49 The Soul Warming Lotus
Chapter 49- The Soul Warming Lotus
Reaching the summit of the Solitary Peak, Su Mu looked around, casually walking toward the giant stone door placed around a hundred feet away from him.
Standing in front of the stone door, Su Mu touched it with his right hand.
"I see, a Defensive Array that absorbs all attacks, and will launch them back after a sufficient amount of energy has been stored? People these days do come up with interesting ideas for Spirit Arrays." Su Mu chuckled, calling forth the giant insects to have them spit the poisonous mist on the store door, knowing that the mist could erode it.
Those few giant insects quickly obeyed, flying in front of the stone door, and then spraying out a stream of white mist from their mouths, melting the giant door slowly, along with the Defensive Array placed on it.
Since it'll take around half an hour for them to erode a path, Su Mu sat on the ground and decided to recover the remaining on his Yuan Qi.
After the insects were done eroding a path, Su Mu ordered some of them to explore the hideout in case of potential dangers while he restored his Yuan Qi.
Half a day later, the group of insects returned safely.
With that, Su Mu walked forward. Once inside, he ordered the insects to create a wall of mist around the cave while standing guard outside.
Moving further inside, the cave was not straight but seemed to spiral downward. Su Mu could feel that the World Energy in the depths of the cave was strong, at least according to this world's standards, possibly thanks to an Earth Vein.
After descending a few thousand feet, Su Mu reached the bottom of the solitary peak, and only then could he see the end of the path.
Below him was a huge and spacious cave, the walls were dotted with a trace of light, giving it a magnificent style.
On both sides of the path, there were rows of stone shelves all with many layers, each layer holding some items.
Arriving in front of the stone shelve, Su Mu looked at it.
"Supreme Solitary Sect. Ancient Cloud Island. I see."
On each of the stone shelves was the name of a Sect from the Endless Seas, accompanied by some valuable items.
There were martial skills, Secret Arts, artifacts, keepsakes, rare treasures, and so on.
Ancient Cloud Island's Supreme Secret Art, Shura Sect's Demon Suppressing Artifact, Falling Blossom Temple's Thousand Blossoming Blood Begonia.
"So it's a thief's hideout." Su Mu nodded. "These two Heaven Grade artifacts aren't total trash, as long as they can be upgraded into growth-type artifacts."
But these weren't the thing he was looking for.
After walking for a while, a wave of rich and pure World Energy washed over his face, and not far ahead, a brilliant five-coloured light radiated.
"To think it's already in its five-coloured form. How can the Heavens let someone be this fortunate?" Su Mu could no longer suppress his happiness, giving out a light chuckle.
Rounding a corner, Su Mu entered a place that appeared to be a living space and was also where that five-coloured brilliance was coming from.
Looking up, Su Mu saw a head size lotus flower floating in the air, and it was surrounded by something like a water curtain, isolating this five-coloured lotus from the outside.
Seemingly like water, but not water, observing it caused Su Mu to understand what that was, and he realised that it was the Knowledge Sea of the cultivator who previously owned the Soul Warming Lotus, containing all their Divine Soul Strength.
'One of the most precious Heavenly Treasure, and the best one to nurture a Cultivator's Soul, the Soul Warming Lotus.' Su Mu smiled.
For Cultivators, cultivating one's soul was very difficult, many times more than trying to enhance their Cultivation or Vitality, but some rare treasures can enhance the power of one's soul, and the Soul Warming Lotus was the best of all those treasures to ever exist under the heavens.
Not only was this treasure indestructible but it also can never be refined by a single cultivator, as it can only be received and kept by someone. Once received, it will reside within a cultivator's Knowledge Sea, and without having to do anything else, it will keep moisturizing and nourishing the soul, so that it slowly becomes more solid, soon surpassing the souls of those who have a similar cultivation base to the user.
And if a cultivator's Divine Soul were to be damaged, it is extremely hard to find things that can heal it, but as long as one has the Soul Warming Lotus, all Divine Soul-related injuries could be healed in due time.
"And from the looks of it, I got a 1st Order Transcendent Realm Cultivator's Knowledge Sea as an extra reward." Su Mu smiled.
The Knowledge Sea was ethereal and invisible, the embodiment of one's Divine Soul Strength, containing all their memories and experiences, if it were to be destroyed by a Divine Soul Attack, the cultivator would die.
And if one's flesh body were to die, then their Knowledge Sea would go out like a light, the Divine Soul naturally could not be retained.
But thanks to the Soul Warming Lotus, this person was able to keep their Divine Soul and Knowledge Sea intact, as it is one of the uses of Soul Warming Lotus, to be able to keep the Knowledge Sea safe even after the flesh body is gone.
"From the looks of it, this guy planned on taking over the body of whoever came to take the Soul Warming Lotus away, but alas, all his Divine Soul Strength will be used to nurture my own Divine Soul." Su Mu said, looking at the dried-up skeleton next to the Soul Warming Lotus.
Soon, he sat cross-legged in front of the Soul Warming Lotus, preparing to refine the Cultivator's Divine Soul Strength to strengthen his Divine Soul, as it'll be impossible to claim the Soul Warming Lotus without dealing with it first.
"But even then, I need to be careful to not injure my Divine Soul, so it'll probably take around two months to completely absorb this Divine Soul Strength without losing out too much."
After all, he was still at the 5th Stage of the Separation and Reunion Realm, and playing around with his Divine Soul was rather dangerous.
Slowly, and carefully, Su Mu started absorbing the Divine Soul Strength of the 1st Order Transcendent Realm Cultivator.
While he was at it, Su Mu decided to awaken his Divine Sense as well.
Divine Sense was an extension of a Cultivator's Divine Soul Strength, similar to their Knowledge Sea.
A Divine Sense allows one to see without their eyes, including other people's cultivation, the distance and precision depend on how high the user's Cultivation is, and it can also be used to attack another's Divine Soul.
And before Su Mu even realised it, almost two months had passed.
---
{Su Mu. Is it a good time to talk?}
Hearing Su Yan's voice inside his head, Su Mu slowly opened his eyes.
"How long has it been since we last talked, Su Yan?" Su Mu asked, looking at the place where the Soul Warming Lotus was supposed to be, but it was no longer there as he had already received it a few days ago while absorbing the 1st Order Transcendent Realm Cultivator's Knowledge Sea.
{A little over two months. After I was done cultivating the Ice Empress Imperial Secret Art for that entire time, I decided to check up on you.}
"I know. I tried contacting you before coming to the Hidden Island, but since you were cultivating, I decided to not bother you."
{You can tell that?}
"Yeah. You can also turn the communication function off for a certain time, like in case you're in secluded cultivation with high enough comprehension of the Secret Art."
{But I never saw you cultivating the Harem God's Cultivation Scripture.}
"I created this Secret Art, you know?" Su Mu laughed at how silly that question was, but he knew that Su Yan was just trying to keep the conversation going after not talking for so long, so he didn't tease her.
{What about your Cultivation?}
"Let me check." After a few seconds, Su Mu checked his Cultivation, and he replied. "True Element 1st Stage."
{You jumped four minor and one major Realm in just two months? People will go insane after hearing that.} Su Yan giggled.
"To be honest, I had all the breakthroughs two days ago after receiving the Soul Warming Lotus." Su Mu replied, giving out a light chuckle. "But aren't you at the 2nd Stage of Immortal Ascension Realm, too?"
{You can check my cultivation?} Su Yan asked, a bit surprised.
"No, I can't. But the little happiness in your voice was enough for me to realize that you wanted to tell me about something good, so I just guessed it."
{That's awfully perceptive of you.} Su Yan replied.
"I've always been like that, especially towards my wives." Su Mu fell on the bed that was on the other side of the room with an exhausted sigh. "But after absorbing that cultivator's Knowledge Sea, I am a bit exhausted."
{... You absorbed a Cultivator's Knowledge Sea?} Su Yan asked, a little dumbfounded.
Su Mu explained what happened after he last talked to her, up until how he ended up with a 1st Order Transcendent Realm Cultivator's Knowledge Sea.
{You are so reckless, for Heaven's sake!}
"It's not recklessness when I know how things will end up, and I won't gamble with my life, not in a situation I know I won't win. After all, you guys are waiting for me." Su Mu smiled, knowing that Su Yan was worried about him.
{We are.} Su Yan replied, and after a few seconds, she asked. {But what about your Divine Soul Strength, then?}
"It should be around a 4th Stage Immortal Ascension Realm Cultivator, as even I couldn't absorb the Knowledge Sea of a 1st Order Transcendent Realm Cultivator without any loss. Though, it'll balance out soon, because the Soul Warming Lotus won't be able to keep up with my Cultivation pace." Su Mu explained.
{Right now, it's like your cultivation is divided into two separate paths, Qi Cultivation and Soul Cultivation. We can also add Body Refinement, but I have no idea about that.} Su Yan summarized.
"There is no need to complicate it so much. But now that you mention it, I do have a very good Secret Art for body refining." Su Mu muttered, thinking about the Secret Art he had obtained.
{What about your Knowledge Sea?}
"I don't have one, but I can use my Divine Sense without it. Knowledge Sea can only be created after reaching the Immortal Ascension Realm, and premature awakening for it isn't safe, unlike Divine Sense." Su Mu explained.
{I see.}
"So, how are things there? I take it that the situation is still the same."
{Yes, the Eight Great Families have not sent anyone, but all the other Families and Sects had heard about the appearance of the Heaven's Cave Inheritance and dispatched experts to this region. They are still trying to win over those disciples from the Three Sects who gained opportunities in the Heaven's Cave Inheritance. Whether they are from the High Heaven Pavilion, the Blood Battle Group, or the Storm Hall, over the past few months many of their disciples were snatched away.}
"Su Yan, you know that I don't care about them, right? What I'm asking is has anyone bothered you, Jiao'er, or Mei'er during these days?" Su Mu asked again, clearly stating what he wanted to know about.
{I did receive some offers, but I wouldn't say that they've been bothering me.}
"They must've promised you some benefits?"
Su Yan was the true leader of the Three Sect's younger generation of disciples, considering that Su Mu wasn't there at the moment, and she was also one of the biggest suspects who might have obtained the inheritance. Those visiting forces would be desperate to grab Su Yan, and the gifts they presented would not be cheap.
{Within two years they guaranteed that I will break through into the Immortal Ascension Realm, and any pills or artifacts in their possession would be freely offered, and my status would be equal to that of an Elder!}
"Aren't you already at the 2nd Stage of Immortal Ascension Realm?"
At his comment, both Su Mu and Su Yan laughed lightly.
"Let me guess, in return for all this, you must marry into their family?"
{Correct.}
"Except for you guys, why can't people of this world ever exceed my expectations?"
{You are not angry?} Su Yan was a bit surprised. She expected Su Mu to be at least a bit angry, or maybe react a little bit, but maybe her guess was a little off.
"Not really. I believe you can handle this much. By the way, what forces are they, can you name them?"
{Why?}
"A natural disaster might wipe them out soon."
{... A bit excessive, don't you think?}
"Believe me, I am being generous."
{Haah...} Su Yan softly sighed, feeling happy that Su Mu was willing to do that for her, but also worried about the trouble it might cause him.
"I am just joking, so don't worry about it." Su Mu laughed, waving it off.
After all, he could always ask Meng Wuya about the names.
"What about Jiao'er and Mei'er?"
{Ah, Little Sister Jiao'er defeated each of the younger generations that came along with their Elders, so no one bothers her that much.}
"And you can't do the same because your true Cultivation might end up being exposed, right?"
Even though Su Mu gave her the Technique to hide her Cultivation, if she were to use her strength, anyone stronger than her would instantly be able to tell her real cultivation.
{Indeed. But I am glad Little Sister Jiao'er was able to resolve her troubles like that.}
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon, and while we're at it, let's publicise our relationship. It's better than letting pests gather around you."
{I don't mind.} Su Yan gave a warm smile.
{Right, Grandfather was asking about you.}
"Why?"
{I don't know the details, but Sect Master wishes to take you to a certain place. The more you kill there, the better your cultivation grows. That's what he said to me, but since too much killing won't do me any good in Cultivation, I denied the offer.}
"A place like that is here?" Su Mu raised an eyebrow, wondering if it was a Natural Spirit Array.
{Apart from the two of us, only Little Sister Xia was a suitable candidate, so Sect Master was wondering if you'd be interested.}
Su Mu knew that Meng Wuya wouldn't let Xia Ning Chang go to a place like that, so she was out of the picture, to begin with.
"Sure, but tell him that I'll take Jiao'er and Mei'er along, as it'll be good for their training."
{I will, but what about visiting the Ash Grey Cloud Evil Land to collect Evil Spirits?} Su Yan asked.
"I will do it, but these things come first." Su Mu replied.
{I really love the long-distance communication function of the Harem God's Cultivation Scripture.} Su Yan giggled.
"Now that you mention it, I haven't yet given the Secret Art to Jiao'er, Mei'er, and Senior Sister Xia."
{I can give it to them for you.} Su Yan proposed.
"It's alright, I'll do it myself." Su Mu replied.
{Oh, it's Little Sister Xia, I need to go.} Su Yan suddenly said after hearing the knock on the door.
"I'll see you in a few days."
{I will be waiting, along with the others.}
"Yeah, there is just one last thing I need to do on this island."
With that, Su Mu cancelled the connection, falling asleep.
****
****
A/N-
Any ideas about the other five of the Seven Divine Steps?
The first one allows him to keep increasing his speed as long as he keeps running, while the second one is instant transportation for short distances and uses a lot of Qi.
And it's a Cultivation Novel, so there will be chapters about extra stuff, too. So when they come, I'll update them in groups like two or three chapters (Hopefully).
