Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, another eight or nine years had gone by.

In the Stealing Heaven Tripod Space, the Undying Tree had grown significantly taller, its lush branches and leaves nearly covering the altar beneath them.

Yuan Ming's body was still embedded in the Undying Tree, wrapped in a radiance of green light, extremely dazzling.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, emitting two captivating beams of brilliance, like two bolts of lightning piercing the night.

"It wasn't in vain that I cultivated day and night, I've finally reached the peak of Late-stage Core Formation at the last moment," Yuan Ming said with joy on his face.

The Blood Origin Power from inside the Shura Blood Devouring Map had already been exhausted long ago; Huan Ling Zi and the others had limited strength. Given that time flowed differently outside compared to the Time Cave Secret Realm—only eight or nine days passing outside—they had only managed to kill a few Third-level Demon Beasts to feed the growth of the Undying Tree. His advancement in Body Cultivation remained unchanged, still at the Mid-stage Innate Body.

Likewise, due to the lack of Qi-Blood Power, the progress of the Ju Mang Spirit Technique had slowed down, still stuck at the third layer.

In terms of Soul Cultivation, thanks to the Divine Soul offerings from Nascent Soul cultivators like White Scale Master and Old Man Hei Zhu, he made some progress, although he was still far from reaching the Mid-stage Sleep Witch.

However, the first Split Soul was creating a significant stir. His main soul had broken through the Sleep Witch stage, and the first Split Soul also showed faint signs of a breakthrough.

But Yuan Ming didn't pay much attention to Body Cultivation or Soul Cultivation, as he devoted most of his efforts to the cultivation of the Nine Elements Technique.

Yuan Ming reined in his surging mana, showing a pensive expression.

Now, only a few months were left before the thirty-year deadline set by the Black and White Artifact Spirits. The Time Cave Secret Realm was peaceful, and the nature's spiritual energy within the Stealing Heaven Tripod Space was becoming increasingly dense, a prime opportunity to attempt the breakthrough to Nascent Soul.

Although it was a bit rushed, Xi Ying had long ago refined a Five Elements Infant Condensing Pill for him. After completing the third level of the Ju Mang Spirit Technique, his Spirit Root situation was comparable to that of Dual Spirit Roots, and the chances of success were quite significant. If he could indeed be so fortunate to succeed, his ability to confront the Undead Tree Demon would be much improved.

With this thought in mind, Yuan Ming closed his eyes once more and began to circulate the Nine Elements Technique.

Half a month later, all preparations were complete. It was only the third soul used for the Nascent Soul Advancement that remained outside, which needed to be summoned back.

Yuan Ming controlled a branch of the Undying Tree to descend, touching the White Jade Lotus Platform.

Now, merged as one with the Undying Tree, using its branches to touch the White Jade Lotus Platform had the same effect as if he himself were sitting upon it.

...

East Sea Changqing Island.

As a third-level island, the turmoil and flames of war that troubled the East Sea had not yet spread to this unremarkable little island.

However, the relatively hard-earned peace had attracted numerous mortals and low-level cultivators from other islands seeking refuge from disaster, temporarily bringing bustle to Changqing Island and its neighboring isles.

In Gu Town, Zuo Qinghui was sitting upright in a quiet room while a well-dressed middle-aged man in front of him was reporting something in a low voice.

"...I've already arranged for people to blend in with the mortals who have come here seeking shelter, and it shouldn't take long for them to also become believers of Lord Nether Moon God," the middle-aged man said with the utmost respect.

Zuo Qinghui nodded. As Yuan Ming's Clone, he didn't have a great demand for improvement in strength. Instead, he was particularly focused on safeguarding the safety of Yuan Ming's parents.

Almost all the mortals on the entire Changqing Island had subtly become believers of the Nether Moon God, and most of the servants under the island cultivators were also his informants.

He didn't require these people to do much, just to pray to the Nether Moon God in case of emergencies, especially when it came to the safety of Gu Town.

In doing so, Yuan Ming could descend through the Stealing Heaven Tripod from anywhere, no matter the distance, and ensure his parents' safety.

The man in front of Zuo Qinghui was the Mayor of Gu Town, a Nether Moon God believer whose memories had been personally altered by him, responsible for overseeing the island's mortal worshipers.

However, Zuo Qinghui hadn't called him here to report.

"You've done well. The Nether Moon God has decided to bestow a divine reward personally. Close your eyes and pray," Zuo Qinghui instructed.

The middle-aged man was ecstatic and immediately knelt, starting to pray to the Nether Moon God.

Soon, a formidable Divine Sense enveloped the surroundings, and Zuo Qinghui also quickly stood up and bowed toward the sky.

Following that, a golden and silver illusory light gate appeared in the quiet room, the summoning Light Gate.

The third soul within Zuo Qinghui flew out and entered the Light Gate, then in the next moment appeared inside the Stealing Heaven Tripod.

Ever since he was able to wield Space Power, Yuan Ming had been attempting to utilize the Silver Formation in the Stealing Heaven Tripod to grant items. He had figured it out quite clearly.

Not just items, soul bodies could also travel between two places through the Space Array of the Stealing Heaven Tripod.

Unfortunately, living beings were not permitted. The altar's Silver Formation vehemently rejected living creatures, even low-level Demon Beasts, and forced teleportation would only lead to their demise.

Yuan Ming nodded in satisfaction and dropped the Second Split Soul down, injecting it into Zuo Qinghui's body to control this clone.

The safety of his parents was not to be neglected. Zuo Qinghui had to remain on Changqing Island.

As another elixir was sent flying out, the golden and silver light gate quickly dissipated, and Zuo Qinghui spoke again, "Open your eyes. For your hard work and dedication, the Nether Moon God has specially bestowed a Divine Pill that can revive the dead and mend bones. You must strive harder in your duties in the future and not disappoint the Nether Moon God."

In the Stealing Heaven Tripod, Yuan Ming gathered his third split soul and continued to concentrate on his closed-door cultivation, preparing to assail the Nascent Soul.

...

Several days later.

Yuan Ming sat opposite his third split soul, his spirit, energy, and vitality all adjusted to their optimal condition, and he officially began the attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage.

Xi Ying also stopped her cultivation and stood by as Yuan Ming's protector.

After ten years of arduous cultivation, Xi Ying's advancement was insubstantial; her mana was still at the early stage of Nascent Soul, and her soul cultivation hadn't made much progress—what she had been busy with was a mystery.

Soul Cultivators form their Golden Cores differently from regular Magic Practitioners. For instance, Xi Ying had relied on a secret technique named "The Fusion of Qi and Spirit" to form her Nascent Soul, and Yuan Ming's "Soul Splitting and Soul Merging Technique" was similar in this way.

"It's about time."

With his eyes closed, Yuan Ming murmured to himself. The third split soul seated before him crossed its hands in a strange gesture, while Yuan Ming's original body operated the latter half of the "Soul Splitting and Soul Merging Technique" at the same time.

The next instant, Yuan Ming immediately felt an indescribable emptiness within his Golden Core, accompanied by a force that seemed to be pulling his Divine Soul out from his Sea of Consciousness.

It was at this moment that the third split soul turned into a streak of light, rushing into his Dantian ahead of everything else and merging with the Golden Core as one.

The feeling of emptiness vanished instantly, and Yuan Ming's Golden Core began further transformations.

Above Yuan Ming's head, bunches of spirit light twinkled like stars, filling every space within the mist.

The spirit light converged rapidly, and within the span of two breaths, it formed a swath of five-colored radiance, its edges disappearing into the mist and stretching to the unknown.

It seemed as if even the air inside the Stealing Heaven Tripod had solidified; countless spirit lights gathered, completely submerging Yuan Ming's body. Streams of nature's spiritual energy entered his body, assaulting the Golden Core in his Dantian.

Thus, a month passed by.

By this point, Yuan Ming's Golden Core had completely turned into a crystal-clear, translucent color, through which one could see a small figure sitting cross-legged inside, bearing the likeness of an infant but with a face identical to Yuan Ming's.

Perhaps sensing the change in his Golden Core, a thrill of excitement surged in his heart, prompting him to continue channeling nature's spiritual energy to strike his core.

At that moment, the converging spiritual energy suddenly burst forth with two rays, one gold and one silver, exuding utmost Yin and Yang auras, as if two bolts of lightning had struck his Golden Core.

"Pfft."

Yuan Ming spat out a mouthful of blood, and suddenly, a crack appeared on his crystal-like Golden Core, and his aura weakened all at once.

Within his body, tiny golden lights flashed and jumped about relentlessly, wreaking havoc on his flesh.

His Divine Soul also trembled violently, with countless silver lights flickering within it, almost on the verge of collapse.

"What's happening?" Yuan Ming could hardly bear it and swiftly invoked the Shura Blood Devouring Map. A dense Qi-Blood Power instantly poured into his body from it, repairing his damaged organs.

That was the last of his Pure Blood Origin Power that he had reserved especially for his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage.

Pure Will Power also emanated from within the White Jade Lotus Platform, mending the damage in his Divine Soul.

However, the sudden turn of events didn't give him a chance to catch his breath. Within just a few moments, another eight strands of gold and silver light descended in succession, leaving Yuan Ming's body as withered as dried wood, his Divine Soul trembling, his life force precarious.

"Do not panic; this is the challenge of the Yin Yang Power for you! You possess the Seven Spirit Root Physique, making your advancement to Nascent Soul more difficult than mine, but once you succeed in forming your Nascent Soul, your Divine Skills will be even more formidable," Xi Ying's voice came.

Yuan Ming took a deep breath, exerted all his strength to rotate the Nine Elements Technique and the Moonlight Technique, and struggled to stabilize his body and Divine Soul.

If he could just endure it, his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul would be almost certain.

Yet the consecutive nine strikes of Yin Yang Power had so severely damaged his body and Divine Soul that, had his foundations not been relatively solid and his Divine Soul supported by Will Power, he might have already collapsed with serious injuries.

Just then, the Undying Tree behind Yuan Ming suddenly trembled, emanating a unique vitality unique to the Undying Tree.

As a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Seed, this vitality was effective for injuries to both body and Divine Soul. Yuan Ming's condition finally began to improve.

His Divine Soul quickly stabilized, and an exceptionally rich vitality emerged throughout his tattered body, swiftly mending his wounds.

"Good!" Yuan Ming rejoiced as a multicolored elixir that had already been taken out floated up and directly entered his mouth.

The time had come for the Five Elements Infant Condensing Pill refined by Xi Ying to show its effect.

As the pill entered his stomach, it immediately transformed into multicolored spirit light that surged into his Dantian, enveloping the crystal-like Golden Core and rapidly shrinking, fusing with the Golden Core.

When the multicolored spirit light disappeared, the Nascent Soul inside the Golden Core was as lifelike as if it were real, while the shell of the Golden Core was covered in cracks.

Radiant vermilion, green, blue, red, and yellow light rose from Yuan Ming's body, intermixed with gold and silver lights, immersing him in their depths.

The nature's spiritual energy within the space of the Stealing Heaven Tripod converged, forming a massive Spiritual Energy Vortex, thunderously spinning, presenting even greater mystical phenomena than when Xi Ying had broken through.

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