Nascent Soul Completed

Although the Imperial Boat was luxurious and comfortable, it was ultimately a magical artifact moving through the air. The spiritual energy it gathered was unstable, and it was far too flashy.

Sensing the restless spiritual power of the Golden Core within his body, like a volcano on the verge of erupting, Ye Xuan knew the opportunity for a breakthrough had arrived.

"It is also time to shatter the core and form the Nascent Soul."

Standing at the bow of the ship, Ye Xuan looked down at the endless, black-mist-shrouded mountain range below.

This was Corpse Burial Ridge outside Fengdu City, rumored to be the ruins of an ancient battlefield of gods and demons. Although the baleful aura soared to the heavens, as the saying goes, things turn into their opposites when they reach the extreme. Beneath extreme Yin, the purest spirit veins were often hidden.

"Stop the car... no, stop the boat."

Ye Xuan gave the order.

Wu Lingxiao immediately controlled the Imperial Boat to hover in mid-air, asking softly, "Young Master, what is wrong? Is the flying boat too bumpy and making you uncomfortable?"

"I am going into secluded cultivation."

With a burning gaze, Ye Xuan pointed to a main peak shaped like a skull in the mountain range below:

"Right there. I sense a natural extreme baleful spirit cave there, perfectly suited to my needs."

Following his finger, Wu Lingxiao frowned slightly.

That was a land of ten thousand snakes, home to a half-step Nascent Soul Black-Scaled Poison Flood Dragon and tens of thousands of venomous snakes.

To mortals and low-level cultivators, it was a forbidden zone, but in her eyes, it was no different from an ant nest in her own backyard.

"You have a great eye, Young Master," Wu Lingxiao praised sincerely. "The terrain there is treacherous, easy to defend and hard to attack. It is indeed a treasure land for secluded cultivation."

"You two stay on the perimeter and stand guard. I will be right back."

Just as Ye Xuan was about to set off, Wu Lingxiao took a step forward. Seemingly adjusting Ye Xuan's collar, she subtly moved her fingers, and a formless imperial pressure instantly swept through the Myriad Snake Cave below.

"Scram."

This single divine thought could only be heard by that Black-Scaled Poison Flood Dragon.

The poison dragon, which had been sleeping soundly in its cave dwelling, instantly felt as if its soul was going to explode.

A fear originating from the depths of its bloodline, as if facing an ancient true dragon, made it scramble to move out with its disciples and descendants in an instant.

In order to completely vacate the nest, it even swept away all the snake droppings in the cave along the way.

When Ye Xuan flew down and landed, what he saw was a dry, tidy, and spiritually rich supreme-grade cave dwelling, which even retained a faint trace of exotic fragrance.

"Tsk, not bad luck."

Ye Xuan nodded in satisfaction, completely unaware that just a moment ago, this place had been a snake pit reeking of toxic gas.

He walked deep into the cave and sat cross-legged.

With a wave of his large hand.

Whoosh!

Countless supreme-grade spirit stones poured out from his storage ring like a waterfall, instantly filling the entire cave and almost burying his whole body.

Not only that.

Nine-Revolution Nascent Soul Pills, Thousand-Year Purple Lingzhi, Ten-Thousand-Year Hollow Azure...

These supreme treasures, which would be enough to cause a bloodbath in the outside world, were casually arranged around him like snacks.

"Is this the joy of the rich?"

Ye Xuan took a deep breath, feeling the dense spiritual energy around him that was almost liquefying, and a wildly arrogant smile curled on his lips:

"Bring it on."

"Let me see if this so-called Nascent Soul chasm can stop this warrior powered by money!"

Outside the cave.

Ying'er was bored out of her mind counting ants, while Wu Lingxiao sat cross-legged at the cave entrance like a guardian deity.

She held a half-finished shoe insole in her hands, but her mind was entirely on Ye Xuan inside.

Consort Xuan is about to attempt the Nascent Soul stage...

So fast.

However.

In the very next second.

Rumble!

The earth began to tremble.

The spiritual energy within a radius of a hundred miles was subjected to some overbearing summons, frantically pouring backward toward this cave!

Above the cave, a massive spiritual energy funnel formed, spinning and roaring with terrifying momentum.

"This..."

Ying'er jumped up in fright: "This commotion is too big! Is the Master alright?"

Wu Lingxiao stood up abruptly, her eyes full of shock.

This speed of devouring spiritual energy... it was simply unimaginable!

Even when she herself was attempting the Nascent Soul stage back in the day, there was no such exaggerated momentum!

Inside the cave.

Ye Xuan's entire body was glowing.

His body seemed to have turned into a bottomless black hole.

That was the overbearing aspect of the Flawless Dao Body—stainless and pure, close to the Dao and connected to the divine. It had no rejection of spiritual energy whatsoever, only a greedy demand.

The mountain of supreme-grade spirit stones turned to ash at a visible rate.

Priceless pills were stuffed into Ye Xuan's mouth by the handful, like eating candy, swallowed directly without even chewing!

If anyone else dared to eat like this, they would have exploded and died long ago.

But under the frantic circulation of the Flawless Dao Body, this violent medicinal power was instantly tamed, transforming into the purest true essence, washing through his meridians, and converging in his dantian.

Crack.

Crack.

The surface of the golden core inside his body began to show cracks.

But what seeped out from these cracks was not an aura of destruction, but a newborn, vast pressure, like that of a nascent god!

"Break!"

Ye Xuan shouted in a low voice.

The golden core shattered completely!

Amidst the golden fragments, a miniature version of himself, crystal clear and radiating nine-colored divine light, slowly opened its eyes.

The infant's features were exactly the same as Ye Xuan's, but it possessed an additional divinity that looked down upon all living beings.

The Nascent Soul is formed!

But this was only the beginning.

Because the true test—the Heavenly Tribulation—had arrived.

The originally gloomy sky over Corpse Burial Ridge had now turned completely pitch-black.

Thick tribulation clouds pressed down very low, seemingly within reach.

Within the clouds, purple lightning snakes darted madly, exuding a heavenly might that could destroy everything.

"This is... the Nine-Nine Heavy Tribulation?"

Outside the cave, Wu Lingxiao's face instantly turned deathly pale.

The needle and thread in her hands snapped with a pop.

When ordinary cultivators formed their Nascent Souls, even for geniuses, it was at most a Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation.

Only those monstrous talents who went against the heavens and were intolerable to the world, or those who possessed peerless supreme treasures, would attract the Nine-Nine Heavy Tribulation!

This kind of lightning tribulation was known as ten deaths, no life.

No!

Consort Xuan cannot withstand it!

He had just formed his Nascent Soul; how could he possibly block this kind of lightning tribulation that was enough to obliterate a Soul Formation stage expert?

Wu Lingxiao's rationality almost snapped at this moment.

She instinctively wanted to rush into the sky and scatter these damn tribulation clouds with one palm strike. As long as she wanted to, this Heavenly Dao's will would have to give her some face.

But...

She stopped in her tracks.

Because she remembered the iron law of the cultivation world: if an outsider forcibly intervened in a lightning tribulation, the power of the tribulation would double, and the person undergoing the tribulation would lose the baptism of the Heavenly Dao, their Dao foundation completely destroyed, unable to make an inch of progress for the rest of their life.

"No... I cannot help..."

Wu Lingxiao bit her own hand fiercely, blood flowing down the corner of her mouth.

She could only watch helplessly.

Watching as the first bolt of purple wild lightning, as thick as a water barrel, struck the cave with the momentum to destroy the heavens and the earth!

Half of the entire mountain peak was instantly leveled.

Dust and smoke rose in all directions, and flying rocks pierced the sky.

"Master!" Ying'er screamed and cried in terror.

Wu Lingxiao's heart stopped, staring fixedly at the center of the ruins.

The next moment.

A wildly arrogant burst of laughter rang out from the lightning.

"Hahaha! Exhilarating!!"

"Bring it on!!"

Ye Xuan was seen bare-chested, hovering in mid-air. His long hair danced wildly, and not only was his body free of scars, but due to the tempering of the lightning, his skin exhibited a jade-like texture.

Above his head, top-grade defensive artifacts deployed, forming layer after layer of light barriers.

Although these artifacts shattered like paper under the lightning tribulation, Ye Xuan didn't care.

Shattered? Just swap them out!

I have plenty of money! I have plenty of artifacts!

This was the "power of wealth" method of transcending tribulation!

The second bolt... the fifth bolt... the eighth bolt...

Each bolt was more terrifying than the last, each more soul-stirring than the preceding one.

When the final bolt of heavenly lightning fell, the entirety of Corpse Burial Ridge was leveled to the ground.

Yet Ye Xuan still stood tall and unyielding.

In the instant the sky-filling lightning dissipated, an incredibly tyrannical aura—far surpassing that of an ordinary early Nascent Soul realm cultivator—erupted from his body and pierced the clouds!

He had succeeded.

Not only had he succeeded, but after the baptism of the Heavenly Tribulation of Nine Nines, coupled with the blessing of his Flawless Dao Body, his Nascent Soul was incomparably condensed. His combat prowess was enough to cross realms and challenge late Nascent Soul experts!

The smoke and dust scattered.

Ye Xuan slowly landed on the ground.

He changed into a brand-new snow-white robe, his temperament having undergone an earth-shaking transformation.

Before, although he was handsome, he still carried a trace of mortal worldliness.

But now, a faint precious light flowed across his skin, his eyes were as deep as the starry sky, and his every movement carried a natural, flawless Dao charm.

This kind of power was visible to the naked eye.

Ying'er cheered and threw herself at him. "Master! You are too amazing! Wuwuwu, you scared me to death!"

Ye Xuan smiled and rubbed Ying'er's head. Feeling the surging power within his body, he was in a great mood.

However.

Wu Lingxiao, who stood not far away, did not move.

She looked at the currently high-spirited, banished-immortal-like Ye Xuan, but her feet felt as though they had taken root, unable to move even an inch.

There was none of the joy she had anticipated.

On the contrary.

An indescribable, suffocating panic and intense pain, like a tidal wave, instantly submerged her heart.

He... succeeded.

So easily, so perfectly.

He didn't need me to block the lightning tribulation.

He didn't need me to risk my life.

He didn't even... glance at me.

Wu Lingxiao looked at Ye Xuan's increasingly perfect face, but her mind frantically replayed scenes from eight hundred years ago.

Back then, Ye Xuan was fragile and covered in blood. He hid behind her, tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, his eyes full of reliance on her.

"Lingxiao, save me..."

"Lingxiao, I only have you..."

At that time, although he was weak, he belonged completely to her.

His life was given by her. His path was paved by her.

Weakness meant reliance.

Reliance meant control.

Control meant he could never leave her.

But what about now?

Wu Lingxiao watched as Ye Xuan casually waved his hand, dispersing the residual lightning power around him, his movements so effortless that it chilled her heart.

He was getting stronger.

He was getting stronger at a speed that even made her feel fear.

Today he is an ant before me; tomorrow he might be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with me.

What about the day after tomorrow?

If there comes a day when he no longer needs my protection, no longer needs my resources...

Will he still need me then?

Will he still stay by my side?

No... he won't.

He yearns for freedom; he yearns for "one life, one lifetime, one pair of lovers."

If he discovers that I am the Empress who destroyed his past life, if he gains enough power...

He will run away.

He will kill me without hesitation, and then leave.

"Ugh..."

Wu Lingxiao clutched her chest. This phantom pain of her heart being forcefully torn apart made her face turn deathly pale, rendering her almost unable to stand.

Her eyes gradually grew hollow, then transformed into a deep, morbid gloom.

A terrifying thought, like a poisonous snake, slithered out once again.

Since that's the case...

Why not cripple him right now?

Break his legs, lock his collarbones.

Lock him in the deepest part of Zixiao Palace, keep him in a cage made of golden thread nanmu.

Make it so he can go nowhere but into My embrace.

Make it so he can only rely on Me, only beg Me...

This thought was so tempting, so sweet, that Wu Lingxiao's breathing became rapid. Her fingers trembled slightly, and a trace of eerie red light even condensed at her fingertips.

Right at this moment.

"Embroidery Maid."

A clear voice interrupted her demonic trance.

Wu Lingxiao suddenly snapped back to reality. The red light in her eyes dissipated instantly, replaced by a panicked expression.

She looked up, only to see Ye Xuan standing in front of her, looking at her with a faint, mocking smile.

"Young Master..."

Wu Lingxiao lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes, afraid he would see through the filthy, dark thoughts in her heart.

"What? Scared silly by my heroic bearing?"

Ye Xuan was in an excellent mood and did not notice Wu Lingxiao's momentary killing intent just now.

He reached out and gently lifted Wu Lingxiao's chin, forcing her to look at him.

It was a pale, fragile face, like a pear blossom bathed in rain.

Ye Xuan looked at the deep fear and pain in the depths of her eyes, his heart as clear as a mirror.

This crazy woman is acting up again.

Seeing me get stronger, she's starting to fear she can't control me?

Hehe, that's right.

Only by making you worry about gains and losses will you become even more dead-set on me.

Ye Xuan did not comfort her; instead, he more wantonly released his Nascent Soul realm coercion, his eyes carrying a bit of teasing and ruthlessness:

"It seems you aren't very happy that I've grown stronger?"

"No... that's not it!"

Wu Lingxiao quickly shook her head, sending tears flying. "This servant... this servant is happy for you! This servant just... just feels too useless to be of any help to you, Young Master..."

"It's good that you know you're useless."

Ye Xuan let go of her, his tone indifferent, yet carrying a trace of fatal temptation:

"Therefore, you have to work harder to serve me."

"After all, I am now a Nascent Soul True Lord."

"If you can't keep up with my footsteps and get dumped by me one day, don't blame me for being heartless."

These words were both a warning and a spur.

Wu Lingxiao shuddered all over.

Get dumped...

These words were simply her fatal weakness.

The dark thought of "crippling him" in her heart was instantly replaced by the panic of "absolutely cannot be abandoned."

She fell to her knees with a thud, desperately hugging Ye Xuan's thigh, pressing her face against his leg, crying her heart out:

"Don't! Young Master, don't leave me behind!"

"This servant will work hard! This servant is willing to do anything!"

"This servant will go cook for you right now! I'll go wash your clothes right now! I beg Young Master, please don't drive me away!"

Ye Xuan looked down at the Empress, who was humbled to the dust at his feet, and a satisfied sneer curled the corners of his mouth.

This was the way it should be.

Whether you are an Empress or a God or Demon.

As long as you have a weakness, you are my marionette.

This round, it's another sure win.

"Get up."

Ye Xuan said lightly, his gaze looking toward the direction of Fengdu City, the light of ambition flickering in his eyes:

"Let's go. To Fengdu."

"I hear a Myriad Demon Auction is about to be held there... I think you should be very interested in buying some things for me, right?"

Wu Lingxiao raised her head and wiped away her tears, her eyes becoming incomparably resolute and fierce.

Buy!

Buy the entire auction!

Whoever dares to compete with the Young Master, I will exterminate their entire clan!