Now the entire Crimson Kite Demonic Domain was in turmoil because of the news coming from Taihu. Naturally, these long-established clans also wanted to seize the opportunity, and recruiting rogue cultivators became a temporary measure.

They could be used as cannon fodder for the sect. When certain compulsory missions were issued, they could also be used to pad the numbers and get through inspections. The more, the better.

That was why these wide-net recruitment jade slips could be found everywhere.

Wang Yu remained immersed in his own cultivation. His realm had long since reached Core Formation perfection, and now he went over everything from the beginning. It was both a way to calm his mind and a final inspection.

Once condensing a Nascent Soul began, there was no turning back. To ensure he would not be disturbed, he replaced all his formations. He was only borrowing the spiritual qi of this place for a short while.

After sitting in seclusion for three days, Wang Yu sank his essence, qi, and spirit completely inward and officially began the most crucial leap of his life.

The first step was to shatter the core.

This “shattering” was not done by actively breaking it, but by forcing it to burst from internal pressure. The blue-black Core Formation core, already at a diameter of 3 cm, stood out strikingly within his Qi sea.

As the breakthrough art circulated, mana like surging waves condensed into a funnel-shaped vortex, roaring as it squeezed into the core. This was the third core tempering.

For every thousand strands of mana forced in, the core expanded by 0.333 cm. No one knew how much time passed, but it held on until it reached the extreme limit of 33 cm. Then, with the final surge of mana pouring in, fine cracks instantly spread across the entire core.

Boom!

It was like a silent explosion, or a flash of lightning on a stormy night.

The Core Formation core he had painstakingly condensed shattered with a crash. Mana rapidly circulated through his limbs and bones, flowing until it returned to nature. This was also the crucial window a cultivator had to seize without delay.

The second step was soul fusion.

After the core shattered, it left behind something like a lump of mud, constantly shifting its shape. At this time, one had to actively fuse the soul to help the Nascent Soul take form.

At that moment, Wang Yu’s powerful divine sense showed its value. Cultivating the spirit was cultivating the soul. Divine sense and the soul were originally one, which was why it was also called the divine soul.

He poured this force into the formless Nascent Soul. It was neither easy nor hard as he shaped that mass into a human figure, and most importantly, fused soul and infant into one.

This was his Nascent Soul, and also the foundation for climbing the Dao.

Then came the third step: condensing the infant.

The high-grade Nascent Soul Condensation Pill he had held in his mouth slid into his stomach. In an instant, it took effect. Threads of energy carrying a pure, fragrant medicinal aura flowed into the unformed Nascent Soul.

Wang Yu immediately felt an unprecedented sense of security wash over him.

Comfortable. Warm. Enough to make one sink into it endlessly.

During this process, the Nascent Soul gradually took shape, becoming Wang Yu’s likeness. It was only palm-sized, chubby and oddly adorable, with misty spiritual radiance flowing across its entire body, clearly extraordinary.

However, once the latter half of the third step arrived, it was time for the Frozen Demon Spirit Stones to take the stage. The Frost Demonic Qi he had worked so hard to obtain surged into his body like streams of thick blue-black smoke.

The little Nascent Soul was instantly like something tossed into a vat of dye.

In the blink of an eye, it turned pitch black.

Streaks of icy blue demonic patterns spread across the Nascent Soul. This was the sign that Frost Demonic Qi was taking effect, and his Innate Demonic Embryo constitution also began to stir.

He had thought the Mysterious Origin Demonic Embryo and the Five Elements spiritual roots were already gone.

Yet now, amid countless black particles seeping out from his fleshly body, they condensed once again. They overlapped with his still-forming Nascent Soul, and the two fused into one.

Demonic Embryo, Demonic Nascent Soul…

It was as if a stage of growth had been completed. Wang Yu did not even need to expend additional willpower. He naturally progressed into the fourth step, and also the most difficult one.

Spirit Awakening.

Breaking through the initial haze of illusion, Wang Yu’s consciousness awakened from within the Nascent Soul and curiously looked around.

This was the first time he had ever experienced the unique perspective of observing his Qi sea from within.

And the appearance of his Nascent Soul was also somewhat strange.

Judging by its features, it looked even younger than his current five- or six-year-old form. Inside its body glowed five vague light clusters, the shape of his innate Five Elements spiritual roots after being completed through a secret art.

As for the Frost Demonic Qi, it had completely merged into the Nascent Soul’s body. There was not the slightest visible change at all. Fortunately, he did not sense any other discomfort.

After condensing his Nascent Soul.

The realm’s miraculous nature naturally granted him a movement technique, but the true focus was the second aspect: Nascent Soul Dao Transformation, or rather, Demonic Transformation!

The Guanghan Twelve Phases that had once been engraved upon his Core Formation core now reappeared one after another upon his Nascent Soul. All the mana that had been spilling outward surged back, and at the same time, it formed an incomparably vast spiritual qi vortex. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Only a fourth-rank spirit vein, or an enormous quantity of spirit stones, could meet the demands of this metamorphosis.

Once he condensed the first strand of demonic essence, his realm breakthrough would be considered complete. As for the ninefold lightning tribulation to follow, he had already endured it once before. There was no way he would fail the second time.

As the divine ability scripture of the Guanghan Twelve Phases echoed beside his ears, the twelve-phase wondrous scenes swept past Wang Yu’s eyes in succession, until they finally settled upon a frost moon suspended in the heavens.

“Drip.”

The first drop of demonic essence was born within the frost moon’s revolving wheel. Immediately afterward, like a waterwheel scattering droplets, it poured out drop after drop of pure demonic essence.

Not too many, not too few, exactly one hundred drops.

Then it traveled together with his meridians, circulating through every limb and bone.

Wherever it passed, Wang Yu gained tremendous benefits once again. His physical body’s strength rose sharply. Though he was still only in the early stage, the improvement was significant.

When the demonic essence returned through the cranial meridians.

Wang Yu’s divine sense erupted with an intensely violent fluctuation. From the peak of early fourth-rank, he seized the benefits of a major realm breakthrough and surged straight into the mid-stage.

He still maintained a slight lead.

After his entire body, tendons, and bones underwent a rebirth-like transformation, the spiritual qi vortex gradually faded. In its place came the dark clouds of the ninefold lightning tribulation, rolling in to cover the skies.

At this moment.

Outside the cave residence.

Three years had already passed since Wang Yu began his secluded breakthrough. Most of his time had been spent on the two steps of shattering the core and condensing the Nascent Soul. When one was obsessed with cultivation, it was naturally difficult to notice the passage of time.

Even so, his breakthrough speed was already considered fast.

Very few people prepared as thoroughly as he had, so it was only natural that everything proceeded smoothly.

From the moment the spiritual qi vortex began to gather, quite a number of people had assembled near this cave residence. Even the City Lord of Plum Crest personally brought others to observe.

Nearly all of these spectators were Core Formation cultivators.

Only one person was an exception.

One of the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Hidden Valley Feng Clan, Ancestor Qingyi, was serving as Plum Crest City’s temporary leader under wartime regulations. His primary duty was to keep a close watch on the northern breach of the Boundary-Severed Mountain Range in Night Jewel Prefecture.

When the spiritual qi vortex formed, he immediately realized that someone was condensing a Nascent Soul in Plum Crest City. He only felt it was a pity.

At this stage, the breakthrough was basically already a success.

If he had discovered it earlier, perhaps he could have sought a share of the Nascent Soul opportunity. Thinking of this, the Ancestor Qingyi could not help but glance toward the City Lord of Plum Crest and give an order.

“This person is about to undergo tribulation. Have everyone nearby retreat farther away. After the breakthrough ends, invite him to the City Lord’s Mansion for a talk.”

“Rest assured, Ancestor!”

Naturally, intelligence about Wang Yu was investigated at the first possible moment.

However… all they found were rumors about the Ice Demon Child.

When renting the cave residence, he had not deliberately concealed his appearance. According to his original plan, once his body fully grew back, returning to the Blood Reversal Sect to develop was a fairly good choice.

He had already climbed to the position of Seventh Elder. If he pushed a little higher, obtaining the status of a sect ancestor would be far better than fighting alone.

That said, wishes were wishes. Reality could change at any moment, and plans also needed constant adjustment.

With the war about to begin, his true body’s identity was being watched by a venomous serpent lurking in the shadows, and not just anyone, but a high-level great cultivator. If they wanted to obstruct him, it would be far too easy.

He could not trust it.

Therefore, the Ice Demon Child identity needed to be carefully cultivated. It might even be used for a very long time.

…

…

“Rumble!”

Thunder exploded with a deafening crash, and the might of the Ninefold Lightning Tribulation was astonishing.

That vast and radiant heavenly might was so overwhelming that it was hard for anyone to even think of resisting. Wang Yu took the tribulation head-on to temper his body, silently savoring that strange sensation of pain and exhilaration intertwined.

The most wondrous aspect of a lightning tribulation was the spark of vitality hidden within destruction itself. It perfectly matched the Great Dao of Body Refinement.

They all walked the same path: destruction first, rebirth after.

Dangerous, yes, but the rewards were equally immense.

To him, the lightning tribulation was an opportunity.

Six bolts fell in rapid succession. Aside from making him hurt, they caused almost no real damage. Only the final three bolts of violet lightning could still send that thrill surging through him.

Body Refiners all had a peculiar mentality of finding pleasure in pain.

Wang Yu had that too, just not as obvious.

A moment later, the pressure of the heavens retreated, and the dark clouds dispersed.

Ten thousand rays of golden light pierced through the cloud layer, shining down like clear skies after rain, revealing a flawless, pristine heaven. It made Wang Yu look like a divine being descending into the mortal world, and congratulatory voices rang out from all around.

“Congratulations, Senior, on successfully condensing a Nascent Soul!”

“Congratulations, Senior, on successfully condensing a Nascent Soul!”

“Congratulations, Senior, on successfully condensing a Nascent Soul!”

Wang Yu had been in seclusion for three years. Now that he had broken through in one decisive step, he felt a sudden clarity, as if no difficulty ahead could possibly stop him.

Only the change in his body size made him frown slightly.

With so many eyes upon him, it was not convenient to alter his form.

“Senior Ice Demon, I am from the Feng Clan of Hidden Valley. My ancestor, Qingyi, invites Senior to enter our residence for a discussion.”

Here it comes.

Seeing that the speaker was the lord of Meiling City, Wang Yu finally felt steady inside. His life-bound magic treasure was rapidly transforming under the nourishment of demonic essence. In theory, continuing seclusion for a while longer would be best.

But he also needed to solidify the identity of the Ice Demon Child. Nothing worked better than having a local powerhouse publicly vouch for him.

Wang Yu had enmity with the Feng Clan.

The Ice Demon did not.

Moreover, having just broken through to the Nascent Soul realm, he urgently needed supreme-grade spirit stones for cultivation. At the very least, he had to meet the baseline requirements first before considering auxiliary methods like spirit pills.

“Since Fellow Daoist Qingyi is inviting me, why not come out and meet me in person?”

As soon as the words fell, the ancestor Qingyi, who had been trying to maintain his airs, instantly appeared in midair and cupped his hands toward Wang Yu.

“Fellow Daoist, do not misunderstand. This old man was merely giving instructions regarding the banquet just now.”

Though he spoke lightly, his heart was full of cautious suspicion as he sized Wang Yu up. Someone who had just passed the tribulation should not have such stable aura. It seemed the lightning tribulation had not injured him in the slightest.

In that case, he could not treat Wang Yu as an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.

Wang Yu nodded.

“It is hardly a misunderstanding. However, Fellow Daoist is also a cultivator of the same realm, and you should understand that I still require time in seclusion to stabilize my cultivation. As for the banquet, we can discuss it later.”

Hearing this, Ancestor Qingyi finally relaxed.

It seemed the intelligence gathered from Maple Prefecture had been very accurate. The Ice Demon Child’s reputation was indeed fierce, but he had never harmed members of the Blood Reversal Sect.

After exchanging only a few words, Qingyi even felt that the other party showed faint signs of wanting to align himself with them.

Is that just my imagination?

He could not help asking himself that. Then he thought of the situation across the two domains. Extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures. This might be a rare chance for him, Qingyi, to expand the Feng Clan’s authority.

People he had not dared recruit in the past might now be worth considering.

Of course, he would not let his head heat up and openly try to rope Wang Yu in. After cultivating for so many years, he still had the caution he ought to have. He needed to investigate Wang Yu’s background and trace his past.

Coincidentally, that also required time.

“Since that is the case, I will not disturb Fellow Daoist’s seclusion to stabilize your realm. This cave residence will also be gifted to Fellow Daoist for your use. There is no need to spend additional spirit stones.”

“Many thanks.”

Wang Yu returned to the cave residence and activated every formation and restriction. He sighed inwardly.

The other party had not taken the bait, which introduced yet another variable into his plans.

After the sigh, his thoughts returned to his cultivation realm.

Nascent Soul cultivation…

One word ran through it all: difficult.