The more Lingtian read, the more apparent it became that his talent surpassed the simplicity of possessing a strong soul. A typical strong soul wouldn't empower a cultivator with the degree of control over their body that Lingtian had achieved.
The scrolls conveyed that an individual with an inborn strong soul might gain a boost in memory and comprehension, along with a strong spirit sense. However, their abilities were limited to these aspects. They wouldn't exhibit the intricate control over every inch of their body, the ability to perfectly mask their presence, or the capability to manipulate the essence energy within their body with just their soul.
Recognizing these disparities, Lingtian understood that he far outclassed someone with an inborn strong soul in every conceivable aspect. His talent resided in an entirely different league.
"Well, I hope that the royal library has something to explain this situation," Lingtian muttered to himself. Rest wasn't an option until he comprehended the unfolding events and the nature of the abnormality with his soul.
The royal library, a haven of bound knowledge, enticed him with promises of enlightenment. Without hesitation, Lingtian paid the entrance fee of one low-grade essence crystal.
Determined to unveil the mysteries surrounding his talent, he navigated through the labyrinth of shelves until he discovered a book titled "Esoteric Physiques: Unveiling the Extraordinary Within." With each turned page, the words etched a revelation that would reshape his understanding of himself.
As he delved into the pages of this book, a peculiar section discussed physiques beyond the mundane. The mention of the Mystic Soul Physique seized Lingtian's attention, its description transcending the boundaries of a strong soul. His soul wasn't merely strong; it was overpowering, seizing control of his body rather than harmonizing with it. It was as if he possessed his own body, and the Mystic Soul Physique was the enigmatic force dictating this unique relationship.
The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning, and a veil was lifted from his eyes. He, who thought himself a cultivator with only a robust soul, now grasped the extraordinary truth—he possessed the Mystic Soul Physique, a special physique that countless spirit masters dreamed of having.
The book detailed that the Mystic Soul Physique granted the owner a significant advantage when it came to the spirit path. It made sensing and controlling the soul—the source of spirit power—instinctive and natural, akin to using one's own body.
This unique physique, with its dominating soul, made breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm a smoother journey. Unlike traditional cultivators who struggled with the bottleneck between body and soul, Lingtian's Mystic Soul Physique paved a clearer path, aligning his essence and soul seamlessly.
As Lingtian read to this point, he couldn't help but let his imagination run wild and his confidence soar. According to this book, his physique destined him to achieve the Nascent Soul Realm, a power that rivaled the imperial family ancestors.
From what he gathered in the last six months in the Broken Moon Domain, only two powers with Nascent Soul cultivators at the helm existed: the Broken Moon Empire Imperial Family and the Crimson Moon Sect.
If he revealed his talent, either of these powers would vie to recruit or eliminate him to prevent him from joining the other side. The Broken Moon Empire and the Crimson Moon Sect had been at odds for centuries, in constant conflict for supremacy in the domain.
However, Lingtian knew better than to expose himself. He wasn't born a prince, and the imperial family would likely force him into a blood contract to ensure his loyalty.
As a non-noble, the best power he could consider was the Crimson Moon Sect. But the problem lay in his age—nearing thirty, his core values were already set, and the sect's indoctrination would never work on him. Measures such as an oath or a blood contract would be taken to assure his loyalty just like with the imperial family.
Lingtian was loyal only to himself. His father, an independent cultivator, instilled in him the mentality of caring only for personal benefits. The thought of joining a power and serving another never crossed his mind.
In fact, as he learned about his talent, numerous ideas ran through his head, ideas that, if known by either power, would lead to his execution without a doubt.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves; first, I need to learn how to use my physique. Luckily, this book has some information about that," calming himself down, Lingtian collected his thoughts and tried to focus on what was in front of him instead of filling his head with worries about the distant future.
After his eight hours ended, he paid another low essence crystal. This time, he memorized anything related to special physiques and how to use them. He didn't leave until his time was up again.
He headed straight toward his house, where he sat cross-legged and tried to follow what he had learned and cultivate. After many trials and errors, he started to get the hang of it. Slowly but surely, his cultivation efficiency was getting higher and higher.
Thrilled, Lingtian locked himself up in his room, cultivating like a madman. His mastery over the Great Essence Cycle technique was improving many times faster than before.
A month and a half later, Lingtian's eyes opened, radiating with joy and excitement. The pressure coming from his body was much higher than before.
"Hahaha, the perfection of the Great Cycle Essence technique. I finally did it, and just in a month and a half. What a great special physique," sensing the changes in his body, Lingtian couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"With such speed and efficiency, I don't need a foundation establishment pill to break through. At most, in a year, maybe even less, I will be able to break through naturally. I didn't even use the essence-enhancing pills yet," thinking in his heart, he quickly stood up to stretch his body.
This wasn't the longest cultivation session in Lingtian's life, but it was surely the most satisfying of them all.