This change was not obvious, but Ye Zhong and the others always had a strange feeling, as if Xiao Yan before them was more dazzling than before his seclusion. The Little Healer Immortal and the Heavenly Fire Venerable were also slightly stunned by this sight; the former remained calm, while the latter appeared to be deep in thought…
Xiao Yan stepped out of the Alchemy Room. Seeing so many people at the entrance, he felt a bit surprised. He shook his head helplessly and said, “Elder Ye Zhong, there’s no need to be so formal.”
“Haha…”
At these words, Ye Zhong woke up from his daze and smiled, waving some of the clan members away. He came closer and said, “Mr. Xiao Yan, we will set off for Holy Dan City tomorrow. Are you prepared?”
Xiao Yan nodded. He hadn’t expected that the time would pass so quickly during his seclusion; it was nearly a month.
“Mr. Xiao Yan, are you alright?” Ye Zhong glanced at Xiao Yan. Being so close to Xiao Yan, he seemed to feel a faint pressure, as if it originated from the depths of one’s soul, making it hard to resist.
Xiao Yan seemed puzzled by Ye Zhong’s question, frowning, “What could possibly be wrong with me?”
It seemed like he was unaware of the subtle changes that had occurred within him. Seeing Xiao Yan’s confused expression, Ye Zhong was somewhat surprised, wondering if it was just an illusion.
“It’s not your illusion. It seems that this fellow’s soul strength has improved during this period of seclusion,” the Heavenly Fire Venerable finally turned his gaze away from Xiao Yan and said with a smile.
“Soul strength?” Hearing this, Xiao Yan was taken aback, then he stroked his chin and pondered, “Speaking of this, I did indeed feel that alchemy was much easier than before, and my control over the flames is more refined. But isn’t soul strength only enhanced when one’s rank increases? My current strength is still at the level of a four-star Battle Sect, just a bit more stable than when I first advanced….”
The Heavenly Fire Venerable gave Xiao Yan a strange look and, after a moment, raised an eyebrow. “It seems your teacher hasn’t told you about matters related to soul strength. This is normal. For something as mysterious as the soul, ordinary people can only adapt to its changes, and even controlling it is impossible. In the past, you only knew how to manipulate soul strength but didn’t understand it very well….”
Hearing the Heavenly Fire Venerable’s words, both Xiao Yan and Ye Zhong fell into deep thought. The former was completely at a loss, while the latter frowned slightly. He seemed to have seen such theories in some ancient books of his clan.
“Soul strength doesn’t have levels, but it does have different realms….” The Heavenly Fire Venerable said with a faint smile, “Of course, such talk is rarely heard nowadays because even some strong practitioners might never touch on this realm of the soul. Do you know why many alchemists remain at the seventh grade their entire lives? It’s because of the soul realm….”
“Soul realm…” Xiao Yan frowned deeply. He had never heard of such a thing. The soul is the foundation of all living beings. Without a soul, there is nothing. If the soul doesn’t perish, there’s a glimmer of hope. Anyone would maintain a certain reverence for such a mystical object.
Xiao Yan knew his soul strength was not weak, but he knew very little about it. When Master Yao Lao was captured, Xiao Yan was only a fifth-grade alchemist and had no qualification to touch the soul realm. This lack of guidance led to him being unaware of many aspects of top-tier alchemists, including the so-called soul realm.
“Only some alchemy masters at the eighth grade or above, and some ancient books, mention what I’m talking about now…. If it weren’t for the fact that I’m not from this era, I wouldn’t be able to give you such answers.”
“The soul realm has four layers: the Profane Realm, the Spirit Realm, the Heaven Realm, and the Emperor Realm. Most people, and even alchemists below the eighth grade, are at the Profane Realm, with varying degrees of soul strength. You used to be at this level, but stronger than most…. Some seventh-grade alchemists, if fortunate, might faintly touch the Spirit Realm. At this level, they can endow elixirs with spirit, which is crucial for most eighth-grade elixirs. Normal alchemists, regardless of how skilled, cannot make eighth-grade elixirs without infusing them with spirit….”
“The Heaven Realm, you should understand. Ninth-grade elixirs have wisdom akin to humans, which is almost creating a new life. This life needs not only spirit but also the power of heaven and earth. To achieve this, one must reach the Heaven Realm, a level that very few on the continent can reach….”
“As for the Emperor Realm, it exists in legend. I’ve only heard of it, but it’s related to the Emperor-grade elixir, which is connected to the legendary Battle King….”
“But this realm, no one knows how many people have reached it….”
As he spoke, there was a trace of regret in the Heavenly Fire Venerable’s voice. However, Xiao Yan and the others were too stunned by his words to notice the regret. These so-called soul realms were only vaguely familiar to Ye Zhong, and even the Little Healer Immortal was confused, as she was a relatively new Dou Zun and couldn’t compare to the experience of the Heavenly Fire Venerable.
“I seem to have seen these concepts in some ancient books, but not as detailed as Mr. Huo Lao. When I first read them, I thought they were nonsense and paid them no attention… Our Ye family ancestors were eighth-grade alchemists, but they left no information related to the soul realm….”
“Even if some alchemists break through by chance, they may be utterly confused….” The Heavenly Fire Venerable glanced at Xiao Yan. “You had no qualifications to touch this before. I thought your teacher might have told you, but it seems I overthought it….”
Xiao Yan sighed, “When Master was captured by the Soul Palace, I was only a fifth-grade alchemist. How could I have touched such information….”
“Your soul realm is probably touching the Spirit Realm by chance. As for when you can fully enter it, that depends on your luck…. There are ancient legends of special cultivation methods called Soul Techniques, but they are now lost. Even I haven’t seen those so-called Soul Techniques….”
“Soul can be cultivated?” Hearing this, Xiao Yan exclaimed, finding it unbelievable. In the current world, soul strength could only improve with overall strength or by taking special natural treasures. Cultivating the soul independently was unheard of.
“I already said it was ancient…” The Heavenly Fire Venerable rolled his eyes.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan shook his head with a bitter smile. The idea of cultivating the soul was too unbelievable, and he didn’t feel much about the Spirit Realm. During his intense alchemy practice, his mind was always foggy, causing him to fail at the last moment several times. But now, looking back, he felt a bit off. Refining those seventh-grade high-grade elixirs seemed smoother than before.
“I need to find a chance to study this. To enter the eighth grade, comprehending the Spirit Realm is necessary….” Xiao Yan mused, the Heavenly Fire Venerable’s words opening a new world. Now he understood that the soul was key to advancing as an alchemist.
“No wonder there are many seventh-grade alchemists but few eighth-grade ones. Perhaps they don’t know about the soul realm…. If I could get a Soul Technique, it would be perfect. With it, ascending the soul realm would be easier, but it’s lost….”
Xiao Yan felt regretful. The loss of these Soul Techniques might be the reason why it was so difficult for alchemists to reach the eighth grade.
“I wonder if the Dan Tower has any Soul Techniques. Being the holy land for alchemists, it must have something unique. Sigh, I hope to find some information about Soul Techniques in Holy Dan City. Who knows when this elusive feeling will appear again….” Xiao Yan was determined. This trip to Holy Dan City was crucial, and finding Soul Techniques was a priority!
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