Chapter 179: Reasons for Maintaining a Soul-Body State

Participating in the Alliance's martial exhibition after joining?

After a moment of stunned silence, Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan gently shook her head: "Xiang Yuanjun, you jest."

The martial exhibition is approaching; even if she were to retrace her cultivation path, she could at most ascend to Foundation Establishment during the exhibition.

And if she were to join the Foundation Establishment-level exhibition, it would be outright bullying others.

Moreover, using the time allocated for the exhibition for cultivation would accelerate her progress even further.

"Not only is my identity inconvenient, but the Alliance's Foundation Establishment exhibition requires participants under twenty-five."

After all, the purpose of the exhibition is to showcase the Alliance's younger generation.

"The ancestors forged the path, but those who follow are not entirely passive," Xiang Yuanjun said softly.

The ancestors walked alone, carving out the way.

Yet every subsequent traveler makes this 'path' broader and more solid.

The current human cultivation system is no longer the same as the one the ancients once trod…

"Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan, if you wish to truly understand the current cultivation system, you should observe the younger generation more closely."

Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan fell into thought.

Just now, she had assumed it was merely Xiang Yuanjun's passing fancy.

But now, judging by these words, it was clearly more than what she had originally thought.

"As for your identity, let Yuan arrange one for you; as for your age…" Xiang Yuanjun smiled faintly, "When your former self's impurities were severed, your accumulated years were severed along with them."

The current Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan is equivalent to someone who has just been born for half a day—otherwise, how could she be called 'reborn'?

"I'll conceal it for you when the time comes."

This was the real point.

Otherwise, if Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan were discovered to be a 'newborn' during the exhibition, it would be absurd.

"What do you think, Dao Brother?"

"Indeed, such an opportunity should not be missed," Xu Xing nodded slightly. "If you feel it's unfair to the younger ones, you can simply withdraw at the end."

The Dao is like a mountain; too many cultivators rush upward and, upon reaching the summit, lack the strength to climb further to the cloud-capped peak.

Once, haste was necessary; now, it is not.

The chance to return in a pure state is exceedingly precious—do not miss the scenery along the way.

Hearing both of them say this, Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan finally made up her mind.

After all, both the Master Jianzu and Xiang Yuanjun walk ahead of her.

"Then I am in your debt, Xiang Yuanjun."

"A trivial matter, no need for thanks." A wisp of spiritual light flew from Xiang Yuanjun's fingertip and sank into Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan's third eye. "This is a gift for you—when to use it, decide for yourself, Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan."

Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan paused, a faint blue glow flickering in her eyes and vanishing.

Immediately, a semi-transparent pale blue interface appeared before her, displaying several lines of text.

【Conceal Form and Spirit System 1.0】

【Current Apparent Age: 0 (Adjustable)】

【Current Apparent Realm: Qi Gathering Seventh Layer (Adjustable)】

【Appearance Adjustable】

At the bottom was a 3D model of her body, with detailed parameters for her facial features, physique, and even her soul's aura, all freely adjustable.

"This device will serve you until the Void Return Realm—it is my small gift for your rebirth. May your Dao path proceed smoothly."

"..." Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan paused for two seconds. "Thank you, Xiang Yuanjun."

"Then I shall give something too, as a gift for Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan's rebirth," Xu Xing said.

Xiang Yuanjun had crafted a system with her bare hands—he felt he too should offer something.

Without giving Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan a chance to speak, another wisp of spiritual light, crimson red, settled like a red mole upon her fair forehead.

These were several drops of Cang Clan blood, specially processed until only pure, immense vitality remained.

"My gift cannot compare to Xiang Yuanjun's, but before you reach Void Return, if you are wounded, you may draw upon the stored vitality for healing."

Enhancing cultivation or boosting comprehension—these effects held no meaning for Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan.

Even the immense vitality sealed within held little practical use.

A former Immortal Gate-seeker who had re-cultivated, she had few things she could truly use.

"Thank you, Master Jianzu."

Yet Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan still bowed deeply in gratitude.

The next morning.

After a night of effort by countless cultivators, the bustling underwater city was largely adorned.

Above, amidst swirling clouds, a gate of brilliant blue shimmered faintly—a Secret Realm entrance.

The gate's frame was forged entirely from deep-sea essence, its patterns glowing like a starry river, radiating gentle light and a refreshing, icy spiritual energy.

Within lay an entirely different world: seawater spread like silk, shimmering with ripples, reflecting the colorful clouds on the horizon.

Nearly ten thousand "Prism Type-I" Secret Realm Opening Devices were scattered across every corner of the Secret Realm, emitting strange vibrations that reinforced its spatial structure.

On the sea's surface, array patterns glowed as cultivators emerged, carrying various spiritual materials and construction supplies to build the exhibition grounds.

Meanwhile, within Yuan's grand hall.

A green jade floated silently, its radiance revealing Yuan's soul-body.

He could easily assume a normal human form, but now he wished only to remain in this state.

"Yuan, so this is what you are like now…"

Seeing his state, Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan was startled, then her expression turned to sudden understanding.

"Senior, you're too kind." Yuan chuckled.

Early this morning, the fellow villager brought Senior Xiang Yuanjun and Senior Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan over and explained everything that had happened yesterday.

Tian's return, Xuan's intervention, and Gu's final defeat by the unleashed power.

Just yesterday, the ancestral figures of the Cang Clan who had fought in this city could almost fill a table for mahjong.

It's utterly absurd! Fortunately, the fellow villager and Senior Xiang Yuanjun stopped it in the end.

"May I ask what Senior Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan plans to do next?"

He already knew Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan had lost all her cultivation and become an ordinary mortal…

No! Now she's already at Qi Condensation Ninth Layer.

"Today, I'll finish practicing the Gathering and Refining Method and establish the Foundation."

Today, I'll finish practicing the Gathering and Refining Method and establish the Foundation…

Well then!

It's practically like playing.

Although he knew this was normal, hearing it still felt absurd.

Yuan couldn't help but mutter inwardly.

"Afterward, I intend to join the Alliance's Martial Trials."

"Huh?!"

Wait, what?

Join the Martial Trials?

You?!

Go fight babies?

"It's rare to be able to walk the cultivation path again, so I want to go as slowly as possible," Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan explained. "I know this seems unfair, so in the end, I will withdraw."

Walk slowly, only to go farther.

She now has an opportunity most other cultivators lack; if she fails to seize it properly, she would deeply betray the efforts of the Master Jianzu and Senior Xiang Yuanjun.

"Your identity is naturally not an issue, but the Alliance requires participants to be under twenty-five…"

The True Path Alliance's verification methods are highly advanced.

Suddenly, he glanced at Xu Xing and Xiang Yuanjun beside him.

"Hmm… no problem."

With these two great immortals here, even the Alliance's verification methods can be treated as decoration.

"Yuan!" A clear voice rang out.

A woman with short hair walked in from outside.

The only person who could freely enter the grand hall now was naturally Yuan's old sweetheart—Ming Yu—and the main reason Yuan had maintained his soul-body state all this time.

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