Once one stepped into mid–Foundation Establishment, several far more powerful spells became available.

  Within the Azure jade slip granted by Han Mingzi, Yun Che had once seen a secret art called Soul-Calling Technique—a forbidden spell capable of summoning wandering remnant souls from the Nether Realm to fight on one’s behalf.

  Ordinarily, it required Core Formation to cast.

  But perhaps, driven by Extremity’s Azure cold force, he might barely attempt it at mid–Foundation Establishment.

  To reclaim the Soul-Locking Banner.

  To retrieve the hundred faces bound upon it.

  He had to use every method available.

  He gripped the Heavenly Nether Pearl.

  The world spun.

  When his eyes opened, he stood once more within the gray expanse inside the pearl.

  An endless ceiling of low, oppressive gray clouds hung overhead. Around him drifted countless elongated luminous bodies, emitting faint, dim light.

  The first time he entered this space, they had been still.

  After the Water Origin reached completion, they began drifting irregularly—alive.

  He reached out.

  His hand passed straight through one.

  Visible, untouchable.

  Yet controllable.

  With a thought, they gathered, dispersed, merged—shaping into whatever he imagined.

  Yun Che remembered Li Han’s words:

  “The origin of this pearl far exceeds our imagination.”

  Back in a sixth-level cultivation nation, Li Han had stood invincible. After obtaining the pearl, he believed none would dare provoke him.

  Not long after, mysterious cultivators appeared—terrifyingly powerful. They hunted him relentlessly.

  Forced to abandon his physical body, he hid within the pearl to survive.

  “They were not from this planet,” he had once said. “Several matched me in strength. But one… far surpassed me.”

  “That one likely came from a seventh-level cultivation nation.”

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  A treasure worthy of pursuit by a seventh-level expert—

  If exposed, they would not merely die.

  They would suffer total annihilation of body and soul.

  Yun Che withdrew his thoughts.

  Seventh-level cultivation nation.

  A height he could not yet even look toward.

  But if he wished to protect those he cared for—

  If he wished to ensure beings like Teng Huayuan would never again dare covet what was his—

  He had to walk that path.

  Step by step.

  Until he stood at a height feared by all.

  He sat cross-legged.

  But did not cultivate immediately.

  He closed his eyes.

  Memories surfaced.

  His father sending him off at the town entrance: “Go. Do not worry about home.”

  His mother turning from the stove, smiling: “Eat more. You’re still growing.”

  His sister washing clothes by the well, small hands red from the cold. Seeing him, her eyes curved like crescent moons. “Ge!”

  For seven years, he had not dared revisit these images.

  Now he let them flood in.

  His heart twisted.

  He did not open his eyes.

  He made himself remember the pain.

  Remember why it hurt.

  Remember who caused it.

  Then he sank that pain into his dantian.

  Turned it into part of his Extremity cold force.

  The cultivation world was cruel.

  This was no revelation.

  To mortals, a Qi Condensation cultivator was already immortal.

  To Qi Condensation cultivators, Foundation Establishment was unreachable.

  To Foundation Establishment cultivators, Core Formation was distant.

  To Core Formation cultivators, Nascent Soul was divine.

  And to Nascent Soul—

  All below Deity Transformation were ants.

  When Teng Huayuan slaughtered the Yun family, he did not even bother asking if they knew Yun Che.

  Because mortals were ants.

  Even if Yun Mo and Yun Ting had knelt before him as Qi Condensation cultivators—

  He would have killed them anyway.

  Stronger ants.

  Still ants.

  Yun Che opened his eyes.

  Calm.

  If he were Deity Transformation—

  Nascent Soul Transformation—

  Or higher—

  If he slaughtered the Teng clan entirely, would Teng Huayuan dare utter a single complaint?

  No.

  He would kneel.

  Beg for mercy.

  This was the law of cultivation.

  Survival of the fittest.

  Strength devours weakness.

  No justice.

  No morality.

  Only power.

  “If I do not wish to be trampled,” Yun Che murmured softly,

  “Then I must become strong.”

  “Strong enough that all fear me.”

  “Strong enough that no one ever dares touch those beside me again.”

  He inhaled deeply and formed hand seals.

  The luminous bodies gathered before him, forming a gate of light.

  After Water Origin completion, Li Han had discovered this use—arranging the light forms into arrays to travel freely within the pearl.

  Yun Che stepped through.

  Light shifted.

  He appeared elsewhere.

  Three zhang ahead—

  A colossal semi-transparent figure floated cross-legged in midair.

  Three zhang tall.

  Its body wrapped in countless luminous strands.

  Its chest nearly transparent, pure spiritual force flowing within.

  Eyes closed.

  Unaware of his presence.

  Li Han’s Nascent Soul.

  Even on the third sight, Yun Che felt awe.

  Such magnitude.

  How immense must the original body have been?

  He once asked.

  “When you reach that realm,” Li Han had said with a smile, “you will understand.”

  Suddenly—

  The Nascent Soul trembled faintly.

  A weak divine thought flickered into Yun Che’s mind:

  “Focus… on… cultivation… Do not… divide… your mind…”

  Yun Che stood silent.

  Then nodded gently.

  He turned away.

  Found a quiet place.

  Sat cross-legged.

  Drank a mouthful of Nether Origin Dew.

  Closed his eyes.

  To break into mid–Foundation Establishment.

  (Within the Nether Pearl, comprehension deepens. Extremity grows sharper. A remnant Nascent Soul still offers concern. Three months of bitter cultivation—one step toward breakthrough.)

  (The day he exits seclusion will be the day blood debts are repaid.)