Chapter 214: Chapter 103: Zuo Xuan’s Path to the Second Realm

Zuo Xuan’s advancement wasn’t part of Wang Ping’s immediate plans. He had checked on her status before the New Year and even used a Luck-Borrowing Talisman for a divination. The reading showed that she would need at least ten years before an opportunity to advance would arise.

Wang Ping was surprised and confused, a faint sense of foreboding creeping in. When he arrived at Dongshui Mountain, he found the summit half-buried under a dense layer of Embroidery Needles.

These Embroidery Needles had all been refined through a special method. Each one possessed a degree of spiritual nature, resonating with the spirit within Zuo Xuan’s own body. Meanwhile, her prosthetic limbs had detached. Taking their place on her arms was a disgusting, fleshy tumor that dripped with thick blood and gave off an aura similar to that of the Taiyin Sect.

The densely packed Embroidery Needles were piercing into the fleshy tumors on her arms one by one, fusing with them. The stench of Demon Blood wafted out from time to time.

"Her Magical Artifacts seem to have gained a consciousness of their own," Yu Lian said, her voice filled with shock and uncertainty. "They’re fusing with Zuo Xuan’s consciousness... or rather, vying with her for true control of her body. Is this the true nature of Artifact Cultivators? They use the flesh and blood of the Demon Race to awaken the spirit and consciousness of their Lifebound Spiritual Artifacts, then fuse their own consciousness with them."

"It’s insane. No wonder so few of them ever reach the Second Realm. Only a madman could possibly control such a frenzied consciousness." Yu Lian felt a wave of nausea and whispered, "In truth, one could also substitute the Demon Race’s flesh and blood with that of humans... or any other creature possessing a spirit."

Wang Ping frowned. He knew that outside the Land of Order, many people certainly tried the method Yu Lian described. Even in some of the darker corners of Zhongzhou, people were doing just that.

"Enter the Inspiration Realm and take a look!"

Yu Lian urged.

Wang Ping immediately formed a spell seal with his hands to summon his soul. The moment he did, he heard the shrieks of Spirit Bodies, more ear-piercing than ever before. Surrounding Zuo Xuan’s blood-red soul were countless illusory, intangible phantoms. As the Embroidery Needles fused with her, these phantoms drilled their way into Zuo Xuan’s soul.

"This..."

Wang Ping was completely shaken. ’It makes sense that Artifact Cultivators are so powerful,’ he thought. ’For an ordinary Cultivator, having even one Spirit Body invade their soul is a catastrophe. Yet, during their advancement, Artifact Cultivators have to contend with the chaotic memories of countless Spirit Bodies.’

That must be why there are virtually no weaklings among the Artifact Cultivators who pass this stage. The weak are inevitably assimilated.

The process was terrifying and excruciatingly long for any observer, but for the one advancing, it was an agony akin to torture.

Wang Ping didn’t dare disturb Zuo Xuan at such a critical moment, as she was already in a precarious state. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Half a month passed. Yu Cheng Taoist returned from visiting friends and came to stand beside Wang Ping, observing Zuo Xuan’s advancement.

"This is the first time I’ve seen an Artifact Cultivator advance to the Second Realm," Yu Cheng Taoist remarked. "I can only say that this is not a path most people could ever attempt. But for those with poor innate aptitude, it is the last resort. Perhaps this is the mercy of the Celestial Dao."

Wang Ping gently shook his head. He couldn’t agree with the word "mercy," but he didn’t voice his disagreement.

Zuo Xuan had reached a critical point. Most of the Embroidery Needles had fused into her blood-drenched arms, and the number of Spirit Bodies invading her soul had reached its saturation point.

Success seemed imminent. But suddenly, a pillar of Taiyin Aura shot into the sky, piercing through the heavens and the earth. Within the Inspiration Realm, the minds of the Spirit Bodies abruptly became several times more active.

"She chose the Taiyin Attribute, which does match her Magical Artifacts. But... this means she’ll have to endure an invasion of Taiyin Aura, and that’s not something the living can withstand."

Yu Cheng Taoist reminded Wang Ping, "If her soul becomes unstable, immediately feed her a Sacred Heart Pill."

"Will it work?"

"It will definitely work. In her current state, being asleep is better than being awake. The only problem is that she might become dependent on Sacred Heart Pills in the future," Yu Cheng Taoist explained. "My eldest martial brother once said that a large number of Second Realm Artifact Cultivators rely on medicine that suppresses the soul. This is likely where that dependency begins."

Wang Ping nodded and said no more.

Zuo Xuan’s soul was now riddled with injuries. It was surrounded by the consciousnesses of countless Spirit Bodies she had subdued. Relying on an Array she had prepared in advance, she was constantly devouring these consciousnesses to strengthen her own soul against the impending Taiyin Aura.

She looked very rushed, as if she was running out of time.

And time was indeed running out. Before her soul had a chance to grow stronger, the Taiyin Aura gathering in the sky came crashing down on her frail, weak soul like the collapsing heavens.

The blow from the Taiyin Aura slammed Zuo Xuan’s soul straight back into her mortal body. The consciousnesses she hadn’t yet managed to digest instantly overwhelmed her mind. At the same time, within the Inspiration Realm, countless illusory shadows clung to her physical form, seemingly devouring something.

But it didn’t end there. The vast Taiyin Aura converged around her. Negative emotions and the Yin Wind it carried with it struck her consciousness like knives, hastening its demise.

"The Yinfeng Skill... You need to make a decision, quickly. The Yin Wind will reap her life and hasten the death of her consciousness," Yu Cheng Taoist warned with grave seriousness.

Wang Ping could sense Zuo Xuan was no longer able to resist. Her flesh was slowly being assimilated by the tumors. Soon, she might become nothing more than a giant, fleshy mass dripping with thick blood.

"She’s asking you for help..."

Yu Lian said softly.

Wang Ping took a deep breath. The Wood Spirit Qi around him swirled, and in a flash, he was in front of Zuo Xuan’s half-twisted body. He took out a Sacred Heart Pill and fed it into her half-rotted mouth. Then, he used the Wood Spirit Qi to neutralize some of the Taiyin Aura before backing out of the Promotion Array Zuo Xuan had laid out.

"It really worked."

Yu Lian could be quite sentimental at times, and her voice was filled with pure, simple joy.

Halfway through the assimilation process, after swallowing the Sacred Heart Pill, Zuo Xuan released her soul once more. She again subjugated the consciousnesses of the Spirit Bodies that had previously defeated her. Then, braving the onslaught of the Taiyin Aura, she devoured them completely.

This process continued for another half a month.

Then, Zuo Xuan summoned all her Magical Artifacts. They accepted the transformation from the Taiyin Aura, completing their qualitative leap. At the same time, the fleshy tumors on her body reverted to normal, except for those on her arms. Only her tattered clothes made her look somewhat wretched.

This process took another month.

Yu Cheng Taoist had left right after Wang Ping fed the Sacred Heart Pill to Zuo Xuan. Now, Wang Ping found himself in an awkward position—it didn’t feel right to leave, but staying also seemed inappropriate.

「Three days passed.」

Zuo Xuan awoke from her meditative state. She looked down at her own wretched state, looking embarrassed for a moment. But then, she stood up gracefully, commanding the Embroidery Needles she had fused with to shatter the fleshy tumors that had replaced her arms. She then used the needles as prosthetics to cast a "Cleaning Spell." Finally, she took a new set of clothes from her storage bag, put them on, and bowed deeply in Wang Ping’s direction.