Chapter 878
Spiritual Essence Arises, Curse of Immortality
Song Changsheng held his breath and quietly watched the constantly vibrating strings.
This zither is merely a top-grade magic weapon; it could never possess such powerful spiritual energy, nor could its spirit spontaneously play a melody so closely aligned with the laws of the Great Dao.
Most music players in the world, especially those playing lower-level notes, usually play according to the score, which is undoubtedly the worst approach, because they only grasp the "sound" of the music and not the inner "rhythm".
The so-called "rhythm" refers to the "rhythm of the Great Way".
As we all know, whether it is the mainstream alchemy, talisman, array, or artifact, or the more niche art of dream creation, all the arts of cultivation are derived from the rules of the Heavenly Dao. Therefore, all the methods under heaven originate from the same source and lead to the same goal.
To take a path to its ultimate limit, one must get infinitely close to the Dao of Heaven, and then transcend the Dao of Heaven.
Those who can sense the existence of "Daoist charm" are rare geniuses, and this is the key to breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.
The Daoist aura is omnipresent. The more powerful a being is, the stronger the Daoist aura within it becomes. The Daoist aura they emit can indirectly influence things around them. Of course, this is the privilege of high-level cultivators.
The zither was influenced by the Daoist aura emanating from Zhuang Yuechan, which is why it played a melody that closely followed the rules of the Heavenly Dao.
Logically speaking, Zhuang Yuechan's cultivation level shouldn't be able to possess such a powerful Daoist aura. However, things in this world cannot be generalized. Although her cultivation level is indeed not high, she has after all fused with the true spirit and nascent soul of True Monarch Yu Shu.
Let alone ordinary Golden Core cultivators, even Song Changsheng's own Daoist aura was far inferior to hers.
However, her Daoist aura is usually very subtle, so much so that even with Song Changsheng's enhanced perception after being in the Myriad Array Cave Heaven, he could hardly detect it.
But now, her Daoist aura is directly affecting the zither in front of her, which means that the Daoist aura she had been suppressing within her body has been completely released.
This is illogical. Normally, this would only happen when Zhuang Yuechan breaks through to the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage and then breaks through to the Nascent Soul stage. But now it has happened much earlier, which is really abnormal.
"Could it be that Yuechan has made progress in the art of music?" Song Changsheng wondered to himself.
According to his understanding, the most likely reason is that Zhuang Yuechan has made a major breakthrough in the art of music, completing the transformation from "sound" to "rhythm" and glimpsing a trace of the operating rules of the Heavenly Way.
Just like when he first comprehended the Dao of Heaven with the Eye of Truth.
Normally, anyone who glimpses the rules of Heaven for the first time will receive indescribable benefits, which explains the current situation.
Zhuang Yuechan's current state is somewhat similar to an epiphany, and it's the kind that only happens once in a lifetime. The first impression is always the most shocking and the most profound.
Once she awakens from her enlightenment, she can attempt to break through to the Golden Core stage.
Song Changsheng was genuinely happy for her. When news of Bai Zhengchun's death reached the Array Dao Academy, Zhuang Yuechan left Jueyin Heaven Valley prematurely, missing an opportunity.
He had initially felt regretful about this, wondering how he could make up for her lack, but he never expected that she would take this step herself.
"It seems that Yuechan may still be able to surpass Qingxing."
After confirming that Zhuang Yuechan was not affected by her emotions, Song Changsheng left the bedroom and casually added a layer of restriction.
Song Qingxing will next participate in the Wuliang Sword Sect's trial path. The time when he breaks through to the Golden Core stage is basically certain, which is 60 years.
This is because it takes sixty years to complete the path of trials.
As long as one can emerge from this stage, breaking through to the Golden Core stage is a certainty; there have been no exceptions over the years.
If you can't get out of this trial, there's nothing more to say. The only outcome for those who can't get out of this trial is death.
In comparison, Zhuang Yuechan actually had it easier than him. Besides the fact that she cultivated the less difficult Five Elements Golden Elixir Path, the biggest factor was still True Lord Yu Shu.
The inheritance she received was enough to support her in completing a transformation; reaching the Golden Core stage was not a difficult task for her.
With the aid of the Golden Core, she could break through in as little as ten years or as long as half a century, becoming the third Golden Core cultivator in Luoxia City and the second Golden Core cultivator in the Song family.
Speaking of which, the Song family actually has another Golden Core level expert, but for some reason, after so many years, she has not yet awakened.
Song Changsheng came to Kong Sang Xiruo's bedside and quietly looked at her.
The other person's condition was the same as usual, with almost no difference. Their breathing was relatively stable, and their spirit was also very active. It was just that for some reason, their physical body remained asleep and was difficult to awaken.
This condition would generally be referred to as "vegetative state" in a previous life.
However, this concept does not exist in the Purple Imperial Realm. There are many similar symptoms, but it is rare to see someone like Kong Sang Xi Ruo who falls into a deep sleep after breaking through to the Demon King Realm.
Most importantly, she currently has no injuries whatsoever, no matter how many times she is examined.
Previously, all her internal and external injuries had been completely healed, but she just wouldn't wake up. Song Changsheng felt completely overwhelmed and had no idea what to do in the face of this strange situation.
He used to think that Kong Sang Xiruo had just consumed too much energy during her breakthrough and would wake up soon, but now it seems that's not the case at all.
If he were seriously injured, he could still find a way. With his current influence, he could still find quite a few fourth-level alchemists and physicians. As long as he found out the problem, he could treat it accordingly.
The Song family had once invited the Medicine King from the Medicine King Valley of the Great Yu cultivation world to treat her.
While the Medicine King's alchemy skills might not be considered top-notch in the border regions, his medical skills were definitely among the most exquisite. He was the one who treated Zhuang Yuechan, and his judgment was extremely accurate, with a keen eye for detail.
Most importantly, his character is trustworthy. After all, Kong Sang Xi Ruo's identity is quite sensitive, and ordinary people simply cannot be trusted.
However, after giving Kong Sang Xiruo a full diagnosis, the Medicine King simply shook his head and then gave a conclusion that seemed like a truism: "This is not an illness. She will naturally wake up when the time is right, and there will be no danger."
He waited for this opportune moment for more than a decade, and nothing changed. Sometimes he even doubted whether she would ever wake up again.
He sat by the bed for a while, then reached out and touched her brow, channeling a wisp of magic into her. He then walked out of the room, and with a sweep of his divine sense, he found where Chen Lingxiu was currently living. She was cultivating meticulously, so he chose not to disturb her.
He originally intended to find Song Qingxing first and hand over the [Qilin Essence Blood] he had, but then he thought that Song Qingxing and Song Qingxi, a couple, rarely had a chance to reunite, and they would soon be separated for another sixty years.
The road ahead is uncertain, and the couple will surely cherish this precious time together. To interrupt them now would be too much of a mood killer. It's best to leave the remaining time for them to enjoy their blissful time together. After a moment's thought, he sent a telepathic message to the Cloud-Entering Palace atop Cangmang Peak. Soon after, Song Changshou and Wujie, in their puppet forms, arrived together in his courtyard.
Wu Jie's slightly ethereal features were filled with impatience as he muttered, "What do you want? I just gathered all five elements of spiritual materials to refine the Lesser Creation Pill, and the formula was about to be completely perfected when you interrupted me at this crucial moment."
You'd better have something really important to tell me, otherwise it will delay my alchemy progress, and you'll be the one who suffers in the end."
Having spent so many years together, Song Changsheng was already used to Wu Jie's temper. Hearing this, he didn't take it to heart and went straight to the point: "This time, Yuechan went down the mountain for training and went to the Tianshan Mountains. There she picked a high-quality [Tianshan Snow Lotus]."
After I returned, I commissioned the alchemy master of Wanxiang Palace to begin refining the [Shangqing Body Shaping Pill]. You will soon be able to reshape your physical bodies. Isn't that big news?
Upon hearing this, Wu Jie was taken aback. As a fourth-tier top-grade alchemy master, only one step away from the fifth tier, he naturally knew what the [Shangqing Body Shaping Pill] meant.
So many years have passed, and he never imagined that he would one day have his physical body reconstructed.
In the beginning, he submitted to Song Qingxing only so that he could repair his original body one day, nothing more.
"Really...really?"
Wu Jie's speech became somewhat incoherent.
It's no wonder he lost his composure. As a Golden Core cultivator who roamed freely in the world, he was refined into a spirit artifact and trapped within it for countless years, unable to escape.
That yearning for freedom was stronger than any other emotion.
He is a human being, a proper human being, not a spirit.
Song Changsheng smiled slightly and said, "Of course it's true. Why would I lie to you about something like this?"
You can put down your work now and start preparing. It will take at least one year and at most two years for the [Shangqing Body Shaping Pill] to be refined. At that time, you can begin to reshape your physical body.
This is something we cannot be careless about; separating it from the original body carries significant risks.
Furthermore, I still have to ask: are you sure you want to reshape your physical body?
As a spirit, although your range of movement is limited and you are not very free, your lifespan is something that most races in the world can hardly match. As long as your physical body does not perish, you can almost achieve immortality.
Immortality is always an extremely tempting word, especially in the cultivation world where everyone pursues longevity, and these people have almost gone to extremes in their pursuit of lifespan.
If someone told you that they could grant you immortality, but the price would be your soul being refined into a weapon, at least half of ten people wouldn't hesitate, while the rest would weigh the pros and cons.
This is the temptation of immortality; they are willing to sell everything, so what does freedom matter?
Unfortunately, not everyone can walk this path.
In other words, Wu Jie was exceptionally gifted, and his soul was different from that of ordinary people, which is why he was able to be refined into a weapon spirit and obtain an alternative kind of immortality.
This is very difficult to replicate, even for Wu Jie himself. Once his physical body is reshaped and he is "reborn" anew, his lifespan will be determined by his own cultivation level.
In fact, his lifespan in the early stages might be far lower than the average level of his cultivation level, because he has lived for too long and his soul is too powerful, and the life essence of his reconstructed body cannot support his consumption.
There's no going back in life, so Song Changsheng should ask him first to confirm his resolve, lest any trouble arise later.
Under the temptation of immortality, it is difficult for anyone to make a sufficiently rational judgment.
"Immortality? More like a curse."
Wu Jie smiled sadly as memories of the past surfaced in his mind. He had indeed lived a long time, far exceeding that of a Nascent Soul Supreme, but in his long memories, he could not find many fragments worth recalling and reminiscing about.
Without freedom, what good is living a long life if you have no physical body?
They are nothing but puppets to be manipulated, and may be eliminated at any time.
Immortality was not a blessing to him, but rather a curse.
He had wanted to get rid of this curse for a long time, but he couldn't do it with his own strength. Now that an opportunity was presented to him, he naturally couldn't let it go. He would accept it calmly, even if it meant taking risks or dying.
"I am determined to reshape my physical body, and I will never regret it."
Having received his affirmative reply, Song Changsheng felt much more at ease and nodded slightly, saying, "In that case, I will have them begin to build an altar for you to reshape your physical body at the next clan gathering."
During this time, you should conserve your strength as much as possible; you can put the [Minor Creation Pill] aside for now.
“I understand,” Wu Jie said solemnly.
After confirming with him, Song Changsheng turned his gaze to Song Changshou beside him and said, "Using a puppet's body is still a bit inconvenient, isn't it?"
Regarding you, I actually have two options for you to choose from.
One option is to use the [Shangqing Body Shaping Pill] to reshape one's body, just like Wu Jie, starting everything from scratch.
This second path is essentially a shortcut, but the process will be somewhat arduous and lengthy. However, if you succeed, it might be the opportunity for you to break through to the Golden Core stage.
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Changsheng took out the spirit body of the Reincarnation True Monarch.
"This is a spiritual body that I obtained by chance. This spiritual body is only one step away from becoming a pure Yin body. I have already killed the zombie intelligence that it was born with."
You only need to enter it and slowly merge with it in the extremely yin place. After it transforms into a pure yin body, go to the extremely yang place to wash away the yin energy on your body. Then you can completely merge with it and it will be no different from the physical body you reshape.
This is the technique of restoring yang from extreme yin.
This spirit body was also an exceptionally talented individual in life, with a potential ceiling of at least the Nascent Soul stage, no worse than the one you reconstructed yourself.
Compared to the former, its advantage is that it allows you to inherit the power left behind by your spirit body. Not only do you not need to start from scratch, but it can also become an opportunity for you to break through.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages; the choice is yours, and I won't interfere.
...(End of chapter)