Chapter 254 - 251: Dream Traveling Immortal
Naturally, Shen Changchuan had no way of knowing Shen Tingchu’s true thoughts.
He was even more clueless that in such a short time, he had gone from a prime investment to a poor one in the other man’s eyes.
Though even if he did know, he probably wouldn’t care much.
’Whatever they might think, the benefits they provided were real.
You can’t hold a grudge just because they no longer see you as promising, or because the benefits stop coming.
That would be turning a kindness into a grudge, wouldn’t it?’
"I wonder, what is this opportunity, exactly?"
"...For some time now, I have been cultivating within the Sect and have received a great deal of guidance. I’ve learned much, and I do not intend to attempt a breakthrough to the Soul Emergence Realm within the next two years."
"If this opportunity is time-sensitive, then I’m afraid I must pass on your kind offer, sir..."
Shen Changchuan didn’t overthink it.
He focused on the opportunity Shen Tingchu had mentioned. After a moment’s thought, he spoke, his expression somewhat hesitant.
Shen Changchuan was familiar with many types of opportunities that could help one advance to the Soul Emergence Realm.
First, the most precious was naturally the Soul Emergence Pill. Second were the Heavenly and Earthly Treasures that could help increase the success rate, or perhaps a Spiritual Land formed by the world itself where the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism gathered, and so on.
To the Loose Cultivators and Cultivators from small or mid-sized factions of the outside world, each of these items was an incomparably precious and rare treasure, something they might never encounter in their entire lives.
But it was also a fact that they came in many different varieties.
However,
aside from the Soul Emergence Pill or some Spirit Fruits and Spirit Medicines that could be stored, many of the Heavenly and Earthly Treasures that could increase the success rate of breaking through to Soul Emergence were only effective for a limited time.
For example, in certain places, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism would converge at specific moments. If a Cultivator was present, there was a chance for their personal aura to align with the aura of the world, allowing them to enter a state of Unity of Heaven and Man.
Breaking through at such a time would significantly increase the chances of successfully reaching the Soul Emergence Realm.
But once that moment passed, the effect would be lost entirely.
Another example would be special Heavenly and Earthly Treasures that also increased the success rate, but had to be harvested, consumed, and put through Refinement the very moment they matured. They could not be stored, or their breakthrough-assisting effects would vanish.
This was just like the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk that Shen Changchuan had once soaked in.
It couldn’t be stored, nor could it be moved from its source.
If the opportunity was of this nature,
it would undoubtedly be a waste for Shen Changchuan.
Because in the more than two years he had left, he had no intention of breaking through until he had cultivated the Sanqing Forest Sword Array to the Perfection stage.
After all, he still had his heart set on the matter of the Divine Seed.
"Is that so... Well, you can rest assured on that front."
Shen Tingchu glanced at Shen Changchuan in surprise when he heard the young man say he wanted to spend another two years accumulating his foundation before attempting a breakthrough.
In his opinion, Shen Changchuan’s Cultivation had already reached the Ninth Layer Peak; he was perfectly capable of attempting a breakthrough now.
Most people, if they were confident enough, would find it difficult to resist the temptation of advancing to a higher Realm.
This was especially true for the Soul Emergence Realm—a state where one could project their Divine Sense, fly through the sky, and traverse the earth, worlds apart from the Qi Introduction Realm.
Yet he was able to settle his heart and was willing to spend two years polishing his skills and preparing...
’With such a patient disposition,’
’barring any accidents, his chances of a successful breakthrough are at least eighty percent!’
This put Shen Tingchu’s mind at ease somewhat.
’At least this investment won’t end up a total loss...’
"The opportunity at that Spiritual Land isn’t what you think. It’s a type of Heavenly and Earthly Treasure called the Dream Traveling Immortal..."
As the thoughts flashed through his mind, Shen Tingchu continued to explain the nature of the opportunity to Shen Changchuan.
The so-called Dream Traveling Immortal was not an Immortal of any kind.
Rather, it was a bizarre flower that grew only in the unique environment of that particular Spirit Realm.
"When this flower blooms, it releases all the Spiritual Power it has accumulated over the years in a single instant, even creating a small-scale spiritual tide."
"During the fluctuations of this Spiritual Qi tide, a special floral fragrance is released and lingers in the air."
"If a Cultivator willingly opens their Heart Spirit to inhale and refine it, they can enter a special dream state."
"Inside that special Dream Realm, some of the fundamental Laws are consistent with the real world. Because of this, a Cultivator inside isn’t omnipotent like in an ordinary dream."
"However, it is for this very reason that a Cultivator can attempt things they wouldn’t dare in reality, like practicing a Forbidden Technique, attempting a breakthrough, and so on."
"Once the power of the Dream Traveling Immortal is exhausted, the Cultivator’s consciousness returns to the real world, and they are able to bring the experience they gained back with them..."
Shen Tingchu explained in patient detail.
The few Soul Emergence Clans had jointly sealed off that Spirit Realm. Every ten years, they would wait for the Dream Traveling Immortal to mature, open the realm, and send in their disciples who were at the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer Peak and showed promise of advancing to the Soul Emergence Realm. Inside, they would use the Dream Traveling Immortal to simulate the process of breaking through.
This practice had been going on for nearly two hundred years.
And it was because of this benefit that those few Soul Emergence Clans were able to produce a new generation of Soul Emergence Realm Cultivators without fail.
"Of course, the Dream Traveling Immortal also has its share of flaws."
"Otherwise, how could such a miraculous Heavenly and Earthly Treasure be controlled by just a few mere Soul-Departing Influences?"
"Only a fraction of the experience from the Dream Realm can be brought back, and there’s no guarantee that it’s entirely real. There’s a chance that some of it may be false memories, twisted by the Cultivator’s own psyche..."
Shen Tingchu made no attempt to hide these shortcomings, stating them bluntly.
The Dream Realm was, after all, still just a dream. Only some of its fundamental Laws mirrored the real world, not all of them...
This meant that any Cultivation Experience gained within it would inevitably have "false" aspects.
The fragments of experience brought back could not, therefore, be entirely accurate.
It was precisely because of this flaw that,
although those Soul-Departing Influences produced a new generation of Soul Emergence Realm Cultivators without fail,
they still struggled to grow stronger.
Many of their clan’s geniuses had been ruined by it.
But it was also because of the Dream Traveling Immortal’s significant flaws that they were able to maintain control over it.
"Despite the many flaws and the possibility of false memories... the chance to simulate a breakthrough is still an excellent experience for a Cultivator at the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer Peak."
"If this rare experience is combined with the inherited Cultivation Experience of others who have reached the Soul Emergence Realm, it can be of great help during one’s own actual breakthrough..."
Shen Tingchu continued to explain as he and Shen Changchuan traveled onward, riding atop Xiaofeng.
「In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.」
Following Shen Tingchu, Shen Changchuan crossed tens of thousands of miles, arriving at the southeastern edge of the Tian Nan Domain, near the border of the Nanyue Kingdom.
Their destination was now in sight.