Chapter 383: Magic Dao Nascent Soul

The entire Chiyuan region was in turmoil due to the news from Taihu. These established families naturally seized the opportunity, and recruiting rogue cultivators became their temporary strategy.

These cultivators could serve as cannon fodder for the sects, and when mandatory missions were assigned, they could also be used to fill quotas. The more, the better. Consequently, jade slips for broadly recruiting people were ubiquitous.

Wang Yu was immersed in his cultivation. His cultivation had long reached the Golden Core Completion stage. At this point, reviewing everything from the beginning served both to calm his mind and to check his progress.

Once Nascent Soul formation began, there was no turning back. To ensure he wouldn't be disturbed, he replaced all his formations, merely utilizing the spiritual energy of the place.

After three days of meditation, Wang Yu fully concentrated his essence, energy, and spirit, officially embarking on the most crucial leap of his life.

The first step was to shatter the core! This shattering wasn't active destruction but rather allowing it to burst open. The blue-black Golden Core, already nine fen in diameter, was very conspicuous in his Qi Sea. As the breakthrough cultivation art circulated, mana, surging like waves, condensed into a funnel-shaped vortex, forcefully pressing into the Golden Core. This was the third core-strengthening process! For every thousand streams of mana pushed in, the Golden Core would expand by 0.1 fen. After an unknown period, it reached its limit of 9.9 fen, and with the influx of the final stream of mana, fine cracks immediately covered the Golden Core.

Boom—

It was like a silent explosion, or perhaps lightning during a thunderstorm. The painstakingly condensed Golden Core shattered with a roar. Spiritual energy rapidly circulated through his limbs and bones until it returned to its natural state. This period was crucial for cultivators to seize the opportunity.

The second step: soul fusion! After the Golden Core shattered, it left behind a muddy substance that constantly changed shape. At this point, active soul fusion was required to help shape the Nascent Soul. At that moment, Wang Yu's formidable spiritual sense realm came into play. Cultivating spiritual sense is cultivating the soul; spiritual sense and soul are inherently one, hence the term "spiritual soul." This power integrated into the unformed Nascent Soul, shaping the substance into a human form, neither with extreme difficulty nor ease. The most crucial part was the integration of soul and nascent form. This was his Nascent Soul, also the foundation for ascending the path of cultivation.

Now came the third step: Nascent Soul formation! The top-grade Nascent Soul Transforming Pill held in his mouth entered his stomach, taking effect instantly. Wisps of energy, infused with a clear, ethereal medicinal fragrance, surged into the unformed Nascent Soul. Wang Yu then felt an unprecedented sense of security wash over him. It was comfortable, warm, and infinitely intoxicating. During this process, the Nascent Soul gradually took shape, assuming Wang Yu's likeness. It was only palm-sized, plump and adorable, and the flowing ethereal spiritual light around it indicated its extraordinary nature.

However, in the latter half of the third step, it was time for the Frozen Demon Spirit Stone to appear. The Frozen Demon Qi, which had taken him much effort to acquire, transformed into blue-black smoke and surged into his body. The miniature Nascent Soul immediately looked as if it had fallen into a dyeing vat, turning pitch black in the blink of an eye. Icy blue demonic patterns spread across the Nascent Soul, a sign that the Frozen Demon Qi was taking effect. At the same time, his innate demonic fetus physique also underwent a transformation.

The Profound Origin Demonic Fetus and Five Elements Spirit Roots, which he had thought disappeared, re-condensed from countless black particles emerging from his physical body and overlapped with his unformed Nascent Soul, merging into one. The demonic fetus and demonic nascent soul seemed to have completed a stage of growth. Without even needing conscious effort, Wang Yu completed the fourth and most difficult step: spirit awakening!

Having initially broken through the illusion, Wang Yu's consciousness awakened within the Nascent Soul, curiously surveying his surroundings. This unique perspective of observing his Qi Sea was truly his first experience. Furthermore, the appearance of his Nascent Soul was somewhat peculiar. Its face looked even younger than his current five or six-year-old form, and five vague light clusters glowed within its body, representing his innate Five Elements Spirit Roots after being supplemented by secret techniques. The Frozen Demon Qi had completely integrated into the Nascent Soul's body, showing no visible changes. Fortunately, he didn't detect any other discomfort.

After forming the Nascent Soul, the mystical movement technique brought by the realm's ascension was naturally acquired. However, the focus was still on the second Nascent Soul transformation, or rather, demonic transformation! The Twelve Phases of Vast Cold, once inscribed on his Golden Core, reappeared on the Nascent Soul. All the overflowing spiritual energy returned, simultaneously forming an incredibly massive spiritual energy vortex. Only a fourth-tier spiritual vein or massive amounts of spirit stones could satisfy the needs of this transformation. Once the first demonic essence was formed, his realm would be complete. As for the subsequent Nine-Layered Lightning Tribulation, he had already overcome it once and certainly wouldn't fail a second time.

The scripture of the Twelve Phases of Vast Cold resonated in his ears. The wondrous scenes of the Twelve Phases flashed before Wang Yu's eyes, finally settling on a frosty moon suspended in the sky.

"Drip—"

The first drop of demonic essence was born within the Frost Moon Revolver, followed by a continuous, waterwheel-like release of pure demonic essence, exactly one hundred drops. These then circulated through his meridians, flowing through all his limbs and bones. Wherever they passed, Wang Yu gained immense benefits once more, with a significant increase in his physical strength. Although still in the early stages, it was a considerable improvement. When the demonic essence returned from the cranial meridians, Wang Yu's spiritual sense erupted with extremely strong fluctuations. From the peak of the early Fourth Realm, it broke through to the mid-realm, benefiting from the breakthrough to a major realm. It still maintained a slight lead.

After his entire body underwent a transformative change, the spiritual energy vortex gradually dissipated, replaced by the dark clouds of the Nine-Layered Lightning Tribulation.

At this time, outside the cave dwelling, three years had passed since Wang Yu began his breakthrough in seclusion. He spent most of his time on the core-shattering and Nascent Soul formation steps, and being engrossed in cultivation naturally made him lose track of time. His breakthrough speed was already considered fast. Few people would be so thoroughly prepared, so a smooth progression was to be expected.

From the moment the spiritual energy vortex began to gather, many people gathered near this cave dwelling, and the Meiling City Lord even personally led others to observe. Almost all these onlookers were Golden Core cultivators. Only one person was an exception. Old Ancestor Qingyi, one of the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Yougu Feng Clan, had temporarily come to Meiling City as its overseer due to wartime regulations. His main responsibility was to closely monitor the gap in the Northern Broken Boundary Mountain Range in Night Qiongzhou.

When the spiritual energy vortex gathered, he realized someone was forming a Nascent Soul in Meiling City, but he inwardly lamented the missed opportunity. At this stage, the breakthrough was essentially successful. If he had discovered it earlier, he might have been able to secure an opportunity related to Nascent Soul formation. Thinking of this, Old Ancestor Qingyi couldn't help but look at the Meiling City Lord. He instructed, "This person is about to undergo tribulation. Have everyone nearby retreat to a safe distance. After the breakthrough, invite him to the City Lord's manor for a talk."

"Rest assured, Old Ancestor!"

Information about Wang Yu was naturally sought out immediately. However, there were only rumors of the Ice Demon Child. When he rented the cave dwelling, he hadn't deliberately concealed his appearance. According to his original plan, returning to the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect to develop after his body had grown back was a good option. He had already climbed to the position of Seventh Elder; going a bit higher, securing the status of a Sect Ancestor was always better than fighting alone. But while he could think that, the actual situation could change at any time, and plans needed constant adjustment. With war about to begin, and his main identity being watched by a hidden venomous serpent—a high-ranking Grand Cultivator—it would be too easy for them to trip him up. He couldn't trust it. Thus, the identity of the Ice Demon Child needed to be carefully managed, and it might be used for a long time.

"Boom—"

Thunder rumbled, and the Nine-Layered Lightning Tribulation displayed astonishing power. The majestic might of the heavens made it difficult for anyone to even think of resisting. Wang Yu actively accepted the lightning tribulation to temper his body, silently savoring this strange sensation of pain and pleasure. The most wondrous aspect of the lightning tribulation was the vitality hidden within the destruction, perfectly aligning with the Grand Dao of body refiners. They both follow the path of destruction preceding creation! Despite the danger, the rewards were immense. He viewed the lightning tribulation as an opportunity. Six consecutive lightning bolts struck. Besides causing him pain, there was almost no substantial damage. Only the final three purple lightning bolts could still make him feel exhilaratingly good. Body refiners often have a peculiar mentality of enjoying pain. Wang Yu also possessed this to some extent, but it wasn't as pronounced.

Soon after, the heavenly might receded, and the dark clouds dispersed. Golden light pierced through the clouds, shining down as if after a rain, revealing a pure and flawless sky. This made Wang Yu appear like a deity descending to the world, and shouts of congratulations arose from all around.

"Congratulations, Senior, on successfully forming your Nascent Soul!""Congratulations, Senior, on successfully forming your Nascent Soul!""Congratulations, Senior, on successfully forming your Nascent Soul!"

Having been in seclusion for three years, Wang Yu felt suddenly enlightened after breaking through his realm, as if no difficulty could ever block him. However, the change in his physical form made him frown slightly. It wasn't suitable to change his appearance under such public scrutiny.

"Senior Ice Demon, I am from the Yougu Feng Clan. My ancestor, Qingyi, invites you to the manor for a discussion."

Here it comes. Seeing that the speaker was the Meiling City Lord, Wang Yu felt a sense of calm. His natal magic treasure was rapidly transforming with the nourishment of the demonic essence; theoretically, it would be best to remain in seclusion for a while longer. But he also needed to solidify his identity as the Ice Demon Child, and nothing was more effective than an endorsement from a local power. Wang Yu had enmity with the Feng Clan, but his 'Ice Demon' identity did not. Moreover, having just broken through to the Nascent Soul realm, he urgently needed top-grade spirit stones for cultivation. At the very least, he needed to meet his basic cultivation requirements before considering other supplementary methods like spiritual pills.

"Since Fellow Daoist Qingyi invites me, why not come out and meet me personally?"

As soon as the words fell, Old Ancestor Qingyi, who had intended to put on airs, instantly appeared in mid-air and bowed to Wang Yu. "Fellow Daoist, please don't misunderstand. I was just giving instructions for the banquet." He said this, but inwardly he looked at Wang Yu with slight surprise and doubt. To have such a stable aura immediately after undergoing a lightning tribulation meant the tribulation had not harmed him in the slightest. Given this, he would not treat Wang Yu as an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.

Wang Yu nodded. "No misunderstanding. It's just that Fellow Daoist is also a cultivator of the same realm and should know that I still need time to cultivate in seclusion and stabilize my realm. As for the banquet, please let's discuss it later."

Hearing this, Old Ancestor Qingyi breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed the information gathered from Fengzhou was quite accurate. While the Ice Demon Child's reputation was indeed fierce, he had never harmed members of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect. After a brief conversation, Qingyi even felt that the other party had some intention of seeking patronage. "Is this my illusion?" He had to ask himself this, then recalled the situation between the two realms. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, and this might be an opportunity for him, Qingyi, to expand his clan's power. People he previously wouldn't dare recruit could now be considered. Of course, he wouldn't rashly offer an invitation. After so many years of cultivation, he still possessed the necessary caution. Investigating his background and past actions were all essential. This also required time.

"In that case, I won't disturb Fellow Daoist's seclusion to stabilize your realm. This cave dwelling is also offered to Fellow Daoist for your use, without needing to spend additional spirit stones."

"Thank you."

Wang Yu returned to his cave dwelling, activating all the formations and restrictions. He sighed inwardly, realizing the other party hadn't fallen for his bait, which introduced another variable into his plan. After sighing, his mind returned to his realm. Nascent Soul cultivation... is perpetually difficult.