Chapter 2473: True Spirit Soul, Collaboratively Seeking Treasure

Only Mahayana-stage demon beasts with powerful bloodlines and extraordinary innate abilities can be called True Spirits. After a True Spirit dies, it leaves behind a True Spirit Soul, which is its spirit. In contrast, when ordinary Mahayana-stage demon beasts die, their spirits typically dissipate automatically and return to the natural world. This is the most significant difference between True Spirits and ordinary demon beasts.

A True Spirit Soul can condense into a True Spirit Essence. If a demon beast of the same bloodline refines this True Spirit Essence, it has a high chance of evolving into a True Spirit. This is a unique method of inheritance for True Spirits. Even if it cannot evolve into a True Spirit, it can inherit some of the True Spirit's innate abilities and divine powers, making its strength far surpass that of ordinary demon beasts of the same cultivation level.

"The True Spirit Essence has widespread uses. When a Void Refining cultivator refines the True Spirit Essence, it can completely transform their body, increasing their chances of breaking through to the Integration Stage by 30%. This is far superior to most heavenly treasures. If a spirit beast of the same bloodline refines the True Spirit Essence, its divine powers will greatly increase, and it might even evolve into a True Spirit."

Monk Yuanxiao slowly explained, his expression solemn.

He changed his tone and said, "I discovered a True Spirit Lair. A True Spirit is valuable in its entirety; after its demise, it leaves behind many rare items, including True Spirit Blood, True Spirit Essence, True Spirit Qi, True Spirit Soul, and True Spirit Bones. True Spirit Blood can be used for alchemy or cultivating secret techniques. True Spirit Essence can assist Void Refining cultivators in breaking through to the Integration Stage. True Spirit Soul can be used for crafting artifacts, making talismans, setting up formations, and alchemy. True Spirit Qi can improve a cultivator's physique, and True Spirit Bones can be used for artifact crafting."

"A True Spirit Lair! Master Yuanxiao, you're quite lucky! Did you and Fellow Daoist Lin come specifically for this True Spirit Lair?" Wang Ruyan asked, puzzled. She thought that if a True Spirit Lair was discovered, it would be natural to invite more experts, even Integration Stage cultivators, to help.

"Not exactly," he replied. "I stumbled upon the True Spirit Lair by chance. It's a True Spirit Lair left behind by a Black Kirin, currently occupied by a Rank 7 Azure Nether Python. Recently, this Rank 7 Azure Nether Python underwent a great heavenly tribulation and was severely weakened. Now is the best time to acquire the True Spirit Essence. Might Fellow Daoist Wang be interested?" Monk Yuanxiao's tone was enthusiastic. He wouldn't have told Wang Changsheng about this if Wang Changsheng hadn't actively saved him. Of course, he couldn't obtain the True Spirit Essence on his own.

"A Rank 7 Azure Nether Python? Why hasn't it absorbed the True Spirit Essence left by the Black Kirin?" Wang Changsheng asked, puzzled.

"Has Fellow Daoist Wang forgotten about the True Spirit Soul?" Monk Yuanxiao patiently explained. "The True Spirit has perished, but its True Spirit Soul is not easy to deal with. With the True Spirit Soul present, the Azure Nether Python cannot easily refine the True Spirit Essence. As time passes, the True Spirit Soul's spiritual energy continuously dissipates. If the True Spirit Soul dissipates, the True Spirit Essence will also slowly dissipate, transforming into primordial qi and returning to the natural world." He added that the Azure Nether Python had refined some of the Black Kirin's essence blood, which allowed it to advance to Rank 7. "However, it is not the same type of demon beast as the Black Kirin; otherwise, its divine powers would be stronger, and it would have long since destroyed the True Spirit Soul and absorbed the True Spirit Essence."

"The True Spirit Soul!" Wang Changsheng's expression became thoughtful. He could have refused if it were anything else, but the True Spirit Essence could increase his chances of advancing to the Integration Stage, making it impossible for him to refuse. He had only read about True Spirits in ancient texts; he had never seen one in person.

"The True Spirit Soul's spiritual energy is severely depleted, so it cannot exert much power," Monk Yuanxiao said enthusiastically. "As long as we trap the Azure Nether Python for a while and destroy the True Spirit Soul, we can obtain the True Spirit Essence. This will further increase your chances of advancing to the Integration Stage. If I'm not mistaken, Fellow Daoist Wang cultivates water-attribute techniques, right? The True Spirit Essence left by the Black Kirin can completely transform you, accelerate your cultivation speed, and benefit you for life." He knew that without the help of Wang Changsheng and his wife, he wouldn't be able to acquire the True Spirit Essence.

"Accelerate cultivation speed? If you encounter a bottleneck, you can't speed it up even if you want to," Wang Ruyan said dismissively. She believed that if one encountered a bottleneck, no matter how good their aptitude, their cultivation would be difficult to advance further.

"While that's true, the True Spirit Essence is no ordinary item," Monk Yuanxiao said with a sincere expression. "Although it won't make Fellow Daoist Wang an Acquired Spirit Body, your chances of breaking through to the Integration Stage in the future will still be very high. Miss this opportunity, and once the Azure Nether Python recovers, it might destroy the True Spirit Soul and absorb the True Spirit Essence. It's now or never."

"What can we use to trap a Rank 7 Azure Nether Python? Does Master Yuanxiao have a Rank 7 formation?" Wang Changsheng pressed.

"I don't have a formation, but I do have a Rank 7 talisman," Monk Yuanxiao said meaningfully, taking out a dazzling golden talisman. "Trapping this demon for a while won't be a problem. If I hadn't encountered you, I would have used this talisman already. This talisman was personally crafted by my master, who had long intended to travel to the Mysterious Spirit Continent and sent me ahead to scout." Knowing Wang Changsheng's extraordinary strength, Monk Yuanxiao, worried that Wang Changsheng might silence him, proactively informed him that he had an Integration Stage master and Rank 7 talismans.

The trace of killing intent in Wang Changsheng's heart instantly vanished. He asked curiously, "May I ask your master's name? Perhaps we've heard of them?" His earlier act of saving Monk Yuanxiao was out of kindness, but when it came to the True Spirit Essence that could aid in advancing to the Integration Stage, Wang Changsheng had indeed entertained murderous thoughts, believing that one less person meant a larger share for him.

"My master is Miao De," Monk Yuanxiao said, his face filled with pride. "He is the fastest to reach the Integration Stage since the founding of our Heavenly Buddha Sect and has hopes of entering the Mahayana Stage." He then took out two shimmering blue talismans, which emitted a terrifying spiritual energy fluctuation, clearly indicating they were Rank 7 talismans.

"Master Yuanxiao, this matter is of great importance," Wang Changsheng said, taking out the Mysterious Spirit Forbidden Book with a sincere expression. "I hope you can swear an oath on the Mysterious Spirit Forbidden Book that we will not attack each other and this matter will not be leaked to outsiders. If you don't agree, then let's go our separate ways, and we'll consider this conversation never happened and never heard of." Given that Monk Yuanxiao was a disciple of an Integration Stage Buddhist cultivator and possessed multiple Rank 7 talismans, Wang Changsheng had completely abandoned his murderous intentions.

Monk Yuanxiao carefully examined the Mysterious Spirit Forbidden Book, confirmed it was legitimate, and then swore an oath upon it. Wang Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief. He then remembered something and asked curiously, "Master Yuanxiao, does reincarnation truly exist?"

"Of course it exists. The outside world might not believe it, but we in the Buddhist sect believe in reincarnation," Monk Yuanxiao urged. "However, reincarnation is too complex to explain now. Once we obtain the True Spirit Essence, we can find a safe place and discuss it at length."

Wang Changsheng nodded, and the three of them left the cave.

Over a month later, Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Monk Yuanxiao appeared in a vast basin. The area was covered in dense vegetation, and in the distance, three steep peaks rose, looking from afar like three gigantic fingers.

"The True Spirit Lair is right there," Monk Yuanxiao said, pointing towards the three peaks, his eyes burning with eagerness.

The Twin-Eyed Rat lay on Wang Changsheng's shoulder, its eyes glowing with dazzling yellow light. Wang Changsheng could clearly see the situation hundreds of miles away. At the foot of the central peak, there was a massive cave. At the end of the cave was a cavern spanning over ten mu. Inside, a jade-green python could be seen coiled up, seemingly in a deep sleep.