Chapter 292 - 160: Refining the Primordial and Cultivating Yin-Yang; The Stellar Cycle Returns to Profound Yellow

Chapter 292: Chapter 160: Refining the Primordial and Cultivating Yin-Yang; The Stellar Cycle Returns to Profound Yellow

In the vast cosmic void, though the gases are thin and spiritual opportunity is scarce, it is by no means an empty, dead silence.

On the contrary, the void is filled with a chaotic and violent qi. This qi is a jumbled mixture of solar and lunar power, stellar force, poisonous fire, fierce winds, and even various strange, unidentifiable primordial qis.

This chaotic and violent qi permeates every corner of the void, and it is always different from one place to the next. One area might be dominated by stellar force, while another might be nothing but poisonous fire and fierce winds. It follows no discernible pattern or law—or rather, it is formed by rules that a Nascent Soul Cultivator cannot possibly comprehend.

This is why Nascent Soul Cultivators are utterly incapable of utilizing this violent qi. They must even expend immense effort just to resist its corrosive effects. It leads only to depletion with no means of replenishment, which is a major reason why it is so difficult for Nascent Soul Cultivators to use Flying Escape in the void.

However, once a cultivator forges a Primordial Spirit, they no longer fear this violent qi’s corrosion. Instead, they can easily extract energies like solar and lunar power, stellar force, and even rarer, stranger primordial qis to replenish their Magical Power. This is why a Primordial Spirit True Man can enter and leave the Star River, roaming the void at will.

The Du Xu Palace’s ability to traverse the void stemmed from this same profound principle. In Xuzhuang’s view, however, its usefulness was not limited to that alone.

The Du Xu Palace’s Flying Escape could be powered entirely by things like Spirit Stone Ore, or even by Xuzhuang’s own Magical Power. But the strange primordial qis refined from the cosmos’s violent qi were priceless treasures to a Nascent Soul Cultivator.

As Xuzhuang urged the grand formation to operate, the Du Xu Palace immediately began to inhale and exhale with all its might. For a moment, it swallowed a vast amount of starlight. If it were currently nighttime in the Profound Yellow Realm, someone might be surprised to discover that some familiar stars had vanished without a trace.

As the Du Xu Palace refined the violent qi from the void—separating the wheat from the chaff—the clear radiance on the hall’s dome gradually condensed into a blinding light. Before long, a single condensed bead dripped down. Xuzhuang, having already prepared a purification vase, caught it and took a look.

Inside the purification vase, a perfectly round, condensed bead swirled about. It emitted a golden light that seemed to be a convergence of many colors, shining so brilliantly that it illuminated the vase’s interior and even faintly shone through its walls, like a bright lamp.

’Solar Spiritual Essence?’ Xuzhuang nodded to himself. He knew that logically speaking, the majority of the Void Primordial Qi was comprised of solar and lunar power and stellar force. Even within that chaotic mixture, the poisonous fire of the Great Sun was a primary component.

Therefore, it came as no surprise to him that the first thing the Du Xu Palace condensed was Solar Spiritual Essence.

This substance wasn’t particularly rare; Xuzhuang could refine it himself by gathering Great Sun Essence Qi in the Profound Yellow Realm. It was useful for both yin-yang and five-element cultivation, as well as for replenishing his Great Sun True Flame.

Not long after the Solar Spiritual Essence appeared, various kinds of Spiritual Truths and Spiritual Essences began to emerge from the clear radiance. All of them were of a stellar nature. While not exceptionally rare, having the Du Xu Palace do the work without requiring any effort from him was a welcome benefit.

Xuzhuang took out purification vases to sort and store the various Spiritual Essences. Then, with a shake of his shoulders, he split off a dharma body to maintain the operation of the Du Xu Palace’s grand formation. Paying it no further attention, he rose from the jade throne and headed toward the rear of the hall.

The true purpose of his long journey into the outer void to gather qi was not these materials. What he truly sought were the precious Primordial Truths that only a Primordial Spirit True Man could refine from the Void Primordial Qi. Although the Du Xu Palace was wondrous, its efficiency could not compare to that of a Primordial Spirit True Man, so this was a process that could not be rushed.

Therefore, before setting out, Xuzhuang had already prepared for a long stay, packing enough cultivation resources to last several years. He certainly wasn’t going to wait around idly.

Within the Du Xu Palace was a place called Zhakong Hall, the former residence of the previous Palace Master, Master Zhaokong. Now, it naturally belonged to Xuzhuang.

Although Xuzhuang had no intention of changing the name of the hall itself, it felt inappropriate to simply occupy the space under the patriarch’s name, so he had already replaced the nameplate with his own. Many of the originally lavish furnishings had also been removed, leaving the hall looking somewhat sparse.

Xuzhuang paid it no mind. He returned to his meditation chamber, flew onto the Profound Ice Couch, and closed his eyes. After regulating his breath for a moment, he entered the Spirit Heart Calm Realm.

’My current cultivation progress is proceeding smoothly,’ Xuzhuang mused. ’Barring any major bottlenecks, I should be able to master my profound technique and forge the third layer within one or two hundred years. But before that, I must solidify my foundation as much as possible.’

Ever since forging his Golden Core, he had reaped endless benefits from the Nine Acupoint Technique. He would not easily abandon what had become his foundation.

With a gentle flick of his wrist, a jade slip fell from his sleeve. It was none other than the "Yin Yang Merging Dao," the technique he had obtained from the Sword Step Master.

Like the Five Elements, Yin and Yang are fundamental Great Daos of the Taoist School. By understanding one, you can understand many. Even if he had no intention of actively cultivating it, studying the principles of yin and yang would still greatly benefit his own Daoist arts.

Thus, ever since this technique had come into his possession, he had studied it frequently. He had long since read it through and through, developing his own considerable insights.

The "Yin Yang Merging Dao" was the core technique of the Harmony Sect. It expounded upon the myriad transformations of yin and yang, provided a direct path to the Primordial Spirit, and even offered the hope of attaining Pure Yang. In terms of profundity, it was even faintly superior to the "Five Elements Primordial Union Art." From any angle, it was undoubtedly a supreme choice for him to cultivate as a true technique.

Having made his decision, Xuzhuang saw no reason to hesitate further. With a light sweep of his sleeve, a jade box appeared on the mat before him. Its lid was already open, revealing it to be filled to the brim with Yin Yang True Sand.

Cultivating the "Yin Yang Merging Dao" required a magical item as a catalyst. One had to first refine a strand of yin-yang Magical Power to serve as a source, and only then could one’s cultivation progress in an orderly fashion.