99: Chapter 99 Seeking a Spiritual Land to Consolidate the Nascent Soul, Observing the Grotto-Heaven to Plan a New Chapter

After leaving the Boundless Sand Sea, Ye Qing did not rush to explore those legendary secret lands.

His Nascent Soul had just formed, and his Realm still needed to be stabilized; the control over his surging power also required time to hone.

He traveled east, avoiding major Cultivator gathering places and areas of Yao Race activity, specifically choosing to fly over desolate, steep mountain ranges with relatively abundant Spiritual Qi.

A few days later, he arrived at a vast mountainous area named the "Cangyun Mountain Range."

The mountains here were continuous, shrouded in clouds and mist, with many miasmas and poisonous insects. Deep within, there were even several auras of Third-Stage Yao Beasts entrenched; ordinary Cultivators dared not venture deep.

Ye Qing spread his Divine Sense and soon found a hidden valley in the depths of the mountain range, shrouded by a natural stone Formation and poisonous miasma.

The valley entrance was narrow, only allowing one person to pass through sideways, but the interior was suddenly open and bright, spanning dozens of miles. In the center was a small lake with clear water and dense Spiritual Qi. The lakeside vegetation was lush; it was truly a rare and spiritual place.

There were no powerful Yao Beasts occupying the valley, only some weak First or Second-Stage creatures inhabiting it.

"This place is very good. The Spiritual Qi is acceptable and it is sufficiently hidden, making it perfect for closed-door cultivation to consolidate the Nascent Soul."

Ye Qing landed his flight light, first setting up several layers of early warning, illusion, and enemy-trapping Restrictions at the valley entrance. Then, using the "earth vein array core mushroom" as the core, he set up an enhanced version of the "Great Cycle Five Elements Earth Vein Formation," covering the entire valley and completely isolating it from the outside world.

Once the Formation was set, light flowed through it, merging with the clouds, mist, and miasma in the valley. From the outside, it looked just like an ordinary cliff, with nothing unusual.

Ye Qing found a flat blue stone by the lake and sat down cross-legged.

First, he took out a drop of "star source liquid" and consumed it, then drank a mouthful of "earth vein stone milk," guiding the medicinal power to dissolve and nourish his Physical Body and Meridians.

Then, he sank his mind completely into his Dantian, beginning to carefully hone and nurture the newly formed Chaos Nascent Soul.

The Nascent Soul had just been born, like an infant, requiring careful protection. It needed to be constantly nourished by his own essence, Qi, spirit, and insights into the Dao to stabilize and grow, fully integrating with his Physical Body and Divine Soul to unleash the power appropriate for the Nascent Soul Stage.

Ye Qing circulated the Hunxu Yandao Scripture Nascent Soul Chapter, guiding the Chaos Infant Essence fed back from the Cave Heaven World, repeatedly washing and refining the Nascent Soul.

The Nascent Soul appeared solemn, sitting upright in the Dantian, inhaling and exhaling Chaos Infant Essence. With every breath, it resonated with Ye Qing's natal essence, Qi, and Divine Soul power, making the connection between them increasingly tight and harmonious.

Time passed quietly during the closed-door cultivation.

In the valley, the sun rose and the moon set, flowers bloomed and withered, and the four seasons cycled.

Ye Qing was like an old monk in meditation, his body shrouded in a faint layer of Chaos halo. His aura became increasingly heavy and restrained, as if he had merged with the entire valley and the heaven and earth.

Inside the Dantian, the Chaos Nascent Soul grew and solidified at a speed visible to the naked eye. Its features became clearer, its expression more vivid, and the phenomena of stars, Void Realm, Five Elements, and moonlight surrounding it became increasingly stable and profound.

His control over the power of the Nascent Soul Stage also gradually became smooth and effortless, like an arm directing a finger, from its initial stiffness.

He did not know how much time had passed.

When the last wisp of Chaos Infant Essence was completely absorbed and refined by the Nascent Soul, and the Fusion of the Nascent Soul with the Physical Body and Divine Soul reached a perfect state, Ye Qing slowly opened his eyes.

Divine light was contained within his eyes, clear as water, yet it seemed to reflect the myriad stars of the heavens, infinitely deep.

"Early Stage Nascent Soul, completely consolidated. The Foundation is stable, the magic power is harmonious, and the Divine Abilities have manifested naturally."

He felt the vast power surging within his body, which was more in tune with heaven and earth, and his heart was calm as water.

This closed-door cultivation had not only completely consolidated his Nascent Soul Stage cultivation but also sorted out and perfected the Hunxu Yandao Scripture Nascent Soul Chapter, giving him new insights into the use of various Divine Abilities.

His strength was even purer and more condensed than when he had just broken through.

"Next, it is time to plan for the next step."

He did not rush to end his closed-door cultivation, but instead sank his consciousness into the Cave Heaven World.

The 20,000-zhang Cave Heaven World had undergone gratifying changes again due to his condensation of the Nascent Soul and consolidation of his cultivation.

The land was more vast, and the prototypes of those few main "mountain ranges" had already risen to a thousand zhang, with rugged terrain and rich earth Qi. Between the mountain ranges, the "Yin River" had widened, the water flow was rapid, and it converged into low-lying areas, forming several small "lake" prototypes with clear water containing Spiritual Qi.

In the sky, the star core shone brightly, and the moonlight jade tree's silver radiance fell like a waterfall, interacting with the Qi of the earth and mountains to form a more complete heaven and earth cycle. Day and night alternated, and the four seasons rotated; although it still appeared simple, it already had the initial atmosphere of a Small World.

The Floating Landmass hovered high in the sky, having expanded to a radius of several hundred zhang. Spiritual plants grew lushly upon it, and the fragrance of medicine was pungent. The moonlight star seed had already grown into a towering tree, with silver radiance and starlight scattering down, resembling a fairyland.

The newborn Yao Beast "Xing Hao" was currently fast asleep, lying on a warm piece of star jade. Its aura had already stabilized at the Middle Stage of the Third Stage, and its growth speed was astonishingly fast. It seemed to have a natural resonance with the Cave Heaven World, inhaling and exhaling star essence and earth vein Spiritual Qi even while sleeping.

"The Cave Heaven World is evolving well and already possesses a certain ability for self-circulation and growth. Once it is completely stabilized, perhaps I can try to accommodate living creatures for long-term survival."

Ye Qing felt gratified and withdrew from the Cave Heaven World.

"The Nascent Soul is consolidated, and the Cave Heaven World has taken initial form. Next, it is time to go and take a look near the 'ancient teleportation array ruins.' With my current cultivation, plus the Cave Heaven World and my many trump cards, even if I face a Mid-Nascent Soul Stage or even Late Stage Cultivator, I have the ability to protect myself. If I can find some Opportunity in those ruins, it might help me advance further, or even... find clues to leave this Realm and head to a broader world."

He looked towards the direction of the Dragonfall Abyss, a deep light flashing in his eyes.

Steady development did not mean hiding forever. When one's strength was sufficient, one had to take the initiative to strike, to strive for greater Opportunities and explore a broader world.

He stood up, waved his hand, and removed the Formations inside and outside the valley.

With a flicker of his figure, he arrived high in the sky. He identified the direction and flew unhurriedly towards the boundary between the core area of the Dragonfall Abyss and Starfall Valley—where the ancient teleportation array ruins were located.

Inside his body, the 20,000-zhang Cave Heaven World, with its earth veins and star seas, was vibrant with life. The Chaos Nascent Soul sat upright in the Dantian, inhaling and exhaling Chaos Infant Essence, feeding back into the Cave Heaven World in an endless cycle.

The path of exploration for the Nascent Soul Cultivator Ye Qing, after consolidation and planning, set off once again toward that most mysterious and dangerous destination.