Chapter 136: So What If You Have Formed a Nascent Soul?

Once he took the first step, the second followed naturally.

A clarity of mind unlike anything he had ever known suddenly arose within him. The golden core in his dantian, which had long since been unable to contain its excitement, began to leap and pulse for no apparent reason.

It was a strange sensation, impossible to say whether it was good or bad. Yet the summons ahead made it impossible for him to stop or turn back. At that moment, the jade pendant around his waist also ceased all activity, including the flow of spiritual energy.

As though he had finally made up his mind, he took another step. Taking a single step was not difficult. It did not bring the heart-rending pain he had experienced in the Sword Repository Pavilion, nor was it as unforgettable as the arduous mountain road of the Profound Mystery Sect.

It was merely a simple step, yet it carried with it an inexplicable pressure. His heart seemed calm, but everything around him appeared unwilling to settle. Behind him lay snow falling in silence, still as autumn leaves; ahead stood a bleak and enigmatic little tower.

When he advanced another step, Su Fan’s body trembled. His divine sense swiftly entered his dantian to investigate. A long, narrow crack had appeared across the not particularly large golden core. Following the crack with his awareness, he saw a faint purple light within, almost ready to burst out of the core.

Su Fan suddenly realized that he was about to form a Nascent Soul. Yet the realization felt entirely natural, as though he had merely heard some ordinary piece of news. He understood it, acknowledged it, and then calmly let it go.

He was only about to form a Nascent Soul. In the end, he had not yet done so. Even though one foot had already crossed the threshold, the other remained outside. There was nothing worth celebrating.

And even if he succeeded in forming a Nascent Soul, so what?

After observing the snow for several days, Su Fan had gained a few insights into cultivation. At the very least, he was no longer satisfied with the Nascent Soul realm.

What happened naturally happened with such ease, as though it conformed perfectly to the right time, the right place, and the right people.

When breaking through a realm, one needed suitable spiritual energy from Heaven and Earth, a quiet and peaceful environment, and someone to protect one’s cultivation—or at least the absence of anyone who might interfere.

All three conditions had been fulfilled within this small secluded corridor of the Profound Mystery Sect, and each had been brought to perfection. The old woman in the distance had not said so explicitly, but the circumstances clearly suggested that she was acting as his protector.

Su Fan slowly closed his eyes, released his divine sense to perceive Heaven and Earth, and continued forward. The secluded corridor was not long; he should have reached the end long ago.

Yet a considerable amount of time had passed, and he had covered only half of it.

With every step he took, Su Fan felt as though he had crossed between Heaven and Earth. At times he wandered through the four directions; at times he sat in stillness; at times he seemed to drift without form.

Yet this mysterious sensation would astonish anyone who understood it.

There were two paths in cultivation. The first was the method common among living beings: to comprehend oneself, then pray for spiritual energy from Heaven and Earth, absorb it and temper one’s body, and ultimately gain a glimpse of the Great Dao of Heaven.

The other method had somehow vanished from the cultivation world long ago. It was to perceive Heaven and Earth, seize control of the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth, and use it for oneself, thereby accomplishing the Great Dao of the True Self.

The first method could not be called anything but cautious. One revered Heaven, accepted oneself as a child of Heaven, prayed for Heaven’s favor, and then accomplished what one could. Yet even so, it remained a profound method.

The second method, however, was extraordinarily domineering. It treated oneself as Heaven and Earth, forcibly seized Heaven’s spiritual energy, and forged a realm of one’s own. With this method, failure meant being destroyed by Heaven, while success meant standing on equal footing with Heaven.

At that moment, Su Fan was following the second path. Although the difference between it and the first did not appear especially great, whatever reverence he had once held for Heaven had long since vanished.

Perhaps it was because of his recent battle against that fireball resembling a heavenly tribulation, or because of what he had learned while watching the snow in the pavilion. Su Fan increasingly felt that, apart from life and death, there was nothing in this world worthy of awe—not even Heaven.

No matter how powerful a heavenly tribulation might be, if one became strong enough, one could still destroy it. The immortals and demons had ultimately been annihilated by heavenly tribulations because they had not been strong enough. If cultivators merely accepted whatever came their way, were they not little different from slaves?

…

At some unknown point, several more figures in black had arrived at the main hall of the sect. They were disciples of the Everlasting Joy Sect. More precisely, one of them, an especially arrogant-looking man, was an elder of somewhat senior standing within the sect.

The head of the Profound Mystery Sect had hurried outside to greet them. His face wore an expression of extreme respect, and from a distance he called out, “Elder Tang, you have traveled a long way to come here. May I ask what brings you?”

Elder Tang gave a cold snort and looked at the sect master mockingly. “Ye Dao, it has been many years since we last met, yet your cultivation has not advanced in the slightest.”

Ye Dao was the sect master’s given name, one that no one had called him for many years. Hearing it spoken now by a junior from long ago stirred a trace of sorrow and indignation within him. Yet his capacity for restraint was not something that could be shattered by such an insignificant remark.

A smile warm as the spring breeze quickly appeared on his face, dispelling the tension. He said calmly, “You, Elder, have made considerable progress. I remember that when we first met, you were only in the early Nascent Soul stage. Today, you have already reached the middle stage.”

Having his cultivation exposed in a single sentence, Elder Tang’s expression became unpleasant. He had believed that after years of arduous cultivation, he could finally contend with Ye Dao, only to discover that the gap between them remained immense.

But he was, after all, a disciple of the Everlasting Joy Sect. Naturally, he would not allow a few words to strip him of his pride. He said indifferently, “I hear your sect has recently taken in a new disciple. It seems that the boy has caused Ye Yang to suffer some losses.”

Ye Dao smiled and replied calmly, “Nephew Ye Yang is a cultivation prodigy. My disciple was ignorant and reckless. If he has offended him in any way, I ask Elder Tang to show him some indulgence.”

Elder Tang’s expression suddenly turned cold. He rebuked, “Indulgence? I cannot show any indulgence in this matter. Ye Yang’s Dao Heart has been affected by your excellent disciple, and his cultivation can no longer advance. Your Profound Mystery Sect must take responsibility.”

Ye Dao continued smiling. “Regarding this matter… allow me to summon the elders of the sect and discuss it with them. We will certainly give Ye Yang an explanation. Elder, please rest assured.”

Elder Tang’s gaze grew colder still. He shouted, “When it comes to the Dao Heart, there is only one way to restore it to perfection: personally destroying the person who damaged it. Is there any other method? I have come under the orders of Martial Uncle Liu to take Su Fan back with me.”

Who was Martial Uncle Liu? Ye Dao knew very well. That Martial Uncle, who had emerged like a shooting star in those years, had been forced to his death by Liu and several others. It was said that Liu had already broken through his realm and entered the Third Realm of Dao Transformation.

“What Martial Uncle Liu? What is he supposed to be, demanding my disciple? You had better leave now. Otherwise, I will not mind killing a few people from the Everlasting Joy Sect.”

The words were utterly domineering and left Elder Tang not the slightest shred of dignity. Elder Tang glanced at the old woman who had spoken, hesitated, and then lowered his head.

He clasped his fists respectfully. “Senior Qin… Ye Yang is Martial Uncle Liu’s disciple. This junior has merely come under orders…”

The old woman gave a cold laugh. The hand seal in her hands was already formed, and she began with a killing technique. Delicate willow leaves shot toward Elder Tang like flying blades, aimed directly at his throat.

Elder Tang had no time to warn the remaining disciples. He fled in panic. Had Ye Dao not risen after him and caught those few willow leaves, Elder Tang would likely have been reduced to fragments by then.

When the remaining disciples saw their elder flee, chaos immediately broke out among them. Fortunately, with Ye Dao’s protection, they were eventually escorted away safely.

The old woman was extremely displeased by the affair. “If you continue enduring things like this, the Profound Mystery Sect will soon be swallowed up.”

Ye Dao smiled faintly and said casually, “After all these years, do you not see that the Profound Mystery Sect still exists?”

The old woman shook her head helplessly. “I do not understand why you refuse to break through. The Third Realm of Dao Transformation is not difficult for you at all. If you wished to, you could enter it at any time.”

Ye Dao shook his head lightly and gave a bitter smile. “Breaking through is naturally easy. But what happens afterward? The Everlasting Joy Sect has always wanted to annex the Profound Mystery Sect. If they were not wary of certain things, and if our sect did not still lack a powerhouse of the Heart Transformation realm, they would have taken action long ago.”

The old woman raised her head and let out a long sigh. “Our Profound Mystery Sect truly is struggling to survive in the cracks between giants.”

Ye Dao smiled indifferently and nodded. “That may be so, but I do not think this situation will last much longer… I heard that Su Fan has entered the secluded corridor.”

The subject changed abruptly. The old woman’s expression froze, and she hurriedly said, “He walked only halfway before stopping there. He has not moved since.”

Ye Dao furrowed his brows and sighed. “Just like Little Martial Uncle did back then. I wonder how he will complete the remaining half.”

The old woman’s expression shifted slightly. She hurriedly said, “I had Yu Ming begin his breakthrough. He should reach the late Nascent Soul stage soon. But how can we help Su Fan comprehend the mysteries of the Three Realms of Dao Transformation?”

With both hands clasped behind his back, Ye Dao walked toward the main hall. His voice drifted back.

“When the opportunity arrives, he will naturally break through. Perhaps it will be a spectacle unlike any other.”

…

Su Fan was still struggling to decide whether to move forward or retreat. The person summoning him no longer exerted any pressure, but the unrest in his heart seemed to urge him onward.

Then, for no apparent reason, an agitation suddenly arose within him. It was not intense, but at such a moment, even the slightest disturbance could unsettle his mind. Su Fan had no choice but to stop and steady himself.

He sat directly upon the ground—not in meditation, but simply settling down at ease. For the first time, he quietly observed the secluded corridor and suddenly realized that he had been focused only on moving forward, overlooking the scenery along the way.

The corridor, filled with lush greenery, now appeared exceptionally beautiful. Small flowers poked their heads out here and there, half-hidden and half-visible. Blooming amid the verdure, they did not seem discordant in the slightest; instead, they added to its beauty.

Compared with the stillness of the pavilion at the center of the lake, the tranquility here carried a little more vitality. Then a line of tiny characters on one of the corridor’s pillars caught Su Fan’s attention.

“When the eyes open, flowers bloom; when the eyes close, flowers fall silent.”¹

Su Fan suddenly laughed.

“Could it be that opening one’s eyes means life, while closing them means death? What utter nonsense. Opening my eyes means only that I live; closing them means only that I die. What does that have to do with external things?”

After saying this, Su Fan laughed freely, rose to his feet, and strode toward the plain yet elegant little tower.

This time, he did not stop again. He continued onward without pause. If one looked closely, one would discover that the instant Su Fan took his first step, a stream of purple energy began to circle his body. With every step, the purple energy grew denser. By the time it enveloped him completely, Su Fan was already standing beneath the tower.

Author’s Note: “When the eyes open, flowers bloom; when the eyes close, flowers fall silent” is attributed to Wang Yangming.