eurekapd Chapter 233 Five Elements Merge into One, Fourth-Order Divine Soul
Chapter 233 Five Elements Merge into One, Fourth-Order Divine Soul
Chapter 233 Five Elements United, Fourth-Order Divine Soul
After returning to the Star Moon Sect, Chen Yi did not delay for a moment and went straight into his secluded cultivation cave.
The cave dwelling was simply furnished, with a dark jade cushion gleaming with spiritual light in the center, and the surrounding walls inlaid with crystals that could stabilize spiritual energy.
He sat cross-legged on it and took out the newly acquired jade slip containing the [Refining Spirit Technique].
The gaze fell upon the records of the "third layer,"
The core of this layer is to integrate the five elements of divine consciousness and connect the divine soul and the heaven and earth bridge, which is the real difficulty in the entire cultivation technique.
To complete this step, one must completely integrate the different attributes of divine consciousness within the five divine apertures of the brain, which requires an extremely high level of precision in the cultivator's control over the five elements.
According to the common sense of the cultivation world, it would be impossible for someone with Chen Yi's seemingly ordinary talent to achieve this.
But having cultivated immortality for many years, he had already laid a solid foundation, albeit imperceptibly:
During the second stage of body refinement, he successfully fused with the five elements of metal and had a deep understanding of the mutual generation and restraint of the five attributes of metal, wood, water, fire and earth.
Furthermore, when his divine soul advanced to the third rank, it underwent a qualitative change after being baptized by lightning tribulation. Now, the large amount of soul lightning power contained in his divine soul has tempered it to be exceptionally tough.
With this accumulation, the risk of "soul power explosion caused by the fusion of the five elements" during the cultivation of the third level of the [Refining Spirit Technique] has been greatly reduced.
Even if something goes wrong, at most you'll only suffer minor injuries.
Even though the risks were manageable, Chen Yi did not attempt it rashly.
He took out the newly crafted giant tortoise puppet from his storage bag. The puppet's shell gleamed with a dark golden luster, and a translucent etched crystal core was embedded in its chest.
He planned to practice on this giant tortoise first; even if he broke it, he could just make another one.
Chen Yi closed his eyes, activated the "Perceiving Heaven and Earth" technique, and with a slight movement of his fingertips, five strands of divine thought, as thin as hair, slowly extended out, attempting to fuse with the puppet's eroded crystal core.
At the same time, he opened his Insightful Eyes and observed the subtle changes in the divine thoughts within the crystal core without blinking.
Sometimes he would adjust the order of his divine thoughts, and sometimes he would fine-tune the proportion of the five elements' power, repeatedly deducing, trying, and modifying his approach.
After consuming three third-order crystal cores, and after the energy within the puppet's eroding crystal core was on the verge of collapse several times but was forcibly stabilized, Chen Yi finally condensed the first wisp of gray divine thought that combined the five elements within it.
As soon as this wisp of divine thought took shape, it seemed to have a life of its own, flowing within the crystal core and instantly opening the door for divine consciousness to control the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Chen Yi could even clearly sense that if he controlled this puppet, he could use it to draw upon the spiritual energy around him, which would not only replenish the consumption of his own crystal core, but also directly activate spells!
"This must be fourth-order divine sense, right?!"
Chen Yi's heart skipped a beat, and his fingertips trembled slightly with excitement.
He knew that the fourth-order divine sense was a crucial stage for cultivators to initially perceive the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and an important foundation for entering the advanced stage of cultivation.
Suppressing his excitement, he spent half an hour calming himself down.
After repeatedly trying and deducing using the puppet as a medium, and confirming that there were no problems with the operating rules of the fusion, he finally turned his attention back to his own soul.
Chen Yi took a deep breath and sank his mind into his sea of consciousness. He saw five divine thoughts slowly emerging from the five divine apertures and converging at the center of his divine soul.
According to the rules previously verified on the puppet, the five elements of divine consciousness are interconnected and can transform into each other.
It then began to spin wildly at a speed visible to the naked eye, the speed increasing faster and faster, and finally merged into one with a soft sound, condensing into a pure gray divine power.
Almost simultaneously, within the Divine Soul Space, the thunderclouds floating in the air suddenly roared, and a thin bolt of lightning struck directly down.
With a gentle movement, the gray divine thought steadily guided the lightning soul to land on the "earth" of the divine soul world, then quietly disappeared, merging with the entire divine soul.
"The five elements have merged, connecting the bridge between heaven and earth; it's complete!"
Chen Yi opened his eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing within them.
Guided by this wisp of gray divine thought, he clearly sensed that the range of his own divine sense was expanding wildly.
The original distance of 150 li was easily doubled to 300 li, and the momentum did not stop until it reached more than 400 li before finally coming to a halt.
It should be noted that this is merely a wisp of divine thought, yet it is already approaching the entry standard for Nascent Soul level divine sense. If all of its divine sense is transformed, it will surely be able to officially advance to the fourth rank!
The changes brought about by the fourth-order divine sense go far beyond this:
Its perception became increasingly acute, and it could clearly distinguish the subtle sounds of plants growing within a range of over 400 miles.
His control became increasingly precise, and he could even "see" the trajectory of the spiritual energy flowing within his own meridians;
He became more adept at using his divine sense in all its applications, and most remarkably, he gained control over the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
The surrounding spiritual energy seemed to transform into tangible, living water, and Chen Yi's divine sense felt as if it had gained an invisible hand.
It can be grasped with a simple wave of the hand and molded into any shape at will. It can be incorporated into the body to replenish spiritual power or condensed into spells to be unleashed from the body.
"Fourth-tier divine sense, truly amazing!"
Chen Yi sighed softly, and even had a guess in his mind:
After all the divine senses have completely merged and transformed into fourth-order beings, and after all the divine soul techniques have been fully cultivated,
If I were to encounter True Lord Xuan Shui again, and he were to be slightly careless, I could be ambushed and killed by my own divine sense alone, especially if he did not have any treasures to defend his soul!
After all, when Xuan Shui Zhenjun was forming his nascent soul, he was injured by heavenly lightning, so his physical body and soul were probably not at their strongest.
Invigorated, he no longer delayed and devoted himself to seclusion, beginning to gradually integrate all the divine power in the five divine apertures.
Time slipped away quietly in the tranquility of seclusion.
Gradually, countless days and nights passed.
Chen Yi's soul was completely shrouded in a thick gray mist.
This gray energy contains a vast power resulting from the fusion and unification of the five elements' divine sense, far exceeding the scope of third-order divine sense.
He has truly entered the fourth tier.
This is the first time he has touched upon the fourth-order energy of the Nascent Soul level in the three major cultivation systems of essence, qi, and spirit!
After his spiritual consciousness advanced, Chen Yi did not stop.
After a few days of recuperation, he began to cultivate secret techniques related to divine sense, mastering methods such as the Divine Sense Shield, Divine Sense Needle, and Divine Soul Whip one by one:
The gray mist sometimes condenses into a thick shield that can withstand the impact of external divine sense;
Sometimes it transforms into fine needle shadows, which can silently penetrate defenses;
Sometimes it draws in soul lightning to condense into a long whip, and when it lashes out, it carries the intent of a lightning-infused whip.
With several skills, he quickly reached the level where he could skillfully perform ordinary fourth-order divine soul secret techniques.
Immediately afterwards, Chen Yi switched to cultivating the second level of the [Purple Lightning Soul-Nourishing Technique].
If the core of the first level is to accumulate soul lightning and temper the strength of the soul, then the second level is to study the diverse applications of soul lightning and at the same time comprehensively strengthen the defensive capabilities of the soul.
As his cultivation deepened, his application of soul lightning began to exhibit various changes:
It can condense into hair-thin lightning threads to entwine a target, transform into a palm-sized lightning shield to block attacks, or coalesce into a lightning ball to unleash.
These methods are characterized by their speed, power, and difficulty in defense.
Chen Yi knew that only when he reached the Nascent Soul stage would the true power of the Thunder Soul Sect's inheritance be revealed, like a corner of an iceberg.
This time, from cultivating the third level of the [Refining God Technique] to mastering the second level of the [Purple Lightning Soul Condensation Technique], as well as various divine soul secret techniques and becoming familiar with the ability of fourth-order divine sense, more than four years have passed in the blink of an eye.
When Chen Yi pushed open the stone door of his secluded cave, he had just celebrated his ninety-ninth birthday.
The higher one's cultivation level, the longer it takes to practice spells, hone skills, and craft treasures. In the blink of an eye, he was approaching one hundred years old.
However, at this age, being in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, is still considered extremely young in the cultivation world.
Chen Yi merely gazed at the withered leaves falling outside the cave, feeling a few emotions, but did not dwell on them too much.
At ninety-nine years old, his soul had advanced to the Nascent Soul level, his body refinement was still some distance away from the peak of the third rank, and his magic power was steadily advancing in the middle stage of the Golden Core realm.
However, with the advancement of his divine soul, his control over the spiritual energy of heaven and earth reached an unprecedented level.
Previously, one needed to consciously guide the absorption of spiritual energy, but now, with just a thought, the surrounding spiritual energy will automatically flow into the body, and the subsequent progress of magical power cultivation will inevitably be greatly accelerated!
"It's time to pay attention to resources related to infant regeneration."
Chen Yi stood before the cave dwelling, his fingertips lightly tracing the gold trim on his sleeve, lost in thought.
"The Nascent Soul Pill is an essential core item, and the more Nascent Soul Spiritual Items you have, the better. The more items you prepare, the higher your chances of successfully forming your Nascent Soul."
Treasures that can withstand lightning tribulations... although we may not always need them, we must prepare them in advance, just in case.
"Oh, and also rare treasures or secret techniques to enhance resistance to inner demon tribulations. This is equally crucial; a slight mishap could lead to a loss of mental focus during the Nascent Soul formation process."
He counted on his fingers one by one and realized that he had not yet collected any of the essential items for Nascent Soul formation.
Fortunately, he still had enough time—the lifespan of an ordinary Golden Core cultivator was only five hundred years, while his lifespan was nearly seven hundred years, so he still had plenty of time to prepare.
However, Chen Yi also knew that he could not slack off because of this. He had to pay attention to relevant resources in the future and seize them decisively once an opportunity arose.
The world of cultivation is ever-changing, and great disasters never wait for people to be fully prepared. Only by being prepared can one stand firm when a crisis comes.
In fact, if Yue Qingqiu hadn't urgently sent two secret letters beforehand, he could have continued his seclusion for much longer.
He has now made initial progress in the third level of the [Refining Spirit Technique], and has mastered the method of "connecting the bridge between heaven and earth" in the early stage of the third level.
The subsequent cultivation direction is "divine consciousness splitting into two"—when activated, it can ascend to the heavens and explore thousands of miles away;
When still, it can hide deep underground, concealing its tracks.
At that time, the gray mist in the soul will transform into Yin and Yang energies, which will return to the two poles of the soul's world. This is the subsequent cultivation path of the Nascent Soul stage divine sense in the [Refining God Technique].
However, Chen Yi had not yet figured out how to split the gray divine consciousness formed by the fusion of the five elements into two, transforming it into black and white. He originally intended to continue his seclusion to conduct in-depth research.
Six months ago, Yue Qingqiu sent a message saying that the materials for refining high-quality beast pills were almost ready, and that he should come to receive the materials and begin refining them when he had time.
At that time, Chen Yi was in a critical stage of cultivating the [Refining God Technique], and simply replied with the three words "in seclusion" without being distracted by the matter.
Now, Yue Qingqiu's second message has arrived as scheduled.
Chen Yi took out a communication jade slip, infused it with a wisp of spiritual power, and Yue Qingqiu's gentle voice clearly entered his ears:
"Junior Brother Chen, how is your seclusion going?"
The essence blood of the fourth-tier thunder beasts has been fully prepared. We are just waiting for my junior brother to emerge from seclusion so that we can begin refining a high-grade third-tier thunder brew.
"Now that the grand auction and Nascent Soul trade fair at Qingyun Cave Heaven are less than two years away, if you don't have anything particularly urgent to attend to, please come out of seclusion for a chat to discuss the follow-up arrangements."
After reading the letter, Chen Yi gently stroked the jade slip between his fingers, thinking to himself: It's about time.
He has only just reached the initial stage of the third level of the [Refining God Technique], and it will be difficult for him to make a breakthrough in a short period of time. Even if he goes into seclusion for a few more months, it is estimated that it will not have much effect on improving his divine sense.
Moreover, his main cultivation path is spiritual martial arts, which requires a lot of resources to advance in body refinement, so he can't stay trapped in the cave forever.
Without further hesitation, Chen Yi took out another blank jade slip and used his divine sense to inscribe his reply:
"Senior sister, I have now emerged from seclusion. I would like to invite you to my residence tomorrow to discuss matters related to the refining and trading of Thunder Brew."
After handing the jade slip to a disciple standing outside to deliver it, he raised his hand and summoned Hu Mingyue—he had been in seclusion for nearly five years, and he needed to understand the affairs, both big and small, inside and outside the cave from her.
A short while later, a soft knock came at the door, followed by Hu Mingyue's voice:
"Uncle Chen, you've emerged from seclusion."
After receiving Chen Yi's permission, Hu Mingyue gently pushed open the stone door of the cave, and the door hinges turned without making a sound.
She was still dressed in an elegant blue disciple's robe, the fabric of which clung to her figure, making her appear tall and slender, with smooth and graceful lines to her shoulders and neck. A jade belt of the same color was tied around her waist, further accentuating her graceful figure.
Her beauty was unparalleled; her eyebrows were like crescent moons, her eyes like autumn waters, her skin like solidified cream, and her lips, a touch of crimson, were like a painting.
When facing Chen Yi, she always maintained a perfectly respectful expression, and her movements were composed and graceful, demonstrating her good upbringing.
But just after Hu Mingyue greeted Chen Yi, she quietly extended her divine sense to observe him.
Chen Yi's expression shifted slightly, and his fingertips paused subconsciously.
He couldn't tell for a moment whether Hu Mingyue herself had undergone some kind of hidden change in the past five years, or whether this change had always existed but he hadn't been able to detect it before because his divine sense hadn't reached the Nascent Soul level.
Because in that fleeting moment, Chen Yi's Nascent Soul level divine sense clearly detected that Hu Mingyue's divine sense actually flashed with a trace of the same origin as him, a fusion of the five elements!
What an amazing concept!
How could a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator have already reached the level of divine consciousness where the five elements are integrated?
Even if that wisp of aura vanished in an instant, and its intensity was only one percent of a complete divine sense, it was still enough to send chills down one's spine.
It should be noted that even many Golden Core cultivators may not be able to cultivate their divine sense to such a level.
Even with his "cheat code," Chen Yi himself only opened two of the five elements of divine consciousness during the Foundation Establishment stage, which was a long way from opening all five divine apertures.
However, since Hu Mingyue was his junior and also practiced the "Perceiving Heaven and Earth" method he had taught, Chen Yi did not use his Insightful Spirit Eye or delve into his perception to investigate her background.
He quietly suppressed the shock in his heart, maintaining a calm expression and showing no sign of anything unusual.
In his view, it was normal that there were some things he couldn't understand at the moment when it came to Lao Hu's daughter. Lao Hu was an extraordinary person, so it was not surprising that Hu Mingyue had secrets.
Unbeknownst to Chen Yi, at the same moment he sensed Hu Mingyue's unusual divine thought, Hu Mingyue was also filled with surprise.
In the instant she made eye contact with Chen Yi, she clearly sensed an incredibly vast source of divine consciousness, like a giant beast lurking in the deep sea. Although it did not actively release its pressure, it possessed a profound and unsettling aura.
Hu Mingyue's hands, hanging by her sides, clenched and then quickly relaxed. Her face remained respectful and docile, but her mind was racing:
"No wonder my father has always been so close to Uncle Chen. It turns out that Uncle Chen is also quite extraordinary."
Such a powerful foundation of divine sense is far beyond the capabilities of ordinary Golden Core cultivators; they must have already advanced to the Nascent Soul stage. Moreover, it's not ordinary Nascent Soul divine sense, but rather a fusion of the five elements of divine sense.
Could he be the successor of some reclusive powerhouse, or a great figure secretly orchestrating events?
Like Chen Yi, Hu Mingyue kept all her thoughts to herself, remaining calm and composed throughout, as if the strange sensation she had just experienced had never happened.
She gently adjusted her cuffs with her fingertips and began to report to Chen Yi on the sect's recent developments over the past few years in an orderly manner.
She spoke at a steady pace and clearly outlined each matter:
"Uncle Chen, the sect has been in a difficult situation these past few years, constantly being targeted openly and covertly by surrounding forces such as Eagle Ridge Mountain."
Especially the key spiritual items that are crucial for cultivators to break through to the Nascent Soul stage are either monopolized by those forces or stolen during transportation. Several elders in the sect who are close to the Nascent Soul stage are now facing a shortage of resources.
Moreover, the sect's several immortal cities and spiritual lake industries also faced operational difficulties and a sharp decline in income due to external pressure.
"If it weren't for the high-level magical artifacts and elixirs you left behind a few years ago, Uncle Chen, which deterred some of the villains, we probably wouldn't even be able to maintain our current territory."
At this point, Hu Mingyue paused slightly, her tone now tinged with admiration:
"In recent years, Fairy Qingyue has been running around almost non-stop to alleviate the sect's crisis, not only using the fourth-tier spiritual items treasured in the sect's treasury, but also..."
It also cost them a lot of favors left by the senior members of the Star Moon Sect to barely manage to obtain some scarce resources from other forces, allowing the sect to catch its breath.
Then, she changed the subject and brought up another matter:
"In addition, there is a situation about a cultivator that I also need to report to you—that is, Pingdong."
Two years ago, he successfully advanced to the Core Formation stage, and the Core Formation he formed was a Star Technique Golden Core, a core technique of the sect, and of high quality. According to the sect elders' examination, it started as a Two-Pattern Purple Extreme Golden Core.
When the news spread, the entire Star Moon Sect was thrilled. The sect had gained a new Golden Core cultivator who practiced the sect's fundamental cultivation technique, which was undoubtedly a great boost to the sect's strength.
Especially the Nascent Soul Ancestor, True Monarch Yuelan, was overjoyed upon hearing the news and personally summoned Pingdong, adding responsibilities to him:
The ancestor instructed Pingdong to continue his cultivation in your cave, and that he should set aside two or three months each year for...
He went to the fourth-grade low-level cave dwelling that Ping Xingye had left behind to tend to the spiritual herbs and plants cultivated within, which also served to familiarize him with resource management.
As she finished her report, Hu Mingyue looked up at Chen Yi, her tone still calm, but with a hint of composure:
"In addition, Uncle Chen, after Pingdong formed his core, he asked me to engage in dual cultivation, but I refused."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi's heart stirred slightly, and he silently made a mental note of it. However, he did not show much emotion on his face, but simply nodded and said "okay".
He and Hu Mingyue had been at the Star Moon Sect for nearly twenty years. Many years ago, he had told Hu Mingyue that he would not interfere with her freedom to choose a Daoist partner.
If a suitable candidate is found, and as long as her father, Old Hu, agrees and the person is of good character and ability, he will never interfere.
In Chen Yi's eyes, Hu Mingyue was exceptionally well-trained by Old Hu, possessing a maturity and composure far exceeding that of other cultivators her age.
On ordinary days, she kept Chen Yi's cave dwelling in an orderly manner, from storing spiritual rice to maintaining magical artifacts, she did everything meticulously;
When dealing with cultivators within the sect, he was able to maintain a proper balance, being neither arrogant nor humble, and handling various relationships appropriately.
She has her own opinions and is diligent and hardworking in her cultivation, so Chen Yi never has to worry about her, which puts him at ease.
Moreover, Hu Mingyue herself is already outstanding.
She is extremely beautiful and has top-notch talent in cultivation. Her cultivation level has just entered the late stage of Foundation Establishment. She has already shown amazing talent in the art of talismans and is able to sell near-third-tier talismans at the sect's trade fair.
He had mastered the Moon Technique to perfection, with a solid foundation.
Such ethereal beauty and strength made her highly sought after within the Star Moon Sect. Almost all the Core Formation male cultivators, wary of Yue Qingqiu's status, dared not express their feelings to her.
They had all privately hinted at their feelings to Hu Mingyue or expressed their affection, but she politely rejected them all.
Chen Yi did not pay much attention to Hu Mingyue's personal situation.
He joined the Star Moon Sect along with Hu Mingyue and Ping Dong.
The purpose is to improve cultivation and accumulate strength under the protection of the sect. Everyone has their own cultivation pace and path of opportunity, and there is no need to deliberately interfere.
Judging from the current situation, Hu Mingyue's cultivation speed is in no way inferior to Chen Yi's.
Her spiritual power accumulated and became purer day by day, clearly indicating that she also possessed unknown opportunities or secrets.
However, Chen Yi had no intention of probing into Hu Mingyue's secrets, as he was well aware of the taboos in the cultivation world:
Others' secrets are often entangled with cause and effect. The more you know, the easier it is to get involved in unnecessary trouble, and you may even get into trouble for prying into their privacy. It is better to keep an appropriate distance and keep each other at peace.
As for Ping Dong's successful formation of the Golden Core, Chen Yi was slightly surprised, but he did not investigate further.
The cultivation world is a world full of opportunities. Some people make steady progress by relying on the resources of their sect, while others rise to the top in one step by relying on fortuitous encounters. Ping Dong was able to break through the bottleneck, perhaps because he obtained a family opportunity from the Ping family, or perhaps because he found a cultivation shortcut that suited him.
Chen Yi always adhered to the principle of "minding his own business," after all, the path of cultivation was long.
There may be hidden masters lurking around you at any time, or you may accidentally trigger a secret restriction set up by a powerful figure. A slight mistake could lead to your death. Instead of being curious about other people's affairs, it is better to focus on honing your own cultivation.
The next morning, Chen Yi waited quietly in the inner area of his cave. The person he was to meet alone with was Yue Qingqiu, the current de facto ruler of the Star Moon Sect.
Fairy Qingyue arrived precisely on time, bathed in moonlight. This was the first time in decades that she had entered a male cultivator's cave alone.
Chen Yi went out to greet him and led him to the inner palace.
After delivering the spirit tea as per custom, Hu Mingyue quietly withdrew without saying a word.
Meanwhile, the cultivators under Pingdong's cave dwelling didn't even have the qualifications to step into the outer palace; they could only wait in the courtyard outside Chen Yi's inner palace.
Fortunately, Yue Qingqiu did not stay long. She only stayed in Chen Yi's inner residence for a little over an hour before leaving, which relieved Ping Dong, who had been worried.
He quietly straightened his hands, which had been hanging by his sides, and silently comforted himself:
In broad daylight, Qingqiu is usually dignified and self-possessed, so the two of them should not have any improper dealings.
Hmm, I trust Qingqiu's character. She's not the type to casually find a cultivation partner, so she shouldn't betray me so quickly.
(End of this chapter)