Chapter 536: The Spirit Refining Technique

Hua Changxi set the basic requirements for entering the Nether Soul Realm, then took the teleportation array back to Danyuan Peak, and afterward went to the Logistics Department to pick up a batch of Taiyin Bamboo Slips.

After obtaining the Taiyin Bamboo Slips, Hua Changxi returned to the bamboo hut atop the peak and inscribed the soul clan's divine soul cultivation technique, the *Soul Refining Art*.

The *Soul Refining Art* could also be cultivated by humans; after training, it could both strengthen the soul body and manipulate spiritual awareness.

This time, she used a soul technique—the *Soul Engraving Art*—so that the technique inscribed on the bamboo slips could be read an unlimited number of times.

Hua Changxi inscribed over a dozen bamboo slips in total. Once done, she sent messages to Yu Fu and the other four, telling them to come and collect the *Soul Refining Art*.

However, only Zhao Xi and Jia Lu came to the bamboo hut.

"After the Nine Gates Auction ended, Pavilion Master Meng convened a meeting about the Nether Soul Realm."

"Since entering the Nether Soul Realm to cultivate could strengthen cultivators' primordial spirits, Pavilion Master Meng, in the name of the Dan Holy Hall, contacted the Lingguang Hall to secure opportunities for cultivators at the Spiritual Altar realm and above from the Dan Holy Hall to train in the Soul Realm."

"Just recently, the Lingguang Hall replied, and then Pavilion Master Meng urgently summoned the various Secret Realm Masters for a discussion."

Arriving at the bamboo hut, Zhao Xi and Jia Lu first explained to Hua Changxi why Yu Fu and Zhou Shou hadn't come—they had gone to the Spiritual Realm Pavilion for a meeting.

After hearing this, Hua Changxi said nothing and let the two read the *Soul Refining Art*.

Zhao Xi and his group were all Body Refinement cultivators. Body Refinement cultivators had powerful physiques but weak primordial spirits. The *Soul Refining Art* could strengthen the soul body, which for them was like receiving charcoal in the snow, filling the biggest shortcoming on their cultivation path.

"Place these nine copies of the *Soul Refining Art* in the Merit Hall for disciples from Danyuan Peak and Danding Peak to exchange."

"No need for extensive publicity; let those with destiny obtain it."

Hua Changxi handed nine bamboo slips to Zhao Xi, the Merit Hall Master, and then gave two to Jia Lu: "Send these two to the Shennong Hall—one to Pu Cao, and one to Yu Gui."

Zhao Xi and Jia Lu respectfully accepted the bamboo slips.

Hua Changxi looked at the two, who were overjoyed yet seemed to want to say something, but she didn't explain: "Alright, I'm done here. You two go ahead with your duties."

Zhao Xi and Jia Lu left the bamboo hut with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

Only after descending to the mountainside did they begin to talk.

"Do you think..."

"I have a feeling..."

They both spoke at the same time and then fell silent simultaneously.

Finally, after a moment of hesitation, Zhao Xi broke the silence: "The rumors should be true." He didn't specify which rumors.

Jia Lu understood and nodded with a sigh: "Yeah!"

Recently, the most discussed topic among human cultivators was the Nether Soul Realm.

The key to opening the Nether Soul Realm was in the hands of the Lingguang Hall Master; even Minister Wei couldn't be sure he'd enter the Soul Realm.

Yet the master brought out the *Soul Refining Art* at this very time and told them to quickly master it—clearly preparing for entry into the Nether Soul Realm.

This move revealed far too much.

Zhao Xi took a deep breath and looked at Jia Lu: "No matter what, if the master hasn't explicitly said it, we know nothing."

Jia Lu nodded: "Right, we just need to do the tasks the master assigns us."

Meanwhile, after Zhao Xi and Jia Lu left, Hua Changxi took the teleportation array to Wuzhi Mountain and personally handed three bamboo slips inscribed with the *Soul Refining Art* to the siblings An Ze and An Ran.

Over the years, An Ze and An Ran had managed Wuzhi Mountain well; the Five Elements Sect had long been on track, and the siblings hadn't neglected their cultivation, both reaching the Spiritual Altar realm.

"Besides you two, are there any other Spiritual Altar cultivators in the Five Elements Sect?"

An Ze: "Wuzhi Mountain is rich in spiritual Qi. The five guardian beasts, Shan Ling, Xiao Song, and the hall masters and a few stewards from various divisions have all reached the Spiritual Altar realm. In total, nearly thirty."

Hua Changxi hadn't expected Wuzhi Mountain to have so many Spiritual Altar cultivators, but considering Wuzhi Mountain was the source of the spiritual Qi resurgence, she found it understandable.

"Hasten your cultivation of the *Soul Refining Art*. When the Nether Soul Realm opens, I'll notify you in advance."

After finishing the main business with An Ze and An Ran, Hua Changxi went to see Shan Ling and Xiao Song.

On ordinary days, besides patrolling the mountain, Shan Ling and Xiao Song mostly cultivated in the Mountain Spirit Field and the Fire Lotus Hall.

At the foot of Muzhi Mountain, the Mountain Spirit Temple and the Fire Lotus Hall stood out conspicuously; Hua Changxi spotted them from afar.

"Fairy!"

"Master!"

The moment Hua Changxi stepped into the range of Thumb Mountain, Mountain Spirit and Xiaosong sensed her aura. They flew out from Mountain Spirit Temple and Fire Lotus Hall and landed before her.

Now, Mountain Spirit and Xiaosong were no longer little children; they had grown into handsome, stunning young men and women.

Hua Changxi looked them over and smiled. "Your cultivation speed is really not slow."

Those two had both entered the late stage of the Spiritual Platform Realm!

Mountain Spirit, without any sense of distance, lifted his chin proudly and said, "Of course. Under the great trend of spiritual energy revival, Five Finger Mountain has fully benefited from favorable timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony."

As a mountain spirit, his cultivation did not mean burying his head in bitter practice. Instead, he had to fulfill the duties of a mountain spirit and bring blessings to the surroundings.

In other words, the more incense offerings he received, the faster he cultivated.

He was lucky enough that the person who claimed lordship over Five Finger Mountain was an immortal lady, and she was not the type to monopolize resources; she was willing to share Five Finger Mountain.

Across the entire Central Continent, Five Finger Mountain could be said to be the first immortal spiritual land open to all for training. Cultivators, and even ordinary people drawn by its fame, came in endless streams, one after another.

After chatting for a while with Mountain Spirit and Xiaosong, Hua Changxi shifted her gaze to Mountain Spirit Temple and Fire Lotus Hall.

Previously, Mountain Spirit Temple and Fire Lotus Hall had been two stone huts, but now the stone huts had become grand halls, truly imposing and magnificent.

The stone-carved Fire Lotus and Five Finger Stone enshrined in the halls had also grown increasingly lifelike.

Watching the curling incense smoke before the halls, Hua Changxi fell into thought.

She hadn't noticed it before, but now she could sense the faint presence of the power of laws within the incense smoke.

Hua Changxi looked at Mountain Spirit. "Is the power of incense offerings considered the power of merit?"

As his cultivation advanced, the inherited memories emerging in Mountain Spirit's mind grew richer, and he answered with a smile, "The power of incense offerings is merely one type of the power of merit. The power of merit includes many kinds."

Hua Changxi hesitated slightly. "I don't feel like I've done much. Can those incense offerings really all be credited to me and count as my merit?"

Mountain Spirit opened his eyes wide. "Immortal lady, you opened your own dojo and gave others the opportunity to cultivate and obtain resources. Of course, that is merit."

He paused, pointed at the bustling crowd outside the temple, and continued, "Even those ordinary people without any spiritual root—they, too, have gained protection and a chance at life because of Five Finger Mountain's prosperity."

Hua Changxi followed his gaze and saw many ordinary people without spiritual roots outside the temple, either praying devoutly or busily working.

Thinking that even they were contributing incense merit to her, she felt slightly uneasy, realizing that she had not been very attentive to the construction of Five Finger Mountain.

She immediately took out a One-Thought Communicator and sent the Qihuang Body-Foraging Art and the corresponding body-forging medicinal bath formula to An Ze and An Ran, instructing them to place the technique in Fire Lotus Hall for free copying.

Afterward, accompanied by Mountain Spirit and Xiaosong, Hua Changxi made a tour of Five Finger Mountain, met the five guardian spirit beasts, and also passed on the Spirit Refining Technique to them. Then she left via the teleportation array.

Hua Changxi returned to Lingguang Hall.

Although the Vermilion Bird Divine Art simultaneously included both spiritual cultivation and divine cultivation, she had still left behind three copies of the Spirit Refining Technique for the Vermilion Bird Army to exchange for.

"Has everyone replied?"

Hua Changxi asked Yunyou for the reactions from all sides regarding the conditions for entering the Nine Nether Soul Realm.

Yunyou: "Every party has replied that they are still discussing it."

After reading this, Hua Changxi narrowed her eyes.

Based on her understanding of the various factions, those people would probably not be willing to take out resources to exchange for slots to enter the Soul Realm.

There was still a long tug-of-war ahead!

But she had no time to waste with them.