230: Chapter 230 Preparations Before Nascent Soul Formation!

Chapter 228: Preparations Before Nascent Soul Formation!

Liulian Residence, Quiet Room.

The stone door slowly closed, isolating all sounds from the outside world.

Lu Qiu sat cross-legged on a prayer mat. From his Storage Pouch, he took out all the nascent soul formation spiritual items one by one and arranged them neatly in front of him.

First was a mutton-fat jade bottle with the words "Soul Soothing" carved on its body, warm and ancient-looking.

This was the soul quelling pill from Nangong Hai, which could steady the mind and soothe the soul, resisting illusions and Heart Demons.

He picked up the jade bottle and gently caressed it. The bottle's surface was warm as jade, and he could feel the power of mental stability contained within.

Next was that piece of charred soul nurturing wood, ugly and riddled with pits and hollows, yet emitting a warm aura.

This wood could nourish the soul and Primordial Spirit, slowly allowing the Divine Sense to grow stronger, and it could also soothe the soul and steady the spirit to resist Heart Demons during Nascent Soul Formation. He had worn it close to his body all these years, and it had played a major role in allowing his Divine Sense to break through to the Middle Nascent Soul Stage.

He pressed the soul nurturing wood against his forehead, feeling the cool aura seep into his Sea of Consciousness, bringing a sense of peace to his heart.

Then there was a crimson jade bottle containing the nascent soul condensing pill.

Using an eighth-grade fire-attribute Yao core as the primary ingredient and supplemented by dozens of rare Spirit Medicines, it had taken half a year of painstaking effort to refine.

This pill could greatly increase the success rate during Nascent Soul Formation and was one of his greatest gains from his trip to the Outer Star Sea.

He opened the bottle cap, and a scorching medicinal fragrance wafted out. The scent contained a majestic vitality, as if a sun were slumbering within the bottle.

Finally, there was a translucent green jade bottle with the words "Heaven Mending" carved on it.

This was the heaven mending pill he had exchanged from Ling Yuling's hands—a true heaven mending pill that could cleanse Spiritual Roots, improve Aptitude, and indirectly aid in Nascent Soul Formation.

He uncapped the bottle, and a crisp, clear medicinal fragrance instantly filled the entire Quiet Room. The scent made one's mind feel clear upon smelling it, and even his magic power became a bit more active.

Three pills and one piece of divine wood were arranged neatly before him.

Every single item was worth a fortune. A common Cultivator would be incredibly lucky to obtain even one, yet he possessed four all by himself.

The soul quelling pill could soothe the soul and steady the spirit, the soul nurturing wood could nourish the Divine Sense, the nascent soul condensing pill could assist in condensing the Nascent Soul, and the heaven mending pill could improve Spiritual Root Aptitude.

And then there was Xia Xinyan's Du Yuan Resonance Body.

That Du Yuan Resonance Body, during the first Dual Cultivation, contained the Dao charm of the world's Origin, which could help a Dao Companion comprehend the Laws of heaven and earth and break through major Bottlenecks.

Five nascent soul formation spiritual items.

Looking at these treasures before him, Lu Qiu felt an indescribable surge of emotion in his heart.

From a small Qi Refining Cultivator in Heavenly South back then to a powerhouse in the False Nascent Soul Realm today with five nascent soul formation spiritual items in his possession—how many dangers had he faced and how much effort had he expended on this journey?

Those years of bitter cultivation, those years of slaughter, those years of scheming, and those years of endurance were all for today.

With these aids, his chance of Nascent Soul Formation would be greatly increased.

His cultivation was already at the False Nascent Soul Realm, and his magic power was at Perfection.

The Golden Core within his Dantian had become rounded to the extreme. Every time he circulated his Cultivation Technique, he could feel a force about to break out of its cocoon, as if something were gestating inside, waiting for the day it would hatch.

That feeling was like a seed that had absorbed enough nutrients and was just waiting for the spring breeze to blow before it would sprout from the earth.

Everything was ready; he only needed to begin the Nascent Soul Formation.

The next step was to find a safe place to undergo Nascent Soul Formation.

Of course, he absolutely could not do it within Tianxing City.

This was the Star Palace's territory, crowded with powerhouses, including several old monsters of the Nascent Soul Stage.

Nascent Soul Formation would surely trigger celestial phenomena: a Spiritual Qi vortex and thunderclouds overhead. Spiritual Qi within a hundred-mile radius would converge toward the site of Formation.

Such a huge commotion would inevitably be noticed by the Star Palace's powerhouses.

Who knew what those Nascent Soul Stage old monsters would think?

If someone had ill intentions and attacked while he was forming his Nascent Soul, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Even if no one attacked, being watched by a group of Nascent Soul Cultivators was not a good thing.

He had always kept a low profile and disliked being the center of attention, let alone exposing his secrets to others.

He had to find a remote place, far from major Sects and Nascent Soul Loose Cultivators—a place with abundant Spiritual Qi but no one to disturb him.

The depths of the Outer Star Sea were quiet, but they were overrun with Yao Beasts and were also unsafe.

While the Inner Star Sea was safe, places with abundant Spiritual Qi were all occupied by major Sects.

He could only look for a medium-grade Spiritual Vein—one that wasn't too poor but also wouldn't attract too much attention.

...

Afterward, Lu Qiu informed Xin Ruyin of his thoughts.

In the hall, sunlight filtered through the window frames, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

Xin Ruyin sat at the table. After hearing his words, she fell silent for a moment.

Her gentle eyes were full of worry and reluctance.

Her fingers unconsciously twisted together, revealing her inner unease.

“Husband Lu, let me go with you.”

She said softly, her voice carrying a hint of pleading. “I won't be at ease if you go alone. I can help you set up Formations, I can act as your Protector, and when you encounter danger... at least with someone by your side, you can feel more at peace.”

Lu Qiu shook his head, interrupting her.

“Ruyin, for this Nascent Soul Formation, I plan to go alone.”

His voice was calm but carried an unquestionable firmness. “This Nascent Soul Formation might take a long time—a few years at the shortest, ten years or even longer at the most. It's better for you to stay here and manage Liulian Residence. Although Zhao Wen is capable, someone needs to be in charge. Xiao Mei has a flighty personality and won't be of much help.”

He paused and took her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm, his tone softening a bit. “Besides, with your current cultivation, even if I encounter a crisis, you won't be able to help much. When the Nascent Soul is formed, the celestial phenomena will be striking and will surely attract attention from all sides. If a Nascent Soul Stage powerhouse comes, it won't matter whether you are there or not. Instead, it would put you in danger, and I wouldn't be able to spare the attention to look after you.”

Xin Ruyin lowered her head; she knew Lu Qiu was telling the truth.

Although she was currently at the Middle Core Formation Stage, she really couldn't help much in front of a Nascent Soul Stage powerhouse.

Between Nascent Soul and Core Formation, there lay a vast chasm.

Going would only distract Lu Qiu and make her a burden to him.

She remained silent for a long time, her fingers twisting even tighter.

She could feel her heart racing, and an indescribable fear spread through her heart.

She was afraid—afraid that if he went, he wouldn't come back.

Finally, she looked up at Lu Qiu and said softly, “Then promise me you'll be careful. If things are impossible, don't force it. If you fail to form the Nascent Soul, you can still wait. If your life is gone, then everything is gone.”

Her eyes turned slightly red, and her voice trembled a little.

Lu Qiu held her hand and nodded solemnly. “I promise you.”

Xin Ruyin took a deep breath, calmed her emotions, and said seriously, “But you have to wait one more year.”

Lu Qiu was slightly startled. “Why?”

Xin Ruyin said, “One year is enough for me to perfect the Nine Nether Universe Array. What I gave you back then was only a partial version that could only withstand an Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator. The complete version of the Nine Nether Universe Array can withstand a Middle Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator. Only with the protection of the Formation can I feel at ease letting you go to form your Nascent Soul.”

She paused, a flash of determination in her eyes. “This year, I will dedicate all my efforts to deducing the Formation and strive to raise its power to the limit. You focus on refining your magic power and adjusting your state of mind; leave everything else to me.”

Looking at her, a warm current surged in Lu Qiu's heart.

This woman had followed him since the Qi Refining Stage, all the way to today.

She had never asked for anything; she only silently supported him, helped him, and sacrificed for him.

She had given him everything without reservation.

Now that he was about to form his Nascent Soul, she was still worrying for him and perfecting a Formation for him.

He nodded. “Alright, I'll wait a year.”

...

Time flew by, and a year passed.

During this year, Xin Ruyin had hardly stepped out of her door, locking herself in the Formation room and deducing day and night.

The table was piled high with various Formation classics and deduction manuscripts. Densely packed runes and Formation diagrams covered the table, and some manuscripts had curled edges.

Sometimes she would frown in thought, staring at a Formation diagram for an entire day without moving, as if she had turned into a statue.

Sometimes she would write furiously, filling manuscripts with lines of deductions, her handwriting changing from neat to messy, then back to neat again.

Sometimes she would outline the structure of a Formation in the air, her fingers tracing streaks of spiritual light that formed complex runes, flickering for a few moments before dissipating.

Sometimes she would argue incessantly with True Person Ling Yun. Each held their own ground, and neither could convince the other, but in the end, Xin Ruyin would usually prove her point with her exquisite deductions.

Lu Qiu had visited her a few times, but each time was a brief passing.

Her face grew paler and paler, and the dark circles under her eyes grew darker, but the light in her eyes became brighter and brighter.

He knew she was going all out to build the strongest fortress for him.

He felt pained for her, but he also knew this was her way of expressing her love.

Xiao Mei had also become much more sensible, no longer as rowdy as before.

Only, every time she saw Lu Qiu, her eyes were filled with worry, and she seemed to have something to say but hesitated.

The one-year deadline finally arrived.

On this day, Xin Ruyin walked out of the Formation room, holding a set of exquisite Formation tools in her hands.

Her face was as pale as paper, her aura was somewhat withered, and she had lost a considerable amount of weight, but her eyes shone with a proud light that was brighter than ever.

“Husband Lu, the Nine Nether Universe Array is perfected.”

She handed the set of Formation tools to Lu Qiu. There were forty-nine Formation Flags in total, each one pitch-black and painted with dark gold runes, with a faint nether light flowing over them.

Those runes were more complex and exquisite than before, layered and interconnected.

The Formation Plate was a palm-sized ink-colored jade disk, its surface carved with patterns of Nine Nether Qi, emitting an ancient and mysterious aura.

“The complete version of the Nine Nether Universe Array can withstand the full-force attack of a Middle Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.”

She said softly, her voice carrying fatigue but also pride. “Even for a Middle Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, breaking this Formation would take quite some effort. Each of the forty-nine Formation Flags has been re-refined by me, and the Formation structure has been optimized, making it over thirty percent more stable than before. You can form your Nascent Soul in peace; with this, no one will be able to disturb you.”

Lu Qiu took the Formation tools. They felt heavy in his hand, and he could faintly sense the powerful force contained within.

That power was more than twice as strong as the previous partial version, like an invisible fortress, indestructible.

He looked up at Xin Ruyin, seeing her pale face and thin frame, and a surge of pity rose in his heart.

He took a step forward, gently pulled her into his arms, and pressed a kiss on her forehead.

Her forehead was cool and still carried a trace of sweat.

“Wait for me to return.”

Xin Ruyin leaned into his chest and nodded gently.

She could hear his heartbeat, steady and powerful.

She said nothing, only held him tightly, feeling the warmth of his body.

Xiao Mei stood to the side, her eyes red, yet she forced a smile.

Her lips trembled slightly, and her fingers twisted the corner of her clothes, wanting to say something but not daring to.

She was afraid that if she spoke, she would start crying.

"Young Master, once you form your Nascent Soul, we will be big figures in the Chaotic Star Sea, and no one will dare to bully us!"

She tried to make her voice sound lighthearted: "You have to protect me then! I want those who used to look down on me, Immortal Master Xiao Mei, to all kneel before me and call me Big Sister!"

Lu Qiu laughed and reached out to flick her forehead gently. "Alright, I promise no one will dare to bully Xiao Mei then."

Xiao Mei covered her forehead and giggled, but tears fell down.

She quickly turned around, pretending to tidy things on the table so he wouldn't see.

Lu Qiu took a deep breath, let go of Xin Ruyin, and turned to leave Liulian Residence.

...

He arrived at the Sacred Mountain and headed straight for Heavenly Fragrance Cave.

Heavenly Fragrance Cave was located on the forty-fifth level of the Sacred Mountain; its Spiritual Qi was dense, and the environment was serene.

At the entrance of the Immortal Cave, he took out a jade tablet and waved it toward the Restriction. A gap opened in the Restriction, and he pushed the door open to enter.

Inside the Immortal Cave, Xia Xinyan was cultivating. She sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion in the cultivation room, her aura steady, her Realm at the Early Core Formation Stage completely stabilized. She wore a moon-white cultivation robe, her black hair draped down, her face peaceful, and a faint spiritual light emanated from her body.

Sensing Lu Qiu's arrival, she opened her eyes, and a flash of surprise crossed her charming gaze.

She quickly rose to greet him, her movements elegant and light, with a joyful smile on her face.

"Husband, you've come."

She walked up to him and gave a graceful bow, her posture respectful and soft.

She looked up into his eyes, her own filled with expectation.

Lu Qiu looked at her and said bluntly, "I am about to form my Nascent Soul; the time I need you has come."

Xia Xinyan was slightly startled, then immediately understood.

She lowered her head, her cheeks flushing slightly, the red spreading all the way to her ears.

Her fingers unconsciously intertwined, her heart beating like a drum.

From the moment she was bought, she knew this day would come sooner or later.

She had cultivated hard all these years, striving to improve her cultivation level just for this day.

She had been waiting for this day for a long time.

"This concubine understands."

She spoke softly, her voice carrying a hint of shyness as well as expectation: "I have long been prepared and can go with my husband at any time."

Lu Qiu nodded and, without saying more, led her out of Heavenly Fragrance Cave and away from Tianxing City.

...

One month later.

Lu Qiu brought Xia Xinyan to an island called Liuyun Island.

This island spanned a thousand miles, with lush vegetation, beautiful mountains and rivers, and dense Spiritual Qi.

From a distance, the island was shrouded in mist, looking like a fairyland. There was a mid-sized Sect on the island, the Flowing Cloud Sect, which occupied the best Spiritual Vein on the island.

The Sect Master was a Cultivator at the Late Core Formation Stage, and there were also three Core Formation Stage Elders in the Sect, making it a significant power in the nearby waters.

Lu Qiu chose this island because there were no major Sects or Nascent Soul Loose Cultivators within ten thousand miles.

He had done his homework beforehand, checking maps and information of the nearby sea areas to confirm that this was the most suitable place for Nascent Soul Formation within ten thousand miles.

Most of those old monsters at the Nascent Soul Stage gathered in the prosperous areas of the Inner Star Sea or hid in their respective Immortal Caves for closed-door cultivation, rarely appearing in such remote places.

The Spiritual Vein of the Flowing Cloud Sect was even a bit better than that of Qingyun Mountain on Kuixing Island back then.

Although it couldn't compare to the Sacred Mountain in Tianxing City, it was sufficient for Nascent Soul Formation.

While the grade of a Spiritual Vein was important, safety and concealment were even more crucial.

No matter how good a Spiritual Vein was, if it attracted powerful enemies, it would be seeking death.

He couldn't borrow the Spiritual Veins of major Sects for his Nascent Soul Formation; he could only choose a place with a relatively good Spiritual Vein from an ordinary Sect. Those major Sects all had their own Nascent Soul Stage Old Ancestors presiding over them; borrowing their Spiritual Veins to form a Nascent Soul would be no different from a sheep entering a tiger's mouth.

How could those Nascent Soul Old Ancestors tolerate an outsider forming a Nascent Soul on their territory?

The two of them landed quietly on the island.

Lu Qiu didn't disturb anyone; he directly concealed his aura and led Xia Xinyan deep into the Spiritual Vein of Flowing Cloud Mountain, occupied by the Flowing Cloud Sect.

His Divine Sense was incredibly powerful, comparable to the Middle Nascent Soul Stage, easily bypassing all the patrolling Disciples and mountain-protecting Restrictions of the Flowing Cloud Sect as if entering an uninhabited place.

Those patrolling Disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage were like blind men before him.

In a hidden valley surrounded by steep cliffs, the valley was lush with green trees, gurgling streams, and the fragrance of birds and flowers.

The Spiritual Qi was several times denser than in other parts of the island; with a deep breath, one could feel pure Spiritual Qi surging into their body.

This place was far from the core area of the Flowing Cloud Sect, and normally no one would come here, making it an excellent spot for Nascent Soul Formation.

He used his magic power to carve out a simple Immortal Cave in the mountain wall.

The Immortal Cave wasn't large, with only two or three stone rooms, but it was enough for the two of them.

He then set up the Nine Nether Universe Array around the Immortal Cave.

Forty-nine Formation Flags were driven into the ley lines around the valley, each precisely landing on a node calculated beforehand.

The Formation Plate was buried deep within the Immortal Cave, echoing the Formation Flags.

As he cast his final hand seal, an invisible light barrier slowly rose, enveloping the entire valley.

The light barrier was faint and flickering; from the outside, it looked like an ordinary valley with nothing unusual.

Even an Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator would find it difficult to discover any clues without careful investigation.

With this Formation in place, as long as no Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator took action, he could rest easy.

The Late Nascent Soul Stage was a terrifying existence standing at the Peak of the Chaotic Star Sea, and they would not easily appear in such a place.

After completing the Formation, he took the spirit eye spring from the spatial bead and placed it deep within the Immortal Cave.

The spring water gurgled, and the misty Spiritual Qi spread out; the concentration of Spiritual Qi in the cave instantly increased several times, even becoming a bit denser than the Sacred Mountain in Tianxing City.

Mist swirled, making it look like a fairyland.

Xia Xinyan stood to the side, quietly watching him work, her eyes full of complexity.

Her gaze followed his figure, watching him set up the Formation, place the spiritual spring, and check every detail.

She knew what was about to happen next.

She was both expectant and nervous, with a hint of inexplicable fear.

Having finished all this, Lu Qiu left the Immortal Cave alone and came to a nearby hidden mountain Peak with beautiful scenery.

The Peak wasn't high but was extremely serene. On the summit was a flat boulder surrounded by verdant ancient pines; the mountain breeze blew, and the pines rustled.

In the distance were rolling mountains shrouded in mist, like an ink-wash painting.

At the foot of the mountain was a stream with crystal-clear water gurgling past.

He sat down quietly cross-legged and closed his eyes.

In his mind, his past life experiences slowly unfolded like a scroll.

He was a transmigrator; for him, the memories of his past life were almost severed.

Those images from his past life, the hustle and bustle of the modern city, those already blurred faces, had all become distant and strange.

He couldn't remember the details of that world or the faces of those people; he only remembered that he was once another person, living in a completely different world.

He was Lu Qiu, a Disciple of Yellow Maple Valley, a Cultivator of the Chaotic Star Sea, the husband of Xin Ruyin, and a Cultivator about to charge toward the Nascent Soul Stage.

He remembered the helplessness when he first became a Qi Refining Cultivator in Yellow Maple Valley.

At that time, he understood nothing and had nothing, only able to live cautiously, fearing he might die silently one day.

He remembered his days in Yellow Maple Valley, his fellow Disciples, and the cold eyes and mockery.

The excitement when he first gained an Opportunity.

He remembered his feelings at the time—that ecstasy, that disbelief, that feeling of being full of hope for the future.

The ecstasy of Core Formation.

On that day, his Golden Core condensed and his magic power transformed; he was finally no longer an ant at the mercy of others.

He remembered his mood when he walked out of the Immortal Cave—that immense pride and high spirits.

The thrill of life-and-death battles time and again.

The fights with Ghost Spirit Sect Cultivators, the bloody battles on the Golden Drum Plain, the great battle with Savage Beard—each time was a narrow escape.

He remembered the glint of blades and shadows of swords, the blood and screams, those moments on the line between life and death.

The tenderness with Xin Ruyin.

The woman he saved in the Tianxing Sect Market Town, who had followed him from the Qi Refinement Stage all the way to this day, becoming his Dao Companion, his confidante, and his support.

He remembered her smile, her gentleness, and everything she had done for him.

And that night with Nangong Wan.

Outside the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land, that woman as cold and elegant as an immortal, that night of passion, that unexpected fusion of Yin and Yang.

He remembered her body temperature, her scent, and her back as she left.

As his memories went from blurred to clear, the expression on Lu Qiu's face also changed between joy and anger, shifting constantly.

Sometimes a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, sometimes his brows furrowed, sometimes a cold light flashed in his eyes, and sometimes he became incredibly gentle.

He thought of those who had helped him and those he had killed.

He thought of the days of laughter and the nights of tears.

He thought of those firm choices and those helpless compromises.

Half a month later.

His expression finally calmed, like a well without ripples, not a single stir.

All the joys and sorrows, all the love and hate, settled at this moment, turning into a pool of still water.

He began to think of nothing, quietly comprehending the Dao of Heaven and Earth.

Sensing that faint trace of mystery in the unseen, sensing the omnipresent rhythm of the Dao between heaven and earth.

The wind blew through the mountains, clouds drifted in the sky, sunlight fell, and birds chirped.

Everything was so natural and harmonious.

He seemed to merge into this world, becoming a part of it.

He could feel the flow of the wind, the drift of the clouds, the warmth of the sunlight, and the joy of the birds' songs. He was no longer a bystander but a participant, a part of this world.

Another month passed.

When Lu Qiu returned to the Immortal Cave, his mind, body, and magic power were all in an excellent state at their Peak.

His gaze was as clear as water, his aura as steady as a mountain, and his entire being radiated an inexplicable charm.

That charm was the natural manifestation of a refined state of mind, the resonance produced after touching the Laws of heaven and earth.

Especially the tempering of his state of mind, which had reached a higher level.

That month or so of sitting alone allowed him to look past everything from the past and see through it all.

The path to forming a Nascent Soul was not only the accumulation of magic power but also the elevation of one's state of mind.

He had already taken this step.

He looked at Xia Xinyan, his voice calm and firm:

"Let us begin."