Chapter 536: Soul Refining Art

After establishing the criteria for entering the Nine Nether Soul Realm, Hua Changxi took the teleportation array back to Danyuan Peak, then proceeded to the Logistics Department to retrieve a batch of Taiyin Bamboo Slips.

Upon obtaining the Taiyin Bamboo Slips, Hua Changxi returned to the bamboo hut atop the peak and transcribed the Soul Clan's primordial spirit cultivation technique, the "Soul Refining Art," onto them.

The "Soul Refining Art" can also be cultivated by humans; once practiced, it strengthens the soul body and allows control over divine consciousness.

This time, she employed a soul technique—the "Jun Soul Art"—ensuring the techniques inscribed on the bamboo slips could be read an unlimited number of times.

Hua Changxi transcribed over ten bamboo slips in total; once finished, she sent messages to Yu Fu and the other three, instructing them to come collect the "Soul Refining Art."

However, only Zhao Xi and Jia Lu arrived at the bamboo hut.

"After the Jiuguan Auction concluded, Pavilion Master Meng convened a meeting regarding the Nine Nether Soul Realm."

"Since cultivating within the Nine Nether Soul Realm can strengthen a cultivator's primordial spirit, Pavilion Master Meng, in the name of the Dan Sheng Hall, contacted the Ling Guang Hall to secure opportunities for Dan Sheng Hall's Spirit Platform realm cultivators and those above to enter the soul realm for cultivation."

"Not long ago, Ling Guang Hall replied, prompting Pavilion Master Meng to urgently summon all the secret realm masters for deliberation."

Upon reaching the bamboo hut, Zhao Xi and Jia Lu first explained to Hua Changxi why Yu Fu and Zhou Shou had not come; the two had gone to the Spirit Realm Pavilion for a meeting.

After listening, Hua Changxi said nothing, simply instructing the two to read the "Soul Refining Art."

All four—Zhao Xi and the others—were body-refining cultivators; while their physical bodies were powerful, their primordial spirits were weak. The "Soul Refining Art," which strengthens the soul body, was undoubtedly timely help for them, plugging the biggest deficiency in their cultivation path.

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

"There is no need for widespread promotion; let those with fate obtain it."

Hua Changxi handed nine bamboo slips to Zhao Xi, the Hall Master of the Merit Hall, then passed two more to Jia Lu: "Take these two to the Shennong Hall; give one to Pu Cao and one to Yu Gui."

Zhao Xi and Jia Lu respectfully accepted the bamboo slips.

Seeing the two unable to contain their joy yet hesitant to speak, Hua Changxi offered no explanation: "Very well, I have nothing else here; you may go attend to your duties."

Filled with both excitement and nervousness, Zhao Xi and Jia Lu left the bamboo hut.

Only after descending to the mid-mountain slope did they begin to converse.

"Do you think..."

"I feel as though..."

Both spoke simultaneously, then fell silent at the same time.

Finally, after some hesitation, Zhao Xi broke the silence first: "The rumors must be true." As for what rumors, he did not specify.

Jia Lu understood nonetheless, nodding with a sigh: "Indeed!"

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

The key to opening the Nine Nether Soul Realm lies in the hands of the Ling Guang Hall Master; even Minister Wei dare not assert with certainty that he can enter the soul realm.

Yet our Master, at this critical juncture, has produced the "Soul Refining Art" and urged us to master it quickly, clearly preparing for entry into the Nine Nether Soul Realm.

This action reveals far too much.

Zhao Xi took a deep breath and looked at Jia Lu: "Regardless, anything our Master has not explicitly stated, we know nothing about."

Jia Lu nodded: "Correct; we need only focus on carrying out the tasks our Master assigns."

Meanwhile, after Zhao Xi and Jia Lu departed, Hua Changxi took the teleportation array to Mount Wuzhi and personally delivered three bamboo slips inscribed with the "Soul Refining Art" to the siblings An Ze and An Ran.

Over these years, An Ze and An Ran had managed Mount Wuzhi excellently; the Five Elements Sect had long been on the right track, and the siblings' cultivation had not lagged, both having reached the Spirit Platform realm.

"Aside from you two, are there any other Spirit Platform realm cultivators in the Five Elements Sect?"

An Ze replied: "Mount Wuzhi is abundant in spiritual qi. The five mountain-guarding beasts, Shan Ling, Xiao Song, along with the hall masters of various departments and a few stewards, have all entered the Spirit Platform realm. In total, nearly thirty people."

That Mount Wuzhi possessed so many Spirit Platform realm cultivators was unexpected for Hua Changxi; however, recalling that Mount Wuzhi was originally the source of the spiritual qi resurgence explosion, she felt relieved.

"Hurry and cultivate the 'Soul Refining Art'; I will send you a message in advance when the Nine Nether Soul Realm opens."

After settling official matters with An Ze and An Ran, Hua Changxi went to see Shan Ling and Xiao Song.

Usually, aside from patrolling the mountain, Shan Ling and Xiao Song cultivated within the Shan Ling Temple and the Fire Lotus Hall.

At the foot of Thumb Mountain, the Shan Ling Temple and the Fire Lotus Hall stood out prominently; Hua Changxi spotted them from afar.

"Fairy!"

"Master!"

The moment Hua Changxi stepped within the bounds of Thumb Mountain, Shan Ling and Xiao Song sensed her aura, flying out from the Shan Ling Temple and the Fire Lotus Hall to land before her.

Nowadays, Shan Ling and Xiao Song were no longer small children but had grown into handsome and beautiful youths.

Hua Changxi examined the pair and smiled: "Your cultivation speed is truly remarkable."

Both of them had already reached the late stage of the Spirit Platform realm!

Shan Ling, without a trace of unfamiliarity, tilted his head back proudly: "Of course; under the grand trend of spiritual qi resurgence, Mount Wuzhi enjoys perfect timing, favorable geography, and human harmony."

As a Mountain Spirit, his cultivation did not consist merely of burying his head in bitter practice; he had to fulfill his duties as a Mountain Spirit, bringing blessings to the surrounding areas.

In other words, the more incense offerings he received, the faster his cultivation progressed.

His luck was sufficiently good; the person who claimed ownership of Mount Wuzhi was the Fairy, and she was not someone who hoarded resources selfishly but was willing to share Mount Wuzhi.

Across the entire Central Continent, Mount Wuzhi could be said to be the first immortal spirit land open for everyone to train; cultivators drawn by its fame, and even ordinary commoners, came in countless numbers, an endless stream.

After chatting casually with Shan Ling and Xiao Song for a while, Hua Changxi shifted her gaze to the Shan Ling Temple and the Fire Lotus Hall.

Previously, the Shan Ling Temple and the Fire Lotus Hall were merely two stone huts; now, those stone huts had become grand halls, truly magnificent and imposing.

The stone statues of the Fire Lotus and the Five Fingers Stone enshrined within the halls had become even more lifelike.

Observing the curling incense smoke burning before the halls, Hua Changxi fell into thoughtful contemplation.

She had not noticed it before, but now, amidst the incense smoke, she could faintly perceive the power of laws.

Hua Changxi looked at Shan Ling: "Does the power of incense count as merit power?"

As his cultivation advanced, the inherited memories surging in Shan Ling's mind grew richer; he immediately smiled and replied: "The power of incense is merely one type of merit power; the categories of merit power are numerous."

Hua Changxi hesitated slightly: "I don't feel I've done anything special; can all that incense truly be converted and counted as my merit?"

Shan Ling widened his eyes: "Fairy, you opened your cultivation ground, granting others opportunities to cultivate and acquire resources; naturally, that is merit."

He paused, then pointed to the bustling crowd outside the temple, continuing: "Even those mortals without any spiritual roots have gained protection and vitality due to the prosperity of Mount Wuzhi."

Hua Changxi followed his gaze to see that outside the temple, many ordinary people without spiritual roots were praying devoutly or busily attending to tasks.

Thinking that even they were contributing incense and merit for her sake, she felt slightly uneasy, realizing she had not been paying enough attention to the construction of Mount Wuzhi.

She immediately took out her One-Thought Communicator and sent the Qihuang Body Refining Technique, along with its matching medicinal bath formula, to An Ze and An Ran, instructing them to place the cultivation method in the Fire Lotus Hall for anyone to copy free of charge.

Afterwards, accompanied by the Mountain Spirit and Xiao Song, Hua Changxi toured Mount Wuzhi, met with the five mountain-guarding demonic beasts, transmitted the Spirit Refining Scripture to them, and then departed via the teleportation array.

Hua Changxi returned to the Lingguang Hall.

Although the Zhu Que Divine Scripture encompassed both spiritual and spirit cultivation, she still set aside three copies of the Spirit Refining Scripture for the Zhu Que Army to redeem.

"Have the various factions responded yet?"

Hua Changxi asked Yun You about the reactions from the various factions regarding the conditions for entering the Nine Nether Soul Realm.

Yun You replied, "All factions have responded that they are still deliberating."

After reading this, Hua Changxi narrowed her eyes slightly.

Based on her understanding of the various powers, she estimated that none of those people would willingly offer up resources to exchange for quotas to enter the Soul Realm.

This matter would involve much haggling!

Yet, she had no time to waste on them.