Artificial... Yang Spirit!

What is the situation inside the valley?

Inside the Hall of Hall of Diligent Governance in the Great Cang Imperial City, Emperor Zhao Xuanji of Great Cang knelt before the dragon desk, the flickering candlelight casting dappled shadows on his face.

Three steps in front of the dragon table, a middle-aged man dressed in dark blue close-fitting clothes, with a short beard and a face as hard as iron stood silently. Upon hearing this, he immediately bowed and said in a deep and clear voice, "Your Majesty, according to the secret messages that Zhao Jia and Zhao Yi regularly send back, the cultivation of everyone in the valley is progressing rapidly."

That True Person Qi taught with utmost care, and the methods he transmitted were subtle and profound. Every word he spoke pointed directly to the key points of Divine Soul cultivation, and they were unfathomable.

Under his guidance, everyone's control and application of Divine Soul power, as well as the solidification of their foundation, all showed signs of a complete transformation.

He paused, then continued, "More importantly, True Person Qi seems to possess a superior treasure that can cleanse the Divine Soul of impurities and strengthen one's origin, with extraordinary effects."

In just six months, nearly half of the fifty people have already faintly touched the peak bottleneck of the [Manifestation Realm], and the rest have also made great progress in their cultivation.

Zhao Jia and Zhao Yi, both at the Yin Spirit Realm, reported that their Yin Spirit were becoming increasingly refined, their Dao intent was becoming more harmonious, and they had benefited greatly.

This man was none other than Wei Liang, the Commander of the Imperial City Bureau of the Great Cang Imperial Dynasty.

Specializing in intelligence gathering and surveillance, he was a trusted confidant of Zhao Xuanji.

He was also the core intelligence officer for "Waking of Insects Plan".

Zhao Xuanji paused slightly with her vermilion brush, leaving a bright red mark on the memorial.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on Wei Liang's face. "So, he really is—doing his best to help us?"

Wei Liang pondered for a moment before cautiously replying, "At least so far, all of True Person Qi's words and actions have been directed towards doing everything possible to enhance our strength, without revealing any unusual intentions or slackening."

If we can use him to greatly improve the cultivation and combat power of Zhao Jia and the others, we can achieve this.

"For the sake of our dynasty's grand plan, this is indeed a fortunate event."

"Hmm----" Zhao Xuanji put down the vermilion brush, leaned back slightly, and settled into the wide dragon throne. His fingers unconsciously tapped the armrests, making a rhythmic tapping sound.

A brief silence fell over the hall.

Only the candlelight crackled and popped.

After a moment, he spoke again, his voice lower. "I asked you to secretly investigate this person's background and origins. Any progress?"

Wei Liang's expression turned solemn, and he bowed his head, saying, "Your Majesty, I have mobilized all the secret agents of the Imperial City Bureau, but... so far there are still no leads."

This person's first verifiable appearance was in Clear Source County Great Xuan Prefecture, as if he had appeared out of thin air.

Prior to this, there were no records of her name, appearance, or cultivation level.

His words, actions, and the Daoist practices he cultivated were also completely different from any known lineage in the Azure Gate Realm.

It was as if it had fallen from the sky.

"Fell from the sky—" Zhao Xuanji pondered the words, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

After a moment of silence.

"I understand. You may leave now."

The investigation into this person must not be relaxed; any clues must be reported immediately.

The situation within the valley also needs close monitoring, especially—whether True Person Qi has any unusual actions in private, or whether he has any contact with Zhao Jia and others that goes beyond the scope of their teaching.

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Wei Liang bowed in response, took a few steps back, and then his figure quietly disappeared into the shadows of the corner of the hall.

The Hall of Diligent Governance returned to silence.

Zhao Xuanji sat alone on the dragon throne, his gaze passing through the flickering candlelight. He seemed to see the hidden valley deep in the Cloud Dream Great Marsh Swamp, the deep blue figure, and the rapidly growing royal blades.

He picked up the teacup on the table, which had long since gone cold, and took a sip.

The cold tea, as it entered my throat, brought a refreshing bitterness.

Qi Yun —what exactly do you seek?

The low murmurs faded into the empty hall.

Cloud Dream Great Marsh, a hidden valley.

Time, like the mist flowing outside the valley, quietly slips away.

Several years have passed since the first batch of fifty "seeds" moved in.

The scenery inside the valley is now quite different from what it used to be.

The plaza floor was polished smooth as a mirror, and the surrounding mountain walls were covered with many array patterns and target marks used for practicing Divine Soul control, enduring pressure, and rehearsing combined attacks.

A condensed yet vibrant Divine Soul permeated the air.

That was a unique "field" accumulated by numerous cultivators who had practiced and broken through to new heights here over a long period.

Under Qi Yun's dedicated tutelage, the cultivation of these fifty assassins progressed by leaps and bounds, breaking the limits of common understanding among ordinary cultivators in the Azure Gate Realm.

Qi Yun not only personally preached and taught, but also, with the insight of a powerful Yang Spirit, analyzed the various mysteries of the Way of the Divine Soul in a profound yet simple way.

More importantly, the continuous supply of [Soul-Cleansing Elixir] essence he provided became the strongest boost to these people's rapid progress.

This item is a sacred product that nourishes the Divine Soul, effectively cleansing impurities, strengthening the source, and solidifying the foundation.

For cultivators at the [Manifestation], [Day Wandering], and even [Yin Spirit] realms, it is nothing short of a miraculous elixir.

Furthermore, Qi Yun directly corrected their path with [Wield Myriad Laws], shattering the bottleneck.

This method, which is almost defying fate, is naturally accompanied by great risks and suffering.

However, Qi Yun's control over power has reached a state of perfection, and he can always keep the intervention within the target's tolerance limit, supplemented by [Soul-Cleansing Elixir] to repair and nourish.

This often results in a surge in cultivation level for these cultivators after experiencing a brief period of intense pain.

Such a cost-insensitive and unconventional training method has yielded astonishing results.

In just a few years, out of the original fifty cultivators, most of whom were at the [Manifestation Realm], seven have successfully broken through their shackles, condensed their Yin Spirit, and successfully entered the [Yin Spirit Realm]!

If this speed were in the outside world, even for someone with exceptional talent and ample resources, the timeframe would be zero.

Here, it can be completed in just a few years!

The two Zhao Jia and Zhao Yi, who were originally at the Yin Spirit Realm, received even more special attention from Qi Yun.

Through countless individual guidance sessions, special resource allocation, and the meticulous refinement of their Yin Spirit origins by the [Wield Myriad Laws] Divine Ability, the two have reached the peak of the [Yin Spirit Realm] in their cultivation.

The Yin Spirit is perfect and flawless, filled with and flowing pure Yin energy.

The realm of Yang Spirit, where Yin gives rise to Yang and triggers tribulation, is just a thin veil away. We only need to wait for the right moment to try and break through it!

Meanwhile, as time goes by...

The secret technique of "Demon Seeding in the Dao Heart" that Qi Yun had quietly planted was also beginning to gradually reveal its terrifying, subtle effects.

The way people in the valley looked at Qi Yun, after days of awe, curiosity, and fear, was quietly changing.

At first, they were in awe of Qi Yun's unfathomable strength and strict teaching; curious about the origin and purpose of this mysterious True Person; and terrified by his miraculous methods that often caused unbearable pain yet were remarkably effective.

But gradually, as his cultivation level rapidly improved, as those once unattainable realms were broken through one by one, and as the tangible benefits brought by Qi Yun's seemingly indifferent yet precise and effective guidance became apparent—

A deeper emotion began to grow and spread in my heart.

In their eyes, an almost fanatical flame began to burn.

It was a blind and fervent dependence and faith that arose from placing one's future, strength, and even beliefs in this "True Person Qi"!

The [Demon Seed] in "The Demon Seeding in the Dao Heart" has been perfectly integrated with their Dao heart, emotions, and memories.

These positive emotions are being amplified silently at this moment, weakening any potential doubts and alienation.

The image of Qi Yun grew increasingly lofty and sacred in their hearts.

They would carry out any order or arrangement from Qi Yun without hesitation, and even begin to subconsciously resist other instructions from the outside world that might contradict Qi Yun's will.

This includes the royal family they originally served.

All these changes happened subtly and gradually, so much so that even they themselves might not be able to clearly perceive them.

They simply assumed it was a natural shift in mindset resulting from improved cultivation and a broader perspective.

Life in the valley flows by peacefully and fulfillingly.

And so, another three years passed.

On this day, the sky over the valley was clear and bright.

The thin mist that had shrouded the valley year-round seemed to have dissipated considerably, and sunlight streamed through the narrow gaps above the valley, casting beams of light onto the bluestone plaza.

In the center of the square, Zhao Jia sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed.

He did not exude any overwhelming aura; on the contrary, his aura was extremely restrained, like a deep abyss Ruins of Return.

Only three feet above his head, a halo the size of a washbasin, with a warm, lustrous color like dark jade, slowly rose and fell with his breath.

Within the halo, one could vaguely see the illusory figure of the Yin Spirit sitting cross-legged, with a solemn expression and an innate Daoist aura.

After years of honing his skills, and with Qi Yun's tacit approval and support, Zhao Jia had already perfected his Yin Spirit to the flawless pinnacle, beyond which there was no further advancement.

Today, he will attempt to break through the Yang Spirit barrier, which countless cultivators dream of!

The remaining forty-nine people in the valley had already been informed that there would be important matters today. At this moment, they all stood quietly at the edge of the square, holding their breath and looking at the figure in the center with complicated expressions.

There was envy, nervousness, anticipation, and also a longing for one's own future.

Qi Yun stood alone on a protruding rock in the distance, his dark blue Daoist robe fluttering in the wind, calmly watching the scene unfold.

He toyed with the white-gold glass bead in his hand, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Whether we succeed or not depends on today.

This is not just about Zhao Jia personally.

It is also related to the feasibility verification of his "rapid Yang Spirit" plan, and the confidence behind his future "conquering the heavens" plan.

In the center of the square, Zhao Jia took a deep breath, slowly opened his eyes, his gaze bright and resolute.

He raised his head and looked up at the narrow patch of sky cut off by the valley, as if he were making eye contact with the Unseen.

The next moment.

He formed hand seals, and the Yin Spirit power that had been accumulating within him to its limit was suddenly unleashed!

The deep jade-colored halo above his head no longer expanded or contracted, but remained steadily suspended, with the illusory image of the Yin Spirit within it being crystal clear, its brows and eyes carrying a resolute determination to burn its bridges.

The surrounding space was subtly distorted, a sign that the power of the Yin Spirit had reached its peak and was beginning to spontaneously resonate with external spiritual energy; it was also a manifestation of touching that "window paper".

However, in the Azure Gate Realm, this thin veil cannot be removed without "Heaven's Will approval" or the arrival of "conferment tribulation".

It will forever remain an insurmountable barrier.

Zhao Jia raised his head, his gaze fixed on the deep blue figure on the distant mountain cliff. There was no confusion in his eyes, only absolute trust and a desire for instructions.

At this moment, a faint sense of understanding began to rise in his mind.

Whether I can take this step.

Not in the heavens.

But here is the True Person in front of me.

Qi Yun met Zhao Jia's gaze and nodded slightly.

The time has come.

Without further hesitation, he raised his right hand, pointing it toward Zhao Jia's location, his five fingers spread out, then slowly clenched.

There are no complicated hand seals, and no lengthy incantations.

As he closed his five fingers, an invisible yet vast and boundless will rose from within him, resonating powerfully!

"Buzz-

The golden lightning talisman phantom suspended deep within Qi Yun's Purple Mansion suddenly erupted with boundless golden light!

Golden light emanated from his body, casting a hazy, surging spectacle of countless interwoven lightning patterns in the void behind him!

An unparalleled majesty, transcending all things, acting on behalf of Heaven to punish and judge all living beings, suddenly awakened like an ancient thunder god from slumber, instantly enveloping the entire valley!

All the cultivators in the valley, including those who had reached the Divine Soul Yin Spirit Realm, were shaken to their core and couldn't help but want to prostrate themselves on the ground.

It is a kind of awe and fear that comes from the instinct of life and a higher level of power and authority!

"Heaven and earth, thunder and lightning, heed my command!"

Qi Yun's voice was not loud, but each syllable caused an invisible thunderous vibration in the void.

"There is now a cultivator Zhao Jia, Yin Spirit is perfected and Dao Foundation is solidified. He wishes to reverse Yin and transform into Yang, thus transcending his shackles."

"I, in the name of [Shenxiao], grant your request to descend tribulation lightning to temper his Divine Soul, cleanse his impurities, and bestow upon him the opportunity of pure yang!"

The moment the words left his mouth, a deafening "BOOM!!!" echoed.

Between Qi Yun's loosely clenched fingers, a beam of light, condensed to its extreme, dark golden in color and containing countless fragments of lightning, suddenly shot out.

The beam of light initially only as thick as a hair, but the moment it left his fingertip, it expanded in the wind, transforming into a beam tens of feet in diameter.

A pillar of lightning, composed purely of viscous, liquid-like golden lightning paste, tore through the air, emitting a shrill whistle that made the void tremble, and struck directly at the deep jade-colored halo above Zhao Jia's head!

This is a man-made heavenly tribulation created by Qi Yun using the Dao intent of the [Divine Firmament Thunder Talisman] he has mastered, specifically designed to "temper the Yin Spirit and ignite pure Yang"!

The moment the pillar of lightning struck, Zhao Jia's body trembled violently, and his face instantly drained of all color.

But his eyes remained firm, even carrying a hint of devout fanaticism. He neither flinched nor dodged, but instead fully activated the Yin Spirit phantom above his head, actively facing the golden lightning that was inseparable from him in life and death!

"Sizzle-!!!"

With a teeth-grinding explosion, the golden lightning completely engulfed Zhao Jia and his illusory Yin Spirit!

The moment the pillar of lightning touched the illusory figure of the Yin Spirit, it seemed to transform into billions of golden electric snakes, each as thin as a cow's hair, yet containing the purest Dao intent of destruction and rebirth, frantically drilling into every inch of the illusory figure of the Yin Spirit's body!

"Ughhhhhhh!!!"

Zhao Jia finally couldn't hold back and let out a shrill scream.

That was no longer physical pain, but the extreme agony of having Divine Soul torn apart, burned, and pounded by the most violent force!

His illusory Yin Spirit twisted and deformed violently in the thunderous magma, and countless cracks instantly appeared on its surface, as if it would disintegrate into countless points of light at any moment!

Golden lightning bolts relentlessly crisscrossed and destroyed, fiercely burning away the last traces of impurities, inertia, and turbidity accumulated in the illusory image of the Yin Spirit, turning them into wisps of black smoke, which were then annihilated in the thunder.

At the same time, the Creation of "life" and pure yang essence contained within the thunder were also injected into the core origin of the Yin Spirit as it was destroyed!

Qi Yun atop the mountain cliff, his eyes shimmering with chaotic divine light and golden lightning, firmly controlling the power and direction of the lightning with Divine Ability [Wield Myriad Laws] divine power.

He needed to ensure that the thunder had enough power to purify all the impurities, but he also couldn't completely shatter Zhao Jia's Yin Spirit.

The ability to strike the right balance requires an extremely high level of skill.

Time slowly passed amidst the roar of thunder and Zhao Jia's screams.

The onlookers were terrified; the destructive aura emanating from the golden lightning magma chilled their Divine Soul.

They couldn't imagine that if they were in that situation, they would probably be instantly reduced to ashes.

At the same time, they also felt immense awe and fear towards Qi Yun's methods.

Wielding thunder, man brings calamity.

How is this any different from the Heaven's Will?

After an unknown amount of time, just as Zhao Jia's screams gradually weakened, and the illusory figure of the Yin Spirit seemed to shrink by nearly half and its light dimmed to its lowest point—

The core of the Yin Spirit's illusory form, which had been repeatedly scorched and pounded by the golden lightning paste until it was almost transparent.

A faint yet incredibly tenacious, warm and magnificent golden light, like the first ray of dawn at the end of a long night, suddenly shone forth!

Pure Yang Fire! From the deepest part of the Divine Soul's origin, at the end of annihilation, it was forcibly "forged" out by lightning!

"Buzz--!"

A clear, resonant sound, like the primordial voice of the Great Dao, echoed from the pillar of thunder!

Zhao Jia's shrunken, condensed, and almost transparent Yin Spirit phantom suddenly trembled!

Immediately following, with that single point of pure yang golden fire at its core, a warm, bright, and righteous pale golden hue, like ink dropped into clear water, quickly spread and instantly covered the entire illusory image of the Yin Spirit!

The phantom's form also underwent its final transformation!

His features were more defined and clear, almost tangible. His face was dignified yet exuded a gentle and warm aura. There was no trace of coldness or stagnation in his body. Instead, he radiated a pure Yang Daoist charm that was as warm and smooth as jade and as radiant as a beacon!

Its volume began to slowly recover and expand, emanating a pressure that was far more powerful, condensed, and of entirely different quality than before!

The Yin Spirit into Yang; success achieved!

"Receive."

Qi Yun gave a low shout and spread his five fingers.

The golden beam of lightning that connected heaven and earth suddenly stopped and vanished, as if it had never existed.

Only the lingering numbness and faint scent of anxiety in the air testify to the breathtaking scene that had just unfolded.

In the center of the square, Zhao Jia slowly opened his eyes.

Deep within his eyes, two pale golden flames slowly rotated, gentle yet imposing.

Above their heads, a halo about a foot in diameter, pale gold in color, with fine lines flowing along its edges, floated silently.

Within the halo, a phantom of a Yang Spirit, identical in appearance to him and radiating pure Yang energy, appeared and disappeared.

He stood up, feeling the vast and surging energy within him, a clear resonance with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and an unprecedented sense of power and excitement welled up in his heart.

He turned abruptly and knelt down like a mountain collapsing before Qi Yun on the distant mountain cliff. His voice trembled with excitement, yet it was incredibly loud. "Zhao Jia, I kowtow to thank the True Person for his enlightenment and rebirth!"

In this life, I am willing to die for True Person!

This bow was True Intention and heartfelt.

It wasn't just because Qi Yun helped him break through to the Yang Spirit realm he had always dreamed of.

Furthermore, under the subtle influence of "The Demon Seeding in the Dao Heart," Qi Yun had become the supreme and only one in his heart.

Qi Yun accepted the bow without hesitation and said calmly, "Your Early Yang Spirit formed, and you need to stabilize your realm and familiarize yourself with your power."

Go down and experience it for yourself.

"Yes!" Zhao Jia replied respectfully, stood up and stepped aside, unable to hide his excitement.

Meanwhile, the gazes of the remaining forty-nine cultivators around the plaza were now burning with intense intensity as they looked at Qi Yun!

Witnessing Zhao Jia break through the pass to Chengyang was an unparalleled shock to them.

This means that as long as they work hard enough, they can gain recognition from True Person.

That unattainable realm of the Yang Spirit was not an illusion to them!

A fanatical faith, absolute loyalty, and a desire to become stronger at all costs burned fiercely in their hearts.

Qi Yun glanced at these looks and chuckled inwardly.

The first fruit of "quickly achieving Yang Spirit" has already been plucked.

The verification is effective, and the plan is feasible.

The next step is to speed up the process and allow more "fruits" to ripen.

He looked up at the narrow patch of sky above the valley, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of obstruction.

The "Yang Spirit" monopolizes the Azure Gate Realm.

Today, he himself has broken it.