They were stunned once more when Wang Feng spoke with a casual smile, "These things are for you two. Divide the pills and spiritual stones equally. The Star Diagram contains a martial skill—Chang'er, that will suit you. Yan'er, take the Yin Jade Bed; it will nourish your body and hasten your cultivation."
He chuckled, fingers brushing tenderly across their delicate cheeks. "As for the weapons… I trust you two can work that out yourselves~"
The warmth of his touch pulled Su Yan and Xia Ning Chang from their daze, only to send them blushing furiously. Their eyes flickered toward each other in embarrassment before darting away, as though afraid the other might notice their racing hearts.
Amused by their flustered reactions, Wang Feng laughed lightly and gathered them both into his embrace, stealing a swift peck from their lips.
The two young women froze. Wide-eyed, they gave a startled cry and quickly pulled away. Xia Ning Chang's fair face turned scarlet, the color blooming so fiercely it seemed her blood had rushed to the surface of her skin.
"I-I-I… I have something to do!" she stammered breathlessly, fleeing in a hurry, her robes fluttering in her wake.
Su Yan, though not as overwhelmed as her junior sister, could not hide the flush warming her features. She cast Wang Feng a playful, reproachful glare. But her heart betrayed her, for when he pulled her onto his lap and pressed a deep, lingering kiss to her lips, she yielded with a soft, trembling moan.
For a brief moment, she drowned in the heat of his breath and the firmness of his embrace—until her reason clawed its way back. With a flustered push, she pressed her palm against his chest, whispering against his lips, "Little Sister Xia is still outside…"
Wang Feng chuckled, reluctantly pulling back as his hands withdrew from their mischievous wanderings. He kissed her forehead softly and murmured, "I'll be entering secluded cultivation for some time. Take care of yourself—and of Chang'er—for me."
Su Yan's eyes softened, lips curving into a tender line. She leaned in and gave him one last kiss, her voice hushed as she caressed his cheek. "Alright. Leave her to me. I'll take care of her."
She then rose gracefully, collecting both her own treasures and those meant for Xia Ning Chang into her space ring, before departing with a final glance over her shoulder.
Left alone, Wang Feng exhaled slowly, his gaze returning to calm serenity. With a wave of his hand, he laid out piles of luminous spiritual stones around the array flags. The chamber filled with a soft hum as the isolation and Qi-gathering formation awakened, streams of essence converging like threads of light.
Satisfied with the formation's stability, Wang Feng lowered himself into a lotus position. Drawing a deep breath, he closed his eyes, and his aura gradually sank into tranquil silence.
Wang Feng skimmed through the items in his inventory until his gaze paused on a particular object. His eyes narrowed slightly, deep contemplation flashing across them.
'it's not the right time to use this… I'll wait until I can obtain at least one more before beginning.', He sighed softly, dispelling the inventory screen with a thought. Closing his eyes, he emptied his mind of distractions and began to circulate his cultivation technique.
Minutes passed, his breathing steadying as he entered his peak mental state. Slowly, he immersed his consciousness into his body, pushing his perception to its limits. His awareness spread through his meridians and acupoints as he carefully searched for a few elusive, specific points within himself.
An hour slipped by in silence. Finally, he let out a long breath and drew out a pill from his inventory. It appeared plain and unremarkable — a simple, chalky-white sphere that looked no different from ordinary medicine. Yet anyone who probed it with their spiritual sense would immediately realize the truth: within that modest shell was a dense, refined pool of spiritual energy.
This was a Soul StrengtheningPill.
When Wang Feng had developed the framework for the Soul Refining Realm, he had not bound it to a single rigid method. Instead, he had carefully designed three distinct paths of cultivation, each leading to the same ultimate destination: the strengthening and refinement of the soul.
The first method was the most orthodox — absorbing the world's spiritual energy and Yin energy to nourish the soul. Since the soul itself was Yin in nature, harmonizing it with Yin essence was both safe and effective, though it was a slow and gradual path.
The second method relied on external support: rare treasures and alchemical pills to directly reinforce the soul. The Soul Strengthening Pill was one such aid. This method was faster, but over-reliance could result in hidden impurities.
Another example for this path is one of Heaven and Earth's most precious spiritual treasures — the Soul Warming Lotus, which could passively cultivate the soul of it's owner.
The third method was the most profound, but also the most arduous. It required finding, gathering, and tempering the fragmented pieces of one's own soul — the Seven Po Souls and Three Hun Souls — before fusing and strengthening them into a complete whole.
Through his enlightenment and the many ancient manuscripts he had memories of, Wang Feng confirmed what few cultivators understood: before one opened their Knowledge Sea and began cultivating the Laws, the soul existed in a fragmented state — divided into ten parts.
The SevenPo Souls governed instincts, functions, and sensations of the body.
The Three Hun Souls represented Spirituality, Emotion, and Life.
Each path carried its own strengths and weaknesses.
The first was slow but stable, steadily nourishing the soul and building a firm foundation.
The second was fast but risky, prone to hidden flaws and impurities if overused.
The third was difficult yet rewarding, demanding immense perception and patience to locate the soul fragments. But once one succeeded, their progress would soar with unmatched swiftness and stability.
Xia Ning Chang had chosen the third path to cross the Soul Refining Realm — her perception honed and sharpened through years of alchemy. With her exceptionally strong spiritual strength, she had been able to seek out and temper her fragmented souls one by one.
Su Yan, on the other hand, had initially relied on the second path, consuming a treasure from the Phoenix Empress' space ring to swiftly strengthen her soul. But later, under Wang Feng's careful guidance, she utilized the third path as well, aided once again by another rare treasure from that same ring.
Wang Feng himself had also attempted the third method. Earlier, he had tried to seek out one of the Seven Po Souls, yet despite his formidable perception, he had failed. These fragments were not physical; they were ethereal reflections of the soul itself, elusive and hidden deep within. Finding them was like searching for drifting shadows in an endless mist.
Though, he was certain that he could find them if given a few days. But he wasn't willing to use excessive amount of time on it.
Now, he raised the pill to his lips and swallowed it in one smooth motion.
The Soul Strengthening Pill melted instantly, dissolving into a stream of ethereal essence that spread like ripples across his meridians before converging toward his consciousness. A cool, soothing tide washed over his mind, bringing clarity and serenity. It was as if his thoughts had been cleansed, leaving only a razor-sharp focus.
Seizing the moment, Wang Feng pushed his spiritual strength to its utmost limit. His awareness expanded inward, probing every hidden corner of his being. Minutes ticked by as he delved deeper, his mind's eye piercing the intangible currents of his inner world.
Finally — faint glimmers stirred. His perception brushed against four subtle points, indistinct at first but undeniably present. His eyes flickered open briefly, a flash of resolve in their depths.
Without hesitation, he focused his consciousness back inward. Locking onto those four elusive points, he swiftly channeled the pill's condensed energy through his cultivation technique. The ethereal current surged, guided with precision, flowing into those four fragments.
Like lanterns being lit in a vast darkness, the four points began to glow faintly under the influx of spiritual energy.
{Just to clarify that this is still too fast a speed for someone}
The spiritual energy continued to stream toward the four points, only to be drawn into a mysterious force, subtle and elusive, one even Wang Feng could barely perceive. It was as if something ancient and hidden was quietly devouring the energy, pulling it into depths far beyond ordinary understanding.
Time slipped by as Wang Feng remained immersed in the vast ocean of his mind. The blazing sun fell, and the Yang of the day quietly gave way to the Yin of the night.
Moonlight poured in through the window, carrying a gentle, silvery brilliance laced with Yin energy. As if drawn by an unseen thread, the energy of the moon drifted toward Wang Feng, merging seamlessly with the remnants of the pill's spiritual power. Together, they wove into his being, nurturing the fragments of his soul.
The night passed in serene silence.
At the break of dawn, Wang Feng finally exhaled deeply.
"Haaaaa…"
His eyes opened slowly, bright and sharp, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he immediately sensed the transformation within. His vision had become astonishingly clear, every detail vibrant, as though the world itself had shed a layer of haze. His sense of smell surged to new heights, every fragrance and subtle note in the air distinct. Even his hearing had sharpened, the faint rustling of leaves outside and the gentle hum of the morning wind entering his awareness effortlessly.
He had stepped into the Soul Refining Realm.
In that single night of cultivation, Wang Feng had successfully strengthened two of the Po Souls to an extraordinary degree:
The Corpse Dog Soul, governing the sense of smell.
The Thief Swallower Soul, governing sight.
In addition, he had partially tempered a third:
The Sparrow Shade Soul, linked to hearing.
This breakthrough marked his entry into the 1st Stage of the Soul Refining Realm.
He guided his Qi through his meridians, and the difference was undeniable. His control was more refined, smoother, and instinctively precise, as though his body and spirit had finally begun to harmonize.
A satisfied smile curved across his face before he gave his head a slight shake. With a thought, he summoned the system screen before him, the faintly glowing panel unfurling in midair.
His gaze moved toward the Realm Mission Tab.
———————————————————
1) Reach Soul Refining Realm ✓
[Reward: Soul Nourishing True Pistil]
———————————————————
2) Reach True Body Realm
[Reward: Mortal Earth Paste]
———————————————————
....
———————————————————
Wang Feng's gaze lingered on the mission tab for a brief moment before he dismissed it with a flicker of intent. He reached into his inventory and summoned the reward — the Soul Nourishing True Pistil.
The flower in his hand was strange, ethereal in its beauty. Its form was a seamless blend between a rose and a lily, yet unlike either. Its petals were short, layered like a crown, gleaming faintly as though woven from moonlight. From its heart extended a long, crystalline pistil, shimmering with a faint brilliance that pulsed as if alive.
Holding it up, Wang Feng brought the pistil to his lips. The instant his mouth sealed around it, a tide of spiritual energy surged forth. It was like inhaling a storm. The spiritual essence flowed into him endlessly, pouring down his throat in a stream both gentle and vast, filling every inch of his meridians with nourishing force.
His cultivation technique roared into motion, like a dragon awakened from slumber. Wang Feng guided the essence with unerring precision, weaving it into his soul as he directed the currents toward his three strengthened Po Souls.
The Corpse Dog Soul stirred, its influence sharpening his sense of smell until it felt as though he could separate the scents of dew, ink, and the faintest trace of Su Yan's fragrance lingering in the air.
The Thief Swallower Soul shone brilliantly, his vision growing deeper and clearer, every detail etched into his mind as if the world itself wished to reveal its secrets.
The Sparrow Shade Soul trembled faintly, resonating with the incoming spiritual energy, causing his sense of hearing to expand until the whispers of the wind and the far-off beating of wings brushed against his consciousness.
Yet Wang Feng did not stop there. His perception pushed outward, searching — hunting — for the traces of other Po Souls hidden within the labyrinth of his body. They were elusive, shrouded in an ethereal veil, resisting his probing like stars half-hidden by a storm.
Time slipped past like flowing water. The room grew heavy with Qi and Yin energy, yet Wang Feng sat as though rooted in eternity, absorbing without pause. His body was like a bottomless abyss, drawing in everything — spiritual energy, Yin energy, and even the ambient Qi of heaven and earth — all of it refined into pure essence by his cultivation technique and poured into the depths of his soul.
....
Wang Feng slowly opened his eyes, finding himself lying on his bed. He groaned and sat up, his body sore but his spirit restless.
He wandered outside and headed toward the martial stage of High Heaven Pavilion. Along the way, disciples sparred and shouted, their qi-filled strikes echoing through the training grounds.
At the stage, he stood quietly at the edge, drawing a deep breath before sinking into cultivation. Hours passed like flowing water. Then—
"Haaa!" Wang Feng's body shuddered with explosive energy. He clenched his fists, his eyes trembling with excitement.
"Finally… the 8th Stage of the Tempered Body Realm." Exhaustion caught him, and he sank to the ground with a smile.
But the earth trembled beneath him.
"Woah! Look!"
"Divine vision!"
"Dragon… and Phoenix!"
Disciples pointed skyward where two immense phantoms spiraled through the heavens. Even Wang Feng's heart shook as he gazed upward, yearning silently.
That yearning soon became bitterness. At the mining area of the Blood Battle Gang, where the divine phantoms had descended, elders of the sect declared the discovery of an inheritance cave. But Wang Feng was denied entry.
His fists clenched. His weakness shackled him. His bad luck mocked him.
So he trained. And trained. And trained. Yet his progress was agonizingly slow.
Rumors spread like wildfire of another youth—Yang Kai—whose fortune inside the inheritance cave had surpassed imagination. But for Wang Feng, days blurred into nights, and his cultivation crawled forward like a snail.
Until the sect was attacked.
The so-called Demon Lord's battle with the sect master tore heaven and earth apart, leaving disciples scattered. Wang Feng, powerless against even the remnants of their clash, fled with the others.
When the sect dissolved, he wandered aimlessly, seeking answers in the wider world. But chance led him to an island—an island with a strange well. Drawn by a sinister aura, he descended.
Miasma surged forth, biting at his flesh, gnawing at his mind. His screams echoed in the dark as whispers coiled into his soul.
Whispers promising strength.
He resisted. He fought. But under endless corrosion, his will cracked. He yielded.
What followed was a haze of blood.
Villages burned. Islands fell silent. The seas trembled beneath his slaughter. The name Blood Demon spread, feared by all.
One year later.
A cold-faced Wang Feng stood before the graves of his parents, the very graves he had dug with his own hands years before. His hand clinched around his sword, as if preparing to strike the graves.
But suddenly, his bloodstained eyes softened.
"So this… is the path you meant for me to walk?" His voice was hoarse, bitter, almost broken.
He bent down to caress the graves and smiled faintly before looking up at the sky, "You really know how to test people, don't you?"
His bloodlust receded—not gone, but controlled within himself. He looked at himself and shook his head.
Within just one year of carnage, his strength had soared to the Transcendent Realm, yet his heart found clarity.
"…A destiny laid out for me? No.", his eyes sharpened, filled with defiance as he gazed at the heavens.
"I despise your rigid rules. You will not decide what I am. Only I will."
Rising to his full height, he raised his sword skyward.
"And this—" His shout thundered across heaven and earth. "—isn't me!"
Sword intent erupted like a storm, tearing reality itself apart. The sky shattered into fragments, collapsing into pure blankness, leaving only Wang Feng standing amidst the void—reborn by his own will.
....
Gasp
Wang Feng suddenly opened his eyes with a sharp gasp, his chest heaving as though he had just surfaced from drowning. His body was drenched in sweat, his hand instinctively gripping his forehead as if to steady his racing thoughts.
His gaze darted around, only to find himself once more inside his familiar cabin near the Coiling Dragon Stream. For a moment he sat there in silence—then a chuckle escaped his lips, brittle at first, before swelling into unrestrained laughter.
"—hahahahahaha! An emotionless, bloodthirsty demon... hahahaha—"
His laughter echoed against the wooden walls until it finally subsided into a weary sigh. He fell back onto the bed, eyes half-closed, and muttered, "A heart demon... what a terrifying thing."
Raising his hand into the air, Wang Feng's eyes glazed as memories flickered across his mind: Yang Kai's resolute figure, Meng Wu Ya's guidance, Xia Ning Chang's gentle smile, Su Yan's icy grace, and the warm faces of his parents.
"I lost myself in pursuit of strength, until I became nothing more than a machine that moved for blood and by blood..." he whispered.
The illusion of the heart demon had not been baseless. Heart demons never arise from nothingness—they are born of one's own scars, one's own flaws.
For Wang Feng, it had been his endless hunger for strength.
His weakness in his early years had carved a pit inside him, one he desperately sought to fill. Every technique, every method—so long as it offered power—he had been willing to seize, with little regard for consequence.
And yet, only because of those dear to him had he not fallen completely. If not for Meng Wu Ya's guidance, he would never have cultivated properly. If not for Yang Kai, Xia Ning Chang, and Su Yan, he would have had no bond to tether him to the world. Without strength, he would have been consumed by desperation. Without his memories of another life, he would never have been himself.
All of these threads had woven together to give shape to his trial, forcing him onto the edge of a path of slaughter and ruin. Only by sheer will did he pull himself back before being utterly consumed.
Wang Feng exhaled a shaky laugh and shook his head slowly. "So... that's my flaw. Perhaps I cannot erase it, but I can restrain it. Control it."
Drawing a deep breath, he straightened his posture, and his spiritual sense spread through his body. His eyes widened in surprise.
Six of his Po Souls had been refined to the very peak, and even the Seventh faintly pulsed with new strength. The refinement surged within him, pushing his cultivation to a new boundary.
"Fifth Stage... Soul Refining Realm," he murmured, feeling the power thrum in his meridians.
But it did not end there. By withstanding and escaping the clutches of his heart demon, his spirit, mind, and cultivation had harmonized. His foundation stabilized, solid as a mountain.
He was not merely at the Fifth Stage—he had leapt directly to its peak!