What is an immortal?

Chapter 1087 - 1052: A Life of Hardship

Yuan Ming, seeing this, finally breathed a sigh of relief, stepped aside, and patiently waited for Wulu to stabilize his realm.

After more than half a day, the five-colored steam around Wulu's body finally dissipated, and then he slowly opened his eyes.

Just as Yuan Ming was about to step forward to congratulate him, Wulu stood up first and bowed to him: "Brother Yuan, thank you!"

"If it weren't for my presumptuous decision to add two pieces of poisonous sack, you wouldn't have suffered backlash." Yuan Ming hurriedly waved his hand and said.

"Without that, I wouldn't have had the chance to break through to the late-stage Dharma manifestation. Moreover, after this backlash, my organs' resistance to poison has become stronger. I have a premonition that from now until the Mahayana breakthrough, my cultivation will be exceptionally smooth," Wulu said with a smile.

"If that's the case, then it's worth it," Yuan Ming also smiled.

But soon, his expression turned dim, and he told Wulu about Xia Jie's demise.

Wulu was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, his expression sorrowful, and he remained silent for a long time.

"Senior Xia Jie devoted his life to the Chuyun Realm. Dying like this is comparable to dying honorably on the battlefield for him. We should also inherit his will and thwart the Demon Clan's plots," Wulu squeezed out a slight smile and said.

"There is still some time before the trial in the Wentian Secret Realm ends. What are you planning to do?" Yuan Ming asked.

"I originally planned to return to the Shura Palace for rest after breaking through to the late-stage Dharma manifestation. Now I want to continue training for a while longer to test my limits," Wulu said.

"Alright, then let us reconvene after leaving the Wentian Secret Realm," Yuan Ming nodded and said.

After the two parted, Yuan Ming maneuvered the Shura Palace to a hidden valley, tore open the void, and concealed the Shura Palace within the turbulent currents.

In the coming time, he didn't plan to continue exploring the Secret Realm. The recent advancement in both Magic and Body Cultivation had been too rapid. He needed to retreat into deep cultivation for a period to stabilize his realm.

Yuan Ming secluded himself for several days, refining a Mahayana Realm Magic Practitioner of the Demon Clan and two Body Cultivators of the Fiery Sun Body Demon Clan, further enhancing his power.

When his seclusion ended, he was surprised to find Xi Ying waiting quietly outside.

"Shouldn't you be refining Senior Xia Jie's puppet body at this time? Why did you come to my place?" Yuan Ming frowned slightly, puzzled, and asked.

"The refinement is proceeding smoothly, and my cultivation has improved significantly because of it. However, I still can't sense the opportunity to break through to the Ghost Witch Realm. Staying there would be futile, so I thought of coming to see you," Xi Ying smiled and explained.

"That shouldn't be. This puppet almost perfectly condenses all of Senior Xia Jie's Soul Power and has merged with half of the Bright Moon Goddess' body. It should be more than enough to support your breakthrough to the Ghost Witch Realm," Yuan Ming said, puzzled.

"The issue isn't with the puppet, and there weren't any problems during my refinement process. But the key to breaking through to the Ghost Witch Realm lies in refining the Three Souls. My refining of the Three Souls is still immature, and my capacity to accept Soul Power is limited, which is why I can't break through yet," Xi Ying slowly shook her head and explained.

"In that case, why not observe the process of Senior Xia Jie's breakthrough and see how he refined the Three Souls?" Yuan Ming suggested after a moment of contemplation.

"How should I do it?" Xi Ying asked, puzzled.

"Connect your Divine Thought with mine," Yuan Ming lifted Xi Ying's soft palm and said without further explanation.

Upon hearing this, Xi Ying slowly closed her eyes.

Yuan Ming's gaze grew focused, turning his sight to Xia Jie's puppet remains.

As the Reincarnation Eye at the center of his forehead began to slowly rotate and manifest, a dazzling golden light was emitted, gently covering Xia Jie's puppet body.

In the next instant, scenes of significant moments from Xia Jie's past life began to unfold like a revolving lantern in Yuan Ming's Sea of Consciousness, transmitted through his Divine Thought to Xi Ying for her to view as well.

Xia Jie was born in a cold and desolate mining area in the northern part of the Central Continent, starting his life as the lowest-rank mine slave, with his parents having died when he was young, subjecting him to immense suffering and hardship from a young age.

When he was about eleven or twelve years old, he was kidnapped by a cultivator practicing an Evil Divine Soul Secret Technique, nearly having his Divine Soul extracted for Alchemy.

Fortunately, he was clever enough to secretly learn the Evil Cultivation's Divine Soul Secret Technique and in a critical moment, he managed to counterattack and kill his captor, embarking on the path of cultivation. Yet, his struggles did not cease even after becoming a cultivator.

Due to his identity as a Soul Cultivator, he was heavily ostracized, lacking any reliable sect. Every interaction with others ended in exploitation followed by abandonment, or premeditated betrayal.

Just as he was about to give up and fall into the evil path, someone who genuinely became like a mentor to him appeared, offering him unprecedented care and support.

His mentor was also a Loose Cultivator on the path of Soul Cultivation but with limited cultivation, only reaching the late-stage Illusion Witch level throughout his life, knowing only some Soul Cultivation Illusion Techniques.

Yet, it was this Illusion Witch who became a guiding light in Xia Jie's life path thereafter.

Despite all the ups and downs he experienced, he always stayed true to his heart, never falling into the evil path.

After overcoming numerous difficulties and obstacles, he steadily rose to become the second-generation Guardian of the Chuyun Realm, achieving unprecedented feats in the last realm war.

As Yuan Ming and Xi Ying watched his various past experiences, they found their eyes had involuntarily become a bit damp.

"It has truly been difficult for Senior Xia Jie on this journey," Yuan Ming sighed.

"Therefore, I must not disappoint his expectations," Xi Ying nodded, speaking solemnly.

The two gathered their thoughts and continued to review the scene of Senior Xia Jie cultivating to break through to the Ghost Witch realm.

After a long while, the light released by the Reincarnation Eye subsided, and Xi Ying slowly opened her eyes.

"Senior Xia Jie's past experiences have forged his steadfast will. His Three Souls are originally a hundred times stronger than ordinary ones, and by just borrowing the Bright Moon Goddess's power, he can refine the Three Souls," Yuan Ming analyzed.

They clearly saw the process; there were no techniques involved, only the acceptance of the tremendous soul power by one's own Three Souls, achieving their refinement to the point of transformation.

"Speaking of will, I don't believe I'm weaker than Senior Xia Jie. However, although I can now invoke the puppet power, I can't completely mobilize it to reach the level where my Three Souls are refined," Xi Ying sighed.

"For merely refining the Divine Soul, it doesn't necessarily require puppet soul power. Perhaps my Chaos Dao Fruit could also be of help," Yuan Ming pondered briefly and then spoke.

"Chaotic power is the source of all forces in the world, as well as the ultimate destination. Using chaotic power to refine the Three Souls is theoretically feasible," Xi Ying pondered briefly, her eyes lighting up.

"Feasible as it may be, my chaotic power is even more uncontrollable than the soul power of the Bright Moon Goddess; a slight mistake might damage your Divine Soul," Yuan Ming reminded.

"It's a risky endeavor from the start; how could there be no risk? Rest assured; I'll be vigilant during cultivation. If anything goes wrong, I'll promptly borrow Senior Xia Jie's power. There won't be any mortal danger," Xi Ying smiled.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming nodded, feeling slightly relieved.

Then, the two sat opposite each other, Yuan Ming activated the Chaos Dao Fruit, releasing a chaos vortex that hovered above them.

Xi Ying sat calmly in Breathing Control for a moment, and then the Three Souls floated out from her head, and after circling outside, tried to approach the nebula-like chaos vortex.

As soon as her Three Souls got close, they were pulled by a force and slammed directly into the vortex.

In an instant, an excruciating divine soul tearing pain came, causing Xi Ying's body to suddenly stiffen and break out in cold sweat.

Yuan Ming noticed the anomaly and quickly suppressed his chaotic Dao Fruit's power.

Xi Ying seized the opportunity to stabilize her Three Souls, letting them sit at the edge of the chaos vortex like people, enduring the constant blowing of chaotic power while meditating in Breathing Control.

Persisting for a quarter of an hour, Xi Ying felt her three souls solidify slightly and continued approaching nearer to the chaos vortex's center, stopping immediately when feeling on the brink of collapse, and resumed meditation honing.

After repeating this attempt for seven whole days, Xi Ying's Three Souls were very close to the chaos vortex's center.

Under the refinement of chaotic power, her three souls not only became incredibly resilient but also absorbed part of the chaotic power, touching the opportunity for a breakthrough.

Xi Ying immediately summoned Xia Jie's puppet body, aligning palms, and began frantically absorbing the soul power contained within.

Soon, the clear sky suddenly fell into darkness, and a pale gray Round Moon appeared out of thin air, transforming into boundless dark clouds, enveloping the entire sky of the Shura Palace's secret realm.

Yuan Ming knew this was the "Yin Moon Soul Tribulation" descending, immediately got up and left this area.

This final calamity could only be handled by Xi Ying herself, he couldn't help.

Watching silently for a long time, he then turned and left, heading alone to the transplanted Magic Cloud Tree and there saw Hua Zhi and Vajra's figures.

Hua Zhi at this moment had transformed into a giant vine, entwined around the Magic Cloud Tree, while Vajra displayed his ape demon form, both frantically absorbing pure demonic qi, with their cultivation steadily rising.

After half a month, Xi Ying was the first to break through to the Ghost Witch Realm.

And Hua Zhi, in continuous accumulation, also welcomed a breakthrough, finally advancing to the seventh level.

With Hua Zhi's successful advancement, the magic qi contained in the Magic Cloud Tree was thoroughly absorbed, yet Yuan Ming did not destroy this tree, but instead opened up a space within the Shura Palace to transplant it, providing future access for Vajra and Hua Zhi.

After doing these, the time left before the Wentian Secret Realm's closure was limited; unable to assist Vajra in finding a breakthrough opportunity, they regretfully set off towards the interface passage of the Chuyun Realm.

On the way, Yuan Ming used the Soul Descent Rune to locate Wang Fulong, decided to seek him and take him along.

Upon Yuan Ming's arrival, Wang Fulong was cultivating in an ancient tomb, seemingly acquiring considerable good fortune, his cultivation had reached the late-stage Dharma manifestation.

"Sir, you've come... you've broken through to the Mahayana Realm?" He sensed Yuan Ming's arrival, hurriedly stood up to show respect, his head just lowered, then suddenly raised, his expression stunned.

"Indeed, largely thanks to the seventh-level demon beast here aiding," Yuan Ming smiled.

"Subordinate congratulates Sir," Wang Fulong regained his composure, quickly continued paying respects.