Chapter 478 - 251: Understanding the True Self_1
When he had taken out the Primal Qi of the Golden Core, he had hoped to infuse it with some properties, perhaps grant the Nascent Soul a particular powerful attribute. However, he couldn’t manage that. He could only extract the pure Primal Qi.
Just like the last time he made Golden Cores, it was the automatic operation of the Creation Method that allowed him to fuse the Five Elements with the Golden Core. Now, the Creation Method had attracted the Primal Qi of the Golden Core with seven properties; after fusion, it formed a wisp of purple qi.
Lin Yi believed, without the mysterious power manifested by the Creation Method, even if he really extracted the Golden Core’s Primal Qi with seven properties, he might not be able to transform it into purple qi.
For the time being, he named this wisp of purple qi, the Purple Qi of Creation, unsure of what kind of Nascent Soul it could nurture.
From his current perception, this purple qi was full of mystery. Even though it was formed from the fusion of seven elements, he couldn’t sense any particular elemental qi within.
The qi was now ready. Next came the first hurdle to achieving the Nascent Soul Realm: gestation.
Golden Core was merely the source of a cultivator’s spiritual power. It couldn’t produce a Nascent Soul based on a wisp of qi alone. First, it needed a wisp of his divine soul to be invested in this qi.
To put it simply, the Primal Qi of the Golden Core was merely a carrier for the divine soul — or perhaps it could be said it’s the body of the Nascent Soul. The most important aspect was this wisp of the divine soul.
After achieving the Nascent Soul, with the cultivation of the Nascent Soul, the divine soul would also become stronger and stronger, laying the foundation for becoming a Primordial Spirit.
From this perspective, every realm in cultivation was laying the groundwork for the next realm. Countless realms laid the foundation for the ultimate goal: Immortal Existence.
Lin Yi split off a strand of his divine soul and infused it into the purple qi. After the soul joined, the purple qi seemed to obtain some consciousness. However, it was still just qi and wouldn’t automatically gestate a Nascent Soul.
Looking at this strand of purple qi, he exhaled slowly, calming his mind and began to grasp its essence.
The difficulty of the Golden Core breakthrough to the Nascent Soul was because it was the first stage in the cultivation path where one had to confront the truth about oneself.
Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment and even the Golden Core could be successfully cultivated based on the experiences and methods of others. However, only in the Nascent Soul stage did one need to understand their True Self and comprehend their own Dao. Dao was the foundation of the Nascent Soul, and the I, was the wisdom of the Nascent Soul.
This was why, after achieving the Nascent Soul stage, the main body and Nascent Soul could operate separately and exist independently.
Once these two aspects were understood, the Dao gave form to the Nascent Soul’s body, and the I gave intelligence to the Nascent Soul. The merger of these two would allow the qi to successfully incubate the embryo of the Nascent Soul. Then, using the qi of the Golden Core, slowly nourishing it to maturation, ending in pill-breakthrough-becoming-infant.
Other realms simply required enough understanding for a breakthrough, while the Nascent Soul Realm not only required understanding, but also comprehensive self-awareness. This was a hurdle that stood before all cultivators.
Moreover, during self-perception, it was extremely easy to fall into confusion from which one couldn’t free themselves, a situation called demonic possession.
He had previously thought that Master Golden Sword could achieve the Nascent Soul around the age of three hundred because he felt that his understanding of himself was certainly thorough. There would be no confusion during perception.
Lin Yi felt that while perceiving the Nascent Soul, he might genuinely encounter the first obstacle. His previous optimistic estimate of reaching the Nascent Soul Realm in about twenty years may have been too optimistic.
Up until now, no matter the realm, he could always use the ‘Grain Wisdom from One’s Mistakes’ to gain enlightenment, aiding him in his breakthroughs.
However, during the perception of himself, he might fall into confusion, losing control of himself and his mind, unable to use the enlightenment opportunity provided by the title.
But not a bit of retreat stirred in him, the cultivation path called for endless forward momentum. If one hesitated in the face of difficulties, they would not be a qualified practitioner.
Previously, most of Lin Yi’s time was spent cultivating; even his perceptions were focused on the Creation Method, evolving the Tenth Layer. He rarely perceived himself. So, this was a challenge, and also a chance to recognize his True Self.
Lin Yi also understood why sometimes, cultivation was also referred to as seeking truth. In fact, it was a process of gradually perfecting oneself and understanding oneself.
The first thing he needed to perceive was his Dao. Dao is the understanding of the cultivation and also the source of personal power. When compared with understanding the True Self, perceiving the Dao indeed appeared to be much easier.
Before perception, he naturally equipped all usable titles. Perception was perception, but these external aids were also part of him. How could they be missing?
However, some passive titles did not need to be equipped, such as ‘Face Difficulties Head On’.
Although ‘Grain Wisdom from One’s Mistakes’ does not necessitate an equipped title for enlightened opportunity, when using it, it must be equipped.
When he received titles, he had three slots. Reaching the Foundation Building Realm added one, and once more after the Golden Core was achieved. Now there were five title slots.