Mortal: I have a Spirit Gathering Cauldron

Back in the attic, Lin Feng closed the door and put a soundproofing sticker on the back of it.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, took out the rubbing of the "Golden Light Technique" jade slip from his storage bag, held it in his hand, the warm jade texture pressed against his palm, took a deep breath, and probed it with his divine sense.

The contents of the jade slip were much more detailed than what he had seen during his hasty glance in the library, and consisted of three main parts.

The first part is the main text of the cultivation method; the second part is a detailed explanation of the spells and magical treasures; the third part is the original owner's self-narration.

The Golden Light Technique is divided into nine levels and can be cultivated up to the late stage of Core Formation.

Levels one through three are the Qi Refining stage. This mainly involves building a foundation and cultivating metal-attribute spiritual power to prepare for subsequent cultivation techniques. This part is no longer of much use to him, but he still carefully reviewed it to make sure nothing was missed.

Levels four to six, Foundation Establishment stage. This is what he needs most right now: the cultivation methods for the Foundation Establishment stage. In addition, there is another spell that can be cultivated during the Foundation Establishment stage: Golden Light Shield.

Lin Feng carefully read the description of the Golden Armor.

Golden Light Shield is a metal-elemental defensive spell that condenses metal-elemental spiritual energy into a golden shield around the body. The shield is incredibly tough, capable of withstanding the full force of an attack from a cultivator of the same level, and can be activated with a single thought. With deeper cultivation, the Golden Light Shield becomes increasingly solid, transforming into a golden spiritual energy armor that adheres closely to the body, combining offense and defense.

"Good stuff." Lin Feng's eyes lit up.

His current defense relies mainly on the Xuan Turtle Shield, which requires activation, and even with the fastest reaction speed, there's still a time lag. The Golden Light Shield is different; it can be activated with a thought and can be a lifesaver in critical moments.

Moreover, the golden light shield and the magical artifact's defense do not conflict and can be stacked. The Xuan Turtle Shield blocks the first wave, and the golden light shield blocks the second wave, providing double protection and maximizing defense.

Seven to nine layers, Core Formation stage.

This part was more profound, and Lin Feng's current level of understanding was not enough to comprehend it, but he still gritted his teeth and read it through, memorizing the key information.

After reaching the Core Formation stage, one can refine their natal magic weapon: the Primordial Magnetic Golden Light Token.

Lin Feng focused his divine sense on the method of refining the magic weapon, not daring to miss a single word.

The Yuan Magnetic Golden Light Token is crafted from sharp, metallic spiritual materials. During its crafting, forty-nine layers of array patterns must be inscribed within the embryonic form of the magical artifact. Each layer must be flawless, or all previous efforts will be wasted.

Once the magic weapon is forged, it can emit a destructive golden light, as thin as a hair, extremely sharp, and possesses powerful cutting and destructive force, making it indestructible.

"The Golden Light of Annihilation," Lin Feng murmured, as images of countless golden threads dancing in the air flashed through his mind, slicing everything in their path into pieces.

The power of that is enough to send chills down your spine.

What appealed to him even more was the note at the end.

The power of the Primordial Magnetic Golden Light Token depends on the quality of the spiritual materials used in its crafting. The higher the grade of the spiritual materials, the greater the potential of the magical artifact, and the stronger the power of the Annihilating Golden Light.

Moreover, once a magical artifact is forged, it is not immutable. If higher-grade spiritual materials are found in the future, they can be added to the artifact to enhance its power.

"Isn't this tailor-made for me?" Lin Feng almost burst out laughing.

He possesses a Spirit Gathering Cauldron, capable of upgrading various spiritual materials. If his Yuan Magnetic Golden Light Token were to utilize upgraded top-tier spiritual materials, one can imagine just how powerful the magic weapon would become.

"I'm determined to practice this technique." Lin Feng continued flipping through the contents of the jade slip.

The main text of the cultivation method ends here, followed by a self-narration from the original owner.

Lin Feng adjusted his posture and focused all his mental energy on the self-narration.

"My name is Chu Huaijin. I was originally a Nascent Soul seed of the Five Elements Sect in the overseas cultivation world, with a metal-type Heavenly Spiritual Root."

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat.

Heavenly Spirit Root.

A single spiritual root allows for cultivation speeds several times, even ten times, faster than ordinary spiritual roots. Such aptitude is extremely rare in the cultivation world, known as a "heavenly spiritual root," meaning a spiritual root favored by heaven. It's not surprising that Chu Huaijin became a potential Nascent Soul cultivator for the Five Elements Sect.

"I entered the sect at a young age, began practicing Qi cultivation at eight, reached Foundation Establishment at thirteen, and formed the Core at sixty. Everyone in the sect called me a 'genius.' My master often patted my head and said, 'Huaijin, you are the most promising person in the Five Elements Sect in the past two hundred years to step into the Nascent Soul stage.' At that time, I was young and ambitious, and I also believed that I could reach the Nascent Soul stage, the Divine Transformation stage, and even the legendary Ascension stage was not out of reach."

"To achieve the Core Formation before the age of one hundred is already an extraordinary feat. However, I am also well aware that there are always people more capable than oneself. Although the Five Elements Sect is not the top sect overseas, it has been passed down for thousands of years. In the sect's scripture library, there are records of the legends of our predecessors ascending to the Spirit Realm. I have read them since I was a child and longed for it."

"However, fate is unpredictable."

"When I was 103 years old, I was ordered by my master to go out to sea to collect herbs. When I arrived at an unfamiliar sea area, the weather suddenly changed. Black fog rose from the sea, covering the sky and the sun, and shrouding the area for hundreds of miles. The fog could block spiritual power. In a daze, I felt the world spinning. When I woke up, I was in a dark place. Fortunately, I also had a body-refining method. I killed soul beasts in the dark and crossed snow mountains. Finally, I escaped from the dark and came to a boundless continent."

"Only later did I realize that this was Tiannan."

"When I first arrived here, I had no relatives or friends, and nothing of value, except for my cultivation. It took me three years to recover from my injuries."

"After recovering from my injuries, I began to travel throughout the southern region. From the boundless sea to the Mulan Grassland, from the far west to the demonic kingdoms, my footprints covered the entire southern region. What I saw and heard was nothing special. Core Formation cultivators could establish sects, Nascent Soul cultivators were already at the level of patriarchs, and Deity Transformation cultivators... I have traveled for a hundred years and have not seen a single one."

"I often think of the Five Elements Sect. I think of my master's aged face, the laughter and banter of my fellow disciples during our sparring, and the jade oak tree I planted myself on the back mountain of the sect on the day I successfully established my foundation. My master said, 'This tree shares the same roots with you; it grows as you grow, and it withers as you wither.' I laughed and said at the time, 'When I return with my Nascent Soul, this tree will be towering over the sky.'"

But where is the way home?

"I searched the entire southern region and asked countless cultivators, but none knew anything about the overseas world. There were occasional rumors that there was a sacred mountain in the far eastern sea, where cultivators could travel to the overseas world. I went to sea several times, but returned empty-handed each time. There were monstrous beasts roaming the sea, and celestial phenomena that blocked my way, as if there was an invisible wall separating the southern region from the overseas world."

"I gradually realized that there was no going back."

"Since I can't go back, I'll settle down here. I found a mountain range with decent spiritual energy, carved out a cave, and devoted myself to cultivation. Although Tiannan is poor, it also has some opportunities. Over the past hundred years, I've found a few ancient sites and obtained some pills and spirit stones, which is enough for me."

"At the age of one hundred and fifteen, I have entered the mid-stage of Core Formation."

"Two hundred and seventy years old, late stage of Core Formation. Three hundred and ninety years old, peak stage of Core Formation."

"For the next hundred years, I have been searching for a way to break through to the Nascent Soul stage."

"Five hundred years."

"A full five hundred years."

"From a spirited young man, I have cultivated myself into an old man with graying temples, step by step reaching the Great Perfection of Core Formation."

"However, the Nascent Soul realm is like an insurmountable chasm."

"I have consulted countless ancient texts and even ventured into several ancient ruins. Yet, I have still not found the opportunity to form a Nascent Soul."

"I am not reconciled."

"I possess a Heavenly Spiritual Root, and am the Nascent Soul seed of the Five Elements Sect. I should not be trapped here."

"Five hundred years of arduous cultivation, in the end, was all for naught."

"I once risked breaking through the Nascent Soul bottleneck, but ended in failure. My meridians were shattered, and my cultivation regressed. From then on, I knew that I had no hope of ever reaching the Nascent Soul stage in this lifetime."

"I began to organize all that I had learned in my life."

"The Five Elements Sect's rules forbid the transmission of its cultivation techniques. However, I have been wandering in the south for hundreds of years, while the Five Elements Sect is far overseas. What meaning does this rule hold? After much deliberation, I have decided to leave my main cultivation technique, the Golden Light Technique, here and give it to someone with the right destiny."

"This cultivation method originates from the Five Elements Sect and is the metal-element branch of the Yuan Magnetic True Scripture. According to the sect's records, the ancient great cultivator 'Yuan Magnetic True Man' created the Yuan Magnetic True Scripture, which can be cultivated to the level of Nascent Soul. Before the Nascent Soul stage, it is divided into five parts: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, each cultivating the power of the five elements. After the Nascent Soul stage, the five elements are unified, condensing the Yuan Magnetic Divine Light, which can overcome all five elements in the world."

"The Primordial Magnetic Divine Light is a supreme divine power in the world. Not only can it completely overcome the five elements, but it can also absorb the power of primordial magnetism to enhance one's cultivation. If one obtains a treasure of primordial magnetism to assist in breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, it will also be beneficial."

"Unfortunately, I only have the Metal element in my possession."

"According to the sect's secret records, the original copy of the Yuanci True Scripture is stored in a place of great opportunity. That place opens once every three hundred years and contains countless treasures and cultivation techniques. It is said to be the place where Nascent Soul cultivators trained in ancient times."

"My greatest regret in this life is that I failed to form an infant, to unite the five elements, and to experience the splendor of the Primordial Magnetic Divine Light."

"More than five hundred years of cultivation. Looking back, it all seems like a dream. I once thought I would be the next Nascent Soul Grandmaster of the Five Elements Sect, but I never imagined that I would die in Tiannan."

"I have no disciples, no descendants. In the end, I am all alone, sitting in my cave, waiting for death."

"If anyone later obtains this skill, I have one request."

"If you have the opportunity, please return to the Five Elements Sect on my behalf. I wonder if the jade oak tree I planted myself on the back mountain of the sect is still well?"

"If the tree is here, then water it for me. If the tree is gone... then so be it."

"Chu Huaijin, his last words."

The self-narration ends abruptly here.

Lin Feng withdrew his divine sense and remained silent for a long time.

The attic was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat. Outside the window, the wind rustled through the yellow maple leaves, and the spirit lamps on the distant mountain peaks still burned brightly—everything seemed normal.

He sat on the bed, holding the warm jade slip in his hand as if he were holding the remains of a five-hundred-year-old cultivator.

"Chu Huaijin," Lin Feng murmured the name.

A celestial spiritual root, a seed for Nascent Soul formation, beginning Qi cultivation at eight, Foundation Establishment at thirteen, and Core Formation at sixty. Even with such talent, reaching the Nascent Soul stage is hopeless.

Five hundred years of arduous cultivation, in the end, all turned into nothing.

In the end, only a jade slip and a final note unknown to anyone remained.

Lin Feng carefully put the jade slip into his storage bag, leaned against the headboard, and stared at the ceiling.

He spent his remaining years in Tiannan.

Four words encapsulate the entire life of a cultivator with a Heavenly Spiritual Root.

Lin Feng remained silent for a long time.

After calming his mind, Lin Feng recalled the sentence, "It can also absorb the power of Yuan Magnetic to improve cultivation. If one obtains a treasure of Yuan Magnetic, it will also be beneficial for breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm."

Lin Feng's fingers trembled slightly.

The Two Saints of the Star Palace.

The Primal Magnetic Divine Mountain of the Chaotic Star Sea.

If he reaches the Nascent Soul realm and can absorb the Yuan Magnetic Power to improve his cultivation, then the pure Yuan Magnetic Power cultivated by the Star Palace Twin Saints for hundreds of years will be a huge "power bank" for him. He can also solve the problem of the imbalance of the Twin Saints' Yuan Magnetic Power and ask for some benefits. It's a win-win situation.

Moreover, isn't the Void Heaven Palace the place of great opportunity that comes once every three hundred years?

"This is my chance," he murmured. "It seems I have no choice but to go study abroad in the Chaotic Star Sea."

Without further hesitation, he placed the jade slip of the "Golden Light Manual" back on his forehead, and his consciousness sank into the Foundation Establishment chapter, beginning to study the cultivation method word by word.

The night breeze slipped in through the cracks in the window.

Lin Feng's figure was reflected on the wall, motionless, like an old monk in deep meditation.

Outside the window, the night in Yellow Maple Valley was deep.