Upstream of the boundless star river, the ceaseless river water flowed out from a dark forest. The current was swift, washing over the starry sky and shaking space. Countless whirlpools formed by the river water churned the void, creating massive star river vortexes. Even cultivators at the Divine Refining realm found it difficult to escape if caught, let alone venture into the star river.
Therefore, any cultivator who could traverse the upstream of this star river was at least a Nascent Soul realm powerhouse.
The dark forest stretched across the infinite expanse of space. Though called a forest, from afar, it resembled a colossal black hole, devouring the starlight. To the naked eye, it was a realm of chaos, where nothing could be seen clearly, requiring the use of divine sense for perception.
This was the source of this star river branch. Inside the dark forest, space was chaotic, and only the most elite Nascent Soul realm cultivators dared to enter in the entire star river battlefield.
On the outskirts of the dark forest, a group of Nascent Soul realm cultivators was gathered. They stood before a dilapidated ancient palace, their expressions still tinged with panic. Despite its ruinous appearance, the ancient palace contained immense danger, making these Marquis-level powerhouses' hearts palpitate.
"Let's go. This ancient temple is not something we can explore at our current level. If we could reach the peak of the Nascent Soul realm, perhaps we could try then," said a handsome man in a yellow robe and a golden crown.
Beside him stood a man exceeding five meters in height. His arms were like two massive ancient trees, muscles bulging like knots. He stood as a timeless, unyielding iron tower.
This man was a top powerhouse from the Zixiao Star Domain, Giant Peak True Immortal, whose body contained the rich bloodline of the ancient Giant Spirit race. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him was a prince from a mid-tier star domain, known as Carefree Prince.
Both Giant Peak True Immortal and Carefree Prince were eight-star Marquis level powerhouses. Behind them stood several other Marquis-level cultivators. Although the war base no longer required them to act in teams once they reached the seven-star Marquis level, many still chose to band together for greater safety when venturing into dangerous areas of the dark forest.
Hearing Carefree True Immortal's words, Giant Peak True Immortal sighed, "I fear by the time we return, the space here will have shifted, and finding it again won't be easy."
Carefree Prince, though unwilling, could only shake his head. He had sensed the aura of a Great Dao treasure from the dilapidated ancient temple, but the dark creatures breeding within were too terrifying. Even with all of them, a group of Nascent Soul realm cultivators, joining forces, they had only managed a hurried retreat. To force their way in would likely risk their lives.
"Hmm?"
A look of surprise suddenly appeared in Carefree Prince's eyes, making Giant Peak True Immortal curious. He asked, "What surprises you so?"
Carefree Prince smiled and said, "Do you know of Ten Absolutes True Immortal?"
Giant Peak True Immortal nodded. The immense head bore eyes like dragon eyes, and his voice was deep and resonant, "To comprehend the True Meaning of the Great Dao at the mid-stage of the Divine Refining realm is indeed remarkable. Perhaps within a thousand years, he will achieve what we have now."
"What? Are you very interested in this Ten Absolutes True Immortal? Do you wish to befriend him?" Giant Peak True Immortal was puzzled. Their own strength placed them among the elites in the Zixiao Star Domain, and their backgrounds were extraordinary. Why would Carefree Prince suddenly take interest in a Divine Refining realm cultivator?
Carefree Prince shook his head and chuckled, "That Ten Absolutes True Immortal not only possesses monstrous cultivation talent but has also achieved great success in alchemy. Not long ago, he refined over three thousand Nascent Soul Cultivation Pills in one go, with more than half of them successfully passing the pill tribulation."
Giant Peak True Immortal was somewhat taken aback. Nascent Soul Cultivation Pills were high-grade immortal pills, greatly beneficial for Nascent Soul realm cultivators. Although the military arsenal had a supply, they were scarce and quickly snatched up, making them difficult to acquire.
"Now, our Dao bodies are only one step away from perfection. With the aid of a large number of Nascent Soul Cultivation Pills, we might be able to fully materialize our physical bodies and reach the peak of the Nascent Soul realm within ten years," Carefree Prince said, looking at Giant Peak True Immortal.
Giant Peak True Immortal shook his head. "That Ten Absolutes True Immortal refining so many Nascent Soul Cultivation Pills is likely to help him break through to the Nascent Soul realm himself. It won't be easy to purchase them from him, and even if he's willing to sell, the price will likely be exorbitant."
"Moreover, more than ninety-nine percent of the rules of my Heaven-Breaking Dao have been refined into my physical body. Even without the aid of Nascent Soul Cultivation Pills, I am confident I can break through to the peak of the Nascent Soul realm within a hundred years. Why waste military merits?"
Carefree Prince turned to look at the dilapidated ancient temple, the divine light in his eyes exceptionally focused. "If it were any other time, we wouldn't need to rush. But finding such a peculiar ancient temple on the outskirts of the dark forest is not an easy feat. In a hundred years, who knows where it will drift off to."
Upon Carefree Prince's reminder, Giant Peak True Immortal finally understood. He pondered for a while and said, "If that's the case, then let's return to the war base immediately. However, I worry that Ten Absolutes True Immortal may not be willing to sell the Nascent Soul Cultivation Pills. That would be troublesome."
"Unwilling to sell?" Carefree Prince smiled. "That Ten Absolutes True Immortal is merely a cultivator who emerged from a barbaric star domain. Now that he's in the Zixiao Star Domain, some things are no longer a matter of his willingness."
...
The Nascent Soul stage is divided into three major realms: the Divine Spirit realm, the Divine Refining realm, and the Nascent Soul realm.
During the Divine Spirit realm, the primary focus is cultivating the rules of the Dao and the divine spirit. Only by cultivating one million Dao rules to mastery and possessing a sufficiently powerful divine spirit can one have a chance to enter the Divine Refining realm.
After reaching the Divine Refining realm, to advance further, one must smelt the divine spirit into the physical body, achieving complete unity between the body and spirit, while also comprehending a True Meaning of the Great Dao, to have a chance to enter the Nascent Soul realm.
As for the True Meaning of the Great Dao, Zhang Fan had already comprehended it. Therefore, for him now, there were no obstacles to breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, it was only a matter of time.
With the aid of a large number of Nascent Soul Cultivation Pills, Zhang Fan's aura climbed daily. In just a few months, he progressed from the mid-stage of the Divine Refining realm to the late-stage, a truly meteoric rise.
...