Chapter 258: Are You Afraid?
Once a cultivator reaches the void realm, to progress to the soul and body integration realm, one must first cultivate their mind to level seven. Upon reaching this level, the spiritual sea transforms dramatically, becoming mostly filled with the "sea of qi"
The progression to the soul and body integration realm requires the construction of a bridge spanning the entirety of one’s spiritual sea, connecting one shore to the other. This bridge later becomes the foundation upon which the soul and body achieve their integration. The integration doesn’t literally merge soul and body into a single entity, rather, it creates an unbreakable connection where the soul permanently retains the memory of the body’s essence.
[This connection means that even if you somehow lose your body,] the empress explained, [You can reconstruct it using the soul’s perfect recollection. However,] she cautioned, [This regeneration process is quite inefficient and honestly unreliable as it could take thousands of years just to regenerate a single limb so it’s better to not lose your body in the first place. Ask me how I know]
[There are other benefits to the integration but they’re not as important], the empress concluded.
After successfully reaching the soul and body integration realm, cultivation shifts primarily toward enhancing one’s domain while simultaneously maintaining the balance between soul and body.
When a cultivator finally achieves the pinnacle of the soul and body integration realm, they earn the right to undergo the immortal tribulation. If they succeed, they ascend to the immortal realm, and if they fail, well...rip.
Xiang Yu and Li Yao nodded attentively, absorbing every knowledge being shared, at least one of them was.
[That’s basically it, unless you want to go the Mahayana route which is a whole other thing and I’m too lazy to explain], the empress spoke, waving her hand dismissively as her form shimmered and began to dissolve, retreating back into Li Yao’s spiritual sea.
Xiang Yu stroked his chin thoughtfully, analyzing the empress’s explanations and integrating this new knowledge into his understanding of cultivation. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he realized just how vast the journey ahead remained. Countless realms likely existed beyond even what the empress had described, it seemed he was still far from true invincibility.
As Xiang Yu remained lost in thought, Li Yao suddenly sprang to her feet.
"Senior brother, let’s spar," she said, her posture already shifting into a combat stance.
Xiang Yu looked up at her, momentarily surprised by the abrupt suggestion. "Huh? Why all of a sudden?" he questioned, then gestured at their surroundings with concern. "And we don’t have a sparring space anyway." He recalled what he had witnessed in simulation, a "spar" between them would likely reduce the entire sect to rubble.
Undeterred, Li Yao bounded to his side, clasping his hand in hers. "How about just arm wrestling?" she suggested.
"Uh, sure I guess," Xiang Yu conceded.
The two positioned themselves at a nearby rock, their hands clasped in the starting pose for arm wrestling. The moment they began applying force, the contest ended decisively, Xiang Yu effortlessly pressed her hand down against the stone surface, winning instantly.
When he released his grip, Li Yao examined her own hand with a strange expression, her brows furrowed slightly. "I’m so weak," she murmured. "How am I supposed to protect senior brother like this?"
Xiang Yu observed her unusual reaction with puzzlement, wondering what had suddenly gotten into her, the Li Yao he knew would have asked for a rematch instantly. "Why don’t you try using your limit break form?" he suggested.
Her expression transformed in an instant, shifting from contemplative to cheerful as she embraced Xiang Yu’s arm affectionately. "I can only use it when I’m angry," she explained, beaming up at him. "I’m happiest when I’m with senior brother."
"Hmm," Xiang Yu mused, placing a finger against his chin thoughtfully. "What if I beat you, will that help?" he proposed.
"Nah, that’ll probably have the opposite effect," Li Yao replied with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing"
...
"Umm...senior brother," Li Yao began, her body fidgeting nervously as a slight flush spread across her cheeks.
"What is it?" Xiang Yu asked.
"Well...umm..." she stammered. With a small, determined breath, she finally committed to her action. "If you really want to," she spoke, bowing formally before him and extending her hands with palms upturned.
Resting across her outstretched palms was a whip.
Xiang Yu nearly choked on his own saliva when he noticed the item.
"Ahem, that’s a little inappropriate," he stated, quickly regaining his composure. Without hesitation, he reached forward and snatched the whip from her hands.
"Don’t pick up strange things next time," he admonished, promptly storing the item in his space ring. As the whip disappeared into the storage space, he couldn’t help but wonder where she had even obtained such an object.
"How about using your other new form instead?" Xiang Yu suggested, deliberately changing the topic.
When she heard this, Li Yao’s posture shifted subtly, her shoulders tensing. "Ah, well, the transformation process is violent," she explained nervously. "I don’t want to destroy things." Her eyes darted briefly to the side, avoiding direct contact with his.
Xiang Yu found her reaction peculiar, though her explanation seemed reasonable.
"Then how about trying your spirit form?" he proposed.
"It’s not that much stronger than me anyway, so why bother?" she replied dismissively, still not meeting his gaze.
Xiang Yu studied her evasive behavior with growing curiosity.
"Yao Yao,"
"Yes?" she responded, though she still didn’t meet his gaze.
"Can I see your elemental form?" he asked.
Her discomfort visibly intensified.
"Umm, I can’t do it right now," she murmured.
"Why not?" he pressed.
"I’m tired. Bye!" she announced suddenly, turning around to leave.
But before she could take a step, his hand shot out and caught her wrist.
"Let go," she whispered.
"Yao Yao," he called again, his other hand rising to carefully turn her face toward his, guiding her reluctant gaze to meet his own. "Are you afraid?" he asked.
"No," she denied instantly. "Senior brother, I—" she began, then faltered.
"It’s okay, I understand," Xiang Yu spoke, releasing a deep sigh as he finally understood what was happening. How could he have forgotten? When she was transforming back, the other version of Li Yao had said that she was afraid of going back "there". She must’ve been afraid of where her consciousness went when she wasn’t in control of the body.
If that was the case, then this version of Li Yao must have also been there when she wasn’t in control. No wonder she claimed to be weak; she couldn’t access her more powerful forms because she feared entering that place.
Xiang Yu wondered what sort of place it must be to frighten someone like Li Yao, so much so that she was even scared of using her forms.
"Yao Yao,"
"Mh?"
"Take this," Xiang Yu spoke, extending his hand toward her. Between his fingers was a manual, its cover inscribed with the title "Mind Partition Scripture."