The confrontation with Old Chen, though lacking the mystical flair of Li Wei's imagined elder battles, had solidified his belief in his cultivation. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, continued to pulse with an energy that resonated with the warmth in his dantian—a warmth he saw as his nascent Golden Core, nurturing a fledgling Nascent Soul. Azure Dragon, his scruffy spirit beast, remained a loyal companion, curled by the stone altar as Li Wei pored over the scroll, its worn bamboo slats a sacred guide through his trials. The scroll's latest passage unveiled a new challenge: "Soul Binding, where the cultivator anchors their spirit to a vessel, forging a bond that endures beyond the mortal coil."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in Beijing, soul binding was a profound act, often involving linking one's spirit to a sacred artifact—a sword, a talisman, or a jade pendant—to amplify qi or ensure the soul's survival. The scroll's description was more poetic but equally compelling: "Bind the soul to an object of the earth, let qi flow as one, and create a tether to eternity." It warned of the risks—mental strain, spiritual imbalance—if the bond was formed carelessly. Li Wei, tempered by lightning, betrayal, and the phoenix rebirth, felt ready to undertake this ritual, seeing it as a way to anchor his Nascent Soul. His body, weakened by hunger, alchemical mishaps, and recurring fever, protested, but his spirit burned with purpose.
The valley's mystical aura seemed the perfect setting for such a ritual. Li Wei's artifacts—the jade slip from the auction, the bronze "Spirit Seal" from the cave, and the stolen booklet—were potential vessels, but he sought something more personal, something tied to the valley itself. During his foraging, he'd noticed a smooth, fist-sized stone near the pool, its surface etched with natural spirals that glowed faintly in the moonlight, as if kissed by the valley's qi. He dubbed it the "Starstone," convinced it was destined to be his soul's anchor. With Azure Dragon watching, head tilted, Li Wei prepared the ritual, placing the Starstone at the center of his altar, surrounded by the scroll, jade slip, and booklet. The ancient tree's blossoms glowed brighter, as if blessing his endeavor.
At midnight, when the valley was cloaked in starlight, Li Wei began. He sat cross-legged before the altar, the Starstone cradled in his hands, its cool surface warming under his touch. The scroll instructed a meditative trance to "merge the soul with the vessel," so he chanted its incantations, their rhythmic tones blending with the valley's whispers. He focused on his dantian, visualizing his Golden Core as a radiant star, its light flowing into the Starstone. The scroll emphasized intent, so Li Wei poured his will into the stone, imagining his Nascent Soul—a faint, glowing version of himself—binding to its spirals, creating a tether that would endure beyond his mortal life.
Hours passed, his body trembling from the strain, his feverish haze intensifying. The warmth in his dantian surged, pulsing in rhythm with the Starstone's faint glow. In his trance, the valley faded, replaced by a shimmering void where the Starstone floated, its spirals spinning like galaxies. A vision of his Nascent Soul appeared, reaching for the stone, and Li Wei felt a tug, as if his spirit was stretching to merge with it. The sensation was exhilarating but disorienting, his mind teetering on the edge of collapse. The scroll had warned of "spiritual imbalance," and Li Wei sensed it—a dizzying pull, as if the stone could consume him if he lost focus.
Azure Dragon's sudden bark snapped him back. He gasped, clutching the Starstone, his vision swimming. The stone felt heavier, warmer, as if infused with a piece of his qi. His dantian pulsed steadily, but his body was wracked with chills, the fever spiking from the effort. Had he bound his soul, or was it another delusion born of exhaustion? The scroll promised a strengthened spirit, and Li Wei chose to believe he'd succeeded, even if the bond was incomplete. He scribbled in his notebook, hands shaking: "Soul Binding attempted. Starstone tethered to Nascent Soul. Qi flows stronger, body weakens."
During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared the ritual, holding up the Starstone, its spirals glinting in the campfire's light. Zhang Wei, eyes wide, called it a "divine vessel," suggesting alchemical enhancements to strengthen the bond. Liu Mei, her serene face lit by moonlight, warned him to rest: "The soul is fragile when bound. Nurture your body." Chen Xiu and Zhao Feng, inspired, shared their own experiments with talismans, though their debates hinted at lingering tensions. Li Wei nodded, hiding the extent of his fever, fearing their concern might shake their faith.
As dawn broke, Li Wei sat by the pool, the Starstone in his hands, Azure Dragon snoring softly. The scroll promised that Soul Binding was a step toward eternity, but also warned of greater trials. The valley's whispers seemed to approve, their murmurs blending with his chants. The Starstone, real or not, was his anchor now, a symbol of his unyielding pursuit. With his sect's support and the scroll's guidance, Li Wei felt ready to face the next challenge, his Nascent Soul tethered to the valley's heart, guiding him toward immortality, one perilous step at a time.