Mortal: Fifteenth Realm Sword Cultivator

Inside the waterside pavilion.

Zhuang Huayi explained all the key points and essentials of Foundation Establishment, False Core Formation, and even Core Formation.

A gentle female voice, like a clear spring flowing, each word a gem, profound yet simple.

During the process, Xin Ruyin listened with the most focus.

Yan Ruyan, on the other hand, remained calm.

She was already at the Core Formation stage, and had long since passed the hurdle between Foundation Establishment and Pseudo-Core Formation. At this moment, she seemed to be refining and eliminating the dross from the material.

As for Yuan Yao, she was the most lively, resting her chin on her hand, her two snow-white little feet bare, her toes like tender buds exuding the unique charm of a young girl. Petite and delicate, it seems as if you could hold it in one hand.

Just as Zhuang Huayi finished speaking, Yuan Yao suddenly raised her head, remembered something, and asked softly:

"Master...is there any technique in this world that can allow the primordial spirit to rebuild the physical body?"

Her voice trailed off, but her eyes held an unyielding sorrow.

Because Senior Sister Yanli is now only a soul, although Zhuang Huayi gathered her together, she was still affected by the Azure Fire Lightning.

Except for a brief period of lucidity at the beginning, it then fell into a deep sleep.

Yuan Yao has been pondering this repeatedly these days.

It seems that possession and cultivating the ghost path are not very suitable.

After much thought, she could only ask this question with a sliver of hope.

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Huayi immediately understood what Yuan Yao was thinking. Instead of answering immediately, she fell into a brief silence.

The path of cultivation is ultimately a personal choice. Even if she forbids it now, as long as the thought remains, it will inevitably resurface in the future.

When Yuan Yao's cultivation level improved and she entered the Core Formation stage, the matter of her senior sister Yanli became a shackle of obsession in her heart.

She originally didn't want to get too involved in this matter.

But since Yuan Yao had already become her disciple, and after spending time together, she found that the girl's straightforward and unpretentious nature quite appealing, which gradually made her feel a bit fond of her.

Furthermore, since Yuan Yao calls her "Master," she can't completely ignore it.

Points to note should still be made.

"You've only reached the Foundation Establishment stage. The most important thing now is to focus wholeheartedly on your own cultivation. If you truly want to shelter someone from the wind and rain, you must first learn to shelter yourself before you can help others hold an umbrella for them."

"Given your senior sister's current condition, her soul is injured. Relying solely on that nurturing artifact is not a long-term solution. If we cannot find a suitable body for her to possess within a limited time, or transfer her to the ghost path for cultivation, her essence will gradually dissipate over time and eventually return to the world. This period will not be too long."

Zhuang Huayi continued, "With your current aptitude and abilities, you can only be described as average, far from sufficient to handle techniques involving the very essence of the soul. Rashly pursuing methods to rebuild your physical body will not only delay your senior sister's last chance, but may also ruin your own path of cultivation."

Yuan Yao could naturally discern the deeper meaning behind his words. Her bright eyes suddenly lit up, and she eagerly asked, "Master, do you know of any techniques in the world that can truly rebuild a physical body?!"

Seeing her reaction, Zhuang Huayi knew that her previous advice had been in vain.

But on second thought, the fact that she was so persistent about this proves that she is simple-minded, loyal, and has a rare childlike heart.

Far from being angry, she felt even more approval of Yuan Yao.

Those who cultivate themselves seek longevity and freedom, but if they sever all emotions and desires for the sake of the Great Dao, what meaning does the long path of cultivation hold for their true nature?

Yuan Yao's stubbornness in finding a way out for her senior sister at all costs is quite in line with her temperament.

Looking at Yuan Yao's hopeful eyes, Zhuang Huayi sighed softly and stopped beating around the bush, "Such heaven-defying methods do exist. It's a forbidden technique called 'Rejuvenation Technique,' which may allow the primordial spirit to re-form a physical body."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming extremely serious.

"The Resurrection Technique is a forbidden technique with extremely strict conditions for its execution. With your current Foundation Establishment cultivation level, you can forget about it."

This technique requires finding an extremely yin place, which must be nurtured by heaven and earth, and cannot be replaced by relying on array formations set up later.

Furthermore, it is essential to choose a specific time, the midnight hour, when Yin energy is at its peak and a wisp of Yang energy is subtly emerging. This time must be the fifth day of the fifth month of the Jiazi year, within the sixty-year cycle of the Chinese sexagenary cycle—a subtle moment where extreme Yin contains extreme Yang.

"Even if you have everything ready, no one dares to say that you will definitely succeed. The person who performs this technique must have a cultivation level of at least the late stage of Core Formation. Once the technique is performed, the core will definitely shatter, the cultivation level will drop back to Foundation Establishment, the true essence will be greatly damaged, the foundation will be destroyed, and it will be difficult to embark on the path of cultivation again in this life."

"Even a Nascent Soul cultivator will suffer a backlash from the Heavenly Dao rules if he helps someone reunite their physical body. Unless he is a great cultivator, he may be able to barely withstand it, but even then, his early to mid-stage cultivation level may drop. Even if he does not drop, his lifespan will be greatly reduced."

"With your current cultivation level, if you do not have the opportunity to break through to the late stage of Core Formation, even if you find a suitable place of extreme yin to nurture your senior sister's primordial spirit with your current methods, you may only be able to maintain it for several decades, or at most a hundred years. Her essence will inevitably gradually dissipate and eventually return to heaven and earth."

"This path comes at too high a price, and the hope is slim. Have you thought it through?"

Zhuang Huayi's words were sincere and not a test.

Zhuang Huayi's words were sincere and not a test.

The implied meaning.

I have seen that you have done this much, and I understand the deep sisterly bond between you.

But the path of spiritual practice is ultimately one's own; there's no need to truly sacrifice so much for it.

It is already rare to have this kind of heart.

From that moment on, Zhuang Huayi truly regarded Yuan Yao as the successor who could inherit the Baibi Mountain lineage and continue the sect's legacy.

She secretly thought that if Yuan Yao diligently cultivated the "Luanfeng Sword Manual" and accumulated her true essence to perfection, she could even consider using the empowerment method to help her forcibly break through to the Nascent Soul realm.

Of course, these are things to follow.

However, to her surprise, after hearing the arduous account, Yuan Yao was only slightly moved at first, but then her brows furrowed and her expression became more and more determined.

"Yuan Yao only has her senior sister as family in the world. Master, even if there is only the slightest chance to bring her back... I want to try."

After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence.

As Xin Ruyin and Yan Ruyan listened to the conversation between the two, their gazes fell on Yuan Yao, and admiration gradually rose in their eyes.

Put yourself in their shoes.

Not everyone can do this.

Zhuang Huayi remained silent, offering no further advice, and simply nodded slightly.

Xin Ruyin spoke up at the opportune moment, "I recall that Senior Lu once refined a 'Bone-to-Flesh Regeneration' elixir. When I suffered from the Dragon's Roar Body, he used a special method to completely destroy the meridians and blood vessels in my body, and then used the power of the elixir to rebuild them. According to Senior Lu, if this method is combined with spiritual herbs that are over three thousand years old, it may be able to reshape the physical body and restore vitality. Although I don't know if it is equally effective for the primordial spirit, since it can reverse the damage to the physical body, it seems that there is some possibility of rebuilding the body. Even if it cannot be used directly on the soul, if it is aided by the elixir, it may be able to reduce the cost of using forbidden techniques."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao immediately turned to look at the other person.

At this moment, Zhuang Huayi flipped her palm, and a pill the size of a longan, with a faint luster of green jade, quietly appeared, immediately attracting the attention of the three people.

Besides Yuan Yao, Xin Ruyin and Yan Ruyan also whispered in surprise, "Senior Zhuang, how did you get this pill?"

Zhuang Huayi nodded slightly and said calmly, "This pill was given to me by Mr. Lu."

A thought flickered in her mind; it seemed she had underestimated the wonder of this pill.

Yuan Yao whispered from the side, "This kind of heaven-defying and fate-altering item probably requires extraordinary main ingredients. Thousand-year-old spiritual herbs are probably the minimum requirement."

Zhuang Huayi said, "In the Chaotic Star Sea, demon cores are easy to obtain, but thousand-year-old spiritual herbs are extremely rare. Let alone a thousand years, even those over five hundred years old are very difficult to find. Such spiritual plants mostly grow in the outer sea, and are often guarded by high-level demonic beasts. Therefore, main ingredients over a thousand years old are almost extinct in the inner sea. Perhaps only some large sects, such as the Star Palace, might have the resources to accumulate them. But whether they can gather enough of the essential herbs to refine this pill is also unknown."

Xin Ruyin said softly, "When Senior Lu refined this pill back then, he also lamented the difficulty in finding the medicinal materials. He only refined six pills in total. After hearing what Senior Zhuang said, it will probably be difficult to start the furnace again now."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao stopped thinking about it.

The thousand-year-old elixir is already extremely rare, let alone needing Mr. Lu to refine it.

Yuan Yao had no idea what the cost of this would be.

She was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet her request was to reshape the physical body of her senior sister, whose only remaining primordial spirit was still intact.

She really didn't know what price she would have to pay to get the other party to make such a request, given the trade-offs and considerations involved.

Zhuang Huayi put the pill back into her sleeve and said, "Your most important task right now is to improve your cultivation level. As for other matters, you must proceed slowly and patiently."

Yuan Yao gently bit her lip, her expression no longer as lively as before, and whispered, "Disciple understands."

Xin Ruyin suddenly spoke up: "Senior Zhuang, how long will Senior Lu's seclusion last this time?"

Zhuang Huayi shook her head: "His previous battle with the Six Paths Supreme Saint stirred up the energy of heaven and earth, and his true essence needs time to recover."

Yan Ruyan was silent for a moment, then asked softly, "Senior, when does the three-hundred-year agreement to protect the Dao begin?"

"From the date the agreement is established."

Zhuang Huayi looked at Xin Ruyin and said, "Until the three hundred years are up, or you successfully form your Nascent Soul, as Mr. Lu said, the cause and effect will be resolved at that time."

Yuan Yao was completely stunned.

Throughout the entire inner and outer star seas, who doesn't know what kind of figure the demonic giant, the Six Paths Supreme Saint, is?

She never expected that Mr. Lu was someone who could rival the Six Paths Supreme Saint.

Shocked by this, Yuan Yao almost subconsciously asked a question that she hadn't thought through at all and had no expectation of getting an answer.

"How old is Mr. Lu? He looks so young!"

Zhuang Huayi's eyes flickered slightly.

Nascent Soul cultivators have long lifespans, but very few truly possess the art of preserving youth, and this varies between men and women.

The former mostly focus their energy on breaking through their cultivation level and refining their magic weapons, paying little attention to their appearance. Therefore, high-level cultivators often have a middle-aged appearance.

Many of them are elderly men who have cultivated themselves for many years and have endured the ravages of time, exuding an air of vicissitude and antiquity.

As for the latter, no matter what level of cultivation they reach, they always pay the utmost attention to their appearance and cherish it in every way.

Even someone like Zhuang Huayi.

They also specially planted and cultivated a patch of "Eighteen Scholars".

But Lu Jianghe gives people a feeling that is not just about his youthful appearance; it is a kind of "calmness" and "sharpness" that comes from his very bones.

It is beyond comprehension.

Almost simultaneously, Yuan Yao and Zhuang Huayi both turned their gazes toward Xin Ruyin and Yan Ruyan beside them.

The two looked at each other, each trying to find some clues or answers in the other's eyes.

However, they all shook their heads slightly, their eyes revealing the same complete ignorance.

Seeing this, the four of them were speechless for a moment.

Although the mystery remained unsolved, it only fueled the women's curiosity even more.

After Yuan Yao broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Zhuang Huayi told her to calm down and settle down first, so as to prevent her realm from becoming unstable, because her foundation was not yet solid.

So he looked through the storage bag he had previously obtained from the young master of Qingyang Sect.

Unexpectedly, there were one pleasant surprise after another.

The bag contained not only a large number of high-level pills, such as the Qi-Nourishing Pill and the Essence-Strengthening Pill, but also other high-grade pills.

It also contains many secret manuals and core techniques of the Qingyang Sect.

Among them, the most precious is the ultimate skill that made the Three Yang Old Demon famous, the "Azure Yang True Fire Technique".

This is precisely the method to refine "Azure Fire Thunder".

In addition, the bag contained all sorts of things, allowing Yuan Yao to collect various demonic secret techniques, unorthodox cultivation methods, and even... she actually found a book called "Yin Yang Reincarnation Technique" suitable for ghost cultivators.

What shocked Yuan Yao the most were the several ancient jade slips mixed in with the classic texts.

One of them contained detailed instructions on how to perform the "Resurrection Technique," the required materials, and various dangerous taboos!

Since the end of yesterday's sermon, the words "resurrection technique" have been lingering in Yuan Yao's mind.

Zhuang Huayi recounted in detail the dangers and uncertainties of this forbidden technique.

However, all she knew was the existence of this technique and its terrifying cost. As for its specific methods, the required secret materials, and even the subtle details of its execution, she knew nothing.

There are no records of the Baibi Mountain range.

However, a sudden turn of events occurred.

I never expected it to appear before my eyes in this way.

Yuan Yao held the jade slip containing the "Resurrection Technique" in her hands, her hands trembling slightly with excitement.

Besides these core inheritances, the storage bag also contains many practical formations.

There are many types of formations, such as the Spirit Binding Formation, the Azure Sun Burning Fire Formation, and the Eight Elements Soul Locking and Bewildering Formation.

It can be said that obtaining this storage bag is equivalent to indirectly obtaining a complete path to the core inheritance of Qingyang Sect.

Its value is so great that it could unleash a bloodbath anywhere.

How could Yuan Yao possibly hold back any longer?

She grabbed the jade slip containing the "Resurrection Technique" and the "Yin-Yang Reincarnation Manual," along with a few other items she thought would be useful to her master, and rushed out of the meditation room, eager to see Zhuang Huayi.

"Master! Master!"

The person arrived before the voice.

Yuan Yao practically rushed into the side hall where Zhuang Huayi was, her face a mixture of ecstasy and anxiety. She held the jade slip high in her hand and spoke rapidly, like a machine gun:

"Look! Look! We found it! We really found it! It was in that villain's storage bag! Not only does it contain the 'Resurrection Technique' you mentioned, but it also has detailed instructions on how to cast the spell and the rare and precious materials needed! And this book! This 'Yin-Yang Reincarnation Manual'! It's a ghost cultivation technique! If... if the Resurrection Technique isn't feasible for now, this technique can allow Senior Sister to embark on the path of ghost cultivation and preserve her soul. Master, Senior Sister is truly saved!"

(P.S.: Sorry, I spent most of the day in the Heavenly Court, which took up a lot of time. Fellow Daoists, you guessed right, we went to court...)