Chapter 357 - 343: Breakthrough, Nascent Soul Middle Stage

Chapter 357: Chapter 343: Breakthrough, Nascent Soul Middle Stage

’Could this be the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Dew recorded in the Rare Treasures Record?’

Zhang Chi recognized the treasure in the dewdrop with a single glance.

After confirming that the dewdrop had fully formed and stabilized, Zhang Chi raised his hand and made a beckoning gesture. The dewdrop immediately detached from the Heaven-Reaching Tree’s tender shoot and landed in his palm.

Without delay, he sat down cross-legged on the spot, swallowed the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Dew, and began its Refinement.

’After all, with something like aptitude, the sooner you improve it, the better.’

Besides, the Beast Tide could erupt at any moment. If he didn’t refine this Spirit Dew now, he might have to wait a very long time for another chance.

BOOM!

The Spirit Dew melted the moment it entered his mouth. His entire physical body, Divine Soul, Magical Power, and even his Nascent Soul were instantly nourished and began to transform.

First, the quality of his Nascent Soul rose by a whole level.

He had originally achieved Nascent Soul Formation from a Six Patterns Golden Core, but now it was as if he had done so with a Seven Patterns Golden Core.

This enhancement to his Nascent Soul not only strengthened his Magical Power and Divine Soul, increasing his Combat Power, but would also make his future Cultivation faster.

Second was his physical body.

His Body Refining Cultivation had already reached Tier Four Early Stage, and now it ascended another level, directly reaching Tier Four Middle Stage.

The moment he broke through, a tremendous pillar of vital energy and blood shot toward the heavens, piercing the clouds.

Fortunately, this place was remote enough that no one noticed the breakthrough. Otherwise, even the Divine Palace Envoys would have been alerted.

After all, a Tier Four Middle Stage Body Refining Cultivation was enough to be considered a prodigy, even within the Desert Divine Palace.

Several days passed before the phenomenal signs of his breakthrough finally dissipated.

At the same time, his physical defense and strength underwent a qualitative leap.

Even without using Magical Power, he was comparable to an average Nascent Soul Middle Stage expert.

Next was his Divine Soul. Although the strength of his Divine Thought remained the same, it was now noticeably more condensed.

It was like a sword changing from ordinary wood to solid metal—the improvement was immense.

Finally, there was his Cultivation.

Following the breakthroughs in his physical body, Divine Soul, and Nascent Soul, his Cultivation rose like a tide lifting all boats. It increased at a visible rate until it finally stopped at the very limit of the Nascent Soul Early Stage.

Only then was the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Dew completely absorbed.

’Good heavens, this Heaven-Reaching Spirit Dew seems even more miraculous than the Rare Treasures Record described!’

Zhang Chi opened his eyes, feeling the changes within himself, and was overjoyed.

The effects of the Spirit Dew had clearly exceeded his expectations.

But he wasn’t surprised.

After all, the moment the seed sprouted, it had triggered such a massive worldly phenomenon. Even now, the Spiritual Rain was still falling outside.

It would have been abnormal if the Spirit Dew’s effects *weren’t* this good.

Zhang Chi even suspected that the author of the Rare Treasures Record had most likely never seen or used Heaven-Reaching Spirit Dew, which was why their description was not entirely accurate.

’Originally, I would have needed nearly fifty more years of Cultivation to reach the limit of the Nascent Soul Early Stage. Even with an improved Physique, Divine Soul, and aptitude, it should have taken twenty or thirty years.’

’But now, I’ve saved several decades of effort. I’ll be able to face the coming Beast Tide with even greater certainty!’

With this in mind, Zhang Chi immediately prepared to break through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

His Nascent Soul was already of extremely high quality, and with the Tier Four Earth Milk Spirit Liquid to help with Breaking Realm, he wasn’t worried about encountering a Cultivation Barrier.

Not to mention, his aptitude had just been enhanced by the Spirit Dew.

’Huh? Did my Lifespan increase as well?’

But just then, he suddenly made a new discovery.

As a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he could already sense how much of his Lifespan he had remaining.

This was especially true since his Divine Soul was comparable to that of a Divinity Transformation expert.

At this moment, he sensed an anomaly. He realized that his Lifespan had increased by more than just a small amount.

He immediately focused his senses and confirmed that he was right.

He then took out a tortoise shell and performed a divination, and soon, he couldn’t help but grin with delight.

According to his calculations, his maximum Lifespan had astonishingly increased by a full eight hundred years.

In other words, while other Nascent Soul Cultivators had a maximum Lifespan of twelve hundred years (not counting Lifespan Extension Pills)...

...his, thanks to the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Dew, had reached a total of two thousand years.

’Excellent! Now, within my lifetime, I can definitely cultivate to the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm! Advancing to Divinity Transformation is no longer just a pipe dream!’

Zhang Chi was ecstatic.

From the moment he’d set foot on the path of Immortal Cultivation, he had been in a race against time.

After all, while his Lifespan was long, the time required for breakthroughs increased with each Realm, and sooner or later, it wouldn’t have been enough.

Only now could he finally breathe a small sigh of relief.

’It’s a pity this Heaven-Reaching Spirit Dew only produces one drop every ten thousand years. Otherwise, I’d never have to worry about my Lifespan again!’

Zhang Chi looked at the Heaven-Reaching Tree again, feeling a little regretful.

This time limit of one drop every ten thousand years was exactly what the Rare Treasures Record had stated.

Furthermore, while nurturing the seed, he had followed a Secret Technique from the Rare Treasures Record to establish a connection with the Heaven-Reaching Tree.

As a result, he was now the master of the Heaven-Reaching Tree and had a deeper understanding of it.

Based on his understanding, the ten-thousand-year interval was indeed correct.

’I shouldn’t think like that. To have obtained the Heaven-Reaching Tree and a drop of its Spirit Dew is already an immense stroke of fortune. What more could I be dissatisfied with?’

However, Zhang Chi quickly shook his head, feeling he was being a bit greedy. A smile returned to his face.

After that, Zhang Chi noticed that his Cultivation hadn’t become unstable from this rapid advancement. In fact, it was even more solid than before.

So, he immediately cast aside all distracting thoughts, swallowed some Earth Milk Spirit Liquid, and began his assault on the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

BOOM!

A huge pillar of Spiritual Light soon shot toward the sky. Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi surged in like a tide, and a powerful pressure spread out violently.

Zhang Chi’s Cultivation underwent an instantaneous qualitative leap, breaking through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage in one fell swoop.

The entire process was perfectly smooth and natural.

Several days later, the worldly phenomenon vanished. Zhang Chi had officially become a Nascent Soul Middle Stage expert.

"Hahaha..."

Zhang Chi examined his condition and, finding immense improvements in every aspect, couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

Over a hundred years after his Nascent Soul Formation, he had finally broken through.

The Nascent Soul Middle Stage might only seem one Realm higher than the Early Stage, but it was, in fact, a qualitative leap.

Normally, it would not be an exaggeration for an Early Stage cultivator to address a Middle Stage cultivator as "Senior."

Although their Lifespans were the same, the gap in their Combat Power was enormous.

In the Canglan Sect, for example, there were a little over two hundred Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivators, but only two at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage—both of whom were Supreme Elders. This showed just how difficult the breakthrough was, and how high the status of a Middle Stage cultivator was.

Moreover, because Zhang Chi had succeeded in Refining God, his Divine Thought was now comparable to that of a Divinity Transformation Middle Stage expert. Its coverage reached an exaggerated 200,000 zhang—a distance of 1,200 li.

Furthermore, Zhang Chi could now unleash even greater Mighty Power from his Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure Flying Sword without suffering such a severe backlash.

Based on his calculations, even if he activated the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure with his full power, it would at most cause his Cultivation to temporarily drop back to the Nascent Soul Early Stage.

Activating a Celestial Grade Spirit Treasure or a Top Grade Spirit Treasure would, at worst, just consume a bit more Spiritual Power.

As for the upcoming Beast Tide, while Zhang Chi wouldn’t let his guard down, he no longer felt the slightest bit of fear.

’I’m already three hundred and twenty-six years old, and I’ve been in this Endless Desert Sea for two hundred and twenty-one years. It’s time to start thinking of a way to find an Ancient Teleportation Array or something similar so I can return to the Great Abyss someday.’

At that moment, Zhang Chi quickly formulated his future plans.

Besides continuing to raise his Cultivation and reaching the Nascent Soul Late Stage here, he also had to find a way back home.

After all, while his Lifespan was now long, the old acquaintances he left behind couldn’t live forever. If he never went back, he might truly never see them again.

And, there were some old scores he could now settle.

After that, Zhang Chi resumed his Cultivation in Seclusion.

He soon discovered that his Cultivation speed had indeed increased dramatically. With sufficient resources, he could attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage Realm in just over a hundred years.

This rapid pace was not only due to his enhanced aptitude but also thanks to the Heaven-Reaching Tree Seedling.

Zhang Chi could absorb the tree directly into his Dantian, where it would continuously draw in all sorts of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.

This Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi could be Spiritual Qi, or it could be various other unknown energies.

Moreover, Zhang Chi had some minor control over this process.

Under his control, the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Tree wouldn’t compete with him for the Spiritual Qi he needed for Cultivation. Instead, its roots could extend through the void to absorb Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi from unknown worlds.

This Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was absorbed and refined by the tree, not only helping it grow but also being filtered, converted, and partially released.

This released Vitality was so incredibly pure that his Nascent Soul could absorb it with almost no need for further Refinement, undoubtedly making Zhang Chi’s Cultivation speed even faster.

Zhang Chi also discovered that this Vitality could enhance his aptitude in all aspects, though this improvement was much gentler and slower, likely taking several hundred years before the effects became obvious.

Time flew by. After three months, the phenomenal Spiritual Rain finally dissipated.

The entire southern region of the Endless Desert Sea underwent significant changes due to these three months of Spiritual Rain.

For example, more newborns possessed decent Spirit Roots, and among them were even many who could be called geniuses.

The vegetation in the Oases became more lush, and plants even began to sprout in some parts of the desert.

However, the Demon Beasts also grew more active.

Meanwhile, the Beast Tide had yet to erupt. Many Cultivators began to lower their guard, suspecting that the Desert Divine Palace’s prediction was wrong.

After all, three years had already passed since the Desert Divine Palace issued its warning.

The Desert Divine Palace, however, did not change its strategy. In the blink of an eye, another four years passed.

In this year, Zhang Chi turned exactly three hundred and thirty years old.

ROAR!

On this day, Zhang Chi was in the middle of his Cultivation when he suddenly heard waves of roars from Demon Beasts.

The roars came from an extremely distant place, but there were so many, and they were so loud, that they blended into a single, continuous sound that reached all the way to him.

SWOOSH...

Then, Zhang Chi received more than one Communication Golden Light—one from the Canglan Sect Leader, another from the Canglan City Lord, and more from his two disciples.

The content of the messages was the same: a massive Beast Tide had erupted.

’Has it finally begun? Excellent!’

Zhang Chi’s figure flickered. He transformed into a streak of fiery light, shot out of the Volcano Cave Mansion, and headed straight for the Sect.

That’s right—Zhang Chi had been waiting impatiently for this.

Ever since reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, he had been consuming resources at a rapid rate, but Tier Four Alchemy Materials were comparatively rare.

Therefore, defending against a massive Beast Tide was undoubtedly one of the best opportunities to harvest Tier Four materials.

By the time Zhang Chi arrived at the Sect’s Floating Hall, the other Nascent Soul True Monarchs had already assembled.

The Sect Leader quickly assigned tasks, and without a second word, all the Nascent Soul True Monarchs split up and went into action.

Not even the Sect Leader, the two Supreme Elders, or the two Divine Palace Envoys were exceptions.

As for the Cultivators below the Nascent Soul Realm, they had already been dispatched in advance.

"Junior Brother Chen, you will go with the two Divine Palace Envoys this time!" Zhang Chi was somewhat surprised by the task he was assigned.