Nine Souls Divine Scripture
The second realm of Qi Cultivation was called the Qi Refining Realm. And it was the most important realm as well. As every other realm in your cultivation journey could only be as strong as your Qi Refining Realm.
Like constructing a tall tower, if the foundation were poor and weak, no matter how well-built the top floors were, if the foundation couldn't hold it up, the tower would either collapse or the workers would stop building before it did.
However, Matthew still couldn't break through to that realm. Instead, he was breaking through to what's called the half-step Qi Refining Realm. This realm referred to people who had opened their dantian but had yet to create their first Spiritual Qi cyclone.
The sign of a Qi Refining Realm cultivator was creating your first Spiritual Qi cyclone within your dantian, but since Matthew didn't have nearly enough Spiritual Qi to create one, he would be stuck at the half-step Qi Refining Realm for the foreseeable future.
Opening a dantian was extremely simple for the experienced Matthew, and after connecting his 12 standard meridians and eight extraordinary vessels near his navel, he was already half done, and finally, he brought the wisp of Chaos Qi to the connecting point, creating his dantian.
Though it was extremely barren for now, as he would absorb more and more Spiritual Qi, Matthew's dantian would soon turn from its current barren appearance to a flourishing ocean of Chaos Qi.
Finished, Matthew stood up and went over to Senior Wudi, who was wrapping up his conversation with the twins.
Matthew had cultivated all the way to the Divine Lord Realm before. Everything before that was nothing by comparison. He could break through realms easier than drinking water.
"Senior Wudi, you told me that you'd give me another cultivation technique for Soul Cultivation. Now that Earth is still desolate, why don't you give it to me now? Preparing for the Soul Embryo Realm should be the only thing I can do for now." Matthew asked.
Finding his words sensible, Senior Wudi threw over a jade slip to Matthew.
"This is the soul cultivation technique that only I and my disciples know. I also plan to give it to your siblings. They'll be staying in the Nine-Ringed Divine Throne for a day or two. Unlike you, they know nothing about cultivation and its realms. So I'll be teaching them all they need in preparation for when the seal around this planet breaks." Senior Wudi said.
"I still don't understand. Why can't you break the seal yourself? Or maybe even give us treasures to speed up our cultivation. Surely, spending six months on this desolate planet won't give us much." Matthew asked his doubts.
"For your first question, I can't attack because of my bastard of a disciple, the Lord of Chaos. Even though the seal around this planet is well-built, it means nothing to even a World King, let alone a Universe Lord. So he would be able to sense me attacking it even from where he cultivates. And for the second one, I don't have anything to my name except a few jade slips that I planned to inscribe cultivation techniques on. When I was sealed, they took everything that I had to my name." Senior Wudi explained.
Though it was sad that the Universe Lord himself had fallen to such a low point, Matthew didn't have any words of encouragement to say, so he merely took the jade slip.
Pressing it to his forehead, Matthew instantly had the soul cultivation technique transmitted to his brain. Analyzing it, Matthew was thoroughly amazed at its intricate nature.
The Soul Cultivation Technique was called the 'Nine Divine Souls Scripture,' and what amazed Matthew so much was that by cultivating it, you could essentially have nine souls, giving you nine times the benefit from every soul cultivation realm.
Usually, in the first realm, the Soul Embryo Realm, a cultivator would have to sense their soul before using Soul Qi to immerse it into a nourishing state, almost as if it were a caterpillar in a cocoon waiting to break free and turn into a butterfly. However, this soul cultivation technique, through some ruthless and ingenious thinking, required Matthew to separate his soul into nine equal pieces before starting the Soul Embryo Realm.
This way, while Matthew would need nine times the amount of Soul Qi to advance through the realms, it was well worth the price.
Soul Cultivation, though usually used by alchemists and other side professionals, with a high enough soul cultivation base, one could even fight Body Refinement and Qi Cultivators on an equal footing. Even more so, Matthew's nine souls would have benefited if he continued cultivating this technique.
Enthusiastic about cultivating it, Matthew sat back down on the mat before cultivating it. Separating the soul into nine equal pieces was a painful endeavor, as the soul was something that wasn't made to be cut into pieces. However, it could be done at the price of extremely agonizing pain.
This is what Matthew had to sit through, and after nearly going insane from the soul-wrenching pain, Matthew completed the first step in just under a few hours.
The pain he had just felt was definitely some of the worst he had ever felt before, but compared to the mental trauma he had suffered in his previous life, it was nothing. Let alone nine times, even if he had to atomize his soul into a million pieces just to see John and Joanne again, he would do so without hesitation.
He lived one life as a walking corpse, but now he would live another for his siblings. No harm would come to them in this life. Matthew would make sure of it.
Opening his eyes, Matthew still looked a little shaken. But just from the immediate effects, he knew it was worth it. The soul, while illusory, was vital to every cultivator. From the soul came many things vital to cultivators' talent, like their comprehension ability or their affinities to the myriad daos. And Matthew, now with nine souls, had effectively amplified his already monstrous comprehension ability ninefold.
Standing up shakily, Matthew told his siblings he was leaving the Nine-Ringed Divine Throne.
Along with Spiritual Qi, Earth was also desolate of Soul Qi that was needed for Soul Cultivation and Vital Energy for Body Refinement. And though he had enough Soul Qi within his own body innately to break through to the Soul Embryo Realm, that was only for one soul.
He had planned to use that earlier to break through into the Soul Embryo Realm, but now that Matthew had nine souls, he would have to hold back his advancement. Since to cultivate the Nine Souls Divine Scripture, Matthew would have to advance each of his souls at the same time.
And since Matthew couldn't remember any way to get either of the two before the seal opened for another week, Matthew's two cultivation bases were stuck at the half-step Qi Refining Realm and a pseudo-Soul Embryo Realm.
Staying in the Nine-Ringed Divine Throne any longer served no benefit to Matthew, as he neither needed teaching from Senior Wudi nor could he cultivate any further.
Back in the backyard, Matthew simply cleaned up all the traces that he and his siblings left behind. After doing so, he drove back to his apartment. It was already nighttime, and he had completed his plans here.
The drive was slow and long, so Matthew only reached home at midnight. So, after parking and getting into his apartment, Matthew instantly fell asleep on the couch, not even bothering to go to his bed or take a shower.
The first day after his rebirth was filled with so much that his mortal body had long tired out. Especially after he went through the torture of having to split his soul into nine pieces, the only thing he wanted now was to sleep until noon.
—
Meanwhile, as Matthew was in a deep slumber, John and Joanne were talking with The Old Man in the Nine-Ringed Divine Throne.
"Master, the cultivation world—is it fun? You keep saying how big it is and how strong the people in it are. But you said if it was fun or not." John asked.
Though Senior Wudi was teaching them about the cultivation world, he couldn't stop the two from asking simple questions. They were kids, after all, and he was more than content to accompany them.
He had been alone for billions of years, so spending some time with energetic kids served well to soothe his lonely soul.
"Fun, huh? Though I can't say it is, there are so many things to do in it that you won't get bored. However, it can only be like that if you are strong. The weak aren't able to have anything, let alone fun. So before you can enjoy it, at least reach the Palace Formation Realm. Until then, stay content with the boredom." Senior Wudi explained.
The twins had no objections to his words, and both nodded seriously.
"Good! Now let me continue talking about cultivation." Senior Wudi spoke.
—
The night went by quickly, and Matthew only woke up at 1 p.m.
Groggily opening his eyes, Matthew pulled his phone out of his pocket to check if he had any messages. But after seeing he had more than a dozen from Eva, he noticed the time.
"Shit! I'm late for that meeting with Eva!" Matthew yelled.
After screaming, he hurriedly rushed to freshen up and change. Eva, like him, worked part-time in the afternoon, so they both set their classes up so that they would be done with class at noon.
And now that it was already 1 p.m., Eva had most likely been waiting for him for almost half an hour.
Jumping out of the shower, Matthew called Eva, hoping to explain his tardiness.
"Matthew, where the hell are you? I've been at the coffee shop for almost an hour! Are you still even coming?" Eva complained as soon as the call connected.
Hearing the familiar voice, Matthew was filled with nostalgia. And even though he was annoyed at being yelled at, he somehow didn't get angry but instead smiled.
"I woke up late, sorry. I ended up working a double last night. I'm on my way, though. I'm going down to the garage right now." Matthew spoke as he pushed the garage button on the elevator.
"Alright, but hurry. I've been getting odd gazes for a while now. They think I'm just squatting in here." Eva calmed down after hearing Matthew's excuse.
She knew just how hard Matthew had it. Not only did he work more than her, but he also had to take care of three rental properties and two younger siblings.
Eva didn't feel good screaming at someone who had just had such a hard night. It made her feel like an asshole.
"Yes, I'll be there in ten minutes. Just order another coffee to calm them down. I'll pay for it when I get there." Matthew said.
"Are you sure? Coffee is really expensive at this shop. Just a black coffee costs almost four dollars." Eva couldn't help but ask.
She had seen Matthew complain about wasting quarters before. If she wasted four dollars just to calm a staff member down, he might overthrow society in a rage.
Hearing her anxious tone, Matthew couldn't help but laugh. He remembered how cheap he was back in his youth. So her concern wasn't odd. But still, he was planning on selling the three rental properties today, so money wasn't a concern.
"Yes, I'm sure. I got a raise yesterday, so take it as my treat." Matthew lied.
"Okay then. I'll get a latte, then don't regret it later." Eva said, feeling a bit happy.
"I'll meet you soon, Eva. I have to hang up, though. I'm about to start driving." Matthew said as he finished the conversation.
After saying so, he hung up the call and started up his car. Though the coffee shop wasn't far and was within walking distance, he was already extremely late, so he planned to drive over instead of walking like he wanted to yesterday, and after putting in the address, Matthew sped off.
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