Chapter 756: Breakthrough Failure

The process of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage was exceptionally slow.

It consumed even more time than Foundation Establishment or Core Formation.

This was perfectly normal.

Cultivation was a journey where each realm was a chasm.

The difficulties and obstacles one faced increased exponentially with every realm crossed.

And the difficulty of breaking through from Core Formation to Nascent Soul was countless times higher than breaking through from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, or from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation! “Boom! Boom! Boom!!!”

As the vortex of spiritual energy roared, Lu Changsheng felt the spiritual energy of Moonmelt Isle being affected, and even the spiritual veins began to tremble.

“Is this True Person Jing Qing attempting to break through to a Terrestrial Nascent Soul?”

Nascent Soul was divided into Human, Terrestrial, and Celestial paths.

A Human Nascent Soul was simply a normal breakthrough—shattering the core to form the infant.

A Terrestrial Nascent Soul required drawing upon the earth vein energy of a Fourth-Rank spiritual vein during the breakthrough process to temper the physical body, magical energy, soul, and meridians, thus completing the shattering of the core to form the infant.

The trembling of the spiritual veins now was most likely due to True Person Jing Qing drawing upon a large amount of earth vein energy.

Golden runes flickered in Lu Changsheng’s eyes as he tried to assess the condition of the Divine Maiden Palace’s spiritual veins.

However, the Divine Maiden Palace’s mountain protection array was currently active, sealing off the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Unless his pupil technique or Dragon Seeking Skill advanced further, it would be difficult to see through the reality.

“Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!!!”

As the trembling of the spiritual veins grew more violent, Lu Changsheng suddenly felt a profound and mysterious heavenly and earthly spiritual energy surge from the spiritual energy tide vortex above the Divine Maiden Palace.

It was as if a vague silhouette of a Daoist appeared.

“This is… the core shattering and the infant emerging?!”

Lu Changsheng activated his Fiery Eyes of Truth, carefully examining the silhouette and the heavenly and earthly energy. He knew this was the core shattering and the Nascent Soul emerging! Breaking through from Core Formation to Nascent Soul had three minor and three major hurdles.

The three minor hurdles were the physical body, magical energy, and spiritual consciousness.

The three major hurdles were shattering the core to form the infant, the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation, and the Heart Demon Tribulation!

Judging from the Nascent Soul energy above the Divine Maiden Palace, Lu Changsheng realized that Elder Jing Qing had passed the three minor hurdles of the Nascent Soul and completed the first major hurdle—shattering the core and the infant emerging! “Elder Jing Qing is known as one of the most promising Nascent Soul cultivators on Penglai Island. Daring to attempt a Terrestrial Nascent Soul, he is indeed extraordinary and possesses a deep foundation. Even if his Golden Core isn’t Immortal, it’s at least a Second-Grade Golden Core, and his preparations are ample!”

Lu Changsheng praised in his heart.

Being able to reach this step already surpassed many Core Formation cultivators.

Next, as long as he stabilized the nascent Nascent Soul and completely formed the infant, and then passed the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation and the Heart Demon Tribulation, he would successfully advance to the Nascent Soul stage!

However, from this step onward, the Nascent Soul would be irreversible—there was no turning back!

If problems arose during the three minor hurdles of essence, qi, and spirit, or even during the step of shattering the core to form the infant, the cultivator still had a chance to save their life and even maintain their cultivation.

But once the core was shattered and the infant formed, and one began to face the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation and the Heart Demon Tribulation, there was no retreat.

Once failed, it meant death and the dissipation of the Dao!

Wanting the Nascent Soul to revert to a core was almost impossible!

“Elder Jing Qing shattered his core and formed the infant extremely smoothly, his preparations were thorough. He now has at least a fifty percent chance of breaking through to Nascent Soul!”

At the same time, on Divine Maiden Peak, Shen Baishuang, who was watching True Person Jing Qing’s breakthrough, looked at this scene with delight.

True Person Jing Qing was a direct lineage cultivator of the Divine Maiden Palace.

If he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, it would definitely be a great joyous event for the Divine Maiden Palace.

However, thinking of Elder Jing Qing’s admiration for her little sister and his previous statement that he would propose marriage to Shen Yiren once he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage…

Now there was also Elder Xuanmu in the palace.

This Elder Xuanmu also held affection for her little sister.

If he saw Elder Jing Qing proposing to her little sister, would he feel disheartened and choose to leave the Divine Maiden Palace? “Little sister, Elder Jing Qing once said that he would propose marriage to you once he broke through to Nascent Soul. Do you plan to accept or refuse when the time comes?”

Shen Baishuang looked at the graceful young woman in a cyan dress standing beside her sister Shen Jianjia, her appearance beautiful and refined, and said with a teasing smile.

“Second Sister, don’t joke around.”

Shen Yiren said softly, naturally aware of Elder Jing Qing’s admiration for her.

However, in her opinion, their personalities didn’t quite match.

The process of interacting with him was not as comfortable and natural as it was with Elder Xuanmu.

“Hehe.”

With her sister Shen Jianjia by her side, Shen Baishuang didn’t tease her further, only smiling faintly before continuing to look at the Nascent Soul celestial phenomena not far away.

“Tzzzz—”

As Elder Jing Qing completed the shattering of his core to form the infant, dark tribulation clouds rapidly gathered in the sky, with lightning rolling and surging.

For a time, all the cultivators in the entire Divine Maiden Palace, even on Penglai Island, couldn’t help but look up at the might of the tribulation clouds, a feeling of fear and anticipation welling up in their hearts.

Lu Changsheng looked at the tribulation clouds in the sky and shook his head slightly.

This Elder Jing Qing’s heavenly tribulation, not to mention compared to the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale’s Fourth-Rank Heavenly Tribulation, was even slightly inferior to his own body refinement heavenly tribulation.

However, the lightning tribulation was still brewing.

As Elder Jing Qing’s Nascent Soul spirit body gestated, its power slowly increased.

Only when his Nascent Soul was completely formed and the magical energy in his body began to transform into Nascent Soul magical energy did the heavenly tribulation descend with a roar.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!!!”

The Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation tore through the sky, echoing throughout heaven and earth.

Even with the array’s barrier and isolation, Lu Changsheng could still see a rough outline.

One wave! Two waves!

Three waves!

The nine layers of the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation were stronger with each wave, as if they were going to destroy the world.

Due to the array’s isolation, Lu Changsheng only knew that Elder Jing Qing had passed the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation but was unclear about his aura and condition.

“Only the Heart Demon Tribulation remains.”

“As a Nascent Soul-level power, the Divine Maiden Palace must have prepared Heart Tribulation related Nascent Soul Spirit Items for Elder Jing Qing. It seems his advancement to Nascent Soul is already assured.”

Although the Heart Demon Tribulation was extremely dangerous, even more difficult than the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation…

As long as one possessed a pill like the [Demon Breaking Life Saving Pill], the power of the heart demon could be weakened by a significant margin.

Moreover, this person could reach this stage and attempt a Terrestrial Nascent Soul, so his state of mind was beyond doubt.

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh—”

The wind of heaven and earth swept through, and the lightning arcs in the tribulation clouds disappeared.

In their place, a vortex like a pitch-black abyss appeared, like a demonic eye overlooking the Divine Maiden Palace.

Lu Changsheng could see that this Elder Jing Qing’s Heavenly Lightning Tribulation was far inferior to the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale’s, but his Heart Demon Tribulation was much stronger.

However, the Heart Demon Tribulation was unlike the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation. Apart from the person undergoing the tribulation, no one else could see the situation.

Time passed little by little.

“The longer the Heart Demon Tribulation drags on, the lower the probability of passing. Could it be that this True Person Jing Qing is going to fail the Heart Demon Tribulation?”

Ten days later, Lu Changsheng looked at the Heart Demon Tribulation clouds still in the sky above the Divine Maiden Palace and couldn’t help but ponder.

Back then, the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale only took half a day to pass its Heart Demon Tribulation.

Although the Heart Demon Tribulation for demon beasts was simpler, this difference was too great.

“Why hasn’t Elder Jing Qing passed the Heart Demon Tribulation after ten days…”

On Divine Maiden Peak, Shen Baishuang looked at the dark tribulation clouds in the sky, her expression somewhat solemn and unsightly.

Not only her, but also Shen Jianjia and Shen Yiren beside her had solemn expressions filled with worry.

According to the experience of cultivators breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, if the Heart Demon Tribulation exceeded seven days, it would be somewhat dangerous.

If it exceeded ten days, it was mostly a sign of impending doom. At this moment, the entire Divine Maiden Palace seemed to be shrouded in a cloud of depression and sorrow.

Another five days passed, and the enormous tribulation clouds above the Divine Maiden Palace suddenly roared and began to dissipate, restoring the clear blue sky.

However, this clear sky cast an even heavier and more depressing cloud over all the cultivators of the Divine Maiden Palace!

“Failed.”

“Elder Jing Qing’s breakthrough has failed.”

“Alas.”

Many Divine Maiden Palace cultivators sighed, their faces filled with grief.

And the cultivators of Penglai Island, seeing this scene, some sighed, some were sad, and some were happy, breathing a long sigh of relief.

After all, the Divine Maiden Palace already had two Nascent Soul cultivators.

If there was another True Lord Jing Qing, the entire Penglai Island would become a place where they could dictate everything.

“How could this be? Elder Jing Qing was well-prepared for this Nascent Soul breakthrough, he had the [Spring Thunder Crossing Calamity Pill] and the [Sea Coral Spirit Incense]! How could he still fail at the Heart Demon Tribulation stage!”

Shen Baishuang saw Elder Jing Qing’s failure to break through to Nascent Soul and clenched her jade hands tightly, her beautiful eyes filled with unwillingness.

A direct lineage like True Person Jing Qing attempting to break through to Nascent Soul was not just his own affair, it concerned the entire Divine Maiden Palace.

In order to allow him to break through to Nascent Soul as much as possible, the Divine Maiden Palace had spared no expense.

Not only had they prepared a [Nine-Turns Spirit Pill] for him, but they had also requested the Pill Alliance to refine a [Spring Thunder Crossing Calamity Pill].

“Elder Jing Qing attempted a Terrestrial Nascent Soul and also suffered excessive consumption during the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation, his injuries were too severe, leading to the invasion of heart demons and failure to overcome the tribulation.”

Shen Jianjia said, sighing deeply, her expression weary.

Whether True Person Jing Qing broke through to Nascent Soul or not was extremely important to the Divine Maiden Palace, concerning many of her future arrangements. Great hopes were placed on him.

Now that the latter had failed to break through, her planned arrangements were disrupted.

“Severe injuries… heart demon invasion.”

Shen Baishuang was still very unwilling.

She thought they had made foolproof plans, but she didn’t expect Elder Jing Qing to fail at this stage.

After all, being able to cultivate to this level, whether in terms of talent, ability, or temperament, his state of mind was beyond doubt.

However, apart from the person undergoing the tribulation, no one else knew what they experienced during the Heart Demon Tribulation or why they failed.

Shen Yiren beside her was also affected by True Person Jing Qing’s failure to break through to Nascent Soul, her emotions were low.

Although she didn’t have any romantic feelings for the latter, they had known each other for over a hundred years and had quite a bit of friendship.

Moreover, over the past century, True Person Jing Qing had made many contributions to the Divine Maiden Palace. His failure to break through to Nascent Soul also meant a loss of a top-tier combat force for the Divine Maiden Palace.

The next day, the news of True Person Jing Qing’s failure to break through to Nascent Soul and his subsequent death and dissipation spread quietly within the Divine Maiden Palace.

Although the Divine Maiden Palace chose to handle it in a low-key manner, trying to calm things down as much as possible, it was still discussed by many.

On one hand, True Person Jing Qing was quite prestigious within the Divine Maiden Palace.

He was regarded as one of the most promising cultivators on Penglai Island to break through to Nascent Soul.

On the other hand, there were people secretly adding fuel to the fire, wanting to take this opportunity to undermine the prestige of the Divine Maiden Palace.

After all, failing to break through to Nascent Soul not only meant that the Divine Maiden Palace’s massive investment of resources had gone down the drain, but they had also lost a top-tier Core Formation cultivator.

In situations where Nascent Soul True Lords didn’t easily make a move, these top-tier Core Formation cultivators were the main combat power that determined the balance of power.

Several days later, Shen Baishuang came to Moonmelt Isle to pay a visit, stating that although Elder Jing Qing’s Nascent Soul breakthrough had failed, the Divine Maiden Palace still had sufficient Nascent Soul resources.

As long as Lu Changsheng performed well, he could have priority access to Nascent Soul resources in the future.

Then, she subtly hinted that her younger sister, Shen Yiren, was not in a good mood recently and that Lu Changsheng could go and comfort her.

…

Lu Changsheng understood the Second Palace Master’s intentions of trying to win him over, implying that he should interact more with Shen Yiren.

He thought that this Second Palace Master was determined to bring him and the Third Palace Master together, thereby binding him to the Divine Maiden Palace.

Although Lu Changsheng had a good impression of the beautiful and kind-hearted Third Palace Master…

He only wanted to lie low until the ominous hexagram dissipated, then return to the Jiang Kingdom to see his wives, concubines, and children, and prepare for his own Nascent Soul breakthrough.

“Alright.”

Lu Changsheng verbally agreed, then somewhat curiously inquired about True Person Jing Qing’s breakthrough and why he had failed the tribulation.

Shen Baishuang didn’t hide anything, telling Lu Changsheng that True Person Jing Qing’s injuries were too severe when facing the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation, leading to physical and mental exhaustion and the invasion of heart demons.

“His injuries were too severe…”

Lu Changsheng understood and couldn’t help but feel sorry for True Person Jing Qing.

However, breaking through from Core Formation to Nascent Soul was just like this – a slight mistake would lead to eternal damnation.

“Elder Xuanmu should make thorough preparations when you attempt your Nascent Soul breakthrough in the future.”

Shen Baishuang also instructed Lu Changsheng a few times, lest he be affected by True Person Jing Qing’s failure to break through to Nascent Soul and have his state of mind compromised.

“Thank you for the reminder, Second Palace Master.”

Lu Changsheng cupped his hands in acknowledgment, his expression solemn.

After Shen Baishuang left, Lu Changsheng shook his head and sighed again: “Alas, Core Formation cultivators have a lifespan of five hundred years, yet they face death and dissipation in pursuit of the Nascent Soul, turning into ashes. It is truly lamentable and sigh-worthy.”

Song Yudies had once told him that this Elder Jing Qing admired the Third Palace Master and would propose marriage to Shen Yiren once he broke through to Nascent Soul.

But he hadn’t even met this Elder Jing Qing, and the latter had already died under the Nascent Soul tribulation.

Thinking that he would also face the Nascent Soul tribulation soon, Lu Changsheng felt particularly sentimental.

“If this True Person Jing Qing had chosen the Human Nascent Soul, he might have succeeded in his breakthrough.”

Although the foundation and background of a Terrestrial or Celestial Nascent Soul were more substantial after a successful breakthrough…

These only began to manifest gradually after the breakthrough and the realm was stabilized.

However, the dangers of attempting a Terrestrial or Celestial Nascent Soul directly manifested during the process of shattering the core to form the infant and undergoing the tribulation.

“However, those who dare to attempt the Nascent Soul stage, apart from a very few desperate cultivators, who isn’t arrogant and confident in themselves? Being capable of attempting a Terrestrial Nascent Soul, why would they choose a Human Nascent Soul?”

“Just like True Lord Mingsha back then, surrounded by enemies on all sides, the safety of the entire sect resting on his shoulders, yet he still chose a Terrestrial Nascent Soul.”

Lu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back, muttering in his heart, understanding the mindset of cultivators like True Person Jing Qing very well.

Just like himself.

If he wanted to break through to Nascent Soul, he could do so at any time.

But what he sought was greater than what all other cultivators dared to dream of.

Not only did he want to attempt the Celestial Nascent Soul that countless cultivators wouldn’t even dare to imagine, but he also wanted to see if there was a level above the Celestial Nascent Soul! Although Lu Changsheng was not as eager to win over the Third Palace Master as before…

At Shen Baishuang’s request, he still took the initiative to visit.

Shen Yiren was in a bad mood, her emotions were low. Besides feeling heavy-hearted about True Person Jing Qing’s tribulation failure, death, and dissipation, she also had a sense of shared sorrow.

Her cultivation had reached the peak of the Core Formation stage long ago.

In recent years, she had been accumulating her foundation, waiting for the right opportunity to attempt a Nascent Soul breakthrough.

Now, seeing a cultivator more outstanding than herself fail his Nascent Soul breakthrough, she was inevitably affected.

“Third Palace Master.”

Lu Changsheng spoke to comfort her, saying that seeing Elder Jing Qing’s failure to break through to Nascent Soul had also filled him with many feelings.

But to hear the Dao in the morning, and die in the evening, is enough. You and I should take Elder Jing Qing as a lesson, understand our own nature, and make thorough preparations.

Their cultivation levels were similar, and they both practiced the “health preservation technique,” so they had many common topics of conversation. During their chat, Shen Yiren felt a strange resonance from Lu Changsheng.

“Third Palace Master, although Elder Jing Qing has experienced much hardship and his Dao heart is firm, it is precisely because he has experienced too much that his mind may have too many flaws, making him susceptible to heart demon invasion.”

“In my opinion, Third Palace Master, your heart is like that of a child, unstained by worldly dust. You always maintain a contented and joyful state of mind and treat everything with purity and peace. Even without experiencing too much hardship, with such an open and pure mindset, you can easily pass the Heart Demon Tribulation.”

Lu Changsheng said with a smile.

Although these words were partly for comfort, they were not entirely untrue.

According to Hong Lian, the Heart Demon Tribulation was strange and unpredictable, and it needed to be determined based on each individual’s situation.

But it was by no means the case that the more hardships one experienced, the more certain they could pass. Many times, cultivators with a pure and unworldly heart could easily and smoothly pass this tribulation and break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Just like the Heart Demon Tribulation faced by demon beasts during their transformation tribulation. “How is it that everything becomes a benefit or advantage in Fellow Daoist Xuanmu’s words? Yet, listening to you, it seems to make sense.”

Shen Yiren said with a gentle smile after hearing Lu Changsheng’s words, her mood much calmer. She felt that there were many things about the refined man before her that were worth learning from.

“Third Palace Master, you flatter me. Many things have their good and bad sides, it just depends on the perspective.”

Lu Changsheng said with a light smile, his expression gentle and his attitude scholarly and approachable.

After chatting for a long time, Lu Changsheng invited Shen Yiren to enjoy the scenery on Penglai Island together, saying it would improve her mood.

Immediately, the two of them walked out of the palace. They strolled among the clouds, like close friends, chatting happily.

During this process, besides discussing cultivation with Lu Changsheng, Shen Yiren also gradually learned about his situation, even his views and perceptions.

She didn’t know it before, but after talking, she discovered that not only in cultivation but also in their views and perceptions, they were very similar, having a feeling of meeting each other too late.