"Indeed, only through trials of life and death can one's realm be elevated. It's the same principle as how heroes emerge in turbulent times," Ye Tian replied.
Afterward, Shi Yong sought guidance on cultivation techniques from Daoist Master Taixu, while Daoist Master Taixu wished to spend some time living at Liuhe Manor to experience the essence of daily life.
As for Song Fulong, he intended to seek Ye Tian's tutelage on his mental cultivation methods at an opportune moment, as it wasn't a secret that couldn't be shared.
Over a meal and drinks, Ye Tian made several friends in the martial arts world and heard many interesting tales of the Jianghu. He was quite pleased.
The gathering broke up around three in the morning. Ye Tian left first to return to his hotel to rest.
Back in his room, he retrieved the so-called "Niuhuang" (Ox Gallstone). This item was not actually ox gallstone, but the inner core of some living being!
An inner core was akin to a golden elixir for humans, but this one was clearly different. It was so large that the creature it belonged to must have been incredibly powerful.
He took out a dagger and scraped off some powder from it. Then, he took a minuscule amount and placed it on his tongue to gauge its medicinal properties.
Instantly, a ferocious power surged through his body. He quickly suppressed it, and only after about half an hour was the surge brought under control.
He broke out in a cold sweat and murmured, "Such a fierce and overbearing power! If I had consumed any more, I would have exploded by now!"
Amidst his shock, he realized that this energy was immensely beneficial to his body. If it could be refined into some kind of pill, it would undoubtedly be a treasure beyond compare!
The next morning, the group finally set out for Qixing Village.
Qixing Village boasted beautiful scenery and was home to many local ethnic minorities. Ye Tian and Lin Ziyi spent a day exploring and stayed in a bamboo house that night. As for Zhang Jiliang, he was responsible for carrying their belongings and stayed in another bamboo house.
Lin Ziyi, exhausted from a day of activity, quickly fell asleep. Ye Tian, however, remained awake, meditating and practicing his qi by the bamboo house.
Before cultivating, Ye Tian drank some medicinal liquid extracted from Huang Jing (Polygonatum sibiricum), which could enhance his physique. He had brought five bottles on this trip, and this was the last one.
After swallowing the liquid, he felt a subtle, mysterious energy generating in his dantian. This energy slowly ascended, reaching his brain.
In an instant, Ye Tian felt all his five senses and six perceptions open up. His divine sense became remarkably clear, and a small figure sitting in meditation faintly formed in his mind. However, the surrounding environment was not conducive to it; it dissipated as soon as its ethereal form appeared. Nevertheless, his five senses and six perceptions were enhanced as a result.
"Nascent Soul!" Ye Tian opened his eyes, his gaze filled with surprise. What had appeared and then vanished was indeed the Nascent Soul. However, his cultivation was insufficient, and his foundation was still shallow; he did not yet meet the conditions for possessing a Nascent Soul.
At this moment, he took out the golden elixir. This time, he took about a third of the elixir's threads and rubbed them together with his hands. Soon, the threads transformed into energy, which he absorbed.
Shortly after, the Nascent Soul reappeared, slightly clearer than the last time, but still far from success.
He knew that cultivation could not be rushed. He ceased further attempts and continued with his breathing exercises.
The following morning, Lin Ziyi was scheduled to participate in a hiking and camping excursion. Since many locals were hired as guides and the activity was lengthy, the fee was quite high, at six hundred yuan per person.
Ye Tian instructed Zhang Jiliang to wait at the bamboo house, while he and Lin Ziyi embarked on the camping trip. The equipment for this excursion was rented, so the actual cost for each person exceeded two thousand yuan.
Ye Tian's group consisted of thirteen participants, including four couples and one family of three.
The mountain path was arduous. After walking for over a hundred meters downhill, Lin Ziyi was already tired, and the other girls also complained of fatigue.
The guide said, "Ladies, please persevere for a little longer. We are only about two hundred meters from the summit. Once we cross this mountain, there is a Valley of a Hundred Flowers ahead. Once you reach there, you will feel that all the hardship on the road was worth it."
Ye Tian, however, suddenly raised his right arm and then supported it with his left hand, placing Lin Ziyi on his shoulder. He continued climbing as if nothing were amiss, as if walking on level ground.
This sight caused the other women to look on with envy, each complaining about their boyfriends' inadequacy. The men, on the other hand, stared at Ye Tian as if he were a monster, thinking, "Is this even human?"