Chapter 255: 元神 Four Layers

Meng Chuan sensed his 'Essence Soul' undergoing a transformation. For the past decade, he had remained at the third layer of the Essence Soul, having also completed seven paintings exploring his true self. Each painting had deepened his Essence Soul's accumulation, and today, it finally triggered a complete metamorphosis.

"The fourth layer of Essence Soul?" Meng Chuan's face showed anticipation as a thought crossed his mind.

Another 'Meng Chuan' leaped out from his body, appearing just like a real person.

"The fourth layer of Essence Soul—the Spirit Splitting Realm?" The Essence Soul Meng Chuan carefully observed. Now, it could easily withstand various external conditions like strong winds, sunlight, and heavy rain. However, the Essence Soul still needed to remain attached to the physical body.

"Now I can split off a portion of my Essence Soul and seal it within You'er and An'er," Meng Chuan mused. "This way, I can be more at ease."

The Essence Soul Seal.

This technique requires reaching the fourth layer of Essence Soul, and each use involves splitting off a portion of the Essence Soul's core. According to ancient texts, splitting it nine times is the normal limit, and doing so does not affect one's intelligence or comprehension. However, a tenth split would severely damage the Essence Soul, impairing both wisdom and comprehension, making the path of cultivation significantly more difficult.

Therefore, it is rare for powerful Godfiends to willingly use the Essence Soul Seal.

The Essence Soul then returned to his physical body.

Meng Chuan looked at the painting before him and wrote three characters on the far right: "Children's Joy." He smiled, put down his brush, and walked out.

At an open space within Lakeside Pavilion, Meng You and Meng An were sparring.

Meng You's swordplay was swift and elusive, like mist and illusion.

In contrast, Meng An's spear was direct and decisive, its shadow like a dragon, far more ferocious.

"Clang!" Meng An's spear swept out, parrying a sudden flash of sword light from Meng You.

"Excellent," Meng Chuan praised as he watched. "You'er's sword strike was sudden and unpredictable. An'er's spear defense was also exquisite; both of you performed well in offense and defense."

Meng You and Meng An stopped, listening respectfully.

Meng Chuan walked over, gently patted their shoulders, and said with a smile, "Keep practicing. No amount of thought can replace hands-on practice. Train for at least three hours every day, and don't slack off for a single day."

"Yes, Father," Meng You and Meng An both replied obediently.

Meng Chuan nodded.

As he patted his children's shoulders, he separated a portion of his Essence Soul and sealed it within their shoulder and back areas.

Once activated, this 'Essence Soul Seal' functions like an Essence Soul clone, but it dissipates after a single burst. Only upon reaching the sixth layer of Essence Soul, the 'Undying Realm,' can one possess a long-lasting Essence Soul clone. At the seventh layer, the 'World Realm,' one can have nine permanent Essence Soul clones.

The seventh layer of Essence Soul grants various wondrous abilities. For instance, the Essence Soul's core energy consumed by activating an Essence Soul Seal can be fully restored at this level. At the seventh layer, each Essence Soul clone, even relying solely on Essence Soul secret arts, possesses the combat power of a Conferred King Godfiend. As long as the main body survives, a destroyed Essence Soul clone can be cultivated back.

As for the even higher eighth layer of Essence Soul, it holds the potential to decisively win the war between humanity and the demon race.

However, throughout humanity's long history, the highest level ever attained was the eighth layer of Essence Soul, and only three individuals have reached it—far fewer than those who achieved the 'Imperial Sovereign' realm.

Meng Chuan left Lakeside Pavilion and arrived at the Earth Net headquarters in Jiangzhou City.

"Marquis Dongning."

"Marquis Dongning."

The Godfiends at the Earth Net headquarters greeted Meng Chuan with immense respect.

Liu Qiyue also sensed Meng Chuan's arrival and came to greet him. "A'Chuan, what brings you here?"

"Let's go to Wang Fanchou," Meng Chuan said.

"See Wang Fanchou?" Liu Qiyue asked, puzzled, but still led Meng Chuan toward the dungeon.

Deep within the dungeon, Wang Fanchou was confined in a sealed, solitary cell, inaccessible to any guard.

*Rumble.*

The sealed cell door rumbled open. Inside, Wang Fanchou looked up to see Meng Chuan and his wife walking in side by side. The cell door then closed once more.

"Marquis Dongning, Marquis Ningyue, I truly never intended to assassinate anyone..." Wang Fanchou stammered, defending himself anxiously. Being confined for a day had left him distraught.

"Is that so?"

Meng Chuan looked at him.

"Yes, I'm innocent," Wang Fanchou said, looking at Meng Chuan. But his gaze slowly became vacant, and he fell silent.

As Meng Chuan observed him, his Essence Soul power used a secret technique to effortlessly penetrate Wang Fanchou's soul. While his illusionary arts hadn't reached the 'Dao Realm,' the unique properties of his fourth-layer Essence Soul allowed him to directly modify memories. Even those who had mastered illusionary arts to the Dao Realm might leave traces when altering memories; Meng Chuan's direct Essence Soul manipulation was far more forceful and absolute.

This was similar to what Venerable Qin Wu had done, though Venerable Qin Wu's methods were more refined.

Meng Chuan directly erased Wang Fanchou's memories of seeing Meng You and Meng An, then used an illusion to create false memories in their place.

"It's done," Meng Chuan said. "I've modified his memory of seeing You'er and An'er."

"A'Chuan, didn't you say you could only temporarily obscure his memory? What's changed?" Liu Qiyue's heart stirred.

"I've had a breakthrough," Meng Chuan said, smiling at his wife.

"A breakthrough?" Liu Qiyue couldn't help but whisper. "The fourth layer?"

Meng Chuan nodded slightly.

Liu Qiyue was inwardly stunned. For a Conferred King Godfiend to reach the Creation Realm, one crucial threshold was attaining the fifth layer of Essence Soul! Texts described the fifth layer of Essence Soul as incredibly difficult to achieve. Even Creation Venerables, despite their immense power in other areas, often only reached the fifth layer of Essence Soul.

Now Meng Chuan had reached the fourth layer of Essence Soul! He was getting closer to the fifth layer.

"Wang Fanchou." Meng Chuan looked at the dazed man, who suddenly snapped awake.

"Do you not know how many heinous crimes your grandson Wang Cong has committed?" Meng Chuan sneered. "Without your protection, could he have gotten away with it until today? Numerous Godfiends are sacrificing their lives to protect cities and countless mortals. Is it so that fools like him can wreak havoc?"

Cold sweat drenched Wang Fanchou.

If no one cared, then it was fine.

But if a Conferred Marquis Godfiend of such standing took notice, Wang Cong's crimes would be indefensible. Both imperial laws and Yuanchu Mountain regulations were explicit on the matter.

"Hmph."

Meng Chuan snorted coldly and left with his wife.

After leaving the dungeon, Meng Chuan asked, "It's been a day of investigation. How much have you uncovered?"

"The Heavenly Demon Gate is very cautious," Liu Qiyue replied. "Through the Fengyu Pavilion line, we found some Heavenly Demon Gate spies. As for the 'big fish,' we couldn't uncover anything; the trail went cold." She continued, "What's truly shocking, though, is the sheer number of misdeeds we've uncovered committed by Godfiend descendants. Some of them have caused havoc no less than Wang Cong."

Liu Qiyue led Meng Chuan into a room and pointed to a stack of scrolls piled on the desk. "These are all the files we've uncovered. You can take a look."

Meng Chuan picked up a scroll and his expression changed slightly.

Each scroll was stained with human lives and blood, recounting tales of injustice.

"They all deserve to die," Meng Chuan said, a fierce glint in his eyes. "Are these descendants of Godfiend families really disgracing their ancestors like this? While Godfiends are risking their lives, these juniors are acting so wantonly?"

"Godfiend families have a vast number of members," Liu Qiyue explained. "For instance, the Meng family alone has over ten thousand members, while older Godfiend families can number tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands. With such large numbers, it's inevitable there will be some bad apples! These individuals, with no future in cultivation but extensive connections, cause far greater harm when they commit evil than ordinary criminals."

"You've been guarding Jiangzhou City for the past decade. Didn't you intervene?" Meng Chuan asked, seething with anger.

Liu Qiyue said helplessly, "I'm responsible for guarding, but even Earth Net intelligence is handled directly by the Godfiends below me; only major decisions require my input. As for mundane crimes within Jiangzhou City, those fall under the imperial government's jurisdiction. Godfiends from Yuanchu Mountain generally don't interfere with mortal affairs; it has always been the court that manages secular matters."

"You are the guardian of Jiangzhou City. You have the authority to directly take over the yamen," Meng Chuan stated.

"Yes, I can forcibly take over," Liu Qiyue nodded obediently.

"Then take over," Meng Chuan declared. "Thoroughly sweep Jiangzhou City. Even the yamen itself needs a clean-up; I suspect there are many corrupt officials within."

"Sweep Jiangzhou City?" Liu Qiyue looked at her husband. "There are quite a few Creation Godfiend families, imperial clans, and Conferred King Godfiend families within the city."

"We Godfiends are risking our lives to slay demon kings and protect our lands," Meng Chuan retorted angrily. "We cannot allow what we protect with our lives to be so wantonly spoiled."