Chapter 1073: The Value of Monk Wang Chen

The Nascent Soul of a Buddhist cultivator is priceless, its value beyond measure in spirit stones. Within the Zhenhai Sect's Hidden Scripture Pavilion, there are countless secret techniques, including a method for refining a second Nascent Soul.

The Second Nascent Soul technique is a legendary secret art in the cultivation world. Generally, ordinary cultivators spend hundreds of years, often by sheer luck, to shatter their Golden Core and form a Nascent Soul. They simply lack the time to cultivate a second Nascent Soul, and typically don't possess a second Golden Core to shatter.

This technique involves seizing the Nascent Soul of another cultivator, erasing their divine sense from it, and then assimilating that Nascent Soul with one's own divine sense to create a second Nascent Soul. However, the success rate for this arcane art is quite low. Should it succeed, the benefits are naturally immense: the second Nascent Soul can then possess a physical body, providing the cultivator with an external incarnation.

While many similar secret techniques exist, the Second Nascent Soul method is considered the most reliable. Naturally, the process of assimilating another cultivator's Nascent Soul is quite perilous; even a minor misstep can result in a severe backlash. Generally, the higher a cultivator's cultivation level and the stronger their divine sense, the easier it is to assimilate another Nascent Soul.

Wang Changsheng had coveted this Second Nascent Soul technique for a long time. Monk Wangchen possessed considerable divine abilities, and if his Nascent Soul could be assimilated and refined into an external incarnation, the benefits would be immeasurable.

He activated the protective barriers within the pavilion, then set up a Tier 4 formation, striking an incantation into the formation plate.

Azure runes shimmered into existence on the walls inside the room, emitting a dazzling azure spiritual light.

“My dear, release him!”

With a flick of her slender hand, Wang Ruyan produced an azure jade box. A silver talisman was affixed to its surface. She opened the box and carefully removed a miniature, pale golden Nascent Soul.

A pale golden talisman was affixed to the miniature Nascent Soul, its surface flickering with countless mysterious runes.

As Wang Ruyan peeled off the golden talisman, the miniature Nascent Soul transformed into a streak of golden light, darting swiftly towards the outside.

With a dull thud, the miniature Nascent Soul was abruptly stopped by a layer of pale azure light barrier.

“Don't waste your efforts. At this point, do you still think you can escape?”

Wang Changsheng's tone was indifferent. He had long since placed a restriction on Monk Wangchen's Nascent Soul, rendering the monk unable even to self-destruct it.

The miniature Nascent Soul's face twisted in rage, preparing to self-destruct. However, countless blue runes materialized on its body, forming blue chains that pierced through its form, causing it to display an expression of intense pain.

“Behave yourself, and you'll suffer less.”

Wang Ruyan took out her Golden Lotus Zither and began to play.

The zither's melody was mournful and flowing, as if narrating a tragic tale.

Hearing the zither's notes, the miniature Nascent Soul's expression turned hazy, its face contorted in pain.

“Stop, stop!”

The miniature Nascent Soul cried out loudly, its voice laced with panic.

The zither's melody suddenly vanished, and the miniature Nascent Soul visibly relaxed.

“How do you intend to deal with this monk? I have visited many perilous places, and I can tell you that if you spare my life, I am willing to serve you. If you fear my rebellion, you can place a restriction on me. You should have already tried; soul-searching techniques are ineffective against me. The cultivation method I practice is quite unique, allowing me to guard my divine sense tightly within my essence soul. Even a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator using a soul-searching technique would, at most, only succeed in scattering my soul.”

The miniature Nascent Soul stated in a low voice, reasoning that if soul-searching had been effective, they would have already annihilated him.

“Words alone are not enough. You must offer something to demonstrate your sincerity! For instance, those two spirit arts you employed!”

Wang Changsheng spoke with a faint, knowing smile. He was very interested in the spirit arts Monk Wangchen had employed, especially the one that summoned a golden flood dragon. Had he not been sheltering within a formation, Wang Changsheng truly might not have been a match for that golden flood dragon.

“Those two spirit arts are exclusive secret techniques of our Buddhist sect; unless you convert to cultivating Buddhist techniques, you won't be able to use them. However, I know some secrets of the Fire Barbarian Tribe. They have ambushed female cultivators from both the Sea Race and the Seven Sages Sect.”

Wang Ruyan's expression turned cold. “If that's all you know,” she stated, “then there's no reason for us to keep you alive.”

“Wait! I've journeyed throughout the Central Plains cultivation world. I've visited the Fallen Immortal Cave and seen the ink treasures left by Sage Confucius. I also know the whereabouts of a Six Roots of Purity Bamboo that is over three thousand years old, and the location of Blood Dragon Fruit. Oh, and I've also been to the Celestial Void Grotto-heaven, where I discovered the trace of a Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire, though my strength was insufficient to acquire it.”

Fearing that Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan might resort to harsh measures, Monk Wangchen hastily revealed some of the places he had visited.

“What? Six Roots of Purity Bamboo?”

Wang Ruyan exclaimed in astonishment. The Six Roots of Purity Bamboo is one of the Ten Great Spirit Bamboos in the cultivation world. This bamboo naturally possesses potent attacks specifically targeting divine sense, capable of sealing a person's hearing, sight, taste, smell, touch, and spiritual perception. It is an excellent material for refining Buddhist treasures and a highly sought-after artifact refining material for sound cultivators.

To put it bluntly, if Wang Ruyan possessed a musical artifact refined from the Six Roots of Purity Bamboo, her combat strength could more than triple.

Unlike Wang Ruyan, Wang Changsheng could contend with cultivators of the same rank even without her cooperation, relying solely on his nine Sea-Calming Beads and formidable physical body. Wang Ruyan's situation was less certain.

Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. While musical attacks are potent, they require a certain amount of time to unleash their full power.

External artifacts can shorten this preparation time, and the Six Roots of Purity Bamboo is one such item.

Wang Changsheng had also heard of the Six Roots of Purity Bamboo, but he never expected Monk Wangchen to know its whereabouts.

“That's right. The Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, my place of origin, possesses a Six Roots of Purity Bamboo that has been growing for thirty thousand years. The Demon Subduing Pestle, one of our sect's five great guardian artifacts, was refined from a ten-thousand-year-old Six Roots of Purity Bamboo.”

Monk Wangchen spoke with a hint of pride. He then seemed to recall something, adding, “Don't even think about refining this monk into a second Nascent Soul. The difficulty is incredibly high. The High Priest of the Fire Barbarian Tribe failed four times in his attempts, and I myself failed twice.”

“Tell us the whereabouts of the Six Roots of Purity Bamboo, Blood Dragon Fruit, and Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire, and we can spare your life.”

Monk Wangchen had committed countless atrocities, including the rape of numerous female cultivators, even daring to defile disciples from the Ten Great Sects of the South Sea. Wang Changsheng would never dare to keep such a person by his side, knowing it would only invite disaster.

“To learn these secrets, you must swear an oath on your inner demons: you shall not kill this monk, and you must help this monk possess a new body so that I can cultivate back to the Nascent Soul stage. If you break this promise, you will be trapped at the early Nascent Soul stage for the rest of your lives. At that point, you may kill this monk.”

Monk Wangchen's face showed an expression of defiant resolve, as if prepared for death.

He himself was stuck at the early Nascent Soul stage precisely because he had violated an oath. The higher a cultivator's cultivation level, the more they fear swearing an oath on their inner demons.

Wang Ruyan's expression turned cold, and her fingers swept across the zither strings, immediately producing a flowing melody.

Monk Wangchen's face contorted in pain, but he gritted his teeth, resolute in his silence.

Wang Changsheng frowned, pondered for a moment, then said, “Words alone are insufficient; how can we verify the truth of your claims? Let's compromise. You tell us the whereabouts of the Six Roots of Purity Bamboo, and we will go to confirm it. Once we verify it, then we will swear an oath on our inner demons.”