Chapter 1282: Heart Demon Pass

Five Dragon Sea, Qinglian Island.

In a spacious courtyard, paved with bluestone, a patch of red spiritual bamboo grew in one corner. Beside the spiritual bamboo stood a red stone pavilion, where Wang Jiyu was drinking and chatting with three cultivators.

Of the three cultivators, one was a sharp-looking middle-aged man, and the other two were young, beautiful maidens.

The middle-aged man was named Fang Tianyuan. He came from a small family and had joined the Wang family over twenty years ago. The two maidens were Fang Yufei and Fang Yurou, respectively. They were Fang Tianyuan's nieces.

By Fang Tianyuan's generation, the Fang family had declined; there were fewer than thirty cultivators in their entire clan. Just as the Wang family was recruiting, Fang Tianyuan led his entire clan to join them. As outsiders, the best way for them to gain better treatment in the Wang family was to marry into the elite direct line of the Wang family.

Wang Jiyu was Wang Qingqi's most favored grandson. The Qinglian Immortal Couple were also aware of his existence. Many female cultivators from other clans, even those of average aptitude, wished to marry Wang Jiyu to elevate their social standing. Both Fang Yufei and Fang Yurou possessed three spiritual roots. They had no knowledge of any cultivation techniques, so it would be extremely difficult for them to accumulate enough merit points to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill. Their parents had passed away early, and Fang Tianyuan was their paternal uncle. For the future development of the Fang clan, they were persuaded by Fang Tianyuan to marry Wang Jiyu.

Under Fang Tianyuan's arrangement, they began studying alchemy. Whenever Wang Jiyu taught alchemy in the Lecture Hall, they would attend, always asking questions, thereby leaving Wang Jiyu with an impression of diligence and eagerness to learn. After several years of effort, Wang Jiyu became very close to Fang Tianyuan and his nieces.

Wang Jiyu's face was flushed crimson, as Fang Yufei and Fang Yurou continuously plied him with drinks. Wang Qingqi was very strict with him. He had recently become lax in his cultivation and had been severely reprimanded by Wang Qingqi. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, he invited Fang Tianyuan for drinks, who then brought his two nieces along.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, don't be too sad. Senior Wang is also doing this for your own good," Fang Tianyuan consoled him.

"I know the patriarch means well, but he is too strict with me. Thankfully, he's busy refining the Fulu Gold Elixir; otherwise, I don't know how long he would have lectured me!"

Fang Yufei said with some surprise, "The Fulu Gold Elixir! I heard it's mainly refined from Fulu Gold Fruit and can increase the chance of Core Formation by twenty percent. If Senior Wang successfully refines it, Fellow Daoist Wang will surely get a share! Once you form your core, we'll have to address you as 'Senior Wang'."

"That's right! I never thought Senior Wang could refine the Fulu Gold Elixir. I heard some immortal cultivation sects can't even refine it!"

"Hmph, what's the Fulu Gold Elixir? Even the Nascent Soul Elixir, the patriarch will be able to refine in the future," Wang Jiyu declared proudly, a glint of self-satisfaction in his eyes.

Wang Qingqi was the Wang family's only Third-rank alchemist, and Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan relied heavily on him. As Wang Qingqi's most favored grandson, Wang Jiyu's status had also risen.

Hearing this, Fang Tianyuan was secretly astonished. Could it be that the Wang family possessed a Spirit Infant Fruit? The Nascent Soul Elixir was primarily refined from the Spirit Infant Fruit and could increase the chance of forming a Nascent Soul. Wang Jiyu spoke of "in the future," implying that the Wang family either had a Spirit Infant Fruit or a Spirit Infant Fruit Tree. Fang Tianyuan dared not inquire further; if Wang Jiyu hadn't been drunk, he probably wouldn't have mentioned it. As an outsider, knowing too much was not beneficial.

Fang Yufei and Fang Yurou continued to offer Wang Jiyu drinks. Not long after, Wang Jiyu slumped onto the table, muttering deliriously, "Once I form my core, I will definitely surpass the patriarch."

The spiritual wine they drank was a century-old vintage. Fang Tianyuan had waited too long for this day.

"Yufei, Yurou, give a hand and help Fellow Daoist Wang inside to rest." Fang Tianyuan gave a meaningful look. Fang Yufei and Fang Yurou helped Wang Jiyu into the room. He hummed a little tune and left, leaving his two nieces to attend to Wang Jiyu. With the deed done, Wang Jiyu wouldn't be able to deny it.

Eastern Barren Lands, Grand Unity Immortal Sect.

In a secluded courtyard, Wang Mingren and Ximen Feng were hosting Xu Zihua. Wang Mingren had returned several years ago, but he had something to consult Xu Zihua about; otherwise, he would have long since entered seclusion to attempt to reach the Nascent Soul stage.

"So you've reached this point, Mingren. Are you going into seclusion to attempt to form a Nascent Soul?" Xu Zihua asked casually while eating.

"Precisely. Disciple wishes to consult master regarding matters related to Nascent Soul formation," Wang Mingren respectfully stated. Xu Zihua was highly experienced and could speak with most of the Nascent Soul cultivators in the Grand Unity Immortal Sect. Wang Mingren wanted to ask about important considerations.

"We returned several years ago. My husband could have gone into seclusion to attempt Nascent Soul formation then, but he insisted on waiting for your return, saying he wanted to consult you. My husband said that within the sect, you are the one who has been best to him." Ximen Feng picked up the wine pot and poured Xu Zihua a cup of spiritual wine.

"Generally speaking, the fewer inner demons one has, the fewer obstacles there are to Nascent Soul formation. Inner demons vary from person to person. For someone who values emotional bonds, if their Dao companion dies at the hands of others, that will become their inner demon. For those who value propriety and integrity, if they fall short in these areas, it will become an inner demon. In short, whatever you care about most is most likely to become your inner demon. Some spiritual items can weaken the power of inner demons, such as our sect's Three-Essence Spirit Stabilizing Incense, but it varies by individual. If one has too many inner demons, the incense is useless."

Xu Zihua took a sip of spiritual wine, his expression solemn, then continued, "Do you know why my cultivation has always remained at the Core Formation stage?"

When Wang Mingren first joined the sect, Xu Zihua was already at the Core Formation stage. Now Wang Mingren had cultivated to the ninth layer of Core Formation, but Xu Zihua remained at the Core Formation stage. Wang Mingren's heart tightened as he asked, "Why?"

"I'm afraid of death." Xu Zihua gave a self-deprecating smile, took a bite of food, and a look of reminiscence crossed his face, as if recalling something unpleasant.

Wang Mingren and Ximen Feng exchanged glances. They had many theories, but this reason had never occurred to them.

"Shattering the core to form a soul: it's either life or death, there is no third path. If you fail to break through from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, you merely fail. But if you fail to break through from Core Formation to Nascent Soul, you die. It's like a python transforming into a flood dragon; failure means death, there's no other way."

Wang Mingren remained silent. He knew this well. He feared Chen Xiang'er would become his inner demon, as well as Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. When Wang Changsheng asked for his help to break through to the Core Formation stage, Wang Mingren had refused. Wang Changsheng had already forgiven him, but he still wondered if it would become his inner demon. He had done many things against his conscience for his own future: nearly harming Wang Qingshan in pursuit of merit, and nearly dying when he and Ximen Feng ventured deep behind enemy lines to attack to become one of the Grand Unity Five Prodigies. In the end, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had covered their retreat, allowing them to escape.

"Other things, this master doesn't know, but Junior Niece Chen will absolutely become your inner demon. Honestly speaking, you owe her too much. I also owe someone too much. I know I cannot overcome my inner demons, which is why I've been lax in my cultivation. Otherwise, I would have reached the ninth layer of Core Formation long ago." Xu Zihua sighed, a hint of guilt in his eyes.

How many cultivators are defeated by the word "love"?

Wang Mingren remained silent. His reconciliation with Ximen Feng was also an attempt to compensate Chen Xiang'er, thereby weakening the power of his inner demons. Chen Xiang'er, however, did not give him the opportunity, and Wang Mingren was helpless.

"Precisely because of this, some cultivators don't pursue romantic relationships, dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to the Dao. For example, your grand-nephew Wang Qingshan; he will also encounter inner demons, but they should not be able to defeat him."

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