According to what we’ve learned before, when the Golden Core cracks, it will produce different Nascent Souls, such as the Purple Mansion Nascent Soul, the Yang Spirit Nascent Soul, the Infinite Nascent Soul, and so on. The type of Nascent Soul determines how far a cultivator’s future path can go.
The cultivation world categorizes these Nascent Souls into four levels: Heavenly, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow. Heavenly level Nascent Souls are the rarest, with only ten known, among which the Three-Flower Nascent Soul ranks first.
The other levels increase in quantity accordingly.
However, achieving Nascent Soul Formation from a perfected Golden Core Realm is an extremely challenging gap to cross. You can see this from Third Senior Brother remaining in the Golden Core Realm for so many years.
If one cannot breakthrough naturally, the last resort is to use a Nascent Soul Formation Pill.
But the materials for the Nascent Soul Formation Pill are rare, and the refining process has a high failure rate. It’s not guaranteed, and it could end up being a waste.
"Third Senior Brother, you..." Zhou Qing said, feeling sad.
It’s well known that after taking a Nascent Soul Formation Pill, the path ahead becomes even more difficult.
Seeing Zhou Qing’s expression, Yan Xiaohu burst out laughing: "Why so pessimistic? Look at what this is?"
Yan Xiaohu stretched out his right hand and opened his palm.
With a thought, a lotus flower made entirely of flames appeared, emitting scorching energy. Because of the proximity, Zhou Qing even felt a stinging pain in his soul.
"Is this Nascent Fire? Third Senior Brother, you..."
Zhou Qing was momentarily confused.
Nascent Fire is a type of flame that forms only after the Nascent Soul is condensed. It can be used both for combat and for alchemy and artifact refining.
But what is happening now?
Yan Xiaohu then retracted the lotus of Nascent Fire and scratched his head: "I don’t know either. Up till now, I haven’t condensed a Nascent Soul. The Golden Core in my Dantian is as hard as a rock, impossible to break. So I thought about refining a Nascent Soul Formation Pill to see what exactly is going on."
After hearing this, Zhou Qing finally understood.
"Does Master know?" Zhou Qing asked hurriedly.
Yan Xiaohu nodded: "He knows. It was his idea for me to take the Nascent Soul Formation Pill. But the sect doesn’t have any ready-made pills, and spirit medicines are scarce. So I wanted to borrow some money from you."
Zhou Qing felt truly helpless at this point, not knowing how to explain so that Third Senior Brother would believe him.
"Third Senior Brother, did you undergo Human Dao Foundation Establishment or..." Zhou Qing asked curiously.
Yan Xiaohu responded: "Earth Vein Foundation Establishment. Old Mo managed to find a wisp of Earth Vein Qi for my Foundation Establishment. Don’t overthink; Old Mo has been trying to find Earth Vein Qi for you too. You should know how rare and hard-to-get Heavenly Dao Qi and Earth Vein Qi are."
"Honestly, Old Mo has been really good to us four. Eldest Senior Brother and Second Senior Sister underwent Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment. Master risked his life to get those two wisps of Heavenly Dao Qi. Though they’re not highly ranked, they’re still Heavenly Dao Qi."
After hearing this, Zhou Qing was stunned.
Is Master really that powerful? He managed to get two strands of such rare Heavenly Dao Qi?
Seeing Zhou Qing’s shock, Yan Xiaohu quickly said: "When I was about to undergo Foundation Establishment, Old Mo said laughingly he would get me a strand too. I was so excited that I kept suppressing my cultivation level waiting. But what came were his three consecutive serious injuries."
"Back then, you hadn’t joined the sect yet. I had never seen him so severely injured. After that, he went out for several years to search for that thing. When he finally returned, his temples had turned white."
"Then, by fate, I unexpectedly attained a wisp of Earth Vein Qi during a demon-extermination mission. I refined it to avoid further trouble for Old Mo, becoming an Earth Vein Foundation Establishment cultivator."
After hearing Yan Xiaohu’s story, Zhou Qing felt a mix of emotions.
He knew nothing of these events.
Yan Xiaohu said seriously: "Old Mo said, your talent was average when tested upon entry, but he told me that as long as you are his disciple, he will ensure a bright future for you."
"So from the start of your cultivation, he has been seeking Heavenly Dao Qi for you, never giving up. In the end, he had to lower his expectations and search for Earth Vein Qi. Just when there were some leads, you formed a Human Dao Foundation Establishment on your own."
"He had to give up, feeling more guilt, as you were only at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation then, still years away from Foundation Establishment. He wanted to surprise you; instead, you gave him a scare."
After hearing this, Zhou Qing’s eyes turned red, feeling deeply warmed inside.
So the Master, who wasn’t good with words, had been silently caring for him all along.
"Old Mo always felt guilty for not telling you earlier, leading you to rush things. Later, he couldn’t say it, fearing it would leave you with regrets or even an obsession."
"I’m telling you now to prevent overthinking. Your talent isn’t bad anyway. It was quite rare to reach Foundation Establishment from the seventh layer of Qi Condensation in such a short time. Now you’ve even broken through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment."
"So there’s nothing to be worried about. What does my Earth Vein Foundation Establishment matter? I’m still stuck in the perfected Golden Core Realm for years, about to use a Nascent Soul Formation Pill to breakthrough."
Yan Xiaohu laughed kindly to comfort him.
But Zhou Qing suddenly laughed out loud.
Third Senior Brother, what if I tell you that among the four of us, only you have undergone Earth Vein Foundation Establishment?
And I am not in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, but in the mid-stage of the Golden Core Realm.
At that time, who will be comforting whom?
Understanding the truth now, Zhou Qing felt enlightened, even somewhat relieved.