Nascent Soul

"The opportunity to form the Nascent Soul has arrived!" The moment the primal embryo quickened, understanding dawned naturally upon Luo Chen. Faintly, in that fleeting instant, his mind seemed to harmonize with heaven and earth, blending together like milk and water. Yet, that momentary distraction caused the Golden Core within him to quiet down, and the sensation vanished in a flash. Luo Chen felt no regret over missing the opportunity. He knew his realm had arrived. As long as he made further attempts, he could reproduce that feeling once again. Wasting no time, he carefully savored every nuance of that fleeting experience. "The Golden Core, fused with the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit, transforms into a primal embryo. It communes with heaven and earth until no boundary remains between them. Riding this opportunity, one can coalesce their intrinsic Nascent Soul within the primal embryo—a process known as shattering the core to form the nascent soul, evoking the imagery of childbirth. "Looking at it from another angle, is the so-called primal embryo not an egg formed through the union of man and heaven and earth? "The quickening of the embryo is its resonance with heaven and earth. "And during the nascent soul formation, this process must be maintained at every single moment. Otherwise, all previous efforts will be wasted. "Yet for a Golden Core cultivator, forcefully maintaining that quickening state is extraordinarily difficult. Thus, external aids must be relied upon!" External aids were nothing more than exterior boosts or stimulants. First, a rank-four spirit vein! Such a spirit vein already possessed the faint hallmarks of a blessed land, capable of influencing the local environment—just as spiritual soils were found everywhere on Longyuan Island. If a cultivator could use the quickened state to mobilize the spiritual qi of a rank-four spirit vein to assist them, they could greatly prolong their time of communion with heaven and earth. Second, a Nascent Soul Formation Pill! Using medicinal efficacy, one could forcibly elevate the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit in a short time, making the primal embryo more condensed and buying even more time. Perhaps great sects possessed other treasures to aid nascent soul formation. For Luo Chen, however, these two were more than enough. In fact, when the quickened state was broken a moment ago, he felt he could forcefully re-enter it at will. That feeling was no illusion! Taking a deep breath, Luo Chen closed his eyes and attempted to unify the three treasures using the nascent soul formation method he had comprehended years ago. Sure enough! Less than half a day later, a dull thumping sound echoed from within his qi ocean. The quickening had returned! This time, Luo Chen did not allow himself to become distracted, instead immersing his senses in its exquisite subtleties. In the end, he discovered that beyond his profound foundation and the fact that his essence, qi, and spirit far exceeded an ordinary Golden Core Great Circle cultivator, the true contributor that allowed him to enter the quickened state at any time was his constitution—the Fire Spirit Body! This body was already a masterpiece of nature. Thus, when merging with heaven and earth, there was virtually no resistance; the harmony was nearly seamless. He withdrew from that state. "Phew..." Luo Chen let out a long breath. Han Zhan was right. With his foundation, he truly could attempt to forcibly form the Nascent Soul without relying on a Nascent Soul Formation Pill. However, whether he could succeed would still depend on how long he could hold out in that state. Luo Chen refused to fight an uncertain battle. In cultivation, at least, he had to ensure nothing went wrong! Therefore, taking the safer route was better. Rising to his feet, Luo Chen stepped out of the thatched cottage and arrived before the Reverse Five Elements Spirit Formation. With a wave of his hand, he dispelled the formation, revealing the yellowed bronze basin. Looking closely, nine five-colored pills the size of longan fruit were laid out within the bronze basin according to a specific arrangement. As the formation dispersed and the shielding vanished, six of the nine pills instantly weathered and crumbled into dust. Only three remained. "Oh?" Luo Chen let out a soft exclamation and picked up the three Nascent Soul Formation Pills. Under his inspection, the results were quickly determined. Two had crossed the threshold, reaching rank-four mid-grade. As for the primary pill that had been carefully nourished at the center, its five colors gleamed with dazzling brilliance. Its terrifying medicinal potency could no longer be contained within, radiating outward in wisps and strands. Luo Chen's gaze narrowed. He cast two magic power restrictions to suppress the leaking medicinal power. Even so, the effect was minimal. "High-grade pills nurtured through a pill nourishing art are ultimately not as stable as those crafted personally from the start. This medicinal power likely won't last long. "This technique still has flaws. "Still, this outcome has already exceeded my expectations." A high-grade Nascent Soul Formation Pill! Indeed, this pill whose medicinal efficacy leaked so frantically had reached the rank-four high-grade. The cloud patterns on its surface were faint and misty, its luster vibrant—truly a superior pill! "In that case, my nascent soul formation schedule cannot be delayed in the slightest." Sensing the continuously dispersing medicinal power, Luo Chen smiled faintly. There was no panic, only complete confidence! *** For cultivators secluded in bitter cultivation, detached from the mortal world, time often passed in the blink of an eye. Counting from his arrival at Longyuan Island, a full twenty years had gone by! There were no shifting winds of upheaval, no treacherous schemes, and no bloody wars. On the island, each pursued their own path to advance their cultivation, as though living in a paradise away from the world. To the south of Longyuan Island, Sang Jinghe was tinkering with a vibrant green pool planted with several trees. Borrowing Luo Chen's method of blood-pool pill refining, he seemed to be attempting to cultivate a certain variety of spiritual tree. Inside a sound-isolating formation, Tianxuan waved a plantain fan, occasionally unleashing devastating gales of varying elemental affinities. Excitement was written all over her face. Over the past twenty years, she had not only consolidated her sixth-layer Golden Core realm, but she had also completely comprehended the *Huanyu Secret Scripture*, developing several lethal moves tailored specifically to herself. Her greatest harvest, however, was the high-grade magic treasure—the Nine Gales Plantain Fan. Previously constrained by her cultivation, she could only draw upon a fraction of its might. Now, she had thoroughly refined it. Paired with her Xun Wind Body, her combat prowess had skyrocketed! With this, not only did she possess a handy treasure, but she could also contribute far more to her master during future battles. On Xiaqiu Mountain, the green-robed Daoist remained seated alone. Throughout these twenty years, he seemed to have sat there without moving. Luo Chen and the others assumed he was familiarizing himself with his newly seized body, and rarely disturbed him outside of matters concerning cultivation. Yet when left alone, a hint of irrepressible urgency always surfaced on Han Zhan's face. Perched atop the mountain, Han Zhan's gaze appeared to look out over the sea, but if one followed his lowered eyelids, he seemed to be looking down across the entirety of Longyuan Island. Suddenly. The normally unrippled Bibo Pool churned with waves on this day. These ripples expanded outward, until gradually, the entire island began to tremble. Han Zhan gazed toward that direction with deeply complicated eyes. "The day has finally come. "Will he succeed?" Murmuring, Han Zhan shook his head vigorously. "I hope he succeeds!" As Longyuan Island trembled, everyone halted what they were doing and instinctively turned their eyes underground. Surges of vigorous spiritual qi began radiating outward uncontrollably. They breached thick layers of rock and soil, converging high into the sky. Out upon the calm sea, a whirlpool formed, and a massive dragon head slowly surfaced, its cold, aloof eyes fixed toward Longyuan Island. Dark clouds gathered along the horizon, casting a pall over an expanse as vast as a city. Silver serpents crackled and sparked within the oppressive, churning clouds. They were brewing! *** *Boom!* Deep in the chasm, the thatched cottage shattered. The white-robed Daoist sat cross-legged upon a prayer mat. The fluctuations of magic power across his body were no longer restrained, rhythmically expanding and contracting with his measured breathing. His eyes were closed, lips parted slightly, a five-colored pill faintly visible held between them. The ten fingers of his hands were interlaced, forming a seal resembling a lotus flower, yet upon closer inspection, his slightly spread fingers looked like a phoenix spreading its wings to take flight. His white Daoist robe snapped fiercely in the wind. Vast streams of spiritual qi were drawn from the chasm, converging toward his body. As if that were still not enough, the Daoist's throat bobbed. *Gulp!* The five-colored pill slid down his throat. A wisp of green-gold flame surged upward, burning away the restrictions and incinerating the pill's outer skin. The flame then wrapped around the terrifying medicinal power, sweeping through his meridians and surging straight into his qi ocean. The moment it entered the qi ocean, the true fire withdrew. Without needing any guidance, the immense medicinal power of the high-grade Nascent Soul Formation Pill wrapped itself around the crimson Golden Core that hung like a blazing sun. In an instant, Luo Chen felt his perception expand madly. With the Golden Core as the center, magic power exploded outward before slowly receding. Between this expansion and contraction, heaven and earth seemed to answer his call. The spiritual qi within the subterranean chasm, already rushing in torrents, became even more violent. Under the infusion of boundless spiritual qi, Luo Chen's withered body began to swell like a balloon filling with water. His body also began to slowly hover and rise, floating ever higher. One zhang, ten zhang, a hundred zhang... until light broke through and dark clouds pressed overhead! The heavenly tribulation that had been brewing for so long finally reacted. *Sizzle!* A streak of lightning slender as a water snake shot out of the dark clouds, striking the white-robed Daoist. Arcs of electricity splashed. Fine, fractured sparks crawled across the Daoist's frame. He remained unmoved, sitting cross-legged in the void, the hand seal unchanged. Seeing his reaction, heaven and earth seemed incensed. *Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle...* In the blink of an eye, nine slender bolts of lightning swept in from various angles. *Crack! Crack!* Lightning struck him, lifting his hair slightly and fluttering his white robe without wind. Yet, that was all. In the next instant, a brilliant flash of white light exploded through the void. *Boom!* A massive bolt of lightning as thick as a water bucket smashed down with unimaginable speed! Now, Luo Chen finally opened his eyes. The hand seal split apart: one forming the Lotus Seal, the other forming the Phoenix Seal. Spiritual light blazed in his eyes as he looked upon the hurtling thunderbolt. Taking a deep breath, his expression remained tranquil. On Longyuan Island, Tianxuan could not help crying out in alarm, "Master, quickly use your magic treasure to resist it!" Sang Jinghe, bewildered, stared blankly at the scene. On Xiaqiu Mountain, Han Zhan discerned something from Luo Chen's series of strange actions. Uncertainty and astonishment crossed his face, followed by disbelief. Only when he saw Luo Chen form two separate seals did he confirm his suspicion. "How does he dare?! "How dare he?!" *Crack!* The bucket-thick lightning crashed against Luo Chen's body, and his calm expression finally flickered. Luo Chen grunted, forcibly suppressing the agitation of the Wither-Bloom Fire within him, enduring the strike purely through his mighty physical body. Not only that, but as the lotus bloomed in his left hand, his fingers shifted through seals, mobilizing source power in the midst of this life-and-death ordeal to channel the lightning's power throughout his entire body. This sight felt familiar. Yet in his memories, it was deeply engraved! Body refining with heavenly thunder! Back in the cave dwelling of the thunder dao expert Bai Ye, he had undergone an experience like this. Compared to the lingering lightning power back then, the lightning drawn by this Nascent Soul tribulation was at least a hundred times stronger. Yet compared to when he was in the second stage of body refining, was Luo Chen's current physical form not hundreds or thousands of times stronger as well? And this was the tribulation-transcending method Luo Chen had prepared for so long! Why merely survive this tribulation? It was a trial for coalescing a Nascent Soul, but it was also the sole fortune for transmuting a yin soul into a yang spirit. In that case, why not turn the tribulation into an opportunity, adding brilliance to his body refining path that had hit a bottleneck? When *Convergence of Myriad Paths* was first created, it already possessed the principle of borrowing thunder to temper the flesh. Even after returning to the orthodox path, reenacting it now required only a bit of extra thought. Luo Chen divided his focus, keeping his primal embryo merged with heaven and earth while guiding the heavenly thunder to temper his body. Under normal circumstances, he could never achieve such a feat. Yet the exploding medicinal efficacy of the high-grade Nascent Soul Formation Pill granted him supreme, flawless control over every part of himself amidst this extreme ascension! Evidently, his mad gamble was indeed viable. After forcefully enduring the heavenly thunder, source power dispersed the energy across his entire body. In particular, the great spinal bone behind him, dormant for over a century! As if stirred, it awakened. It devoured countless fractured arcs of lightning in great gulps. Shining brilliantly, a beam of lightning like a mighty dragon rippled along his spine, falling into sync with Luo Chen's breathing. Having endured one round of tribulation, Luo Chen still appeared unsatisfied. Looking up at the dark clouds, his glowing eyes seemed to pierce the cloud cover. Watching the tribulation gather within once more, he licked his lips. The seal in his left hand paused, and his thumb pressed firmly against his chest. "Grow!" "Grow, grow, grow..." With a low roar, his frame expanded. In a single breath, a nine-zhang giant beating twin wings reappeared in the world. Luo Chen's eyes hardened, and his left hand pressed between his eyebrows. Source power surged through his body, and his flesh expanded without restraint. Ten zhang, twenty zhang... all the way to a hundred zhang! A giant no smaller than Black King stood between heaven and earth. Feet planted on the earth, stature like a mountain, his gaze was like lightning. One hand formed the Phoenix Nirvana Seal, while the other stirred the wind and clouds. Green-gold flames billowed from his qi ocean, silver-white lightning flashed across his spine, and black armor with distinct patterns enveloped his entire body. Even beneath the armor, the explosive power coiled within his chiseled muscles could not be concealed. Luo Chen had quietly repaired the Xuanchen Armor long ago. It naturally possessed self-restoring properties, and with the numerous ores Luo Chen had gathered from the Land of the Fallen Demon infused into it, its defensive power was even greater than before. During the previous strikes, Luo Chen had not been injured at all, enduring them entirely with the Xuanchen Armor and his physical flesh. He knew the main event was only just beginning! Sure enough! Seeing Luo Chen transform into his Desolate Ancient True Form without reservation, heaven and earth were thoroughly enraged. The black clouds grew denser! Explosive crackles rang incessantly within. Affected by the celestial phenomena, even the sea surrounding Longyuan Island began to boil, sending towering waves crashing toward the shore. Seeing the tsunami surge forward, Black King, guarding the waters near the island, moved his colossal frame to block them all. Yet a voice transmission halted him. "A cultivator must face tribulation alone. If others interfere, it will only provoke the Heavenly Dao to amplify the tribulation's might. "Do not act rashly!" Black King glanced toward Xiaqiu Mountain and ceased his movements. Waves battered the shore, seawater pouring inland. Before long, turbulent sea waters swirled beneath Luo Chen's feet. He paid it no heed, fixing his gaze into the depths of the clouds. Suddenly! *Here it comes!* Luo Chen thought, focusing his senses. *Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!* In an instant, five bolts of lightning struck simultaneously. They gave no time to react. Spanning several li around, they abruptly converged toward a single target. This was to leave no room for escape. Yet Luo Chen neither fled nor dodged. His hundred-zhang true form was enveloped in blood-red source power as he took the impact head-on. When the fivefold thunder strike concluded, The mountainous giant still stood proud between heaven and earth. However, the armor upon him was battered and torn, his chiseled muscles blasted with bloody craters, his feet sunken deep into the rock strata, and his hair blazing as if on fire. The rushing seawater had already submerged him to the waist. The giant's aura had withered. On Xiaqiu Mountain, Han Zhan watched with an extraordinarily complex expression. There was shock, pity, and above all, awe! Cultivators facing tribulation invariably relied on external assistance—magic treasures, formations, or at least layering spells to weaken the lightning's power. Who would dare endure it with pure, reckless courage like Luo Chen? He had even used the tribulation's power to temper his body, turning disaster into fortune. Han Zhan did not know if the direct Golden Core disciples of the Soul Formation sacred grounds crossed tribulations like this, but he had never seen anyone so audacious. "Yet this is the end of it. "Legend says a cultivator faces only three heavenly tribulations in their lifetime: once at the Nascent Soul stage, once at the Body Integration stage, and once at the Tribulation Transcending stage. Each tribulation consists of three rounds, totaling nine, known as the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. "Discounting the initial probes, Luo Chen has already endured two rounds of lightning strikes. Only the final one remains. "And this final strike will surely be the most terrifying!" Han Zhan wore a grave expression. For ordinary cultivators, five simultaneous bolts was the absolute limit, usually appearing only in the final round. Back then, his good friend Master Canglong had regretfully fallen before the third round's fivefold thunder. Because of Luo Chen's provocation, the heavenly punishment had intensified, bringing the fivefold strike in the second round. Just how horrifying the third round would be was unimaginable! Failing to endure meant death and the end of the Dao. Even someone as formidable as Luo Chen might at best linger on his last breath. If he endured it, he would become a true Nascent Soul Master, with no barrier separating him from heaven and earth. Han Zhan pressed his lips together, his hands involuntarily clasping. *** "Is it the final round?" Amidst the flooded Longyuan Island, Luo Chen pulled his legs from the deep rock. He tore off the Xuanchen Armor, which was crawling with lightning that continuously permeated the metal. The armor was not destroyed! Because millennium thunder essence had been incorporated during its initial forging, it naturally possessed resistance to and absorption of lightning power. Once it finished absorbing the lingering heavenly thunder and was later nourished with Nascent Soul magic power, it might even have a chance to become a True Artifact. For now, however, the Xuanchen Armor could offer no further help. Luo Chen casually stowed it into his storage ring. The wounds on his body were rapidly closing beneath a shroud of source power. With the vitality of the Taisui enhancing his flesh's regenerative capabilities, the healing effect was outstanding. Then, next! Luo Chen exhaled a breath of turbid air and slowly rose into the air. Within his body, a certain metamorphosis was mostly complete; his Golden Core seemed on the verge of shattering. Ordinary cultivators coalesced their Nascent Souls only after crossing the tribulation, using heaven and earth's bestowed blessing to take that step. Yet he was different: he was tempering his body while coalescing the nascent soul at the same time. Such a feat would sound horrifying to anyone. Yet no matter how shocking it was, he had to survive this final round of tribulation before he would ever have the chance to boast about it. And Luo Chen had long prepared himself. Hovering in midair, his body stretched, and source power flowed throughout him, gradually gathering in his fists. In his eyes, there was only confidence! With the strength of a mid-stage rank-four desolate beast, how could he fail to block a tribulation meant for a Golden Core Great Circle cultivator? Even if heaven and earth were enraged and intensified the punishment, there was still an upper limit. While channeling source power, Luo Chen watched the shifts within the thunderclouds. White electrical arcs flashed, thick as water buckets, faintly revealing nine distinct bolts. "Nine bolts of lightning?" Luo Chen murmured, a smile touching his lips. A mere stacking of numbers was meaningless to him. Yet in the next moment, his eyes narrowed, and his expression froze. Through his spiritual vision, he saw the nine lightning bolts entwine, their white arcs shifting toward black. *Snap!* A black hoof emerged from the clouds—a beast's foot! Luo Chen swallowed. Lightning manifesting into a beast? He subconsciously wondered if he had pushed things too far. Yet matters had progressed to the point where regret was useless. Now, only the brave would prevail when crossing swords! *Roar!* A beastly thunderous roar exploded from the clouds. A four-legged beast resembling a goat yet also like an elk, clad in black scales and treading on thunderclouds, charged toward him. Everywhere it passed, lightning crackled, and ripples spread through the void. Luo Chen's expression turned ferocious. Unable to maintain the seal in his right hand, he temporarily halted his nascent soul formation and threw both fists forward, bearing boundless source power. Just as he was about to collide with the thunder beast, his expression shifted. In the next instant, *Buzz...* A small grey cauldron suddenly manifested, positioning itself between man and beast. The cauldron spun and tilted downward, descending over the elk-like thunder beast. The beast had charged straight at Luo Chen, and now it was like a sheep leaping into a tiger's jaws, plunging directly into the cauldron. Luo Chen stared in bewilderment. He had never expected that at the critical juncture when he was prepared to risk his life, his intrinsic magic treasure could finally be activated. Though he was confident he could endure the manifested thunder beast, avoiding a direct clash was naturally for the best. Yet an instant later, worry struck him. Could the Hunyuan Cauldron stomach this thunder beast? It had better not be destroyed! However, the ensuing scene defied his expectations. After swallowing the beast, the Hunyuan Cauldron hovered silently in the void, motionless. Only bursts of lightning flashed continuously at its mouth. As if still unsatisfied, five-colored ribbons of light radiated from the cauldron, reaching toward the lingering dark clouds. Unfortunately, this attempt came to naught. After the third round of lightning, the dark clouds brewing the tribulation had already begun to disperse, leaving the Hunyuan Cauldron unable to reap further benefits. Luo Chen was both astonished and delighted. Yet he had no time to ponder the changes in his intrinsic magic treasure. For nascent soul formation was right now! Closing his eyes, he formed hand seals. The Golden Core that had accumulated power for so long finally emitted a cracking sound. *Crack!* Within his qi ocean, the crimson Golden Core formed of vast magic power shattered like an eggshell. A fleshy infant an inch tall crawled out from within. It looked around in bewilderment, then instinctively grabbed the core fragments, stuffing them into its mouth chunk by chunk. After consuming the fragments, the infant's outline gradually sharpened. It developed miniature facial features, tiny hands, and feet, and its round belly was fair, plump, and tender. Meanwhile, outside his body, The vigorous spiritual qi in the chasm erupted entirely, condensing into lotus shapes that detached from the earth, floating up from the water and converging toward Luo Chen's massive frame. Not only that! The sky, once shrouded in dark clouds, turned clear and radiant. Pure, ethereal mist gathered from all directions, condensing into dew that poured down from the sky as if celestial beings were tipping ladles of water. Golden lotuses welled from the earth, and heavenly ladles poured from above. Empowered by boundless spiritual qi, Luo Chen's massive body even felt the illusion of being bloated. This was the sign that his qi ocean was evolving into the Purple Mansion, a vessel fit for housing the Nascent Soul. Instinctively, the infant—now grown to three inches—drifted out from the crown of Luo Chen's head. The moment it emerged, it felt no discomfort whatsoever; instead, it felt as though it had returned to a mother's womb, a complete union of water and milk. It drifted through the void, sometimes playing upon the golden lotuses of spiritual qi, sometimes leaping into the ladles of pouring qi to splash in the spiritual rain. Gradually, the infant seemed to discover something even more fascinating, freezing motionless in the air. Faintly, Luo Chen felt on the verge of capturing something profoundly mysterious. Yet in a flash, that sensation slipped away. He opened his eyes with a sense of loss, regretting that he had failed to grasp the opportunity to commune with heaven and earth and perceive the Great Dao of laws, yet content with the fruit of breaking his core and coalescing the Nascent Soul after surviving the tribulation. As the saying went: *Nourish the spirit root with essence, nourish the spirit with qi;* *Cultivate the primal form to resemble my own image.* *Golden lotuses well from earth and mountain on the sea;* *Heavenly ladles bestow dew, resting the Nascent Soul in peace.* *Lost in spirit, the heart delights...* Luo Chen's gaze froze. He stared blankly beneath him, at the green-robed Daoist standing atop the mountain with clasped hands. Under the clear sky and bright sun, a chill ran through his entire body! "Fellow Daoist, your malice is far too glaring!" Han Zhan smiled faintly, shifting his clasped hands into a seal. "Fellow Daoist, forgive me!" Before his words finished, a green light shot from the crown of his head, hurtling straight toward Luo Chen's motionless body hovering in the void. A fierce glint flashed in Luo Chen's Nascent Soul, and he instinctively utilized the Nascent Soul teleportation technique. Yet at that exact moment, an immense suction surged from the sea. Luo Chen whipped his head around and barked fiercely, "Vile beast, wake up!" Black King, who had been gaping stupidly with a wide mouth, instantly jolted awake. A nine-star formation flickered between his brows. Simultaneously, a blood-colored restriction flared upon his body. The two forces clashed and countered each other. Because of the delay caused by Black King activating his innate demonic technique, Luo Chen was a step too late entering his body, watching helplessly as Han Zhan plunged in first. Still, Luo Chen was not slow, entering his massive body right behind him. Out on the sea, Black King roared in fury, surging onto Longyuan Island. "Old bastard!" What answered him was the terrifying sound of a mountain detonating. Xiaqiu Mountain collapsed into dust. A white tiger over a hundred zhang tall, radiating a terrifying aura, charged toward Black King with thunderous steps. Tianxuan looked on in shock. Everything had happened so swiftly, overturning the world in a flash. She had no idea what was occurring. *** Within the vast Purple Mansion. Two three-inch figures stood facing each other. Han Zhan looked around in marvel. Such a majestic Purple Mansion was something he had only ever read about in ancient records. Even the Purple Mansion he had consolidated for a century in his original body was not half as grand as this. No matter how highly he had estimated Luo Chen's foundation, he had never imagined it would reach such heights. All the better! Why weave one's own cloth when another could make the bridal gown? Turning toward Luo Chen's newly coalesced Nascent Soul, he chuckled. "It seems you weren't completely defenseless. The source blood restriction on Black King happened to counter the soul-path slave seal I hastily planted on him. That casual move of mine didn't buy me any time at all." "As expected, your true target for possession was me!" Luo Chen glared at him coldly, his words ringing like iron. Han Zhan chuckled softly. "When did you realize?" Luo Chen replied coldly, "For twenty years, you never refined Feiyunzi's body, only controlling it through puppetry. The conflict between vitality and death aura constantly overlapped—that was when I realized." Han Zhan looked enlightened. "I see. I always felt those eyes of yours were extraordinary. I didn't think even the death aura I concealed so well would be pierced by you." Luo Chen sneered. "No, that was merely confirmation. From the very beginning, I suspected you. Each time you sacrificed without regard for gains or losses on my behalf, that suspicion only deepened." "Then why didn't you rid yourself of me? With your past abilities, plus the numerous opportunities..." Han Zhan asked, perplexed, before suddenly realizing, "Ah, you coveted my experience and knowledge. Truly accompanying a tiger at your own peril—what boldness." Luo Chen pursed his lips, a hint of regret visible on the fair face of his tiny Nascent Soul. "Those were merely suspicions. Before you actually acted against me, how could I repay kindness with enmity? Especially since you once made a Great Dao oath to cooperate sincerely and not betray me before I formed my Nascent Soul." Han Zhan spread his tiny hands. "Well, haven't you formed your Nascent Soul now?" "So you couldn't wait?" "Indeed, this is the best opportunity! Your Nascent Soul is newly formed, its spirit still attuned to heaven and earth, unable to return immediately. Your Purple Mansion is newly opened, untouched by your Nascent Soul's aura. This is the most suitable body in the world for a Nascent Soul cultivator to seize. Once this window passes, all would be lost." Luo Chen's expression turned solemn. "Do you truly believe it's that easy to take my body? This is my physical shell, my domain!" Han Zhan's smile remained intact. "No, I contributed to this body as well. It's not entirely your domain." The conversation came to an abrupt halt. Han Zhan pointed two fingers like a sword, lunging at Luo Chen. Luo Chen formed a hand seal, striking out with a palm imprint. Sword qi and palm imprint collided in an instant. *Boom!* The Purple Mansion shook violently, unrefined spiritual qi churning wildly. Han Zhan stayed his hand. "I would hate to ruin this newly formed Purple Mansion!" Before his words finished, Han Zhan's Nascent Soul shifted into a hand seal. Instantly, various changes occurred within Luo Chen's body. Meridians locked down; acupoints shut tight. Across the Purple Mansion, chains materialized from thin air, lunging to capture Luo Chen's Nascent Soul. "Once I capture your Nascent Soul and refine it alive, not only will I possess this body, but my magic power will advance by leaps and bounds, my cultivation surpassing what it was before!" Luo Chen immediately sensed the changes in his flesh. His expression shifted slightly, and he retreated frantically, dodging the chains. Han Zhan formed seals continuously, his smile turning frosty. "Do not bother hiding. When you formed your core and used my Luoyun Sect's secret art, you bound yourself to me forever." Luo Chen's heart sank. "Locking the Beaded Curtain?" "You truly are clever! Why would a secret art like that ever be leaked to outsiders? Back then, taking advantage of the Yuding civil war, I deliberately released an incomplete version. It was never about gaining a few Golden Core vassals." *Whoosh!* A chain sprouted without warning from the wall of the Purple Mansion, whipping Luo Chen's Nascent Soul and sending it stumbling. "*Locking the Beaded Curtain* is a first-rate high-grade core formation secret art. But if a cultivator uses an incomplete version to form their Golden Core, that core will fall under the control of my *Soul Splitting Art*. Though I do not know how you managed to complete *Locking the Beaded Curtain*, its fundamental nature remains." *Pierce!* A chain slipped through an impossible gap, piercing the arm of Luo Chen's Nascent Soul. "Back then, I instructed the sect elders to treat you generously, even opening the Tianlan Immortal City formation during your core formation to supply you with spiritual qi—all so you would achieve a modest level of success. "A Golden Core puppet that shares the lineage of my cultivation technique is the most suitable of all." *Whoosh!* Another chain of magic power bound itself around the tiny foot of Luo Chen's Nascent Soul. "Why do you think I gave you the formula for the Black Emperor Paste for free? That ointment was specifically designed to strengthen the physical bodies of puppets. "The only pity is that you destroyed your secondary primal core." At this, a look of regret surfaced on Han Zhan's face. "If you had formed a secondary Nascent Soul while coalescing your intrinsic one, I could have used the Reverse Primal Core Art to steal it, immediately turning the tables. I would have seized your Purple Mansion while refining your intrinsic Nascent Soul into my secondary one. "By then, I would have possessed three Nascent Souls simultaneously. Combined with my Luoyun Sect's *Soul Splitting Art*, my combat prowess would have been on par with the Blood God Children refined by Blood Hermit or Blood Nightmare Mara. "In idle moments, you once asked if I missed my sect. "Heh, why miss it? A mere Luoyun Sect—all its glory and disgrace are tied to me alone. Once I possess three Nascent Souls and return to the East Barrens with a white tiger puppet rivaling the late Nascent Soul stage, I can rebuild the sect even if it has fallen. "Luo Chen, stop struggling. Let it end here!" *Clatter...* Chains snaked out from the Purple Mansion, binding Luo Chen's newly formed Nascent Soul tightly. It seemed all hope was lost. Luo Chen's face was cold as he slowly closed his eyes. "Han Zhan, the physical body is merely a raft; what use is stealing it? You haven't won, and I haven't lost." Han Zhan was taken aback, then understood. He could sense that the divine soul within Luo Chen's Nascent Soul had already withdrawn before the chains of Locking the Beaded Curtain bound it. The so-called unification of the three treasures was merely a temporary state for crossing the tribulation. It was still something that could be withdrawn at any time. Furthermore, whatever method Luo Chen had used to complete the *Locking the Beaded Curtain* secret art had preserved the basic trait of being controlled by the *Soul Splitting Art*, but had also introduced loopholes unknown even to Han Zhan. "Yet where could you possibly flee?" Han Zhan smiled faintly, his own divine soul emerging from his Nascent Soul as well. Tracing the locked meridians and closed acupoints, he advanced until he halted at the edge of an empty, dark expanse. Golden threads crisscrossed outside this dark border. Han Zhan paid them no mind. "If you still had the Lanke Black Chess Piece, this old man might have had to expend some effort. Unfortunately, that soul-defending treasure was destroyed in Liwangtian." Thinking of Liwangtian brought unpleasant memories to Han Zhan. His soul had suffered damage there, Stemming from the Dao heart trial of Liwangtian. And the primary cause of that soul damage had been his long-harbored malicious intent toward Luo Chen. Had he not cultivated a soul-splitting technique, he might have perished in Liwangtian right then and there. Even though he had endured, the loss of a split soul had left him lacking the strength to succeed in the puppet realm trial of Mingzhaotian, costing him the puppet legacy of a Void Refining True Monarch. "Once my cultivation fully recovers, perhaps I can make another journey to the Land of the Fallen Demon." Pulling his thoughts back, Han Zhan casually shattered the defenses Luo Chen had erected outside his sea of consciousness. These defenses were indeed crude, Merely a technique formed naturally back when *Bright Spirit Fiend Breaking* had reached the Great Circle. To Han Zhan, they posed no obstacle whatsoever. As the golden threads dispersed, Han Zhan stepped confidently into Luo Chen's sea of consciousness. In a contest of souls, he had never feared anyone! Upon entering the sea of consciousness, golden waves rippled. Han Zhan felt a slight discomfort. These golden waves were essentially unrefined soul power. It was said that only upon reaching the Soul Formation stage could a cultivator gather it completely, forging a divine soul true form far larger than their physical body, akin to a deity. Looking across the boundless golden ocean, Han Zhan's illusory soul furrowed its brows. "Hiding again? "Never mind. It's nothing more than a dying struggle." Han Zhan tapped between his brows, and wisps of ghostly light dispersed. Seven in total! Having cultivated the *Soul Splitting Art* to minor success, he could divide his soul into nine. One had perished on Mount Cangwu, and another in Liwangtian within the Land of the Fallen Demon. These seven split souls were all he had left. "Find him!" With that order, the seven split souls plunged into the depths of the sea of consciousness. Han Zhan's primary soul sat cross-legged at the entrance, guarding against any escape. Time trickled by. In a life-or-death battle, a single moment felt like years. Suddenly, Han Zhan groaned, looking around in bewilderment. Just a moment ago, one of his split souls had vanished. It was as if it had been severed and slain alive. "How could this be? "Even if it's only a split soul, with my realm, its strength is no less than that of an early Nascent Soul cultivator. "Even if it couldn't capture Luo Chen, it shouldn't have fallen so quickly. "Could he possess some method I am unaware of?" Unease surged in Han Zhan's heart, accompanied by an ominous premonition. Just then, "Ugh..." Han Zhan's face paled slightly as another split soul was obliterated. "No, I must recall them immediately. I cannot let him pick them off one by one." He had realized that Luo Chen's soul strength was by no means inferior to that of his split souls. Yet even with the swiftness of souls, three more were slain during the recall. In the end, only two returned to his primary soul. Han Zhan finally panicked. "What technique could destroy my split souls so easily?" At that moment, the golden waves surged, and a figure emerged, treading upon the waves. His eyes were like blades, his killing intent freezing cold! "I knew that you took the greatest pride in your attainments in the soul path, which is why you entered my sea of consciousness so readily. "Now, this place is my true home ground!" Luo Chen growled out each word, their thunderous resonance echoing across the boundless sea of consciousness. Han Zhan's expression was dark. "I do indeed possess that confidence. But with such arrogance, do you truly believe you can turn defeat into victory?" Luo Chen sneered disdainfully, raising two fingers high like a blade. "Here, you cannot defeat me. "And outside, your Nascent Soul is disintegrating. Can you not feel it?" Han Zhan refused to believe it. Yet upon sensing it, his face drained of color. Luo Chen was not lying to him! The connection to the Nascent Soul he had left in Luo Chen's Purple Mansion was growing weaker and weaker; it was truly disintegrating. "How is that possible?!" Inside the Purple Mansion, A tree of fire was joyously spreading its branches, shaking off showers of green-gold sparks. Those sparks fell upon Han Zhan's Nascent Soul, dissolving it inch by inch. Meanwhile, Luo Chen's Nascent Soul had already broken free of its chains. Sitting within the Purple Mansion, it continuously released magic power, thoroughly branding the space with his own mark. *** Within the sea of consciousness, Han Zhan's agitated soul had no time to ponder what methods Luo Chen had used to cut off his retreat. He only knew that he had to win this battle. Otherwise, even if he left the sea of consciousness, he would have nowhere to dwell. Without a Nascent Soul and without a body, a remnant soul drifting between heaven and earth could only fall into reincarnation. Yet what Luo Chen intended to do was rob him of even the chance to enter reincarnation. "We could have parted on good terms, but you harbored wicked designs against me. Today, your soul perishes here!" Luo Chen roared, his sword-fingers slashing down. The golden waves churned, the ocean moving in harmony with the blade to form an enormous sword that cleaved through the void. In that instant, Han Zhan felt his hair stand on end. What soul technique was this? To possess such might to sever the soul and shatter the spirit! He formed seals, casting spells to block it, yet they were powerless before that golden sword-light. *Slash!* With a single strike, his soul was sheared in two. The severed soul snapped back together, restoring his appearance, but his form had shrunk by thirty percent. "I underestimated you, but you have looked down on me as well!" Han Zhan abandoned defense, casting a soul technique straight at Luo Chen. Luo Chen was struck as if by lightning, his figure tumbling from the crest of the wave into the sea of consciousness. Yet in an instant, he surged back out, unleashing the Great Circle Dragon Slaying Art once again. Han Zhan showed no cowardice either, executing practiced soul techniques in rapid succession. A battle of souls was the most perilous of all! For such a battle could rarely rely on external objects, depending purely on one's own capabilities. Furthermore, because of the soul's fragile nature, defensive arts were exceedingly rare in the world. The Lanke Black Chess Piece Luo Chen had obtained in his early years was merely a lower-grade magic treasure, yet it was already an uncommon gem. The Kai Mao Art Han Zhan had taught Luo Chen in the past could only dispel charms and illusions, incapable of defending against direct soul attacks, yet it was already considered a decent soul-defense art of an unconventional sort. Thus, this was truly the most perilous battle Luo Chen had ever fought. Yet no matter how perilous, he maintained a degree of certainty. The Great Circle Dragon Slaying Art was no longer limited to purging foreign magic power; it could also sever souls. The closer the distance, the greater its power. Here within the sea of consciousness, it spared no spirit and felled every soul. Even if he and Han Zhan wounded each other, with the home-field advantage and the vast soul power of the sea of consciousness replenishing him, Luo Chen could fight with ever-growing vigor. Conversely, Han Zhan's methods were not as exquisite as imagined. Five of his seven split souls had been slain, leaving him with no reinforcements to draw upon. With one waxing and the other waning, the outcome was merely a matter of time. When the waves finally subsided and the golden ocean calmed, An illusory soul rose from the sea of consciousness, raising its right hand once again toward that faint, dim light. The dim light trembled, powerless to strike again. As the sword-light descended, only a faint sigh lingered. "Years of scheming, ruined in a single day... Regret comes too late..." Luo Chen stood quietly within his sea of consciousness, his expression neither sorrowful nor joyous. Had Han Zhan truly regretted it in his final moments? Perhaps! With a physical body and a white tiger puppet rivaling a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator in hand, had he parted ways peacefully with Luo Chen, where in the vast Mountain Sea Realm could he not have gone? Yet he had coveted Luo Chen's body. Or perhaps Han Zhan had never regretted the decision at all; after all, from the moment Luo Chen cultivated *Locking the Beaded Curtain*, he was already a predetermined puppet. What he regretted was merely his defeat and death. The illusory soul exhaled, Luo Chen feeling utterly exhausted. Waves of golden light converged upon him, restoring his divine soul. Among them were fragments of Han Zhan's severed soul. Suddenly, Luo Chen paused. "*Soul Splitting Art*?"