Elven cultivators

In the southwest of the Chaoyin Plain lies a forgotten mining area.

The abandoned mine tunnels stretched out in all directions like a spider web. The thick pine pillars were long since rotten, and broken crossbeams were embedded diagonally in the rock walls, with grayish-white dust filling the gaps.

This area was once one of the largest mining areas in the Chaoyin Plain.

However, later, the seepage of volcanic fire caused the temperature inside the mine to remain high year-round, making the ore structure brittle and fragile, turning mining into a business that risked lives.

After several accidents caused considerable casualties, the mine owner had no choice but to close the mine and hire dwarves from the Heart of the Mountains to explore it at great expense.

But the news turned out to be even worse.

There is a volcanic vein beneath the mining area, and the entire rock stratum is already in a semi-molten state, making it impossible to mine any further.

Left with no other option, the mine owner had to abandon the mineral vein.

Because of the harsh environment, even smugglers and fugitives don't bother to set foot here.

Over time, this mining area was completely forgotten.

Until recently, an uninvited guest broke the silence here.

Deep within the mine, a dark red elemental resonance tower stands in the center of the rock strata.

The runes on the surface of the tower flowed slowly like lava, channeling a steady stream of energy to a crack in the dome.

The aura of the fire elemental plane seeped out from the cracks, intense and mixed, carrying a primal savageness that burned everything, scorching the surrounding air and causing it to distort slightly.

The rock walls surrounding the base of the tower had been baked red and shiny, like thoroughly fired clay, and were scalding hot to the touch.

The entire mine is like a blazing natural furnace.

Anton sat cross-legged below the crevice, his body enveloped in a semi-transparent crimson glow.

The fire elemental power emanating from the cracks, guided by his divine sense, slowly wrapped around his body like strands of burning red silk, serving as a bridge for him to comprehend the laws of fire.

After an unknown amount of time, Anton finally emerged from his meditation and slowly opened his eyes.

He exhaled a long, hot breath, a fleeting look of joy in his eyes.

"Finally, the Fire Element Law has been integrated into the initial True Seal embryo."

After completing the fusion of the Wood and Water elements, Anton began to pave the way for the Fire element.

First, they explored various locations across the mainland to find suitable sites for opening fissures in the primordial plane of the fire element, conducted on-site surveys and measured the energy of the earth's veins, and then constructed the Elemental Resonance Tower and two magic arrays.

After nearly a year of hard work, they finally managed to open up a rift in the primordial plane of fire element deep within this abandoned mining area.

Even during this period, he managed to integrate the Metal Element Law into the True Seal Embryo before the Fire Element Law could.

At this point, the Five Elements method has been fully integrated.

The initial embryo of the true seal is already complete.

"Next is to activate the true seal."

Anton whispered something and closed his eyes again.

As his divine sense sank into the Golden Core, the True Seal Embryo, which condensed the patterns of the five laws of earth, wood, water, fire, and metal, was quietly suspended in the Seal Pool, its five-colored halos intertwined and entwined, like a flower bud about to bloom.

He mobilized his magical power, which surged towards the inkwell like a tide, enveloping the nascent embryo layer by layer.

The magic power gently seeped into every line of the law, like spring rain soaking a dried-up riverbed, making the texture clearer and the luster more rounded.

The next instant, the magical power suddenly tightened, transforming into streams of dense and powerful water that washed away the nascent true seal from all directions, removing the last trace of impurities and loose parts.

Those law imprints that were once merely on the surface are now being pressed into the depths of the nascent embryo, merging with the foundation of the true imprint, like an anvil that has been hammered and forged a thousand times and has finally settled, never to loosen again.

Finally, Anton focused his divine sense into a single line, piercing the core of the nascent true seal with the precision of a needle tip.

thump.

A soft sound, yet exceptionally clear in the perception of divine sense.

At the core of the true seal embryo, something seemed to be ignited.

The intricate, spiderweb-like patterns of laws illuminated simultaneously, and five-colored light surged forth from the depths of the patterns, like a sleeping river awakening from a long hibernation, rushing and flowing along every vein.

In an instant, the True Seal emitted a bright light.

Anton felt the magical power within his body surge like a floodgate being opened, suddenly rising and surging, flowing endlessly along his meridians.

This newborn power washed over and permeated every part of my body, and even deep within my bones, I felt a warm and full sensation.

It was a transformation from the inside out.

The initial embryonic form of the True Seal has now transformed into a true seal of magical power.

The five colors of light are contained within the seal, as deep and solid as a mountain, profound yet lively.

The Five Elements are no longer just patterns attached to the surface of the True Seal, but are truly integrated with it, like tree roots sinking into the soil, inseparable from each other.

From then on, his control over the Five Elements no longer required deliberate manipulation; it became as natural as breathing.

Anton calmed his breathing, reopened his eyes, and his eyes shimmered with a five-colored light.

The magical power within his body had reached an unprecedented level, and each flow was more profound and steady than before.

"His magical power is at least three times greater than before."

A slight smile appeared on Anton's lips.

In addition, their mastery of the rules is far greater than before.

He even had a clear feeling.

If he wanted to, the power of those Five Elements Divine Powers could be increased by at least 30% to 40% if he used them now.

You must understand that at his level, every increase in supernatural power is extremely rare.

At this level, simply accumulating magical power is no longer enough to bring about a qualitative leap.

What truly determines strength is the depth of one's understanding of the rules and the precision with which one applies them.

His current state is like a river channel that has been blocked for many years, allowing the flow of laws to become unobstructed and without any hindrance.

Their strength has clearly improved significantly.

After a brief moment of joy, Anton quickly composed himself and began to consider his next steps.

Above the third level of the Golden Core stage lies the Nascent Soul stage.

The essence of the Nascent Soul can be said to be the "second life" of a cultivator.

At the Golden Core stage, cultivators condense their entire essence, energy, and spirit into an immortal elixir, using it as a foundation to control the laws of heaven and earth.

The Nascent Soul stage involves the process of the elixir "breaking out of its shell" and transforming into a primordial spirit connected to the cultivator's life.

The Nascent Soul is another form of a cultivator's life essence.

If the physical body perishes but the nascent soul remains, it can seize another body to be reborn and reshape its physical body, or continue its cultivation directly in the form of the nascent soul.

As long as the nascent soul remains, the cultivator will never die.

It can be said that one of the biggest advantages of Nascent Soul stage cultivators compared to Golden Core stage cultivators is that they have an extra "life".

To nurture a nascent soul, one must overcome three obstacles.

The elixir matures, the truth is revealed, and the heavenly tribulation occurs.

In the cultivation world, these three are known as the Three Barriers to Breaking Through Infant Level.

The first challenge is "Dan Shu".

When the elixir is perfected, the golden elixir reaches its peak, leaving no room for further advancement.

This test assesses one's accumulated magical power and comprehension of the laws.

Golden Core cultivators need to mobilize their magical power to further promote the integration of the True Seal of Magical Power with the Golden Core.

This process is also known as "fetal breathing".

The Golden Elixir needs to undergo nine cycles of embryonic breathing to mature.

Each time the embryonic breathing occurs, the golden elixir undergoes a "breathing" process from the inside out.

It absorbs the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, tempers the elixir body, removes impurities, and makes the golden elixir and the true seal of magical power merge more closely.

After nine cycles of embryonic breathing, nine fine cracks, as thin as hair, will appear on the surface of the golden elixir, which is a sign that the elixir is "mature".

Nine is the extreme number.

Nine breaths of embryonic breathing signify that the Golden Elixir has reached the pinnacle of this realm.

Then came the second challenge, "Discernment".

Those who see through illusions understand their true selves.

This trial is related to the "Heart Demon Tribulation" of the Golden Core stage, but it is even more dangerous.

The "inner demon tribulation" during the Golden Core stage is a test that comes from the outside in.

The inner demons arise from the condensation of the elixir, intended to temper and refine the Dao heart.

The "Discernment Barrier" in the Nascent Soul stage is an elevation from the inside out.

The cultivator must actively immerse himself in the deepest part of his consciousness and confront his most authentic and unadorned self.

Just like the name of this level, cultivators must see through the illusion of self, the illusion of others, the illusion of all living beings, and the illusion of lifespan.

During the trial, cultivators will experience countless illusory realms that seem to cycle through reincarnation.

Each life is a different identity, destiny, and experience.

A cultivator needs to maintain their original mind in every lifetime, not be misled by illusions, and not be trapped by desires.

This is not just about recognizing yourself, but about surpassing yourself.

The danger of breaking through the illusion lies in the fact that once a cultivator gets lost in the illusion, their consciousness will be trapped there forever, and they will never be able to wake up again.

At that time, the physical body will remain, but the soul will have dissipated, leaving only a walking corpse.

Throughout history, most Golden Core cultivators who attempted to cultivate their Nascent Soul have failed at this stage.

If a cultivator can pass the Discernment Tribulation, they will face the final tribulation, the Heavenly Tribulation.

Heavenly tribulation refers to the calamity that Heaven and Earth cannot tolerate, which is sent to obstruct progress.

Breaking through the Nascent Soul stage is a crucial step for cultivators from "borrowing" the laws of heaven and earth to "integrating" into them.

This step touched upon the deepest taboo in the world.

Heaven and earth have their constant order; the birth and death of all things are predetermined.

Nascent Soul cultivators, on the other hand, possess the unique characteristic that "their primordial spirit remains even after their physical body perishes."

In the eyes of Heaven and Earth, this is a transgression against the laws of life and death, and a challenge to the natural order. Therefore, a heavenly tribulation will be sent down to stop it.

The Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation, also known as the "Thunder and Fire Tribulation".

There are a total of eighty-one tribulations of thunder and fire, each one stronger than the last.

The first twenty-seven steps temper the physical body.

The twenty-seven steps of forging the golden elixir.

The latter twenty-seven effects act simultaneously on the physical body and the golden core, merging the two into one and paving the way for the birth of the nascent soul.

After surviving the Heavenly Tribulation, cultivators can undergo a transformation from the inside out, nurturing a nascent soul within their golden core.

Once one successfully breaks through the Nascent Soul stage, one can become a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Having broken through the three stages of the Infant Realm, the path to advancement is very clear, leaving no room for confusion.

The real challenge lies within the levels themselves.

Anton mentally reviewed the three stages of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

Of the three stages of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, the stage of Refining the Elixir is the easiest.

It's nothing more than a slow and meticulous process.

Given enough time and resources, we will eventually reach that point.

On the contrary, the remaining two levels...

Breaking through the barrier requires both opportunity and mental fortitude; it cannot be achieved through brute force.

As for the Heavenly Tribulation, once the Thunder and Fire Tribulation descends, there is no way to retreat and no shortcuts to exploit.

Each bolt of lightning carries the crushing force of the will of heaven and earth, its power is immense, and the slightest carelessness will result in the annihilation of both body and soul.

To get through this safely, relying on oneself alone is far from enough. One must make preparations in advance, prepare resources, choose the right location, and push all external assistance to the extreme in order to have any chance of success.

"We need to think this through carefully..."

Anton snapped out of his thoughts and prepared to return to the Primordial Spirit Realm.

It's been more than two years since I went back, and I don't know if anything has happened in the Primordial Spirit Realm.

However, Eleanor didn't contact him using a communication talisman, so it's likely nothing important has happened.

Just then, Anton's expression suddenly changed, and he looked up to the north.

His divine sense detected the fluctuations of spiritual energy coming from an extremely distant place.

That's... the Thousand Machine Feather?