Chapter 437 - 432: The True Dao-Seeking Heart

Chapter 437: Chapter 432: The True Dao-Seeking Heart

Core Formation Perfection represented the peak of one’s current Realm, with no further room for advancement. It was time to consider ascending to the next level.

However, Shattering the Core and Transforming into a Nascent Soul was nothing like the previous breakthroughs to Foundation Establishment or Core Formation.

There was no turning back; it was a perilous, all-or-nothing process.

It was normal for cultivators to remain at this stage for a century, deepening their understanding of their Great Dao Domain and preparing Tribulation Crossing Secret Treasures.

Many Core Formation True Men, terrified by the might of the Celestial Tribulation, never dared to take this step.

But for Bai Zichen, everything had fallen into place naturally.

If he wished, he could begin the path to the Nascent Soul realm at this very moment.

’It has been nearly two hundred years since I Entered the Dao... In a daze, I feel like I’m still that young child on Fufeng Ridge, pondering the Wood God Skill.’ 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

A stark white Sword Light soared from Flame Mountain, quickly entering a peculiar state of Sword Control.

To the naked eye, the Sword Light seemed to advance and retreat, as if playing a teasing game.

But if one closed their eyes and then looked again, the Sword Light was already a hundred miles away. Everything seen before was just an illusion.

This was merely an external manifestation of his technique, Splendid Youth—an illusion created by the revealed Power of Time.

Fufeng Ridge was overgrown with wild grass. Without a master to tend to them, the Sun Grass had covered the entire mountain, growing as tall as a person.

’It’s a pity. This Sun Grass is too old; it doesn’t even qualify for making Tier One Talisman Paper anymore. And it’s draining the nutrients from the ground...’

Back then, Bai Jiu’an had relied on cultivating these Spirit Plants to trade for Cultivation Resources.

Now, apart from the branch of the Clan that remained at the Hanxiu Peak ancestral lands, some Bai Clan Members had moved to Celestial Thunder Cliff, changing their status to become disciples of the Qingfeng Sect.

Another branch had gone to a Tier Two Top-Grade Spiritual Vein near Lengcuo Lake. There, they had irrigated dozens of acres of Spirit Fields among the intersecting waterways, creating an ideal and stable homeland for a Cultivation Family.

The Bai Family had accumulated decades of contributions to obtain this land from the Qingfeng Sect.

Whether Ancestor Bai’s influence was a factor, or if the Elders of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall had opened a back door for them, remained unknown.

But one thing was certain: for many years, the Ink Bamboo Bai Family had never faced obstruction or delay when undertaking missions for the Qingfeng Sect or collecting their rewards.

In countless small ways, everyone from the Sect Leader down to the Steward Disciples would, intentionally or not, show them a little favoritism.

With the Clan’s members spread thin, peripheral Tier One Spirit Lands like Fufeng Ridge were naturally overlooked and fell into neglect.

The Ink Bamboo Bai Family’s reputation as the number one Cultivation Family of Black Mountain was well-established. Even if the Bai Clan Members openly abandoned a Spirit Land, no Loose Cultivator would dare to occupy it.

Of course, this was also related to Bai Zichen having slain numerous Tier Three Demon Kings and seized multiple Tier Three Spirit Veins.

During the successive wars to open up new territories, the main objective had been to clear out the Demon Beast Groups along the way, sweeping through the areas back and forth.

The final, decisive battles became unnecessary. The Tier Three Demon Kings had already been killed, transforming what was typically the highest-casualty phase for the pioneering army into a simple handover of the Spirit Veins.

As a result, there was no shortage of Spirit Land under the Qingfeng Sect’s rule at present.

Otherwise, a hundred years ago, someone would surely have taken the risk to occupy Fufeng Ridge and make a living there.

After a leisurely stroll, Bai Zichen landed back on Hanxiu Peak.

The Bai Family’s Clan array was like it didn’t exist before him; its warning wards were completely unable to detect the entry of a Cultivator of his level.

Hanxiu Peak was where he had truly grown up during his youth.

He then visited the grave of his uncle, Bai Jiu’an. It was clear that someone regularly patrolled and cleaned it. Offerings were plentiful, fragrant incense burned continuously, and red candles never went out.

Bai Zichen took three sticks of incense, bowed several times, and placed them in the censer before the tombstone.

Leaving the Bai Clan’s ancestral lands, his next stop was Feiyue Lake.

He had lived and cultivated here for almost his entire Foundation Establishment Stage; it was fair to say he knew every blade of grass and every tree by heart.

As a Core Formation Ancestor, he had access to all areas within the Sect.

Passing through the familiar Three Thousand Six Hundred Rings Water Smoke Array, he found Feiyue Lake hadn’t changed much since he left.

The White Jade Tower still stood in its original place, facing the waves that lapped against the shore.

The lake had been widened considerably, and the surrounding Spirit Fields were now fully cultivated, providing a large amount of Spirit Rice for the Sect every year.

It used to be sold externally through the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, but with the rapid increase in the number of Sect Disciples, the supply was now easily consumed internally.

Bai Zichen walked below the White Jade Tower and on the Lake Heart Island, strolling at a measured pace.

After making a full circle, he departed with a smile on his face.

Behind him, next to the Lake Heart Island, another island surfaced—it was the Tier Three Dragon Turtle.

It stretched its long neck, its beady eyes darting around as if it had sensed something unusual.

Celestial Thunder Cliff.

This place was Bai Zichen’s true personal domain, planned and arranged entirely according to his wishes.

The disciples on Celestial Thunder Cliff were primarily Bai Clan Members and cultivators from the lineage of his four disciples; the rest also had deep connections to Ancestor Bai.

This included people like Lu Song, and the descendants of several senior Sect members to whom Ancestor Bai owed a debt of gratitude.

All of them enjoyed the benefits of a Tier Three Spirit Land on Celestial Thunder Cliff.

The Miscellaneous Affairs Hall and the Five Halls rarely interfered with personnel arrangements here.

He went to inspect the bamboo forest in front of the Celestial Thunder Wall. A total of four Thunder Sound Bamboo stalks had mutated, but now was not the time to deal with them. They could only be saved for the future.

Arriving at Genggeng’s private cabin, he found the creature tearing at a chunk of Tier Three Demon Beast meat. Genggeng suddenly became alert, hopping out on its short limbs and whining at the sky.

’A Tier Two Peak Spirit Beast. The little one has certainly grown a lot while I’ve been away...’

Bai Zichen took one last, greedy look at Celestial Thunder Cliff before returning to Flame Mountain.

His path of growth had been simple, mostly confined to the Cultivation Realm of Liang Country. It didn’t take long to revisit all the significant places.

He sat in the Observatory Pavilion, recalling everything he had ever learned and slowly savoring the memories.

He informed Wei Dao that he was about to undergo the Shattering of his Core and Transformation into a Nascent Soul, and waited for him to arrive with two newly advanced Core Formation True Men.

At the same time, his several disciples also arrived.

The benefits of witnessing a Core Formation True Man’s journey of Shattering the Core and Transforming into a Nascent Soul were immeasurable.

It was far more real and effective than reading the insights or journals of predecessors.

"Activate the Array! Inform all Cultivators on Flame Mountain to cease their Cultivation and Qi Refining from this day forward, lest they be injured by the drastic fluctuations in nature’s spiritual energy..."

Wei Dao commanded the disciples beside him. He had missed Ge Cang’s Nascent Soul formation last time and had always regretted it.

Today, with Bai Zichen attempting his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm, his wish was finally being fulfilled.

"After today, Junior Martial Uncle Bai will become the Sect’s second Nascent Soul True Monarch. The burden on our shoulders will lighten significantly."

Even when their cultivation was in the same realm, Lu Song had always treated him with the respect due to a junior.

It seemed he had more confidence than anyone else in Bai Zichen’s ability to reach the Nascent Soul realm.

"As it should be."

With complicated emotions, Wei Dao slowly turned his gaze toward the peak of Flame Mountain.

...

’The path to the Nascent Soul realm begins now!’

Feeling that everything was perfect, Bai Zichen circulated his True Essence, completing one full Circulation according to the final Ninth Layer Cultivation Technique of the Fire Dragon Returning Essence Scripture.

The Fire Dragon appeared behind him again, but it was even more ferocious and vivid than before.

For the first time, it detached from the Cultivator’s body, resembling a true Fire Dragon and exuding a heart-pounding aura.

All over Flame Mountain, streams of Spiritual Qi coiled like dragons, spiraling down towards him at the center.

As the True Essence in his body surged higher and higher, a crisp CRACK echoed. Looking within using his Divine Sense, he could see a fissure on his Golden Core.

The Shattering of the Core and Transformation into a Nascent Soul had officially begun. There was no turning back.

With his profound foundation, his understanding of the Great Dao, and years of preparation, this first step posed no difficulty.

His True Essence continuously sublimated, and his Divine Sense gradually transformed.

Throughout this process, more and more cracks appeared on Bai Zichen’s Golden Core.

Only when the ninth crack appeared would it be time for the Nascent Soul to manifest.

Suddenly, red clouds pressed down from the sky, so low it seemed one could reach out and touch them.

The oppressive aura startled the nearby Demon Beasts, sending them fleeing for their lives.

If not for his attempt to reach the Nascent Soul realm, no one would have guessed that hundreds of different Demon Beasts lived at the base of Flame Mountain.

The red clouds descended, a mass of black smoke churning within them. The two colors mixed together, filling the sky with a swirling crimson and black.

Bai Zichen’s eyes glazed over as he fell into the trial of the Heart Demon Tribulation.

...

"Zichen, why waste those Spirit Stones? For people with our aptitude, reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage is already the limit."

Su Li, his face grim, tried to persuade him earnestly.

"Because we’re brothers, I’m willing to give you this advice. Life is short. We Foundation Establishment Cultivators only live for two hundred years. Instead of spending most of that time in the tedious cycle of closed-door Cultivation and studying magic, we should go find some excitement."

"The cost of continuously taking Great Barrier Breaking Pills is far beyond what you can afford. Besides, look at your age. You’re still dreaming of Core Formation? You’d be better off placing your hopes in the next generation."

Bai Zichen just smiled and said nothing.

He and his best friend had arranged to buy Realm-Breaking Elixirs, but just before the transaction, Su Li once again voiced his strong opposition.

"You should be realistic. You only reached Early-Stage Foundation Establishment at nearly 140 years old. Do you want to be like that senior in the Sect’s history who set a record for the oldest to ever reach Core Formation?"

"If one gives up simply because the future looks dim and the Great Dao seems hopeless, what’s the point of talking about having a steadfast Dao Heart?"

Bai Zichen smiled faintly, ignoring his friend’s cold, harsh words.

"I only know that one cultivates for oneself, to gather great power within oneself, not to place hope in the next life or shift the burden onto future generations... Even if I only have one breath left tomorrow, I will still seize today to cultivate without delay."

"At your age, you probably won’t even reach Late-Stage Foundation Establishment! You’ll toil your whole life like an Ascetic Monk, only to end up destitute!"

"So what? My Dao Heart will not change. I will strive to cultivate until the very day my lifespan runs out."

Bai Zichen’s expression was resolute, not wavering in the slightest at his friend’s words.

From that point on, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. He actually reached Foundation Establishment Perfection within twenty years.

Later, his friend met an untimely end, dying at the hands of Tribulation Cultivators. War broke out between the Nascent Soul Sects in the outside world, and the entire Cultivation Realm descended into chaos.

Bai Zichen became a lone traveler on the path of Cultivation. Cultivators of his generation had long since given up, settling in Mortal cities to enjoy their lives.

Or they had accumulated resources, placing their hopes on the next generation.

The junior disciples were too far apart from him in age; they had no common ground for conversation.

Only Cultivation remained his lifelong companion.

"Go back. You’ve been afflicted with the Seven Absolutes Poison. If you attempt a breakthrough, you will surely die... If you dissipate your cultivation and recuperate, you can still live for another twenty years or so."

A Core Formation Elder with a blurry face delivered this verdict to Bai Zichen, who had come to exchange for a Core Formation Spiritual Object.