Cultivation of Immortality: Start by Improving Spiritual Root Qualifications

Chapter 963 Sword Immortal Liu Bai: You're finally back!
Human Realm, Western Desert Front
Inside the Xuan Yang Jade Hall.

Liu Bai slowly opened his eyes, his sword intent contained yet a trace of unyielding solemnity lurking within.

After nearly twenty years of quiet recuperation and breath adjustment
The severe damage suffered from forcibly burning its source energy and forcefully striking the "Five Directions Boundary Pillars" has finally been mostly recovered.
His cultivation level was barely stabilized at the peak of the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, but there was still a distance to go before reaching the middle stage.

However, physical wounds can heal, but the gloom in one's heart grows stronger with each passing day.

He stood up, took a step out of the main hall, and with a few flashes, appeared on a sand dune less than a hundred miles from the ghost realm passage.

Looking up, the enormous, pitch-black rift connecting heaven and earth had nearly doubled in size compared to twenty years ago!
A dense, inky aura of ghostly energy surged forth, darkening the sky for thousands of miles around.

A chilling wind howled, whipping up clouds of yellow sand, but it could not suppress the terrifying energy fluctuations emanating from the crack that sent shivers down one's spine.

The passage has expanded to its limit!
And those five towering "Five Directions Boundary Pillars".
It was now emitting an unprecedentedly dark light, with ghostly patterns swirling wildly on its surface like five beating hearts.

It continuously injects the final power into the channel.

Around the pillar, a vast number of high-level ghosts swirled and danced, emitting excited and bloodthirsty shrieks, as if welcoming the upcoming feast.

Liu Bai's face was extremely pale.

He stared intently at the five giant pillars, his fists clenching unconsciously until his knuckles turned white from the force.

Over the past twenty years, he has visited this place countless times, using every possible method to spy and deduce, trying to find the weakness of this ghost clan's great formation.

However, everything is in vain.

These "Five Directional Boundary Pillars" are incredibly profound, forming a self-contained system connected to the very origin of the Ghost Realm, and their sturdiness far exceeds imagination.

It also possesses the bizarre ability to instantly repair itself.

Unless one possesses absolute power capable of annihilating the five spirit pillars in one strike and instantly severing their connection with the ghost realm, it is impossible to damage them in the slightest.

This absolute sense of powerlessness gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.

"Zhou Xun...when will you finally return..." Liu Bai cried out silently in his heart, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, carrying with him the last glimmer of hope.

"Now, the hope of the entire human realm rests on your shoulders. I hope... I hope you can fully obtain the inheritance of Thunder Palace... Perhaps... only then will there be a glimmer of hope to fight against Ti Yu..."

Just as his mind was in turmoil—

"Buzz!"

Five incredibly powerful auras of the Ghost Emperor suddenly erupted from the depths of the passage, locking onto him!
In the next instant, five figures appeared like ghosts in front of the "Five Directions Suppressing Pillars," blocking Liu Bai's view.

These are the five Nascent Soul Ghost Emperors who are stationed here!
Their scarlet eyes stared coldly at Liu Bai, filled with undisguised mockery and vigilance, but they showed no intention of making a move immediately, instead guarding the spirit pillar firmly.

As long as Liu Bai doesn't attack first, they seem happy to see this human sword immortal's futile and helpless state.

One of the ghost emperors, tall and thin with a sinister face, let out a hoarse, piercing laugh:

"Hehehe... Liu Bai, you're here again? What, want to test your broken sword again, see if it can cut through the sacred pillar?"

Another burly ghost emperor, his entire body covered in bone armor, spoke up in a booming voice, his tone filled with unrestrained mockery:

"Don't waste your energy! Open your eyes wide and look carefully, the passage will soon be completely stabilized! Before long, His Majesty Tiyu's true form will be able to descend upon this realm!"

"At that time, your tiny human realm, with its billions of living beings, will become fertile ground for the propagation of my ghost race! All your struggles will be nothing but futile attempts to stop a chariot, only adding to your ridicule! Hehehe..."

His laughter was incredibly arrogant, which caused the ghosts hovering around him to let out shrieks in response, making the eerie ghostly aura even more intense.

Liu Bai's face was ashen, his chest churning with rage, and sword energy surged within him, almost bursting forth. But he suppressed this impulse with all his might.

He knew that the other party was deliberately provoking him.

Once he makes the first move, he will immediately be surrounded by the five Ghost Emperors, not only with no chance of winning, but also with serious injury, losing a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator in vain!
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging blood and sword intent. His cold gaze swept over the five arrogant ghost emperors, and finally landed on the five seemingly indestructible giant pillars.

After a moment of silence, he turned around abruptly without saying a word.

With a flash of sword light, the person vanished from the spot, leaving behind only the endless yellow sand and the increasingly arrogant and triumphant laughter of the Ghost Emperors.

At the bottom of the River of Oblivion, deep within a cave.

Zhou Xun (his true form) sat cross-legged, his aura perfectly harmonious, having reached the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage.

He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint in them.

With a thought, a radiant, phoenix-shaped, fourth-grade top-quality spiritual herb called "Azure Phoenix Grass" floated in front of him.

"The avatar is about to return with the elixir, and the breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage is imminent. I need to adjust my state to the most perfect state."

He muttered to himself, his hands moving rapidly in a series of hand seals, while he chanted the profound incantations of the "Spring Condensation Scripture."

An invisible force of creation enveloped the "Azure Phoenix Grass," and its essence was rapidly extracted and refined, transforming into a fist-sized, emerald-green, and vibrant ball of light.

Zhou Xun guided this pure life energy, slowly merging it into the space between his eyebrows.

"Om-"

A cool and abundant power instantly flowed through my limbs and bones, penetrating deep into my very marrow.

He seemed to be able to sense that his spiritual root sensitivity, which had already reached 99 points, was being propelled by this power to launch a final assault on the legendary realm of perfection.

It was as if an invisible barrier had been quietly broken down, and the pores all over the body opened up, instantly raising the affinity with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to an unprecedented level!
With a slight thought, the pure wood elemental energy around him joyfully surged into his body, transforming into pure magical power almost without any refining.

Spiritual root sensitivity: 100 points!

The innate human body is complete!

A wonderful feeling of perfection and harmony with the Tao welled up in my heart.

Zhou Xun stood up, feeling refreshed and relaxed all over.

In a cheerful mood, he left the underwater cave with light steps and came to the courtyard on the island in the middle of the lake.

The sunlight was just right, shining on the exquisite pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, two stunningly beautiful women sat facing each other, focused on the chessboard before them.

One was dressed in a snow-white long dress, with a cool and ethereal temperament; it was Lin Xueying. The other was dressed in a light blue dress, with a gentle and graceful demeanor; it was Song Yiqing.

Hearing the footsteps, the two women looked up at the same time and saw that it was Zhou Xun coming out of seclusion. Their beautiful eyes immediately lit up with surprise and joy.

"Zhou Lang!"

"Husband!"

The two immediately put down their chess pieces, stood up and came forward, their faces beaming with genuine smiles.

Zhou Xun looked at the two Daoist partners in front of him and laughed heartily, feeling extremely happy. He opened his arms and embraced the two women together.

"Haha, long time no see, did you miss me?"

With a soft, fragrant body in his arms, enjoying this rare warmth and tenderness, Zhou Xun felt the gloom that had been building up since his seclusion vanish completely.

Lin Xueying blushed slightly and gently punched him: "You're always so unruly when you're out here." Her tone was coquettish.

Song Yiqing buried her face in his shoulder, a happy smile on her lips.

That night, Zhou Xun naturally spent a good time with his two Daoist partners, enjoying the bliss of having two wives. The enchanting moments were not for outsiders to know.

The next day, early in the morning.

A faint purple light silently disappeared into the island in the middle of the lake and went straight into the underground cave.

Inside the cave, Zhou Xun's true form was already waiting.

The purple light dissipated, revealing the figure of the incarnation.

The two sat facing each other, their faces identical, but their temperaments were slightly different. The original body appeared more calm and profound, while the avatar carried a hint of sharpness that came from years of experience.

The avatar didn't speak, but simply waved his hand, and several jade boxes and a bottle of pills appeared in the open space between the two. One of the jade boxes opened, revealing the "Nine-Bend Divine Transformation Pill," the size of a dragon's eye, swirling with pill patterns, and radiating a terrifyingly powerful medicinal force!
The remaining jade boxes contained various rare and glittering materials, all of which were spoils of war obtained by the avatar in Tian Shu City.

Zhou Xun, in his true form, glanced at the pills and materials, nodded slightly, and showed a satisfied expression.

Seeing this, the avatar did not linger and left the place in a flash.

Zhou Xun then put away all the items.

"Master!"

Just arrived

From the courtyard below, a beam of light flew in from afar.

A joyful roar came from the horizon.

A magnificent, water-avoiding golden-eyed beast, its body covered in golden scales and its eyes like copper bells, came riding on the clouds. On its back sat a young girl.

The girl was about eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing a pale yellow dress and with her hair styled in cute double buns.

Her skin was as white as jade, and her big eyes were bright and lively, making her look playful and cheerful.

Her spiritual energy fluctuations were stable, indicating that she had already reached the early stage of Core Formation!

The water-avoiding golden-eyed beast landed steadily in the courtyard. The girl lightly jumped down, ran a few steps to Zhou Xun, and gave him a cheerful bow.
"Master! You've emerged from seclusion! Is there some good news?"

It was Yu Siyue, Zhou Xun's youngest apprentice.

She truly lived up to her reputation as a being with the Ice Phoenix Marrow Body, advancing from the mid-Foundation Establishment stage to the Core Formation stage in just a few decades.

With such talent, one would have a considerable chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage in the Immortal Realm.

Zhou Xun deliberately put on a stern face and scolded:
"How old are you? Still so impetuous! Your cultivation has just broken through, you need to calm down and consolidate your strength. How can you be so impulsive?"

Yu Siyue stuck out her tongue and made a face, but she didn't dare to talk back. She stood obediently and said, "I know, Master. Your disciple knows she was wrong."

Zhou Xun's expression softened slightly, and he asked, "How has your cultivation been lately? Have you encountered any difficulties?"

When Yu Siyue saw her master testing her studies, she quickly suppressed her smile, became serious, and reported on her cultivation progress, raising a few minor issues she had encountered in her practice.

Zhou Xun listened attentively, occasionally offering a few words of guidance.

"By the way, I remember you haven't refined your natal magic weapon yet!"

“That’s right, we haven’t found any satisfactory materials yet!” Yu Siyue replied.

Zhou Xun looked at her, smiled slightly, and flipped his hand, revealing a crystal shuttle about a foot long that was crystal clear and exuded a chilling aura.

The ice shuttle has an ancient and simple design, with countless intricate and profound runes engraved on its surface. Wisps of white mist and cold air linger around it, making it clear at a glance that it is no ordinary magical artifact.

"Siyue, this item is called the 'Mysterious Ice Shuttle,' a rare treasure that I acquired in my early years."

Zhou Xun handed over the ice shuttle.

Yu Siyue curiously took it, and upon touching it, she felt a pure and gentle ice spirit power surge into her meridians.

Far from feeling the biting cold, she found it resonated subtly with the cultivation technique she practiced, feeling extremely comfortable, and even experiencing a subtle amplification effect.

“This treasure is quite special,” Zhou Xun explained.

"It doesn't have a fixed rank. After refining it, its power will gradually unlock and increase as your cultivation level improves,"

"It is enough to accompany you on your cultivation journey for a long time. You need to patiently nurture it with your own inner fire, and unite your mind and spirit. You must not be impatient."

Yu Siyue was overjoyed upon hearing this.

Her large eyes were filled with emotion and joy as she solemnly bowed deeply to Zhou Xun.
"Thank you for bestowing this treasure upon me, Master! I will diligently refine it and will never fail to live up to your high expectations!"

"Okay, go ahead and cultivate diligently." Zhou Xun waved his hand.

Yu Siyue then held the Xuanbing Shuttle like a precious treasure and happily rode away on the Water-Avoiding Golden-Eyed Beast.

After sending his young apprentice away, Zhou Xun regained his composure.

He returned to his quiet room, took out jade slips one by one, and began to study them intensively.

These jade slips not only contain his own insights into the Nascent Soul realm, but also various experiences and insights about breaking through the bottleneck of the Nascent Soul realm brought back by his avatar from the Immortal Realm.

There are even occasional experiences mentioned by Nascent Soul cultivators such as Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord and Crimson Sun Heavenly Lord.

He must fully digest all of this to ensure that his physical body's ascension to the Nascent Soul stage is flawless.

……

In the western desert, behind some desolate sand dunes,

A small, equally concealed teleportation array lit up faintly, and Zhou Xun's avatar appeared.

This teleportation array was something he secretly set up years ago to deal with the ghost clan crisis and to facilitate his travels.

Having discerned the direction, the avatar concealed its aura and transformed into a faint streak of light, speeding towards the human race's western desert camp.

Before long, the familiar yet even more somber and massive military camp appeared on the horizon.

The camps stretched out in a continuous line, the array of light curtains flickered intermittently, the patrolling cultivators were orderly, and the air was filled with a tense fighting spirit.

The avatar activated its escape technique and landed outside the main gate of the camp.

The several Golden Core cultivators guarding the gate looked solemn and vigilantly surveyed their surroundings.

When they saw Zhou Xun's face clearly, they were stunned at first, and then their faces instantly filled with unbelievable excitement and fervor!

"It's...it's the Heavenly Lord of the River of Oblivion!"

"The Heavenly Emperor has returned!"

"We pay our respects to the Heavenly Lord of the River of Oblivion!"

The guards almost instinctively straightened their bodies and bowed in the most respectful and standard posture. Their voices trembled slightly with excitement, and their eyes were filled with utmost awe and worship!
During the great war between the Ghost Clan, Zhou Xun appeared in a time of crisis, slaying a Ghost Clan's Nascent Soul cultivator and turning the tide of the battle. His heroic figure has long been known throughout the human realm and he is revered as a legend among the human race.

These cultivators on the western front, especially those guards who had witnessed the great battle, regarded Zhou Xun as their idol and guardian deity!
Zhou Xun nodded slightly in return, without saying anything more, and walked straight into the camp.

The news of his return spread like wildfire throughout the entire Western Desert camp at an astonishing speed!
"The Heavenly Lord of the River of Oblivion has returned!"

"Really? Where is the Heavenly Emperor?"

"I just went in through the main gate! There's no mistake!"

"Great! The Heavenly Emperor is back!"

The long-suppressed military camp seemed to be injected with a powerful stimulant, and countless cultivators spread the news, greatly boosting morale!

Zhou Xun, seemingly oblivious to the commotion behind him, headed straight for the most magnificent main hall in the very center of the camp, a hall built of Xuan Yang Jade.

Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was solemn.

Liu Baidu's brows were furrowed, and his face was gloomy.

Staring helplessly at the glaring black rift on the map, which represented the passage to the ghost realm, he was filled with anxiety about the future.

Just then, an unusual, subtle commotion suddenly arose outside the hall, followed by clear footsteps approaching from afar.

Liu Bai looked up with some displeasure, about to rebuke who dared to trespass into the main hall without prior notice.

But when he saw the figure slowly walking into the hall, he froze!

"Zhou Xun! You...you're finally back!"

(End of this chapter)