Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

After purchasing lodging in Xuanwu City and paying the year-round residency membership, Yan Zaizen was ready to cultivate. The last time he decided to cultivate this diligently was because he was kidnapped and had literally nothing else to do. Luckily, he was given a steady supply of cultivation resources from Lin Feilin during that time. However, a majority of it was to help with his injuries from cultivating the Immortal Herculean Method, but now he was focusing elsewhere.

Firstly, the Spirit Matrix Method was a priority. He had to develop his own soul form. Secondly, the three souls arts in the soul jade. Lastly, Qi Cultivation. This was his itinerary for his next cultivation session.

"In eight months, I'll take the spatial platform to Zhu Que City, then go back home." Yan Zaizen couldn't help but feel everything he discovered was surreal. According to soul cultivation, he had the strength that exceeded his own grandfather. It would be quite awkward returning home.

"Would he just immediately declare me as the successor of the Clan Leader on the spot?" He couldn't help but chuckle loudly at this thought. It's always been a dream of his to be the Clan Leader of the Yan Clan, and now it may just become a reality. Thus, he needed to cultivate to turn that raw, untapped strength into something he can properly use.

After one month, besides gaining initial success in the three soul arts — Pneuma Disruption Soul Art, Anima Shield Soul Art, and Source Sonar Soul Art — his Qi cultivation rose quickly from the mid-Qi Revolving Realm to the peak. The mid-grade liquid essence was extraordinary in covering up his lacking foundation and rising his cultivation. It only required ten drops to do so, and he still had two left for further cultivation.

He still couldn't formulate his own soul form, leaving him with just a thin, squiggly line. It wasn't ideal, but he recognized the difficulty to construct one's soul form was exceptional. Therefore, he didn't get impatient. He had time, seven months to be exact.

Another month passed.

Using the other two drops of mid-grade liquid essence, he was capable of ascending to the half-step of Essence Formation Realm. His dantian produced Qi-Essence, and albeit it wasn't enough to fill his body, it filled up about two percent. When he condenses his Qi into Qi-Essence and has five percent of his body filled, he'll have officially advanced to the initial-Essence Formation Realm.

Qi-Essence was exceptionally difficult to condense, but it was purer and more powerful than normal Qi, and thus establishes a significant difference between Qi Revolving and Essence Formation. If one had abundant amounts of liquid essence, it wouldn't be too difficult to continue condensing Qi-Essence, but he lacked any more wealth. Therefore, his Qi Cultivation had to progress at a slow pace until then.

He didn't progress in developing his soul form or progressing the mastery of his soul arts. His soul arts proficiency increased in usage and control, but it wasn't enough to signify an upgrade in mastery. The higher the mastery of an art, as well as its grade, determine the effects when used. Excluding cultivation level, of course.

Another month flashed by.

"It took me three months." He couldn't help but sigh in relief.

He finally developed his soul form!

Its form was in the shape of himself, a splitting image, except cyan in color with a black dot at its glabella. When he tried interacting with this dot, it didn't do anything, as if sleeping. He didn't know what it was, but he felt it was exceptional. He had a gut feeling that if his soul cultivation reached a certain point, this black dot would reveal its mysteries.

Moving around in the vast area of the Meteor Ring was far easier, and he could even perceive more inside. It was like his soul cultivation lost its raw feeling, it was easier to control, contain and distribute. Even his spiritual sense underwent an advancement; he could sense ten times the range from before. Before, his spiritual sense could reach about three hundred meters, but now he could sense up to three thousand! The clarity of it all became heightened as well, from the shape of grass, the vibrations of the ground from the stomping of people, to even the lifeforce aura individuals emitted.

He could observe it all.

The strength of the Soul Arts rose explosively. He felt as if before he was wielding a stick with a pointy edge, and now he was using a metallic spear.

Now, he could change his cultivation goals, and focus on the Immortal Herculean Method. He didn't know why his body was refined to such an extraordinary state, but if it was the Method, then he wanted to increase his body cultivation as quickly as possible.

He could see himself in the future. A soul of an immortal, the body of an immortal, and the Qi cultivation that could rival the heavens. Regardless of how unlikely that was, he felt a sensation of exhilaration and ecstasy just imagining it.

"Hahahaha!!!"

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

A set of panicked knocks resounded at his door. His mood went sour seeing how the knocks were so loud and annoying. Begrudgingly, he got up to answer the door. The moment he did, he saw a petite, bespectacled woman with reddened eyes at his door. His eyes widened in shock.

Ying Sumian?!

"Lord Zai, please help me!" She pleaded with a sense of urgency and desperation. He could tell she's been crying. He couldn't help but be surprised at her. Originally, she always called him by the title of Young Hero, and he loved it, but being called Lord made him feel giddy. He couldn't describe the happiness in his heart, but that also made him feel a little guilty looking at Ying Sumian's crying expression.

Composing himself enough to ask, "With?"

He tried to sound like a powerful cultivator who could swipe all worries with just a word, or hold the skies. His back was straighter, and his eyes glowed with radiance.

"My family needs help...if they don't get it...I fear…" Her tone was filled with despair. It seems the Ying Clan was having troubles, wherever they were, but why would she come asking him for help? Sure, he displayed extraordinary prowess before, but it wasn't 'hold the sky and move the heavens' level of prowess.

"What help can I provide?" His expression turned solemn. He wasn't sure if he could offer help, and if he couldn't then what?

"I can explain on the way. We must hurry!" She urged, obviously not wanting to reveal anything if he wouldn't help. If he declined, then she'd likely try a different avenue or a different person. He had a peculiar feeling as if he was following along some sort of contrived plot.

"Where?" He inquired.

"Sky Titan City!" She exclaimed.

What?!

Sky Titan City was right near the Earthly Titan Sect and was its capital in the entire territory. Why would her family be located there? What help can he give there?!

"You mean…" His voice trailing off, he was going to decline to help her. There was no reason to accept such a plot. Sure, he and Ying Sumian were close, but it seemed like this request may very well be life-threatening. He contemplated an excuse, and his eyes lit up when he came up with a perfectly reasonable one.

"It's too far. I have to take the Spatial Platform in Five Months. I won't make it back in time." He couldn't help but nod inwardly at his excuse. It was a legitimate one. He wasn't someone who would drop everything and help every damsel in distress. Hell, he didn't even really help her last time.

"I have a sky boat! We can make it the Sky Titan City in a few weeks, and return the same!" She urgently explained, completely destroying his excuse. However, he was astonished. A sky boat was an armament that could sail through the skies at exceptional speed, and since its through the sky, you can avoid many obstacles in your path or attempted robberies that would otherwise take place. It was exceptionally expensive, and even with his twelve mid-grade essence drops, he still couldn't afford one.

Despite being impressed, he still wasn't going to accept. There was no reason to.

Ying Sumian could see him contemplating another excuse, and she started to panic inwardly. She shouted, "You can keep the sky boat after! I swear!"

He glanced at her in shock. He looked deep into her eyes and said, "DEAL!"