Chapter 302: Refining the Spirit, Forging the Dao Foundation

Absolute void, eternal silence.

In the eleventh-layer space, after the ultimate power representing "annihilation" receded like a tide, what remained was not truly nothing.

A speck of chaos hue, so faint it seemed about to extinguish, stubbornly hovered, like the sole flickering spark in an endless dark abyss.

This speck was the last trace of Wang Ping's essential existence—a fusion of the Five Elements' origin true intent, a wisp of indestructible chaos qi, and the core seal forged from the will-star tempered through countless life-and-death trials, its will as unbreakable as conceivable.

The Tower Spirit's declaration of "annihilation" was no empty words. For any ordinary Golden Core cultivator, and even many Nascent Soul cultivators, under that claw, body and spirit would be destroyed, true soul scattered—an undeniable end. But Wang Ping was different.

His Dao foundation was the self-created, perfected Five Elements Divine Light, the Five Elements cycling endlessly, already touching a hint of the threshold to chaos returning to origin.

His flesh body, with the left arm fused with chaos qi, having undergone multiple reforgings and law-washings, far surpassed the toughness of peers at the same level.

His soul, having cultivated the first layer of the Refine Spirit Decision, condensed into a will-star, and through repeated life-and-death trials in the Myriad Law Pool and Heaven-Reaching Tower, its toughness approached that of a Nascent Soul.

Most crucially, the "One Sword Breaks Myriad Laws" he unleashed at the critical moment was not a mere burst of power; it took the innate sword-nurturing technique's seed sword qi as a guide, fusing his ultimate comprehension of the Dao, of life and death, and of the Five Elements chaos, manifesting the Dao itself—a blazing blaze of life in dire straits.

This sword not only heavily wounded the thunderous phantom of the tenth layer, but also, in the unseen, imprinted upon his true spirit's depths a trace surpassing the Golden Core level, akin to a Dao mark—an indelible imprint!

It was precisely the stacking of these inconceivable factors that, under the theoretically fatal "annihilation," allowed him to retain this final point of origin seal, never fully dissipating between heaven and earth.

And the Heaven-Reaching Tower, as one of the spiritual realm's oldest and most mysterious proving grounds, has profound, inscrutable rules. When it detected that a challenger in the eleventh layer had been subjected to "rule-based annihilation" yet strangely retained a faint but extremely high-quality origin imprint, a certain deep-layer mechanism within the tower was triggered.

"Detected that the challenger's origin has not been completely dissipated…… matches the hidden judgment condition of 'Striving for Life'…… invoking the 'Origin Repair' authorization……"

The Tower Spirit's voice, vast and icy yet seemingly tinged with an extremely faint emotional fluctuation compared to before, echoed in the void.

Hum……

The next moment, the eleventh-layer space's pure, rich ancient spiritual qi and law fragments, as if pulled by an invisible hand, began to slowly converge toward that point of chaos light.

At the same time, deep within the tower's body, a wisp of even purer pale-gold origin qi—seeming to contain the most primordial vitality from when heaven and earth first opened—quietly seeped out, mingling with those spiritual qi and laws, transforming into a warm, gentle flow of light brimming with endless creative power, softly enveloping the chaos light point.

Like spring rain nourishing a withered seed, like a mother's womb nurturing a newborn embryo.

Under the nourishment of the Heaven-Reaching Tower's partial origin power, Wang Ping's point of chaos light began to beat slowly, like a heart reviving.

Faint Five Elements radiance rekindled, mutually clinging and flowing to construct the most basic life framework. That wisp of chaos true intent acted like a binder, stabilizing the fragile balance. The imprint of the will-star served as a lighthouse, guiding the reunification of divine awareness.

This was an extremely slow process, full of uncertainty. Time in this space seemed to lose meaning.

No one knew how long had passed—perhaps an instant, perhaps a century.

Finally, the cluster of light wrapped in the pale-gold flow suddenly contracted inward, then abruptly expanded!

The light faded, and a slightly illusory yet complete figure gradually appeared. It was Wang Ping!

He tightly closed his eyes, his complexion pale as paper, his breath so weak it was nearly nonexistent, his body in a semi-transparent state, as if it might drift away on the wind at any moment.

But no matter what, he "existed." His flesh body, meridians, dantian, Golden Core, sea of consciousness…… all were, under the combined action of the Heaven-Reaching Tower's origin power and his own stubborn will, painstakingly reshaped and reborn.

Although frail to the point of weakness, his realm even fell to the brink of early Golden Core, yet his foundation remained unharmed, his Dao resonance persisted, and more importantly, the experience of undergoing "life-and-death annihilation" then "Striving for Life" endowed his perception of the world and understanding of the Dao with an unprecedented depth of vicissitude and profundity.

When his eyelashes trembled and he slowly opened his eyes, the depths of his gaze held less youthful sharpness, more the deep stillness of an ancient well, and a hint of tranquil resolve after seeing through life and death.

"Eleventh layer……" he murmured hoarsely. Although the process was brutal to the point of near-total demise, in the end he stood firm.

It was not by defeating the gatekeeper—who might well be beyond what a Golden Core stage could oppose—but by, under its absolute "annihilation" rule, relying on his own foundation and the Dao mark carved by that sword, he stubbornly endured, triggering the Tower Spirit's hidden "Striving for Life" judgment, thus passing the level.

This, compared to merely defeating a strong foe, tests a cultivator's fundamentals—Dao foundation, will, potential, and comprehension of "life" and "death."

"Challenger Wang Ping has passed the eleventh-layer 'Striving for Life' trial. Evaluation: Unprecedented." The Tower Spirit's voice sounded, seeming to carry a barely perceptible…… solemnity?

"Reward: one Tower Spirit Origin Seal (already merged for reforging), Heaven-Reaching Command authority raised to the highest (allowing entry at any time to any area of the first through eleventh layers of the tower for contemplation), Tower Spirit blessing (slight permanent increase in cultivation speed and comprehension)."

As the Tower Spirit's words faded, Wang Ping felt a vague yet profound connection form between himself and the Heaven-Reaching Tower.

The non-gold, non-jade "Heaven-Reaching Command" on his wrist grew warmer and more lustrous, its interior filled with many complex information streams. More importantly, he sensed that his comprehension and affinity with heavenly-earthly spiritual qi seemed to have gained an indescribable slight increase.

A flash of light, and Wang Ping's figure vanished from the eleventh layer.

……

Outside the Heaven-Reaching Tower, deathly silence persisted.

The echo of the words "fallen" struck like an ice pick in everyone's hearts. Countless gazes stared blankly at the light curtain where the eleventh-layer point had turned gray, and at Wang Ping's name followed by the glaring "fallen" status, unable to accept this sudden drastic change.

Leizhen's eyes turned blood-red, his fists clenched with a creaking sound, his entire body's lightning surged uncontrollably, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Many disciples who admired Wang Ping, their eye sockets reddened, found it hard to believe that the senior brother who had risen like a legend would cease in this manner.

Some disciples who had originally envied or borne grudges against Wang Ping showed complex, inscrutable expressions—some gleeful, some regretful, but more a bewildered sorrow like a rabbit's death feeling the fox's grief.

Above the clouds, the observing Nascent Soul instructors and Spirit Transformation elders in the shadows also fell silent, shaking their heads and sighing.

A seedling so astonishingly talented and limitless in potential actually fell in the Heaven-Reaching Tower…… this is a tremendous loss for the Nine Dao Institute, and indeed for all of humanity.

However, amidst the pervasive sorrow, deathly silence, and incredulity——

Hum!!!

The Heaven-Reaching Tower, this ancient giant tower that has stood for untold hundreds of thousands of years, upon its body all the dormant ancient runes, at this moment, lit up simultaneously!

Not just one or two layers, but from the tower's base to its summit, every inscribed and hidden rune burst forth with unprecedented brilliant radiance!

Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, violet…… seven-colored flowing light shot out from every texture of the tower's body, intertwining and coiling, shooting straight beyond the nine heavens!

Moreover, an enormously thick pillar of pure chaos-colored light erupted explosively from the tower's peak, breaking through the cloud sea, piercing heaven and earth, like a great column connecting heaven and earth—a chaos divine pillar!

Within the light column, faintly visible were the sun, moon, and stars orbiting, mountains and rivers rising and falling, phantom shadows of gods and demons paying homage, immortal blossoms and sacred lotuses blooming! The vast, ancient Dao resonance emanating from the light column rang throughout the universe, cleansing heaven and earth!

At the same time, the enormous record light screen outside the tower burst forth with a golden radiance more dazzling than the sun!

Within that radiance, at the very top of the record list for the Golden Core stage, the line of ancient script sealed away for who-knows-how-many years gradually faded, and new, even more brilliant characters emerged, as if forged from divine gold, bearing supreme authority, slowly appearing:

"Golden Core stage highest record: eleventh layer, creator: Nine Dao Institute, Wang Ping."

"Status: Not cleared."

"Evaluation: Unprecedented."

Boom——!!!

Like pouring cold water into hot oil, and like a silent volcano erupting completely!

The entire vicinity outside the Heaven-Reaching Tower, the Nine Dao Institute, and even farther regions—all cultivators who saw or heard this heaven-shaking phenomenon and the Tower Spirit's proclamation fell into unprecedented shock and frenzy!

"Eleventh layer?! He didn't just fall?!"

Damn! Unprecedented!

My heavens! The entire Tongtian Tower's runes lit up! A chaotic light pillar pierced heaven and earth! This is the highest standard of 'Dao Tower Resonance'! Legend says only by breaking the myriad-ages record and receiving the tower spirit's highest approval does it appear!

Senior Brother Wang Ping… he didn't die! He cleared it! He broke the myriad-ages record!

A Golden Core cultivator cleared the eleventh layer! This… this is nothing short of a myth!

The Ninth Dao Institute… is going to rise! No, it's the human race that's going to rise!

Cheers, shouts, sobs, and incredulous screams… all kinds of sounds mixed together, forming a sound wave tempest that swept across heaven and earth!

It was a hundred, even a thousand times more intense than any previous occasion! Countless disciples were so excited they danced with joy, hot tears filling their eyes, even more thrilled than when they themselves broke through!

Those elders and instructors who had originally sighed were now trembling with excitement, their eyes flashing with sharp light!

Luo Qingyang first stared, then looked up to the sky and let out an earth-shaking wild laugh; laughing and laughing, tears glimmered in his tiger eyes:

Hahaha! Good! Good! Brother Wang! I knew you had a tough fate! Unprecedented in ages! What an unprecedented feat!

The light pillar lasted a full nine breaths before gradually fading. The tower's runes also slowly dimmed, returning to their ancient simplicity.

But that shock, that glory, has been deeply etched into the souls of every witness.

When Wang Ping's somewhat illusory yet steady figure slowly emerged from the radiance of the tower gate, the whole crowd fell silent for a moment, then burst into an even more fervent and unified shout:

Wang Ping!

Wang Ping!!

Wang Ping!!!

The sound wave surged like the sea, the reverence like that for a god!

Wang Ping's expression remained calm; he gave a slight nod to the crowd and wished to leave this overly noisy gathering. He urgently needed a quiet place to consolidate his fragile reforged foundation and digest the precious insight of 'advancing toward life by facing death'.

However, before he could take a few steps, several streams of overwhelming yet gentle and affectionate divine sense descended almost simultaneously, enveloping him.

Young friend Wang Ping, I am the Grand Elder of the Dao Institute's Hall of Transmission. Would you be interested in coming to the hall for a chat? Regarding the Dao of the Five Elements, I may have some insights to share with you.

Junior Nephew Wang, I am the Master of the Alchemy Pavilion. Seeing your reforged flesh and damaged foundation, I have several ancient elixir recipes here that might be of great use to you.

Wang Ping, I am the Head of the Formation Institute. Your final sword seemed to contain formation trajectories, marvelously ineffable. Our institute possesses a fragment of an ancient sword formation that might help you perfect this path.

Junior Nephew Wang…

One after another, voices rang directly in Wang Ping's sea of consciousness, their tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable aura of Nascent Soul, even Spirit Transformation, might!

These are the true high-level figures of the Ninth Dao Institute, usually unseen big shots!

At this moment, they all actively extended olive branches to Wang Ping, their words making no secret of their intentions to win him over, befriend him, or invest in him!

Wang Ping's steps paused slightly; he understood clearly. Having achieved such a world-shaking feat, the potential he displayed could no longer be called merely 'heavenly pride'; it was practically the embryo of a 'Dao Son' and a future titan.

These high-level figures have sharp eyes; they naturally see his future value, and extending goodwill now is the perfect timing.

He was pondering how to respond politely—so as not to offend the elders' faces while maintaining his own independence—when a calm voice, seeming to embody the ultimate truth of heaven and earth and capable of soothing all agitation, echoed in everyone's ears and also in the sea of consciousness of those few senior figures transmitting sound:

'Ping'er, come to the summit of the Cloud Sea.'

It was his master, Jiang Mingyuan.

Just that one sentence, and the several streams of overbearing divine sense that had enveloped Wang Ping retreated like a tide, carrying a barely perceptible awe and understanding. With the institute head personally stepping forward, they naturally understood that this unprecedented genius had long been the head's private asset—or rather, his sole personal disciple. Others would find it hard to lay a hand on him.

Wang Ping's heart warmed; he gave a slight bow to the void, then transformed into a five-colored evasion light, flying straight toward the forbidden ground deep within the Dao Institute.

At the summit of the Cloud Sea, the stone pavilion remained as before.

Jiang Mingyuan stood with his hands behind his back at the pavilion's edge, gazing at the surging cloud sea; hearing Wang Ping's footsteps landing, he slowly turned.

His gaze fell on Wang Ping; in his calm, deep eyes, for the first time appeared an unhidden, extremely complex emotion—there was gratification, approval, astonishment, and a hint… as if seeing his younger self, even surpassing his own feelings.

'The eleventh layer, …' Jiang Mingyuan softly repeated the tower spirit's evaluation, a faint smile appearing on his face: 'Good, very good. Stronger than I was back then.'

Those few simple words contained the utmost affirmation. Jiang Mingyuan himself, back then, was also astonishingly talented, sweeping aside his peers; otherwise he could not have seated himself as head of the Ninth Dao Institute. His candid statement that Wang Ping surpasses his former self makes this endorsement weightier than mountains.

'Fortunate to have survived, thanks to my master's cultivation and the tower spirit's favor.' Wang Ping bowed, his tone sincere. He could reach today because his master's early guidance, the bestowal of the 'Refining Spirit Decree,' and the trust and support at critical moments were crucial.

Jiang Mingyuan waved his hand: 'Opportunity and external forces are merely aids. To seize them, to bear them—that is your own Dao, your fortune, your fate.'

He paused, looking at Wang Ping's still illusory and unstable aura, his brows slightly furrowed: 'This time your reforging, though the foundation is not damaged, the condition is extremely poor; you need prolonged rest to consolidate. However…'

He shifted his tone, a glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes: 'Crisis is also opportunity. Having undergone 'annihilation' and 'rebirth,' with your soul wandering between life and death, your understanding of the 'Divine' likely far exceeds that of your peers, perhaps even touching the threshold of Nascent Soul. Now is the perfect time to cultivate the second layer of the 'Refining Spirit Decree.'

Saying this, Jiang Mingyuan pointed his finger like a sword, lightly tapping Wang Ping's brow.

A warm, pure gleam of divine sense, containing boundless profound information, sank into Wang Ping's sea of consciousness.

The second layer of the 'Refining Spirit Decree'—the 'Tempering Spirit Chapter'!

Unlike the first layer, the 'Spirit Condensation Chapter,' which focuses on gathering and tempering the soul, the second layer, the 'Tempering Spirit Chapter,' emphasizes 'tempering' and 'transformation'! Its core is to use one's will as the furnace, one's divine sense as the fuel, and one's comprehension of the Great Dao as the fire, repeatedly and extremely tempering and purifying the soul!

The text opens by stating: For a Golden Core cultivator practicing this chapter to achieve minor success, one must repeatedly condense, compress, and temper one's own divine sense—a total of seventy-two times!

Each session is like forging raw iron into hundred-times-refined steel; the process is excruciatingly painful, with an extremely high risk of failure—lightly damaging the divine sense, heavily extinguishing the soul fire, reducing one to a living corpse. Yet its effects can be called heaven-defying!

Each successful session refines the divine sense a fraction purer and more solid, markedly enhancing perception of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, control over one's own power, and affinity with the Dao's laws. If all seventy-two sessions are completed, a Golden Core cultivator's divine sense can rival that of a Nascent Soul! It can even lay an unsurpassed foundation for future condensation of a 'Divine Infant' (soul Nascent Soul).

'Seventy-two divine sense temperings…' Having received the technique's information, Wang Ping, even with his present state of mind, couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air. This difficulty is simply unimaginable! Each tempering is immensely perilous; seventy-two of them… no wonder the master said this technique is not for those lacking great perseverance and great opportunity.

'Finding it difficult?' Jiang Mingyuan seemed to see through his thoughts, speaking calmly: 'You have already walked through life and death; your will is as unshakable as the stars. Your Five Points Spirit Array is complete, your divine sense harmonizes with the Five Elements, giving you toughness far beyond ordinary people. Moreover, you obtained the tower spirit's blessing in the Tongtian Tower, enhancing your comprehension. These three points are ideal conditions for practicing this chapter. Moreover…'

His gaze deep: 'Don't you want to know what a sight it would be when a Golden Core body bears Nascent Soul–level divine sense and unleashes your Five-Element Divine Light?'

Upon hearing this, Wang Ping's eyes instantly blazed with fervent light! Nascent Soul–level divine sense! His perception of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, control over his own power, and mastery of the Five-Element Dao will undergo a qualitative leap! Combined with his already perfected Five-Element Spirit Array techniques, its power…

'Disciple will surely exert my utmost effort to master this chapter!' Wang Ping declared firmly.

'Hn.' Jiang Mingyuan nodded in satisfaction. 'You stay here and regulate your breath for three days to stabilize your reforged body. After three days, we will begin the first divine sense tempering right here. I will guard the dharma for you.'

'Thank you, Master!' Wang Ping bowed deeply again.

Over the next three days, Wang Ping sat cross-legged at the summit of the Cloud Sea, bathed in spiritual energy several times purer and richer than the outside world, aided by the several top-grade spirit pills of 'foundation consolidating and origin nurturing' bestowed by Jiang Mingyuan, fully exerting himself to stabilize his reforged flesh and Golden Core.

Although his cultivation temporarily fell to the verge of early Golden Core, his Dao foundation, thanks to the experience of 'advancing toward life by facing death' and nourishment from the tower spirit's source, became more translucent, pure, and tightly linked to the heavenly and earthly Great Dao.

The strand of chaotic qi in his left arm also seemed to have grown a bit, merging more perfectly with the newly formed flesh, blood, and bones.

On the morning after the three days, the cloud sea surged and the dawn sun rose.

Wang Ping adjusted his state to optimal; although his cultivation had not yet recovered, his essence, energy, and spirit were full, especially the will-star in his sea of consciousness, which after undergoing life-and-death tempering, had its inner light more condensed and stable.

"Begin." Jiang Mingyuan's voice sounded from beside, calm and waveless, yet giving a feeling of utmost reassurance.

Wang Ping nodded, his mind sinking into his sea of consciousness, and began to operate according to the method of the second layer 'Tempering Spirit Chapter' of the Refining Spirit Decree.

The first step was 'Gathering Spirit as the Furnace'. He took his tenacious will as the core, mobilized all his spiritual sense power, and in his sea of consciousness constructed an intangible, substanceless yet truly existing 'Tempering Spirit Furnace'.

This process was not easy; it required forcibly condensing and shaping the originally diffused spiritual sense power, demanding extremely high control.

Fortunately, Wang Ping's will was firm; his spiritual sense, already far surpassing peers of the same level from cultivating the first layer, took about an hour, and a vague illusory furnace cauldron formed of pure spiritual sense light gradually took shape beneath the will-star.

The second step was 'Guiding Thought as Fuel'. He took his distractions and thoughts, and even some loosely scattered spiritual sense branches as fuel, feeding them into the 'Tempering Spirit Furnace'; this step was relatively simple, and Wang Ping completed it quickly.

The third step, and also the most crucial and perilous step——'Igniting the Dao Fire, the First Tempering'!

Wang Ping focused all his spirit, recalling his insights into the Grand Dao of the Five Elements, his understanding of life and death reincarnation, his comprehension of the primordial truth…… taking these 'Dao resonances' as tinder, he attempted to ignite the 'firewood' in the furnace!

Initially, there was no movement inside the furnace. Although those Dao resonance insights were profound, how to transform them into the 'flame' for tempering spiritual sense was profoundly mysterious.

Wang Ping did not grow discouraged; his mind became ever more clear and empty, continuously precipitating, condensing, and elevating all his insights…… at one moment, it felt as if a lightning bolt flashed across his mind!

It was the eleventh layer of the Tower to Heaven; at the moment the 'Annihilation' power descended, the extreme deathly stillness of all things returning to oblivion, contrasted sharply with the faint light of his last vestige of origin imprint stubbornly clinging to life!

It was the blurring of the boundary between life and death, the contest between existence and nothingness!

"Life and death reincarnation is the Dao fire!"

A stroke of enlightenment! An extremely faint wisp of flame, yet containing the profound mystery of life and death reincarnation, yin-yang transformation, ignited quietly at the center of the Tempering Spirit Furnace!

Although the flame was weak, the Dao resonance it emitted shook the entire sea of consciousness; the will-star's brilliance blazed forth, as if receiving some nourishment and resonance.

Wang Ping dared not delay; he immediately guided this wisp of 'Life-and-Death Dao Fire', beginning to scorch and temper the clump of condensed spiritual sense power in the furnace!

"Sizzle——"

It was as if cold water dripped into boiling oil; an indescribable intense pain instantly swept over Wang Ping's entire body and soul!

That feeling was not like being burned by flame, but more like having his soul consciousness placed under a millstone, repeatedly ground, torn apart, then forcibly recombined; each instant felt as long as a millennium, the pain penetrating the deepest depths of his soul, nearly causing his consciousness to collapse!

Wang Ping clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, cold sweat instantly soaking his clothes.

But he clung tightly to that sliver of lucidity in his sea of consciousness; the will-star flared wildly, providing the firmest support. He knew this was the pain that transformation must endure; if he retreated, all prior effort would be wasted, and his spiritual sense might even suffer a severe backlash.

Time passed bit by bit. In Jiang Mingyuan's perception, Wang Ping's aura fluctuated violently, his face turned deathly pale, his body even twitched slightly from the extreme pain. Yet he remained seated cross-legged like a bell, without the slightest wavering.

One hour, two hours, three hours……

Finally, as the sun set behind the western mountains, within Wang Ping's sea of consciousness the 'Tempering Spirit Furnace' held that clump of spiritual sense power repeatedly scorched and tempered; its volume had shrunk to nearly half, yet its hue shifted from the original hazy white light to crystal-clear transparency, like the purest crystal, emitting a more solid and keen fluctuation!

First spiritual sense tempering, success!

Wang Ping slowly opened his eyes; although mentally exhausted, deep within his pupils flashed a kind of unprecedented clear divine light!

He felt his perception undergo an earth-shaking change! Without deliberately releasing his spiritual sense, the flow of spiritual energy within a hundred-mile radius, the growth of plants, the chirping of insects and birds, even the faint spiritual power fluctuations of distant Dao Institute disciples cultivating, were as clear as patterns on his palm, vividly reflected in his heart-field!

His perception of the circulation of the five-element spiritual power within his body, his sensing of the chaotic qi on his left arm, and his affinity and ability to mobilize the five-element elements of the surrounding heaven and earth—all improved by more than one level!

More importantly, the will-star in his sea of consciousness, after undergoing the Life-and-Death Dao Fire tempering, had its light become more inwardly gathered and rich; its volume seemed to have shrunk slightly, yet it became heavier and more stable.

On the surface of the star, those profound soul‑settling runes originally present and obtained from the first layer of the Refining Spirit Decree became more complex and profound, faintly emitting a unique spiritual fluctuation akin to that of the 'Point Spirit Realm' dao technique!

It seemed as if these runes themselves were evolving toward a higher level!

"How do you feel?" Jiang Mingyuan's voice sounded, carrying a hint of a smile.

Wang Ping took a deep breath, suppressed the shock and joy in his heart, and said respectfully:

"Replying to Master, disciple feels……my spiritual sense seems to have shed a heavy shackle; heaven and earth are entirely within my perception. My control over my own power has become many times finer. The runes on the will-star also seem to have changed."

Jiang Mingyuan nodded slightly: "Having such an effect from the first tempering is not bad. Your spiritual strength is now solidly at the early Nascent Soul level. Remember this feeling, but do not slack off."

The 'Tempering Spirit Chapter' requires seventy-two temperings; the later they are, the harder they become, and the required 'Dao Fire' grows ever more stringent. You must continually comprehend deeper levels of the Grand Dao, endure more trials, in order to provide sufficient 'fuel' and 'tinder'.

"Disciple understands." Wang Ping nodded solemnly. Just one tempering brought such a tremendous improvement; he was full of yearning and fighting spirit to complete the seventy-two temperings.

"As for the changes in the runes on your will-star," Jiang Mingyuan's eyes flashed with a strange hue, "that is an anomaly produced when the Refining Spirit Decree is cultivated to a certain depth, combined with your unique dao foundation and experiences."

As your master, I have never heard of anyone in the spiritual realm exhibiting such a condition. Perhaps it is evolving toward the direction of 'Spiritual Sense Divine Ability'. You need to contemplate and nurture it more; in the future it may become a great aid to you.

"Spiritual Sense Divine Ability?" Wang Ping's heart stirred. If that were truly possible, it would be a trump card far surpassing ordinary spells.

"Alright, your initial tempering succeeded, your spiritual sense surged, and you need time to adapt and stabilize. The drop in cultivation need not be rushed; your foundation is intact, recovery will be swift, and perhaps this opportunity can also refine your spiritual power to be even purer."

Jiang Mingyuan instructed, "For the coming period, you are to remain in secluded cultivation at the summit of the Cloud Sea; without my permission, you may not descend the mountain."

"Yes, Master." Wang Ping replied. He knew that this move by his master both let him cultivate at ease and was a form of protection for him; the commotion he had caused this time was too great, unknown how many eyes lurked in the dark, staying by his master's side was the safest choice.

However, the tree wishes for calm but the wind will not cease.

The news that Wang Ping had set an unprecedented record in the Tower to Heaven and received personal protection from Institute Head Jiang Mingyuan swept through the Ninth Dao Institute like a storm, and spread even faster throughout the spiritual realm.

"Five Elements Dao Child", "Golden Core Slays Nascent Soul (referring to the tenth layer's combat power)", "Advancing Toward Death to Live", "Jiang Mingyuan's personal disciple"…… each eye‑catching label was affixed to Wang Ping, pushing his fame to an unprecedented peak, truly becoming the most dazzling, mysterious, and awe‑inspiring star among the younger generation of the spiritual realm.

Within the Dao Institute, undercurrents surged even more.

Although Jiang Mingyuan had clearly stated that Wang Ping was his personal disciple, he could not stop the various factions, elders, and instructors from extending olive branches through various channels and means.

The Grand Elder of the Hall of Transmission sent a rubbed copy of a fragment of the ancient Five Elements Dao Exegesis, saying it might inspire Wang Ping's completion of the Five Elements Divine Light.

The Chief of the Pill Refining Pavilion personally refined a furnace of "Nine‑Cycle Soul‑Returning Foundation‑Building Pill", entrusted to Lei Zhen for delivery, to help Wang Ping restore his cultivation and solidify his dao foundation.

The Head of the Formation Institute sent a jade slip recording clues to the remnants of an ancient Five Elements Grand Formation at a certain location.

Even some elders and instructors from aristocratic families subtly mentioned that their clans had marriage‑age daughters of direct lineage, whose talents and looks were of the highest caliber; if they could become dao partners with Wang Ping, it would not only benefit his cultivation but also win the wholehearted support of the entire clan……

These overtures, some sincere, some utilitarian, without exception indicated Wang Ping's present red‑hot status.

Lei Zhen, as Wang Ping's close friend, had practically become a "message‑running boy" these days, which annoyed him greatly, yet also made him happy for Wang Ping.

Wang Ping himself strictly obeyed his master's orders, dwelling in seclusion at the summit of the Cloud Sea, paying no heed to external disturbances, and wholeheartedly devoted himself to consolidating his cultivation, adapting to his surging spiritual sense, and preparing for the second spiritual sense tempering.

Regarding all these overtures, he uniformly declined them politely through Lei Zhen or Jiang Mingyuan, his attitude modest yet firm, indicating that for now he only wished to cultivate in seclusion, to repay neither his master's kindness nor the Dao Institute's nurturing.

One day, Jiang Mingyuan summoned Wang Ping to the pavilion.

"You are aware of recent affairs." Jiang Mingyuan said calmly, "Fame and profit are like a tide, temptation like a blade. If you can hold to your original heart and cultivate in seclusion, I, as your master, am greatly pleased."

"All is due to the Master's proper guidance." Wang Ping said.

Jiang Mingyuan shook his head: "It's your own firm resolve." He shifted his tone, voice turning slightly cold: "However, some people stretch their hands too far, thinking that hiding behind the scenes means I, as your master, wouldn't notice?"

Wang Ping's heart tightened: "Master, whom do you mean?"

"Within the Five Elements Clan, some old-timers, though you possess the orthodox Five Elements inheritance, still hold a grudge; although on the surface they dare not defy their Grand Elder's pacification policy, they secretly keep making small moves, seemingly wanting to use certain people to test you, or cause you trouble." Jiang Mingyuan's eyes flashed a hint of cold light: "Also, the Evil Nether Clan—after Ming Shen returned, he added fuel to the fire; the Evil Nether Clan's Shadow Kill Hall seems to have already placed you on its list. Among the demon clans, the younger generations of the Azure Dragon and Heaven Phoenix clans also have much dissatisfaction toward you, wanting to challenge you to regain face."

Wang Ping's expression unchanged: "When soldiers come, we meet them with generals; when water comes, we block it with earth. Disciple fears nothing."

"Your fearlessness is my fortune." Jiang Mingyuan's tone softened, "But petty clowns need not distract you. I have issued orders: you are my personally transmitted disciple; within the jurisdiction of the Ninth Dao Academy, no force or person may interfere with your cultivation in any form. Violators will be regarded as provoking the Dao Academy, provoking me."

These words, spoken plainly, yet contain supreme dignity and domineering authority! This is an open protection, and also the sternest warning! It tells everyone that Wang Ping is Jiang Mingyuan's reverse scale; whoever dares to move will have to bear the wrath of a Unity Stage venerable.

Wang Ping felt moved, bowed again: "Thank you, Master, for your protection!"

"Hmm." Jiang Mingyuan nodded, "Your divine sense has reached early Nascent Soul, your mastery of the Five Elements has advanced another level, and your cultivation has recovered to mid‑Golden Core. Next, your primary goal is to swiftly raise your cultivation to perfected Golden Core, then… begin preparing to assault the Nascent Soul!"

Assailing the Nascent Soul! Wang Ping's eyes instantly blazed. Forming a Nascent Soul is a crucial life leap on the path of cultivation, the true mark of stepping into the threshold of high‑level cultivators.

"With your perfected Five Elements Point‑Ling foundation, your current Nascent Soul‑level divine sense intensity, and your insight of 'advancing toward death to live,' forming a Nascent Soul for you is not a question of success or failure, but… what quality of Nascent Soul to condense!" Jiang Mingyuan's eyes blazed, "Five Elements Golden Core can condense a Five Elements Nascent Soul. Yet the Five Elements have grades. The lowest: mixed Five Elements, barely forming an infant; medium: balanced Five Elements, the Nascent Soul is stable; superior: mutually generating Five Elements, the Nascent Soul initially possesses spirituality; and in legend, there is also the Five Elements Unifying into One, the nascent chaos‑born 'Chaos Five Elements Nascent Soul,' an unsurpassed foundation, anciently rare."

Chaos Five Elements Nascent Soul! Wang Ping felt his heart and spirit sway.

"Your left arm has fused a thread of chaotic Qi, you have some insight into reversing chaos with the Five Elements, and you also have the Pagoda Spirit's blessing; perhaps… there is hope to reach that legendary realm." Jiang Mingyuan looked at Wang Ping, eyes full of expectation.

"However, to condense a supreme Nascent Soul, the required resources, opportunities, and insights are also immense. The Dao Academy will fully support you, but much more depends on you yourself striving, tempering, and comprehending."

"Disciple understands!" Wang Ping said solemnly, his heart already set on the goal—Chaos Five Elements Nascent Soul! Having stepped onto this unique Five Elements Great Path, he must pursue it to the utmost!

"All right, go back to cultivate. Next time you train your divine sense, try integrating your insight into the Five Elements chaos." Jiang Mingyuan waved his hand.

Wang Ping performed a salute and took his leave.

Returning to his cultivation quiet room, Wang Ping felt his back soaked in cold sweat. The information his master revealed today let him more clearly perceive the outside world's turmoil, and also made his future path clearer.

He sat cross‑legged and turned his gaze inward.

Inside his dantian, the five Golden Cores, though not as brilliant as at their peak, glowed warm and moist, their Dao patterns clear; under the fine regulation of Nascent Soul‑level divine sense, the Five Elements circulated more smoothly and efficiently, with recovery speed far surpassing before.

In his sea of consciousness, the will‑stars shone, the god‑suppressing sigils flowed with a profound undulation akin to the Point‑Ling realm. Nascent Soul‑level divine sense resembled invisible tendrils, finely sensing every minute change within himself and governing the flow of each thread of spiritual power.

"Chaos Five Elements Nascent Soul…" Wang Ping murmured, his eyes burning with determined fire.

Though external turmoil raged, his heart stood like a boulder. All disturbances were but passing clouds. At this moment, only cultivation, only growing stronger, only advancing step by step toward that supreme foundation with resolute determination.

At the summit of the Cloud Sea, mist surged, sealing off all clamor outside. Only the Dao heart and the yearning for exploration, like the rising morning sun, pierced the haze and illuminated the myriad worlds.

Wang Ping's legend, after breaking the myriad‑ages record and shaking the Eight Wastelands, did not cease but entered a more vast and turbulent chapter, also more