The exile of Lin Tao had left the Order of the Jade Dawn smaller and more guarded, but Li Wei's resolve to pursue immortality burned brighter than ever. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, remained a sanctuary, its mystical energy resonating with the warmth in his dantian—a warmth he believed was his nascent Golden Core, nurturing a fledgling Nascent Soul. Azure Dragon, his scruffy spirit beast, dozed by the stone altar, a loyal companion amidst the valley's whispers. The scroll, its bamboo slats worn from constant handling, continued to guide him, its latest passage unveiling a profound challenge: "Void Crossing, where the cultivator steps into the abyss of the self, bridging the mortal and divine."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in Beijing, the concept of crossing a void was a mystical journey, often a spiritual trial where cultivators confronted the infinite to transcend their mortal limits. The scroll's description was more enigmatic but equally compelling: "Gaze into the stars, let the qi flow unbound, and cross the void where time and flesh dissolve." It spoke of a meditative state so deep it bordered on oblivion, requiring absolute focus and a surrender to the unknown. Li Wei, tempered by trials of lightning, betrayal, and demonic possession, felt ready to face this abyss, even as his weakened body—ravaged by hunger, alchemical mishaps, and relentless practice—protested.
He prepared with the reverence of a pilgrim approaching a sacred rite. The valley's ancient tree, its blossoms glowing like stars, seemed the perfect place for such a trial. Li Wei reinforced his altar with fresh stones, placing the scroll, jade slip, and stolen booklet at its center, their faint warmth a ward against doubt. He fasted for a day, sipping only the valley's crystal-clear water, which he believed was infused with spiritual essence. Azure Dragon watched, head tilted, as Li Wei sat beneath the tree, the night sky above a canvas of infinite stars. The scroll instructed him to "merge with the cosmos," and he resolved to lose himself in meditation, to cross the void within.
As midnight approached, the valley cloaked in starlight, Li Wei began. He lay on his back, staring at the constellations, their brilliance mirrored in the pool's surface. He chanted the scroll's incantations, their rhythmic tones blending with the valley's whispers, and focused on his dantian, visualizing the warmth of his Golden Core as a radiant star. The scroll urged him to "release the self," so he let his thoughts drift, surrendering to the vastness above. Hours passed, his body numb, his mind sinking into a trance. The warmth in his core expanded, pulsing in rhythm with his breaths, and the stars seemed to draw closer, their light enveloping him.
In the trance, the valley vanished, replaced by a boundless void—a sea of darkness speckled with swirling galaxies. Li Wei felt weightless, his body dissolving as his qi stretched outward, a thread connecting him to the infinite. A voice, not his own but achingly familiar, echoed: "Are you ready to let go?" Fear gripped him, memories of his Beijing life—his mother's worried voice, Mei Ling's shy smile, Wang Hao's betrayal—flashing like dying stars. The scroll had warned of "the void's temptation," and Li Wei realized this was it: the pull of his mortal ties, threatening to anchor him. He focused on his Golden Core, willing its light to burn brighter, and chanted louder, his voice a lifeline in the abyss.
The void shifted, a radiant path forming—a bridge of light stretching toward a distant star. Li Wei's spirit surged forward, his qi flowing freely, and for a moment, he felt truly unbound, as if his Nascent Soul had taken flight. The sensation was exhilarating, but his body, frail and overtaxed, rebelled. A wave of dizziness shattered the trance, and he awoke gasping, sprawled beneath the tree, Azure Dragon nudging his face with a worried whine. His heart raced, his limbs trembling, but the warmth in his dantian pulsed stronger, denser, as if the void had refined it.
Li Wei grabbed his notebook, scribbling with shaking hands: "Void Crossing attempted. Path of light seen, soul soared. Body faltered, but qi ascends." The valley's mist curled around him, the ancient tree's blossoms glowing brighter, as if affirming his progress. Had he truly crossed the void, or was it another vision born of exhaustion and longing? The warmth in his core felt real, a step toward divinity. He chose to believe he'd touched the edge of immortality, even if briefly.
During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared his experience, describing the radiant path and the voice in the void. Zhang Wei, eyes wide, declared it a "cosmic breakthrough," urging him to stabilize his qi with alchemy. Liu Mei, her serene face lit by moonlight, cautioned him to rest: "The void tests the spirit, but the body must endure." Chen Xiu and Zhao Feng, the newer members, were awed, their debates quieter as they absorbed Li Wei's tale. The sect's support bolstered him, though he hid the extent of his physical weakness, fearing their concern.
As dawn broke, Li Wei sat by the altar, the jade slip warm in his hands, Azure Dragon snoring softly. The scroll promised that Void Crossing was a gateway to greater realms, but also greater trials. The valley's whispers seemed to chant in approval, their murmurs a soft encouragement. With his sect's faith and the scroll's guidance, Li Wei felt ready to face the next challenge, his Golden Core and nascent soul glowing within, guiding him toward the heavens, one perilous step at a time.