However, visualisation did not proceed entirely smoothly.
Just as a person encounters many enemies in the real world, the soul faces numerous dangers during visualisation.
At times, he would be affected by certain spiritual entities, giving rise to lustful thoughts that scattered his concentration and nearly caused the entire visualisation to collapse.
He would see many scantily-clad women dancing around him, their movements deliberately seductive.
One moment of carelessness and he could become completely immersed.
In martial cultivation there exists the concept of inner demons; in soul cultivation, something similar clearly occurs, only far more terrifying.
At the critical moment, the image of the three-headed, six-armed mighty being appeared in his mind.
In an instant, those women fled in terror as though they had met their natural nemesis.
Ling Xiao finally regained his clarity.
At that moment, he vaguely learned the name of this mighty being: Nezha.
The Record of the Investiture of the Gods transmitted a fresh piece of information. This Nezha was born from a lotus and was therefore immune to temptation, for he possessed neither the three spiritual souls nor the seven corporeal souls.
Using “Nezha” to suppress evil thoughts and inner demons seemed an extremely effective method.
Ling Xiao felt his choice had been remarkably wise.
Yet when he collected his thoughts, a trace of apprehension remained. Although the Primordial Spirit Fragment was powerful, the cultivation process was genuinely perilous. Had he not visualised Nezha in time to suppress those impure thoughts, he would have been utterly ruined.
Cultivating the soul truly was far more dangerous than cultivating the body.
Nevertheless, giving up simply because of danger was not Ling Xiao’s way. Moreover, he had now gained experience; to abandon the practice now would be far too regrettable.
What followed was a bizarre and extremely hazardous series of trials.
At times he seemed to find himself deep in mountains surrounded by ferocious beasts; one slip and his soul would shatter.
At times he appeared to fall into hell, attacked by the malicious spirits of all the villains he had once slain.
At times the stone chamber seemed filled with venomous snakes that tore at his body with agonising bites.
Every single ordeal felt like a deadly tribulation.
Unknowingly, he had remained immersed in this state for a full hour.
Yet no matter how difficult or perilous, Ling Xiao endured through sheer willpower that defied belief.
It seemed nothing could defeat him.
Nothing could ever break him.
At last, he grasped the profound mystery within, and his soul grew incomparably powerful.
This cultivation continued for three entire days.
Only then did Ling Xiao wake, eat a little food, and drink some water.
“My primordial spirit feels much stronger. Why not try detaching again?”
With that thought, he willed his soul to leave his body once more.
This time it succeeded effortlessly. There was no need to visualise any tunnel; a single thought was enough. His soul slipped free and floated into the air.
He tried drifting outside the stone chamber. Though the wind was biting cold, he no longer felt that excruciating near-death sensation.
“I actually managed to cross the detachment stage and enter the night-wandering stage so smoothly.”
Joy stirred in Ling Xiao’s heart.
Night-wandering meant the soul could leave the body and travel in environments without strong light. The feeling bore some resemblance to a martial spirit leaving its host.
Ling Xiao even wondered whether there might be some connection between martial spirits and a warrior’s soul.
But speculation was useless. Vast quantities of records from the Primordial Era had been destroyed long ago. To uncover the truth would require the rebirth of a Human King.
“That old Lizard Ancestor spent two full years reaching the night-wandering stage, yet I succeeded in just three days. Apart from natural aptitude, it must be thanks to my Mountain-River Martial Spirit and these soul techniques.”
Ling Xiao did not consider himself any kind of genius. No one understood his own circumstances better than he did.
Without the Mountain-River Martial Spirit, he would probably be no more than an ordinary warrior. Of course, with his relentless drive he could still become an outstanding figure in the martial world.
But he would never have reached his current heights.
His soul flew out of the stone hut and drifted into the distance.
Ling Xiao constantly monitored the link between his soul and his body. If anything felt wrong, he would return instantly; he would take no excessive risks.
A soul has no weight; it simply floats through the air.
Propelled by soul force, it can move forward slowly.
Ordinary obstacles cannot block a soul’s passage unless they contain energies that threaten souls, such as killing intent, battle will, blood energy, or soul force itself.
Unknowingly, his soul had drifted above the surface of the river.
A small boat rocked gently as it moved along the water.
Out of curiosity and amusement, Ling Xiao urged his soul down onto the boat.
“Little Marquis, in half a month we launch the plan. With help from inside and an attack from outside, that Ling Xiao is finished.”
Hearing this, Ling Xiao’s heart jolted. The “Little Marquis” could only be Ming Liu. Who was the other man?
He moved closer for a better look and discovered the man was dressed roughly yet was clearly from the Sea Clan.
If he was not mistaken, this was probably one of the nearby pirate leaders.
“What a pity we must let Ling Xiao live another half month. It gnaws at me.”
Ming Liu, now missing an arm and looking rather sorry, had lost all his former arrogance. In its place was a vicious ruthlessness.
“A gentleman may wait ten years for revenge. Half a month is nothing. Among those who have pledged loyalty to Ling Xiao, many still remain loyal to the Earl of East County. When the time comes, they will strike from within the city while our Seven Islands Alliance brothers attack from outside.”
The pirate laughed. “The Seven Islands Alliance numbers over two hundred thousand. Together with the Earl’s forces, destroying a mere East County City will be child’s play.”
“Shark Bei, my thanks. If we succeed this time, the Seven Islands Alliance will take sixty per cent of the profits from now on; we will settle for forty. No matter what, that Ling Xiao must die, or the hatred in my heart will never be satisfied.”
Ming Liu gnashed his teeth.
“Naturally, no problem at all. Come, let us drink to our success!”
Shark Bei roared with laughter.
“No wine for me. I must hurry back. Those new fellows are watching closely. If I return too late, they may grow suspicious.”
Ming Liu stood, leapt from the boat, and headed towards the shore fifty metres away.
With his Eight Desolations Heaven cultivation, crossing that distance through the air posed no difficulty.
Yet halfway across, a sudden chilling sensation pierced him to the bone. He plunged headfirst into the river.
“What the devil?”
Ming Liu clambered out of the water, warily scanning his surroundings, but he saw no trace of anyone.
