The sting of the online tournament's ridicule lingered, but Li Wei refused to let it dim his resolve. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and ever-present mist, remained his sanctuary, its mystical energy amplifying the warmth in his dantian—a warmth he believed was his nascent Golden Core. Azure Dragon, his scruffy spirit beast, lay curled by the stone altar, a quiet reminder of his connection to the living world. The scroll, its bamboo slats worn from constant handling, had guided him through trials of lightning, betrayal, and imagined warfare, each one forging his spirit closer to immortality. Now, its next passage unveiled a monumental challenge: "Nascent Soul Awakening, where the cultivator's spirit births a divine self, unbound by mortal flesh."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had read in his Beijing days, the Nascent Soul was a legendary milestone—a spiritual entity formed within the cultivator, a miniature version of their soul that could act independently, wielding immense power. The scroll's description was more poetic but equally daunting: "From the Golden Core, the soul takes flight, a spark of divinity to pierce the heavens. Focus the mind, refine the qi, and face the void within." It warned of intense mental strain and visions that could shatter the unprepared. Li Wei, emboldened by his survival of demonic possession and the lightning tribulation, felt ready to confront this trial, even as his weakened body protested from months of hunger and exertion.
He prepared with reverence, treating the valley as a sacred crucible. The ancient tree's glowing blossoms seemed to pulse in encouragement, their light reflecting off the pool's crystal surface. Li Wei fasted for a day, sipping only the valley's water, which he believed was infused with spiritual essence. He arranged his altar with care, placing the scroll, jade slip, and stolen booklet at its center, surrounded by the last of his wilted "Spirit Root Herbs." Azure Dragon watched, head tilted, as if sensing the gravity of the moment. The scroll instructed a deep meditative trance to "enter the void and birth the soul," and Li Wei, clutching the jade slip, settled beneath the tree, ready to begin.
As night fell, the valley cloaked in starlight, Li Wei closed his eyes and focused on his dantian. The warmth of his Golden Core pulsed steadily, a radiant orb in his mind's eye. He chanted the scroll's incantations, their rhythmic tones blending with the valley's whispers, and visualized his qi condensing further, shaping a spark of his soul. Hours passed, his body growing numb, his mind sinking deeper into a trance. The warmth in his core intensified, almost painful, as if his spirit was straining to break free. The scroll had warned of "facing the void," and Li Wei felt it—a vast, empty darkness behind his closed eyes, pulling him in.
In the trance, the valley vanished, replaced by a formless expanse where light and shadow swirled. A figure appeared—not the mocking demon of his earlier trial, but a smaller, radiant version of himself, glowing with golden light. Its eyes, his own yet infinite, stared back, and a voice echoed in his mind: "Are you worthy of eternity?" Fear gripped him, but Li Wei clung to his qi, willing the spark in his dantian to grow. The figure extended a hand, and he reached for it, their touch igniting a burst of heat that surged through his meridians. For a moment, he felt weightless, as if his soul had truly awakened, ready to soar beyond his body.
But the strain was too much. His vision fractured, the radiant figure dissolving into sparks, and a wave of dizziness pulled him from the trance. He awoke with a gasp, sprawled by the altar, his body trembling and soaked with sweat. Azure Dragon whined, nudging his hand, as if urging him to rise. The warmth in his dantian pulsed erratically, stronger than before but unstable, like a flame caught in a gust. Had he birthed a Nascent Soul, or was it another delusion born of exhaustion? The scroll promised visions, but also clarity, and Li Wei felt a strange lucidity despite his physical weakness.
He grabbed his notebook, scribbling with shaking hands: "Nascent Soul Awakening attempted. Divine self seen, qi surged. Body faltered, but spirit rises." The valley's mist curled around him, the tree's blossoms glowing brighter, as if affirming his progress. He wasn't sure if the radiant figure was real or a product of his yearning, but the strengthened qi in his core felt undeniable. He chose to believe he'd taken a step toward immortality, even if the soul remained nascent, a seed yet to bloom.
During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared his experience, describing the golden figure and the void with fervent excitement. Zhang Wei, eyes wide, declared it a "true awakening," urging him to stabilize the soul with alchemy. Liu Mei, her voice soft but firm, cautioned him to rest: "The soul is fragile at birth. Nurture it slowly." Li Wei nodded, grateful for their support, though he hid the extent of his disorientation. The valley, with its whispers and radiant energy, was his crucible, and Azure Dragon his anchor.
As dawn broke, Li Wei meditated by the pool, the jade slip warm in his hands, the scroll open before him. The Nascent Soul, real or imagined, was a milestone, a spark of divinity within him. The scroll promised greater trials, but Li Wei felt ready, his spirit buoyed by the valley's embrace and his sect's faith. With Azure Dragon snoring softly and the ancient tree's blossoms glowing, he chanted softly, determined to nurture his nascent soul toward the heavens.