Chapter 356 : The Path to Nascent Soul

Moreover, Yvonne the Violet Consort is barely over four hundred years old. If she could obtain this Pill, she would likely reach Golden Core Great Perfection before the age of five hundred, thereby beginning her assault on the Nascent Soul [the spiritual embryo formed within a cultivator's dantian, representing a major leap in power and longevity] realm.

A Heavenly Spiritual Root increases the odds of a Nascent Soul breakthrough by twenty percent, while a Superior Golden Core itself provides a fifty percent chance. Thus, her overall probability of successfully forming her Nascent Soul is nearly seventy to eighty percent.

The only factors that might hinder her breakthrough to the Golden Core [the condensed core of spiritual energy formed within a cultivator's dantian] realm are the exceedingly precious Earth Mother Qi [the nurturing, foundational energy of the earth] and the Heavenly Dao Qi [the rarefied, celestial energy embodying the principles of the Dao].

Earth Mother Qi can be purchased if one is willing to pay a steep enough price, but Heavenly Dao Qi is a rarity seldom seen in an age, obtainable only from the very ends of the Nine Heavens.

Only a Nascent Soul Late Stage True Lord [an honorific title for a powerful Nascent Soul realm cultivator] can withstand the endless aegis winds and reach those celestial heights to gather Heavenly Dao Qi. Yet, even such a mighty being, collecting daily, would require a full millennium of labor to condense a single strand.

It is said that above the firmament's membrane of the Purple Realm, there exists a complete reservoir of Heavenly Dao Qi.

However, not even a Nascent Soul True Lord can ascend to such heights. Only when a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [an honorific title for a Nascent Soul realm master who has deeply comprehended the Dao] journeys beyond the heavens in spirit can they occasionally encounter it, making it truly an unparalleled rarity.

Beyond that, during the rare celestial conjunctions that occur every thousand years, a small amount of Heavenly Dao Qi descends. Yet, this quantity is minuscule, and seizing it requires both profound fortune and formidable strength.

Thus, without the patronage of a supreme expert, even possessing vast quantities of Heavenly Crystal [a purified and high-density form of Spirit Stone] is utterly useless for purchasing Heavenly Dao Qi. One can only wait for the celestial conjunctions and hope to stumble upon such a fateful opportunity.

As if sensing Eldrin Chen's unspoken question, Lyra Jiang added softly, "The Violet Consort possesses Heavenly Dao Qi. Giving her this pill will allow her to attempt her Nascent Soul breakthrough sooner." Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel dot com.

"Heavenly Dao Qi [a strand of the purest, most fundamental energy of the cosmos, essential for achieving the highest echelons of cultivation]?"

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted sharply. How precious was a strand of Heavenly Dao Qi? It was a treasure that would stir the hearts of even Nascent Soul Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Nascent Soul realm] cultivators. He never imagined Yvonne the Violet Consort would possess one.

Lyra Jiang nodded, her tone calm as she explained, "Before I left the Eastern Sea, my father presented me with a choice: a treasure to defy fate, or a treasure to secure my path to the Dao."

"The treasure for securing the Dao included cultivation arts to reach the Nascent Soul Realm [the realm where one forms a nascent soul, a spiritual infant], along with key resources. The most precious among them was a single strand of Heavenly Dao Qi."

"The treasure to defy fate was a method and the crucial artifacts to reshape one's Spiritual Root [the innate conduit that determines a cultivator's affinity and talent for absorbing spiritual energy]. Beyond mending my foundational flaws, it offered nothing else. Everything thereafter would depend on my own efforts."

"I chose the treasure to defy fate. The treasure for securing the Dao thus fell into the hands of Yvonne the Violet Consort."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a tremor deep within his heart.

Lyra Jiang's nature was sharp and unyielding; she had only ever shown her gentler side to him. In truth, her methods were always thunderous and decisive, driven by an unwavering conviction.

To forsake a path that held great promise of leading to the Nascent Soul Realm, choosing instead the arduous road of reforging her foundation and building everything from nothing—this was not a choice just anyone could make.

For someone like her, what did it matter to achieve the status of a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a powerful master within the Nascent Soul realm] if one could not ultimately ascend to immortality? In the end, all would return to dust, and eons of struggle would amount to nothing but emptiness.

He took Lyra Jiang's hand, drew her into an embrace, and said with a smile, "One day, you will understand that your choice was not wrong."

"Of course."

Lyra Jiang was brimming with extraordinary confidence, her bright eyes shining like stars.

After leaving the Earthfire Chamber and seeing that the True Lord's lecture on the Dao was still two years away, they rented a Fourth Rank Cultivation Cave and entered seclusion to refine the Creation Abyssal Pill.

The Creation Abyssal Pill was profoundly marvelous. Consuming it could advance a Golden Core Cultivator's cultivation by one Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle].

Eldrin Chen spent a full year in seclusion to completely refine this pill. His cultivation finally advanced a step further, reaching the Golden Core, 3rd Tier realm.

Compared to him, Lyra Jiang also made significant progress. However, the Golden Core, Mid Stage realm could contain far more mana, so Lyra Jiang did not break through to the sixth layer of the Golden Core realm.

Even so, she progressed from having just entered the Golden Core, 5th Tier realm to nearing the threshold of the sixth layer of Golden Core. It seemed she would be able to break through to the sixth layer within a few years, at which point she would need to start preparing for the Golden Core, Late Stage.

With their cultivation having greatly increased, Eldrin Chen was overjoyed and could not help but feel happy for Lyra Jiang as well.

Lyra Jiang herself possessed a Heavenly Spiritual Root and the Lunar Immortal Physique from Myth. She had broken through to the Purple Mansion realm at the mere age of twenty-seven, leaving Eldrin Chen's achievement at sixty-three far, far behind.

With such innate talent, there would have been almost no bottlenecks before reaching the Nascent Soul realm. Had she not pursued the path of mending her foundation and instead chosen a Lifebound Magical Treasure for her Dao back then, she would likely have already refined a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [the highest grade of Nascent Soul, formed in harmony with the Heavenly Dao] by now.

She had been delayed far too long by the process of mending her foundation. Fortunately, after her breakthrough to the Golden Core realm, the aid of the Spirit Peach [a mystical fruit that accelerates cultivation] allowed her cultivation speed to increase significantly. Now, having obtained the Creation Abyssal Pill [a supreme pill that vastly enhances one's cultivation base and spiritual power], her spiritual power surged explosively, and her cultivation realm was fast approaching that of Yvonne the Violet Consort.

However, Yvonne the Violet Consort was on the verge of breaking through to the Golden Core, Late Stage. She possessed only a single Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure refined with one's lifeblood and soul, growing in power with the cultivator]. If she were to achieve her breakthrough and then consume a Creation Abyssal Pill, she could advance to the Golden Core Eighth Layer in a very short time, thereby widening the gap between them once more.

After their respective breakthroughs, the two of them waited quietly on Virtuous Peak for the commencement of the True Lord [an honorific title for a Golden Core realm expert]'s Dao lecture.

Thus, a year passed in the blink of an eye, finally arriving at the day of the True Lord's lecture, held once every Jiazi-time [a cycle of sixty years].

Eldrin Chen and his four companions arrived at the Dao field. They found the setting unchanged from years past: three thousand meditation cushions arranged in orderly rows. Continue your cultivation journey at http://www . audio-novel.com.

The rear sections were naturally filled with a multitude of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Further ahead were several hundred Purple Mansion [the realm above Foundation Establishment] experts, while the foremost positions were occupied by a dozen or so Golden Core Cultivator.

During his previous visit, Eldrin Chen had been seated among the Purple Mansion cushions. Now, two Jiazi-time later, his cultivation had soared to the lofty heights of the Golden Core realm. In recognition, Virtuous Peak had even specially added three seats for their party among the foremost ranks.

Eldrin Chen stepped forward, exchanging greetings with Verdant Spirit True Person and several other Golden Core True Person [Golden Core realm experts] he had become acquainted with recently. Then, he lowered his gaze and settled into waiting for the arrival of Magnus the Virtuous.

They did not have to wait long. After approximately half a shichen-time [one shichen equals two hours], a figure descended from the sky.

Clad in a long robe, Magnus the Virtuous sat serenely upon the dais of his Dao field. His gaze swept over the assembled crowd, and he began, as was his custom.

"Before the lecture on the Dao commences, you must understand that by coming to listen to my teachings, you accept a karmic bond with me."

"Since you accept this bond, you must also abide by my precepts. In the future, should you achieve any measure of success, you must not use your power to commit evil deeds or acts that defy all morality."

Once he finished speaking, the assembly hastened to nod in agreement. "We understand."

Magnus the Virtuous gave a slight nod and began his lecture on the Dao.

He was exceedingly pragmatic, and his teachings were straightforward and easily comprehensible, focusing on matters of great practical benefit to cultivators.

As in years past, regarding the various cultivation hurdles of the Foundation Establishment Realm and the methods for breaking through to the Purple Mansion, Magnus the Virtuous held nothing back. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators present gained immense insights.

Concerning the intricacies of the Purple Mansion Realm, after outlining its main barriers, he shared several esoteric techniques he had not spoken of two Jiazi-time [a cycle of sixty years] prior, from which Eldrin Chen also derived benefit.

After two days had passed, Magnus the Virtuous began to lecture on the methods pertaining to the Golden Core Realm.

The techniques of the Golden Core Realm were closely guarded secrets. To prevent them from being leaked to demonic monsters by any potential traitor, he once again erected a restrictive barrier, communicating privately with the dozen or so Golden Core Cultivators in attendance. Published by (audio-novel.com). All rights reserved.