Latest content publıshed on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝙣𝙚𝙩 Wang Sheng flew out of the villa on his sword and circled half a mountain in search of a natural cave. When he failed to find one, he simply chose a secluded spot in the forest to begin his seclusion. After a brief discussion with Mu Wanxuan, Wang Sheng sat down cross-legged with a trace of helplessness. His senior sister busied herself around him, embedding one Qi-Nurturing Stone after another into the forest. She arranged six formations in total. Among them was a qi-gathering formation to draw in the surrounding primal qi, a qi-sealing formation to conceal fluctuations, and a misdirection formation to keep living creatures away from Wang Sheng's location. Once the arrangements were complete, a thin mist drifted across the woods, and streams of primal qi converged continuously into the area. Mu Wanxuan then concealed herself at the edge of the formation. She made sure never to stray over three hundred meters away from Wang Sheng to ensure that she'd always be close enough to rush in should anything happen. Just as Jingyun once worried while guarding Qing Yanzi's seclusion at the Zhongnan Mountains, Mu Wanxuan, too, was restless. She feared some mishap would befall Wang Sheng's breakthrough. Within the forest, Wang Sheng sat cross-legged under the shade. He calmed his mind and closed his eyes slowly. He turned his focus inward, casting away distractions, and sank into meditation. He was not merely attempting to break through. Rather, he also intended to record every step of the process: how he broke through, the visions encountered when advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm, and every peril he'd face along the way. These notes would serve as a reference for his master and senior sister. He had always relied on their experiences to break through. Now, it was finally his turn to contribute to their sect. At the peak of the Heavenly Abode Realm, his Primordial Soul had reached perfection and could now be considered as an "Illusory Soul." The Golden Core was the manifestation of the Dao. The Primordial Soul was the vessel of the spirit. The most difficult step in advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm was to sink one's Illusory Core into their Golden Core, merging it perfectly with their Dao. In his vast Heavenly Abode, his Illusory Soul opened its eyes. It looked upon the vast expanse around it before settling its gaze on his spiritual platform, which had already become a complete palace. Once he had formed a Nascent Soul, his Heavenly Abode would continue to evolve until it transformed into a temple that could house his Primordial Spirit. He recalled the core teachings of the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra's Nascent Soul chapter. Now that he no longer restrained himself from seeking a breakthrough, countless insights naturally flowed into his mind. Guide the Illusory Soul; turn the illusory into reality. Once Pure Yang returns to the profound Dao, shatter your core and form your Nascent Soul. Within the Heavenly Abode, starlight shimmered above the qi sea, and faint arcs of lightning flickered across his Illusory Soul. With starlight leading the way, enchanted power built bridges. His Illusory Soul then flew out from the great palace atop the spiritual platform and descended into the chaos below. At that moment, his heart devil stirred. Though Wang Sheng knew full well what it was, his mind still wavered as it conjured scenes of his deepest fears: his family in danger, his master being humiliated, immortals invading and conquering Earth. It also amplified his countless unsolved doubts and, most dangerous of all, showed him his senior sister smiling with an enchanting allure that she had never shown him before. Fortunately, the two already shared mutual affection; Wang Sheng did not have a one-sided affection for her. Instead of lingering within the heart devil's illusions, he swiftly pressed on. The illusions rose and fell for an unknown span of time. Wang Sheng felt as if he had lost all connection to his body. His mind drifted, rose, and sank alongside his Illusory Soul. Sometimes, he wandered among starlight. At times, through endless thunder. He traversed desolate deserts, then stumbled upon hidden valleys filled with peach blossoms. While shuttling ceaselessly between real and unreal, he kept reciting the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra. Whenever he grew agitated, he turned to the Seven-Lotus Soul-Calming Method. After an unknown span of time, Wang Sheng broke into a new world. Below stretched a golden ocean, above swirled a vast starry sky, and at its heart a colossal golden sword floated within a whirlpool. At last, he had found them: his qi sea and Golden Core. His Illusory Soul took half a step forward. The heavens shook, the earth quaked. In the starry sky, three phantasms appeared, making it seem as though countless eyes now gazed upon his fragile Illusory Soul. The sword-shaped Golden Core released rippling waves, which surged across the qi sea. Countless scenes unfolded before Wang Sheng. A golden bridge slowly emerged from the qi sea, stopping just under his feet. Its far end reached the hilt of the colossal sword. With hands clasped behind his back, he walked forward. With each step, a new scene appeared. It was a projection of his inner vision—a contemplation of the path he had taken. He saw himself practicing swordsmanship in the snow, then watched as he went into seclusion in the Seventy-Two Swords. Each step seemed to span thousands of miles. Still, he eventually had the sword-shaped Golden Core within reach. I have taken another step toward the immortal path. Wang Sheng sighed. He did not know why his heart felt heavy or why faint sorrow lingered in it. Still, he tried to cheer himself up. The grand era of cultivation lies ahead of me, and the boundless starry skies await to be traversed. I have companions by my side, and my sword is always with me. May I pluck the fruit of longevity, so that I never have to suffer the wheel of reincarnation again. The Illusory Soul raised its hand in a sword finger gesture and leaped from the golden bridge. It plunged directly into the junction of the sword's hilt and blade. Dazzling light then erupted from Wang Sheng's body, and his consciousness snapped back into it. Within his qi sea, everything had been thrown into chaos. At his place of seclusion, a black vortex formed, endlessly devouring primal qi. The primal qi within three hundred li in every direction surged toward him. Even the qi meridian nodes of the Hua Republic were affected. Mu Wanxuan was already floating in the sky, her spiritual perception spread outward. Though Wang Sheng could not sense the passing of time while wandering within, over half a month had passed since he had entered seclusion. The Special Investigation Unit and Special Affairs Unit monitored the situation. The Special Warfare Unit even dispatched a battalion to guard the surrounding forest. Wang Sheng's tireless efforts across the land had clearly not been in vain. He devoured primal qi for three days and three nights. None could fathom how much he absorbed, but the oppressive might within the forest grew ever heavier. He was exuding the authority to govern all beings and suppress all spirits! Even Mu Wanxuan, one of the strongest cultivators of the era, had to fly higher to withstand it. Even after Wang Sheng stopped drawing in qi, his oppressive aura remained, making her brow furrowed. Unable to relax, she fixed her gaze anxiously on his location. Most of the formations that she had set had already collapsed. This breakthrough was taking far longer than either of them had expected. She was not the only one who was concerned. Qing Yanzi also frequently sent inquiries, and Huai Jing, who dared not disturb him, still sought news of his success. Normally, once one reached the stage of wildly devouring primal qi, success was nearly certain. However, no one knew what visions could arise while breaking one's core to form the Nascent Soul. Perhaps all that qi was merely to shatter the barrier of the Golden Core. Xiaomiao also felt the oppressive might from the villa, making her restless. Not only could she not cultivate deeply, but she had also been unable to meditate for days. "Aiya. Don't worry, Xiaomiao." Xi Lian lay slouched on the sofa, toes lightly raised, an iced cola in her hand, and several bags of snacks at her side. On the projected screen, a classic romance anime was playing. "I've done what your brother is doing now. Breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm is dangerous. It can cripple or even kill you. However, your brother's breakthrough is guaranteed." Wang Xiaomiao argued, "The path of cultivation is filled with hardships. Nothing should be taken for granted!" "What hardships? Heaven favors your brother!" Xi Lian rolled her eyes. "Don't worry. He survived even the Earth Qi Seal. Even if he wanted to die, he'd have difficulties doing so. "Cultivators today rarely understand fate and fortune. There's meaning behind the saying 'survive great calamity and fortune will follow,' so stop fretting. If you don't want to cultivate, just sit here with me and watch anime. There's no point agonizing over this." "Alright," Wang Xiaomiao muttered. She sat cross-legged on the carpet beside the sofa, hugged a pillow, and pouted at the screen. "What is it? You don't like romance anime?" "I want to watch Pirate King!" Wang Xiaomiao clenched her tiny fists. "That legendary story is about pirates who have just set sail, just like me!" Xi Lian's eyes curved into crescents as she laughed. With an indulging gaze, she pulled out her phone to change the channel. Behind Mount Mao, in a secluded bamboo grove. Liu Yunzhi, who was in white robes, carried a tray along a narrow path. Passing through a fence gate, he arrived before a bamboo hut and set the tray down respectfully. "Forefather Master, these rejuvenation pills were refined for you." The bamboo door opened, revealing a white-haired elder Daoist. He raised his hand and drew the tray before him as he sighed. "I trouble you all too much." Liu Yunzhi smiled faintly. "Please don't say that. If you have no other needs, then I will return and report back." "Yunzhi," the elder asked softly, "while cultivating, I felt a sudden stirring and let my spirit wander, where I overheard the disciples speaking. They said a cultivator was breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm. Is that true?" Liu Yunzhi blinked, then lowered his head. "It is." "And he's from your generation, about your age?" Liu Yunzhi smiled. "Yes. I am friends with him, though my cultivation is shallow and cannot compare to his." "Even a thousand years ago, someone with such a high aptitude only appeared once in centuries. Don't let this trouble you," the old Daoist consoled. His expression then grew wistful. "These old bones of mine can hardly keep up with the new generations. Even so, at least we don't have to worry about the cultivation world falling to invaders." Not knowing how to respond, Liu Yunzhi simply smiled and nodded. The elder waved his hand, and Liu Yunzhi departed. As he left the fenced courtyard, the surrounding barrier pushed back against him ever so slightly. He stepped out with a small sigh of relief and walked away, never once looking back. Once Liu Yunzhi had gone far enough, the grand elder in the bamboo hut finally let his smile fade and his expression darken. Nascent Soul? He's not a threat yet, but he reached it just two decades after the resurgence of primal qi. He truly can't be ignored. "We can't delay our plans anymore." The elder casually put away the tray of pills, a trace of worry flickering in his eyes.