Chapter 553 : Secrets of the Nascent Soul

Eldrin Chen began with the fundamentals, imparting the contents of the Golden Core Chapter to the assembly. He then continued, "Above the Golden Core realm, the Nascent Soul Realm also has its distinctions, known as the Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Three Grades of Nascent Soul [a classification system for the quality and potential of a cultivator's Nascent Soul]."

"If your allotted lifespan permits and you wish to strive for the Path to Immortal Ascension [the arduous journey towards becoming an immortal], you should, at the very least, seek the Earth Mother Qi [a primordial earth-attribute spiritual energy] required to forge an Earthly Dao Nascent Soul."

Upon hearing this, expressions of yearning appeared on everyone's faces. A Scarlet-Robed Maiden rose to her feet and could not help but ask, "But where might one find this Heavenly Dao Qi [a primordial heaven-attribute spiritual energy] and the Earth Mother Qi?"

Eldrin Chen lifted his gaze and smiled faintly.

The questioner was Nianxuan Chen, the daughter of Lior Chen. Blessed with a Fire Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for fire-attribute spiritual energy], her cultivation progress had been consistently swift over the years. Not long ago, she had successfully broken through to the Golden Core Realm.

Now, at just over one hundred and fifty years of age, achieving a Superior Golden Core [the highest grade of Golden Core foundation] at such a time marked her as a rising star among the later generations of the Chen Clan.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen replied with a gentle smile, "Forging a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul is no simple feat. The Earth Mother Qi is relatively easier to obtain; a Fifth Rank Earth Vein [a powerful ley line of earth spiritual energy] can typically nurture one piece approximately every Millennium [a period of one thousand years]."

"As for acquiring the Heavenly Dao Qi, there are essentially only three sources."

"The first is during a moment of Heaven and Earth Resonance [a rare celestial alignment where heaven and earth energies harmonize], when Heavenly Dao Qi may descend into famed mountains and great rivers."

"The second method requires a cultivator at the Nascent Soul Late Stage to ascend to the very edge of the Nine Heavens Firmament [the highest layers of the sky, bordering the void] to gather Heaven Path Aura [the raw, untamed heavenly energy found at the world's boundary]. However, even for such mighty beings at the Nascent Soul Late Stage, they can only refine a single strand of Heavenly Dao Qi every Millennium." Official source: audi0-n0vel.c0m. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

"Thirdly, when a Nascent Soul Great Power [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul stage, a major power] journeys beyond the heavens in spirit, they can directly seek out complete strands of Heavenly Dao Qi [Heavenly Path Qi, a supreme spiritual energy aligned with the fundamental laws of heaven] within the Nine Heavens Above [the Nine Heavens, the highest celestial realms]."

Upon hearing this, the group could not help but reveal bitter smiles.

Although they had anticipated it, they never imagined Heavenly Dao Qi would be so exceedingly rare.

Among the three methods, the timing of Heaven and Earth Resonance [a rare celestial phenomenon where Heaven and Earth resonate, releasing primal energies] depends most heavily on fate and opportunity. The most recent occurrence was merely a few decades past; waiting for the next one would likely see their lifespans exhausted long before.

As for Nascent Soul Late Stage [a cultivator at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm] cultivators, while they can gather Heaven Path Aura [Heavenly Path Aura, a diffuse celestial energy] to synthesize Heavenly Dao Qi, the time of such mighty beings is immeasurably precious.

Aside from a very few great powers whose potential has been exhausted and who are willing to gather day and night, an ordinary Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator, even if they resided in the Nine Heavens Above during their leisure to collect Heavenly Dao Qi, might only find one or two strands in their entire lifetime.

And these one or two strands of Heavenly Dao Qi represent the optimal choice, whether used to aid close friends or disciples in breaking through to Nascent Soul Late Stage, or to nurture a disciple in forging a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul foundationed upon the Heavenly Dao, granting supreme potential].

Even if one wished to sell them, they would be offered first to friends of the deepest bonds.

In truth, such treasures are exceedingly rare even in Nascent Soul-level Barter Convention [a high-level gathering or market for cultivators to trade rare resources]; how could they possibly fall into the hands of people like them?

And while a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a Dao Lord, a title for a supreme expert at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm] can directly gather Heavenly Dao Qi, such existences have countless disciples and juniors they recognize, all of whom are Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator [esteemed Nascent Soul stage cultivators]. It is even more impossible for the Qi to reach their hands.

"Without background or backing, the only path to obtain Heavenly Dao Qi [the supreme Qi of the Heavenly Dao, essential for forging the highest-grade Nascent Soul] is to seize the moment of Heaven and Earth Resonance [a rare celestial phenomenon where the energies of heaven and earth align perfectly]."

Despair settled in the hearts of the crowd, and many soon shook their heads with bitter, self-deprecating laughter.

Among the hundred or so Golden Core True Person present, only one or two cultivators possessed the potential to forge a Superior Golden Core [the highest grade of Golden Core foundation].

For the rest, breaking through to Nascent Soul would be cause enough for boundless gratitude. Worrying about the Heavenly Dao Qi [the supreme Qi of the Heavenly Dao, essential for forging the highest-grade Nascent Soul] destined for heaven's chosen prodigies was as pointless as worrying about having too much salt with one's radishes—utterly superfluous.

After all, those with a Superior Golden Core [the highest grade of Golden Core foundation] had a near ninety percent certainty of breaking through to Nascent Soul. Even if forced to settle for the next best path, their chances of forging an Earthly Dao Nascent Soul [a high-grade Nascent Soul foundation aligned with the Earthly Dao] were still exceedingly great.

Upon the Lotus Platform, Eldrin Chen gazed at Nianxuan Chen and felt a slight stir within his heart.

Heavenly Dao Qi [the supreme Qi of the Heavenly Dao, essential for forging the highest-grade Nascent Soul] was far too precious; with his current capabilities, finding it would likely prove difficult. However, Nianxuan Chen had only recently broken through to Golden Core, and Ethan Chen had advanced less than a century ago, his cultivation still merely at the Golden Core, 3rd Tier.

Both would need at least another two hundred years before attempting a breakthrough to Nascent Soul. If his own cultivation advanced further in the future, it was not impossible that he might secure such an opportunity for them.

With this thought, a faint smile touched his lips. "Cultivators with a Heavenly Spiritual Root [a spiritual root of the highest innate grade, aligned with a single element] possess only a single Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force and soul, growing in power with them]. Their Mana [the refined spiritual energy wielded by cultivators] is less condensed than that of cultivators with Multiple Spiritual Roots [spiritual roots encompassing multiple elemental affinities], making the breakthrough to a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [the supreme-grade Nascent Soul foundation aligned with the Heavenly Dao] immensely more difficult."

"If you wish to forge a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [the supreme-grade Nascent Soul foundation aligned with the Heavenly Dao] in the future, you must use a Five Veins Heaven-Sculpting Pill [a legendary elixir that refines and condenses a cultivator's mana through the five spiritual veins] to further refine and condense your Mana [the refined spiritual energy wielded by cultivators]. Only then can you lay the foundation for the Heavenly Dao."

Nianxuan Chen's expression shifted slightly, and he couldn't help but ask, "How might one obtain this Five Veins Heaven-Sculpting Pill?"

"You possess a Fire Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for fire-element spiritual energy]. To refine your Mana [the purified spiritual energy within a cultivator's dantian], you would require a Fire Vein Heaven-Forging Pill."

Eldrin Chen explained patiently, then smiled. "To concoct the Five Veins Heaven-Sculpting Pill, one must first obtain the Fire Vein Treasure Jade from among the Five Veins Treasure Jade [a set of five rare jades, each imbued with the essence of a different elemental vein]."

"I possess the alchemical formula for the Five Veins Heaven-Sculpting Pill. Once we acquire the Fire Vein Treasure Jade, we can proceed with its refinement."

The assembly listened with palpable envy. They felt Nianxuan Chen's fortune was immense, born into a Nascent Soul Immortal Clan [a powerful clan led by a Nascent Soul realm cultivator]. His starting point had already vaulted him over obstacles countless other cultivators found insurmountable.

Nianxuan Chen, satisfied, took his seat. The others then began to pose their own questions, most concerning difficulties encountered in their personal cultivation journeys. Find thousands of chapters at audio_novel.com.

Eldrin Chen answered each in turn. Often, with just a few words, he would unravel their confusions, leaving them feeling profoundly enlightened.

In turn, Eldrin Chen encountered many novel questions he had not previously considered. Pondering them, he too found his own understanding enriched.

By drawing connections from these diverse inquiries, he would be able to resolve similar future challenges in the Nascent Soul [the realm where a cultivator forms their immortal soul] with ease. Unconsciously, the depth of his own Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and stable spiritual base of a cultivator] grew considerably.

Time flowed like water. In this cycle of question and answer, the Dharma Preaching Assembly [a formal gathering where a senior cultivator expounds on the Dao and answers questions] continued for a full three days and more.

On this day, Eldrin Chen finally unraveled the accumulated doubts harbored by the assembly for many years. Only then did he cast a glance over the gathered cultivators and declare, "Since you have no further questions, this session of Grand Dao Discourse Assembly [a grand assembly where a powerful cultivator expounds upon the profound principles of cultivation] concludes here."

"The next Grand Dao Discourse Assembly shall be convened one hundred years hence. Barring unforeseen circumstances, I shall commence the discourse at the same appointed time."

"You may now depart!"

Upon hearing his words, the assembly promptly bowed in unison, their voices resonating with reverence, "We respectfully bid farewell to the True Lord [a title for a cultivator who has reached the Golden Core realm]."

Alistair Lu followed the crowd in performing the ceremonial bow. It was then he noticed the Azure Lotus Platform [a mystical dais shaped like a lotus flower] gradually fading from sight, dissolving into nothingness.

A faint sense of regret stirred within him. Alistair Lu clasped his hands towards the cultivators beside him in a gesture of farewell, preparing to take his leave.

At that very moment, Caspian Chen, who stood nearby, twitched an ear slightly as if receiving a soundless message. He rose to his feet and addressed Alistair Lu with a cupped-hand salute, saying, "Brother Alistair, please follow me."

Elation surged within Alistair Lu's heart. He hurriedly stood up and followed.

As they walked, his excitement proved difficult to contain. He could not help but ask, "Where is Fellow Daoist [a respectful term used among cultivators] Caspian taking me?"

Caspian Chen offered a brief smile, but his expression quickly turned solemn. "An Ancient Ancestor [a venerable and immensely powerful senior cultivator within a clan or sect] wishes to see you. Mind your conduct and do not act rashly."

Alistair Lu gave a nod and followed cautiously behind Caspian Chen. Before long, they arrived before a magnificent Grand Hall.

Before the Grand Hall stood a youth holding a sword. Alistair Lu glanced up and felt the person's aura was as profound and boundless as an abyss, carrying a sharp and blazing Sword Intent that shone as brilliantly as the sun.

"This is—"

Alistair Lu was utterly astonished in his heart when he heard the youth speak.

"You have arrived." This chapter is provided by audio-novel`com. Support the original.