Everyone rejoiced, their eyes turning to Han Lang as he slowly opened his eyes.
Han Lang didn't immediately share their joy. Instead, he stepped out of the pool and dried his clothes before finally looking at everyone.
Ma Long was the most excited. He approached Han Lang, holding the freshly dismembered, still bloody sword that had belonged to the great serpent, and said repeatedly.
"Oh, young sir, you've finally broken through to the mid-stage Golden Core. I was just wondering why your speed was slower than ours!"
Han Lang was utterly bewildered by these words.
"Mid-stage Golden Core? I don't think I broke through to the mid-stage Golden Core!"
Now it was Ma Long and the others' turn to be confused.
They hadn't witnessed Han Lang's previous breakthrough, so they didn't understand his statement.
Only Shan Nan replied with a chuckle.
"You all had only been in the pool for a short while when Han Lang broke through once. Counting this time, he should have broken through to the late-stage Golden Core!"
Late-stage Golden Core?
Everyone was shocked.
After recovering from their surprise, Ma Long couldn't help but sigh.
"It's truly a case of comparing oneself to others driving one to death! I was wondering why you hadn't broken through for so long, only to find out you were aiming for the late-stage Golden Core!"
Tang Qin also teased him with a hint of jest.
"Who would have thought? I was originally planning to mock him for being slower than us, but I never expected this prodigy to be a whole major stage ahead of us now! Speechless, truly speechless!"
Han Lang chuckled upon hearing their words.
"What? Aren't you happy that I broke through to the late-stage Golden Core?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Qin and Ma Long's expressions immediately changed.
"Happy! Of course, we're happy! We were just indulging in some banter. Haha..."
"Hahaha..."
Hearing this, Han Lang couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Then, he looked at Liu Xiaoxiao, who was still calmly waiting in the pool, and asked.
"Political Commissar Liu..."
Shan Nan quickly explained.
"I estimate she's making a full sprint towards the Nascent Soul stage. However, looking at the concentration of spiritual liquid in this pool, I'm not sure if she'll have the opportunity!"
Upon hearing this, Han Lang quickly replied.
"She definitely can! Political Commissar Liu's talent is genuinely monstrous. If she hadn't been poisoned by the mutant's serum before, wouldn't she have broken through to the Nascent Soul stage long ago?"
As he spoke, he finally noticed the bloody sword in Ma Long's hand.
He immediately said again.
"Brother Ma, hurry up and process the great serpent's corpse. We're waiting to celebrate for Political Commissar Liu!"
Ma Long's face lit up with joy upon hearing this, and he responded repeatedly.
"Yes, yes, I'm going right now!"
As Ma Long busied himself, everyone else also looked anxiously at Liu Xiaoxiao in the pool.
The concentration of spiritual liquid in the pool was becoming increasingly diluted, yet Liu Xiaoxiao showed no signs of breakthrough.
This made everyone start to worry.
"You must break through, Political Commissar Liu."
Tang Qin, who was closest to Liu Xiaoxiao, also prayed silently in her heart.
"If Political Commissar Liu can successfully break through to the Nascent Soul stage, it would undoubtedly be of great help to our subsequent actions. So, Political Commissar Liu, keep going!"
Tang Geng and Zhao Wu also silently cheered Liu Xiaoxiao on in their hearts.
Han Lang and Shan Nan's hearts were also in their throats.
They all knew how significant Liu Xiaoxiao's breakthrough would be for their special operations team.
As the spiritual liquid in the pool became clearer, a faint halo of spiritual energy gradually formed around Liu Xiaoxiao.
Seeing this halo, Shan Nan was overjoyed.
"Excellent! The opportunity for breakthrough has arrived!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up with joy. Even Ma Long, who had been busy, stopped his actions and silently cheered for Liu Xiaoxiao along with everyone else.
However, the situation took a turn for the worse at this moment.
The spiritual liquid pool visibly became clearer and more transparent, and the previously dense mist completely dissipated.
Seeing this, Shan Nan was greatly alarmed.
"Not good! The Earth Spirit Milk has been completely consumed. With only the thin spiritual energy in the air, it's not enough to support Xiaoxiao in completing her breakthrough! Quickly, take out all the recovery pills you have and throw them all into the pool to provide some assistance for Xiaoxiao's final breakthrough!"
After speaking, Shan Nan was the first to throw all the recovery pills he carried into the pool, including the ten Spirit Preservation Pills that Han Lang had given him earlier.
As the pills dissolved in the pool, the spiritual energy was once again ravenously devoured by Liu Xiaoxiao.
The halo of spiritual energy around her body became increasingly intense.
However, the recovery pills in Shan Nan's hand were quickly consumed by Liu Xiaoxiao.
Seeing that there was no more spiritual energy in the pool, Han Lang no longer hesitated.
He took out over a hundred Spirit Preservation Pills in one go and threw them all into the pool.
Tang Qin, Tang Geng, and Zhao Wu quickly followed suit.
Ma Long also hurriedly put down his sword, preparing to throw his Spirit Preservation Pills in, but Han Lang stopped him.
"No need, Brother Ma. We still have subsequent battles. And it will take about ten days for me to provide more pills. You should keep yours in case of emergencies!"
Ma Long stopped his actions after hearing this.
However, before Shan Nan on the other side could be surprised by how the others had so many recovery pills, Liu Xiaoxiao's body suddenly erupted in brilliant light.
Immediately after, above Liu Xiaoxiao's head, a golden phantom that looked exactly like her instantly appeared.
"The Nascent Soul has appeared!"
Shan Nan was overjoyed.
At the same time, he observed that the pool, into which hundreds of Spirit Preservation Pills had been thrown, still had abundant spiritual energy.
Thus, as the spiritual energy was gradually consumed, the phantom above Liu Xiaoxiao's head became increasingly substantial.
Then, it gradually condensed until it transformed into a crystal-clear little person, quietly hovering above Liu Xiaoxiao's head.
Time passed by little by little.
The nascent soul gradually became more and more filled with Liu Xiaoxiao's efforts.
Suddenly, with a "poof."
The nascent soul, as if possessing sentience, completely drilled into Liu Xiaoxiao's body.
At the same time, Liu Xiaoxiao also suddenly opened her eyes. Her gaze was sharp as she surveyed her surroundings, a powerful spiritual energy fluctuation radiating from within.
Nascent Soul, achieved!
Liu Xiaoxiao slowly stood up and left the pool.
With a thought, her clothes were instantly dried.
Then, she bowed deeply to Shan Nan, Han Lang, and the others.
"Thank you all for your full assistance. Xiaoxiao will forever cherish this kindness in her heart!"
Facing Liu Xiaoxiao's sudden deep bow, Han Lang and the others quickly replied.
"It's nothing, nothing at all, Political Commissar Liu. A mere few recovery pills are insignificant. As long as you could break through, it's all beneficial to us!"
Tang Qin also added.
"Yes, Political Commissar Liu. What's our relationship? You don't need to take this small matter to heart. Rather, we should be congratulating you!"
"Haha..."
Shan Nan also couldn't help but laugh heartily.
"Xiaoxiao, don't be so sentimental. The fact that everyone was willing to go to such lengths to help you break through shows how high your status is in everyone's hearts. If you truly feel indebted, perhaps you can ask the Commander to give us some compensation after we successfully return home? Haha..."
Hearing this, Liu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but blush.
Tang Geng, standing nearby, spoke frankly.
"Yes, yes. Political Commissar Liu. These things are nothing. If you could apply for another chance for us to enter the advanced treasure pavilion, or directly get us top-grade spirit artifacts or immortal artifacts for our current weapons, that would be even better! Hahaha..."
Seeing that the usually stoic Tang Geng also said this, everyone burst into laughter.
Han Lang turned his head.
"Brother Ma, is the celebratory snake soup ready? If not now, when should we celebrate?"