Chapter 316: Descending Soul Art

Hearing Wang Yu's response, the Old Ancestor Tianchan showed a hint of satisfaction and said:

"Good. Within three months, I will arrange for you to study at the Sunset Sect."

As for the Xuanjia Jing, I do not recommend you cultivate it."

Although second-stage body refinement grants immense power, other Foundation Establishment secret arts are hardly inferior; but if you truly possess talent in body refinement, you may learn only the first few easiest layers to slightly enhance your close-combat abilities."

Also, bring out your True Disciple Token—I will alter its aura signature. The Scripture Hall's second-stage spell secrets are now open to you; you may go and freely learn one second-stage spell."

"Yes."

Wang Yu replied, reached into his storage pouch, and pulled out his True Disciple Token, offering it with both hands.

The Old Ancestor Tianchan took the token, made no special gesture, merely murmured a few incantations, shook the token once, then returned it to Wang Yu, saying:

"Second-stage artifacts are costly; the sect cannot provide them free to new Foundation Establishment disciples. But I have collected several artifacts—you may choose one to use for protection."

Also, as my direct disciple, I may freely teach you one Foundation Establishment secret art. Though few, all were painstakingly gathered by me over the years—whether you succeed depends entirely on yourself."

In addition, I grant you one talisman treasure for your survival."

"Thank you, Master."

Hearing so many benefits, Wang Yu was overjoyed, and his cry of "Master" came from the heart.

"Do not resist. Come with me."

The Old Ancestor Tianchan instructed.

Before Wang Yu understood what was happening, the giant golden toad beside him suddenly spat a stream of golden aura, engulfing both Wang Yu and the Old Ancestor Tianchan.

Wang Yu felt a flash of golden light, then found himself in a sealed chamber, the Old Ancestor Tianchan standing beside him.

"This is…"

Wang Yu was startled and quickly scanned his surroundings.

The chamber's walls were thick, fleshy-red, and lined with over a dozen black shelves, most covered by white light barriers.

Of the two visible shelves, one held about ten colorful artifacts, the other four jade slips.

"This is my storage space for artifacts and secret arts. Choose one second-stage artifact and one secret art—you may take only one of each," the Old Ancestor Tianchan said calmly.

"Yes."

Wang Yu, both startled and delighted, replied and hurried to the artifact shelf, examining each item carefully.

…

Half a day later, in the cave's sealed chamber,

Wang Yu sat cross-legged on a cushion, playing with a silver seal the size of a palm.

The seal glowed brilliantly silver; even a slight turn between his fingers released a soft silver radiance, appearing splendid and dazzling.

Misan Seal!

This artifact was the second-stage item he had chosen from the Old Ancestor Tianchan's chamber.

Though inscribed with only thirty-six runes, it was a combined offensive-defensive artifact, mostly forged from "Iron Mother," with traces of other rare materials, and inscribed with the second-stage spell "Minor Mifeng Technique," formed by stacking six six-rune diagrams.

The Old Ancestor Tianchan's treasure chamber held other second-stage artifacts with more than thirty-six runes, but only this one offered both offense and defense, with the most astonishing size-shifting potential—studying it deeply would greatly inspire his future crafting of second-stage artifacts.

After playing with it awhile, Wang Yu stowed the silver seal, flipped his hand, and now held a pale-yellow jade slip, pressing it to his forehead.

"Descending Soul Art."

This was a rare soul-art, used to stabilize the spirit and temporarily enhance spiritual sense—the Old Ancestor Tianchan had personally recommended it.

According to the Old Ancestor, once Foundation Establishment is achieved, spiritual sense and soul battles become far more common; without a soul-guarding secret art, one would suffer greatly.

Though Wang Yu was reluctant to abandon the Old Ancestor's other secret arts, he ultimately chose this one.

As he now studied its cultivation steps and methods, his face betrayed surprise.

The jade slip stated the Descending Soul Art had only six levels, but mastering each was extremely difficult, for each level required subduing and assimilating the spirit of a beast within one's spiritual sea, then condensing it into a protective soul rune.

The stronger the beast's spirit, the more powerful the resulting rune—and the more dangerous the subjugation process.

Of course, according to the jade slip, these protective soul runes had boundless uses: each could block hostile soul attacks, and could be fused into one's spiritual intent, temporarily boosting its strength and granting decisive advantage in spiritual sense battles.

Spiritual intent, of course, was vital—it was one of the primary distinctions between Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation cultivators, used in nearly all spellcasting and artifact control.

After removing the jade slip from his forehead, Wang Yu's face reflected deep thought, but his mind was already set on cultivating this art.

Yet before that, he must visit the Scripture Hall to exchange for a free second-stage spell and a spiritual intent refinement technique.

Not long after, word of Wang Yu becoming the Old Ancestor Tianchan's direct disciple quietly spread through the Four Symbols Sect.

…

The next morning, in the front hall of the Tianzhu Mountain Scripture Hall.

Same great tripod. Same reclining chair.

The gray-robed elder, seeing Wang Yu enter, rose with a smile and bowed:

"Young Master Wang, congratulations on your Foundation Establishment. Now we are both Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"Senior Brother, you flatter me. I've long wished to visit the Scripture Hall after my Foundation Establishment, but I delayed until now to stabilize my realm. By the way, I've brought you some Tai Sui meat," Wang Yu replied with a smile, skillfully pulling a hard, meaty lump from his storage pouch and handing it over.

At this moment, he could clearly sense the hidden spiritual pressure emanating from the gray-robed elder—far stronger than a typical early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator—he was clearly mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

"Hah! I'll thank Grayson on your behalf, Young Master. You've come for the free second-stage spell, yes? Then you must enter the inner hall to choose." The gray-robed elder accepted the meat, his smile deepening.

"Yes, I'm grateful for your help, Senior Brother," Wang Yu bowed.

"No trouble. Wait a moment."

The elder pulled out a formation disc from his robe, flicked his fingers across it, and instantly emitted a milky-white glow.

The next instant, beside the Scripture Hall's door, a yellow small door silently appeared after a flash of white light.

"This is the inner hall," Wang Yu murmured, gazing at the door, a flicker of excitement in his heart.

"Young Master Wang, by protocol, I must verify your identity token before you enter," the elder said apologetically.

"Naturally."

Wang Yu pulled out his token without hesitation and handed it over.

The gray-robed elder lightly touched the token to the disc, glanced at it, nodded, and returned the token.

"Follow me, Young Master."

The elder brushed the disc again—the small door slowly opened, and he led Wang Yu inside.

Beyond the door lay a small chamber, lined with cold stone pedestals, each holding various items covered in colorful light barriers.

"Senior Brother, does the inner hall have any second-stage talent spells?" Wang Yu glanced once and asked directly.