Lin Chen transformed into green leaves and dispersed into the air, slowly condensing into human form.

In just a few breaths, he returned to his original appearance.

True Man Changchun’s eyes lit up at the sight, gently applauding as he said:

"Not bad, Lin Chen, your Scattering Technique is already at Minor Achievement, and the Qi Gathering Skill has also been grasped..."

After praising Lin Chen, True Man Changchun saw Li Zhenqian still in the form of sand and dust, unable to recover.

"Master Ancestor, please help me! I can’t change back!" Li Zhenqian’s anxious cry came from the side.

True Man Changchun’s eyes darkened at the sight, and he admonished:

"Look at yourself, and then look at Lin Chen!"

"You’re so unskilled, yet you show off like this, it’s just how you are!"

True Man Changchun had no intention of helping Li Zhenqian recover; instead, he said:

"Just stay like this; once your True Essence runs out, you’ll naturally return to your original form."

After scolding Li Zhenqian, True Man Changchun looked at Lin Chen again, his face kindly:

"Chen’Er, besides this Qi Gathering and Form Dispersing Technique... is there any other technique or divine technique you wish to learn?"

Lin Chen thought for a moment, then shook his head and said:

"As a disciple, I deeply understand the importance of not being greedy. However, there is one matter I wish to ask Master Ancestor for guidance on..."

After speaking, Lin Chen gently activated the True Essence within him.

The True Essence continued to condense and compress, eventually gathering in Lin Chen’s hand.

True Man Changchun’s eyes brightened upon seeing this, and he praised:

"Not bad, your Qi Gathering Skill has already reached Great Success... Are you condensing the True Essence when using magical treasures and techniques to multiply their power?"

Lin Chen was startled at this, impressed that a Nascent Soul cultivator could discern the essence of his Qi Gathering Skill with just a glance.

Lin Chen nodded and said:

"Reporting to Master Ancestor, I am quite interested in Sword Control Skill. Therefore, I condense the True Essence onto the flying sword..."

"I’m just exploring on my own and still lack a specific Qi Gathering technique."

Lin Chen expressed his current need.

During the Qi Refining Stage, Lin Chen practiced the Spiritual Control Technique, including the method of condensing and compressing True Essence called "Qi Gathering Skill."

It can greatly increase the power of techniques and enhance the destructive power of True Essence.

Later, as Lin Chen’s cultivation improved, the Qi Gathering Skill could no longer keep up with him.

Thus, Lin Chen further enhanced the Qi Gathering Skill by referencing the compression method of the Golden Core.

All along, Lin Chen relied on self-exploration, though assisted by texts and the Great Xia Country.

But ultimately, he lacked a renowned teacher; he was on a wild path.

Now, with True Man Changchun, an orthodox Great Nascent Soul cultivator, Lin Chen naturally seized this opportunity.

True Man Changchun pondered for a moment and said:

"Your Spirit Gathering Technique has somewhat succeeded. The method of compressing True Essence has immense power..."

"But it’s very challenging to improve; you have to figure it out on your own."

"What I can tell you is, I once saw a True Monarch of Divinity Transformation unleash an incredibly condensed True Essence to form a sword, slicing through a mountain range over a hundred miles long..."

After a pause, True Man Changchun continued:

"The method of that True Monarch was not only reliant on True Essence but also on communicating with the Will of Heaven and Earth. By adding the Power of Heaven and Earth to the True Essence, its power could be greatly amplified."

"In your future cultivation, perhaps you could focus your efforts in this direction."

After speaking, True Man Changchun took out a Jade Scroll and handed it over.

"I have a secret technique here named Celestial Essence Sword Gang."

"It was created by an ancient great cultivator, fusing True Essence with the Will of Heaven and Earth, forming Gang Qi, with doubled power."

"Sword cultivators see Sword Gang; blade cultivators see Blade Gang; spear cultivators see Spear Gang..."

"This method, perhaps it could be useful to you?"

Lin Chen was overjoyed, quickly took the Jade Scroll, and cupped his hands, saying:

"Thank you for bestowing this technique, Master Ancestor."

As the saying goes, a master leads you to the door, but cultivation is up to the individual.

Everyone has their unique "Dao," and True Man Changchun can only guide Lin Chen, not choose for him.

Soon, an afternoon passed.

Under the guidance of Ancestor Changchun, Lin Chen’s Qi Gathering and Form Dispersing Technique became even more proficient.

By evening, Li Zhenqian’s True Essence finally exhausted, reverting to his original form, lying on the ground looking drained.

Lin Chen felt Li Zhenqian’s resentful gaze.

Well, Li Zhenqian’s talent isn’t bad.

He could even be called extraordinarily gifted; otherwise, he wouldn’t have grasped the Scattering Technique in just three short months.

But unfortunately, Lin Chen was even more of a prodigy.

In terms of comprehension, Lin Chen really feared no one...

Most crucially, Li Zhenqian had only practiced for three months, while Lin Chen had studied for a full six months.

After the cultivation session, Lin Chen cupped his hands and said:

"Master Ancestor, as a disciple recently, I had some enlightenment and feel that my cultivation is about to break through..."

"Therefore, I wish to request a period of closed-door training."

True Man Changchun nodded after hearing this and said: "Good, cultivation is the root of everything... Since so, I grant you leave. But during your closed-door training, do not slack in your cultivation..."

To the side, Li Zhenqian’s jaw dropped, more astonished.

"This, how long has it been since you broke through the middle stage of Golden Core... And you’re breaking through again?"

Thinking of this, Li Zhenqian became even more anxious.

Lin Chen kept silent, offering no explanation.

True Man Changchun looked at Li Zhenqian with a smile, sighing in his heart:

"For Zhenqian, having Lin Chen around is definitely a great motivation..."

"Otherwise, with his potential, he couldn’t have reached the middle stage of Golden Core at such a young age..."

True Man Changchun had lived for thousands of years, seeing people and things very clearly.

In his view, a prodigy like Lin Chen was destined not to be confined by the little Changchun Sect.

What he hopes for is only that, in the future, should Lin Chen successfully cultivate, he can lend a hand to the Changchun Sect, that would already be quite good.

But if Li Zhenqian is well nurtured, in the future, he might be able to glimpse into the Nascent Soul Stage, becoming the future sect leader...

...

The next day, Lin Chen announced to the outside world that he was going into seclusion.

After returning to his residence, he used the Earth Escape Technique to burrow a thousand miles deep underground.

Traversing several thousand more miles underground, Lin Chen was beneath an unnamed major mountain in the Yanlai Realm.

This safe house is rather special.

It spans a hundred feet in radius, equipped with a Spirit Gathering Array and various arrays to shield perception.

It was the place Lin Chen had long prepared for his seclusion.

At this moment, less than half an hour remains until the next crossing.

With the reset of time, Lin Chen smoothly returned to the Blue Star Martial Arts Palace.

Upon seeing Wang Lishan, Lin Chen said:

"Uncle Wang, I am preparing to go into seclusion for a period. The time will range from three to six months."

"During this period, it is best not to disturb me."

Wang Lishan felt a slight stir in his heart upon hearing this and asked, "Are you ready to take that step?"

Lin Chen nodded and said:

"It’s about time..."

"It’s been about three months since I condensed the Nine Revolutions Golden Core, it’s about time to attempt passing the Magic Power Barrier."

Wang Lishan listened and seriously said, "Alright, Li and I will personally protect you, just focus on your breakthrough."

That afternoon, Lin Chen sent a message to his family, informing them that he would be undergoing closed-door training for six months.

His uncle and aunt upon hearing this called several times to inquire.

Once everything was ready, Lin Chen entered the cultivation room.

Activating the Spirit Gathering Array in the cultivation room, Lin Chen took out a full fifty thousand middle-grade Spirit Stones, filling the entire room.

Afterward, Lin Chen set up a restriction to prevent any interference.

Lin Chen sat cross-legged within the Spirit Gathering Array, and after feeling the abundant spiritual energy conveyed by the array, he felt much more at ease.

His heart fluttered, and that perfect Nascent Soul Pill appeared in Lin Chen’s hand.

Lin Chen did not take it immediately but placed the Nascent Soul Pill aside and instead took out another pill.

Vessel-Protecting Pill!

"The first step of the Magic Power Barrier is to shatter the core into an infant..."

"Shattering the Golden Core is also the most dangerous step in passing the Magic Power Barrier, one must protect the heart meridian with a Vessel-Protecting Pill to prevent accidents..."

Lin Chen muttered to himself.

This Vessel-Protecting Pill was purchased in Wenda City, its quality near-perfect, costing Lin Chen ten thousand Spirit Stones.

The Vessel-Protecting Pill has extensive uses, is a fourth-tier pill, yet not as precious as the Nascent Soul Pill or Thunder Avoidance Divine Pill.

Therefore, Lin Chen did not refine it himself.

Lin Chen slightly opened his mouth, swallowing the Vessel-Protecting Pill into his abdomen, transforming it into a pure energy that protected Lin Chen’s heart meridian.

The next second, Lin Chen completely shattered the Golden Core.

A silent crack sounded within Lin Chen’s Dantian, and that nearly perfect Golden Core shattered in an instant.

With the shattering of the Golden Core, the True Essence within Lin Chen’s Dantian immediately became extremely violent.

But this was not the first time he had shattered a Golden Core.

The foundation laid by years of cultivating the Three Revolutions Golden Yuan Skill revealed itself at this moment, allowing Lin Chen to easily suppress the violent True Essence within his Dantian.

And continuously compressed and gathered the True Essence together.

Not sure how much time had passed...

A phantom, like a baby, appeared within Lin Chen’s Dantian.

This is the Nascent Soul prototype!

Under Lin Chen’s control, the Nascent Soul prototype continuously absorbed the True Essence and magical power within Lin Chen’s Dantian.

The prototype gradually became more and more perfected.

In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed.

Lin Chen traversed from the Blue Star to the Cultivation Realm.

In these two completely independent worlds, separated by an unknown distance, Lin Chen alone remains unchanging.

Lin Chen still maintained the state of forming the Nascent Soul, without the slightest impact on his breakthrough status due to crossing between the two realms.

Until the next seven days, Lin Chen returned again to the High Martial World.

...

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

Compared to a month before, the True Essence within Lin Chen’s Dantian had thickened several times over.

The Nascent Soul prototype also became more refined.

At this moment, in the room, the ground was covered with spirit stone powder...

"Across two worlds, a total of ten million Spirit Stones... already consumed more than half?"

Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, feeling the Nascent Soul prototype within his Dantian already filled.

But this Nascent Soul prototype was unclear in shape, lacking any divine charm, currently just a shell...

"Due to cultivators’ aptitude and foundation, the True Essence a Nascent Soul can store differs greatly."

"Currently, the True Essence in my Dantian has doubled compared to before, but... it’s still not enough!"

Lin Chen’s heart stirred, and that Nascent Soul Pill finally entered his mouth.

With the Nascent Soul Pill ingested, it reached the final stage of the Magic Power Barrier.

The tempering of the Nascent Soul!

The previously calm Dantian, once again became turbulent.

The Spirit Stones within the Spirit Gathering Array were rapidly consumed, countless spiritual energy surged into the Dantian.

And Lin Chen guided the True Essence magical power, relentlessly tempering the Nascent Soul.

The Nascent Soul prototype, through continuous tempering, gradually became more solid.

In the blink of an eye, another month and a half passed...