Chapter 149: Dividing Forces into Two Directions

Suppressing an overwhelming surge of exhilaration, Liu Junhuai descended to the ground, called over Ajiu, whispered a few words, and then turned back toward the Wanxiang Tower.

Inside the alchemy chamber, Liu Junhuai found the old steward and Mo Sitong, hastily dragging them into the training space without paying heed to their astonished gazes. The spatial cage activated, an invisible pressure dome enveloping a massive stone over ten yards in diameter.

With a shift in his incantations and hand gestures, a thunderous explosion resounded, and the enormous stone was forcibly compressed into powder.

Mo Sitong gasped in surprise, “Junhuai, what kind of cultivation technique is this? I saw you moving your mouth and hands tirelessly, yet this huge stone was crushed to dust!”

Liu Junhuai bore a self-satisfied expression. “I have comprehended a fragment of the spatial Dao pattern, allowing me to manifest a spatial cage. This stone was pulverized under the spatial pressure within the cage!”

The old steward interjected with a smile, “Madam, the tower lord is already a nascent soul stage cultivator! Moreover, he has awakened his primordial spirit—a feat only achievable at the transformation stage! Congratulations to the tower lord!”

Mo Sitong’s face was filled with astonishment. Her young husband was indeed a prodigy. In just over ten hours, he had made such a tremendous leap. Where others saw an insurmountable bottleneck, he breezed through it without a trace of difficulty. For cultivators who might never reach such a height in their lifetime, this was unfathomable.

Mo Sitong coaxed him coquettishly, “Quickly summon your primordial spirit so I can see it! I’ve heard that the primordial spirit is like a doppelgänger of yourself!”

Liu Junhuai nodded and focused his mind. A crimson golden pill silently materialized before him. As an invisible, colorless primordial spirit diffused outward, a perfect spectral duplicate of Liu Junhuai appeared.

However, Mo Sitong could not witness the formation process and was startled by the sudden appearance of this illusory Liu Junhuai. She took several steps back, her heart pounding wildly.

Liu Junhuai gave orders to the clone, which repeated his previous incantations and hand movements. With another thunderous blast, a second massive stone was likewise pulverized.

Mo Sitong covered her mouth in amazement, staring blankly at the mound of stone powder.

“The clone can perform all the tower lord’s techniques, including control over the Dao patterns! Generally, cultivators at the transformation stage experience a qualitative leap from awakening their primordial spirit to manifesting it externally—a process that usually takes three to five years. For someone like the tower lord to achieve it so naturally and effortlessly is unheard of!” The old steward, overcome with excitement, unceremoniously poured himself some mulberry wine and began drinking.

Liu Junhuai stepped forward, pouring a cup for himself. “Steward, I have a question that puzzles me greatly. Why, during the formation of the nascent soul, did I find a place about an inch deep in my chest resembling a dantian? And why does the primordial spirit reside in the sea of consciousness rather than the dantian?”

The old steward laughed heartily. “Several times I asked you to read more books, but you never settled down. The questions you ask are basic cultivation knowledge—truly baffling. A cultivator initially possesses three dantians: upper, middle, and lower. Before reaching the nascent soul stage, only the lower dantian is utilized. As one’s cultivation advances, the other two dantians gradually activate.

“The upper dantian lies three cun within the eyebrows, also known as the Mud Pill Palace. It is the head of the body and the seat of a hundred gods, all governed and arranged by the brain.

“The middle dantian is located beneath the heart and above the kidneys—essentially the body’s core, where the six entrails and five viscera interrelate to maintain proper function, all overseen by the heart.

“As for the lower dantian, also called the Yellow Court, its yellow color signifies earth, the foundational soil for forming the elixir. Positioned at the center of the body, it serves as the original source of power, controlling the body’s physiological cycles.

“The primordial spirit’s dwelling is innate—it exists from birth within the upper dantian. Initially, like an infant unaware but sensitive and lively, when a cultivator enters a state of tranquility and emptiness, their breath soft and indistinct, thoughts absent, the primordial spirit manifests.

“The primordial spirit accompanies the fetus into the world, sealed within the body, unable to directly interact with external objects or comprehend their nature. The body must store knowledge and information in the brain to enable the primordial spirit’s spiritual discernment. It is usually hidden by the divine consciousness, but once its power surpasses the divine consciousness, it replaces it, taking control over the brain and life. Thus, the primordial spirit naturally resides in the Mud Pill Palace, and remains there after awakening.”

Liu Junhuai flushed deeply, realizing the steward’s explanations were fundamental truths of human anatomy—the most basic knowledge—yet he had been completely unaware, a naivety almost laughable.

Seeing Mo Sitong stifling her laughter nearby, Liu Junhuai felt utterly helpless. He could hardly blame himself, born on Earth under mortal rule with no cultivation theory to guide him, unlike Mo Sitong, who was born into a world of cultivation and intuitively understood these things.

But the reality was difficult to express, so Liu Junhuai buried his embarrassment deep within, leaving judgment to others.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Liu Junhuai decisively shifted the topic. “Steward, why were no tasks generated upon advancing to the nascent soul stage this time?”

The old steward replied, “Tasks are not under my control. I require task prompts just like the tower lord to know when they appear. Once you break through the Void Refining stage, the Wanxiang Tower will upgrade, and I expect tasks will arise then.”

Liu Junhuai turned to Mo Sitong. “You’ve been here a while now. The Wanxiang Sect is bustling with activity. Sitong, why don’t you stay here and consolidate your cultivation? You must not stop training these few days. When I return, you should attempt to break through to the Golden Core stage!”

Mo Sitong considered this and nodded. “Alright then, I’ll stay and cultivate here. I can also refine some pills in my spare time.”

Bidding farewell to the two, Liu Junhuai returned to the Wanxiang Sect.

By noon, the sect alliance’s recruitment was in full swing. From afar, Xiao Qingtian spotted Liu Junhuai’s arrival and quickly set down his work, hurrying over.

“Junhuai, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you since last night, and you left without a word!” Xiao Qingtian began complaining even before reaching him.

Once close, his tone shifted. “You’re incredible, kid. Just a night away and you’ve advanced to the nascent soul stage! No wonder you ignored my messages!”

Though smiling, Xiao Qingtian’s inner shock was immense. He had been stuck at the late Golden Core stage for over ten years, yet Liu Junhuai had broken through twice in mere days—a cultivation speed no one could withstand.

“Enough small talk. Lord Mu has sent word for our sect alliance to mobilize. Last night, the alliance and two hall masters agreed on a two-pronged attack. Lord Fang and you two will capture the deputy island master of Changjing Island, Che Shangguan, and the second elder of the Hell King Palace, Guan Shaoqing. These two islands are only a few hundred miles apart.

“The deputy sect master of Hua Hongyu, Jin Yuling, will be led by Lord Guan and Alliance Leader Ren. Lord Mu’s orders are to capture them alive if possible and to act covertly—this isn’t the time to openly clash with other sects. For now, I and Sect Master Wu of Wanxiang will hold the fort. You’ll set out tonight!” Xiao Qingtian briefly explained the plan.

Liu Junhuai’s thoughts lingered on the Western Domain Lord, Liang Qiutuochu. “Uncle Xiao, has Lord Mu taken any action against Liang Qiutuochu? Every day of delay risks leaks. Now with two major operations underway, the situation is urgent!”

Xiao Qingtian shook his head. “Lord Mu hasn’t stated directly. The two hall masters believe he has contacted the Continental Assembly, hence the swift orders. As for Liang Qiutuochu, perhaps they’re waiting for the right moment, or the evidence is insufficient. They said that level of conflict is beyond our involvement—we only follow Lord Mu’s directives.”

Liu Junhuai was not so easily assured. “Uncle Xiao, I do not mean to dampen our alliance’s spirit. But if this huge threat isn’t eliminated promptly, a massive massacre will erupt across the Star Heaven Continent. The Bloodshed Alliance has long schemed, weaving a vast net. Once they learn of Liang Qiutuochu’s exposure, they will surely launch their orders immediately, striving to act before the domains can respond!”

Xiao Qingtian furrowed his brow, pondering before replying, “For now, we cannot intervene. Our alliance is too weak. All we can do is remind Lord Mu occasionally; beyond that, we are powerless.”

Liu Junhuai nodded helplessly. “So be it. I will visit the two hall masters soon and also make some arrangements within Wanxiang Sect.”

Parting ways with Xiao Qingtian, Liu Junhuai hurried back to Wanxiang Sect. Time was pressing—he did not know how long this journey would take.

Upon entering the main hall, thanks to the close coordination of Wu Yaohan and Wan Xingyun, Liu Junhuai saw a flurry of busy but orderly activity—no chaos.

He first sought out Fang Keyin, who, upon seeing Liu Junhuai, waved him over. “I’ve discussed with Elder Qian; he will remain at Wanxiang Sect as the Grand Elder. I still have matters at the Juechen Palace, so splitting my attention would be impossible. Ah? You broke through to the nascent soul stage? Ha! You disappeared for ten hours and surprised us all!”

Fang Keyin and Bian Yanshan reacted fairly normally, but Qian Chongyi’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. “I just heard you advanced to the late Golden Core stage days ago, and now you’ve broken through again? Sect Leader Liu, at your age of sixteen or seventeen, reaching the nascent soul stage is unprecedented—not just in the Western Domain, but in the entire Star Heaven Continent for centuries! Don’t tell me it was mere coincidence; you must have inherited from some great deity!”