“Go!”
The Moon Lady shattered the barrier Si Kong Xuan had set up to block the Nine Cauldrons Illusion Realm with a single punch, then left first.
Ling Xiao stepped into the Nine Cauldrons Illusion Realm.
Once inside, neither the Heavenly King Sect nor the Holy Dynasty’s imperial family could touch him.
After Ling Xiao entered, the black-hole-like entrance didn’t vanish.
But despite its presence, no one could follow.
“Come on, surround this place tightly. Don’t give Ling Xiao any chance to escape. Let him stay in there forever!”
Furious, the Holy Emperor issued an order, and people immediately complied, rushing to carry it out.
Ling Xiao, unaware of the commotion outside, was now inside the Nine Cauldrons Illusion Realm.
The moment he entered, he felt a strange shift.
Around him were countless chaotic spaces, jumbled together, forming a mess of hybrid realms.
The creatures and plants within seemed haphazardly pieced together, creating a deeply discordant feeling.
“What’s going on here? What is the Nine Cauldrons Illusion Realm trying to tell me?”
Ling Xiao was puzzled, as it was his first time here, completely unfamiliar with the place.
“Don’t just look at the external world. Look at your own heart!”
A voice rang in Ling Xiao’s ears.
“Human King?”
“No need to search for me. This is merely a wisp of my divine consciousness left in the Nine Cauldrons Illusion Realm. Everyone who enters sees something different, tied to themselves. Don’t be swayed by this chaotic external environment. Look within yourself for answers.”
“Within myself?”
Ling Xiao frowned. The Nine Cauldrons Illusion Realm was meant to enhance cultivation. Did the chaotic environment he saw reflect his own disordered, messy cultivation?
Yes, that must be it!
Ling Xiao had always felt he hadn’t grasped the true essence of the Mountain River Martial Soul, straying from its core path.
But how to return to it, he had no clue.
“Senior, do you think I’ve learned too much, neglecting to fully utilise the most powerful Mountain River Martial Soul?”
Ling Xiao asked.
The Human King didn’t answer directly, but the chaotic scene vanished, replaced by a vast, empty plain.
Above the plain floated nine great cauldrons, identical to the Nine Cauldrons of Destiny Ling Xiao had once condensed.
“You’re clever, but it depends on whether you’re willing to let go!”
The Human King’s voice sounded again. “These nine cauldrons hold the simplest advanced uses of the Mountain River Martial Soul. They’re just a guide. Once you master all their methods, you can freely control this martial soul. They exist to set you on the right path, to lay your foundation.”
“Foundation?”
“Yes, foundation.”
“But what did you mean I need to let go?”
Ling Xiao asked, confused.
“While the Mountain River Martial Soul embraces everything, in its initial stage, overusing other techniques will hinder its full potential. My advice is simple: temporarily abandon all martial arts except soul techniques, including your Hell Dragon Soul and Sword Demon Martial Soul!”
“Even the World Eye?”
“No, the World Eye is the gateway to the Mountain River Martial Soul, the best tool for unleashing its power. It can conceal the martial soul’s existence, which benefits you.”
Hearing this, Ling Xiao fell silent.
Abandoning Heavenly Vein Qi Sword, Shadow Transformation Sword Art, Twelve Golden Lotus Art, Hell Dragon Soul, Ye Gushan Martial Soul, and more wasn’t easy.
These had been his attack methods, helping him reach the Heavenly Human Realm.
Though his cultivation had now dropped to the Ninth Layer Supernatural Realm, letting go of these still pained him.
“It’s your choice: gain the Nine Cauldrons’ methods for the Mountain River Martial Soul or restore your cultivation to the Heavenly Human Realm. I won’t force you. As the true Chosen One, I can only make you stronger!”
The Human King’s words were light, but Ling Xiao gave a wry smile.
Return to the Heavenly Human Realm?
He wanted to, but it wasn’t hard. He didn’t need the Nine Cauldrons Illusion Realm for that.
Master the correct use of the Mountain River Martial Soul?
That was tempting, but abandoning everything else was tough.
“It might be easier to accept if you see it this way: you’re only temporarily setting these aside. Once you master the foundational methods of the Mountain River Martial Soul in the Nine Cauldrons, you can pick them up again. Though, you may not even care for them by then.”
“I choose the correct use of the Mountain River Martial Soul!”
After some thought, Ling Xiao made his decision.
He felt that, in his pursuit of strength over the past year, he’d learned too many disparate things, which had hindered the proper use of the Mountain River Martial Soul.
He didn’t regret it, as those techniques had helped him overcome obstacles to reach this point. Without them, he wouldn’t be where he was.
For a young man without guidance, taking detours in cultivation wasn’t shameful.
Better late than never.
He’d made his choice!
“Good! Let me lend you a hand!”
With Ling Xiao’s confirmation, the Human King’s phantom appeared and tapped his forehead.
Instantly, Ling Xiao sensed a massive vortex forming in his Mountain River World, like a black hole, sucking in Heavenly Vein Qi Sword, Shadow Transformation Sword Art, Hell Dragon Soul, Twelve Golden Lotus Art, Book of Seals, and more.
A giant “Seal” character appeared above the vortex.
At the same time, his Heavenly Veins transformed. The lotus became nine cauldrons.
They were still Heavenly Veins, but now nine of them, which Ling Xiao found remarkable.
“These will remain sealed until you master the Mountain River Martial Soul’s methods in the Nine Cauldrons. I hope you won’t regret it!”
“Fortune or misfortune, it’s my choice, and I’ll bear it. No regrets!”
Ling Xiao nodded firmly.
The process didn’t end there.
The Mountain River Martial Soul returned to a chaotic, barren state, like a dark universe, devoid of anything.
The World Eye remained, though dim and lifeless.
Above the empty cosmos floated nine massive bronze cauldrons.
Each cauldron was marked with a number, clearly ordered.
“Then let’s start with the first cauldron!”
Ling Xiao took a deep breath and opened the first cauldron.
