In the Realm of Gods and Mysteries: Eternal Life Through Paper Art Secrets

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 14: Soul Spirit Manifesting, Training Speed Soars Tenfold!

The Taoist path naturally had its own hierarchy of cultivation levels.

Not only did these classifications exist, but the Great Spirit Dynasty also officially registered Taoists within its borders, granting them recognized status.

Sensing, drawing in energy, and awakening formed the three foundational stages. Since practitioners at these levels were considered mere beginners, both the Great Spirit Dynasty and major sects generally called them Taoist Child – essentially children taking their first steps in cultivation.

After awakening came the three Spirit Sea realms: Spring Fountain, Heavenly Pool, and Spirit Sea.

During the Awakened Stage, Mu Lin’s magical power existed as mist-like energy, such as the black mist magical power produced by his Black Water Mystic Serpent’s Transformation Technique.

Reaching the Spring Fountain Realm meant condensing this mist into liquid form.

The subsequent Spirit Sea cultivation involved gradually expanding one’s internal energy reserves, evolving this power from spring-sized quantities to pond, lake, and eventually ocean-scale capacities.

As magical power formed the foundation of all cultivation, these three realms were collectively called the Foundational Stage.

Practitioners reaching this level gained official recognition from the Great Spirit Dynasty as A-level cultivators.

The stages following Foundation were Refining the Evil, Condensing Essence, and combining Essence and Evil.

Since human capacity has limits while natural forces don’t, these phases required absorbing Earth Fiends energy and Heavenly Essence to transform one’s magical power.

This qualitative enhancement produced more potent energy, allowing practitioners at this stage to earn the respected title of Magician.

Beyond this lay the High Mastery of Transformation realm, though Mu Lin’s grandfather’s limited cultivation meant he couldn’t explain Transformation Realm specifics.

The known progression Mu Lin understood was: Sensing, drawing energy, awakening → Spring Fountain, Heavenly Pool, Spirit Sea → Refining Evil, Condensing Essence, combining Essence and Evil → Transformation.

However, cultivation involved more than just magical power – spiritual awareness mattered too.

Soul spirit manifesting typically emerged only when spiritual awareness reached full Qi Practitioner or Spring Fountain Realm levels.

Mu Lin initially puzzled over why he’d achieved this ability prematurely.

The answer soon came:

"Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral!"

"Since Mind Image cultivates spiritual consciousness, advancing through its levels naturally elevates the soul. Reaching Level 3 Mastery logically pushes my soul spirit to Spring Fountain Realm…"

Though Mu Lin made it look easy, soul spirit advancement wasn’t simple for most.

His unique advantage lay in gaining steady progress without regression from each practice session.

Ordinary practitioners typically succeeded in only ten out of hundred attempts, plagued by mistakes, forgetfulness, and bottlenecks. Each visualization solidification posed challenges, with the final combination stage – requiring true integration of elements like swords and bow and arrow into unified forms – demanding both effort and innate talent.

But others’ struggles mattered little during Mu Lin’s moment of triumph.

Though his manifested soul spirit couldn’t yet leave his body, the benefits proved immense:

1. Sharply enhanced mental processing

2. Ability to split focus four ways

3. Heightened sensory perception

The initial manifestation already let him multitask fourfold while boosting his environmental awareness dramatically.

Specifically, after soul spirit manifesting, spiritual awareness developed. This allowed Mu Lin to observe his surroundings in 360 degrees and perceive things invisible to ordinary eyes – like ghosts and spiritual energy.

With soul spirit manifesting and spiritual awareness emerging, Mu Lin’s sensing difficulties vanished completely. He could now clearly detect surrounding spiritual energy.

"…"

This unexpected development left Mu Lin with mixed feelings. After a long silence, he sighed:

"I wasted money on that Spirit Leaf!"

After this lament, Mu Lin continued sensing spiritual energy. Through spiritual awareness and past-life knowledge, he deduced how cultivators actually perceive spiritual energy.

Previously, people with weak souls like him couldn’t extend their consciousness outward. They could only adjust soul frequencies or enhance sensitivity through external methods to connect with spiritual energy.

Now Mu Lin brute-forced his way through – relying on sheer force from his powerful soul spirit to directly sense energy. Not content with this, he began adjusting his soul spirit’s frequency after manifesting it.

A slight tuning made his soul spirit resonate better with ambient spiritual energy. Mu Lin found absorbing energy became significantly easier.

Without delay, Mu Lin started Hard Practice of the Black Water Mystic Serpent’s Transformation Technique – his first unaided cultivation attempt.

To his delight, soul spirit manifestation also expanded his absorption range. Previously limited to 30-50cm around his body, he now drew spiritual energy from 3-5 meters away.

Another thrilling discovery followed – his control over spiritual energy improved dramatically. Though fish oil paste and Spirit Leaf had let him absorb energy before, it had been minimal and chaotic. He’d struggled to guide even small amounts through proper meridians.

Now despite absorbing over ten times more energy, his enhanced mental strength made controlling it effortless. The massive spiritual energy flowed through him with precise obedience.

"…Expanded absorption range and improved control mean even with Level 3 Spiritual Roots Talent, my training speed will multiply tenfold through brute force."

"Ten times a Level 3 Spiritual Root… My training speed might match or exceed B-level talents."

This realization excited Mu Lin: "Level 2 Spiritual Roots holders can achieve awakening in 33 days and earn B-level Taoist Palace evaluations. This means I can awaken within 33 days too!"

His eyes blazed with determination. "I’ll grind relentlessly!"

The prospect of becoming a B-level talent with free Taoist Palace resources drove Mu Lin into nonstop cultivation frenzy.