A flick of the finger, a hundred years, time quietly slips away with the ebb and flow of tides in the Four Seas Grotto Heaven.
Since paying respects to Qin Yuan at Gui Peak from Nian Chen Sect, Chen Sheng's presence scattered like dandelions in the wind, across every island in the Four Seas Cultivation Realm.
He once sat in meditation for years by the Netherworld Sea, where the tides were uniquely peculiar, and each day during high tide, the seawater would carry fine void fragments, forming ripples of ghostly blue light on the sea surface, flickering like shattered mirrors.
Chen Sheng sat cross-legged on a black reef by the sea, feeling the subtle connection between tides and the void, trying to capture the "Heaven and Earth Resonance" needed for Primordial Spirit Transformation from the rhythm of the waves crashing against the shore, but no matter how he focused his mind, he found nothing.
Later, he stayed for decades on "Fishing Song Island," which was inhabited only by fishermen, lacking the strife of cultivators, brimming only with the smoke of mortal life.
In the morning, fishermen rowed their wooden boats out to sea to fish, the spray from the nets sparkled like gold under the sunrise.
In the evening, smoke rose from every household, the aroma of the meals woven with the fishermen's songs, permeating each corner of the island.
Chen Sheng wore coarse clothing, followed the fishermen out to sea, learned to recognize tides, repair nets, worked at sunrise, and rested at sunset, attempting to discern "Seeing Heart and Understanding Nature" amidst the dust and smoke of mortal life.
But as he watched the fishermen toil for their livelihood, and watched children play and chase on the beach, his heart was touched, yet he couldn't transform this touch into an opportunity for breakthrough.
The words "Seeing Heart and Understanding Nature," remained vague and indistinguishable, as if obscured by a heavy fog.
"Seeing Heart and Understanding Nature, Primordial Spirit Transformation, where does my path lie?"
On this day, Chen Sheng sat on a nameless deserted island's reef, gazing at the distant horizon where sea and sky met, murmuring to himself.
The sea breeze carried fine spray that kissed the reef, the droplets wetting his dark robe, the icy touch permeating his skin, yet unable to dispel the heaviness between his brows.
The deserted island was empty, only the waves crashing against the reef and his sighs intertwined, particularly solitary.
Arts uit Antwerp: 's Ochtends komen er wormen uit je lichaam. Probeer hetOpen
A century of wandering, though not leading him to Divinity Transformation, had accumulated his mana to unprecedented heights.
As his control over the Profound Mansion's restrictions deepened, his permissions increased, now able to exchange most Tier Five Spiritual Objects in the Profound Mansion Treasure Vault.
"Nine Revolutions Soul Reviving Flower," its petals a pale purple, emitted a fragrance that could nourish the Divine Soul, clearing the sea of consciousness upon consumption.
"Nine Heavens Jade Spirit Marrow," like flowing moonlight, once absorbed into the meridians, it could compress the already condensed mana by three more parts.
"Deep Sea Profound Dragon Ginseng," its roots floating like dragon whiskers, chewed transforming into comforting energy, gently nourishing his Dharma Body, tightening the bond between flesh and Nascent Soul.
These Tier Five Spiritual Objects, like fertile soil, steadily solidified his cultivation foundation.
In just a few decades, he completed the mana accumulation at the Nascent Soul level—achieving Nascent Soul Great Perfection.
The sword-carrying Nascent Soul within his Dantian grew to a foot in height, the void marks around it flowed like living beings, each breath causing the surrounding spiritual qi to tremble slightly.
Yet the "Profound Gate" leading to the Primordial Spirit at the center of the Nascent Soul's brow remained tightly shut, as though locked by invisible chains, unyielding despite his efforts to charge.
Meanwhile, his lifespan was also counting down—his original remaining hundred years of longevity quietly reached its end during his travels.
Chen Sheng raised his hand to his chest, distinctly feeling the passing vitality within, akin to a candle about to burn out, weak and fleeting.
"Out of time..."
He sighed gently in his heart, knowing he could no longer continue wandering, needing to return to the Profound Mansion to prepare for the next life.
He stood up, his surroundings rippling like a stone cast into a lake.
His figure, like smoke merging into the void, vanished from the deserted island in an instant.
With the Void Escape Skill of Nascent Soul Great Perfection, his speed increased several times, returning to the first level palace of the Profound Mansion in just half an hour.
Inside the palace, the gleaming White Jade Stele continued to emit a faint white spiritual light, its runes pulsing like breath, seemingly welcoming his return.
Chen Sheng approached the jade stele, stopping as his hands quickly formed a spell, golden spiritual light emerging from his palms, softly commanding:
"Capture!"
As the spell was cast, his Nascent Soul power and void marks erupted simultaneously, a pure energy like a rushing river flowed into the jade stele from his palms.
The jade stele lit up instantly, its surface runes raced, activating the core restriction deep within the Profound Mansion.
According to the secret technique obtained from refining the restriction previously, his task was to completely conceal the "Four Seas Pearl."
Carrying the entire Four Seas Grotto Heaven, this treasure bead had been hidden ever since he entered the grotto heaven, concealable even from Divinity Transformation Cultivators unless they were in the Void Refining Realm.
Now, he needed to use the restriction's permission to prolong this concealment, ensuring that during his rebirth, he could find the treasure bead again, continuing the legacy of the Four Seas Wanderer.
...
In the midst of the Great Wilderness, a small patch of void subtly twisted, like water stirred by an intangible hand, a light blue sphere slowly emerged.
The sphere, about the size of a fist, had intricate golden runes flowing over its surface, the true form of the Four Seas Pearl.
As Chen Sheng's spells continuously changed, the runes on the sphere's surface gradually dimmed, its color shifted from light blue to transparent, ultimately transforming into an almost void-integrated phantom, silently merging into the surrounding space.
If not for Chen Sheng's ability to sense its presence through the connection established between the restriction and the Treasure Bead, even standing right in front of it, discovering this supreme treasure containing a realm of Grotto Heaven would be near impossible.
Half an hour later, Chen Sheng slowly withdrew his hand, the surging mana within him gradually calming down. He slowly exhaled a turbid breath, and the heaving of his chest also steadied.
A subtle message was transmitted from the Jade Stele to his Sea of Consciousness—the concealment time of the Four Seas Bead had been successfully extended by three hundred years, enough time for him to complete the cycle of reincarnation, grow, and retrieve the Treasure Bead in the next life.
He lightly nodded: "Extending by three hundred years, that's sufficient."
Next, he turned and walked towards the Training Meditation Room in the Profound Mansion.
The Meditation Room still retained the appearance it had when he left, the jade meditation mat in the center emanating a faint spirit light, with an array carved into the ground to gather spiritual qi.
Chen Sheng sat cross-legged, laying the Tingyu Flying Sword he had been carrying on his back across his knee.
The sword's body gleamed with a profound silver-blue radiance, the void-like patterns along the spine quivering gently as if sensing the owner's resolve, emitting a subtle "hum," as if cheering him on.
Chen Sheng slowly closed his eyes, forming seals with both hands, beginning to operate the "Nascent Soul Reorganization Technique" recorded in the "Four Seas Void Transformation Atlas," giving it one last shot.
As if responding to an invisible call, Tier Five Spiritual Qi from all directions converged, transforming into visible spirit pillars, flowing like tides into his body.
The sword-carrying Nascent Soul within his Dantian opened its eyes, quickly operating along the trajectory of the "Nascent Soul Reorganization Technique," each rotation compressing and reorganizing a strand of mana, making the Nascent Soul's form increasingly solid.
Yet without achieving Seeing Heart and Understanding Nature, and comprehending Primordial Spirit Transformation, even with Tier Six inheritance and a vast amount of spiritual objects supporting him, the essential metamorphosis from "Infant" to "Divinity" remained unattainable, unable to leap across this chasm.
Half a month later, the spiritual qi within the Meditation Room suddenly became chaotic, the originally stable spirit pillars instantly disbanded, transforming into turbulent streams of spiritual qi, rampaging within the room.
The Tingyu Flying Sword suddenly emitted a chilling wail!
The sword's silver-blue glow seemed to drain away all energy, instantly dimming to a gray haze, like a soulless companion, lying silently on Chen Sheng's knee.
Chen Sheng's body slowly leaned back onto the meditation mat, eyes tightly closed, his breath gradually stopped, and all aura around him completely dissipated.
...
Just as Chen Sheng's consciousness fell entirely into darkness, a dazzling golden light abruptly appeared before his eyes. Within the light, an ancient book slowly emerged.
The book's cover was devoid of any writing, yet it exuded a solemn aura that transcended reincarnation.
Pages of the book turned automatically, making a soft rustling sound like the passage of time, eventually stopping on the page marked "Fourth Life."
Golden characters gleamed brilliantly in the darkness, recording all his memories of this life.
[Hundred Generations Book: Fourth Life]
[Host: Chen Sheng]
[Age at Death: 1564 years]
[Spiritual Root: Five Elements Celestial Spirit Root]
[Talent: Lower Grade Spiritual Root, Dragon Spirit and Tiger Fierce, Talented in Alchemy, Talented in Artifact Dao, Talented in Sword Dao, Talented in Array Dao]
[Cultivation: Nascent Soul Great Perfection]
[Identity: Four Seas Grotto Heaven Inheritor, Founder of Yunlan Chen Clan, Rotating True Monarch of Three Elements Dao Sect...]
[Cultivation Technique: Seven Emotions Sword Scripture, Four Seas Void Transformation Atlas...]
[Skills: Tier Four Middle Grade Alchemy Skill, Tier Four Middle Grade Refining Skill, Tier Four Middle Grade Array...]
[Daoist Technique: Seven Emotions Divine Light (Top-notch), Four Seas Void Nine Techniques (Refined Skill)...]
[Achievement: Tier Four Cultivator, Tier Four Vice Profession, Tier Three Cultivator, Tier Three Vice Profession...]
The text on the pages flickered as if alive, and scenes appeared in succession.
In the Zhang Clan's small tribe, he nurtured a youth, closed in the Secret Mansion for a hundred years, accomplished late-stage Foundation Establishment; on Celestial Capital Peak, he transformed into Master Tingyu, slaying Fake Pill with his sword.
Within Three Elements Dao Sect, he presided over sect matters; in Four Seas Profound Mansion, standing before the Jade Stele, refining restrictions, initiating inheritance... countless images flashed by, finally freezing at the moment of his demise in the Meditation Room of Profound Mansion.
Afterward, the pages rapidly flipped, unveiling a brand-new page, with several lines of golden characters lighting up like stars:
[Fourth Life Ends]
[Three new achievements gained in this life, unlocking three new talents!]
Without waiting for a response, the text transformed into countless streams of light, swirling and intertwining above the pages, finally solidifying into three seven-colored rays, brilliant as rainbows, slowly escaping into the blank page, leaving behind three new lines of text:
[Talent Acquired — Yin Yang Divine Soul]
[Talent Acquired — Celestial Grade Spiritual Root]
[Talent Acquired — Sword Dao Genius]