C19 Preparation to Break Through to the Void Returning Stage

Even after two years of signing in, he could still acquire valuable items.

"System, continue the sign-in process!"

Congratulations to the host for a successful sign-in. You have received a bottle of Void Breaking Pill.

Wai Jiang smiled as he gazed at the Void Breaking Pill in his hand. He had always been hesitant to attempt a forceful breakthrough, fearing the severe consequences of failure.

Even with his level of cultivation, it was more than he could handle.

But now, with the Void Breaking Pill in his possession, it was no longer an issue.

True to its name, the Void Breaking Pill was designed for Cultivators at the pinnacle of the Void Refining Stage, aiding their breakthrough to the Void Returning Stage.

The most crucial aspect was that consuming the Void Breaking Pill prior to attempting a breakthrough meant that, even if the attempt failed, there would be no impact on one's foundational strength.

Hence, Wai Jiang was growing impatient.

After all, a successful breakthrough to the Void Returning Stage would be a game-changer.

With his Sword Cultivation, the formidable Profound Heaven Record, and his clones, he could stand his ground even against Cultivators at the Void Returning Stage Peak.

This was a testament to his potential.

Once he achieved the Void Returning Stage, he would navigate the Immortal Cultivation Realm with ease, no longer fearing for his life.

With his current prowess, breaking through to the early Void Returning Stage would allow him to effortlessly defeat mid-stage adversaries and stand a good chance against those in the late stage.

This would solidify his status as a true powerhouse!

Even now, at the peak of the Void Refining Stage, he was capable of challenging an early-stage Void Returning Stage Cultivator.

But he was well aware that this was not sufficient.

Only by reaching the Void Returning Stage would he have the confidence he sought.

Thus, he departed from the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect and made his way directly to the Myriad Cave Cliff Bottom.

His choice was straightforward: the Corpse King at the Cliff Bottom had fully submitted to him, allowing for effortless control.

Wai Jiang's cultivation at the Myriad Cave Cliff Bottom was guaranteed to be foolproof.

The Myriad Cave Cliff Bottom was, after all, one of the forbidden zones.

Ordinarily, Cultivators wouldn't dare come near, ensuring a serene environment for breakthroughs in cultivation.

Furthermore, the Corpse King would safeguard him there.

Should any reckless Cultivator venture into the Myriad Cave Cliff Bottom...

The Corpse King's might was such that he could effortlessly resolve the situation or expel the intruder.

Upon reaching the Myriad Cave Cliff Bottom, Wai Jiang attempted to command the corpse once more.

Despite years of separation, the Corpse King instantly prostrated itself at the sight of the Demon Doppelganger.

Witnessing this, Wai Jiang's worries dissipated.

He then sought out a secluded spot at the Myriad Cave Cliff Bottom, settled into a cross-legged position, and commenced his cultivation.

He retrieved a Shattering Void Pill from his small world and placed it in his mouth, feeling a potent Spiritual Force surge from within the pill.

"The Shattering Void Pill truly deserves its fame," he thought to himself.

It's no surprise that numerous Cultivators at the Void Refining Stage seek this pill when aiming for the Void Returning Stage.

The Spiritual Force within this tiny pill was remarkably intense and tumultuous!

Naturally, the transition from the Void Refining Stage to the Void Returning Stage was a significant hurdle.

Wai Jiang was prepared to spend over a year in meditation at the Myriad Cave Cliff Bottom.

After all, once a Cultivator reached the Void Refining Stage, they had a lifespan of a full ten thousand years.

Therefore, investing a year or two in pursuit of a breakthrough was hardly daunting.

What's more, advancing from the Void Refining Stage to the Void Returning Stage would result in an even greater increase in lifespan—up to 50,000 years!

This longevity is precisely why the great Holy Lands have endured through the ages.

A lifespan of 50,000 years could span countless eras.

Within that time, with a bit of luck, a new Sovereign of the Returning Origin Stage could emerge within the Holy Land.

This cycle of renewal is what sustains the flourishing of the Holy Lands.

Certainly, there are instances where a Holy Land might experience a break in lineage. Take the Profound Heaven Holy Land as an example. In their battle against the Corpse Emperor, they lost too many Void Returning Stage experts. This led to their inability to recruit disciples with exceptional talent, as those prodigies would naturally gravitate towards other, more powerful Holy Lands. Consequently, the caliber of disciples within the Profound Heaven Holy Land steadily declined. Eventually, the last Void Returning Stage expert perished, and with him, the Profound Heaven Record was lost. From that point on, no one in the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect was able to advance to the Void Returning Stage.

Even Ren Qingfeng, who had already reached the Void Refining Stage, would find his cultivation capped at the peak of the Void Refining Stage without the Profound Heaven Record. No amount of Shattering Void Pills could propel him to the Void Returning Stage. Such are the limitations imposed by a cultivation technique.

The Profound Heaven Record happens to be the very technique Wai Jiang excels in. However, he remains undecided about whether to share it with the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect. His relationship with Elder Lin is the only meaningful connection he has there; the rest are virtually strangers to him. Should he have the opportunity to achieve immortality and ascend to the Immortal Realm in the future, he might consider bequeathing the Profound Heaven Record to the sect out of respect for their shared history. But that's a decision for another day.

Becoming an immortal from the Void Returning Stage is an incredibly arduous journey. The trials one must overcome to transition from the Void Returning Stage to immortality are tenfold, if not a hundredfold, more challenging than any previous stage of cultivation. Even with the aid of the system, Wai Jiang cannot be certain of achieving immortality. Only the acquisition of an Immortal Pill might offer a direct path to ascension, but Wai Jiang deems such an occurrence highly improbable.

It seemed almost like a fantasy.

Yet, he clung to a thread of hope.

After all, he had managed to obtain an Immortal Artifact simply by signing up.

Immortal Pills and Immortal Artifacts were treasures of the same caliber.

If he had the opportunity to visit a place imbued with the Great Dao Truth where immortals once tread, he might indeed have a chance to acquire an Immortal Pill!

But all that was a thought for another day.

Wai Jiang was not one to aim for the unattainable; he was merely focused on advancing to the Void Returning Stage, so there was no need to dwell on such matters.

After all, once he achieved the Void Returning Stage, he would have a lifespan of 50,000 years.

Then, he could leisurely seek out all the locales within the Immortal Cultivation Realm that harbored the essence of the Great Dao Truths—there was absolutely no reason to hurry.

However, Wai Jiang, currently in the throes of his breakthrough, was oblivious to the fact that the Profound Heaven Taoism Sect would soon be facing a dire crisis.

Elder Lin had grown accustomed to Wai Jiang's abrupt disappearances.

Having been through it once before, he handled it with aplomb.

He knew well that the other might return after some time had passed.

Thus, he instructed the sect members not to clear out Wai Jiang's residence.

Typically, if a miscellaneous affairs disciple vanished for an extended period, they would be declared missing, and their dwelling reclaimed.

But Wai Jiang, despite being just a miscellaneous affairs disciple, was fortunate enough to be well-acquainted with Elder Lin.

This left many in the sect baffled.

After all, Elder Lin was the most venerable individual in the entire Profound Heaven Taoism Sect, aside from the three Sect Masters.

Why would he take special interest in a miscellaneous affairs disciple?

Many speculated that there must be a blood relation between Wai Jiang and Elder Lin; otherwise, such favoritism seemed inexplicable!

However, the truth was that there was no blood tie between Wai Jiang and Elder Lin.

Elder Lin simply appreciated Wai Jiang's temperament.

On the surface, Wai Jiang appeared to have average potential, and his cultivation was only at the third level of Qi Refinement.

But for Elder Lin, a disciple who was neither arrogant nor impetuous, with an exceptional disposition, was truly valuable.

If he possessed even a hint of talent, he would undoubtedly soar to great heights!

Elder Lin would shake his head and sigh whenever this thought crossed his mind.

For him, the essence of cultivation wasn't so much about innate ability, but rather one's temperament.

That said, aptitude couldn't be entirely discounted.

Take Wai Jiang, for instance, whose natural talent was exceptionally lacking.

Without the sign-in system, no matter how long he practiced, he would never advance beyond the Qi Refinement level.

Yet, even for those with innate brilliance, who cultivated at a pace quicker than quenching thirst,

should their temperament prove insufficient, they would inevitably hit a bottleneck and be unable to make any further progress in their lifetime.

Only cultivators blessed with both exceptional talent and temperament can truly go the distance.

Indeed, within the vast Immortal Cultivation Realm, every Cultivator who has ascended to the Deification Stage is one in a million.