Chapter 131: The Path to Soul Transformation

After Zi Wuji left, Su Yun sat in the courtyard for a long time.

He was pondering a question.

He had reached the Late Nascent Soul Stage, and the next step was the Soul Transformation Stage.

However, his knowledge of the Soul Transformation Stage was almost zero.

In this region of the Central Domain, the Peak Nascent Soul Stage was the ceiling; the old monsters of the Soul Transformation Stage had long since gone to the Northern Wasteland or the Western Regions, places where the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was much denser.

Among those around him, Valley Master Su Yao had been stuck at the Peak Nascent Soul Stage for three hundred years, Fairy Jianyun had stagnated at the Late Nascent Soul Stage for two hundred years, and Zi Wuji was also at the Peak Nascent Soul Stage, yet not one of them had truly touched the threshold of the Soul Transformation Stage.

He needed more information.

Su Yun summoned Valley Master Su Yao.

She was busy in the Pill Refining Room and rushed over immediately upon hearing the summons.

The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley had now completely integrated into life in Qinghe City, spending her days refining pills, guiding Disciples, and organizing Cultivation Techniques; her life was far more fulfilling than the backstabbing days in the Immortal Alliance.

"Master, you summoned me."

Su Yun gestured for her to sit.

"Tell me about the Soul Transformation Stage."

Valley Master Su Yao was stunned for a moment, then spoke with a serious expression.

"There is a chasm between the Soul Transformation Stage and the Nascent Soul Stage. The Nascent Soul Stage Cultivates Spiritual Qi, while the Soul Transformation Stage Cultivates the Divine Soul. To go from Nascent Soul to Soul Transformation, one must completely fuse the Nascent Soul with the Divine Soul, breaking the pill to become a god. This process is called Undergoing Divine Tribulation."

Su Yun asked.

"Is the Divine Tribulation difficult to overcome?"

Valley Master Su Yao nodded.

"Very difficult. In the last five hundred years in the Central Domain, there have been forty-seven recorded Cultivators at the Peak Nascent Soul Stage; twenty-one have attempted to undergo the Divine Tribulation, and not one has succeeded. Of the remaining twenty-six, some did not dare to attempt it, and others exhausted their Lifespan during the preparation process. The result of failing the Divine Tribulation is, at best, the total loss of one's cultivation, and at worst, the complete destruction of one's Divine Soul."

Su Yun was silent for a moment.

"Then how do the Soul Transformation Stage experts in the Northern Wasteland and Western Regions come to be?"

Valley Master Su Yao said.

"The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the Northern Wasteland and the Western Regions is several times denser than in the Central Domain, and the Spirit Materials and Spirit Medicine are also more abundant. Cultivators there start laying their foundation from the Foundation Establishment Stage, and by the time they reach the Nascent Soul Stage, they have specialized Soul Transformation Cultivation Techniques to Cultivate their Divine Soul, and they have various Spirit Treasures to protect them while Undergoing Tribulation. Even so, the success rate is less than thirty percent. Cultivators in the Central Domain do not have these conditions; attempting to undergo the Divine Tribulation by force is almost certain death."

Su Yun understood.

This was why the Central Domain could not retain strong experts.

It was not a lack of talent, but a lack of resources.

Those old monsters at the Peak Nascent Soul Stage either risked the tribulation and died, or left the Central Domain for the Northern Wasteland to seek Opportunities.

He thought for a moment.

"Can a Soul Transformation Stage Pill increase the success rate?"

Valley Master Su Yao nodded.

"The Soul Transformation Stage Pill is an ancient Pill Formula specifically used to assist in Undergoing Divine Tribulation. After taking a Soul Transformation Stage Pill, the Fusion speed of the Nascent Soul and Divine Soul will increase several times over, and it can preserve the Divine Soul from dissipating if the tribulation fails. If I can refine a Soul Transformation Stage Pill, the success rate of the tribulation can be increased to at least fifty percent."

Fifty percent.

Higher than thirty percent, but still not enough.

Su Yun looked at her.

"You said before that the Soul Transformation Stage Pill is missing three types of Materials. The ten-thousand-year ganoderma and nine-turn dragon saliva—can these not be bought in the Central Domain?"

Valley Master Su Yao shook her head.

"They cannot be bought. The ten-thousand-year ganoderma is only found in the Ten Thousand Year Cold Pool of the Northern Wasteland, and the nine-turn dragon saliva is a specialty of the Western Regions' Dragon Abyss. These two items cannot be found in the Central Domain at all, and even if someone obtained them by chance, they would not sell them. As for the sap of the sky thunder bamboo, it is deep within the Northern Wasteland's Thunder Pool, guarded by a lightning beast of the Soul Transformation Stage. Each of these three items is deadly."

After listening, Su Yun did not speak.

He leaned back in his chair, gazing at the sky.

The Northern Wasteland, the Western Regions, a lightning beast of the Soul Transformation Stage, the Ten Thousand Year Cold Pool, the Dragon Abyss.

These names sounded far away, but to him, it was merely a matter of time.

"Once I have arranged the affairs of the Central Domain properly, I will take a trip to the Northern Wasteland."

He said.

Valley Master Su Yao's expression changed.

"Master, the Northern Wasteland is too dangerous. You are currently at the Late Nascent Soul Stage; if you go to the Northern Wasteland, you can only be considered to have average cultivation. Those old monsters of the Soul Transformation Stage could use a single finger to…"

Su Yun raised his hand to interrupt her.

"I know. That is why I said I would go after arranging everything properly. Not now."

Valley Master Su Yao breathed a sigh of relief, but she was still somewhat uneasy.

"How many people does Master intend to take?"

Su Yun thought for a moment.

"Taking many people is useless. It is enough to take a few at the Peak Nascent Soul Stage. You count as one, Fairy Jianyun counts as one, and Zi Wuji counts as one. Three people are enough."

Valley Master Su Yao was stunned for a moment.

"I am going too?"

Su Yun looked at her.

"You do not want to go?"

Valley Master Su Yao shook her head hurriedly.

"This subordinate wants to go. This subordinate has been stuck at the Peak Nascent Soul Stage for three hundred years; I dream of breaking through. It is just that this subordinate is worried that if something happens on the road, there will be no one left to refine Master's Soul Transformation Stage Pill."

Su Yun laughed.

"If you die, I will find someone else to refine it. But you will not die. My people do not die that easily."

Valley Master Su Yao was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"This subordinate understands."

Su Yun told her to go back and prepare.

After Valley Master Su Yao left, he summoned Fairy Jianyun and Zi Wuji.

Fairy Jianyun arrived very quickly; she had been guarding the city walls and flew over immediately upon hearing the summons.

Zi Wuji had just returned to the Purple Mansion from Qinghe City and had to turn back; her expression was not very good.

Su Yun explained the matter of going to the Northern Wasteland.

After listening, Fairy Jianyun was silent for a long time.

She had cultivated the sword path for two hundred years and had never left the Central Domain.

To her, the Northern Wasteland was a legendary place.

But she did not hesitate.

"This subordinate is willing to go."

Zi Wuji, however, frowned.

"If you go to the Northern Wasteland, what will happen to my daughter?"

Su Yun said.

"Zi Ling will stay in Qinghe City. You will come with me."

Zi Wuji's expression became even uglier.

"I am at the Peak Nascent Soul Stage; am I going to the Northern Wasteland to be your bodyguard?"

Su Yun looked at her.

"You do not have to go. I will go myself. But if your daughter's man dies out there, do not regret it."

Zi Wuji was so angry her face turned green.

She stared at Su Yun for a long time, then finally gritted her teeth and said.

"I will go. But if my daughter suffers even the slightest grievance, I will not be done with you when I return."

Su Yun laughed.

"Rest assured. My people are never wronged."

The three of them set the schedule to depart in half a month.

During these half a month, Su Yun had to finish handling all affairs in the Central Domain to ensure that Qinghe City could operate normally after he left.

The first person he sought was Zhou Yuanshuang.

"After I leave, the defense of Qinghe City will be handed over to you. Fairy Jianyun is coming with me, so you will take her place."

Zhou Yuanshuang was stunned for a moment.

"Master, this subordinate is only at the Early Nascent Soul Stage and cannot defend against those at the Late Nascent Soul Stage."

Su Yun said.

"People at the Late Nascent Soul Stage will not come. The Immortal Alliance has disbanded, Yuxu Palace is gone, and there are currently no forces in the Central Domain that can threaten Qinghe City. You only need to guard the city gates and make sure no riffraff gets in."

Zhou Yuanshuang thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

Then came Liu Wugou and Elder Han Yue.

"You two will stay in Qinghe City and help me keep an eye on Zi Ling and Zhao Lanxin. Those two girls have low cultivation; do not let them run around."

Liu Wugou agreed readily.

Elder Han Yue was silent for a moment, then asked a question.

"How long will Husband be gone?"

Su Yun thought for a moment.

"I do not know. Perhaps a few months, perhaps a few years."

Elder Han Yue lowered her head and did not speak again.

Su Yun looked at her and suddenly felt a bit indebted.

This Dao Companion was someone he had accepted back then in the Zhengyi Sect just to deal with those Elders.

She was devoted to him, yet he had never placed her in the most important position.

But he could not give her more.

Matters of the heart cannot be forced.

He reached out and gently patted her shoulder.

"Wait for me to return."

Elder Han Yue looked up, her eyes slightly red, but she smiled.

"This wife will wait for Husband."

That night, Su Yun went to find Zhao Lanxin.

The little girl was sitting by the bed, holding a newly made robe, and was embroidering the final cloud pattern.

Seeing him enter, she stood up hurriedly and hid the robe behind her back.

Su Yun laughed.

"Making clothes for me again?"

Zhao Lanxin blushed, shook her head, and then nodded.

She took out the robe and handed it to him.

This one was moon-white, but the cloud patterns were made with silver thread, more exquisite than the last one.

Su Yun took it and tried it on.

It fit perfectly.

He looked down at the fine, dense stitches on the lapel; every stitch was even, and it was clear that she had put her heart into it.

"Lanxin."

He called her.

Zhao Lanxin looked up, her eyes bright and sparkling.

Su Yun pulled her into his arms.

"I am going on a long journey. It might be a long time before I return."

Zhao Lanxin's body stiffened.

She looked up, her eyes red, but she did not cry.

She made a few gestures.

Where is Husband going?

"The Northern Wasteland. A very far place."

Zhao Lanxin bit her lip and gestured again.

Is it dangerous?

Su Yun thought for a moment.

"A little dangerous. But it does not matter."

Zhao Lanxin buried her face in his chest, her small hands clutching his lapel tightly.

After a long while, she let go, looked up, and gestured.

Husband must promise Lanxin that you will return.

Su Yun lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead.

"I promise you."

Zhao Lanxin smiled.

Tears fell, but she was smiling.

That night, Su Yun did not leave.

He held Zhao Lanxin, sat by the bed, and listened to her gesture about the things that happened in Qingyou Valley over the past few months.

Talking about how she cultivated, how she learned to make clothes, and how she practiced with Lin Waner.

Saying that she missed him, missed him every day.

As she spoke, she fell asleep.

Su Yun placed her on the bed and covered her with a thin quilt.

Moonlight spilled in from outside the window, landing on her face.

A delicate little face, slightly pouted lips, and the undried tear stains at the corners of her eyes.

He sat by the bed for a long time before rising to leave.

Half a month later.

Outside the North Gate of Qinghe City, three figures were prepared to depart.

Su Yun was wearing a moon-white robe with the belt Zhao Lanxin had newly made tied around his waist.

Standing behind him were Valley Master Su Yao and Fairy Jianyun; both were dressed in martial attire, each carrying her own weapon on her back.

The city gate was full of people.

Zhou Yuanshuang, Liu Wugou, Elder Han Yue, Zhao Lanxin, Lin Waner, Murong Xue, Ling Shuang, Yin Hongyao, Zi Ling, Hu Meiniang, Lie Yunyan, Fairy Shuiyun, Zhou Ruoyun, and those female Disciples from Qingyou Valley.

Zhou Ruoyun stood at the very front, her little face full of reluctance.

She pulled on Su Yun's sleeve, refusing to let go.

"Brother Su, you must come back early."

Su Yun ruffled her hair.

"I know."

Zhao Lanxin stood in the crowd, watching him quietly.

She did not come forward, just stood there, clutching a belt that had not been finished yet.

Su Yun looked at her; she smiled at him and made a gesture.

Husband, Lanxin will wait for you.

Su Yun nodded and turned to walk north.

Valley Master Su Yao and Fairy Jianyun followed behind.

At the city gate, the female Cultivators watched him go.

No one spoke.

The wind blew, carrying a fallen leaf.

Su Yun's figure became smaller and smaller, finally disappearing on the distant mountain path.

Zhao Lanxin stood on the city wall, looking in that direction for a very, very long time.