620: Enlightenment through the Immortal Stone: A Precursor to Nascent Soul

Deep within Luoxian Valley, the miasma had completely dissipated, and spiritual rhythm steamed upward. Emerald spiritual vines hung from the branches of towering ancient trees, adorned with crystalline spiritual fruits. The moss on the ground glowed with a faint fluorescence, and every inch of the land exuded the vastness and mystery of an ancient Secret Realm.

Following the guidance of the Xuanhuang Earth Spirit, Huang Xiaolong and Su Linger stepped onto a path covered with Spiritual Plants and walked toward the deepest part of the valley's heart. The deeper they went, the richer the Spiritual Qi in the world became, even condensing into visible spiritual mist. A single breath caused the Golden Core in the Dantian to tremble slightly, emitting a joyful hum.

"Senior Brother Huang, look ahead!" Su Linger suddenly stopped, her jade-like finger pointing at a clearing ahead, her pretty face full of surprise.

Huang Xiaolong followed her gaze and saw a bluestone about ten feet square standing quietly in the center of the clearing. The bluestone was pale gold throughout, its surface covered with dense ancient runes. Above the runes, strands of faint golden light circled and danced like wandering dragons, exuding an ethereal yet majestic aura—an aura of dao rhyme that only a Mahayana Stage Cultivator possessed.

"This is the immortal fate stone!" A flash of excitement crossed Huang Xiaolong's eyes as he stepped forward quickly and reached out to touch its surface. The moment his fingertips touched the stone, a gentle yet powerful force surged into his body through his Meridians, creating a strong resonance with the Golden Core in his Dantian.

The words of the Xuanhuang Earth Spirit echoed in his ears: "This stone can help Golden Core Stage Cultivators sense the aura of the Mahayana Stage; it is the key to breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage."

Huang Xiaolong took a deep breath, sat cross-legged before the immortal fate stone, and took out the xuanhuang spirit soil from his robes. He operated the The Way of Fusion in the Golden Core Stage, slowly drawing the power of the spirit soil into his body. The earth Spiritual Qi contained within the spirit soil and the dao rhyme aura of the immortal fate stone blended together, transforming into a stream of pure energy that surged into his Dantian.

Buzz—

The Golden Core within his Dantian spun wildly. Battle Qi, Immortal Qi, and Dragon Vein Power perfectly fused, forming a red-and-gold cyclone around the Golden Core. The cyclone spun faster and faster, showing a faint tendency to condense into a form.

Su Linger stood to the side without disturbing him. Instead, she took out Spiritual Root fragments of the Spirit Ruins from her bamboo basket and scattered xuanhuang spirit soil onto the ground around the immortal fate stone. She operated the Dual Realm Spiritual Plant Cultivation method, her fingertips flashing with spiritual light as she injected the power of the Spiritual Root fragments and the aura of the spirit soil into the surrounding Spiritual Plants.

A miracle was quietly occurring.

Nourished by the Spiritual Root fragments and the xuanhuang spirit soil, those originally ordinary Spiritual Plants rapidly sprouted branches and leaves, blooming with small pale purple flowers. The petals were layered, and within the stamens, a phantom of a Nascent Soul circled faintly. Before long, the flowers withered and bore round fruits—these were nascent soul fruits that could assist a Cultivator in breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage!

The moment the nascent soul fruits ripened, a crisp sound rang out—

Clack!

A purple Jade Slip fell from the core of a nascent soul fruit and rolled into Su Linger's hand. On the Jade Slip were carved four large characters: Nascent Soul Fruit Cultivation Technique. It recorded in detail how to use Spiritual Root fragments and xuanhuang spirit soil to Cultivate nascent soul fruits and how to maximize the fruit's medicinal effects.

"Nascent Soul Fruit Cultivation Technique!" Su Linger gripped the Jade Slip in surprise, her eyes full of excitement.

Meanwhile, Huang Xiaolong was already immersed in the enlightenment of the immortal fate stone.

The Mahayana Stage dao rhyme within the immortal fate stone was like a divine revelation, bringing his understanding of Martial Dao Immortal Arts to a higher level. He operated the Martial Dao Immortal Arts: Middle Volume, raising the Fusion of Battle Qi and Immortal Qi to the limit. Nourished by the dao rhyme aura, the cyclone in his Dantian gradually condensed into a miniature figure—the figure looked exactly like Huang Xiaolong, with a sharp air of disdain for the world in its eyes. It was the nascent soul prototype!

The appearance of the nascent soul prototype meant that Huang Xiaolong's cultivation had already touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul Stage!

At that moment, two crisp sounds rang out in succession beside the immortal fate stone—

Clack! Clack!

Two Jade Slips fell from the runes of the immortal fate stone and rolled in front of Huang Xiaolong. The first Jade Slip was pure white, carved with the words Nascent Soul Stage Foundation Manual, detailing the cultivation methods for Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators, how to nourish the Nascent Soul, and how to enhance its combat power. The second Jade Slip was golden, carved with the words Nascent Soul Premonition Technique, recording how to stabilize the nascent soul prototype and how to use the dao rhyme aura of the immortal fate stone to impact the barrier of the Nascent Soul Stage.

"Nascent Soul Stage Foundation Manual! Nascent Soul Premonition Technique!" Huang Xiaolong was wild with joy and quickly tucked the two Jade Slips into his robes.

As he obtained the Jade Slips, the nascent soul prototype within him became increasingly solid. The dragon patterns on the Golden Core flashed with brilliant golden light, and a pressure far exceeding the Golden Core Stage diffused from his body.

Boom!

The immortal fate stone suddenly erupted with a dazzling golden light. Within the light, two phantoms slowly emerged. One wore plain clothes and had a steady temperament—it was Lu Shaoyou. The other wore the holy spirit battle armor, with a holy aura between his brows—it was Lu Chen.

The two phantoms looked at the cross-legged Huang Xiaolong with gratified smiles. They did not speak, merely nodding slightly to Huang Xiaolong before transforming into two streaks of light that merged back into the runes of the immortal fate stone.

This was recognition, a Legacy, and the continuation of the path of the Guardian!

Huang Xiaolong opened his eyes, a flash of realization passing through them. He could feel that the wills of Lu Chen and Lu Shaoyou had merged into the immortal fate stone, becoming a force that protected him.

"Senior Brother Huang!" Su Linger stepped forward quickly and handed the nascent soul fruit and the Jade Slip for the Nascent Soul Fruit Cultivation Technique to Huang Xiaolong. "Look, I cultivated a nascent soul fruit!"

Huang Xiaolong took the nascent soul fruit, feeling a stream of pure energy coming from the fruit, resonating with the nascent soul prototype in his body. He looked at Su Linger with gratitude: "Thank you, Linger."

Just then, the sound of footsteps arrived. Commander Xuanwu led the Black Armor Cultivators over quickly. Seeing the pressure emanating from Huang Xiaolong and the nascent soul fruit on the ground, his eyes were full of shock: "Brother Huang, you have actually touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul Stage! You are truly a heavenly genius!"

After saying that, Commander Xuanwu spoke solemnly: "Brother Huang, the Hall Master of the Xuanhuang Holy Temple has long heard of your deeds. Once you break through to the Nascent Soul Stage, I will recommend you for entry into the Xuanhuang Holy Temple to obtain a higher level of Legacy!"

Huang Xiaolong was delighted and quickly cupped his hands in a salute: "Many thanks, Commander Xuanwu!"

As the sun set, the golden afterglow filtered through the branches of the ancient trees, shining on the immortal fate stone and making the pale gold surface even more brilliant.

Huang Xiaolong held the nascent soul fruit and the two Jade Slips, with Su Linger standing by his side, gripping the Jade Slip for the Nascent Soul Fruit Cultivation Technique. The two smiled at each other, their eyes full of longing for the future.

The immortal affinity of Luoxian Valley had been obtained, and the nascent soul prototype had condensed. Next would be to stabilize his cultivation, charge into the Nascent Soul Stage, enter the Xuanhuang Holy Temple, and pursue a higher Realm of martial arts!

In the distant Huaxia Land, the bell of the Huaxia Guardian Hall suddenly rang out slowly. The tolling echoed atop the Kunlun summit and throughout every inch of Huaxia, signaling the rise of a new generation of Guardians.

The story was far from over.

A new legend was slowly unfolding.