Chapter 621: Second Senior Brother Defeated His Own Nascent Soul

“…It seems Elder Tao is indeed quite idle.”

Lu Yang silently put the cultivation technique back and continued to study other methods.

There was a wide variety of Nascent Soul stage cultivation techniques, which were less about specific methods and more about clashing philosophies. For example, some seniors advocated the idea of being reborn from death, believing that one could only improve and sublimate their Nascent Soul when facing desperate situations. Others felt that cultivation should be gradual and not rushed.

Lu Yang preferred the latter. With the Immortal Fairy in his mental space, it was already a desperate situation; if he were to face another one, it would be a ten-deaths-no-life scenario, and no amount of sublimation would help.

“This one looks good: ‘Nascent Soul Sword Cultivation Art.’ It feels very suitable for me. I can borrow it for reference. By cultivating this art, I can use my Nascent Soul as a scabbard to nurture a Heart Sword. Once the Heart Sword is formed, it allows the Nascent Soul to wield a sword, conservatively estimating a 30% increase in Nascent Soul combat power!”

The Nascent Soul, formed from the Golden Core and controlled by the Divine Soul, is not a physical entity. Therefore, it lacks a handy weapon. If it had a weapon, its combat power would naturally increase.

“This technique is useless to you,” the Immortal Fairy reminded him.

“Why?”

“Because the Invincible Nascent Soul can already wield a sword. The purpose of cultivating this technique has already been achieved.”

“The Invincible Nascent Soul can use sword techniques? How come I’ve never seen it use any?” Lu Yang recalled his painful experiences fighting the Invincible Nascent Soul, and he didn't remember it ever using sword arts.

“Because you haven’t used sword arts during your fights. Didn’t I say it? Whatever you know, the Invincible Nascent Soul will know, and do it better than you.”

“If you don’t believe me, try it and see.”

Lu Yang was indeed curious. He entered his mental space, manifested a sword for himself, then severed his connection with the Invincible Nascent Soul and fought it.

A miracle occurred. This time, Lu Yang fought with increasing vigor, executing various sword techniques effortlessly, as if they were second nature. Clearly, he had made a new breakthrough in the path of swordsmanship, reaching a level that sword cultivators could only dream of. Even older generations of cultivators would clap and cheer in admiration, and then he was defeated by the Invincible Nascent Soul.

“Cough, cough, why is this Invincible Nascent Soul so difficult to beat? How did you defeat it back then, Fairy?” Lu Yang was pinned to the ground by the Invincible Nascent Soul; he genuinely couldn't win.

The Immortal Fairy’s eyes darted around, evasive. “You… you just need to try a few more times to defeat it.”

Lu Yang looked at the Immortal Fairy suspiciously. “Then how many times did you try?”

“This Immortal is bad at math, I don’t remember!”

Lu Yang exited his mental space, repeatedly comforting himself: it’s a good thing the Invincible Nascent Soul is strong, it’s a good thing the Invincible Nascent Soul is strong…

Lu Yang walked and looked, finally arriving at the much-anticipated "Lingzhi Area." The very first book there immediately excited him.

“Is this Senior Sister’s cultivation insights from the Nascent Soul stage?”

“Let’s see how Senior Sister cultivated her Nascent Soul. First step: shattering the Golden Core to form the Nascent Soul. Second step: passing the Heavenly Tribulation… hmm?”

How did her second step differ from everyone else’s?

“Now that I think about it, I seem to have heard someone say that Senior Sister encountered a Heavenly Tribulation when she broke through to the Nascent Soul stage. Other cultivators only encounter it when they break through to the Soul Transformation stage.”

“Second Senior Brother Ye Zijin imitated Senior Sister’s method and also encountered a Heavenly Tribulation in the Nascent Soul stage. Then his Nascent Soul gained sentience and beat him up.”

Lu Yang felt a strong connection with his Second Senior Brother. Although they had never met, they were already fellow disciples bound by similar fates.

“Elder Tao, how did Senior Sister manage to encounter a Heavenly Tribulation during the Nascent Soul stage?”

Lu Yang proactively asked Elder Tao, who should know the specific process.

“Oh, you mean that. At the time, little Yun, at the peak of the Golden Core stage, mistakenly entered an ancient trial ground. She underwent trials there, fighting against the projections of previous record holders, defeating them and ranking first.”

“Who was the previous record holder?” Jiang Lianyi was curious. If it was an ancient figure, she should have heard of them.

“Immortal Yingtian?”

Lu Yang: “…”

So, Immortal Yingtian, you were so frustrated by losing that you just struck Senior Sister with lightning?

The Immortal Fairy nodded. “That sounds like something Immortal Yingtian would do. He used to take back moves a lot when playing Five-in-a-Row.”

“And you just let him take back moves?”

“Of course, we let him. Why wouldn’t we? Chess is about fairness. If he wants to take back a move, he can. If he takes back a move, we beat him. After beating him, we also regret it and say we shouldn’t have beaten him, so let's just pretend we didn't.”

“I remember the ancient trial ground that little Yun went to. It existed even before ancient times. Immortal Yingtian went there during his Golden Core stage, broke the record, and became the number one at the time, causing quite a stir.”

“I was far away then and couldn’t go. When I finally went again, I was already in the Nascent Soul stage.”

“He probably left a spell in the trial ground after he became an immortal, something like getting struck by lightning if someone breaks his record.”

“It wasn't exactly revenge, not entirely revenge. At the very least, after being struck, the Nascent Soul does become stronger.”

Lu Yang continued to ask, “What about Second Senior Brother? Did Second Senior Brother also enter the ancient trial ground and break the record?”

It seemed his Second Senior Brother was even more formidable than he had imagined.

“You mean little Ye? He had the intention to go, but wasn’t allowed. After little Yun left the ancient trial ground, it closed and couldn’t be opened again. No reason has been found to this day.”

Jiang Lianyi probably guessed the reason. Immortal Yingtian was a man of principles: “He probably feared someone else would surpass his record. Immortal Yingtian’s principle is not to lose face twice.”

“…He certainly has principles.” Lu Yang was speechless.

“Then where did Second Senior Brother’s lightning tribulation come from?”

“He cursed Immortal Yingtian for an entire day.”

Lu Yang gasped. As expected of Second Senior Brother; he was truly daring.

Even with the Immortal Fairy protecting him, Lu Yang wouldn't dare treat Immortal Yingtian like that.

“You know what happened next. When that kid shattered his Golden Core to form a Nascent Soul, he attracted a massive Heavenly Tribulation. It started with two bolts of lightning striking down.”

“Those two lightning bolts struck little Ye’s Nascent Soul, making it sentient. That Nascent Soul was truly an eye-opener. It could fly to the heavens and shatter the tribulation lightning, and fly back into his body to brutally beat its owner.” Elder Tao marveled at the scene, having lived for five thousand years without seeing anything so outrageous.

Lu Yang listened enviously as well. His own Nascent Soul would only run away when facing a lightning tribulation.

“I also heard that Second Senior Brother destroyed his own Nascent Soul and refined a new one?”

“That’s what he tells outsiders. The actual situation is rather special and inconvenient to disclose to outsiders. Since you’re not outsiders, it’s fine to tell you. In reality, little Ye defeated his own Nascent Soul.”

Lu Yang was moved. This was precisely the breakthrough he sought, and he quickly pressed on, “How did Second Senior Brother defeat his Nascent Soul?”

“He said that no matter how strong the Nascent Soul was, it was still a part of him. Since it was a part of him, his whole must be stronger than a mere part, so he could definitely defeat his Nascent Soul!”

“He also said that a spiritual victory is also a victory.”

The second update will be at eleven.

(End of chapter)