Chapter 471 (2)
The technique required one to first separate a strand of Soul Power within the Brow Acupoint and then use a unique method to nurture it into a Soul Seed.
Once the Soul Seed was fully cultivated, it could exist independently outside the main body, carrying the original consciousness and strength.
The stronger the Soul Seed, the more power it could contain.
Not only did it affect strength, but even its aura would be indistinguishable from the original body.
Back when Lu Qing encountered the Puppet Avatar of the Third Holy Lord, no one was able to detect anything unusual.
That was because the Soul Seed within the Puppet Avatar originated from the same source as the Third Holy Lord himself.
“Soul Splitting Technique… Soul Seed…”
Lu Qing pondered over this Heavenly Puppet Sect inheritance. The more he thought about it, the more he realized its profound mysteries.
"The predecessor who created this technique must have been a truly unparalleled genius."
"Unfortunately, according to the jade slip's records, the Soul Splitting Technique can only be used up to nine times. Each time a cultivator uses it, their Soul Power will fall into a weakened state, requiring at least half a year of seclusion to fully recover.""Although my Soul Power is extremely strong, and I might not need a full half-year to recover from Soul Splitting, there will still be a period of weakness."
"With the Holy Assembly about to begin, this is not the best time to cultivate this technique."
After thoroughly analyzing the method, Lu Qing temporarily put aside the idea of practicing the Heavenly Puppet Sect technique.
Still, he was quite pleased.
His intuition told him that this technique had immense potential.
If properly refined and developed, it might become an extraordinary Esoteric Art.
However, whether that was truly the case would only be known once he practiced it himself.
Once he calmed his mind, Lu Qing resumed his cultivation.
…
Time was indistinct within the cave, and Lu Qing remained immersed in his training.
One day, a resounding chime of a bell suddenly awakened him.
Just as he was about to investigate, a streak of light flew into the cave.
Lu Qing recognized it as a communication talisman, so he reached out and caught it.
His Soul Power probed into it, instantly grasping its contents.
"So, the Holy Assembly is officially beginning?"
He stepped out of his cave dwelling and stood upon the cliffside before the Sacred Mountain, gazing down at the vast Sacred City below.
However, he did not rush down immediately.
The Three Holy Lords had already informed him in advance—this Holy Assembly carried great significance.
It would determine the future fate of all beings in the world.
All the major sects and factions would inevitably clash over their own interests during this gathering.
The Holy Lords intended to first try and resolve conflicts peacefully, guiding the Holy Assembly toward a positive outcome.
As for Lu Qing, his role was to remain in the background for now, watching over them. He did not need to make an appearance just yet.
"But… can this really be resolved peacefully?"
Feeling the unrest brewing within the Sacred City, Lu Qing shook his head.
With the revival of Spiritual Energy, the Heavenly Rules no longer restricted cultivators' paths.
Countless cultivators had broken past their previous limits, stepping into realms they had once only dreamed of, wielding power that had once seemed unattainable.
Such immense power was the perfect catalyst for ambition.
The sects and factions that had long been under the Sacred Mountain’s dominion would no longer submit so easily.
As Lu Qing contemplated this, the Sacred City below continued to stir.
Following the resounding bell chime, the entire city was now in motion.
Powerful figures from various sects all turned their eyes toward the massive platform in the city’s center.
“It’s finally starting…”
“Haha, let’s go! Whether our Guiyuan Sect can dominate Zhongzhou depends on this event!”
“I’d like to see what those three old monsters have planned.”
"Will the Supreme One make an appearance at this Holy Assembly?"
As the bell’s lingering echo faded, figures from all factions stepped out of their residences, making their way toward the central platform.
Auras of power and solemnity clashed within the city, forming invisible gales that swept through the streets.
The signs were clear—this Holy Assembly would be anything but ordinary.
Inside the city, the atmosphere was tense. Outside the city, however, it was lively and chaotic.
The Postnatal Realm martial artists, who lacked the qualifications to enter the Sacred City, also understood what the bell signified.
Excitement filled their faces.
“The Holy Assembly is finally beginning! I wonder what earth-shattering events will take place this time.”
“According to the records, the last Holy Assembly was over a thousand years ago. In the end, the Sacred Mountain suppressed all rivals and established itself as the ruler of the world, setting forth numerous prohibitions. After this gathering, I wonder who will hold dominion over the land.”
“A once-in-a-millennium event! Just witnessing this grand occasion makes my life worthwhile!”
Though they could not see what was happening inside the city, these martial artists still stretched their necks eagerly, hoping to glimpse something from within.
…
With solemnity filling the air, the many sects and factions finally arrived before the central platform.
In the next instant, an overwhelming pressure of immense power suddenly descended.
Three streaks of radiant light shot out from the Sacred Mountain, reaching the sky above the Sacred City in the blink of an eye before descending upon the platform.
As the light dissipated, three figures became visible—it was the Three Holy Lords.
Sensing the faint Golden Core Realm pressure emanating from them, many of the powerful figures below felt their hearts tighten.
According to rumors, the Three Holy Lords had all overcome their Heavenly Tribulations, stepping into the realm of Golden Core True Beings.
But those had only been rumors, never confirmed.
Now that they were witnessing it firsthand, it was indeed true.
However, not everyone was intimidated by the Three Holy Lords’ aura.
In fact, some cultivators who had also entered the Golden Core Realm narrowed their eyes upon sensing the Holy Lords' energy.
“These three old monsters… something about their aura feels… off.”
…
“Fellow Daoists.”
Under the gaze of the gathered powerhouses, the First Holy Lord smiled faintly and slowly spoke.
“I thank you all for traveling from afar to participate in this Holy Assembly. It has been over a thousand years since the last gathering.”
"Time flows swiftly, yet in this old man's heart, it all feels as though it were yesterday."
“However, looking at the faces before me, I find that few remain from those days. It is truly a cause for lament.”
“And as for myself… I have grown old, my hair white, my body weary.”
"It is only now that I truly understand—time is like a blade, merciless to all, an inescapable fate for every cultivator."
As his words faded, the First Holy Lord’s expression gradually shifted from a smile to a sigh of melancholy.
His tone carried deep regret, which seeped into the hearts of those below.
Before the revival of Spiritual Energy, cultivators could only reach the Precelestial Realm at most.
And the lifespan limit of a Precelestial Realm cultivator was five hundred years.
That meant that nearly all the great figures who had attended the last Holy Assembly had long perished, their lifespans exhausted, their bodies turned to dust.
Among those ancient figures were the ancestors and founding masters of many present sects.
Thus, hearing the First Holy Lord’s words, the gathered cultivators could not help but be swept into his emotions, their hearts filled with a sense of sorrow.
Yet, the Golden Core Realm cultivators present felt an instinctual wariness rising in their hearts.
Something was not right.