It Was Actually Time to Form His Core!

Xuan Zhen wanted to speed up the cultivation of the Divine Generals, and Yang Zhengshan naturally had no objections. However, Xuan Zhen wanted more than just the cultivation of ordinary Divine Generals.

"Arranging the Divine General Transformation and their cultivation is something I can handle, but there's one thing I need your consent for!" Xuan Zhen said.

"What is it?" Yang Zhengshan asked, somewhat surprised.

Xuan Zhen chuckled and said, "I discovered that the Divine Generals can cultivate the Eight Divine Curses!"

For a moment, Yang Zhengshan failed to grasp the significance of his words. "So?"

"They can cultivate!" Xuan Zhen reminded him.

Yang Zhengshan froze slightly, then his eyes lit up.

"They really can?"

"Of course. I've already had them try it. Not only can they cultivate the Eight Divine Curses, they can also use the Golden Light Divine Curse to transform Yin Souls into Divine Generals!" Xuan Zhen said.

Yang Zhengshan stared at him in astonishment.

The Divine Generals could use the Golden Light Divine Curse to transform Yin Souls into Divine Generals. What did that mean?

It was probably like robots manufacturing robots.

Manufacturing robots was still restricted by materials, energy, and other factors, but transforming Divine Generals only required Divine Souls.

But then Yang Zhengshan frowned. The Divine Generals could transform Yin Souls into Divine Generals—was that a good thing or a bad thing?

The advantage was that the Spirit Source Land's speed of cultivating Divine Generals would increase dramatically. Forget a hundred thousand Divine Generals—even a million might not be impossible.

There were disadvantages as well. Would these transformed Divine Generals be uncontrollable?

Although the Divine Generals were all loyal and reliable, that loyalty and reliability stemmed from the fact that their minds were relatively simple and their self-awareness comparatively weak.

If the Divine Generals could cultivate on their own and independently transform other Yin Souls into Divine Generals, would they become existences akin to Ghost Cultivators?

Beings with self-awareness and desires.

Yang Zhengshan asked thoughtfully, "How fast do they cultivate?"

"That isn't very fast. It should be somewhat slower than ordinary Ghost Cultivators!" Xuan Zhen replied.

"Then are the Divine Generals they transform controlled by the Divine General Chessboard?" Yang Zhengshan asked again.

Xuan Zhen frowned slightly. "They aren't controlled! Are you worried they'll betray us?"

Yang Zhengshan shook his head. "No!"

Worried that the Divine Generals would betray him?

That was naturally impossible!

If Divine Generals could betray him, then couldn't humans? Couldn't Demonic Beasts?

The Spirit Source Land now had more than six million people, over a hundred thousand Strange Beasts, and more than ten thousand Demonic Beasts. If Yang Zhengshan feared these people and Demonic Beasts would betray him, he would never have allowed so many people and Demonic Beasts to enter the Spirit Source Land in the first place.

"Then how fast can they transform Yin Souls?" Yang Zhengshan continued asking.

"At present, it isn't very fast. But their cultivation in the Golden Light Divine Curse is still quite low. Once their cultivation in it improves, their speed should be no slower than that of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!"

"You said just now that the Divine Generals they transform aren't controlled by the Divine General Chessboard. Doesn't that mean they can exist independently?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

The True Spirits of the Divine Generals transformed previously were all within the Divine General Chessboard. For the Divine Generals, the Divine General Chessboard was both a restriction and a form of protection.

The restriction meant that the Divine Generals were subject to the chessboard master's control and could not disobey the master's commands.

The protection meant that the Divine Generals' True Spirits were inside the chessboard. As long as the chessboard was not destroyed, their True Spirits would not disperse. In that sense, they were effectively immortal.

"That's right. Their True Spirits are no longer in the chessboard. If they die in battle, their True Spirits will dissipate, and they're also subject to the restrictions of Yin Longevity!" Xuan Zhen answered.

Yang Zhengshan nodded. "In other words, they're essentially a different kind of Ghost Cultivator!"

Xuan Zhen was taken aback, then nodded. "That isn't wrong. However, Divine Generals are much better than Ghost Cultivators. Since Ghost Cultivators cultivate Yin Attribute techniques, their personalities tend toward the sinister. Because Divine Generals cultivate the Golden Light Divine Curse, their dispositions are instead exceptionally pure and kind."

The fact that cultivation methods could influence a cultivator's character was common knowledge among Immortal Cultivators.

Most Immortal Cultivators, however, could overcome that influence and preserve their true selves.

Ghost Cultivators were different. When Ghost Cultivators were formed, they had no memories of their lives before death. Thus, they had no personalities or consciousness that belonged to them. Although they retained some habits from life, they were still entirely new personalities.

As a result, under the influence of Yin Attribute spiritual energy, the self-awareness they gradually formed would tend toward cruelty, indifference, and selfishness.

After listening, the corners of Yang Zhengshan's lips lifted. "Excellent. Then let all the Divine Generals cultivate the Golden Light Divine Curse!"

The fact that Divine Generals could cultivate independently was a good thing.

Once all the Divine Generals could cultivate on their own, their future would be bright.

Although most of the Divine Generals in the Spirit Source Land currently came from the Ghost Cultivators of the Yellow Springs Hall, most future Divine Generals would be born from people of the Spirit Source Land.

Yang Zhengshan did not dare hope that everyone in the Spirit Source Land could live forever, but if they became Divine Generals, that would still count as a continuation of their lives.

Therefore, he very much hoped that the people of the Spirit Source Land could become Divine Generals in the future and possess a new Dao Path.

"Having them cultivate the Golden Light Divine Curse is no problem, but they'll need resources as well!" Xuan Zhen said.

"Resources!" Yang Zhengshan repeated, thinking about it.

What Xuan Zhen meant was that the Divine Generals had previously received no salaries. They neither ate nor drank, nor did they need to cultivate, so there had been no use in giving them salaries.

But now that they needed to cultivate, they naturally required some resources.

If it were only one or two Divine Generals, Xuan Zhen could make the decision himself.

But this involved tens of thousands of Divine Generals, and in the future there might even be a hundred thousand or a million.

Distributing salaries to the Divine Generals was beyond Xuan Zhen's authority. Even Yang Chengmou could not make the decision alone.

"Then have Tai Wei Tower establish salary grades for them. They should receive both Cultivation Salary and position-based salaries!" Yang Zhengshan said indifferently.

The resources required by the Divine Generals were all ordinary resources. Although this would increase the resource pressure on the Spirit Source Land, it would not have too great an impact for now.

"Good!" Xuan Zhen replied with satisfaction.

After Xuan Zhen left, Yang Zhengshan stroked his beard and fell into deep thought.

The fact that Divine Generals could cultivate independently was a good thing.

Some of his earlier ideas had also begun to take shape.

He wanted the Divine Generals to retain the memories of their lives before death.

The memories of ordinary people were in their brains, but the memories of cultivators and Martial Artists who possessed Divine Souls were in their Divine Souls.

After they died, their Divine Souls became Yin Souls. Under normal circumstances, Yin Souls would dissipate into the world within a few days. In special environments—places rich in Yin Energy—Yin Souls would instead become Ghost Cultivators.

During that transformation, the Divine Soul lost its memories because it was washed by Yin Energy.

Without being washed by Yin Energy, a Divine Soul could not become a Yin Soul. Without becoming a Yin Soul, it could not become a Ghost Cultivator. Thus, preserving the memories from life meant that the Divine Soul could not be protected from the washing.

For this reason, Yang Zhengshan had thought of many ways to preserve the memories Yin Souls had possessed in life.

His initial idea had been to prevent the Divine Soul from losing its memories during the washing by Yin Energy. Unfortunately, he could not accomplish that. The washing of Yin Energy would inevitably erase the Divine Soul's memories, and even he could not change that.

But now he had a different idea: leave behind a portion of the Divine Soul, then return that portion to the Divine General after the Divine Soul became one.

Why not return it to the Yin Soul or Ghost Cultivator?

Because Yin Souls and Ghost Cultivators could not merge with that portion of the Divine Soul. Or rather, if Yin Souls and Ghost Cultivators wanted to merge with it, that portion of the Divine Soul would still have to undergo the washing of Yin Energy.

Divine Generals were different. Although they also belonged to Yin Souls, they did not need Yin Energy. If they merged with that portion of the Divine Soul, the Divine Soul would not be washed by Yin Energy.

Yang Zhengshan felt this idea was worth trying.

Just as he was preparing to have someone test it, a sudden violent gust spread out from the Quiet Room.

He looked toward the Quiet Room in astonishment, his eyes filled with disbelief.

But he quickly recovered. With a flash of his figure, he flew out of the Longevity Palace and hovered in midair, quietly watching the sky above the Longevity Palace.

After a moment, a gigantic vortex appeared above the Longevity Palace.

"She's actually about to form her core! How could it be this fast?"

Yang Zhengshan was somewhat puzzled.

Core Formation took at least several years. Even with the Nine Tripod Divine Pill, it could not be completed in one or two years.

Yet less than a year had passed since Yu Qingyi entered the Quiet Room.

In such a short time, Yu Qingyi had actually begun Core Formation.

Moreover, judging by the situation, she seemed to have already entered the second step—the Mana Gate.

Even Yang Zhengshan found it unbelievable.

After hesitating for a moment, he still released his Spiritual Sense to investigate the situation inside the Quiet Room.

Inside the Quiet Room, Yu Qingyi sat cross-legged on a Cattail Mat with her eyes tightly shut. Her aura surged, but it was exceptionally solid. Judging from her condition, there should be no problems.

In the porcelain bottle before her, Yang Zhengshan was astonished to discover that she had used the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill, while the Nine Tripod Divine Pill was still there.

"She didn't use the Nine Tripod Divine Pill but used the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill instead?"

"The Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill shouldn't be useful for Core Formation!"

"No, that isn't right!"

"The Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill is useless for Core Formation to other people, but for her, it's actually tremendously useful!"

Yang Zhengshan's eyes flickered. The worry on his face slowly faded, replaced by anticipation.

The greatest effect of the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill was Wood Spirit Reincarnation, but Yu Qingyi clearly had not used that effect.

Apart from Wood Spirit Reincarnation, the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill was also a pill containing Wood Attribute Dao Intent, and it offered enormous benefits to Wood Attribute Cultivators.

If a Wood Attribute Foundation Establishment Cultivator took the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill, it could at least raise them by one minor realm, and they might even comprehend Wood Attribute Dao Intent.

Yu Qingyi was also a Wood Attribute Cultivator. She had already comprehended the Wood Attribute upon entering the Innate Realm, allowing her to accelerate the growth of plants. Although that was not Dao Intent, and although she had never truly comprehended Dao Intent afterward, her attainments in Wood Attribute techniques were stronger than those of many Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Her understanding and comprehension of Wood Attribute Dao Intent were also several levels above those of ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Furthermore, all of Yu Qingyi's cultivation methods were Wood Attribute methods, whereas Yang Zhengshan cultivated many different methods, and they were quite varied.

Yu Qingyi was the exact opposite. She had always focused on Wood Attribute methods, never cultivating techniques of other attributes or studying spells and Dao Intent of other attributes.

Her focus made her more compatible with Wood Attribute divine abilities and also made her more suited to taking the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill.

In addition, Yu Qingyi had consumed many seeds of the Dao Intent Sacred Lotus. The effect of those seeds was not to raise one's Dao Intent, but to improve one's natural compatibility with Dao Intent.

With the enhancement from the seeds, Yu Qingyi's compatibility with the Wood Attribute had become even more perfect.

Perhaps Yu Qingyi did not possess a Wood Spirit Body, but the gap between her and one was very small.

Thus, taking the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill could indeed help Yu Qingyi raise her cultivation and comprehend Dao Intent.

Yang Zhengshan did not know why Yu Qingyi had not followed the Core Formation plan they had devised earlier, but he believed that Yu Qingyi would not act recklessly.

Since Yu Qingyi had chosen to take the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill at this time, she must have had her own reasons.

Yang Zhengshan's thoughts were correct. Yu Qingyi had sensed the attraction of the Dao Intent within the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill, which was why she had chosen to take it.

Half a month earlier, she had suddenly felt an urge to swallow the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill.

At first, she thought it was merely an illusion. Later, she felt it was an abnormal form of greed.

But after several days of hesitation and examination, she ultimately chose to swallow the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill.

This impulse seemed to make no sense, yet it was also perfectly reasonable.

After swallowing the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill, Yu Qingyi entered a Profound and Mysterious state, and countless realizations surged into her mind.

At that moment, she was completely immersed in comprehension. She had not deliberately attempted to form her core, but her instincts—or rather, her subconscious—had begun the process of Core Formation.

"So fast?" Xuan Zhen returned and stared at the Spiritual Energy Vortex in the sky in utter amazement.

"Mm," Yang Zhengshan replied.

"Won't something go wrong? Madam hasn't even been in seclusion for a year!" Xuan Zhen said.

Yang Zhengshan glared fiercely at him. "If you don't know how to speak, then don't speak!"

Xuan Zhen broke into a nervous sweat. "Haha, I was talking nonsense!"

A moment later, Yunxiao, Yue Yao, Lin Xiqiu, Kou Ta, and Hong Fuxiu were all drawn over by the sudden appearance of the Spiritual Energy Vortex.

Ding Qiu, Yang Mingcheng, Yang Minghao, and the others came as well.

Everyone gathered together, all staring at the Spiritual Energy Vortex in the sky with astonishment.

They could all be considered well-informed. Over the years, they had witnessed several people's Core Formation, so they had not been surprised by the sudden appearance of the Spiritual Energy Vortex at first.

But after hearing that Yu Qingyi had entered the Core Formation process after only one year of seclusion, every one of them became extremely astonished.

"This doesn't make sense! Madam is a Martial Artist. How could she have begun Core Formation so quickly?"

"Perhaps Madam has Immense Fortune!"

"It should be because the Venerable gave Madam a Divine Pill!"

The crowd continued speculating, leaving Yang Zhengshan with no choice but to explain the matter to them.

Whether it was the Nine Tripod Divine Pill or the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill, neither was a secret in the Immortal Palace.

Yang Zhengshan had used them on Yu Qingyi, and no one dared make sarcastic remarks about it. Whether they were envious or jealous, they could have those emotions, but it was best to keep them in their hearts rather than show them.

Yang Zhengshan gave them only a brief explanation, then sent everyone away, telling them to go do whatever they needed to do and stop loitering there to bother him.

After everyone dispersed, Yang Zhengshan continued staying outside the Longevity Palace, quietly waiting for Yu Qingyi to complete her Core Formation.

The Spiritual Energy Vortex lasted for seven days before gradually evolving into a Thunder Tribulation.

When the Golden Core Lightning Tribulation descended, Yang Zhengshan felt as if his heart and gallbladder were trembling with fear. He was even more nervous than when he had formed his own core.

He kept his eyes fixed on Yu Qingyi inside the Quiet Room, afraid that something might go wrong.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong for Yu Qingyi, and she passed through the Thunder Tribulation with extraordinary ease.

It seemed almost too smooth. The smoothness itself left Yang Zhengshan feeling extremely puzzled.

But whether it was strange or not, Yu Qingyi had successfully formed her core.