Focused Study and Insight, Initial Viscera Quenching

The establishment of the "Elemental Nature Transformation Joint Research Group" caused a tremendous stir in Elemental City and naturally drew many doubts. In particular, the participants sent by the other four major academies were somewhat unconvinced by Yu Chen, a group leader who was only a "Soul King" and still lacked seniority.

At the first full meeting, a hot-tempered Soul Emperor-level teacher from the Blazing Fire Academy directly challenged him. "Group Leader Yu Chen, it is not that we question the Thunder Academy's decision, but this talk of Nature Transformation is unheard of. How can you, with the Cultivation Level of a Soul King, lead such a grand project and convince everyone? Could it be based on nothing more than empty words?"

All eyes in the conference room instantly focused on Yu Chen. Some were appraising, some curious, and some openly disdainful.

Yu Chen remained calm and did not grow angry. He merely rose slowly to his feet, sweeping his gaze across everyone present as he spoke steadily. "I understand the concerns of all the seniors and colleagues. The foundation of Nature Transformation lies in the control of Soul Power. If one cannot even precisely control one's own attribute, how can one speak of transformation?"

He did not release any Soul Power pressure. He merely slowly raised his right hand. A hair-thin strand of Blue Arcs of Lightning quietly emerged above his fingertips. The next moment, under everyone's astonished gazes, that arc began to undergo dazzling transformations—at times, it condensed into a round, translucent, soundless lightning pearl that floated above his fingertip like an exquisite work of art; at times, it stretched and extended into a cicada-wing-thin, gently rippling curtain of lightning water, reflecting hazy colors; immediately afterward, the lightning collapsed inward, actually simulating the heavy, solid texture of rock. Though it was still lightning, it carried the oppressive weight of a mountain; finally, the arc abruptly scattered into a soft, drifting lightning haze, like smoke and mist, slowly flowing through the conference room. It contained not the slightest violence, but instead possessed the airy nimbleness of wind.

The entire process flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and flowing water. His control over Thunder Power had already reached the microscopic level, precisely demonstrating the rudiments of using the Lightning Attribute to simulate "the softness of water," "the heaviness of earth," and "the nimbleness of wind" (it was merely forcefully shaped through control of the Lightning Attribute, possessing form but not spirit)! What it contained was a profound understanding of the essence of Soul Power and unimaginable control!

The conference room fell completely silent; even a pin dropping could be heard. The Blazing Fire Academy teacher who had challenged him opened his mouth, but in the end, could not say a word. His face burned with embarrassment, leaving only shock behind. Those who had originally looked down on Yu Chen also put away their dismissive attitudes, their gazes turning solemn and focused.

Yu Chen dispersed the lightning from his fingertips and said calmly, "Just a small trick. Please forgive the display. The road of research is long, and I will still need everyone's full support."

After that, there were no more discordant voices within the research group. Everyone was won over by their young leader's unfathomable control and began fully cooperating with his work.

The tedious and rigorous research work began, lasting an entire year.

Step One: Compiling Materials and Analyzing Characteristics.

Yu Chen first requested that the four major academies provide detailed materials concerning their respective attributes' Soul Power characteristics, basic circulation patterns, common Soul Skill manifestations, and related matters, while avoiding their core secret teachings. He buried himself in a vast sea of documents, relying on his powerful Spiritual Power and comprehension to absorb the essence of wind's nimbleness and swiftness, fire's blazing ascent, water's flexibility and variability, and earth's heaviness and support like a sponge. He was not trying to learn the cultivation methods of those attributes, but to analyze the "internal laws" and "core Artistic Conception" behind how their power manifested.

Step Two: Establishing Theoretical Models and Correspondences.

After fully understanding the characteristics of each attribute, Yu Chen began constructing a theoretical framework. He used the correspondence between the five viscera—heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys—and the Five Elements characteristics—fire, wood, earth, metal, and water, with wind replacing metal for the lungs—as his internal guide (this portion was not made public). Externally, he claimed that he was seeking "corresponding patterns" among the Nature Transformations of different attributes. He drew countless charts, marking the possible Soul Power circulation routes and methods of Spiritual Power guidance corresponding to different Nature Transformations.

Step Three: Guided Experiments and Data Recording.

Once the theory had initially been established, they entered the most crucial experimental stage. Yu Chen made himself the first test subject. Under conditions of extreme caution, he began attempting to guide his own Lightning Attribute Soul Power to simulate the properties of other attributes.

Simulating the heaviness of earth: He guided his Soul Power to circulate slowly and solidify, while his mind visualized mountains and the earth, attempting to make Thunder Power carry the qualities of "bearing" and "stability." He repeatedly failed at the beginning, his Soul Power becoming sluggish and even rebounding against him. Yet, relying on his powerful physique and precise control, he adjusted again and again. In the end, he was able to make the Lightning Strike Robe on his body carry a trace of the defensive Artistic Conception of an immovable boulder.

Simulating the flexibility of water: His Soul Power circulation pursued uninterrupted continuity and smooth, natural rotation, while his mind visualized flowing water trickling onward. This posed an immense challenge for someone accustomed to lightning's explosive nature, repeatedly causing his Soul Power to fall into disorder. After countless fine adjustments, he could barely make the lightning he released possess a trace of "penetration" and "buffering." Though it was far inferior to the healing and nourishment of a genuine Water Attribute, it had already begun to take shape.

Simulating the nimbleness of wind: This had some points in common with Dragon Swimming Steps, but placed greater emphasis on the "lightness" and "speed" of Soul Power itself. He adjusted the frequency of his Soul Power output, making it more elusive and unpredictable. This enhanced the Lightning Attribute's innate speed advantage and gave his attacks a trace of penetrating force that could slip through any opening.

Simulating the ascent of fire: Attempting to fuse the Artistic Conception of "eruption" and "scorching heat" into lightning was the most dangerous endeavor. The slightest misstep could result in being burned by his own flames. He proceeded with utmost care, chiefly drawing upon the cases of Lava Thunder Bird students within the academy. In the end, he was able to make lightning spheres carry a trace of sustained scorching heat when they exploded, increasing their power even further.

At the same time, he also guided Soul Masters of other attributes within the group in reverse simulation experiments. For example, he guided Fire Attribute Soul Masters to attempt simulating earth's defense and Water Attribute Soul Masters to attempt simulating lightning's penetration. The process was equally difficult, but there were occasional surprising discoveries that continually enriched the theoretical database of Nature Transformation.

Step Four: Preliminary Application and Verification.

A year passed in the blink of an eye amid countless failures, adjustments, and renewed experiments. Under Yu Chen's leadership, the research group achieved significant phased results—they successfully summarized and initially realized twelve common Nature Transformations across the four major attributes of wind, fire, water, and earth through Lightning Attribute simulations, along with some simple simulations among other attributes! Although these simulated Nature Transformations were far inferior to innate attributes in purity and effect, their significance was immeasurable. They proved the feasibility of "attribute Nature Transformation"!

Yu Chen compiled some of the relatively mature and safe Nature Transformation techniques into a volume for internal reference and study within the Five Elements Academy. For a time, Soul Masters throughout Elemental City began attempting to give flames a trace of heaviness, flowing water a trace of sharpness, and raging winds a trace of scorching heat... Though most only grasped the surface, it opened an entirely new door for the development of Soul Masters!

The upper echelons of the Five Elements Academy were overjoyed by this achievement! They knew that once this technique matured, it would become a unique advantage and signature hallmark distinguishing the Five Elements Academy from other Soul Master forces! To commend Yu Chen's outstanding contribution, the deans of the Five Academies jointly decided to grant him the esteemed title of "Honorary Dean of the Five Elements Academy"! Furthermore, some core inheritances held by the Five Elements Academy could also be opened to him.

When Lei Dongtian informed Yu Chen of this honor on behalf of the Five Academies, Yu Chen did not decline the opening of those inheritances. Although most of those core inheritances would be of limited use to him, since he already possessed his family's inheritance, he was quite interested in one technique—Ring Fusion. As for the position of Honorary Dean, he merely said humbly, "Thank you for your favor, Deans. This is the result of the joint efforts of everyone in the research group. However, this junior's strength remains shallow and my seniority insufficient. If I were suddenly placed in such a high position, I fear it would be difficult to convince others and would also attract too much unnecessary outside attention, which would instead be detrimental to the research. It would be better to keep this matter concealed for now and announce it later, once this junior has made further progress and the research results have advanced further. That would be more appropriate."

Upon hearing this, the several deans found his reasoning sound. A "Soul King" serving as the Honorary Dean of the Five Academies truly would be too shocking. A tree that stands out in the forest is sure to be toppled by the wind. They agreed to Yu Chen's request and temporarily suppressed the matter, though internally, they had already regarded him as an equal core figure.

During the research process, Yu Chen had also asked why the Plant Academy, which represented the "wood" attribute, had not been included in Elemental City. The answer he received was that modern Plant System Soul Masters mainly cultivated by continuously strengthening their Martial Souls, then using those Martial Souls to control external plants or directly wield Martial Soul power in battle. Their path was more akin to "Life control" or "Martial Soul enhancement." In contrast, they had not deeply explored or controlled the internal properties of Wood Attribute Soul Power itself, such as "growth, nourishment, and circulation." The Plant Academy had simply taken this path to its extreme. This was completely at odds with the "Artistic Conception of wood" Yu Chen wished to comprehend for quenching his liver.

Left with no other choice, Yu Chen could only seek another path. He recalled the solar term Awakening of Insects from his previous life—the sight of spring thunder stirring as all things revived. Spring thunder was both lightning and something that contained the meaning of "growth," awakening Life Force and urging plants to sprout! Perhaps this was the lightning transformation closest to the Wood Attribute.

Thus, in the spring of the following year, he found a valley brimming with Life Force outside Elemental City and sat quietly in contemplation. Rolling spring thunder echoed beside his ears, while fresh green shoots broke through the soil before his eyes. He tried to restrain the destructive and violent side of Thunder Power, seeking to capture and amplify that hidden trace of the Artistic Conception of "growth" that awakened Life.

The process did not go smoothly. Destruction and creation seemed opposed, yet they coexisted within lightning. Separating them and strengthening the latter was far more difficult than simulating other attributes. He could only vaguely grasp a faint feeling of "Life Force." When he used it to quench his liver, the effect was far less obvious than when the other four attribute simulations corresponded to their respective viscera. It could only be considered better than nothing, and the liver's quenching progress lagged far behind that of the other four viscera.

Wood Attribute quenching still requires a true opportunity. Yu Chen understood that this matter could not be rushed.

After a year of focused research and cultivation, his Soul Power had naturally risen to the peak of level sixty-six, propelled by his robust foundation and continuous insights. Although his level had not increased quickly, his understanding of Soul Power, his control over lightning, and the clarity of his own path were all far beyond what they had been a year ago.

The path of Viscera Quenching had begun to take shape, and the resources of the Five Elements Academy had also been put to preliminary use. It was time to seek a new opportunity for the liver quenching that had progressed so slowly.