Chapter 350 - 348: Feedback of the Nascent Soul Phenomenon

Chapter 350: Chapter 348: Feedback of the Nascent Soul Phenomenon

’According to what Brother Ge said, the Heart Demon Tribulation isn’t as easy as it looks from the outside... The heart demon creates illusions. What feels like an eternity might only be an instant in the real world.’

After announcing the news to the Sect’s upper echelon and setting a few future development paths for the Qingfeng Sect, Ge Cang kept the few Core Formation True Men behind to share his experience with Shattering the Core and Transforming into a Nascent Soul.

He was mainly speaking for Bai Zichen’s benefit, as among them, he was the closest to that stage.

Wei Dao and Zhou Suqing were still in the Early-Stage Core Formation Realm, a long, long way from Core Formation Perfection.

However, with Ge Cang becoming a Nascent Soul True Monarch and the entire Black Mountain Range effectively becoming their backyard, the Sect would be able to acquire several times more resources from all sides. For the two of them, this was the greatest opportunity.

The Core Formation Level powers that had previously shown an inclination to become vassals could now be openly accepted, as True Monarch Ge Cang’s strength was sufficient to protect them.

The Spiritual Objects offered as tribute by these Core Formation Level powers were unlikely to catch the eye of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, but for Core Formation True Men, they were just right.

Add to that the continuous output from the entire Black Mountain.

In the future, the Cultivation Resources for Wei Dao and Zhou Suqing would become quite abundant.

According to Ge Cang, during the Heart Demon Tribulation, the deepest fears and worries in one’s heart would be stirred up.

One might fall into an abyss, return to the mortal world, or become lost in their various desires.

If one could not break free, they risked being assimilated, never to awaken from the Heart Demon Tribulation.

Ge Cang’s opinion was that Bai Zichen was too young. Although his character was outstanding, he had never experienced a true rock bottom.

Before undergoing the Tribulation Crossing, it would be best to find a Secret Treasure to defend against the Heart Demon, or to spend more time polishing his mental state.

As for the Celestial Thunder Tribulation, Ge Cang didn’t think Bai Zichen would have any difficulty.

Even if he were as unlucky as Ge Cang and encountered a Celestial Tribulation on the level of the Five Elements Purple Thunder Tribulation, having a Tier Four Flying Sword would make crossing it much easier.

’I can’t be careless. I still need to make several more preparations... I must remember that the Five Elements Purple Thunder Tribulation is not the most fearsome of all Celestial Tribulations.’

Bai Zichen reckoned he could handle a Celestial Thunder Tribulation on par with True Monarch Ge Cang’s.

But if his luck was truly rotten and he encountered one of the top three most powerful types of Celestial Tribulations—the kind that might not appear once in ten thousand years—then he couldn’t be so certain.

Throughout history, countless cultivators have tried to deduce the patterns of the Celestial Tribulations faced by Perfect Core Formation True Men undergoing their Nascent Soul transformation, proposing a series of theories.

But aside from the fact that the Tribulation Crossing would be more difficult for those who had committed acts that harmed celestial harmony on their cultivation path, none of the other theories could be effectively proven.

’Don’t tell me the Celestial Tribulation tailors the difficulty to the person? Brother Ge was strong, so he ran into the Five Elements Purple Thunder Tribulation... When my time comes, my strength will only surpass his. I’d better not get some legendary version of the tribulation.’

The theory that the strength of a Celestial Tribulation was related to the strength of the Tribulation Crosser was once very popular.

However, it was quickly disproven by a joint effort from several Super Major Sects, as far too many counterexamples existed to refute the claim.

’If I can achieve the Five Crystal Glaze Body or master the ability to deploy the Star River Sword Array before I reach the Nascent Soul Realm, I can face any Celestial Tribulation with composure, no matter what it is.’

Ge Cang also explained the benefits of the Four Great Nascent Soul Phenomena. Heaven-Sent Dew and the Rainbow Bridge were common ones that simply nourished the Nascent Soul, saving a newly advanced Nascent Soul Cultivator decades of accumulation.

As for the Sea of Thunderbolts, the golden Divine Thunder had directly reforged Ge Cang’s physique, granting him the Thunder God True Body.

This could be considered a type of Acquired Sacred Body, one with a natural affinity for lightning that allowed its user to cultivate Thunder Element Techniques and Divine Powers several times faster than others.

Most crucially, it granted partial immunity to lightning damage.

For cultivators of Thunder Skills, which often injured the user before the enemy, this was arguably the most important aspect.

In the eyes of the cultivators from the Five Thunders Sect, it was a coveted Acquired Sacred Body, second only to possessing an Innate Thunder Spirit Body.

As for the Grotto Heaven Gate phenomenon, which signified the potential for Divinity Transformation, it had allowed Ge Cang to gain an early insight into the creation of his own world.

In the future, whether he was gathering the Power of Void, refining his Nascent Soul Realm, or continuously evolving it toward a Grotto Heaven, he would have a head start over other cultivators.

As for the benefits brought to him by the Sound of the Great Dao, he did not go into detail.

Everyone has their own trump cards and secrets. Even among sect brothers, there is no need to share everything.

This kind of experience was the benefit of having a Nascent Soul True Monarch in the Sect.

When someone has already forged the path ahead, it becomes much easier for those who come after.

Bai Zichen summarized Ge Cang’s shared insights in his mind, then closed his eyes and began to digest what he had gained from witnessing the entire process of the Nascent Soul transformation.

The main benefit was the Great Dao Bell Sound. It was a moment of pure Empowerment that shook the dust from his mind, allowing him to take another great stride on the Path of Time.

’Time never comes again, a flower does not bloom twice... The charging time for the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword has been drastically shortened. On one hand, it’s due to my progress on the Time Path. On the other, my "Pill Discussion" has subtly shifted. On top of the foundation of not losing any time, I’ve added a layer of meticulous calculation.’

After a long while, Bai Zichen opened his eyes. They held a hint of confusion, yet also a look of profound enlightenment.

’For others, a year is a year. For me, I can make it worth thirteen months, utilizing every fragmented moment to the absolute extreme... At this rate, it won’t just be for the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword Divine Technique. My cultivation of any Secret Cultivation Technique will be a notch faster than before.’

For him, the most direct effect was that his cultivation speed would be faster than ever before.

Bai Zichen was already looking forward to Ge Cang’s Nascent Soul Ceremony. After the ceremony, the Sect would begin renovating Flame Mountain, and he could move his Cave Mansion to the Tier Four Spirit Vein.

...

The peak of Qii Mountain was cloaked in silver snow.

In a rage, Qu Yang swept an Enamelled Jade Cup to the floor. It shattered, the pieces glinting with an icy sheen.

"Ge Cang has successfully formed his Nascent Soul, and the Qingfeng Sect has been renamed the Qingfeng Sect!"

The piece of paper in his hand was crumpled into a ball. Qu Yang’s eyes were filled with shock and a hint of panicked helplessness as he spoke, one word at a time.

"Someone tell me, is this news real or fake?"

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, this matter appears to be true... The Qingfeng Sect has already confirmed it will hold a Nascent Soul Ceremony. In addition to inviting over a dozen nearby Core Formation Level powers, the list of invitees also includes the Celestial Principle Sect, the Ice Soul Palace, and the Tianhe Sword Sect. If this were merely a bluff, they could never fool those Nascent Soul True Monarchs."

The Red-Haired Elder, who was in charge of intelligence gathering, stepped forward and spoke in an indifferent tone.

"For something so important, why wasn’t it reported sooner? Does the Sect invest millions of Spirit Stones in intelligence every year only to receive outdated information!"

Qu Yang’s expression turned severe as he unleashed the might of his Late-Stage Core Formation cultivation, his gaze fixed on the Red-Haired Elder.

"Shattering the Core and Transforming into a Nascent Soul doesn’t just happen in an instant! There’s so much preparation involved—the Tribulation Crossing, securing a Tier Four Spirit Land... Don’t tell me your Wind Chasing Pavilion didn’t catch a single hint of any of it!"

"If we had gotten this information sooner, we could have implemented countermeasures! We wouldn’t be forced to just stand by and watch as Ge Cang becomes a Nascent Soul Cultivator!"

After True Monarch Jiulian’s fall, Qu Yang logically progressed from his status as Saint Heir to the position of Sect Leader.

However, being treated like dirt by Shi Chengdong of the Celestial Principle Sect had already severely damaged his confidence as one of heaven’s favored.

Then, after becoming the Sect Leader of the Holy Lotus Sect, he faced internal turmoil and external threats, finding it difficult to make any headway.

Back in the Holy Lotus Sect’s darkest hour, they were at least still the undisputed power within Liang Country’s borders. The sheer number of their Core Formation True Men was enough to overwhelm the entire Cultivation Realm of Liang Country.

But now, there were already three Nascent Soul Level powers—the Celestial Principle Sect, the Ice Soul Palace, and the Blood Demon Sect—and the Qingfeng Sect had just been added to that list.

Externally, it could be said that the Holy Lotus Sect was in its most difficult period.

Internally, although Qu Yang’s Celestial Spiritual Root made him the undisputed successor and had secured his previous position as Saint Heir, he held little prestige in the eyes of the Core Formation Elders.

Had the transition of power been smooth, things might have been better.

True Monarch Jiulian met an utterly humiliating end, dying at the hands of a Core Formation True Man, so the arrangements he had made while alive could not be fully carried out.

Of the Holy Lotus Sect’s more than twenty Core Formation True Men, less than a third took orders from Qu Yang. The rest were split into several factions, each acting as they pleased.

The prevailing thought among these Core Formation True Men was that with the Sect’s Tier Four Array and a Spiritual Treasure for defense, Qii Mountain was virtually impregnable.

At worst, they could just seal off the mountain and go into seclusion as they had before. They believed that as long as they waited for the next Nascent Soul True Monarch to appear, the Holy Lotus Sect’s former glory could be restored.

It wasn’t until Qu Yang broke through to the Late-Stage Core Formation Realm in recent years that his influence in the Sect grew, reminding everyone that although he had been overshadowed by the dazzling brilliance of two Core Formation True Men from the Qingfeng Sect, he still possessed the aptitude of a Celestial Spiritual Root.

In the entire Cultivation Realm of Liang Country, he was still one of the few with the greatest hope of reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.

"Our Pavilion had seven spies planted in the Qingfeng Sect. We have already lost three of them... To avoid exposure, a strict order was issued long ago: they were not to contact the Sect unless it was a matter of life-and-death urgency."

The Red-Haired Elder sneered, unfazed.

"For the four of them to send messages one after another—from the initial short alert to the several-hundred-word report now in the Sect Leader’s hands—it came at a cost. Two of our Pavilion’s best spies have lost contact. In all likelihood, they were discovered by the Qingfeng Sect and have already perished."

"Elder Luo, please don’t be agitated. The Sect Leader is only flustered because he is deeply concerned. He has no intention of blaming the Wind Chasing Pavilion."

Another elder stepped out, acting as a peacemaker.

After a round of bickering and concessions, the only decision made was to increase investment in the Wind Chasing Pavilion and dispatch more spies toward the Black Mountain area. Nothing else on the agenda was resolved.

After all the elders had left and Qu Yang was alone in the great hall, a profound sense of powerlessness washed over him, and he collapsed onto his throne.

’In Liang Country today, if you don’t reach the Nascent Soul Realm, you have no right to speak... If this goes on, I fear our Sect will lose every stronghold except Qii Mountain itself.’

Qu Yang closed his eyes and let out a meaningless, pained groan.

’Relying on Qii Mountain alone, we won’t be able to recruit enough Immortal Seedlings. In less than a century, the Sect will have no one to carry the torch. They may not be able to break our Tier Four Array, but what happens when the cultivators inside no longer have the power to maintain it?’

Even when they were pushed into the most dire straits by the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons, the Holy Lotus Sect still had control over Liang Country.

Moreover, as a sect from another country, the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons couldn’t possibly keep a large army of cultivators stationed abroad year-round. A campaign lasting even a few decades would have been extraordinary.

But the current situation was different. All four Nascent Soul Level powers were based within Liang Country and were fully capable of blockading the Holy Lotus Sect for the long term.

Among them, neither the Celestial Principle Sect nor the Blood Demon Sect possessed a Tier Four Spirit Vein, giving them more than enough incentive to move against the Holy Lotus Sect.

’If I want to preserve the Sect’s legacy, I have to make a change... I can’t count on those old fossils. I have to do this myself!’

Qu Yang shot to his feet, strode out of the hall, and headed toward the location where True Monarch Jiulian once held his closed-door cultivation.