Chapter 785 - 451: Nascent Soul Formation Imminent?

Overwhelmed with excitement, Gongyang Wuji inadvertently placed the jade scroll on the table.

Fairy Taohong couldn’t resist her curiosity and stole a glance.

To her surprise, the signature at the end read "Gongyang Marquis"...

***

It took Zou Feng a full month to finally finish the refinement of the severed half of the Nascent Soul.

During this time, the Holy Lotus primarily traveled under the cover of darkness, resting by day and moving by night. It wandered through desolate areas without venturing deeper into the Northern Domain. Thanks to their low profile, they hadn’t encountered any other Tribulation Cultivators along the way.

As for the benefits of refining Duan Ruohai’s Nascent Soul...

"Soul-Seizing Blood Eyes (Limit-Breaking), Progress: 62%"

"Tribulation-Indestructible Body (Unity of Heaven and Man), Progress: 89%"

"Great Universal Hand (Transcendence), Progress: 25%"

The Soul-Seizing Blood Eyes was originally a Skill Zou Feng had fused together using an Evil Art from the Yama Underworld. With the ’gift’ from Duan Ruohai, it was completely normal for its progress to skyrocket. At this rate, it would likely reach the Realm of Transcendence even faster than the Nine Immortal Ascension Skills.

The increased cultivation progress of the Great Universal Hand was also within Zou Feng’s expectations. It originated from the Ten Directions Sect’s Great Compassion Hand, and its primary cultivation method was the visualization of the Divine King Dharma Aspect. Although it had only been considered a Martial Art back then, Zou Feng increasingly felt that the Ten Directions Sect’s Cultivation Skill likely originated from the Yama Underworld. The so-called Ten Directions Divine King was very likely a King Yan from the Underworld.

Despite the gratifying gains, Zou Feng found himself growing increasingly restless from time to time. This was definitely no illusion; it meant that some big shot was absolutely plotting something, and it was undeniably aimed at him.

Judging from the situation on the List of Gods, this scheming big shot was highly likely to be Gongyang Marquis. Was this entity—the one who treated him as the King of Human Gu—finally going to show his face?

However, despite this guy stirring up trouble, the worst-case scenario Zou Feng had previously anticipated didn’t occur. This indicated that Gongyang Marquis’s strength wasn’t formidable enough to render Zou Feng completely helpless.

Before, Zou Feng’s biggest worry was that the Glazed Immortal Palace would suddenly reappear and forcibly abduct him again. But now, it seemed the other party was clearly incapable of using similar methods. Or perhaps Gongyang Marquis was well aware that the Glazed Immortal Palace could no longer suppress him as he was now, and thus gave up on such futile attempts.

Since that was the case, he would naturally stick to his original plan and give Gongyang Marquis a massive surprise!

Zou Feng was well aware that his Nascent Soul Formation was imminent. In fact, from the moment of his Core Formation, his Nascent Soul had already begun incubating and taking shape within his Golden Core.

Even when a Cultivator reached the Golden Core Realm—regardless of whether they possessed an Innate Special Constitution or an acquired physique—they fundamentally still belonged to the category of mortal flesh. This was exactly why Cultivators needed Core Formation and Nascent Soul Formation. To put it bluntly, cultivation was a continuous process of creating a version of oneself that transcended the level of a mortal body!

Because Nascent Soul Formation meant giving birth to an existence unfettered by the shackles of heaven and earth, it would inevitably incur heaven’s wrath. The more powerful the formation, the fiercer the Celestial Tribulation. Only those who could withstand the Celestial Tribulation were worthy of Transcendence.

Zou Feng’s Nascent Soul Formation was just around the corner, yet he wished the Celestial Tribulation would be even fiercer so he could completely eradicate the hidden threat that was Gongyang Marquis. To make the Celestial Tribulation exceptionally lethal, the best method—at least for now—was to kill Gongyang Wuji and devour the brat’s providence.

As he was pondering over these matters, a knock echoed through the room.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

"Master, your servant has a matter to discuss with you..." Zhu Caiwei’s voice drifted in from outside the door. She had clearly been waiting all this time for Zou Feng to finish the refinement of Duan Ruohai’s Nascent Soul.

"Come in."

Zhu Caiwei walked in respectfully, but her aura was markedly different from usual. A profound and exceedingly powerful force seemed to be brewing within her body, on the verge of bursting forth.

With just one glance, Zou Feng saw right through it. "You... are about to undergo Nascent Soul Formation?"

Zhu Caiwei first bowed to Zou Feng before straightforwardly nodding in admission.

This was not surprising. Before being locked in the Demon Suppression Tower, Zhu Caiwei had long been a renowned Golden Core Great Demon. Had she not wasted years languishing in captivity, she would have become a Nascent Soul Realm Spider Demon long ago.

"Since your Nascent Soul Formation is imminent, are you seeking a suitable place to enter secluded cultivation?" Zou Feng naturally assumed she was here to ask for a leave of absence.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Caiwei meant something else entirely.

"Master, your servant... has no confidence in surviving the Celestial Tribulation," Zhu Caiwei said with heavy concern. "The years locked in the Demon Suppression Tower caused immense damage to me, especially now with the unstable factor of my alternate personality... Under these circumstances, if I choose to break through, I fear I won’t be able to survive the Celestial Tribulation!"

Zou Feng waved his hand. "If you need something, just say it straight."

"Your servant..." Zhu Caiwei bit her lip, her expression fraught with inner conflict. After a long pause, she continued, "Your servant wishes to engage in Dual Cultivation with Master! Master’s Exotic Poison is the most compatible with me. It can comprehensively elevate the Skills I cultivate and strengthen my confidence in surviving the Celestial Tribulation..."

Zhu Caiwei rambled on at length, listing a slew of benefits of having a ’cultivation exchange’ with a Poison Cultivator. She even put on a posture that suggested she could die with no regrets if her wish were granted.

Zou Feng wasn’t entirely surprised by this. It was hardly news that this woman lusted after his body. Previously, she had been secretly scheming in various ways, trying everything she could to make him accept Demon Race women. She had even tempted Lu Wu, the Demon Race girl he was closest to, into making an attempt. However, since these covert schemes were harmless, Zou Feng had turned a blind eye.

But now, Zhu Caiwei was genuinely risking her life just to bed him. Truth be told, if he didn’t help and it resulted in her truly failing to survive the Celestial Tribulation... Not only would he lose a major asset, but he would also feel a twinge of guilt.

After pondering for a moment, Zou Feng made his decision.

"Alright, I’ll help you."

Zhu Caiwei was overjoyed; her alternate personality almost manifested directly in a fit of hysterical laughter...

"Wait, don’t be in such a rush to take off your clothes!" Zou Feng immediately stopped Zhu Caiwei, who was about to rip her garments right off.

Zhu Caiwei was taken aback. "Should I just tear a slit then?"

Zou Feng rolled his eyes, too lazy to explain further, and pushed the door open to step out. "Follow me first."

With that, Zou Feng exited the room and leapt straight off the Holy Lotus.

It was currently late at night, and everyone aboard the ship was either resting or cultivating. Not wanting to disturb anyone else, Zou Feng quietly led Zhu Caiwei away. After jumping off the Holy Lotus, he flew at a low altitude for a while. Seeing a stream below with flat surrounding terrain, he slowly descended.

"Master is in high spirits!" When Zhu Caiwei followed him down, she thought Zou Feng wanted to return to nature during their exchange.

"Reveal your true form," Zou Feng said, standing with his hands clasped behind his back.

Her true form!?

These words instantly left Zhu Caiwei completely bewildered. She truly hadn’t expected that for his very first experience with the Demon Race, Zou Feng would have such hardcore tastes as to demand her true form. The problem was, her true form was a Giant Spider. Compared to her, Zou Feng’s normal Human Race physique was insignificantly small. How could they possibly proceed smoothly...

Unless Zou Feng utilized some kind of shape-shifting Skill...

"Master, are... are you sure?"

Zou Feng nodded solemnly.

"Then... I only hope Master won’t be disgusted by your servant..." Seeing that he was serious, Zhu Caiwei had no choice but to oblige.

She began to spin in place, generating plumes of grayish-black smoke. By the time the thick smoke blanketed the massive clearing, a terrifying, hill-sized Giant Spider had emerged.

Naturally, Zou Feng didn’t tell Zhu Caiwei to reveal her true form because he had hardcore tastes. In reality, from the very beginning, he had never intended to engage in physical Dual Cultivation with her. Instead, he planned to use his newly upgraded Soul-Seizing Blood Eyes to influence her consciousness, completing their ’exchange’ purely on a mental level.

As for why she absolutely had to assume her true form...

It was, of course, because the Demon Race in their true forms would inevitably have their Spiritual Wisdom influenced by primal instincts, making them far more susceptible to his mental manipulation.