Chapter 51: The Art of the Wood Spirit Formula

"That's right, it's the Ding family's Soul Visualization Chart."

"When we attacked the Ding family, the Ding family's ancestor didn't have time to take it with him, so it ended up in our Li family's hands."

"However, our clan leader also showed some interest in this chart. After all, it's something the Ding family's ancestor was obsessed with, and there might be some secrets."

"So, unfortunately, I cannot give it to Brother Lu. I must go back on my word."

"I can only let Brother Lu view it for now, but it will be reclaimed by the clan leader tomorrow."

Lu An's mind moved. He could absorb the mysterious energy of this visualization chart with just a brief look. However, doing so might be unfair to the Li family. He pondered for a moment and then shook his head. He decided that he would find a way to make amends later. The visualization chart was too important for him to miss.

He smiled and nodded, saying, "It's fine. I'm just curious. A quick look is enough."

He then opened the first scroll and was immediately impressed. The chart depicted a green sapling with fine branches and tender shoots. At the top were the five characters "Nirvana Rebirth Chart."

"It really does follow the lineage of the Withered Tree Spring Chart," Lu An thought to himself.

If one observed carefully, the sapling in the chart was the same one that appeared in the Withered Tree Spring Chart, only it had grown much larger now. As Lu An's consciousness entered it, he suddenly felt an indistinct force flying out from the chart and entering his mind.

In his sea of consciousness, next to the Withered Tree Spring Chart, a new scroll appeared—exactly the Nirvana Rebirth Chart.

Lu An maintained a calm expression, glanced at Li Zi You, and, seeing no reaction from him, he secretly sighed in relief. He rolled up the first scroll and picked up the second one to examine.

This chart still depicted the same tree, but it had grown into a towering giant, blocking out the sky and even obscuring the heavens. Lu An's consciousness entered, and the wondrous effects of this chart were absorbed into his sea of consciousness.

At this moment, an unexpected change occurred. The three charts in the sea of consciousness began to react, their lights shining brightly. The three charts floated into the air, slowly blending together, and ultimately formed a new scroll.

The scroll was made of ancient bronze, very antiquated, and as soon as Lu An's consciousness approached, he could feel an ancient and profound aura. Although it seemed slow, it all happened in an instant.

To Li Zi You, Lu An had merely opened the two scrolls, glanced at them briefly, and then returned them.

Lu An frowned slightly and said, "I didn't see anything special. It's getting late; I'll take my leave."

Li Zi You felt a bit guilty. He had promised Lu An a chance to study, but now he was going back on his word. He clasped his fists and said, "Brother Lu, this is my fault. I will pay double the promised reward as compensation."

Lu An quickly waved his hand and smiled, "There's no need for that. We're beyond such things. Let's not mention it again."

He then bowed slightly and left without looking back.

At the Spirit Talisman Residence, Lu An instructed not to be disturbed and entered the secret chamber. Only then did he take the time to examine the newly merged scroll.

As his consciousness immersed, the scroll slowly unrolled, and the first five characters came into view: "The Wood Spirit Formula."

Following that, a series of smaller characters appeared, clearly outlining a cultivation technique. Lu An's heart shook, and he almost gasped in surprise.

"A soul cultivation technique!"

Soul cultivation was said to be transmitted between heaven and earth, but its lineage had long been severed. To this day, people had only heard about the power of soul cultivation in the past but had never seen it in practice. No wonder the Ding family's ancestor went to great lengths to obtain the Withered Tree Spring Chart; it was for the purpose of reviving the soul cultivation path.

However, he never expected that it would eventually benefit Lu An.

Suppressing his excitement, Lu An continued reading. Once he finished, he exhaled and showed an expression of surprise.

This technique had fifteen levels and could be cultivated directly to the late stage of Core Formation, which truly astonished him. Generally, sect techniques only reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Only core inheritances could advance to Core Formation or even Nascent Soul.

This technique was comparable to such core inheritances, which was an unexpected joy. Additionally, the power of this technique was so remarkable that it almost made Lu An drop his jaw. According to the technique, a practitioner's soul could be more than twice as strong as others of the same realm.

Practitioners needed to cultivate a Wood Spirit inside their bodies and nourish it daily with their soul. Whenever their cultivation broke through, the Wood Spirit would grow a stage, thereby enhancing the soul's strength.

It is worth noting that during the soul nourishment, others' souls could be used, which was somewhat similar to some demonic techniques.

No wonder soul cultivation was extinct; this might also be related to this matter.

However, this method requires an extremely high level of refinement of the soul, which ordinary Qi Refining cultivators cannot practice. By the Foundation Establishment stage, the strength of the soul is usually sufficient, and no one would bother to practice this method again, as it would be a waste of time. Thus, for ordinary cultivators, this method might seem somewhat useless.

But Lu An was different. His soul, refined through the Four Treasures of the Study, was as concentrated as that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, though his total amount was smaller. Cultivating this method not only met the entry requirements but also increased the total amount of his soul, making it almost tailor-made for him.

However, Lu An hesitated a bit. According to the records, although this method was extremely powerful, it had a fatal flaw. Its enhancement focused solely on the soul, completely neglecting the physical body. Generally, ordinary cultivation methods improve both the soul and the body with each breakthrough. The Wood Spirit Formula, however, was extreme in its focus, applying all its effects to the soul.

Thus, once a cultivator practiced this method, their physical body would become a critical weakness. This was why Lu An hesitated; the physical body was fundamental for a cultivator, and once damaged, even a powerful soul would have nowhere to reside.

He scratched his head and rested his chin in thought. After a while, he gritted his teeth and ultimately could not resist the temptation of soul cultivation.

"When fighting others in the future, I'll be cautious. If necessary, I'll find a body-refining method to compensate."

He had already made up his mind. He immediately sat cross-legged and began to cultivate according to the method's description. As the technique operated, true qi flowed slowly.

Starting from the Shenting point, it moved to Huiyin, passing through Qichong, Shencang, and other meridians, and finally returned to Shenting, completing a full cycle of the Great Circulation.

With Lu An's current strength, operating one full cycle required at least two hours, and if any errors occurred, he would have to start over. Thus, one night passed, and he barely managed to complete one full cycle.

However, the result was encouraging. He distinctly felt a hazy seed in the dantian, which seemed not yet concrete. With further cultivation, the seed would solidify, and his cultivation level would reach the first level of Qi Refining.

Given his current Qi Refining Fifth Level realm, returning to cultivate wouldn't take much of a detour. Additionally, without the concern of breaking through bottlenecks and with the help of minor gathering talismans, his progress should be significantly faster.

Just as he was preparing to practice this method while also studying talismans in his sea of consciousness, a voice came from outside the door.

"Master, Elder Zhang from the Talisman Hall is here."