Chapter 801: Planning for Nascent Soul (2)

He paused, his voice growing even more solemn: “This step, diligent cultivation is useless. Firstly, it is the fusion of the Magic Pill and the Divine Soul. Without the support of the Nascent Soul Pill, it is exceedingly difficult, and more often than not, efforts will be in vain. Furthermore, during the fusion, the Divine Soul needs to temporarily leave the Sea of Consciousness and be exposed to the world, at which point countless heart demons will seize the opportunity to swarm in. Anyone with a shaky will or unstable Dao heart, or who has had flaws in their mental state before, will be devoured by the heart demons. This Heart Demon Tribulation blocks more than ninety percent of cultivators attempting Nascent Soul Formation.”

“Even if one luckily passes the Heart Demon Tribulation, there is still the Four-Nine Minor Celestial Tribulation waiting. Lightning descends, tempering the body and Divine Soul. Only by crossing it can one truly ascend to True Monarch. But nowadays, the world has changed greatly, and the former lightning tribulation has already turned into a more perilous Thunder Punishment, with power increased several times. Without the protection of top-tier tribulation-resistant artifacts, relying solely on one’s cultivation is absolutely impossible to survive.”

Sect Leader Changgeng’s eyes showed a trace of pain, as if recalling the past, “Back then, when our sect attempted Nascent Soul Formation, it failed at the fusion stage, causing great damage to the Dao Foundation, completely severing the Immortal Path, though my life was spared, it became a lifelong regret. Should there be a mistake in either the Heart Demon Tribulation or Thunder Punishment, it leads to the destruction of both body and soul, leaving not even the chance of reincarnation!”

“Fellow Daoist Chang’an…” Sect Leader Changgeng’s tone carried solemnity, “The path to Nascent Soul Formation is not one that ordinary cultivators can tread. Unless there is strong family support or a senior expert who makes every effort to seek treasures for Nascent Soul Formation, loose cultivators and small sect cultivators should not harbor such hopes. In this world, those who successfully ascend to Nascent Soul True Monarchs, which one is not extraordinarily talented, deeply fortunate, blessed with immense luck? Some hopes are, in fact, poison.”

After listening to Sect Leader Changgeng’s earnest advice, Li Ji’an nodded slightly.

He had long investigated the difficulties of Nascent Soul Formation through various channels, and today’s inquiry was merely to ascertain whether amidst the Ye Race’s dispute with Cangyuan Holy Land and the Murong Ancient Tribe, there was an opportunity to obtain a Nascent Soul spiritual object.

If there was one, he wouldn’t mind revealing a bit of his cards to vie for it.

He did not refute, merely gave a wry smile and cupped his hands: “What Sect Leader says is indeed accurate, it was foolish of me. I was just asking casually, with no other intentions.”

Seeing that he did not delve deeper, Sect Leader Changgeng’s expression relaxed slightly, gently tapping the armrest of his throne with his fingertips: “Since you have been in seclusion for five years, the sect’s situation has changed significantly during this time, you may be unfamiliar, here is the current state of affairs, including some hidden truths, you can examine it carefully on the way.”

“Li takes his leave!”

As the words fell, Li Ji’an turned, his black Honored Guest Elder robe gently swaying in the incense-laden air of the hall, his steps steady and unhesitant.

Upon reaching the mountain gate, the faint moonlit spirit light of the Qinglan Sect’s mountain-protecting grand array flowed endlessly, and the Foundation Establishment cultivator guarding the array hub immediately stepped forward to bow when he approached: “Greetings, Chang’an Ascendant! Do you need the array gate opened?”

Li Ji’an nodded slightly, a strand of magical power condensed at his fingertips, revealing the token bestowed by Sect Leader Changgeng.

The cultivator, seeing this, dared not delay, quickly formed a seal to activate the array pattern, causing a spirit light portal about a yard wide to appear on the array wall, where the sect’s pure spiritual qi intertwined and clashed with the mixed external air currents at the portal’s edge.

In the moment he stepped out of the portal, the frigid fierce wind mixed with faint black gold mine dust came rushing at him, contrasting starkly with the warm spiritual qi inside the sect.

Li Ji’an did not hesitate further, his body radiating an abrupt burst of spiritual light, as a cyan-gold Divine Rainbow rose from beneath his feet, securely supporting him.

“Rise!” he shouted softly, as the Divine Rainbow enveloped his form and shot straight up to the sky, transforming into a stream of light, speeding directly towards the Black Stone Mine front line in the southeast.

As Li Ji’an rode the rainbow, he did not remain idle.

He took out the military intelligence jade scroll bestowed by Sect Leader Changgeng, his Divine Sense delving into it, carefully organizing the front line situation: information on four Core Formation Ascendants from Black Stone Mine, the range of joint military defenses, and the general situation of spiritual resources provided by the Ye Race.

Three days later, the horizon at the front had already been obscured by thick black gold dust, several stretches of grand array spirit light were faintly visible within the dusty haze, occasionally accompanied by intense magical power fluctuations spreading out, even faint sounds of conflict could be heard from afar.

Li Ji’an slowly retracted the Divine Rainbow, landing on a hilltop with high terrain, just about to explore the location of the encampment when a clear Divine Sense transmission suddenly surged directly into his Sea of Consciousness: “Chang’an has arrived? Come swiftly to the Dao Field to see me.”

The Divine Sense was gentle yet carried an undeniable authority, it was True Monarch Qingxiao.

Li Ji’an gave a faint smile, following the direction of the transmission, urging the Divine Rainbow, speeding towards the rear of the front line.

Several hundred miles passed in an instant. Before him, a temporary Dao Field rose skyward, featuring an advanced Gathering Spirit Array, aggregating spiritual qi from a thousand miles around, providing cultivators a place to adjust and cultivate.

At the peak of the Dao Field, True Monarch Qingxiao sat cross-legged in meditation, her moon-white Daoist robe winding in the spiritual aura like an immortal, her eyes closed, breath long and stable, evidently in the midst of meditation.

As Li Ji’an approached, she slowly opened her eyes, a flash of spiritual light flickered and vanished in her gaze, her voice calm and unperturbed: “Chang’an, having closed to heal, have you recovered?”

Three days ago she had received a message from Brother Changgeng, notifying her that Li Ji’an would arrive today.

She had some expectations for Li Ji’an’s arrival.

Now, the control of the army was firmly in the hands of the Black Stone Mine, Qinglan Sect disciples were repeatedly oppressed, Li Ji’an’s arrival would somewhat narrow the disparity in strength between the two sides.

However, this expectation was not overly shown.

She and True Monarch Yuanli of Black Stone Mine had long agreed, the two Nascent Soul True Monarchs only needed to oversee the array, without interfering in the specific deployment of the cultivators below.