Mortal: Li Feiyu, who came from the realm of a supreme being

People often say that spiritual practice knows no time, and Li Feiyu feels this very deeply.

Before he knew it, forty-four years had passed since he arrived at the Star Palace.

Forty-four years!

He has been in charge of the Hidden Abyss Pavilion for nearly forty years. During these years, he has repaired countless ancient secret techniques and incomplete cultivation methods. On the surface, he is working for the Star Palace for free, but in reality, he has gained the most for himself.

Although the Star Palace doesn't have a systematic inheritance, it has been a force that has controlled the Chaotic Star Sea for tens of thousands of years. Its collection of ancient books and secret techniques is so rich that even the major sects in Tiannan might not be able to match it.

However, the cultivation speed has slowed down.

After all, without a super spirit-gathering array, one cannot afford to consume pills indiscriminately.

The sixty-ninth floor was entirely within the spiritual sense range of a Nascent Soul cultivator. As a disciple with a Heavenly Spiritual Root who received extremely high treatment and was under close scrutiny, even setting up an isolation array was difficult. Forty years would have been enough time for him to form his Core again in a place with a super Spirit Gathering Array.

This was the third time he had practiced Qi Refining and Foundation Building, but it was the most difficult one yet.

If it weren't for the abundance of ancient texts and cultivation techniques to pass the time, he might not have been able to endure it.

"What are you thinking about, junior brother?"

Ling Yuling's voice came from behind.

Li Feiyu turned around and saw that she had walked up to him at some point. She was wearing a blue robe, standing with her hands behind her back. The naivety of her youth had faded from her eyes, replaced by a more composed demeanor.

"I was thinking how fast time flies," Li Feiyu said. "In the blink of an eye, forty-four years have passed."

Ling Yuling walked to his side, looked at the sea of ​​clouds in the distance, and nodded gently: "Yes, forty-four years."

The two stood side by side in silence for a moment.

"Junior Brother truly lives up to his reputation as a Heavenly Spiritual Root," Ling Yuling suddenly said, her tone tinged with envy. "He's already in the late Foundation Establishment stage; I believe he'll be forming his Core stage soon, right?"

Li Feiyu smiled and said, "Senior brother is no less capable, also at the late Foundation Establishment stage. Besides, how easy is it for a cultivator to form their core? Although Heavenly Spiritual Roots don't have a bottleneck, everyone still needs to accumulate the necessary knowledge."

Ling Yuling shook her head: "Don't try to comfort me. I know my own aptitude. I only have dual spiritual roots. I've gotten this far thanks to your guidance over the years."

"It's because my senior brother worked hard."

Ling Yuling glanced at him, a slight smile playing on her lips, but didn't reply.

The two remained silent for a while.

Ling Yuling was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke up: "By the way, I've been practicing a new martial arts technique recently."

Li Feiyu looked at her: "What kind of cultivation technique?"

"The Mountain Chasing Technique," Ling Yuling said. "It's earth-based. I was thinking of learning another technique so I'd have more options in future battles. But..."

She paused, her brow furrowing slightly. "There's something I'm having trouble with, and I'd like you to take a look."

Li Feiyu nodded: "Tell me about it."

Ling Yuling pondered for a moment and said, "There's a line in the cultivation method: 'The earth element carries all things, virtue is the foundation, guide it with intention, and control it with spirit.' When I practice according to this, when my spiritual energy circulates to my dantian, it always feels like... like I'm stuck in a quagmire, unable to move. My earth elemental root aptitude isn't bad, so why is practicing this so difficult?"

Li Feiyu thought for a moment and said, "Practice it once and let me see."

Ling Yuling sat cross-legged as instructed, formed hand seals, and closed her eyes to circulate her inner energy. A faint yellow light rose from her body and slowly circulated. Li Feiyu watched intently, his gaze following the movement of that spiritual energy.

Upon reaching the dantian, the spiritual energy indeed stagnated for a moment, then seemed to be held back by something, making its circulation extremely difficult.

Ling Yuling opened her eyes and sighed, "That's how it is."

Li Feiyu did not answer immediately, but pondered for a moment, and then suddenly sat down cross-legged.

"Watch closely."

He closed his eyes, formed hand seals, and began to circulate the "Mountain Chasing Technique."

Ling Yuling was taken aback—Li Feiyu has a metal spiritual root, so how can he practice earth-type techniques?

The next moment, she froze.

A faint yellow light rose from Li Feiyu's body, flowing smoothly and without hindrance. The spiritual energy started from his dantian, slowly ascending along his meridians and then slowly descending, the whole process flowing smoothly without the slightest stagnation.

Ling Yuling's eyes widened.

Li Feiyu opened her eyes, and the yellow light dissipated.

"This...how is this possible?" Ling Yuling's voice changed slightly. "You have a metal spiritual root, how can you practice earth-based techniques?"

Li Feiyu smiled and said, "No, I don't have an earth elemental root."

"Then what you just did...?"

"It's just a transformation of the five elements," Li Feiyu said. "Using the method of metal generating earth, we can temporarily simulate earth-type spiritual power, and then circulate your cultivation technique."

Ling Yuling was stunned.

The transformation of the Five Elements? Metal generating Earth?

Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't know where to begin.

Seeing her expression, Li Feiyu explained, "The five elements generate each other: metal generates water, water generates wood, wood generates fire, fire generates earth, and earth generates metal. This is the most basic principle. But ordinary cultivators only treat it as a transformation relationship between the five elements, and few people think—since they can generate each other, can we use metal as a base to generate some earth?"

Ling Yuling listened intently.

"I've been pondering this all these years while refining my cultivation techniques," Li Feiyu continued. "I see the Five Elements as five states, not just five attributes. What state is Metal? Sharp, concentrated, and restrained. What state is Earth? Heavy, supportive, and stable. Is it possible for these two states to transform into each other?"

He paused, raised his hand, and condensed a wisp of golden light. The golden light flowed around his fingertips, gradually becoming more solid, and finally even took on a hint of earthy yellow.

"This is the principle of using metal to generate earth," Li Feiyu said. "Although it cannot truly change the attribute of a spiritual root, it is still possible to briefly simulate earth-type spiritual power and circulate earth-type techniques."

Ling Yuling stared blankly at the golden light carrying an earthy yellow aura, speechless for a long time.

After a long while, she finally came to her senses, her voice a little hoarse: "This...this is something you created yourself?"

"We're still figuring it out," Li Feiyu said. "We only have some ideas, and it's far from perfect. What I demonstrated to you just now is barely usable; it's impossible to actually use it for cultivation."

He spoke casually, but Ling Yuling's gaze towards him had completely changed.

Can the Five Elements be viewed as five states?

Using metal to generate earth, simulating a spiritual root?

She grew up in the Star Palace and had seen countless cultivation manuals, but she had never heard of anyone thinking or doing this.

"You..." She paused, as if choosing her words carefully, "Have you shared this idea with anyone else?"

Li Feiyu shook her head: "No. They're just some immature ideas, I'm afraid people will laugh at me if I tell them."

Ling Yuling opened her mouth, wanting to say "How could it be a joke?", but then felt that the words sounded too light, so she just whispered, "You...you're really amazing."

Li Feiyu smiled but didn't reply.

The two stood there for a while longer before Ling Yuling went back first.

Li Feiyu watched her figure disappear into the clouds and mist, then turned his gaze back to the distance.

The message has already been delivered.

Whether it will reach the ears of the intended recipients is up to fate.

In fact, all this talk about the transformation of the five elements is nonsense. What he just said is 80% nonsense and only 20% theory. In reality, he can change the attributes of his spiritual root through his spiritual aperture.

While it is indeed possible to realize this, the probability is too low. The main reason is that the relevant legal principles are too vague, the Dao is not manifest, and the meaning and image, Dao and reason between the Five Elements cannot be truly connected and deduced.

……

A few days later, Li Feiyu took a jade slip and went to the eightieth floor.

He had been to Jin Kui's residence many times and knew the way well. After being informed, he was quickly led inside.

"Elder," Li Feiyu bowed.

Jin Kui, seated at the head of the table, nodded slightly: "Please sit."

Li Feiyu sat down as instructed, took out the jade slip from his sleeve, and handed it over with both hands.

"This is something I gleaned from several ancient books while organizing the Hidden Abyss Pavilion recently. Although it is my own deduction, all the inspiration has a basis, and I dare not claim credit for it. If the Grand Elder is interested, he may take a look."

Jin Kui took it and probed it with his divine sense.

A moment later, he raised an eyebrow slightly.

"The Soul Coffin Secret Technique?"

"Yes," Li Feiyu replied. "While browsing through ancient texts, I discovered a method for concealing the soul and averting calamity, vaguely mentioned in several ancient fragments. Unfortunately, the records were too scattered and lacked a systematic approach. I spent several years trying to integrate and deduce them, and finally created this secret technique."

He paused, then added, "This disciple has successfully completed the cultivation."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and formed a hand seal. Suddenly, a faint, ethereal shadow appeared around him, like a coffin or outer coffin, enveloping his entire body. The shadow only appeared for a moment before vanishing without a trace.

A hint of surprise flashed in Jin Kui's eyes.

With his keen eyesight, he could naturally tell that it wasn't some kind of illusion, but a genuine secret technique.

"What is the use of this secret technique?"

Li Feiyu said, "Prevent body possession."

Jin Kui was slightly taken aback.

"The original intention of this disciple in deducing this secret technique was to leave myself a way out," Li Feiyu said frankly. "The cultivation world is dangerous and unpredictable. What if I were to suffer a calamity one day and be possessed by someone? Wouldn't all my cultivation be wasted? With this technique, I have an extra layer of protection."

It's reasonable for a junior with a Heavenly Spiritual Root to actively create a secret technique to prevent being possessed, right?

Jin Kui remained silent for a moment, then looked down at the jade slip in his hand.

He probed with his divine sense again, this time observing more closely.

After a long while, he raised his head, and his gaze toward Li Feiyu became somewhat complicated.

Over the past forty years, Li Feiyu has repaired countless ancient cultivation techniques. The repairs to the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment chapters alone have already benefited many Star Palace disciples.

In two of them, he even deduced the content of the Core Formation stage.

Although it wasn't perfectly repaired, but just enough to be cultivated, this talent is already astonishing.

And now, he has produced a set of secret techniques that have never been seen before.

He said he learned from ancient books, but Jin Kui knew in his heart that without sufficient comprehension and creativity, even if the ancient books were placed in front of him, he would not be able to understand anything.

"You go back first," Jin Kui said. "I'll take another look at this technique."

Li Feiyu rose, bowed, and took his leave.

Jin Kui watched his figure disappear outside the main hall, then looked down at the jade slip in his hand, remaining motionless for a long time.

……

Three days later, several Foundation Establishment cultivators were secretly summoned and began to try to cultivate the secret technique called "Soul Coffin".

Jin Kui personally oversaw the situation.

In the first year, no one succeeded.

The following year, one person figured out the trick, but was unable to condense the phantom of the soul coffin.

In the third year, two people finally succeeded in condensing the Soul Coffin. Although it took much longer than expected, the secret technique was indeed mastered.

Jin Kui personally tested and simulated the situation of possession. The soul coffin could indeed actively protect and absorb the foreign soul, sealing it away.

He remained silent for a long time.

Then, he took out another jade slip.

Three years ago, Li Feiyu and Ling Yuling were chatting, and their conversation about the Yuan Magnetic Divine Light was recorded word for word.

"The five elements transform, with metal generating earth..."

Jin Kui murmured the words repeatedly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

This theory is truly astonishing.