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The Holy Illusion Demon Ape—a high-level spiritual-attribute soul beast from the Star Dou Great Forest, once slain by Bibi Dong and yielded a spiritual-attribute skull bone—was unexpectedly preserved by the Spirit Pagoda ten thousand years later through the soul spirit technique.
Bai Xu looked at the purple orb before him, his eyes filled with satisfaction.
A thousand-year soul spirit could provide up to three soul rings. If all of them were soul skills that enhanced spiritual power, it would be an enormous gain.
Closing his eyes, Bai Xu quietly entered a meditative state. The fusion had officially begun.
The fusion with a thousand-year soul spirit was indeed somewhat strenuous. Possessing nascent intelligence, it instinctively resisted Bai Xu. However, under the mutual erosion of their spiritual powers, it stood no chance. In less than a minute, Bai Xu had completely refined it.
Level 13!
"First soul skill—Spiritual Amplification. It temporarily increases spiritual power by about fifty percent. As expected." Bai Xu sensed the first purple soul ring and was fairly satisfied. On his shoulder appeared a juvenile Holy Illusion Demon Ape, blinking its eyes as it curiously observed Bai Xu's Heavenly Eye.
Within those dark pupils, an enigmatic yellow energy seemed to swirl, capable of piercing through illusions and discerning the path ahead.
"Ooh-ee-yah!" The little ape waved its limbs excitedly, celebrating its new life.
Bai Xu stored the demon ape away and focused inward. According to The Secrets of Human Body Cultivation, the first stage of human cultivation involved the Five Organs—the heart, lungs, spleen, liver, and kidneys. These organs stored essence and energy without dispersing it.
Essence and energy were the foundation of human cultivation. Generally, the human body possessed three vital elements: essence, energy, and spirit. Although the spirit primarily resided in the brain, the five organs—heart, lungs, spleen, liver, and kidneys—were all closely linked to spiritual activity.
The five organs house the spirit, blood, energy, soul, and vitality.
The book stated that cultivation was not an overnight endeavor. Unlocking the hidden potential of the human body would not yield immediate results—it could take three years, five years, or even a decade. Through gradual refinement, the body would eventually unleash its latent power, enabling feats such as splitting mountains, manipulating the five elements, soaring through the skies, and traversing the earth—limitless possibilities.
Here, the Five Elements referred to the first stage of cultivation—the five organs:
- Kidneys (Water)
- Liver (Wood)
- Heart (Fire)
- Spleen (Earth)
- Lungs (Metal)
They could be cultivated sequentially, with progress divided into early, middle, and late stages. However, moderation was crucial. Once an organ reached perfection, one must move on to the next. Overcultivation would disrupt the body's elemental balance, leading to dire consequences—ranging from qi deviation to catastrophic bodily explosion.
The cultivation process was straightforward: breathing exercises, meditation, and disciplined living to accumulate essence and energy within the five organs. Of course, the assistance of spiritual treasures—such as spirit herbs, spirit fruits, or spirit springs—could significantly accelerate progress.
Currently, Bai Xu was cultivating his spleen (earth element), which governed the essence of earth. In simpler terms, it harnessed the primordial energy of the earth, also known as the Mother Qi of All Things, capable of nourishing life and strengthening spiritual perception.
Bai Xu sat cross-legged, relaxed, with his hands resting naturally on his knees, palms facing upward. His eyes gently closed as his cultivation officially commenced.
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East Sea Spirit Pagoda.
A young instructor had finally been assigned his first significant disciple. Though it was only a teaching assignment and not a personal apprenticeship, he took it seriously.
His superior personally reminded him: "Leng Jiuming, you must guide this child well. He may have the potential to serve at the Spirit Pagoda's headquarters in the future."
Leng Jiuming accepted the documents, surprised. "Innate full soul power, a thousand-year soul spirit, and spiritual realm-level mental power… This… He's on par with those little monsters from Shrek Academy's freshman class!"
"Indeed. He will soon enroll. You have a few years to nurture him. If he rises to greatness in the future, we may benefit as well. For now, his information is only known to the branch tower master and hasn't been sent to the headquarters."
"Understood. I will do my utmost to guide him." Leng Jiuming wasn't particularly concerned about personal gain—he was more curious about what kind of personality such a prodigious child would have.
Bai Xu's training was undoubtedly demanding. Not only did he have to cultivate soul power, but he also had to develop his physical body. Each day was exhausting. His family lacked the means to purchase spiritual treasures for supplementation, but he wasn't in a hurry.
This month was extraordinary for the Bai family. Bai Tao and his wife, who had long believed themselves infertile, suddenly received news of a pregnancy. They were overjoyed. Although Bai Xu was like a son to them, his reserved and rational demeanor created an emotional distance.
After all, nothing compares to one's own flesh and blood.
Though the couple tried not to show their favoritism in front of Bai Xu, their genuine happiness was unmistakable. Coincidentally, Leng Jiuming chose this moment to visit.
"Hello, I am Leng Jiuming, a 79th-ranked Soul Sage. I will be Bai Xu's instructor for the next six years." The tall, handsome man stood at the doorstep, his aura overwhelming the lower-ranked Bai Tao and his wife.
"P-Please come in, Sir Leng!"
"No need. Today is the enrollment day for the Spirit Pagoda Academy. I'm here to take Bai Xu with me. We'll depart immediately."
"O-Of course! Xiao Xu! It's time for school—your teacher is here!" Bai Tao's voice trembled. As a mere 20th-ranked Great Soul Master, he had never been this close to a Soul Sage before.
"Coming!"
Bai Xu hurried over and saw the man—short, neat hair, clad in the standard Spirit Pagoda uniform, studying him with anticipation.
"Greetings, Teacher!"
"Mm. Let's go."
"Foster Father, I'm leaving. The path of cultivation is arduous, and I may not return often. Take care of yourselves."
With Bai Tao's recent promotion and his wife's pregnancy, their fortunes were finally improving. Meanwhile, Bai Xu had committed fully to cultivation, knowing his visits home would be rare.
Bai Tao stood at the door, watching Leng Jiuming take Bai Xu away, feeling a pang of emotion. Back then, they had adopted Bai Xu simply because he was sensible and well-behaved. But now, his excessive rationality made him seem distant—difficult to connect with.
Within minutes, Leng Jiuming brought Bai Xu to the Spirit Pagoda Academy. More of a subsidiary branch than a full-fledged institution, it primarily served the children of Spirit Pagoda employees. While the students were talented, none were exceptional.
Classroom.
Leng Jiuming spoke frankly: "From now on, I will oversee your growth. Let me be clear—you are the most talented individual I've ever met. You're also the closest to matching the Spirit Ice Douluo from ten thousand years ago. The Spirit Pagoda will invest heavily in you. But being too talented isn't always good. The internal power struggles and corruption within the Spirit Pagoda are appalling. I'd recommend Shrek Academy instead."
Unsurprisingly, Leng Jiuming was a Shrek Academy graduate.
The Shrek ideology was deeply ingrained—it was the true gathering place for the continent's geniuses, where talents could shine. The current Spirit Pagoda was merely a machine serving the Qian Gu Family. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the next tower master would be Qian Gu Zhangting, grandson of the current tower master, Qian Gu Dongfeng.
"Of course, the choice is yours. My words are merely advice."
Bai Xu showed no emotional fluctuation. "Understood. May we begin the lesson now?"
Leng Jiuming raised an eyebrow. He extended his palm. "I already know your spiritual power level. Now, punch me—let's test your physical strength."
Without hesitation, Bai Xu mustered all his strength and struck. Leng Jiuming didn't budge.
"Approximately 100 kilograms?! Are you naturally superhuman?"
What kind of child possessed such strength right after awakening their martial soul—especially a spiritual-type, not a beast-type?
Bai Xu's gaze remained steady. After a long pause, Leng Jiuming said, "I'll adjust your training regimen based on your physique. Physical conditioning will be intensified. Here's your schedule: mandatory soul beast theory, and one elective—mecha design, mecha repair, or battle armor studies. The rest of your time is free until I summon you. Any requests?"
"I need funds to purchase spirit herbs and treasures. How can I earn money quickly?"
"At your age, you shouldn't need such resources yet. They're beneficial, but not all are suitable."
"I know my limits. Just tell me how to earn fast."
Leng Jiuming pondered. The quickest ways—battle armor and mecha crafting—required time and skill.
"The fastest method is the underground auction houses in East Sea City. Capturing oceanic soul beasts for sale is immensely profitable. Due to soul spirits and the Spirit Ascension Platform, many have never seen a real soul beast. Wealthy collectors prize live specimens. Since you're so insistent, I'll advance you some funds. Here's five million federal coins. Use it as you wish."