Chapter 289: True Self, Mana Body, Ether Body

“Star Embryonic Body?” Wu Yuan was startled. “Cultivate two true selves?”

Creating a new true self was no easy feat. Those who chose the path of eldritch universal cultivation had to learn the Soul Split Secret Art and cultivate two true selves in order to reach the pinnacle of both body refining and qi refining cultivation. Failing to do so would mean sacrificing one for the other.

However, a new true self was comparable to a second life, one could only imagine the difficulty of creating one.

"Little Black, is it true?" Wu Yuan asked via spiritual transmission.

Things were now different compared to a year ago when Little Black was just born. Despite the wealth of inherited memories it possessed, there was simply not enough time for it to fully absorb and comprehend them all back then.

Over the past year, Wu Yuan's power had surged to new heights. As Little Black's mana and physical strength grew, so too did its wisdom and insight. It could now offer Wu Yuan guidance in various areas.

"It’s true," Little Black affirmed. "Master, this place aligns perfectly with the description of the Star Embryonic Body in my memories."

Little Black continued. "Master, there is no danger within this hall. It’s safe for you to enter and explore."

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Wu Yuan had conducted a preliminary scan with his Soul Force and claimed ownership over the entrance token. Along with Little Black scouting the path ahead, Wu Yuan now felt confident enough to enter the passageway.

In a flash, he glided across the hundred-meter-long metallic passage.

Before him lay a vast, empty hall, constructed of silver-white metal tinged with hues of green. It spanned several hundred meters in length and over ten meters in height.

This?

Wu Yuan’s gaze settled on a massive crystal platform at the center of the hall. Radiant chains of light extended from the platform into the air, as though they were seamlessly connected with the surrounding space. It gave Wu Yuan a somewhat eerie feeling.

At that moment, Little Black began to shrink in size. It circled the crystal platform, eyeing the interior.

Three passageways?

Wu Yuan’s eyes swept across the hall, noting three identical metallic corridors leading in various directions. The destination of each passage remained a mystery to him.

"Master, come quickly!" Little Black's urgent call rang out, its gaze not leaving the crystal platform.

With a swift stride, Wu Yuan joined Little Black at the circular platform, which had a diameter exceeding ten meters and a depth of more than three meters. The surface of the platform was transparent, and constructed of some unknown material.

Peering in, Wu Yuan’s eyes were immediately drawn to the mysterious liquid within. The platform held a large quantity of liquid that seemed to sparkle like starlight. The liquid bore a resemblance to the Starlight Liquid Wu Yuan consumed during his days as a martial artist, but it was even more pure and crystalline in nature.

Yet, it was not the liquid that captivated him the most. It was the massive elliptical egg, suspended in the center of the platform.

The egg, measuring over two meters in diameter, had a pristine white shell, adorned with intricate patterns that seemed to shimmer in harmony with the surrounding liquid. It exuded a powerful vital aura, as if some powerful life form was being nurtured within it.

"Master, look, this liquid is Star Embryonic Liquid which nurtures the Star Embryonic Body," Little Black exclaimed eagerly. "How did that Jin Quan or whatever have such a treasure in his possession?"

"This is a precious treasure for creating a qi refiner true self. And now, it’s all yours, Master," Little Black fidgeted with excitement.

"The original owner of this relic must have been someone extraordinary," Little Black remarked.

"Little Black," Wu Yuan said in a hushed tone, "I am familiar with the method for creating a qi refiner true self, but what are the Star Embryonic Liquid and Star Embryonic Body? I have never heard of them before."

The eight immortal slips Wu Yuan received from the realm master contained a wealth of common knowledge about cultivation. But as a mere spirit left behind by the Hou Feng Tribe, the realm master's knowledge was limited.

"Master, your initial plan was to cultivate to the Amethyst Cradle phase. Then, when your soul reached the Yuan Soul level, you would employ the ‘Soul Split Secret Art’ in order to refine two true selves. Am I right?" Little Black inquired.

"That is correct," Wu Yuan nodded.

Over the course of a year, Wu Yuan and Little Black chatted frequently. As his lifebound eldritch beast, Little Black was completely loyal and knew many of Wu Yuan's secrets, including his plans for cultivation.

The essence of eldritch universal cultivation lay in the concept of cultivating both paths of qi refining and body refining. Though these paths were inherently contradictory, they could coexist in the early stages.

However, upon reaching the Amethyst Cradle or Shambhala phase, significant discrepancies would arise. To advance from the Amethyst Cradle phase, a Reverend had to shed their physical form. To advance from the Shambhala phase, the soul chamber and upper dantian lobe had to unite as one to create a perfect physical form.

The two paths were naturally conflicting!

Thus, as cultivators of both paths progressed, those with insufficient talent would eventually make the decision to abandon one path entirely.

This gave rise to the Soul Split Secret Art.

The secret art was performed at the Amethyst Cradle or Shambhala phase, in which the soul was split into two, separating the qi sea from the physical body, and a new qi refiner true self was created. Apart from their soul, these two true selves were kept separate, allowing each self to progress independently.

But how difficult was that? Among tens of thousands of Shambhala cultivators, it was rare to find a single cultivator who successfully created a qi refiner true self.

To cultivate the Soul Split Secret Art, one's soul had to reach the level of Yuan Soul to withstand the strain of splitting one’s soul.

When the Yang Soul reached a powerful enough point, one would naturally develop Soul Will. When Soul Will was condensed to the point of forming a void space or grotto-heaven, it would then become a Yuan Soul.

Reaching the Yuan Soul level in the Amethyst Cradle phase was as difficult as ascending to the heavens! Only Wu Yuan, who had the support of the black pagoda to fortify his soul at an unnatural pace, was able to reach the Yang Soul level before the Spiritual Body phase and had a chance of success.

After all, under normal circumstances, it would take him hundreds of years to reach the ninth-stage Shambhala phase.

"Master, a few hundred years is far too long. Firstly, there is no guarantee of reaching the Yuan Soul level by then, and secondly, cultivating both qi refining and body refining paths will only impede your progress in the long run," Little Black remarked.

Wu Yuan understood this as well.

For a dual body and qi refiner, if both the soul and the body shared one true self, the soul's development would result in repercussions for the body, while the body's refinement of spiritual qi would result in repercussions for the soul.

It was similar to how vital ether circulating through the body when one activated a secret art would disrupt the operation of essentia.

There was a lack of effective separation.

The various drawbacks, combined with the risk of eventual failure, were why few cultivators dared to pursue both paths. This was also the reason why the realm master advised Wu Yuan against such a choice.

"Splitting one’s soul is difficult and will cause numerous uncertainties in one’s future," Little Black explained. "Some great beings will gather spiritual body vessels, allowing their descendants and disciples to begin creating their qi refiner true selves at an early age. This Star Embryonic Body, although not the best spiritless body vessel, is still a rare find."

"How does it stack up against the Amethyst Heavenly Body?" Wu Yuan asked.

He already knew most of what Little Black had said. Among the spiritless body vessels, he knew that the Amethyst Heavenly Body was the strongest.

"It cannot compare," Little Black replied solemnly, shaking its head. "An Amethyst Heavenly Body, even when used by a Shambhala cultivator, can perfectly contain their Amethyst Cradle mana. It is the pinnacle of spiritual body vessels, a treasure even an Archeldritch would covet."

Wu Yuan chuckled.

Indeed, it was a treasure that even an Archeldritch would cherish. How many would be willing to waste it on a Shambhala cultivator?

"While the Star Embryonic Body may not be as exceptional, it will not impede your progress, Master," Little Black reassured him. "It has more lenient requirements for the soul, making it a suitable choice for your current level of qi refining cultivation. Otherwise, once you reach the Amethyst Cradle stage, you may find yourself unable to use it anymore."

Wu Yuan gave a slight nod. There were both advantages and disadvantages.

Creating a qi refiner true self early on was like having an extra life, a significant advantage.

A true self was distinct from a mana body or ether body. When one reached profound heights on the path of cultivation, qi refiners would create a mana body while body refiners would create an ether body.

Both mana and ether bodies were formidable assets. Even if they were to die in battle, they could be recreated. However, they could never replace the true self. If the true self perished, so too would the mana body and ether body.

By cultivating two true selves, as long as one remained alive, an individual was still able to continue living.

On the road of cultivation, longevity was the ultimate prize. And for Wu Yuan, acquiring the Star Embryonic Body in the Middle Land was already his great fortune.

"Is my current soul level sufficient to begin creating a new true self?" Wu Yuan asked.

The earlier the qi refiner true self was created, the lower the requirements for the soul.

"It’s sufficient. From my inherited memories, if you perfect Soul Perception at the Communion phase, success is within reach," Little Black assured him. "As for reaching the Yang Soul level? 100% success rate."

Wu Yuan nodded. He trusted Little Black's words.

"However, I sense that the Star Embryonic Body has yet to reach maturity," Little Black remarked. "Perhaps it would be wise for Master to leave a strand of consciousness within the embryonic body."

Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.

As time flowed by, Wu Yuan focused on contemplating the purpose of the circular platform.

After a long time, he finally gained some understanding. The surface shimmered with chains that resembled streams of light, yet they were, in truth, a complex array intertwined with the grand hall.

With a sharp exhale, Wu Yuan's mind trembled slightly as a thread of his consciousness extended outward, piercing through the platform and merging with the colossal white egg.

A comforting warmth enveloped the strand of consciousness, allowing it to recover swiftly. However, this was just the first step. To truly fuse with the egg, half of his soul would need to be infused into it.

After that, Wu Yuan scoured the hall for any hidden treasures. Unfortunately, they had already long been plundered by Jin Quan.

Three more passageways?

Wu Yuan's gaze swept over the remaining paths, detecting a mysterious force obstructing them.

"Let’s go!" After selecting a passageway to explore, Little Black scouted the path as Wu Yuan followed closely behind. They moved cautiously and did not face any obstructions.

After traveling nearly a kilometer, Wu Yuan and Little Black entered a small chamber. It had a diameter of a few dozen meters and was devoid of furnishings.

What is this place?

Wu Yuan pondered, studying the cryptic patterns on the walls, which were not found on the walls of the outer grand hall.

The entire relic was an unbroken whole, akin to an artifact. However, Wu Yuan didn’t see a control center.

Suddenly, a buzzing sound filled the air as a powerful surge of soul energy converged from all directions, targeting Wu Yuan's upper dantian lobe.

A soul attack?

Wu Yuan's eyes narrowed.

Boom!

His Soul Force surged outward, preemptively defending against the assault.

The enemy’s soul power was effortlessly repelled by Wu Yuan's soul, and he thwarted the attack with ease. Compared to the worm devil, this attack was barely worth mentioning.

"You managed to block it?" A shocked youthful voice echoed through the hall. "Who are you? Could it be that you slew Jin Quan and claimed the token?"