Chapter 180: Nascent Soul Transformation

"So that's how it is... Though the paths of Slaughter and the Sun are different, the Three Thousand Great Daos are ultimately one. Even diametrically opposing Daos can be unified, as with the paths of Yin and Yang, which, when combined, become the Dao of Taiji."

This also aligns with Laozi's saying: 'The Dao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, and Three gives birth to all things.'"

"All things cycle and return to One!"

Upon understanding this truth, the aura around Xu Yang subtly shifted. The originally pure and fierce Sun energy now carried an aura of solemn judgment and slaughter—perfectly aligned with the domain of the Asura God.

At the same time, his Sun Sacred Blade began to change as well. Crimson patterns spread across the blade like veins, making it appear more and more like a demon blade.

"So that's it… The Asura God intends for this blade to serve as the medium to balance the Sun God Position and the Asura God Position."

Gazing at the transformed blade, Xu Yang immediately understood how the Asura God planned to let him wield dual god positions. The Sun Sacred Blade was his external spirit bone, having evolved alongside his Sun-type soul power from the beginning.

After he passed through the City of Slaughter, the core of the Deathgod Domain had also integrated into the blade.

As such, both Sun and Asura powers existed within the Sun Sacred Blade—making it the perfect medium. As long as Xu Yang completed his Nascent Soul transformation, the blade would serve as the bridge, allowing him to inherit the Asura God Position alongside the Sun God Position.

Of course, the Sun God Position would be his primary path, with the Asura God Position acting in support.

Having comprehended the fusion method of the two True Intents, Xu Yang progressed rapidly. In just under two days, he successfully merged the Slaughter Will into the Sun True Intent, forming a new, unified Sun True Intent.

Once this was done, he immediately began using the newly fused True Intent to refine his soul.

Unlike Chen Xin, who had to advance step by step, Xu Yang's transformation progressed at astonishing speed. Ever since forming his Golden Core, his soul had already met the threshold in quality—it only needed the catalyst to undergo the final transformation.

As the Sun True Intent washed over his soul, Xu Yang's previously translucent soul gradually turned golden and more solid. A vast, radiant, and awe-inspiring aura began to emanate from within him. Even the air in the closed cultivation chamber shimmered with golden light.

His body floated upward, lifted by an invisible force.

"Well now… this brat's actually one step ahead of me!"

Seeing the transformation, Chen Xin couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Since learning the method for cultivating the Nascent Soul, he fully understood how difficult it was to make this breakthrough—it was no easier than going from Spirit Awakening all the way to becoming a Rank 99 Titled Douluo.

For Xu Yang to achieve it so quickly meant he had already long surpassed the critical threshold.

Even so, the breakthrough wasn't instantaneous. It took half a year for Xu Yang to fully complete his Nascent Soul transformation. During this time, all of Douluo Continent descended into chaos.

Conflicts broke out between the Spirit Empire, the portion of the former Heaven Dou Empire temporarily controlled by Ning Fengzhi, and the Star Luo Empire.

Most people had assumed that Ning Fengzhi's faction would be the first to collapse under pressure. After all, in terms of high-level strength, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect couldn't compete with the Spirit Hall, and it lacked the deep heritage of the Star Luo Empire. Moreover, its territory came from the former Heaven Dou Empire, whose people were not yet loyal.

But reality proved otherwise.

It was the Spirit Empire's army that was utterly routed by Ning Fengzhi's Sun Army. The debut of the soul power battery, in tandem with soul tools, demonstrated what true technological superiority looked like.

For the first time, the world saw that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had developed soul tools that even ordinary people could use.

—

In the former royal palace of the Heaven Dou Empire, inside a large war council chamber, Ning Fengzhi sat at the head. The senior members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were present on either side, with General Caisang and other officers gathered around a massive sand table model of the battlefield. Small flags in blue, red, and yellow were stuck all over it.

"Sect Master, in the battle at Jialing Pass against the Spirit Hall forces, we wiped out 4,700 enemy troops. Our side lost 203 soldiers, with 1,321 wounded—138 severely and 1,183 lightly," General Caisang reported excitedly.

A casualty ratio of nearly 200:1—such overwhelming dominance was unprecedented in Douluo Continent's military history. Who wouldn't be excited?

It all came down to how incredibly effective the soul power batteries and soul tools were.

"Well done, General Caisang. I'll leave Jialing Pass in your hands. It will be the gateway to our future Sun Empire—we must not lose it," Ning Fengzhi said with a nod.

Jialing Pass was easy to defend and hard to attack. It sat at the junction of the former Heaven Dou Empire, the Kingdom of Haagen-Dazs, and the Kingdom of Silvis. It was the most critical defensive line of the Heaven Dou region.

"Please rest assured, Sect Master! I will defend it with my life!" Caisang replied with a firm salute.

"Though we successfully repelled the Spirit Hall this time, we must acknowledge that to the public, we are usurpers. Aside from Tian Dou City and Qibao City, the other cities do not yet truly submit to us.

"As the saying goes, before you pacify the outside, you must stabilize the inside. Our priority now is to consolidate control—especially over cities like Tianshui, Blazing Fire, and Godwind. These are the most strategically important areas of the old empire…"

Ning Fengzhi laid out the next phase of their strategy in detail. He didn't want Xu Yang to emerge from seclusion only to face a mess. As his teacher, he had to smooth the path ahead so that the Sun Empire would at least be a functioning state when Xu Yang took the reins.

Once Ning Fengzhi finished giving orders, everyone got moving. Lady Ning went to Sky Water City. Ning Haiyan went to Blazing Fire City. Dugu Bo was dispatched to Godwind City.

—

Meanwhile, the Spirit Empire was not sitting idle. After receiving word of the devastating defeat at Jialing Pass, Bibi Dong was furious. However, she was no rash leader. Without a method to counter the soul power batteries, she had no intention of launching another attack on the Heaven Dou Empire.

Instead, she turned her gaze toward the Star Luo Empire.

Though Star Luo had a deeper heritage than the former Heaven Dou Empire, it severely lacked high-end power. At present, it didn't even have a single Titled Douluo. With the Spirit Empire's superior number of Titled Douluo, they could wear Star Luo down piece by piece.

"But to prevent Ning Fengzhi from sending his Titled Douluo to reinforce Star Luo, I must ensure he never fully consolidates his hold over the Heaven Dou territory."

"Nana."

At her command, a stunning black-haired beauty with a voluptuous figure entered the hall—Hu Liena, the current Saintess of the Spirit Hall.

"Teacher, your orders?"

"Nana, I want you to take a squad of Spirit Masters and infiltrate the Heaven Dou region. Your objective is to create chaos across major cities. Make sure Ning Fengzhi is too distracted to intervene in the Star Luo conflict. Also, if possible, find the production methods behind the soul power batteries and soul tools. That's the key to us unifying the entire Douluo Continent."

"As you command, Teacher," Hu Liena replied with a nod.