"...It seems Elder Tao really has a lot of free time."

Lu Yang silently put the cultivation technique back and continued to study other techniques.

The variety of cultivation techniques at the Nascent Soul Stage was numerous; it would be more accurate to say they were a clash of ideologies rather than mere techniques.

For example, some predecessors advocated for a breakthrough in the face of death, believing that one could only elevate themselves and their Nascent Soul when confronted with a desperate situation.

Others felt that cultivation should be a gradual and steady process, without rushing.

Lu Yang preferred the latter—having Fairy Eternity in his Spiritual Space was already akin to a deadly situation; if he faced another desperate circumstance, it would be a situation with no chance of survival, rendering any elevation useless.

"This technique is quite good, ’Nascent Soul Nurturing Swordsmanship.’ It feels very suitable for me, as I can use it for reference. Cultivating this technique uses the Nascent Soul as a scabbard to nurture the heart sword. Once the heart sword is formed, the Nascent Soul can wield it, and conservatively speaking, it could increase the combat power of the Nascent Soul by 30 percent!"

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The Nascent Soul, which is transformed from the Golden Core and controlled by the primordial spirit, is not a physical entity; therefore, it lacks a weapon to wield. Naturally, if it possessed a weapon, its combat power would be expected to increase.

"This technique is useless for you," Fairy Eternity reminded.

"Why?"

"Because the Invincible Nascent Soul can already wield a sword, the purpose of cultivating this technique has already been achieved."

"The Invincible Nascent Soul can use swordsmanship? Why haven’t I seen it do so?" Lu Yang recalled his painful experiences fighting with the Invincible Nascent Soul and didn’t remember it using sword techniques.

"Because you didn’t use swordsmanship during your battles. Haven’t I said? Whatever you can do, the Invincible Nascent Soul can do as well, and even better."

"If you don’t believe it, just try and see."

Lu Yang was indeed curious. He entered the Spiritual Space, conjured a sword for himself, and then disconnected from the Invincible Nascent Soul to do battle with it.

The miracle happened; Lu Yang fought more and more bravely as the battle progressed, his swordsmanship flowing effortlessly as if second nature to him, clearly signaling a breakthrough in his swordsmanship to a level unattainable by other cultivators. Even the older generation of cultivators would clap in amazement if they witnessed it, but then he was defeated by the Invincible Nascent Soul.

"*cough cough* How is the Invincible Nascent Soul so difficult to defeat? Fairy, how did you beat it in the past?" Lu Yang was getting pummeled on the ground by the Invincible Nascent Soul, truly unable to overcome it.

Fairy Eternity’s gaze shifted evasively, "Just... try a few more times and you’ll manage to beat it."

Lu Yang looked at Fairy Eternity with skepticism, "How many times did you try?"

"I’m not good at math; I didn’t keep count!"

"..."

Lu Yang detached from the Spiritual Space, repeatedly consoling himself that it was a good thing the Invincible Nascent Soul was powerful, that it was a good thing...

As Lu Yang walked and browsed, he finally arrived at the long-anticipated "Yun Zhi Section," and the very first book thrilled him.

"Is this Eldest Senior Sister’s cultivation journal from when she was at the Nascent Soul Stage?"

"Let’s see how Eldest Senior Sister cultivated her Nascent Soul. To cultivate the Nascent Soul, step one, break core to reach Nascent; step two, overcome Heavenly Tribulation... Huh?"

Why does it differ from others at the second step?

"Come to think of it, I seem to have heard people say that Eldest Senior Sister encountered the Heavenly Tribulation while breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage, whereas other cultivators faced it when breaking through the Spirit Transformation Stage."

"Senior Brother Ye Zijin followed Eldest Senior Sister’s method and also encountered the Heavenly Tribulation during the Nascent Soul Stage, and then his Nascent Soul developed intelligence and gave him a thrashing."

Lu Yang felt he had something in common with his Senior Brother, whom he had never met, yet they were already connected as brothers of the same path.

"Elder Tao, how did Eldest Senior Sister manage to face the Heavenly Tribulation during the Nascent Soul Stage?"

Lu Yang actively inquired as Elder Tao should be aware of the specifics.

"Oh, that matter? Back then, Xiao Yun accidentally wandered into an ancient trial ground at the pinnacle of his Golden Core stage. He undertook a trial there and fought against the shadow of the previous record holder; he defeated the shadow and took the top spot on the rankings."

"Who was the previous record holder?" Jiang Lianyi asked curiously. If it was an ancient figure, she should have heard of them.

"Yingtian Immortal?"

Lu Yang: "..."

So it was you, Yingtian Immortal, who, in a rush of frustration, decided to strike down Eldest Senior Sister.

Fairy Eternity nodded: "It sounds like something Yingtian Immortal would do; he used to regret his moves often while playing Go."

"So you let him take back his moves?"

"Of course, we let him. Why not? The spirit of playing chess lies in fairness. If he wants to take back a move, fine. But then we would beat him up, and after that, we would feel remorse too, saying we shouldn’t have hit him, and pretend like it never happened."

"..."

"I remember the ancient trial ground that Miss Yun went to; it existed even before the ancient era. Yingtian Immortal went there during his Golden Core stage, broke the record, and became the top name at the time, creating quite a sensation."

"I was too far away at that time and couldn’t make it. By the time I could go, I had already reached the Nascent Soul Stage."

"I guess after he became immortal, he left a magic skill in the trial ground. If someone broke his record, they could expect to be struck by lightning or something."

"It’s not exactly revenge, not completely. At least after being struck, it indeed strengthened the Nascent Soul."

Lu Yang continued to ask, "What about Second Senior Brother, did he also enter the ancient trial ground and break the record?"

It seems Second Senior Brother is even more formidable than I imagined.

"You mean Ye Zijin? He intended to go, but wasn’t allowed; after Xiao Yun left the ancient trial ground, it closed and has never been opened since, and the reason remains undiscovered to this day."

Jiang Lianyi guessed the reason, knowing that Yingtian Immortal was a person of principles: "He probably feared someone else surpassing his record. Yingtian Immortal’s principle is to not lose face twice."

"...He does have some principles," Lu Yang commented helplessly.

"Then where did Second Senior Brother’s Thunder Tribulation come from?"

"He cursed Yingtian Immortal for an entire day."

Lu Yang gasped in awe—it was just like his Second Senior Brother to have such courage.

Even with Fairy Eternity’s protection, he wouldn’t dare to treat Yingtian Immortal this way.

"You know what happened afterward. The kid, when breaking his core to reach Nascent, attracted a Heavenly Tribulation, which was extremely imposing with two bolts of lightning striking down at the start."

"Those two bolts enlightened Ye Zijin’s Nascent Soul, making it a truly eye-opening entity. It flew to the skies, able to shatter the Thunder Tribulation, then flew back into his body and gave its owner a pounding." Elder Tao marveled at such a scene, having never witnessed anything so outrageous in his five thousand years of life.

Lu Yang felt envious upon hearing it; his own Nascent Soul would only flee from Thunder Tribulation.

"I also heard that the Second Senior Brother destroyed his own Nascent Soul and forged a new one?"

"That’s just a ruse for outsiders. The real situation was rather special and not convenient to disclose to outsiders. But you are not outsiders, so it’s no harm telling you—Ye Zijin actually conquered his own Nascent Soul."

Lu Yang was deeply moved; this was the breakthrough he longed for. He eagerly asked, "How did Second Senior Brother conquer his Nascent Soul?"

"He said that no matter how strong the Nascent Soul is, it’s still part of him. Since it’s a part of him, his whole surely is stronger than a part, so he was certain to defeat his Nascent Soul!"

"He also said that a spiritual victory is still a victory."