Chapter 150: Soul Transformation Limit, the Speed of the Celestial Root

"Brother Lu, you are a Golden Core Realist and also the strongest disciple in innate talent of the Character: Liyang Patriarch; within this Character: Liyang Zhenren City, if someone dares to disrespect you, why don't you directly step in and teach this Bai Wuji a lesson?"

Ding Yanran was furious; she hadn't been able to obtain the Jiao Long Essence Soul Pill and kept getting rebuked one after another, never expecting that this time she came to Character: Liyang Zhenren City would be so frustrating.

She could at least write off that woman Li Xuelian, whose mind is single‑minded and whose ideas are often off, but then a nameless, background‑less Scattered Cultivator also dared to anger her! In Xingyue Palace, because of her sister's connection, no one dares to disrespect her like that.

Guang Qin's expression grew solemn as he said, "Character: Liyang Zhenren City is a city of Scattered Cultivators, unlike Xingyue City where Xingyue Palace is supreme and no one dares to defy it. Although Character: Liyang Zhenren City was founded single‑handed by my Master, rules were set at its inception: no one may act arbitrarily, not even the Lord's Mansion may use its power to bully others. Moreover, this occurred at the auction co‑hosted with the Jiulian Trade Association, where Bai Wuji legitimately won the item and refused to relinquish it; that is indeed reasonable, and I have no grounds to force him."

At this point, Guang Qin's eyes held an inexplicable hope as he murmured softly, "Unless one day Character: Liyang Zhenren City is entirely under my control…"

Ding Yanran didn't catch Guang Qin's hidden meaning, and, simmering in anger, refused to let it go: "Brother Lu, in a few days find an opportunity to teach this person a lesson, make him realize who's powerful, and obediently hand over the Jiao Long Essence Soul Pill. Hmph, if he refuses the face we give him, then let him lose both his people and his wealth, and regret it forever!"

Guang Qin shook his head: "Although I also quite want to teach Bai Wuji a lesson, I can't. I am a Jie Dan Realist; to specifically bully a Foundation Establishment cultivator, using strength to oppress the weak, would be unbecoming. If I broke the rules of Character: Liyang Zhenren City, my Master might intervene personally…"

Ding Yanran frowned, displeased: "The rules of Character: Liyang Zhenren City are indeed many. Then after a while, when my senior brother Feng passes through Character: Liyang Zhenren City, let him help me properly teach Bai Wuji a lesson! After all, this person is not claimed to be the top Foundation Establishment talent, comparable to Senior Brother Feng, right? Feng's current world‑tour is precisely to hone himself, challenge the geniuses of major sects, and make the final preparations to break through Jie Dan."

"Then, let those unsophisticated Foundation Establishment cultivators of Character: Liyang Zhenren City see what a true top talent looks like!"

Ding Yanran disparaged Character: Liyang Zhenren City on one hand and looked down on it on the other; hearing this, Guang Qin felt somewhat uneasy.

Although it wasn't directed at him, he was still from Character: Liyang Zhenren City, which might one day become his own domain; being denigrated like that naturally left him displeased.

Yet he had to admit that Ding Yanran's words made sense.

The cultivators of Character: Liyang Zhenren City still lack experience.

Whether it's his junior brother Gu Zongyuan or this Xiao Zhangqing who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, compared with the top geniuses of Xingyue Palace and the Seven Star Sword Sect, they are considerably weaker.

"Has Qin Feng's Condensing True Pill been prepared?" Guang Qin asked instinctively.

Ding Yanran replied, "Of course. Several years ago the sect prepared a Condensing True Pill for Senior Brother Feng, and it was a premium one. But Senior Brother Feng felt his foundation was still insufficient, so he set out to travel, return, and solidify his Dao heart, hoping to condense a Golden Core of even higher quality."

Upon hearing this, Guang Qin, though already a Jie Dan, couldn't help feeling envious.

This is the treatment reserved for the core disciples of the Nascent Soul faction.

Back then, when he sought to reach Jie Dan, he likewise had no idea how much effort and price he paid.

He could have attempted Jie Dan long ago, but without a Condensing True Pill, it kept being postponed.

Qin Feng didn't have to do anything; the sect prepared a premium Condensing True Pill for him early on, yet he simply doesn't wish to breakthrough for now.

"I truly envy the disciples of Xingyue Palace," Guang Qin sighed.

Ding Yanran shook her head and spoke frankly, "There's no need to be overly envious. Senior Brother Feng and my sister are both geniuses that Xingyue Palace sees once every few decades, so the sect naturally invests fully in cultivating them. Ordinary direct disciples don't receive such favorable treatment; even if they reach the great completion of Foundation Establishment, to obtain a Condensing True Pill they must slowly accrue seniority, complete missions, and earn contribution points. Just like me—if I want a third‑tier Essence Soul Pill to aid my cultivation, I also have to figure it out myself…"

Guang Qin gave no reply.

"Isn't he himself a once‑in‑a‑lifetime talent in Character: Liyang Zhenren City's history? Yet junior brother Gu, whose talent isn't even stronger, enjoys some of the core disciple privileges of Xingyue Palace…"

"The Master is playing favorites! …"

…

"Blood Crow Realist hasn't even had time to resolve it, and has now provoked Guang Qin and disciples of Xingyue Palace."

"Could it be that I have a trouble‑attracting constitution?"

"That's not right. I've been lurking in Nanshan Fang for over ten years and never caused any trouble."

"Sigh, I just want to cultivate peacefully; why must I be made difficult?"

Inside the cultivation chamber, Xiao Zhangqing shook his head and stopped pondering these questions.

As long as one's strength is sufficient, even a trouble‑attracting nature can be easily dealt with.

"Let me see whether the twenty‑zhang Soul Transformation boost from the Jiao Long Essence Soul Pill can be stacked by the system…"

Xiao Zhangqing, eyes hopeful, equipped both the Jiao Long Essence Soul Pill and the Nine Autumn Flute simultaneously, causing the two major skills—Soul Awareness increase of twenty zhāng and Soul Awareness increase by 1.5 times—to activate together.

Buzz! In an instant, Xiao Zhangqing confirmed the two skills could be stacked without conflict!

This time Xiao Zhangqing didn't need to fully unfold his Soul Transformation to explore its limits; subconsciously he could already determine the extent of his Soul Transformation.

"It has reached 185 zhāng! And…"

The moment Xiao Zhangqing opened his eyes, his pupils seemed to shine with radiant light.

Before equipping the Jiao Long Essence Soul Pill, his Soul Transformation's outward intensity was about 135 zhāng; now it has increased by fifty zhāng.

Thus the two major skills can be stacked.

It was also as expected.

After all, previous cases where the system prevented skill overlap were due to identical talent and comprehension, which were exactly the same.

But Soul Transformation growth and Soul Transformation doubling are entirely separate concepts.

However, Xiao Zhangqing's surprise now lay not in the outward boost, but in another massive change of his Soul Transformation.

"It seems the Soul Transformation growth is approaching the 'limit'…"

At this moment Xiao Zhangqing gained a clear insight.

His Soul Transformation strength has already surpassed that of the vast majority of mid‑stage Jie Dan cultivators, nearly reaching the threshold of late‑stage Jie Dan!

The overwhelming majority of cultivators who have just formed a Golden Core have Soul Transformation strength around one hundred zhāng; pseudo‑Golden Core cultivators are slightly weaker, around ninety zhāng. After all, pseudo‑Golden Core practitioners have completed the metamorphosis in both body and Soul Transformation, only missing the final step to true Jie Dan; their magical power is already the solid magical power of a Golden Core Realist, and their Soul Transformation is likewise not weak.

As for mid‑stage Jie Dan cultivators, their Soul Transformation strength typically reaches about one hundred fifty zhāng.

Late‑stage Jie Dan reaches two hundred zhāng.

Thus Xiao Zhangqing's current outward Soul Transformation intensity of 185 zhāng is essentially brushing the edge of late‑stage Jie Dan.

At the same time, he faintly sensed a shackling.

The growth of his Soul Transformation is nearing the 'limit'.

This limit does not mean the cultivator's Soul Transformation is capped; rather, after reaching late‑stage Jie Dan, the cultivator's goal is to shatter the Golden Core into a Nascent Soul.

At that point, all previous rules are broken, and everything undergoes a 'qualitative' change.

The Soul Transformation no longer becomes merely 'bigger', but 'stronger'! A Soul Transformation that is simply 'big' cannot aid the shattering of the Golden Core into a Nascent Soul. Only when it is sufficiently 'strong' and more refined can it provide the crucial role in that process and allow one to overcome the Heart Demon Tribulation!

When a cultivator progresses from Golden Core Realist to Nascent Soul True Lord, they must not only endure the Thunder Tribulation but also the Heart Demon Tribulation!

Thus the Soul Transformation must, after reaching a certain outward extent, also be sufficiently strong and refined.

"With the two major skills stacked, besides the Soul Transformation outward growth reaching 185 zhāng, I can already clearly feel the Soul Transformation beginning to shift toward refinement."

Xiao Zhangqing's thoughts turned, and a fist‑sized jade stone appeared before him, exactly the Longevity Stone fragment he had obtained from Mu Renjie earlier.

This Longevity Stone currently has two major abilities.

One is the Nightmare Technique, a very useful and powerful soul‑consciousness secret art; it can be used to temper his own Soul Transformation, and also against foes, causing them to fall into endless hallucinations, like descending into reincarnation, becoming walking corpses, and all secrets will be exposed under Xiao Zhangqing's guidance.

The other is— the incomplete version of the External Body Technique! This secret art allows Xiao Zhangqing to store the liquid magical energy of the Foundation Establishment Realm within it, forming the solid magical energy that only Core Formation Perfection cultivators possess.

It is equivalent to a temporary Golden Core! Very useful; for Xiao Zhangqing now it helps greatly, compensating the deficiency beyond his Soul Transformation, letting him truly compare with Core Formation Perfection cultivators.

However, this ability differs greatly from the External Body Technique; Xiao Zhangqing suspects that "storing, converting" magical energy is only the most superficial use, not truly unleashing the divine skill's full effect.

Previously Xiao Zhangqing speculated many things and researched many times, yet never found any clue.

Today his Soul Transformation rose again, almost reaching the late Core Formation Perfection threshold, hitting the "limit", and he suddenly understood a bit.

Buzz— earlier Xiao Zhangqing had used spiritual consciousness to scan the Longevity Stone fragment countless times with no reaction, but this time when his Soul Transformation touched the fragment, the jade stone instantly began to tremble, and a strange power gradually surfaced.

Points of light glimmered, thin black mist coiled.

For Xiao Zhangqing, it felt as if he had returned to the time at Nanshan Fang, when the already demonic, half‑human, half‑evil Mu Renjie came knocking, an ominous feeling rushing at him.

But.

Xiao Zhangqing himself felt no effect; he could clearly sense that he was sober, untainted by any ominous evil aura.

He only vaguely felt a strange connection with the Longevity Stone fragment, and his Soul Transformation seemed to undergo some odd change.

Yet a moment later, everything receded, the Longevity Stone remained unrefined.

"There's still quite a gap. Perhaps I must wait until my Soul Transformation grows to the 'limit', undergoes a qualitative change, before I can uncover some secrets of the Longevity Stone."

"External Body, evil spirits, longevity…"

Xiao Zhangqing held the Longevity Stone fragment in his hand, his gaze thoughtful.

"Now, even if that Blood Crow Immortal breaks through to the mid Golden Core stage, I need not fear."

"With my spiritual consciousness strength, plus the Dragon Chant Technique secret method, I can sweep away most mid Golden Core cultivators. I wouldn't be far from the peak‑era Jiu Qiu Immortal."

"Back then, Jiu Qiu Immortal was also a top mid Golden Core, his powerful Soul Transformation paired with the Jiu Qiu spiritual‑consciousness secret art could barely contend with late Golden Core. But late Golden Core masters differ too much from mid Golden Core; fighting up a level is too hard."

Xiao Zhangqing evaluated this in his heart.

Now his Soul Transformation has grown to 185 zhang, and he can truly feel the difference of late Core Formation Perfection.

Late Core Formation Perfection signifies preparation for fragmenting the Golden Core into a Nascent Soul; the Soul Transformation has already grown to the limit and begun a qualitative change.

If it were Core Formation Perfection, like Character: Liyang Zhenren, an almost invincible Core Formation Realm existence, it would be unimaginably powerful.

Regardless of magical energy or Soul Transformation, both have metamorphosed greatly, becoming exceedingly condensed.

Ordinary Core Formation Immortals, in his eyes, are probably no different from slightly stronger ants.

"So Character: Liyang Zhenren must absolutely not be provoked."

Xiao Zhangqing thought silently.

However… he almost forgot, he seemed only at mid Foundation Establishment stage?

"That's fine."

"When I succeed in Core Formation, perhaps I can barely glimpse Character: Liyang Zhenren's level?"

"Hmm… just as the Heavenly Spirit Root is ready, let's test how much faster cultivation speed is compared to the Earth Spirit Root."

As Xiao Zhangqing activated the Longevity Technique, his body immediately felt like an endless black hole, stirring the ambient spiritual energy in the cultivation chamber into a vortex, wildly sucking it into his body.

The unprecedented speed shocked Xiao Zhangqing greatly.

He should note that the cave residence he rented is already one of the best rented caves outside Character: Liyang Zhenren City, with spiritual energy concentration reaching second‑tier superior grade.

Normally, even a second‑tier perfect cultivator would find cultivation here fully sufficient.

Yet at this moment, the mid Foundation Establishment Xiao Zhangqing somehow felt the cave's spiritual vein level insufficient, the spiritual energy supply lacking!

Half an hour later.

Stopping cultivation, Xiao Zhangqing couldn't help muttering, "Is the gap really this big?"

He originally thought that even if the Heavenly Spirit Root was stronger than the Earth Spirit Root, it was only limitedly stronger; now he realizes he was wildly wrong.

No wonder in the Da Yu Cultivation World, Earth Spirit Root talents are rare, but basically every major Core Formation sect has one each generation.

Like in Character: Liyang Zhenren City, Xiao Zhangqing knows of the ancient sect founder and the slain Song family young master, both Earth Spirit Root talents.

Those he doesn't know are certainly more.

But the Heavenly Spirit Root, Character: Liyang Zhenren City has never heard of anyone with it!

In the Da Yu Cultivation World, only when a Heavenly Spirit Root appears do all sects scramble, even the two major Nascent Soul sects are no exception.

"It seems the rumor in the cultivation world that Heavenly Spirit Root cultivators, as long as they don't die prematurely, have over 70% chance to form a Golden Core, is not baseless."

"Originally, with my previous speed, breaking through to late Foundation Establishment would still require at least a decade of arduous cultivation."

"Now it seems, four or five years, late Foundation Establishment is within reach!"

Feeling the noticeably stronger magical energy within his body, Xiao Zhangqing thought with some excitement.

(End of chapter)