Chapter 17: The nature of mental and soul cultivation

"Master! We caught some game! Let's have a barbecue! We've been missing Miss Miao's cooking from home!" Shi Yun ran toward Liu Haoyu, his eyes bright with excitement.

"Yes! We've been craving it so much! During our outdoor training, the food we ate was barely better than pig slop!" The chubby dragon, Long Yi, huffed dramatically, his round belly bouncing as he landed beside Shi Yun.

Liu Haoyu, still reclining in his chair, didn't even open his eyes as he responded with his usual calm. "As long as Miaomiao agrees."

Miaomiao?!

Shi Yun and the chubby dragon immediately exchanged looks of disbelief. Their master, who was always distant and composed, had just casually called Yu Miao Miaomiao? A pet name?!

Yu Miao, on the other hand, beamed with delight. "Of course! Leave it to me!" In an instant, she was off, cheerfully preparing the meal.

Just as she started cooking, a familiar mechanical voice echoed in her mind—her system.

'Host, do you really have a good impression of him? Are you perhaps… interested? Do you want to marry him? Are you ready to call him "my lord husband"?'

Yu Miao nearly tripped over herself. 'Shut up! Why are you being so greasy?! I'm a bachelor for life! If he likes me, well, that's his problem! I mean, come on, I'm beautiful, kind, generous—who wouldn't fall for me? I just think he's decent, that's all! Not like I'm in love with him! Hmph!'

The system snickered. 'Yeah, yeah. Toad wishing to eat swan's meat, huh?'

Yu Miao's eye twitched. 'Who are you calling a toad, huh?!'

'Not you, not you!' The system immediately corrected itself. 'I meant him! Though, to be fair, he's a rather handsome toad…'

Suddenly, a chilling sensation ran down the system's digital spine. It instinctively knew—it had said too much.

Yu Miao smirked. 'That's more like it.'

The system wisely chose to shut up.

With the meat sizzling over the open flames, the fragrant aroma filled the air. The meal turned out to be one of the best they had ever had. Even the chubby dragon, who was always full of complaints, was too busy stuffing his face to talk.

Shi Yun, nearly moved to tears, sighed, "This… this is life."

After the meal, Liu Haoyu turned to Shi Yun and spoke with firm authority. "Go into seclusion and focus on your cultivation. Strengthen your foundation."

Shi Yun immediately straightened up. "Yes, Master!" With that, he bid farewell and disappeared into his training chamber.

Half a Month Later…

Shi Yun emerged from his closed-door cultivation, his aura vastly different from before. His once youthful and slightly reckless energy had been replaced with a steady, refined composure.

His advancement had been rapid, but more importantly, his foundation was solid. With his master's guidance and the near-unlimited cultivation resources at his disposal, his progress was unmatched in the entire Dahong Wilderness.

Though he could have broken through further, he wisely chose to consolidate his strength—after all, power without stability was like a house built on sand.

However, outside the tranquility of their small group, the world was on the brink of chaos.

News spread like wildfire—the patriarch of the Dark Holy Church had emerged from seclusion.

His strength had skyrocketed to the Peak Nascent Soul Realm, sending shockwaves through the cultivation world. Under his ruthless leadership, the Dark Holy Church had absorbed every major evil sect, unifying them under one banner with the chilling decree:

"Those who follow me, prosper. Those who resist—die."

The result was a bloodbath. Countless sect leaders were slaughtered, their disciples forced to kneel and swear allegiance, or face annihilation.

Even the so-called "righteous" sects were growing uneasy. Though they claimed to stand against evil, every sect had its own agenda, hidden corruption festering beneath their polished exteriors. Now, as war loomed on the horizon, they too began rallying their forces.

But deep down, no one trusted anyone.

While some truly sought justice, others merely saw this as an opportunity—an elaborate game of power, where the pawns, the disciples, would be the ones to suffer most.

Who among them had the cunningness of a fisherman, waiting for the bloodshed to settle before reaping the greatest benefits?

No one knew.

All they knew was that war was inevitable.

In the midst of all this, Shi Yun patiently awaited his master's next command.

Liu Haoyu, resting in deep thought, finally called out to him through his consciousness.

Shi Yun hurried to his side, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Without a word, Liu Haoyu handed him an ancient scroll—its energy radiating an aura so profound that even the heavens seemed to tremble.

"This is a soul and mental cultivation technique," Liu Haoyu said. "Master it. Strength alone is not enough. A true cultivator must temper their mind, their soul, their will. Only then will you be worthy of being my disciple."

Shi Yun bowed deeply, his voice filled with conviction. "Thank you, Master! I will not disappoint you!"

As Shi Yun disappeared into his chamber once more, Liu Haoyu watched him leave with a contemplative gaze.

Talent alone is not enough.

There are mountains beyond mountains. If he grows too arrogant, thinking himself invincible, he will fall. But… I have confidence in him. His heart is pure, and his will is strong.

A rare, fleeting smile crossed Liu Haoyu's face before it quickly faded.

Shi Yun returned to his chamber, carefully unrolling the ancient scroll his master had given him. As soon as he touched its surface, an overwhelming force surged through his fingertips—ethereal yet oppressive, as if the vastness of the universe had been condensed into a single thread of energy. His soul trembled, his consciousness briefly thrown into disarray before he managed to stabilize himself.

With a deep breath, he focused his mind. "Master wouldn't give me anything I'm not capable of handling. I must persevere."

He began reading through the text, his eyes widening as he absorbed the contents.

Unlike physical cultivation, which strengthened the body and dantian, soul and mental cultivation was far more elusive. It was the foundation of one's will, perception, and the very essence of their existence.

This technique—"Heavenly Soul Refinement"—was designed to temper the soul, expand mental awareness, and grant dominion over spiritual energy. Those who mastered it could resist powerful illusions, manipulate spiritual pressure, and even shatter weaker souls with a mere thought.

However, the path was perilous. Soul cultivation was far more dangerous than physical training. If one's soul was harmed, there was no medicine that could heal it—only time, luck, or divine intervention.

Shi Yun felt a deep sense of awe. His master had given him something invaluable—something beyond mere strength.

This was a foundation for true power. He is sure to never disappoint his master or himself.