All the cultivators fell silent at Ji Die’s words. Tan Chen and the Tianyu Prince both wore deep expressions, shaken by what Ji Die had said. They did not fully agree with her, but they acknowledged that her words held truth.
People like them would not let others’ understandings sway their own conclusions. Yet they could still draw profound insights from someone else’s answers to aid their own path. Clearly, this woman before them viewed the primal spirit as a state of mind, unrelated to the soul. This was a realisation different from theirs, and Tan Chen and the Tianyu Prince pondered it deeply.
Tan Miaotong noticed Ye Chu sitting there absent-minded. She tugged at him, urging him to pay attention. Three heaven-defying geniuses were discussing the primal spirit. Every sentence carried their insights into the Dao and the laws. This was a rare opportunity, greatly beneficial for one’s own cultivation. Yet Ye Chu was actually distracted!
“Miaotong, are you pulling me because you want to go on a date with me?” Ye Chu turned to look at Tan Miaotong. His words made Tan Miaotong’s face flush crimson, as if blood had seeped through. Her powdered face turned enchantingly beautiful, her tender, smooth cheeks glowing with a drunken rosy hue.
Such a captivating sight nearly made Ye Chu drool. Ye Jingyun, watching from the side, could not stand it. “Besides lusting after Miaotong, what else can you do?”
Ye Chu shrugged and glanced at Ye Jingyun’s alluring, seductive long legs. “Do you feel that since I only lust after Miaotong and not you, it creates a sense of disparity in your heart? But really, you should not think that way. The most important thing for a person is to recognise themselves clearly. With Miaotong around, it is perfectly normal for no man to lust after you.”
Ye Jingyun bit her lip, pressing it into a moist red line that shimmered temptingly, stirring the heart.
“I told you to listen properly. Their insights into the primal spirit are extremely profound. You can borrow some ideas from them.” Tan Miaotong gave Ye Chu a reproachful glance, full of charm. Though she was long accustomed to his unrestrained behaviour and felt shy inside, she did not avoid his gaze.
“What is there to discuss about what the primal spirit fundamentally is? Why should I listen?” Ye Chu had his own understanding. He did not want others’ realisations to influence him. Whether he listened or not made no difference. Ye Chu was also an obstinate person. Once he decided on something, it was extremely hard to change, just as he had been willing to storm straight to Yong Peak for Bai Xuan.
Ye Chu’s obstinacy bordered on madness. He would not accept others’ understandings. He only believed in his own heart and his own will.
Ji Die turned her head. Her clear eyes, like spring water, looked toward Ye Chu. Her red lips parted slightly, carrying a fragrant breath as she spoke. “Then how do you view the primal spirit?”
Ji Die’s question stunned both Tan Chen and the Tianyu Prince. They could not understand why someone of Ji Die’s calibre would suddenly ask Ye Chu. Could this young man possess some extraordinary quality that caught her attention?
The Tianyu Prince had met Ye Chu before. He knew this youth had a deep connection with that mysterious figure in the Ancient Nightmare Forbidden Land. It was precisely because of Ye Chu that he had entered the altar, and even the Holy Lord had bowed before him.
This had shaken the Tianyu Prince’s heart. If this person had such a close relationship with him, could he also be a remarkable figure?
The Tianyu Prince also looked toward Ye Chu, waiting for his answer. Everyone else’s gazes gathered on Ye Chu at the same time.
Seeing everyone staring at him, Ye Chu smiled and said, “Since everyone wants to hear it, I will share my humble understanding. In my view, the primal spirit is simply the primal spirit. Whatever you believe it to be, that is what it becomes. It is something you cultivated, so naturally it should follow your heart’s will. Otherwise, why bother cultivating it at all?”
Ye Chu paused, then continued. “When you face a life-and-death crisis and must engage in a deadly duel with someone else, at that moment, I believe the primal spirit is a state of mind, it is the mysterious and the law, it is the Dao and the principle. Only in this way can it erupt with the strongest power. But when your primal spirit is about to be destroyed, at that moment I feel the primal spirit has nothing to do with the soul. Even if the primal spirit perishes, the soul does not perish. The soul still exists in the world, and at that time I believe in reincarnation and rebirth. Then, one day, when the soul is to ascend and imprint itself with the Dao and the laws, at that moment I feel the primal spirit is the soul.”
“The primal spirit arises according to the heart. Whenever you decide what it is, that is what it becomes. You can regard it as a mountain or a river, even as fleeting clouds or rainbows. None of that matters. What truly matters is what the primal spirit is in your heart.”
All along, Ye Chu had believed in following one’s true nature. If a person lived too rigidly, bound by rules and conventions, what meaning was there in life?
In his previous life, Ye Chu had lived freely and unrestrained, indulging in the world, simply acting according to his whims. In his view, the feelings of his own heart were the most important. The primal spirit arose with the heart, just as he had condensed the Nine Stars in a Chain and the Myriad Blossoms. Both were born from a single thought of his.
In the celestial phenomena of his previous life, what Ye Chu remembered most deeply was the Nine Stars in a Chain, an astronomical wonder he had never witnessed. When he condensed the round stone, he thought of that. As for the Myriad Blossoms, he simply did not want the round stone to lack vitality, so it arose according to his heart.
Tan Chen and the Tianyu Prince were stunned. Their gazes fell on Ye Chu. A person with such thoughts was either a madman or a genius. No one had ever said the primal spirit was nothing and yet everything at the same time.
This idea was world-shaking. If it could truly be realised, it would mark an unparalleled talent. But if it was merely empty talk, then it was nothing more than someone trying to steal the spotlight, unworthy of serious consideration.
The Tianyu Prince preferred to believe it was the former. That would explain why Ye Chu had such a close relationship with the person from the Ancient Nightmare Forbidden Land.
“Your understanding is truly refreshing to me. However, on the path of cultivation, only when one verifies what the heart truly desires can it be considered genuine. Otherwise, no matter how eloquently it is spoken, it will only lead people astray.” Tan Chen said, “May I be allowed to witness your intent?”
Ye Chu looked at Tan Chen and smiled. “The reason I came here this time is precisely to seek your help. I borrowed the treasure land of your noble clan to condense my intent pattern, but I do not know its grade. I hope to receive an answer from you.”
Everyone had originally thought Ye Chu might be some extraordinary figure. But when they heard him say he had only just condensed his intent pattern, disdain appeared on their faces. Everyone present possessed outstanding talent. They were young geniuses who had all reached the primal spirit realm.
Yet this youth had only just reached it. He could not be considered anyone significant.
Only Tan Chen and the Tianyu Prince did not show disdain because of this. Tan Chen smiled. “Then please show me your intent pattern and let me see it.”
Tan Chen smiled, curious to see what this youth’s intent pattern looked like. Since he had the courage to let him assess its grade, it was probably not bad.
Before Ye Chu could speak, Tan Miaotong spoke up. “Brother Tan Chen, Ye Chu’s intent pattern is somewhat unusual. Simply looking at it may not reveal much. You will need to personally test it. Suppress your strength to the primal spirit realm and use it to probe Ye Chu. Only then will you know.”
Her words caused complete silence all around. Everyone stared wide-eyed at Ye Chu, their expressions filled with disbelief. To ask Tan Chen to test it personally? Could it be that he had condensed an intent pattern with celestial phenomena? Everyone looked at Ye Chu, unwilling to believe it.