The night at Nine Cloud Peak was as tranquil as water. After bidding farewell to Chen Xihua, Chen Sheng walked through the spiritual mist in the mountains, returning to his cave abode.
Inside the cave, the gentle azure glow from the Spirit Gathering Jade illuminated the space.
On the central cultivation platform, the light blue Jade Scroll of the "Seven Emotions Sword Scripture" hovered quietly, with the sword patterns on its surface slowly flowing as if coming to life under the spirit light.
Chen Sheng quickly stepped forward, sitting cross-legged on the meditation mat, lightly holding the Jade Scroll with both hands. He sent his divine sense into it, and the abstruse yet easily comprehensible words directly entered his sea of consciousness.
"The Seven Emotions — joy, anger, worry, thought, sadness, fear, and surprise — are the root of a cultivator's heart demons, and also the opportunity for breaking through tribulations."
The opening words were like a thunderclap, instantly focusing Chen Sheng's mind.
He pondered deeply, the essence of the cultivation technique constantly emerging in his sea of consciousness:
"The 'Seven Emotions Swordsmanship' is not about severing emotions and thoughts but using the sword as a beacon of wisdom to see through the illusions of the seven emotions, refining the heart through emotions and attaining enlightenment through the sword."
In the past, he relied on Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects to deal with the Heart Demon Tribulation, blindly feeling his way like a blind person, only able to defend passively.
But this cultivation technique provided an active path to overcome tribulations — first 'enter the emotions' to comprehend the sword, experiencing the true essence of the Sword Dao amid emotions like joy and anger, then 'distinguish the emotions' to refine the heart, discerning one's own emotions from the illusions of heart demons, and finally using the 'Wisdom Sword' to sever the binding threads of the heart, breaking through all obstacles with a single strike during tribulations.
"It's a cultivation technique that directly teaches how to guard against and break through the Heart Demon Tribulation!"
Chen Sheng's eyes brightened. This sword scripture, which could be cultivated to the mid-stage of Divinity Transformation, was exactly the opportunity he needed to break through Nascent Soul.
Previously, when facing the formless heart demons, he always felt somewhat lacking in confidence. Now, with the "Seven Emotions Sword Scripture," it was like having found a lighthouse in the fog.
"I must cultivate it!"
Zelfs de oudste nagelschimmel verdwijnt binnen 3 dagen (recept)Open
The path of cultivation is long, but with this sword scripture, his Great Dao of Nascent Soul truly had a solid foundation.
Chen Sheng immediately cleared away distractions and, as per the cultivation technique, began guiding the mana within his body, attempting to comprehend the state of 'joy.'
In his sea of consciousness, images of his clan members reaching the Golden Core stage and the growing strength of the Chen Clan Commerce Association appeared, making his mana feel light and his aura filled with renewed joy.
In the ensuing two years, Chen Sheng almost never left his seclusion, immersed day and night in comprehending the "Seven Emotions Sword Scripture."
Sometimes, he would simulate sword momentum with pill fire in the alchemy room, experiencing the fierce sword intent under the state of 'anger.'
At other times, he would stroll among the mountains, observing the withering and thriving of spirit grass, sensing the emotional changes brought by 'sadness' and 'thought.'
...
In the blink of an eye, two years passed, and Chen Xihua's Nascent Soul celebration arrived as scheduled.
The square at the main peak of the Three Elements Dao Sect was festively decorated, with countless spirit lamps hanging in the air, illuminating the entire square as if it were daytime.
The sect's seven Nascent Soul True Monarchs all attended, and True Monarch Qian Yuan, dressed in a purple robe, stood in the center of the square, warmly welcoming guests from all directions.
True Monarch Han Lou, wearing the exclusive red-gold robe of an alchemist, scanned the crowd, finally fixing his gaze on Chen Sheng.
"Micro-Image, you indeed have a fine son!"
True Monarch Han Lou quickly approached, patting Chen Sheng's shoulder with a hearty laugh, full of appreciation:
"Xuan Zhao has become a Nascent Soul at such a young age; his future is boundless. You must also pay more attention to the Dan Vein. The future of the sect relies on you young people."
After speaking, he took a pale yellow Jade Scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Sheng:
"These are my lifelong insights in alchemy, especially about the Longevity Pill, which might help you break through the bottleneck of a Tier Four Alchemist."
Chen Sheng received the Jade Scroll with both hands, quickly expressing his gratitude with a cupped fist:
"Many thanks for the True Monarch's great kindness. I will certainly study it diligently!"
Although True Monarch Han Lou had remained at the Nascent Soul Early-stage and was a Tier Four Middle Grade Alchemist, his achievements in the field of Longevity Pills were unparalleled in the cultivation world of Yue Country. This insight was undoubtedly a priceless treasure for Chen Sheng.
True Monarch Han Lou chuckled lightly, waving it off:
"No matter, I plan to travel soon, seeking opportunities to break through to the Mid-stage Nascent Soul. The future of the sect's Dan Vein is entrusted to you now."
With that, he turned and mingled with the other True Monarchs, chatting jovially.
Chen Sheng glanced across the Nascent Soul True Monarchs in the square, noticing the cordiality in everyone's demeanor towards him — partly due to Chen Xihua's reputation, but also in recognition of his quasi-Tier Four Alchemist prowess.
Upon seeing True Monarch Cloud Talisman, he couldn't help but pause.
This True Monarch, who usually appeared as a middle-aged cultivator,
now surprisingly possessed the appearance of a graceful young man in white robes, with jade-like skin and delicately painted facial features, yet the aura of Nascent Soul pressure remained familiar.
Chen Xihua happened to walk by Chen Sheng's side, following his gaze toward True Monarch Cloud Talisman, exchanged a glance, and nodded gently.
Chen Sheng's heart immediately chilled — True Monarch Cloud Talisman's appearance clearly indicated he had possessed a new Dharma Body, and given the smooth flow of his aura, this new body must have remarkable aptitude.
...
The celebration concluded in a lively atmosphere, and Chen Sheng followed Chen Xihua to his residence in the sect — Golden Light Peak.
This mountain was entirely golden in hue, with a Tier Four High Grade Spiritual Vein deep within, its spiritual energy dense enough to almost become tangible, several times richer than that of Nine Cloud Peak.
The buildings within the residence were all constructed of golden bricks and jade tiles, with thousand-year spirit plants planted in the courtyard, emitting a faint spirit light.
The two sat by a stone table in the courtyard, with Chen Xihua lamenting that cultivation after reaching Nascent Soul was also quite arduous,
"True Monarch Han Lou is the best example. As the sect's only Tier Four Middle Grade Alchemist, he has consumed countless spirit pills, with his mana long having reached the peak of the Nascent Soul Early-stage."
"Yet due to insufficient control over Void Power, he has been stuck at the Early-stage for hundreds of years, unable to break through to the Mid-stage."
Chen Sheng nodded lightly, suddenly having a thought, recalling True Monarch Cloud Talisman's appearance on the square, and asked:
"True Monarch Cloud Talisman... did he possess a body with a Celestial Spirit Root?"
Chen Xihua nodded, with a hint of complexity in his tone:
"Yes, he also benefited from misfortune. A few years ago, while exploring the Great Wilderness Secret Realm, he encountered a formidable enemy, his Dharma Body destroyed, and his Nascent Soul fled into the void. Upon return, he possessed the body of a Celestial Spirit Root cultivator."
"Accumulating mana is inherently slow for a Nascent Soul Cultivator, but the aptitude of a Celestial Spirit Root can greatly accelerate his cultivation speed, allowing him to better control Void Power."
Hearing this, Chen Sheng nodded lightly, and his doubts were completely resolved.
The spiritual breeze in the courtyard carried the scent of flowers across the stone table, and after a bout of conversation between the father and son, Chen Xihua lifted his cup and downed the spirit tea in one gulp, his azure sword robe billowing in the wind.
"My son's realm is now completely stabilized, and tomorrow I shall go to the Black Water Profound Mansion, only to seek justice for Xiyu."
With that, he stood up, cupping his hand toward Chen Sheng in salute, the faint azure sword mist around him suddenly expanded, spreading like ripples across the courtyard sky.
The next second, the sword mist resonated with the void, and his figure fully melded into it, leaving only the faint lingering Sword Qi in the air.
Watching the direction in which his son disappeared, Chen Sheng nodded gently.
...