Zong Shou felt as if his entire being was immersed in flames. The Sun Fire was pure and intense, the perfect external force for refining the nascent soul.

However, unless one was among the most elite spirit cultivators, the nascent souls of other cultivators would simply scatter and perish upon exposure to this searing sunlight. Thus, before reaching the Re-Yang Stage, the vast majority of cultivators relied on the light of the moon, its power diminished countless times, as a supplement for their training.

Reflecting moonlight with a bronze mirror could also converge the essence of sunfire, which was several degrees weaker than direct moonlight. This technique was only devised six thousand years later.

By relying on this Sky Mirror Soul Illumination Art, its creator, despite having only above-average aptitude, managed to ascend step by step, nearly reaching the peak of the Spirit Master realm. In the era where Zong Shou lived, this method was already widespread and known by almost everyone.

Yet, at that time, the spiritual energy across the lands was weak, and few spirit masters achieved any significant success. And now, at this moment, this very method could patch the shortcomings of the Heaven Swallowing Origin Transformation Great Art.

The bronze mirrors were hazy, their reflection not particularly strong. The moonlight was like water, its glow exceedingly cold.

However, upon striking Zong Shou’s nascent soul, this entity, like smoke and mist, instantly vanished by a full tenth out of thin air, and the remainder violently convulsed. Just as it was on the verge of collapse, nine wisps of sandalwood incense suddenly rose from below.

A green vapor enveloped Zong Shou’s nascent soul, stabilizing it once more. “So hot!

It feels like my whole body is about to ignite. Fortunately this time I wasn't overconfident and prepared sandalwood incense to stabilize my nascent soul.

Ha! This is just with these six bronze mirrors.

I wonder what the true Sky Mirror Soul Illumination Art truly entails in terms of pain? I really underestimated those Spirit Masters before—” The real Sky Mirror Soul Illumination Art utilized the 'Mirror of Brilliance' that appeared in later ages as its artifact, capable of revealing every minute detail.

And these mere six bronze mirrors were only the minimum requirement to condense the essence of sunfire. Yet even this inflicted upon Zong Shou a sensation akin to his divine soul melting under the moon’s radiance.

The midnight hour was when the essence of sunfire was weakest; in another fifteen minutes, it would begin to ascend level by level again. Zong Shou dared not delay further.

Using his consciousness to manipulate the nascent soul-seed he had only just condensed, he plunged it into the very center of that sliver of sunfire. Then, he watched as the impurities mixed into his nascent soul via his Origin Swallowing Art continuously transformed into wisps of light smoke, rising and dissipating.

Even the residual portions thoroughly fused with his soul. Only when this ‘seed’ was entirely free of any extraneous color, shimmering deep violet and brilliant as a gemstone, did Zong Shou’s soul thought sink back from the back of his head into his body.

In that instant, Zong Shou felt his five senses sharpen several dozen times over. Within a hundred meters, every falling leaf and chirping insect was within his grasp.

Zong Shou paid it little mind, knowing this was a temporary phenomenon following the successful formation of the nascent soul-seed, which would slowly recede after one night. Hurriedly swallowing a pre-prepared elixir pill and taking a deep breath to draw the nine strands of sandalwood incense into his lungs, Zong Shou was immediately struck by a stabbing pain behind his head—a pain that made living unbearable.

His limbs and muscles felt weak and powerless. This was the price paid for the severe depletion of the nascent soul exacted by the Sky Mirror Soul Illumination Art.

Fortunately, the pill in his abdomen promptly emitted tendrils of coolness. Moreover, this sandalwood incense also possessed the effect of nourishing the nascent spirit, slightly easing the agony.

A moment later, Zong Shou gradually acclimated. He placed a blue crystal between his brows, gazing at the almost flawless purple speck within, and managed a wry smile amidst his suffering.

Although he had risked immense danger by practicing the Sky Mirror Soul Illumination Art this time, nearly dying in the process, the reward far exceeded his expectations. “In terms of purity alone, can my current nascent soul now rival those ‘Re-Yang’ level Spirit Masters?

The soul injury will take longer to mend, requiring seven or eight days to recover. But two months is ample time.

By the time the Lingyun Sect opens its gates, not only will the Fetus Wheel be completed, but my cultivation as a Spirit Master will also reach the Spirit Setting Realm!” Fifteen minutes later, as the angle of the bright moon in the sky shifted, the moonlight reflected by the six bronze mirrors slowly moved off target. Waiting until his physical strength had recovered somewhat, Zong Shou rose to his full height and began to tidy the magical implements and talismans in the room.

He had only just begun when a conversation drifted into his ears. “Brother Yin, though you serve the Sovereign, you are still of the Human Race, and the descendant of a renowned lineage.

Why must you involve yourself in the disputes within my Qiantian Mountain? Would it not be better to simply depart?” “Depart just like that?

Feng Xiao, I wonder who taught you to say such a thing? Was it Zong Shi, Zong Yang, or that Zong Shiyuan?

The Sovereign misjudged you! I was wondering earlier how that mere Zong Yu knew the whereabouts of the Young Master?” Zong Shou hadn't paid much heed initially, but as these few sentences reached his ears, his movements halted.

With a slight discernment, he identified the source of the voices as being near a bridge, sixty feet from his current inn. “That voice is Yin Yang.

I wonder about the identity of the other person? Judging by his words, he seems to be a subordinate of my father.” His brow raised, Zong Shou listened intently.

However, Feng Xiao remained silent for a long while before replying in a faint voice, “It is Young Master Zong Shi. After all, our Sovereign has perished.

Those of us who remain must live on. With the Young Master’s ability, even if he becomes the Demon King of Qiantian Mountain, it will only harm him.

Brother Yin, why must you be so obstinate?” “It is indeed him. Feng Xiao, you do possess some insight.

This scheme of borrowing a knife to kill is also executed well. I wonder now, is that Young Master Zong Shi preparing for the Young Master to return to Qiantian Mountain merely as his puppet?

Or does he want the Young Master to die outside of Qiantian Mountain?” Feng Xiao let out another cold laugh, his voice filled with arrogance: “My Young Master Zong Shi is heralded as the first genius of the Heavenly Fox Clan lineage since the Sovereign. Not yet twenty years old, he has already broken through the Body Wheel and entered the Innate Realm!

He is highly praised by the many elders of the Zong Clan. He can subdue the myriad races of Qiantian by himself; why would he need a puppet?

If you could take the Young Master and flee far away, never entering the Cloud Realm again, the Young Master, mindful of fraternal affection, could spare his life. But if you refuse to know what is good for you and still aspire to the position of Demon King of Qiantian Mountain, even the Young Master’s tolerance will demand his life!” This time it was Yin Yang’s turn to fall silent.

The voice continued, “Brother Yin, the oath you swore was to serve Qiantian Mountain until death; why must you cling to a dead tree? What future is there in following that Zong Shou?

I know you intend to take the Young Master to seek refuge with Lingyun, but in my view, Brother Yin may not succeed in this endeavor! If you instead follow my Young Master, perhaps the Young Master can be protected—” Before the words were finished, Yin Yang interrupted with a cold sneer: “No need to say more!

Those with different paths cannot work together. Since I, Yin Yang, have acknowledged the Young Master, I will never transfer my allegiance to another, even unto death without regret!

Hmph, I am truly ashamed to be associated with a turncoat like you!” With that, Yin Yang flicked his sleeve and departed without hesitation. Zong Shou also shook his head slightly, no longer paying attention to the situation over there.

He mused that for Yin Yang, it was hard to say whether he was loyal and righteous or merely stubborn. In truth, the path Feng Xiao described might not have been without merit.

By speaking those words, hadn't he completely cut off any path of retreat? He then vaguely recalled that after 'he' was expelled from Lingyun Mountain, it was Zong Yang and Zong Shiyuan who supported him as the Demon King of Qiantian Mountain.

Yet, after only a few short years, he was overthrown by Zong Shi, the one mentioned by those two. And judging by Feng Xiao's tone, it seemed he was already certain of the outcome for the three of them in Qiantian Mountain this time— Interesting!

Zong Shou did not get angry; instead, he chuckled, and the depths of his eyes once again turned chillingly cold.

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