Chapter 834: Heaven Soul, Earth Soul, Human Soul
Buddhist cultivators have always placed great emphasis on the cultivation of spiritual power. If even this old monk had not reached the realm of a Spiritual Power Great Saint, it would be difficult to find a single Spiritual Power Great Saint in the entire Kunlun Realm.
A look of dejection appeared in Zhang Ruochen's eyes.
The old monk offered a word of comfort: "Life and death are simply matters of fate. Why must you force the issue?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled slightly. "Junior understands this principle as well. It's just that upon arriving in the Underworld, I heard the legend of the Resurrection Elixir, which gave rise to some unrealistic hopes."
"In truth, if you truly could find the legendary Resurrection Elixir, even someone whose soul has been scattered would have a certain chance of being revived." The old monk sat down cross-legged and gestured for Zhang Ruochen to sit as well. Then, he spoke slowly: "First, you must understand that a person possesses three souls: the Heaven Soul, the Earth Soul, and the Human Soul. What is called 'soul scattering' refers to the Human Soul among the three being shattered and dissipating into nothingness. It has little to do with the Heaven Soul and Earth Soul."
Zhang Ruochen was hearing for the first time that a person's soul was divided into three parts, and he found it quite novel. He asked, "Why are the Heaven Soul and Earth Soul not shattered?"
"It's not that they cannot be shattered, but rather that they are more stable and not so easily broken."
"For example, the Earth Soul."
"The so-called Earth Soul is equivalent to a person's shadow."
"As long as the physical body exists, the Earth Soul also exists forever. After a person dies and is buried in the earth, when the flesh merges with the earth, turning into bones, soil, and dust, the Earth Soul also merges with the earth. Then, through the growth of all things, it returns to a person's body, and thus new life is born."
"Therefore, even for someone whose soul has been scattered, as long as the Earth Soul is not destroyed, they can still gain new life. It is not a true annihilation."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Is that really the case?"
The old monk smiled. "Not necessarily. Everyone's understanding of life is completely different. Some ancient sages claim that the Earth Soul does not dissipate or merge with the earth, but instead enters what is called the Underworld Court and the Underworld."
"There is also another situation: if a person dies at a special time or in a special place, the Earth Soul can detach from the body and transform into a fierce ghost."
Zhang Ruochen said, "So, the Earth Soul is a ghost?"
"You can understand it that way," the old monk said.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment and said, "I understand! The reason so many ghosts can be born in the Underworld is that it is a special world. Corpses drifting down from the upper reaches of the Corpse River enter the Underworld, and the Earth Soul detaches from the corpse, transforming into a ghost. In the Kunlun Realm, places similar to the Underworld are extremely rare, so after people die, they rarely become ghosts."
"That is indeed the case."
The old monk added another sentence: "Whoever can fathom the secrets of the Underworld might be able to obtain immortality."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Then what is the Heaven Soul?"
"Both the Heaven Soul and the Earth Soul are not within a person's body. The Earth Soul is the shadow beneath one's feet, while the Heaven Soul is a part of the Heavenly Dao, even more ethereal and illusory than the Earth Soul. Ordinary people cannot even perceive the existence of the Heaven Soul."
"Only the Qi refiners of the ancient era knew how to communicate with the Heaven Soul and even cultivate it. They called the Heaven Soul the Primordial Spirit, and by cultivating the Heaven Soul, they could achieve immortality."
"However, the cultivation secrets of the ancient era have long been lost. Now, no one can communicate with the Heaven Soul. All cultivators in the Kunlun Realm, when they cultivate their Martial Soul or Saint Soul, are actually only cultivating the Human Soul."
Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred. "Can the Resurrection Elixir help the dead communicate with the Heaven Soul, thereby reviving them?"
The old monk nodded. "In theory, that is indeed the case."
Zhang Ruochen thought of Xuanji Sword Saint. Although Xuanji Sword Saint's Human Soul had been shattered, his Earth Soul and Heaven Soul had not been destroyed.
Others might not know how to communicate with the Heaven Soul, but the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree certainly could.
Because the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree had grown from the beginning of the Kunlun Realm's birth all the way to the Middle Ages, experiencing every era. It might also know the cultivation methods of the ancient Qi refiners. Every ring on its trunk was a volume of historical records, containing the richest knowledge.
Since the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree was injecting strands of life energy into Xuanji Sword Saint's body, there was a certain hope that it could help Xuanji Sword Saint communicate with the Heaven Soul and revive.
Now, it should just be a matter of an opportunity, a catalyst.
Just then, Mu Lingxi, who had been in a deep sleep, let out a soft moan and slowly woke up.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze turned to her. Her gaze also fixed on Zhang Ruochen, and both of them smiled slightly.
Even though they had always been by each other's side, it felt like a reunion after a long separation.
The old monk also revealed a knowing smile and continued, "Both of you are exceptionally gifted individuals, rare even in a thousand years. Now that you have come together, you are a perfectly matched pair." A rare blush appeared on Mu Lingxi's face, tinged with shyness. "Senior, he and I are only fellow disciples."
"Whether as fellow disciples or lovers who share mutual affection, coming together is no easy feat. You must cherish it."
The old monk's gaze turned to Zhang Ruochen, and he asked, "Benefactor, you are cultivating the Five Elements Chaos Body, correct? Have you reached the level of Four Spirit Treasure Body?"
"That's right," Zhang Ruochen said.
The old monk pondered for a moment and said, "Since you have encountered this humble monk, and this humble monk owes you a great favor, I will lend you a hand. Of course, whether you succeed or not depends on you. If you can cultivate the Five Elements Chaos Body, it will be a tremendous fortune."
Zhang Ruochen had already cultivated the Water Spirit Treasure Body, Wood Spirit Treasure Body, Earth Spirit Treasure Body, and Fire Spirit Treasure Body. Now, he only needed to refine the Golden Divine Fungus to cultivate the Golden Spirit Treasure Body, and then the Five Elements Chaos Body would be complete.
Cultivating the Four Spirit Treasure Body had already been extremely difficult. Relying on his own strength, Zhang Ruochen could not possibly succeed in cultivating the Five Elements Chaos Body at the Fish-Dragon Realm.
However, that old monk was a formidable great power. With his help, Zhang Ruochen could give it a try.
"To cultivate the Five Elements Chaos Body, you must endure pain that ordinary people cannot bear. The test of willpower is even greater than the test of your physical body."
The old monk raised both arms, and hundreds of clusters of golden flames flew out from his palms, enveloping Zhang Ruochen's body, causing him to slowly float into the air.
"Boom!"
Next, the old monk struck out with a palm, hitting Zhang Ruochen's chest, sending him flying backward. It felt as if all his bones had shifted, and his internal organs were about to shatter.
"Boom, boom."
The old monk continued to strike, his palm prints constantly landing on Zhang Ruochen's body, hitting every part.
With each palm strike, a wisp of golden flame merged into Zhang Ruochen's body. Each golden flame was a small clump of burning Golden Divine Fungus powder.
After several hundred palm strikes, Zhang Ruochen felt completely numb and in unbearable pain. His physical body was battered and broken, covered in dense cracks, as if the slightest touch would shatter it into pieces.
But the old monk had no intention of letting him off. He sent Zhang Ruochen plunging into the sea of magma, immersing his body in the boiling lava.
The golden magma even seeped into the cracks of his flesh, scorching his blood and flesh with a sizzling sound.
Even with Zhang Ruochen's willpower, low growls escaped his lips, and he felt a living death.
Mu Lingxi stood on the shore, biting her lip, unable to bear it. She looked at the old monk. "Senior..."
The old monk shook his head. "One must endure hardship to rise above others. He is destined to become a towering saint in the future, so he must put in more effort and bear greater pain. Besides, the magma is infused with residual divine power, which is immensely beneficial to his body. As long as his willpower is strong enough, he will surely get through this."
Five days later, Zhang Ruochen's physical body had recovered. Even soaking in the magma no longer caused him pain.
But the old monk pulled him out and once again forcibly drove the Golden Divine Fungus powder into his body.
After several hundred palm strikes, Zhang Ruochen's body was once again battered and broken. He was sent back into the sea of magma to nourish his body, enduring immense pain.
Mu Lingxi stayed by Zhang Ruochen's side the entire time, while the old monk busied himself with other matters.
The old monk walked around the volcano, carving golden Buddhist inscriptions into the mountain with every step. Mu Lingxi could not understand what he was doing, so she did not ask.
In her heart, nothing was more important than Zhang Ruochen's safety.
This time, a full ten days passed before Zhang Ruochen recovered.
"Boom, boom."
Once again, after another round of pounding, the old monk drove all the remaining Golden Divine Fungus powder into Zhang Ruochen's body.
Zhang Ruochen fainted directly, falling into a low-lying area at the edge of the magma sea. Only his upper body was exposed, and blood continuously flowed from his entire body.
The old monk said, "If he can survive this trial, the Five Elements Chaos Body can be achieved."
Mu Lingxi looked at Zhang Ruochen's injured body. Blood kept flowing from his skull and the gaps between his bones. Tears streamed from her eyes. "What if... what if he can't survive this trial?"
"If he can't, he dies. To become a towering strongman, one must always pay a greater price than ordinary people. If he doesn't take this risk, he cannot cultivate the Five Elements Chaos Body."
After saying this, the old monk left again.
Mu Lingxi glanced at the old monk's retreating figure, realizing for the first time that this so-called Saint Monk was so ruthless.
At least in her heart, she would rather Zhang Ruochen live well than risk his life to cultivate the Five Elements Chaos Body.
...
(Everyone should have guessed the old monk's identity by now, right?
The next two chapters will fill in all the remaining plot holes from the Underworld journey and wrap things up. Based on the information revealed in the previous dozens of chapters, feel free to guess the cause and effect of the series of events triggered by the opening of the passage between the Yin and Yang realms.)