Chapter 575: Enduring into the Nascent Soul Realm

It is uncertain if this is a mere coincidence, or if the Dharma-spreading Heavenly Venerate, when establishing the new cultivation method, intentionally referenced and mimicked the genesis of the world. Nevertheless, to address the issue of cultivators lacking spiritual roots and thus being unable to practice, a construct—fueled by negative human emotions and designed to forcibly draw energy from the cosmos—was also designated the "Root of Heaven and Earth."

Despite sharing the same name, these two concepts are clearly incomparable. If the Root of Heaven and Earth, which symbolizes the genesis of creation, is sacred and solemn, then the "Root of Heaven and Earth" that plunders from the heavens and earth, enabling universal cultivation, appears decidedly sinister.

This might be hinted at by its external appearance: hundreds, even thousands upon thousands, of writhing tentacles, which are the tendrils of the Root of Heaven and Earth.

At this moment, as if possessing self-awareness, they continuously extended, drawing closer to the Five Elements Grotto-Heaven. They instinctively sought out the most suitable locations to take root and invade.

The nascent Five Elements Grotto-Heaven seemed to anticipate its own crisis. The Grotto-Heaven trembled, and a kaleidoscope of light erupted, attempting to repel these invasive "foreign objects." But it was futile.

The protective light of the Grotto-Heaven proved utterly negligible against them. Only an insignificant fraction was lost. The remaining black root tendrils penetrated deep, as if entering an unguarded realm. Like countless fine needles, they silently pierced into the Grotto-Heaven.

The Grotto-Heaven boomed. Strange sounds emanated from within, resembling cries of agony. Yet, it could not prevent the endless tendrils from coiling and enveloping it ever more tightly.

The light dissipated, and darkness descended. Meanwhile, Li Fan, the orchestrator who had witnessed the entire scene of the grotto-heaven's assimilation, felt an involuntary shiver run down his spine. "The Heavenly Venerate's new method is truly bizarre," he muttered to himself. "It certainly doesn't appear to be a righteous path."

However, Li Fan was not one to be overly sentimental. Regardless of how sinister it seemed, this new method was currently his only viable path to cultivation. Pushing aside all distracting thoughts, Li Fan stared at the grotto-heaven, now engulfed by the writhing black tendrils.

The endless root tendrils, acting like his own extensions, relayed the grotto-heaven's current state directly into Li Fan's mind. Its power was being devoured, and its struggles grew progressively weaker. From those myriad tendrils emanated an extraordinarily peculiar energy. It was a life essence several times more refined than the hidden human potential Li Fan had perceived during his cultivation of the *Creation Crucible Art*.

Li Fan absorbed only an insignificant wisp of this energy, and a profound realization dawned upon him. With such incomparably pure vitality, even if he were to be dismembered and reduced to mere flesh, as long as any fragment of his tissue remained, he could use it to regenerate an entirely new body.

"Regeneration from a single drop of blood, immortal and indestructible..." This ancient legend, a divine ability previously attributed only to the most powerful cultivators, was now seemingly achieved through this ingenious, albeit unorthodox, method. "Dharma-spreading..." Li Fan couldn't help but marvel again.

With the opportune moment now at hand, Li Fan finally took action, initiating the ultimate phase of Nascent Soul formation. His already halved body completely dissolved, transforming into a thick, gurgling black fluid that seeped into the Five Elements Grotto-Heaven along the thousands of root tendrils.

In Li Fan's perception, he seemed to splinter into ten thousand, then ten thousand into a hundred million. Though fragmented into countless existences, he still felt like a unified entity, driven by a singular goal: to completely usurp the Five Elements Grotto-Heaven and make it his own.

It was a truly marvelous experience. The "Grotto-Heaven," which had originally existed on a level several tiers beyond a human body, now seemed to be an equal life form. The once ethereal "Heaven and Earth" now appeared to be a tangible entity that could be assailed.

As Li Fan continued his invasion, the Grotto-Heaven's struggles grew progressively weaker, until they finally became imperceptible.

Tianling Prefecture.Outside the Five Elements Void."Hmm? Was there just some movement?" a Core Formation cultivator on duty suddenly asked, looking up at the vast, dark hole above him.

"Old Sun, I think you're having delusions again," a casual-looking cultivator beside him scoffed indifferently. "I've been telling you to ask for leave from the higher-ups and get some proper rest. After fighting for so long and witnessing so many deaths, it's a miracle you haven't gone mad. Yet you still volunteered to take on guard duty here..."

Old Sun ignored the teasing, his gaze fixed on the black void, his expression solemn as if lost in thought. After a moment of hesitation, he flew to the edge of the void and began to examine it meticulously.

"Lunatic, always paranoid, has his brain broken!" the other cultivator muttered disdainfully. He stretched, gazing up at Old Sun, clearly expecting to be entertained. As anticipated, after a lengthy inspection, Old Sun failed to detect any anomalies. He eventually returned to the ground, looking somewhat disheartened.

"Well, what did I tell you? It was all your imagination," the cultivator scoffed upon seeing Old Sun return. "This desolate place is so barren, not even a bird would stop here! How could any enemies possibly show up? I don't know what the higher-ups were thinking, insisting on leaving a team here for guard duty. They get to go back and enjoy themselves, while we're stuck suffering here! Ugh..." Seeing Old Sun offer no response, the cultivator shifted his target, continuing to grumble incessantly.

Old Sun, as if accustomed to it, paid no heed. He merely continued to look up at the sky periodically, his brow furrowed.

"Hmm? This cultivator named Sun has remarkably keen spiritual senses; he nearly discovered me," Li Fan thought, a flicker of surprise in his heart as he watched Old Sun from his concealed position high above. "Quite interesting."

The very moment the Five Elements Grotto-Heaven descended into the void above Tianling Prefecture, Li Fan had, with a slight scare but ultimately without danger, completed its assimilation. He had finally ascended to the Nascent Soul realm. However, before he could even assess his own changes, he was nearly discovered by Old Sun below, who had perceived an anomaly.

Fortunately, Li Fan reacted swiftly and concealed himself in time. Although his cultivation was now an entire major realm above theirs, allowing him to subdue them effortlessly, the war was winding down, and the Myriad Immortal Alliance remained in a highly sensitive state. Any unexpected incident here would likely stir up further trouble. It was wiser to quietly accumulate his power.

Li Fan shook his head, committing Old Sun's appearance to memory, and was about to depart when he suddenly heard voices from below again."Old Sun, have you heard? Zhang Debiao seems to have struck it rich recently.""Isn't he in charge of the war cleanup?""All the benefits from the countless corpses on the Tianling Prefecture battlefield have been monopolized by him!"