Chapter 440: Farewell to the Ancient Tai Xu Tree

As his vision gradually dimmed, he re-entered a long-unseen world.

The Primeval Void Tree remained as majestic as ever; standing beneath it, he couldn't see its cloud-piercing crown. His gaze fell upon a fruit, within which was sealed the cultivation method he had longed for: the Soul Secret Art — "Three Soul-Slaying Forms"!

He immediately leaped up. This time, he wasn't suppressed and easily grasped the fruit. With a pull, the fruit detached and landed in Jiang Fan's palm.

"'Soul attack secret art, 'Three Soul-Slaying Forms,' level... Earth-rank High-grade!'"

Jiang Fan gasped. It was an Earth-rank High-grade cultivation method! A method of this caliber had never existed in the Nine Sects Continent. And it was the most mysterious soul secret art! If he could master its soul attack techniques, it would be like gaining another powerful trump card!

A rustling sound. Just then, Jiang Fan's act of picking the fruit seemed to trigger a chain reaction. He heard a series of thuds as branches struck something. Jiang Fan quickly dodged.

With a bang, a stone disc crashed onto the spot where Jiang Fan had been standing, leaving an ankle-deep crater in the ground. Amidst wisps of white smoke, an ancient white jade disc appeared. The jade disc was inscribed with incredibly complex and mysterious patterns, resembling both a formation array and a sacrificial ritual. The disc was divided into three sections. The patterns in each section converged on a thumb-sized hole. These three holes, like stars orbiting the moon, encircled an eye-sized hole at the disc's very center.

"What is this?" Jiang Fan wondered in surprise. Besides fruits, the Primeval Void Tree actually dropped physical objects.

He picked it up. The moment he touched it, a surge of current flashed through his mind, bringing a wealth of information.

"'Fate-Altering Jade Disc,' a High-grade Spiritual Artifact. It can produce Heaven-Reaching Marrow for breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm!"

What? Jiang Fan's pupils constricted sharply. This jade disc was actually a High-grade Spiritual Artifact? And it was a spiritual artifact that could generate a spiritual liquid for breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm? So, this meant his own breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm wasn't as hopeless as it was for Core Formation experts on the Nine Sects Continent? This filled him with immense joy.

The more he learned, the more he understood how difficult it was to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm. Even Xu Qingyang, the Sword King of his generation, famous throughout the land, had never found the opportunity to break through to Nascent Soul. Even someone as powerful as the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master had only managed to advance to the Nascent Soul Realm through immense luck and a great opportunity. Theoretically, Core Formation Stage Level Nine experts on the Nine Sects Continent were far from sufficient to produce a Nascent Soul. The appearance of one Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master was already an enormous stroke of luck for the Nine Sects Continent; it was almost impossible for a second Nascent Soul martial artist to emerge. But Jiang Fan, immediately after breaking through to Core Formation, already had a path to the Nascent Soul Realm.

However, Jiang Fan's excitement didn't last long, because a new piece of information left him dumbfounded.

"'Conditions for generation: Gather the souls of three Nascent Soul cultivators, and one drop of essence blood from a Soul Transformation cultivator.'"

Jiang Fan's mouth dropped open. He was at a loss for words. Souls of Nascent Soul cultivators, and *three* of them? If he had the ability to kill Nascent Soul cultivators and seize their souls, would he even need to break through to Nascent Soul himself? As if that weren't enough, it also required a drop of essence blood from a Soul Transformation cultivator! What kind of existence was a Soul Transformation cultivator? Whether such an existence even *existed* in this world was debatable!

Holding the Fate-Altering Jade Disc, Jiang Fan didn't know whether to throw it away or keep it! After a long moment, he gave a bitter laugh: "There truly is no shortcut to breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm. Every path is fraught with mortal peril!"

He paused for a moment and sighed. Finally, he looked up at the Primeval Void Tree. Faintly, he saw a fruit, and sealed within it was a bamboo scroll.

"'Great Derivation Sword Array,' a Heaven-rank sword technique. When the sword array is complete, it can slay Soul Transformation cultivators!"

What? Jiang Fan gasped again. Filled with excitement, he leaped up, attempting to seize the fruit. But just like before, he was pushed back. A message appeared in his mind: "'Only accessible at the Nascent Soul Realm.'"

Jiang Fan was terribly itching to get it! A sword technique that, upon mastery, could slay Soul Transformation cultivators — how terrifying was that? Yet, he couldn't acquire it until he broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

"You... you dead tree, are you doing this on purpose?" Jiang Fan angrily kicked the Primeval Void Tree.

*Smack!* But the next moment, the Primeval Void Tree shuddered, and a branch lashed out like lightning. Jiang Fan was quick-witted. Before the branch even struck, he decisively exited the consciousness space, thus avoiding the whip. Little did he know, from the peak of the Primeval Void Tree, a faint sound of amused scolding could be heard.

Jiang Fan's consciousness returned to his body. He now held an item in each hand: the "Three Soul-Slaying Forms" and the Fate-Altering Jade Disc. Jiang Fan immediately tossed the latter into the Heavenly Thunder Stone space. He held only the "Three Soul-Slaying Forms" and began to read through it.

"'Earth-rank High-grade cultivation method, first form: Soul-Startling Thorn. The stronger the practitioner's soul, the greater the power. Against opponents with similar soul strength, it can pierce their soul, causing minor damage. Against souls three realms lower than one's own, it can inflict heavy damage. Against souls six realms lower than one's own, it can annihilate them directly.'"

Jiang Fan frowned. "This is too vague. To understand the true power of the Soul-Startling Thorn, I first need to determine the strength of my own soul. However, apart from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's Soul Tower, which can detect soul strength, there isn't a good place or artifact that can assess one's soul." Soul power detection was extremely specialized. Ordinary artifacts or factions simply couldn't detect the specific strength or weakness of a person's soul.

"Never mind, I'll cultivate it first," he decided. "With my approximate Fourth-Rank Soul Master soul strength, the power of the Soul-Startling Thorn shouldn't be too low."

He immediately began to cultivate it. This was his first time cultivating an Earth-rank High-grade method. Even with his comprehension, he felt a slight strain. This was despite having cultivated the "Taiyi Soul Art" and possessing a basic understanding of soul power usage. If it were given to a stranger who had never utilized soul power, they would likely find the technique as incomprehensible as a heavenly script.

Just as he intended to continue his cultivation, Liu Qingxian's knock came from outside the door, her voice tinged with a teasing tone: "Your beautiful junior niece is here to see you."

Jiang Fan's mouth twitched. He put away the cultivation method, got up, and went outside. He saw Xia Chaoge, clad in a pear-yellow long dress embroidered with clouds and narcissus, standing gracefully in the center of the courtyard. Compared to her usual detached and otherworldly attire, her appearance today added an extra touch of vivacity and brightness.

"Martial Uncle." Upon seeing Jiang Fan, Xia Chaoge's typically emotionless face immediately showed a hint of joy.

Jiang Fan nodded and asked, "Chaoge, do you need something?"

Xia Chaoge nodded and replied, "Yesterday, most disciples returned to Sunset City to exchange for rewards. The beast horde took the opportunity to intensify their assault on the defense line. A few powerful demonic beasts seized the chance to break through, so the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion issued an urgent mission. 'Go to the front lines and slay five beast kings, and it will count as one Profound-rank mission. The more you kill, the more rewards you'll receive.' Jin Zhongming, Liang Feiyan, Hua Xiangchen, and the others left early."

She paused, then gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and softly asked: "Martial Uncle, when will you depart? Chaoge wishes to accompany you."