C319 Refining the Yellow Court!
In the initial phase of the Yellow Court Stage, the focus is on accumulating spiritual energy within the lower dantian until it is brimming. Once full, practitioners naturally transition to the middle phase of the Yellow Court Stage, where the emphasis shifts to a single concept: "refinement."
Each individual is unique, born with varying degrees of innate talent. The Yellow Court Stage is pivotal in determining whether a cultivator has the potential to rise to the ranks of a Yang God, attain freedom, or become a Primordial Spirit Stage cultivator in the future. In the early phase, the expanse of the dantian within the Yellow Court is assessed for its vastness. A more expansive dantian signifies a greater capacity to store spiritual energy and unlock deeper potential. The breadth of the Yellow Court is an indicator of one's natural talent, which becomes evident early on.
The middle phase of the Yellow Court Stage represents a more critical juncture, serving as a litmus test for assessing one's talent. During this phase, the Yellow Court acupoints must undergo continuous refinement. This process of purification allows each wisp of spiritual energy to become more potent. Furthermore, refining can expand the Yellow Court dantian, broadening its horizons even further.
If the inner realm was not sufficiently expansive in the early phase of the Yellow Court Stage, the refinement process at this stage offers a chance for improvement. Typically, after three rounds of refinement, cultivators of average aptitude can successfully advance to the late phase of the Yellow Court Stage. Three refinements are considered standard for most practitioners.
However, those who manage to refine the Yellow Court dantian five times during this phase are often recognized as possessing exceptional talent. Van Ning from the Silvermoon Empire achieved this five-time refinement during his middle phase. Cultivators who can refine the Yellow Court acupoints six times become highly sought after by sects across the Heavenly Source and Quietus Continents. Su Yan and Lim Zhuyun, both six-time refiners of the Yellow Court, were swiftly recruited by the Taiyuan Sect and the Cold Yin Sect, respectively.
Reaching the seventh and eighth refinements elevates young practitioners to a status where they are cherished as invaluable treasures by any sect across the three continents. According to legend, only those who have achieved at least a seventh refinement of the dantian during the middle phase of the Yellow Court Stage have the potential to ascend to the ultimate level, where they can refine their main soul into the Primordial Spirit and attain immortality.
Historical records from the Boundless Land indicate that nearly all Primordial Spirits since ancient times had achieved at least the Seventh Refinement or higher by the Middle Period of the Yellow Court Stage.
Such exceptions were rare indeed.
Hence, the prodigies vied for by the major sects were invariably those who had reached the Seventh Refinement or beyond!
These individuals, if they did not perish prematurely, would often succeed in cultivating to the Yang God level.
Advancing to the Unrestrained Stage, however, required a combination of opportunity, destiny, and personal epiphany, making it significantly more challenging.
The hope of attaining the Primordial Spirit Stage was, of course, the most elusive.
Yet, to even have a chance at this stage, one needed to have reached the Seventh Refinement or higher during the Yellow Court Stage.
The greater the number of refinements, the higher the likelihood of evolving into a Primordial Spirit in the future!
Thus, at this juncture, the number of Yellow Court refinements could set the ceiling for a cultivator's potential!
When it became apparent that Yu Yuan, shrouded in a dense white fog, had swiftly transitioned into the Middle Period of the Yellow Court Stage, the crowd was filled with a mix of curiosity and excitement.
People had always placed their trust in Yu Yuan, drawn to the aura of mystery that surrounded him.
Yu Yuan's wisdom, exceptional insight, steadfast determination, and his ability to remain cool and ruthless in pivotal moments had long since won them over, cementing their belief in his extraordinary nature.
Yet, Yu Yuan's innate talent for cultivation had never been fully recognized.
Whether in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area or elsewhere, many believed Yu Yuan's infrequent battles were won either through reliance on the "Heaven Sealing Soul Transformation Formation," his unique sword intent, or simply with the aid of others.
The true extent of the cultivation talent of this young man from Darkmoon, who had earned their deepest respect, remained an enigma.
But now, that enigma seemed poised to be unraveled.
"He hasn't been selected by any sect yet, has he?"
Yang Yinquan of the Taiyuan Sect, exuding the aura of a master, stood with his hands clasped behind him, scrutinizing the striking youth amidst the fog, and posed the question to Su Yan with a smile.
A gleam of excitement flickered in Su Yan's eyes as she quickly responded, "It appears he hasn't caught the eye of any sects yet."
Yang Yinquan's smile broadened, "If his potential is decent and he can achieve the Fifth Refinement of the Yellow Court Acupoints, I'll recommend him for cultivation at the Taiyuan Sect, where he can join you as a fellow disciple."
"Thank you so much, Elder Yang!" Su Yan exclaimed with joy.
Su Xiangtian paused briefly, then remarked, "Lucky fellow."
He was well aware that Yang Yinquan's cultivation level wasn't particularly high within the Taiyuan Sect—similar to Qin Yun, who was only in the late stages of the Yin God Stage. Yet, Yang Yinquan had the current Sect Master as his patron within the sect.
Known for his kindness, Yang Yinquan was said to have formed close friendships with many esteemed cultivators from the Sword Sect and the Profound Sky Sect. Su Xiangtian believed that Yang Yinquan, still young, would soon make the leap into the Soul Wandering Stage, paving the way for a smooth cultivation journey ahead.
Should Yang Yinquan be the one to recommend Yu Yuan for training at the Taiyuan Sect, it would be a tremendous blessing for him. Thanks to Su Yan, the Su family's ties with the Taiyuan Sect had grown strong. If Yu Yuan, also from the Silvermoon Empire, were to join the Taiyuan Sect, what would become of the Yu family?
This thought prompted Su Xiangtian to plan on imposing certain restrictions on the elders of his clan upon his return. The past grievances between the Yu and Su families needed to be addressed promptly to avoid any future complications. They couldn't afford to give Yu Yuan any ammunition to use against the Su family.
"The Taiyuan Sect seems to be getting ahead of themselves," Yuan Lianyao interjected with a scoff, her captivating eyes briefly scanning Yang Yinquan. "The Blood God Cult had their eye on him, but he turned them down. And just between us, Lord Faang Yao of the Red Devil Sect has shown quite an interest in him."
At her words, Yang Yinquan's face took on a hint of concern. The Blood God Cult was one thing; they were shunned by the world, and even the Devil Palace and the Demon Palace looked down on them. But the Red Devil Sect was a different story altogether.
In the hierarchy of Devil Dao sects, the Red Devil Sect ranked just below the Devil Palace. With a wealth of formidable experts, their standing on the Quietus Continent was on par with the Spirit Void Sect. Whether in terms of martial prowess or heritage, the Red Devil Sect far surpassed the Taiyuan Sect.
Lord Faang Yao, a renowned Soul Wandering Stage cultivator of the Devil Dao, was extremely well-known.
Yang Yinquan wore an awkward expression as he remarked, "I see..."
"Jiaang Moyan is dead."
Gazing skyward at the Yin God wrapped in thunder, which fragmented into countless bolts of lightning disappearing into various spatial rifts, Qin Yun spoke with a grave tone, "On the Profound Sky Continent, the death of a Soul Wandering expert from one of the seven major sects is a significant event."
No sooner had he spoken than everyone witnessed Zou Jin of the Cold Yin Sect transform into a beam of ice light and flee.
Shen Feiqing, masked and silent, swiftly gave chase.
In the night sky, as if conjured from thin air, a streak of crimson lightning appeared. Where Shen Feiqing passed, numerous luminous spatial rifts quietly converged.
Yan Qiling chuckled and vanished in an instant.
When he reemerged, he was already at the area where the ice light had fled, imposing a spatial lock to ensure that the Cold Yin Sect's mid-stage expert would remain trapped in the Absence Relic indefinitely.
"Who is that?" Yang Yinquan suddenly inquired, pointing at Yan Qiling.
"His identity is a mystery, but he's been seen in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area," Su Xiangtian responded. "He wasn't nearly as powerful before leaving the forbidden area. In just a year, he's become alarmingly formidable, demonstrating mastery over spatial abilities, moving with ease—a truly formidable adversary."
"Zou Jin is likely to meet the same fate," Yang Yinquan murmured, head bowed. "How could they be so bold? Neither the Thunder Sect nor the Cold Yin Sect are to be trifled with. With two Soul Wandering Stage cultivators fallen in the Absence Relic, those sects will relentlessly dispatch more experts."
His words cast a pall of silence over the crowd.
The Absence Relic, caught between the Divine Might Empire and the Silvermoon Empire, was fated to be a hotbed of strife. Endless conflicts would erupt around the gate to the secret realm, ensuring that peace would remain elusive.
Who could say how many cultivators would find their eternal rest in this place?
In the silence, Yu Yuan, shrouded in dense white mist, was indeed embarking on the very process Zhao Yafu and the others had anticipated: the initial refinement of the Yellow Court.
Within his Yellow Court Little World, a wondrous spectacle unfolded.
Nine radiant orbs of light hung suspended in the spiritual fog, casting their glow high above.
These orbs, with their halos shimmering, were spaced closely together, like a constellation of suns.
Yu Yuan, who practiced the Glorious Heavenly Wheel, had previously only seen nine points of light encircling the Yellow Court acupoint, never venturing within.
Yet, upon advancing to the Middle Period of the Yellow Court and commencing the first refinement, the nine points of light, as if by magic, coalesced inside his Yellow Court acupoint.
They transformed into nine blazing suns, radiating intense light and heat!
The Glorious Heavenly Wheel materialized within his Yellow Court acupoint, slowly rotating and forming a dazzling ribbon of light that aided in purifying his lower dantian, refining the overwhelming spiritual energy that flooded in.
He was acutely aware of the significance of refining the lower dantian at this stage in the Yellow Court.
Thus, the sight of the nine suns suspended in the Yellow Court Little World filled him with anticipation.
But what truly astonished him was Shen Feiqing's unexpected feat. After lifting the seals deep within the Absence Relic, he was gifted with an immense influx of spiritual energy from the heavens.
This spiritual energy streamed in relentlessly, bolstering his efforts to refine the lower dantian.
Amidst this process, he experienced a surreal sense of time and space shifting around him.
At moments, he felt as if he were his former self, Hong Qi, accompanied by several Primordial Spirit Stage cultivators, covertly visiting the Absence Relic to survey the spiritual energy, mapping the ley lines of the earth, and sowing a variety of enigmatic seeds.
