while? The strong-ape was originally a Demon Emperor. After discovering this clump of mystic earth essence energy, he borrowed the thick energy to cultivate and quickly grow into a Demon Sovereign.

But even now, he still didn't dare to touch the mystic earth essence energy, and it was clear just how destructive the mystic earth essence energy was.

When Xiang Shaoyun heard that he was looking at a clump of mystic earth essence energy, joy covered his face, and he exclaimed, "I actually found a mystic earth essence energy here? I'm rich! I'm rich! Hahahaha!"

Ever since he found out about the requirements of entering the Soul Foundation Realm, he had been paying close attention to numerous top-tier materials. He aimed to find the best of materials to forge his soul foundation, and now, one had appeared before him. One could only imagine how happy he was currently.

"Don't be too happy. This mystic earth essence energy can't be harvested so easily. Perhaps only Saints can do it. Anyone else will die upon touching it," said the strong-ape.

Xiang Shaoyun calmed down upon hearing the ape's words. The strong-ape is right. This is tricky.

"Stand guard outside. I'll try to absorb it," said Xiang Shaoyun after giving it a thought.

The strong-ape did not disobey and left immediately. In fact, he hoped to see Xiang Shaoyun die in his attempt to absorb the mystic earth essence energy. When the strong-ape was leaving, Xiang Shaoyun transmitted to Money that he no longer needed to fight the strong-ape, and he had Money stand guard alongside the strong-ape. He needed enough time to study the mystic earth essence energy.

The strong-ape left, and Xiang Shaoyun started approaching the mystic earth essence energy. He observed the clump of energy and found that it was quite a small clump. I only occupied about two cubic meters of space. The surging energy around it was incredibly oppressive, and the rich earth energy it exuded nourished its surroundings, giving birth to numerous high-grade spirit crystals that were worth a lot altogether.

Instead of touching the mystic earth essence energy himself, Xiang Shaoyun took out a random emperor weapon and tossed it over.

Tsssss!

The instant the weapon touched the mystic earth essence energy, it was corroded. It stood no chance against the clump of energy.

Xiang Shaoyun frowned and sighed, "What a terrifying corrosive power. And the essence energy contains the corrosive power of vicious earth energy. How am I supposed to absorb it?"

He was confident that not even sovereign weapons could do anything to the clump. He did not have tools of higher grades, so it would be hard for him to collect the clump of energy.

After contemplating for a while, he decided that his main body needed to be present if he wanted to collect the mystic earth essence energy. After all, his main body was equipped with an astral cosmos sea that could store life.

There were already several different energies stored in his astral cosmos sea. Taking even the entire cave alongside the mystic earth essence energy into his astral cosmos sea wouldn't be an issue. So long as he avoided direct contact with the mystic earth essence energy, everything should be fine.

At that thought, his main body picked up speed. While the main body was on the way, the clone tried attracting a strand of mystic earth essence energy to see if he could absorb it. The moment he touched the strand, his entire body jolted as though he was hit by an electric shock. A rotting pain assaulted his body, causing him to quickly move away and cease all thoughts of experimenting with the energy.

"This is a pain that reaches one's heart," lamented Xiang Shaoyun. "A clone is still a clone, after all. It is different from the main body. Although it can also make use of numerous combat techniques and powers like the main body, it does not have any stars that can absorb the exhausted energies. Thus, the clone is fated to serve only as a tool to strengthen my soul power."

He did not attract the strand of mystic earth essence energy to only absorb it. He also tried to figure out the differences between his main body and his clone. He had learned something from his attempt.

The clone was inherently different from the main body. The clone was not necessarily capable of everything the main body could do. However, the clone could use all the battle techniques and powers available to the main body. Moreover, his clone, in particular, was stronger than his main body. Soon, his main body arrived with Aikai. Both Money and the strong-ape were stunned.

"Who are you? Why do you look so much like my boss?" Money asked blankly.

Xiang Shaoyun said, "You bastard, even after spending all that time staying in my astral cosmos sea to absorb the nine-colored fog, you still can't recognize me?"

"If you're my boss, who's the guy inside?" asked Vicious One in confusion.

"That's my clone. Alright, get out of the way. I need to go collect the mystic earth essence energy. We'll talk later," said Xiang Shaoyun before rushing into the cave.

Money and the strong-ape did not stop him. The two were still in a state of confusion. Soon, the main body arrived and merged with the clone. Once again, he pulled a strand of mystic earth essence energy toward him and activated his earth star and earth profundity. He then absorbed the strand of mystic earth essence energy into his earth star.

The moment it entered his body, he felt his body start to collapse due to its corrosive power. Intense pain assaulted him, a pain much more terrible than what he'd suffered when he was tempering his body with fire and lightning. The pain was mainly due to the energy's overwhelming power and high grade. With his current strength, absorbing it would result in such pain. If he was a peak Sovereign or even a Saint, he wouldn't suffer such discomfort.

Even so, with his astonishing willpower, he resisted the pain. He used the Secret Reversal Technique and quickly healed his rotten meridians and internal organs before forcing the strand of mystic earth essence energy to enter his earth star.

Even after entering the earth star, the mystic earth essence energy was still rebellious as it attempted to dissolve even the star, as though nothing in the world could hope to restrain it.

"Refine!" Xiang Shaoyun roared and circulated his cultivation method as he split the mystic earth essence energy into numerous portions. He suppressed it again and again as he attempted to fully refine it and fuse it with his own energy.