God Emperor

Monks of the Buddhist Way focused on cultivation of the spiritual power. If even this old monk hadn’t reached the level of a Spiritual Power Supreme Saint, then probably no one in Kunlun’s Field could be a Spiritual Power Supreme Saint.

Disappointment colored Zhang Ruochen’s eyes.

“Life and death are all part of fate,” the monk said, comforting him. “There is no need to force anything.”

Zhang Ruochen smiled. “I understand this, but after coming to the netherworld, I heard rumors about the Pill of Resurrection. Thus, this unrealistic wish was born.”

“Actually, if you really do find that rumored Pill of Resurrection, it is possible for those with scattered souls to come back to life.” The monk sat cross-legged and gestured for Zhang Ruochen to sit too. Then he said slowly, “First, you must understand that a person has three souls: the Celestial Soul, earth soul, and human soul. When one speaks about scattering souls, it means that the human soul is shattered and dissipated. It doesn’t actually have anything to do with the Celestial Soul and earth soul.”

It was Zhang Ruochen’s first time hearing that a human’s soul had three parts. He found this intriguing and asked, “Why won’t the Celestial Soul and earth soul break?”

“It’s not that they won’t break. It’s just that they are stronger and won’t break so easily. Take the earth soul for example. The so-called earth soul is like a human’s shadow. As long as the human’s body exists, the earth soul will forever exist. When the human is buried after death and the physical body becomes one with the earth, becomes white bone, becomes the dirt, becomes dust, the earth soul becomes one with the earth.”

“Thus, even if a man’s soul is scattered, as long as their earth soul isn’t destroyed, they can come back to life. They haven’t truly died.”

“Really?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

The monk chuckled. “Not necessarily. Everyone’s understanding of life is different. Some ancient Sages believe that the earth soul won’t scatter, but it also won’t meld into the ground. Instead, it’ll enter the so-called Hades and netherworld.”

“There’s another situation. If someone dies in a special time or place, the earth soul will separate from the body and become the evil ghost soul.”

“So you’re saying that the earth soul is the ghost soul?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

“You can interpret it as so,” the monk said.

Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment and said, “I understand now! There are so many ghost souls in the netherworld because it is a special world. Corpses float down the Corpse River and enter the netherworld. Then the earth soul separates from the body, becoming a ghost soul. In Kunlun’s Field, there are very few places like the netherworld. Thus, after a man dies, very few become ghost souls.”

“Indeed.” Then the monk added, “If one can decipher the secret of the netherworld, perhaps they can achieve longevity.”

“Then what is the Celestial Soul?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

“Neither the Celestial Soul nor the earth soul are within one’s body. The earth soul is the shadow underfoot. The Celestial Soul is part of the Celestial Way. It’s more insubstantial than the earth soul. Most people can’t even feel the existence of their Celestial Soul.

“In the ancient times, only the Qi Practitioners could communicate with the Celestial Soul and cultivate it. They referred to the Celestial Soul as the Primordial Spirit. They could achieve longevity by cultivating the Celestial Soul.

“However, the way of cultivation from the ancient times has long been lost. Now, no one can communicate with the Celestial Soul. The Monks of Kunlun’s Field can cultivate their martial soul and Saint Soul, but those are actually all the human soul.”

Zhang Ruochen’s heart jumped. “The Pill of Resurrection can help the dead communicate with the Celestial Soul and come back to life.”

The monk nodded. “Yes, in theory.”

Zhang Ruochen thought of Sword Saint Xuanji. Though his human soul had already been shattered, his earth and Celestial Soul hadn’t. The others might not know how to communicate with the Celestial Soul, but the Divine Sky-connecting Tree definitely could.

It had been born at the creation of Kunlun’s Field and grew until the middle ages. It had experienced every era and might know the methods of the ancient Qi Practitioners. Every ring on its trunk was a historical account that recorded the richest knowledge.

Since the Divine Sky-connecting Tree was now adding streams of Life Qi into Sword Saint Xuanji, it could definitely help him communicate with his Celestial Soul and come back to life.

Right now, they just needed an opportunity—a primer.

Just then, the sleeping Mu Lingxi whined softly and slowly woke up. Zhang Ruochen looked over at her. Her eyes also fell on him. They smiled faintly.

They’d always been next to each other, but it felt as if they’d reunited after a long time.

The monk also smiled knowingly. “You two are heroes richly endowed by nature. It’s rare for one to be born per millennium, but you two have found each other. You’re a pair created by fate.”

A rare blush colored Mu Lingxi’s face. Slightly shy, she said, “Elder, we’re only fellow apprentices.”

“Whether you’re fellow apprentices or two lovers, it is still a feat to have come together. You must treasure the relationship.” The monk looked over at Zhang Ruochen and asked, “Sir, you should be cultivating the Five Elements Chaotic Body, correct? And you are at the Four Spirit Treasured Body?”

“Correct,” Zhang Ruochen said.

After a moment of silence, the monk said, “Since you’ve met me and I owe you so much, I will help you. Of course, whether or not you succeed depends on yourself. If you can cultivate the Five Elements Chaotic Body, it will be a great fate.”

Zhang Ruochen had already cultivated the Water, Wood, Earth, and Fire Spirit Treasure Bodies. He only had to refine the Golden Angelica Root into the Gold Spirit Treasured Body. Then his Five Elements Chaotic Body would be complete.

However, the old monk had amazing abilities. If he could help, Zhang Ruochen could definitely try.

“To complete the Five Elements Chaotic Body, you must bear pain that the average man cannot bear. The test of your will even surpasses the test of your physical body.”

The old monk raised his arms. Hundreds of golden flames flew out of his palms. They wrapped around Zhang Ruochen’s body, making him float up.

Boom!

The old monk continued moving and palm prints landed on Zhang Ruochen, hitting every part of his body. Each palm had a golden flame that melded into Zhang Ruochen’s body. Each flame was a burning ball of the Golden Angelica Root’s powder.

After hundreds of palm prints, Zhang Ruochen felt that his entire body was numb, but it hurt so badly he wished to die. His physical body was broken with dense cracks. It was as if he would shatter at the slightest touch.

The monk didn’t plan on letting him go. Thus, he pushed Zhang Ruochen into the sea of lava so his body was submerged in the boiling lava.

Golden lava even surged into the cracks of his body. His flesh sizzled from the heat. Even with Zhang Ruochen’s willpower, he still growled. Death would be less painful than this.

Mu Lingxi stood on the side, biting her lip. She couldn’t bear it. Looking at the monk, she asked, “Elder—”

But the monk shook his head. “Those who can take pain will rise to the top. Further, the lava contains remnants of divine power. It has endless benefits for his body. If his willpower is strong enough, he will make it through.”

Five days later, Zhang Ruochen’s body started recovering. Even if he was in the lava, it didn’t hurt that much anymore.

But then the monk pulled him out and forced the powder of the Golden Angelica Root out of him.

After hundreds of palms, Zhang Ruochen’s body was broken again. He returned to the sea of lava to treat his body and endure the great pain.

Mu Lingxi stayed by his side the entire time. The monk was busy with other things.

He circled the volcano, carving a golden Buddhist rune on the mountain with each step. Mu Lingxi didn’t know what he was doing, so she didn’t ask. To her, nothing was more important than Zhang Ruochen’s safety.

This time, Zhang Ruochen didn’t recover until 10 days later.

Boom, boom.

There was another beating. The old monk forced all the powder of the Golden Angelica Root into Zhang Ruochen’s body. Zhang Ruochen passed out straightaway and fell into the shallow end of the lava sea. Only his upper body was exposed. His entire body bled endlessly.

“If he can survive this, the Five Elements Chaotic Body will be complete,” the monk said.

Mu Lingxi looked at Zhang Ruochen’s injured body and saw blood flowing out of his head and between his bones. Crying without stop, she asked, “What if…he can’t survive?”

“Then he’ll die. If you wish to become a top figure, you must take more risks than the others. Without taking these risks, he can’t cultivate the Five Elements Chaotic Body.”

After that, the monk left.

Mu Lingxi looked at the back of the monk. For the first time, she realized that these so-called saintly monks could be so heartless.

At least, in her heart, she wished that Zhang Ruochen could live happily instead of risking his life to cultivate the Five Elements Chaotic Body.