novelraw Chapter 197 : A Nascent Soul Can Also Be Killed！
Chapter 197 : A Nascent Soul Can Also Be Killed！
Chapter 197: A Nascent Soul Can Also Be Killed！
“Divine Soul technique?”
Hua Yaoyue repeated once.
“Exactly.”
Ji Yuan nodded as he spoke.
Hua Yaoyue didn’t ask further. Instead, her divine sense penetrated into the jade slip in Ji Yuan’s hand. Only after a moment did she regain her senses, with shock still lingering in her eyes.
Indeed, at first, she had been doubtful.
Even when she had released her divine sense, she still thought that perhaps Ji Yuan had made a mistake, mistaking some other cultivation technique for a Divine Soul technique.
But once she learned of this 《Nine Chambers Soul-Suppressing Scripture》, she dared to be certain.
The technique Ji Yuan had presented was truly a genuine Divine Soul technique!
Hua Yaoyue took a deep breath, raised her hand, and activated the formation of Forgotten Worry Island. At the same time, her divine sense enveloped the entire island before she asked:
“You created this yourself?”
“No, this was a chance encounter I obtained during this trip. Unfortunately, it’s only the upper half and incomplete.”
“That is already excellent.”
Hua Yaoyue praised.
Ji Yuan stepped back slightly and cupped his hands. “As long as it can help Master.”
“It can, more than just helping. In the entire Cangluo Continent, there are hardly a few who possess Divine Soul techniques.” After adjusting herself, Hua Yaoyue resumed her usual calm demeanor.
“Do you know why Divine Soul techniques are so scarce?”
“Disciple does not.”
“Because the Divine Soul isn’t like the body. When your body is injured, with some recovery it heals. But the Divine Soul is not the same. Once the Divine Soul is injured, don’t even think about recovery. Even the slightest touch brings pain, let alone attempting to create a technique using your own Divine Soul.”
Ji Yuan understood. “So that’s how it is.”
“Mm, I’ve just seen your 《Nine Chambers Soul-Suppressing Scripture》. You’ve already cultivated it, haven’t you?” Hua Yaoyue asked.
“Disciple was fortunate, I’ve only just entered the basics.”
“Then continue cultivating it well. From what I’ve seen, the Soul-Suppressing Bell in the upper half not only protects the Divine Soul, but with prolonged practice, also strengthens your divine sense. If your divine sense grows strong, in battles of the same realm, you will hold great advantage.”
“What, this Divine Soul technique can actually strengthen divine sense?”
Ji Yuan’s expression was joyful, though his heart held a hint of amusement.
Strengthening divine sense—wasn’t that the effect of my 【Meditation Room】?
So, in other words, my 【Meditation Room】was already equivalent to a Divine Soul technique?
And one without side effects, requiring no extra cultivation? Looked at this way, rounding it off, I had practically created my own Divine Soul technique.
“Mm, it could be considered a secondary effect, extremely valuable.”
When Hua Yaoyue said those words, she clenched her teeth heavily.
“Then Master should also cultivate diligently. You can’t just be lazy, always thinking about drinking.” Ji Yuan smiled slightly.
“Oh? Are you playing the role of Master now?”
Hua Yaoyue narrowed her eyes at him.
Can’t I? I call you Master, you can call me Master too, we each do our own… Ji Yuan stepped back again. “Disciple wouldn’t dare.”
“Enough. The matter of Divine Soul techniques could involve far-reaching consequences. The best outcome would be if I myself never revealed it. Yet since you entrusted it to me, I owe you a tremendous debt.”
Softly, Hua Yaoyue said: “Between Master and disciple, there’s no need for ordinary words. Whatever you need, you may always come to me.”
“This kindness of passing on the technique, let it be that I owe you a favor. Should you need it, you may tell me—even if it means I must…risk my life.”
“Master, there’s no need for that!”
Ji Yuan hurriedly saluted, speaking earnestly.
Indeed, when he had offered this Divine Soul technique, he hadn’t thought much of it. His only thought had been: whether one cultivates it alone or with another, it makes little difference. Giving it away cost him nothing, and helping Hua Yaoyue was the same as helping himself.
If Hua Yaoyue grew stronger, his own life would be safer.
“Cause and effect are thus. Since I’ve taken on your cause, I must return the effect. Do not try to dissuade me.”
“This… very well.”
Ji Yuan had no choice but to agree. At worst, he could ask Hua Yaoyue for a favor later that was somewhat difficult but not truly dangerous.
For example, if he needed materials for a building upgrade, he could ask Master to step in.
Yet, looking at Hua Yaoyue before him, Ji Yuan couldn’t suppress his curiosity. He asked softly: “Since that’s the case, may I ask Master, what kind of enemy would require you to risk your life?”
It seemed Hua Yaoyue had long anticipated this question. She crossed her arms before her chest.
“In a few years, once the righteous–demonic war begins, by then…”
Hearing this, Ji Yuan remained stunned for a long while.
Though he had anticipated it, hearing Hua Yaoyue say it aloud still left him incredulous.
Because Hua Yaoyue had spoken just five simple words.
She said:
“A Nascent Soul can also be killed.”
“……”
Even after returning to Misty Island, Hua Yaoyue’s words echoed in Ji Yuan’s mind.
A Nascent Soul can also be killed.
Every time he thought of this, Ji Yuan felt his back straighten, unable to bend down anymore.
Disciple of a Golden Core Real Person?
What was that? His Master was a Nascent Soul powerhouse!
Even if demonic cultivators came knocking, he could just hide behind Master and fear no one!
Still, he reminded himself to stay low-profile. If trouble could be avoided, better not provoke it… Master was his trump card.
But only a hidden trump card was a real trump card. If everyone knew his Master was a Nascent Soul expert, then it was no longer a trump card.
As for the 《Nine Chambers Soul-Suppressing Scripture》, Ji Yuan decided to heed Hua Yaoyue’s warning and not spread it.
It was enough for just him and Master to cultivate it. If too many learned, it would surely cause unnecessary trouble.
“But Master mentioned that in Western Shang, someone also seemed to possess this Divine Soul technique. Could it be the lower half of this 《Nine Chambers Soul-Suppressing Scripture》? The offensive part of the technique?”
“After the righteous–demonic war, perhaps I can ask Master to investigate. If possible, maybe we can seize it directly.”
“Then there’s the matter of other continents. I hadn’t expected the world to be so vast. I thought the Cangluo Continent was already enormous—Shangdong alone had six Immortal Sects. Yet Master said there were continents far larger than Cangluo. Cangluo was at most just a Cangluo Island. Seems my journey ahead is still long, and I must never grow complacent.”
“This path of cultivation is truly like walking on thin ice.”
“And then there’s Master’s identity… I asked, but she refused to say, only promising to tell me later. Damn it, Master, you didn’t hesitate to take my technique, yet you won’t trust me with this? Hah.”
Ji Yuan lay within his 【Cave Dwelling】, his mind filled with countless thoughts.
But he also knew, he wouldn’t be able to lie around for long.
Because he still had to depart for Liancheng Mountain, to exchange back Feng Zhi Tao.
“Didn’t expect Third Senior Sister, so quiet, to also be about to break through to the peak of Foundation Establishment. By then, I’ll have two senior brothers and one senior sister—one False Core First Senior Brother, and two peak Foundation Establishment Second and Third Senior Siblings. That’s quite a decent backing.”
“Looks like I also need to pick out a place to condense my next flying sword embryo. Strength is one thing, but no matter how strong, cultivation realm is always the foundation.”
At this thought, Ji Yuan stopped lying down.
No use lying around—better to cultivate early, and also ask Liu Yuan. He too cultivated the Li Family’s 《Sword Manual》. Ji Yuan wanted to see where he had condensed his sword embryo.
Heading out again, Ji Yuan took the cautious route—bringing the Ice Flood Dragon and his swarm of bees.
He also packed the Yin Ghost Flag and Thousand Souls Banner. On the road, one could never tell when they might need to act as a demonic cultivator.
Flying boat at the front, cultivating while traveling.
When Ji Yuan approached Liancheng Mountain, he discovered something strange.
That was his dantian.
During this month of travel, he had not forgotten to eat the Three-Colored Spiritual Eggs stored in his pouch. As a result, a peculiar situation had occurred.
His dantian’s spiritual liquid—as a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, it had already nearly filled half his dantian. Yet after eating the eggs for a month… only one-third remained.
Fortunately, though the liquid looked reduced, the total quantity had not decreased. Otherwise, Ji Yuan would have worried that his cultivation had fallen back to early Foundation Establishment.
On the day he arrived at Liancheng Mountain, he ate his final Three-Colored Spiritual Egg. To continue, he would have to activate the effect of the 【Chicken Coop】 building here.
What a coincidence—on duty patrolling Liancheng Mountain today happened to be Feng Zhi Tao.
When she saw Ji Yuan approaching, she immediately summoned her flying boat and rose into the air, shouting joyfully, “Little Junior Brother, you’ve finally come!”
“These past days have been hard on Senior Sister.”
Ji Yuan cupped his hands slightly, then turned to clasp fists with Liu Yuan, who came over afterward. “Brother Liu, long time no see.”
“It truly has been a long time.”
Liu Yuan patted the wine-red gourd at his waist and laughed. “I’ve been out of wine for so long. For some reason, ever since I drank Brother Ji’s wine, drinking anything else feels like drinking horse piss.”
Feng Zhi Tao was shocked.
“What?! Junior Brother Liu, you’ve even drunk horse piss?”
Liu Yuan covered his forehead with a wry smile.
Afterward, the three of them exchanged a few words with a cultivator from Joy Palace who was also on duty. Seeing that people from the Water Dragon Sect had come for their shift, which was a common occurrence, he didn’t make things difficult and instead smiled in agreement, saying they would keep watch here.
Not long after, Ji Yuan met Rou Yi at the stationed quarters, as she had hurried over to see him.
The other two cultivators of the Water Dragon Sect, Island Lord Yun Miao and Island Lord of Bamboo Shadow, had gone down to the mines and had yet to return.
After some polite small talk, Ji Yuan followed Feng Zhi Tao back to her residence.
“Did Master send you?”
As soon as Feng Zhi Tao sat down, she sprawled across the table, her fire-red long skirt swaying with her dangling legs, looking particularly eye-catching.
“Then I must congratulate Senior Sister in advance.”
Ji Yuan smiled, leaving the rest unsaid.
Feng Zhi Tao knew he was referring to her breaking through to the peak of Foundation Establishment. The corners of her mouth curled upward uncontrollably, though she pretended not to care and waved a hand. “Ay, Little Junior Brother, you’ll have your day too. When you’re about to break through, Master will surely help you as well.”
“That’s true. Master has always been very good to us.”
“Mm, then I’ll leave this place in your hands, Little Junior Brother. Since you’ve arrived, I’ll head back soon.”
For something as crucial as her own breakthrough, Feng Zhi Tao couldn’t wait a moment longer.
“All right, then Senior Sister, be careful on the road back. Once you’re home, please greet Master for me.”
Feng Zhi Tao rolled her eyes. “Hmph, I won’t say a thing to Master. Little Junior Brother, you’re always so polite with us. It makes things feel unnatural.”
Ji Yuan chuckled. “I’m just being courteous, isn’t that good?”
“Then can’t you be a little discourteous toward me?”
The words slipped out of Feng Zhi Tao’s mouth. But the moment she spoke, she realized it sounded wrong—it carried a different implication.
Her pretty face turned slightly red. Not knowing how to explain herself, she simply buried her head into her arms on the table, curling up like a turtle hiding in its shell.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan’s heart stirred. He probed cautiously: “Then how about…”
“Senior Sister give me a few talisman treasures to use?”
“……”
Without a doubt, Feng Zhi Tao stormed off—leaving in a huff.
To her, even if Ji Yuan had made some outrageous request, she wouldn’t have gotten so angry. But of all things, Ji Yuan had to ask for talisman treasures at such a moment!
Could it be that her Feng Zhi Tao’s charm wasn’t enough?!
Ji Yuan, of course, had no idea what was on her mind. He only thought his request had been too much.
But even if he had known her thoughts, he would still have only felt… a woman’s heart is as unfathomable as the depths of the sea.
Afterward, Ji Yuan went to Liu Yuan’s courtyard to learn about the current situation at Liancheng Mountain.
As expected, during the time Ji Yuan had been away, everything within Liancheng Mountain remained as usual.
The mutated Spirit Crystal Beast, feared by all for its ability to devour human souls, had not appeared again. Everything proceeded in good order.
Ji Yuan felt at ease. For him now, even if that beast reappeared, he had nothing to fear.
With the Soul-Suppressing Bell protecting his whole body, what was there to worry about?
In the following days, Ji Yuan built a [Chicken Coop] in the courtyard—not for raising chickens, nor for producing spirit earth, but for the single Three-Colored Spiritual Egg produced each day.
Yet as the spiritual energy in his dantian was continuously compressed, his demand for spiritual energy grew greater… he needed to fill the newly freed space with even more qi.
Thus, he consumed thirty to forty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones nearly every day.
Fortunately, he had amassed a vast stockpile of spirit stones over the years, wealthy and unrestrained; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been enough for his cultivation.
After several days of cultivation at home, the time to go down into the mines finally came again.
Ji Yuan had absorbed so many spirit stones that he felt distressed. He had long wanted to freeload off the spirit vein instead. After all, public resources didn’t hurt to use.
This time, he was paired with Liu Yuan. When they arrived at the entrance to the long-missed spirit vein, they discovered that their fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators were once again the same group as before.
From Joy Palace: Danxia and Zhi Yun.
From Medicine King Valley: Dan Chengzi and Xuan Weizi.
In particular, when Zhi Yun saw Ji Yuan appear, her eyes clearly lit up.
“Brother Ji, it seems that no matter where you go, your looks attract blossoms of peach.”
Liu Yuan teased him through sound transmission.
Ji Yuan shot him a glance, then transmitted a message directly to Zhi Yun: “Fellow Daoist Zhi Yun, my Brother Liu is asking if you have a dao companion.”
Hearing this, Zhi Yun instinctively glanced at Liu Yuan.
Unaware of the context, Liu Yuan simply smiled back at her.
This made Zhi Yun’s cheeks flush. She replied to Ji Yuan, “N-no, not yet. Senior Brother Wuyou, what about you?”
“Sorry, I already have a dao companion.”
Ji Yuan hadn’t forgotten—last time he had told Zhi Yun he was already taken.
Zhi Yun sighed helplessly and turned her gaze to Liu Yuan. Once or twice might have been fine, but as she kept glancing at him, Liu Yuan realized something was off.
“Brother Ji, did you just send a message to Fellow Daoist Zhi Yun?”
“No, I didn’t. I’m not that familiar with her.”
Ji Yuan replied through transmission, then ignored the matter.
In his mind… you mocked me, but I returned kindness by playing matchmaker. That’s me repaying resentment with virtue. Shouldn’t you be thanking me?
Later, when they reached the underground spirit vein and settled the miners, Ji Yuan asked Liu Yuan for this shift’s “compensation.”
He excused himself, saying he had been away for months and hadn’t enjoyed the nourishment of the spirit vein for too long. He wanted to “indulge” for a few days.
Liu Yuan smiled and agreed. For him, it was nothing serious.
Just five days of absorbing qi—whether he had them or not wouldn’t greatly affect his cultivation. He could still cultivate while on duty, albeit less effectively.
After Ji Yuan repeatedly thanked him, he didn’t bother greeting the other sect cultivators and instead headed straight for the depths of the spirit vein. Once he had gone some distance, he activated 《Shadow-Following》 to conceal his whereabouts.
The deeper he went, the more he realized—low-grade spirit stones had vanished from view. Everywhere he looked now were Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, which stirred his desire.
‘If I go even deeper, will it all be High-Grade Spirit Stones?’
Although Ji Yuan had a few High-Grade Spirit Stones on him, he kept them saved for breakthroughs and never dared to use them in daily cultivation.
Now, with such a spirit vein before him… after a moment’s thought, he decided to venture further and see.
He put away his shield, formed a hand seal, and his figure blurred into black mist.
Escape Technique—《Black Mist Dispersing Body》!
It had to be said, this escape technique of the Great Love Sect was excellent.
Silent, traceless, and swift.
Spirit stones streamed past like streaks of light. After half an hour, the stones around him had shifted from Middle-Grade to High-Grade.
‘Middle-Grade Spirit Stones are pure white, but High-Grade Spirit Stones are even more condensed, their contained qi practically dripping out.’
‘And they say Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones are transparent, colorless. I wonder if that’s true.’
‘But this Middle-Grade vein likely can’t produce Supreme-Grade ones. At least a High-Grade vein is needed. Even then, their numbers are said to be so few you could count them on one hand.’
As these thoughts passed through his mind, Ji Yuan realized the surrounding stone walls now contained only High-Grade Spirit Stones.
This was already the deepest part of the vein. Going further would risk encountering remnants of Spirit Crystal Beasts. Besides, the qi here was already dense enough; pressing deeper had little meaning.
So Ji Yuan picked a nearby spot, sat down, and began cultivating, drawing in the vein’s spiritual energy.
He also remembered Yang Taian’s warning—“fire one shot, change places.” After cultivating for half a day, he shifted to a new spot, never absorbing too much in one place lest it damage the spirit stones.
In this way, after eight days of cultivation, Ji Yuan checked the condition of his dantian.
The previously emptied space was already half refilled.
If he could continue for another eight days, his dantian would return to its prior state—meaning his spiritual qi reserves would be… double that of cultivators at the same stage!
‘Two days left—I can’t waste them. Every bit I absorb counts.’
‘Anyway, since Medicine King Valley and Joy Palace also have a share in this spirit vein, me taking in the qi is still a contribution to the sect.’
Just as Ji Yuan was about to enter meditation again, he heard footsteps echoing in the silence of the vein… It was human, not beast.
Ji Yuan immediately spread out his Divine Sense.