Years passed, and four years flew by in a blink.
On this day, Li Feiyu initially succeeded in Cultivating the Blazing Sun True Fire, and on the same day, his Realm barrier loosened, allowing him to break through to the late-stage Core Formation in one go—a double blessing.
During this period, Crimson Crow offered a total of nine drops of essence blood. Nourished by the essence blood containing True Spirit Bloodline, Li Feiyu's Blazing Sun Dharma Body actually reached the Perfection Realm in the process.
His Physical Body strength increased once more.
Unfortunately, without Body Refining methods for the Nascent Soul Stage, Li Feiyu had no way to attempt it.
"You've worked hard, Crimson Crow."
"Ya ya~"
Crimson Crow flew to perch on Li Feiyu's shoulder, chirping twice, its voice filled with joy.
In the various insect rooms, the Spirit Insects were well-bred. Gu Mingyang successfully achieved Foundation Establishment two years prior. Li Feiyu's Divine Sense swept over him; he was currently continuing his Cultivation.
"It's time to let him go out and gain some experience."
However, the Inner Star Sea was still in chaos, where even a Core Formation Cultivator could easily perish, let alone a cannon fodder-like Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.
Therefore, Li Feiyu planned to send him to the Outer Star Sea for some experience after a while.
Thanks to the nourishment of the myriad year soul nourishing wood, the damage from the Primordial Spirit split had fully recovered for both Li Feiyu and his Second Primordial Spirit. During this time, the Second Primordial Spirit, while Cultivating in the Void Garden Pearl, even reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
He had only Cultivated some simple Divine Abilities so far, such as breath concealment, shape-shifting, and blood burning—all life-saving Divine Abilities. As for those powerful offensive Divine Abilities, he had not Cultivated any of them.
The Second Primordial Spirit's primary goal was to Cultivate as quickly as possible and reach the Core Formation stage Stage.
Li Feiyu had also Cultivated many secret arts from the Blood God Great Art. These did not involve the fundamental principles of the Blood God Great Art, so he could also Cultivate them.
Breath concealment and disguise, as well as mimicking others' auras, were undeniably very practical Divine Abilities.
"late stage Core Formation. It's time to prepare for Nascent Soul formation."
Li Feiyu pondered carefully, "The nine-bend spirit ginseng is with Han Li; I can go find him when needed. However, I also need to add some other methods."
Forming a Nascent Soul was of utmost importance, and no carelessness could be afforded.
Li Feiyu estimated that with his Aptitude, coupled with Medicinal Pills, and dedicated Cultivation for ten years, he could reach Core Formation Major Achievement and touch the Nascent Soul barrier.
"Things that can help with Nascent Soul formation are extremely rare. I wonder if the Star Commerce Alliance has any."
Li Feiyu opened his Immortal Cave, put on his seamless clothes, concealed his figure, and then used the secret art learned from the Blood God Great Art to hide his aura. Then, he flew directly towards the Heavenly Star City market.
With his current strength, unless a Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivator was nearby and swept with Divine Sense, no one else could possibly discover his tracks.
Arriving at the market, due to the great war, Heavenly Star City no longer had its former prosperity. Many from the Star Palace faction were required to actively participate in the war, while many Loose Cultivators either died on the battlefield while undertaking tasks or, after luckily completing tasks, escaped to the Outer Star Sea via teleportation arrays. Some also left directly, moving away from Heavenly Star City to find a secluded island for closed-door Cultivation.
Although those nameless small islands were not rich in Spiritual Qi and Cultivation was slower, it was still better than losing one's life.
In front of the Star Plucking Pavilion, Li Feiyu revealed his figure and then entered through the light barrier.
A young attendant joyfully stepped forward. Upon seeing Li Feiyu, he paused, then asked, remembering something, "Senior, is your surname Li?"
Li Feiyu raised an eyebrow, "I rarely venture out, yet you recognize me."
The attendant said, "That's because Young Lord Xing Jueyi has left your portrait in all the Star Commerce Alliance's major businesses. Wherever you go, you are to be given the greatest discount."
"Xing Jueyi, this fellow, really knows how to do Business," Li Feiyu thought to himself.
"Young Lord? Did Xing Jueyi win among the candidates?"
The attendant said, "That's right, the Business Alliance just announced it three years ago."
Li Feiyu nodded, "Is Xing Jueyi in Heavenly Star City? I want to see him; I have something to discuss with him."
"I'll have to ask about that. Senior, please rest in the quiet room for a moment."
A moment later, the attendant returned, saying that Xing Jueyi was present and the manager had gone to invite him. Another half an hour passed, and Xing Jueyi walked in, looking travel-worn.
"Brother Li, I didn't go to see you, but you came first instead." Xing Jueyi stepped through the door, his hearty voice ringing out.
Li Feiyu smiled slightly, "If I waited for you to come see me, who knows how long I'd have to wait?"
"Looking at your glowing face, you're doing quite well as Young Lord."
Xing Jueyi said with a troubled expression, "If I had known this Young Lord position had so many things to do, keeping me busy to death every day, I wouldn't have taken it."
"Heh heh, if you let that Star Water Sky hear that, he'd probably kick you flying."
Upon hearing this, a trace of sorrow appeared in Xing Jueyi's eyes, "My elder brother, he died on the battlefield a year ago."
Li Feiyu's expression froze, then he sighed softly, "The path of Cultivation is paved with bones."
"Let's not talk about that. Brother Li, you didn't come here for nothing this time, did you?"
"Three matters. First, how is the collection of top-tier Materials progressing? Second, I want to use the Star Palace's teleportation array. Does your Star Commerce Alliance have any connections? Third, has your Business Alliance collected any Pill Formulas, treasures, or methods that aid in forming a Nascent Soul?"
Xing Jueyi was greatly shaken, and couldn't help but exclaim, "What, Brother Li, you're going to form a Nascent Soul?!"
"Not yet, but it's time to start preparing."
Xing Jueyi's eyes were full of envy, "Brother Li only formed his Core Formation about twenty years earlier than me, yet now he's already preparing for Nascent Soul formation, while I still have some distance to go before breaking through to Core Formation Middle Stage."
"I finally understand what it means to have the Aptitude of a heavenly being!"
After a moment of emotion, Xing Jueyi said, "The top-tier Materials for the Metal and Water elements have just been gathered. If Brother Li needs them, I can transfer them to you first."
Li Feiyu nodded, "That works."
"As for borrowing the teleportation array and Pill Formulas that help with Nascent Soul, the former shouldn't be a big problem if our Star Commerce Alliance acts as guarantor. However, if Brother Li needs to borrow it frequently, then another method might be better."
"What method? Is it joining the Star Palace?"
"Sort of, and not sort of. It's just being a nominal Guest Elder. The Star Palace issues tasks; you take them if you want, and don't if you don't. You can also withdraw anytime you wish."
"Such individuals have great freedom in Heavenly Star City and can have several teleportation slots."
"By completing Star Palace tasks, you can receive rewards or make requests."
Xing Jueyi paused, looked at Li Feiyu's expression, and continued, "The Star Palace has a long Legacy, and its Nascent Soul Cultivators have never been fewer than ten. Some are recruited, but many are also cultivated by the Star Palace itself."
Li Feiyu asked, "Then does your Star Commerce Alliance not have something similar?"
"We do, and we don't," Xing Jueyi said with a wry smile, "This is something I only learned after becoming the sole heir."
"One is the Nascent Soul Fruit, which grows from a Nascent Soul Fruit Tree and bears fruit every ten thousand years. It is a genuine immortal item that can increase the chance of Nascent Soul formation by forty percent. It has never appeared in the world; our Star Commerce Alliance only recorded it from a fragmented ancient text."
"The other is the Infant Breaking Pill. It can be refined using a Cultivator's Nascent Soul or a transformed demonic core as the main Material, combined with ten thousand year Purple Mansion Flower, ten-thousand year blood spirit fruit, and ten thousand year Clear Spirit Flower. Taking it can also increase the chance of Nascent Soul formation by one to three tenths."
"The first type only exists in legend. The second type, capturing a Nascent Soul alive, is not easily achievable by anyone less than a late stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator. But even if someone could help you obtain a Nascent Soul, the three main Spirit Medicines alone are incredibly rare; it's unlikely that the entire Chaotic Star Sea could gather a single set. As for using a transformed demonic core as the main Material, the effect is slightly inferior."
"Brother Li, do you think these two methods are viable?"
Li Feiyu pondered for a moment, then stared at Xing Jueyi and said, "How many Spirit Stones for these two? I want them. Also, what is the relationship between your Star Commerce Alliance and the Star Palace?"
"Forget about the Spirit Stones."
"That won't do. You know my personality; I don't like owing favors."
"Then let's say two thousand Spirit Stones for both."
Li Feiyu slapped his Storage Pouch, and twenty mid-grade Spirit Stones flew out, landing on the redwood round table.
Xing Jueyi said, "Actually, this matter is quite secretive. Our Xing Family produced a Star Palace Holy Lord over two thousand years ago. After he withdrew from the Star Palace, he went into seclusion for a period, and then reappeared to start a business."
"But over all these years, the connection between our Star Commerce Alliance and the Star Palace has never been broken. Once someone in the Family breaks through to Nascent Soul, they are automatically invited to join the Star Palace, becoming a hidden Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator."
Li Feiyu was quite surprised to hear of the Xing Family's secret, "Is it alright to tell me such a thing?"
"I trust Brother Li's character, and last time, thanks to Brother Li's Blood Spirit Fruit, our ancestor successfully recovered from his injuries."
Ah, well, although I won't leak it, isn't this kind of thing not good to tell outsiders?
Xing Jueyi, your investment in me is not small!
"Since that's the case, then becoming a Guest Elder of the Star Palace can be discussed. Please help me make the arrangements."
"No problem. Then I'll take Brother Li to meet someone."