He vaguely remembers, when he first transmigrated here, there was someone who gave him many benefits, and although that person was not "broken," they were "dying."

That person valued his talent and bestowed him with gifts, which he reciprocated. To some extent, he had already regarded that person as his true mentor.

Mentor, mentor, both a teacher and... father.

Toward that person, he felt no guilt, but it still took him a long time to realize he had been betrayed.

That person... was called Stone Seat Elder.

He was the first elder who truly taught him a life lesson.

With his eyes narrowed, the youth walked devoutly beneath the bookshelf, letting the sunlight from outside fall, shadows and light criss-crossing the shelves.

He moved within the interplay of light and shadow, looking at the shelves full of books and notes, slowly stretching out his hand.

...

...

Summer departs, autumn arrives, after the fallen leaves wither, winter snow follows.

Snow falls layer by layer; the old courtyard of the Formless Ancient Race remains silent, unattended, and unasked. But this silence does not evoke a sense of decay or desolation, instead, it melds with the heavens and earth.

The youth returned a book to the shelf, closing his eyes in contemplation.

This half-year was crucial to him; from the collection of books of the Formless Ancient Race, he learned a great deal.

These things might require breaking one's head to comprehend outside, or perhaps might never be obtained, as no one would painstakingly explain so thoroughly to you.

Only the foundation of a great family can achieve this.

Foundation is not only about treasures and magic, but also knowledge and experience.

...

First, he understood his current state of Divine Soul.

Speaking of this, it starts with magical treasures.

Profound Artifacts and Profound Treasures are commonly used by low tier cultivators, yet these types of treasures become meaningless upon reaching the Purple Mansion Realm, where skills formed by thoughts far surpass the effects of any Profound Treasure or Profound Artifact.

This aspect, Song Yan knows clearly, because back then, that strike of "Bee Cloud Massacre Miasma" by Ancient Tooth, that treasure pagoda formed by thoughts descending from the heavens, nearly took his life, even when executed from a distance.

Soul Artifacts, Soul Treasures, Evil Artifacts, Evil Treasures mark the new path.

Soul Artifacts are akin to "batteries" nurturing souls with souls, but their construction is not necessarily like the "Cold Ice Hell Bracelet" that enslaves souls, rather they are intentionally manufactured using Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, not wholly evil.

The difference between Soul Treasures and Soul Artifacts is, the former allows Divine Soul to be externalized, and has greater capacity, similarly... the manufacturing method is not entirely like that of "Myriad Souls Banner," there are other normal types. However, Soul Treasure's biggest flaw is "lack of precision," you can command and use them, but cannot finely control the power within.

Evil Artifacts resolve the shortcomings of Soul Treasures, allowing for certain command over fragments of cause and effect, letting them adhere to oneself, forming a "Giant Soul."

As for Evil Treasures...

The realm they correspond to is actually the Divine Infant Realm.

Their greatest function is not for slaying, but... defense.

The principle is "many Divine Souls entwine oneself, sharing all Divine Soul-directed damage, protecting the main soul as a whole."

The books of Formless Ancient Race state: 'Evil Treasure, born of heaven and earth, like a lone boat on a vast sea, drifting along, ferrying guests across.'

This section is quite metaphorical, not overtly mentioning the Sea of Suffering, merely providing the clan's juniors with a general concept.

But for Song Yan who had wallowed on the coast of the Sea of Suffering himself, this statement was crystal clear.

Evil Treasures are indeed the little boats aiding the Divine Infant Realm in crossing the Sea of Suffering.

The source of Evil Treasures is indeed born of heaven and earth, absolutely not by humans.

Now here arises a problem...

Normal Evil Treasures are heaven-born, but "Changwang's Soul Threshold" Evil Treasure is obtained by the "Changwang Tiger Race" sacrificing an entire race due to its special nature. This is a standard deviation from the norm.

Normal Evil Treasures are only a single boat. People are on the boat, boat crosses the sea, and after reaching the shore, people remain people, boat remains boat, but he... seems to have forged half an Evil Treasure onto his Divine Soul. Is this "Unity of Man and Boat"?

Normal Evil Treasures are meant to share all Divine Soul-directed damage, yet the center of his forehead can directly emit terrifying Divine Soul attacks; this seems slightly skewed, a hint of wildness in this path can be sensed.

Moreover, the books of the Formless Ancient Race do not mention Evil Treasures being capable of absorbing power from the Sea of Suffering, and fusing together; nor do they mention if one holds half a wild-road Evil Treasure, falls into the Sea of Suffering, and merges half of the Evil Treasure onto one's own Divine Soul while absorbing much of the Sea of Suffering's essence, what might occur.

But this level of power can indeed absorb the thought of an Early Stage Divine Infant.

"An unprecedented, or at least extremely rare state," is Song Yan's conclusion regarding his own state.

...

Secondly, Song Yan has also deepened his understanding of the Purple Mansion Realm.

Early Stage of Purple Mansion, is the killing thought.

Killing thought, most cultivators tread a path of slaughter, abundant with such intent. The core lies in borrowing the "Profound Heart" to enhance the Divine Soul using the Body of Heaven and Earth.

Middle Stage of Purple Mansion, is the protective thought.

Protective thought, best acquired by peacefully living through several decades with tranquility and harmony to gain such insight.

Song Yan pondered what "tranquility and harmony" meant, and the first thing that sprang to his mind was "Junior Sister An Li," indeed those days at the Nanwu Sword Sect counted as tranquil and harmonious.

If An Li were still present, if the hearts of acquaintances remained unchanged, it would be his greatest chance to break through to the Middle Stage of Purple Mansion.

Late Stage of Purple Mansion, is the self thought.

Self thought, as the name implies, recognizing the existence of "self."

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