"You've got some explaining to do!" Li Mei's voice, usually so gentle, was laced with a sharpness that Bai Xing rarely heard. Her eyes, typically soft, now held a glint of genuine hurt and confusion.
Bai Xing sighed, a heavy weight settling in his chest. "It's not like I wanted to lie to you, Li Mei. It's just that I didn't want you to be involved in any of this, you see. The greed for an immortal's body is… boundless. They would target everyone who has even the slightest connection with me, whether they are my family or my friends. My parents, they've already found their peaceful rest, but you, Li Mei, you are still alive and vibrant. As a friend, how could I ever risk your well-being?"
Li Mei's gaze softened slightly, the initial anger giving way to a more profound understanding. "So, you did all of this… for me?" A thoughtful frown touched her brow. "But now that your identity has been exposed to the world, what do you plan to do, Bai Xing?"
"About that," Bai Xing began, a faint smile gracing his lips, "I've already begun to sort things out. First, Mei'er, you'll have to spread a little misinformation. Tell everyone that Liang Tianyu is out there, relentlessly searching for that grand inheritance. The allure of such an inheritance is simply too great; people will believe it, I assure you. As for me, I can't use the Heavenly Court's teleportation array right now, not with all eyes on me. So, I will have to employ a second, far more perilous method to journey into the Spiritual World. It's a bit dangerous, yes, but it's the only path open to me. For you, Mei'er, I recommend that you join the Blossom Spirit Sect. As a condition to travel into the Spiritual World using this particular method, one must join one of the Three Great Spirit Sects. The Blossom Spirit Sect, with their cultivation of Water and Flower Dao, is truly the best fit for your spiritual path. Who knows, perhaps our paths will cross again, and we might even meet in the future."
With a final, lingering glance at Li Mei, Bai Xing took his leave. His first act was to meticulously dismantle and destroy his hidden base, erasing every single clue that could possibly betray his whereabouts. Then, he sought out a place brimming with potent spiritual energy, a secluded haven where he could begin to meticulously craft arrays for the impending, unseen battle. He prepared a generous supply of the finest Qi regeneration pills, ensuring his spiritual energy would be replenished swiftly when needed, and then, with a deep breath, he began to cultivate.
Why, one might wonder, did Bai Xing suddenly dedicate himself to intense cultivation at such a critical juncture? What grand purpose did he hope to achieve? The answer lay in a conversation that had unfolded just an hour earlier.
An hour ago, within the depths of Bai Xing's spiritual sea, the ancient voice of Tai Bing Chi resonated with an urgent command. "Go, find a place with high spiritual energy and prepare for a breakthrough."
Bai Xing, surprised, responded, "A breakthrough? You mean into the Nascent Soul realm? But isn't that… isn't that simply impossible given the limitations of this mortal world?"
Tai Bing Chi's voice held a touch of ancient wisdom. "Indeed, it is impossible to truly become a Nascent Soul here, young one. But tell me, how do you believe the ancient cultivators, those legendary figures of old, journeyed into the Spiritual World without the aid of elaborate arrays? It was simple, yet profound: they ascended. One must initiate a breakthrough into the Nascent Soul here, in this very world, and then, if their cultivation and destiny are aligned, they will be approved by the world itself, allowing them to ascend directly into the Spiritual World without the need for any complex arrays or teleportation circles."
"So that's how it is," Bai Xing murmured, a flicker of understanding illuminating his mind. The pieces of the puzzle were finally clicking into place.
Armed with this newfound knowledge, and guided by Tai Bing Chi's vast memories, Bai Xing began his arduous cultivation. He understood that to break through into the Nascent Soul, one had to shatter their existing Golden Core and, from its spiritual fragments, reform it into a nascent soul-form. This profound transformation would allow him to gather and wield an even greater amount of Qi than ever before. Only when someone successfully achieved the Nascent Soul realm could they truly confirm that they were on the righteous path to genuine immortality. The cultivation wasn't merely about gaining power; it was about transforming his very essence, preparing for the ultimate ascension.
Bai Xing sat in a lotus position, his spiritual energy surging around him like an untamed river. He closed his eyes, focusing inward, ready for the trial ahead. With immense concentration, he began to exert pressure on his Golden Core, the very foundation of his cultivation. A delicate, crystalline structure, it shimmered with golden light, and he pushed, not with brute force, but with a refined spiritual technique gleaned from Tai Bing Chi's memories. Cracks, thin as spiderwebs, began to appear on its surface, accompanied by a sharp, internal pain that he steadfastly ignored. He knew this was the only way; the old had to be broken for the new to emerge.
As the Golden Core fractured into countless sparkling particles, Bai Xing used his spiritual consciousness to gather these fragments. He didn't just let them dissipate; he guided them, shaping them with painstaking precision. Slowly, agonizingly, the fragments began to coalesce, not into another core, but into a miniature, ethereal version of himself – a spiritual embryo. This was the nascent soul, a direct reflection of his being, capable of independent thought and action. It pulsed with an incredible, nascent power.
With the nascent soul formed, Bai Xing became a true conduit for spiritual energy. The surrounding spiritual energy, once merely absorbed, was now actively drawn to him, swirling into a vortex that enveloped his body. His nascent soul acted like a powerful magnet, pulling in every stray wisp of Qi, purifying it, and integrating it into his very being. The amount of spiritual energy he could now hold and utilize far surpassed anything he had experienced before.
As his nascent soul solidified and expanded, a profound shift occurred. The very fabric of the Mortal World seemed to acknowledge his transcendent progress. A faint, almost imperceptible hum resonated through the air. This was the world's approval, a silent recognition of his readiness to break free from its limitations. With this approval, the path to ascension was open. The mortal realm could no longer contain him; the heavens themselves were beckoning.
"We from the Heavenly Court humbly welcome the esteemed envoys from the Three Great Spirit Sects," Jain Li declared, his voice resonating through the grand hall. Three cultivators, each radiating an aura of immense power and prestige, stepped forward from the assembled crowd.
"Old Li, you still cling to that humble demeanor," Xiaofan, a man with a booming laugh and a kind face, chuckled warmly. "We from the Three Great Sects and the Heavenly Court have always been the closest of friends, haven't we?"
"Yes, Brother Li, there's truly no need to be so modest," Ling Dao, a woman with piercing eyes and an elegant bearing, added with a graceful smile.
"Brother Li, today, we shall be entirely in your capable hands," Ren Xue, a solemn man with a gaze that seemed to pierce through illusions, chimed in.
After the three distinguished guests had offered their pleasantries, Jain Li responded with a genuine smile. "Of course, of course, how can I ever neglect such esteemed envoys from the Three Great Spirit Sects? Please, do come inside, let us discuss this matter further in comfort."
The four of them settled around a polished wooden table, the air thick with anticipation. Jain Li, taking a sip from his tea, began the conversation. "As you three might already be aware, we are currently grappling with the sudden emergence of a fragment of the immortal world and, more importantly, the discovery of a body belonging to an immortal."
The other three nodded gravely, their expressions mirroring the seriousness of the situation.
"We have, through considerable effort, managed to uncover his identity and even his current goal," Jain Li continued, his brow furrowing slightly. "However, his precise location continues to elude us. Some whispers in the cultivation world suggest he has already managed to depart for the Spiritual World, but I, personally, do not believe that is the case. This mortal world, after all, possesses only seven spiritual arrays capable of such a feat: four belonging to our sects, and the remaining three controlled by the Shadow Clan, Defy Tribe, and Soul Legion Sect. We have maintained a constant, vigilant watch over all of them, and we haven't detected any individual entering or leaving for the past sixty years. Therefore, they cannot be involved in this matter. My strongest conviction is that he is still here, attempting to remain hidden until he discovers an opportune moment to escape. In my considered opinion, we should initiate a comprehensive search across all five continents, leave no stone untur—"
Suddenly, a deafening thunderclap ripped through the very fabric of the Mortal World, shaking the entire continent to its foundations. The teacups on the table rattled violently, and the serene expressions of the four cultivators vanished, replaced by looks of profound alarm.
Xiaofan was the first to speak, his normally jovial face now etched with concern. "What in the heavens was that? Could it be… could an immortal be breaking the rules, daring to enter our mortal realm directly?"
Ling Dao's eyes narrowed, a cold light flickering within them. "An invasion? But why would they reveal themselves with such a grand display?"
Ren Xue, ever analytical, pondered aloud, "Perhaps it's not an entry, but something leaving? A distortion in space, perhaps, or a powerful artifact being unleashed."
Jain Li, however, slammed his hand on the table, his eyes wide with a sudden, dreadful realization. "No! This cannot be happening! Someone… someone is breaking through into the Nascent Soul realm to ascend into the Spiritual World! It is most likely Bai Xing! We have to stop him, and we have to stop him now!"
The other three cultivators nodded in grim agreement, their earlier theories dissolving in the face of Jain Li's accurate, terrifying assessment. The true nature of the thunderous phenomenon was undeniably clear: an ascension was underway.