He also felt he hadn't seized the opportunity well enough, chiding himself for being so useless.
Seeing her state, Lin Tang withdrew his Nascent Soul back into his Dantian. As it passed through him, the injuries in his ridians, flesh, and bones were all perfectly healed. His body revitalized, he hugged Ning Yuexi tightly and comforted her with a smile, "Actually, it's not bad. Fortunately, you have the Luli Pure Body, which could barely withstand the massive infusion of my True Qi. If it were any other female Cultivator, forget about a breakthrough; she probably would have burst and died long ago."
"Is that so?" Ning Yuexi felt a bit better. "Would it be very dangerous for Shen Youling to engage in Dual Cultivation with you?"
Lin Tang shook his head. "Her physique is also very special; she might be able to withstand it. Even if she couldn't, her body would automatically expel the excess energy. She wouldn't be as foolish as you, continuing to take it in even when you couldn't handle any more."
"Who's foolish? Many of those things were involuntary! I couldn't control them!" Ning Yuexi retorted with a coquettish, embarrassed pout.
Lin Tang was in a great mood, and seeing her like this, he started getting other ideas. Just as he was about to enjoy so after-dinner dessert, Ning Yuexi felt the change in his body and quickly said, "We've been in here for far too long. Let's stop. There are so many people waiting for us outside."
"We're practically an old married couple, what's there to be shy about? And why should we care what those nobodies outside think?" Lin Tang said, montarily speechless. But since she was unwilling, he had to respect her wishes.
So, the two of them cleaned up and changed their clothes. Feeling fresh and revitalized, they walked out hand in hand. Of course, by now, Lin Tang had changed his appearance back to that of Long Tianji.
SWISH!
A torrent of gazes instantly focused on them. Ning Yuexi grew even more embarrassed, feeling so mortified she could die.
"Congratulations to State Preceptor Long on successfully breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage! We pay our respects to you, Senior!" the Head Diviner said first, his tone complicated as he bowed deeply.
The others followed suit. "We pay our respects to you, Senior!"
The Young Diviner was silent, her body rigid and her silver teeth clenched. After a few tense seconds, she too had no choice but to lower her proud head and pay her respects. "I... I pay my respects to you, Senior!"
Lin Tang glanced at her but couldn't be bothered with such a small fry he could blow away with a single breath. I'm a Nascent Soul powerhouse now. I have to maintain my status!
At this mont, even the Mysterious Maiden materialized her entire body, instead of appearing as just a large face like before. Dressed in a gorgeous palace gown, she moved with the elegant grace of soone stepping on lotuses. After appearing, she gave Lin Tang a formal salute. "The Mysterious Maiden greets you, Fellow Daoist."
Lin Tang was surprised. "Just by reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, I can be considered your equal?"
After all, if an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator were to fight a veteran Human Immortal, the Human Immortal would have a greater chance of victory. And the Mysterious Maiden was an Earth Immortal, a full level higher than a Human Immortal.
The Mysterious Maiden smiled faintly, speaking softly. "In the ancient era, when cultivation thrived, of course not. But in this age, for a mortal to reach the Nascent Soul Stage is a miracle of miracles. It must be viewed differently."
Of course, the main reason is that in my special, not-fully-revived state, I couldn't do anything to him while he's protected by the nation's fate. Turning an enemy into a friend and placating him by calling him 'Fellow Daoist' costs nothing. Still, I have to admit, the miracle he's created is genuinely impressive. If it were , I would have had to choose the path of a Ghost Immortal and hope for a successful reincarnation. If I had walked the pure path of cultivation, even with my vast experience and knowledge of countless Cultivation Techniques and secret techniques, I would have had no hope of breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage. It's simply too difficult. Otherwise, why would I have chosen the other path focused on martial arts?
Seeing her courteous attitude, Lin Tang beca even more relaxed. He even brazenly scrutinized her from head to toe before comnting, "Why do I get the feeling your figure is a lot better than your statue's? If you don't believe , go look at it. It's carved so flat you can't even tell the front from the back. Whoever sculpted that had terrible craftsmanship!"
The Mysterious Maiden, the Head Diviner, and everyone else were speechless.
The Mysterious Maiden's face darkened, her heart filled with a rage she couldn't vent. "Heh, you jest, Fellow Daoist. If there's nothing else, please feel free to leave. I must return to my slumber."
With that, she began to disappear.
"Wait, I want to ask, how does one break through from Martial Saint to War God?"
"Fellow Daoist Long, since we are now equals, and I am neither your sect's Senior Sister nor your elder, I have no obligation to teach you. According to the unwritten rules of the Cultivation World, if you want sothing from , you must offer sothing of equal value in exchange," the Mysterious Maiden said, her tone indifferent.
"Ah, this..." Lin Tang was speechless. What was he? A complete pauper. His collection of Magic Artifacts was all from looting people, and the Mysterious Maiden had been his biggest victim. What could he possibly possess that would be presentable before her?
"Ahem, in the unwritten rules of the Cultivation World, shouldn't there also be one for when a Cultivator achieves a major breakthrough? As a fellow Daoist, shouldn't you offer so congratulatory gifts?" Lin Tang shot back.
The Mysterious Maiden froze. This bastard used my grounds for his breakthrough, absorbed a massive amount of my Spiritual Energy, and now he has the gall to ask ** for a gift? How can anyone be so shaless?
Fuming, the Mysterious Maiden had no choice but to offer so guidance. "The Heavenly King stage is about cultivating a tangible ttle. The Martial Saint stage is about comprehending the essence of one's own martial path. The War God stage is when that ttle transforms into a divine spirit. Since it contains the word 'divine,' it naturally has a connection to the power of faith and the path of gods."
"Are you telling to start a religion and have masses of believers worship ?" Lin Tang frowned. He didn't like the sound of that at all.
"Not at all," the Mysterious Maiden shook her head and continued her guidance. "It's not about believers, but disciples. First, you must take the martial essence you have comprehended as the core, simplify it, and create one or several new martial arts Cultivation Techniques. Then, you must recruit disciples far and wide and teach them to cultivate these arts. As more and more disciples begin their practice, and as so reach deeper levels of cultivation, a mysterious resonance will occur. This will aid you, the Martial Saint, in forging a divine spirit and stepping into the War God realm."
"So that's how it is!" Lin Tang had a sudden epiphany. He never imagined it would be so complicated. "No wonder War Gods like the Sovereign of Langhuan and the Sovereign of Fusheng command such vast forces and have so many subordinates. It turns out that cultivating alone in solitude is not enough! You have to gather the power of the masses!"
I used to think of the Heavenly chanism Martial Alliance as sothing I could take or leave. Now it seems I'll have to manage it properly. As for creating a new Cultivation Technique... Lin Tang pondered silently as inspiration began to strike.
Seeing that he looked ready to enter another seclusion right then and there, the Mysterious Maiden quickly interrupted his thoughts and issued another eviction notice. This god of plague... why is he so hard to send away?
"So you don't welco , huh? Fine, I'm leaving!" Lin Tang pouted and glanced at Ning Yuexi, a silent question in his eyes.
"Hmm?" The Mysterious Maiden was once again caught in a dilemma. If Long Tianji insists on taking Ning Yuexi away, what should I do? Let him? Or disregard the consequences, fully revive, and have a complete fallout? If I wanted to do that, I should have done it before his breakthrough. It's too late now... it's just not worth it!
Ning Yuexi just smiled faintly and once again shook her head.
"Alright then." Lin Tang shrugged. "Farewell!"
He soared into the sky, but after a mont's thought, he didn't summon the Yin Yang Mirror. Instead, he tried to rely on his own power to manipulate and tear open space. As a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, he was beginning to comprehend the dao of space. The transmission platforms he had once obtained, which allowed for spatial travel, were precisely the kind of object crafted by a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.
SWOOSH!
Space was forcibly torn... into a tiny slit. But this was the result of a single, casual wave of his hand! Back when he was in the late Golden Core Stage, before he knew the Yin Yang Mirror could help, he had to use every ounce of his strength just to sneak into the Yaochi Heavenly Palace. Comparing that to this casual gesture, the difference was truly heaven and earth.
Lin Tang smiled with satisfaction and imdiately slipped into the spatial rift. The next mont, he appeared atop the summit of the earthly Mount Tian.
Mount Tian was a natural reserve with a pristine environnt and fresh air. However, to the newly minted Nascent Soul Cultivator, it was deeply uncomfortable.
It's so filthy... I can't feel a trace of Spiritual Energy. This world is truly a place of despair for a Cultivator! Lin Tang grimaced, feeling like an ordinary person suddenly thrown into the vacuum of space without any equipnt.
With a shift of the Nascent Soul within his Dantian, a thin film of True Qi ford over his skin, isolating him from the external "filth" and making him feel slightly better. Then, he began to fly. His speed was now many tis faster than during his Golden Core Stage, mainly because he could now use Space Power to forcefully teleport great distances as he flew, all without a hint of resistance.
Traveling this way, it only took him half an hour to arrive directly at Jiangbei.
"Xiaocai, I'm here. This ti, I will definitely wake you!"
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