NOVPUB```
After that, it was time to comprehend the Dao Intention, condense the Dao Secret, and take steps toward the Realm of Immortal Ascension…
However, after some thought, he decided to take a special trip outside.
Once he left the Sect, he took out a hundred Class IV Spirit Chickens from his Spirit Beast Bag and cast the "Lifeline Defile Curse."
Fang Yi succeeded in casting it.
Outside the Spirit Temple, a chilling black substance materialized out of thin air, making his heart tremble.
It clung to the surface of the temple, spreading like creeping vines.
These black materials seemed imbued with intense malice and coldness… as if they were sinister eyes peering from the abyss.
The Divine Statues within the Spirit Temple instinctively shrank back.
"The Lifeline Defile Curse is a curse formed by sacrificing a hundred beings of the same class… I am versed in the Path of Divine Patterns and made minute adjustments, barely handling the curse of Class IV beings with a Soul at Golden Core Perfection… It is still somewhat risky, but there’s no other way," thought Wang Ba, feeling a great pressure from that black substance filling him with resignation.
With his Soul at peak strength, he could clearly sense that another cultivator who had also practiced the "Yin’s Great Dream Sutra" was approaching rapidly.
Yet recently, this person had subtly slowed the pace, seemingly waiting for Wang Ba to achieve Nascent Soul.
Whether it was Han Yanzi or not, he knew very well that at the moment of achieving Nascent Soul, there would inevitably be a confrontation between them.
The Lifeline Defile Curse could protect his Soul, and even the Yin God Divine Statues seemed to have an inherent fear of it, which forced him to take a risk.
Fortunately, his understanding of the Path of Divine Patterns had grown deeper, and the modified Lifeline Defile Curse ultimately did not backfire against him, the caster.
After taking these precautions, he returned to the Sect and made a trip to the Myriad Cave.
As the Sect Master had said, regardless of what Soul-related treasures he chose, the yellow-skin gourd in the Myriad Cave did not obstruct him.
Moreover, the Wuhe Patriarch who was guarding the Myriad Cave personally advised Wang Ba, selecting a suitable set of magic treasures and spirit items for his Soul.
"This magic treasure itself puts a strain on your Soul, so it’s best to choose only the most suitable one. These three Class V spirit items are also the treasures that are most compatible with you."
The gaunt and venerable-looking Wuhe Patriarch pointed to a yellow jade finger ring, a dark wood stick glowing with a faint red light, a dragon’s horn, a palm-sized conch, several pieces of ancient talisman paper, and a box containing elixirs.
He then explained in detail to Wang Ba how to use the magic treasure, the three spirit items, the talismans, and the elixirs.
"Thank you, Wuhe Patriarch."
Wang Ba expressed his gratitude with a bow.
"No need for formalities, your affairs have been discussed with me by Sect Master Shao, and there’s no need to panic. Although Han Yanzi is of the Void Refining realm, a battle of souls does not entirely depend on the level of the realm. With you in the home field, you can offset much of his advantage. Moreover, he is unaware that you have deduced his identity and made so many preparations. With the informed taking on the uninformed, you do have a chance of winning," the Wuhe Patriarch earnestly reassured.
Wang Ba nodded with a smile upon hearing these words.
His heart was not too panicked.
He had done everything he could.
Magic treasures, spirit items, talismans, elixirs, curses, and so on.
Including the "Scapegoat Divine Skill," which had not been triggered in a long time.
But, indeed, he had no absolute confidence in his heart.
The existence of Void Refining was still somewhat beyond his grasp.
The Sect’s records on the techniques of Void Refining also exceeded his current understanding.
He was even less clear about what methods Han Yanzi would use against him.
All he could do was to arm himself as much as possible before that moment arrived.
Yet compared to when he first learned that his opponent was Han Yanzi, he now felt less fear.
Instead, there was calm.
After leaving the Myriad Cave.
Wang Ba returned to Wanfa Peak for a visit, where he and Bu Chan quietly listened to the sound of the rain all night and spoke an endless stream of words.
"Senior Brother, are you hiding something from me?"
Bu Chan suddenly spoke.
"Hehe, of course not, just that even in cultivation, one must know when to advance and when to retreat."
Wang Ba said with a laugh, no hint of anything unusual on his face.
Bu Chan stared at his face for a long time, then finally nodded hesitantly.
A night of spiritual communion, a night of profound satisfaction.
After Bu Chan fell asleep, Wang Ba silently rose, his face filled with regret as he watched Bu Chan for a long time before finally drifting away.
What he didn’t know was that after he left, Bu Chan slowly opened his eyes, filled with worry.
"Senior Brother…"
…
Yongzi Secret Realm.
Wang Ba sat down once again in the place where he had cultivated before.
All the treasures had been prepared, and he could finally concentrate on attempting to merge the Blood Energy of his physical body, the Mana of his Golden Core, and his Soul into one. 𝚗ov𝚙𝚞𝚋.c𝚘m
The progress was going fairly smoothly.
His Talent in the physical body was indeed quite ordinary, but perhaps it was the massive Thunder Tribulation that had refined his Blood Energy to an extremely abundant state, allowing him to merge with the Blood Energy at a considerable pace.
In just over a year, a faint layer of blood color could now be vaguely seen above the golden light of the Dharma Golden Core.
However, when he tried to integrate his Soul, he encountered an unprecedented difficulty.
No matter how he tried, his Soul was like a breeze brushing over stones, not merging with the Golden Core in the slightest.
Time slipped away bit by bit, and the Blood Energy had completely merged into the Dharma Golden Core.
But on the Soul front, there was still no progress at all.
It remained distinctly separate from the Golden Core.
This also started to affect his usually calm and composed state of mind.
He even began to grow agitated.
Images kept coming to mind of himself failing to achieve Nascent Soul and being taken advantage of by Han Yanzi, who occupied his physical body…
"No! My current state is not right!"
Realizing the imbalance in his state of mind, Wang Ba abruptly awoke.
At the same time, he couldn’t help but recall the words his master had said to him when he was in Chen State:
"…If there’s no progress in secluded cultivation, don’t be anxious. It could be beneficial to venture outside, to relax appropriately. Integrating internal and external practices is the true principle…"
"Relaxing appropriately, integrating internal and external… Indeed, Master was right, I should go outside."
Wang Ba couldn’t help but think this thought.
To date, his occasions for venturing outside the Sect had been few and far between, and even when he had gone out, there was always a reason, never a journey without a destination.
Then an idea came to him.
Atop Wanfa Peak.
Within Pearl Dungeon.
The Taoist in green robes sitting atop the snowy mountain peak suddenly opened his eyes.
A hint of light flickered through his indifferent eyes.
"Traveling outside, huh…"
The next moment, he stepped out of Pearl Dungeon.
After making arrangements at Rende Hall, he left the Sect and headed straight to the south.
