"Because your Nascent Souls are too few."

All the Nascent Souls could not help but be momentarily stunned. The disciples and elders of the Divine Radiance Sect exchanged bewildered glances.

Not far away, Jiang Lingsu covered her face with her sleeve. She frowned, whispering helplessly to Jiang Ran, "Senior Brother’s old illness is flaring up again!"

Her senior brother was good in every way, except he loved to go crazy. What did he mean by having too few Nascent Souls?!

Madsword stroked his beard. "True Lord, your words are rather shocking."

Chayu was puzzled. "Don’t we shatter the Golden Core to form one Nascent Soul? How could one possibly form two?"

Shen Zhifeng turned ugly, yet she found herself unable to respond.

Most of the Nascent Souls were skeptical. Condensing one Nascent Soul was well-known, as obvious as one plus one equaling two. Who had ever heard of forming two Nascent Souls?

Shen Wushen alone seemed to ponder Qi Yuan’s words. He furrowed his brow, murmuring, "Too few Nascent Souls?"

His understanding was the same as any other cultivator. Shatter the Golden Core to form a Nascent Soul. One core for one soul. Even if one forcibly split it into two, wouldn’t it still be just one Golden Core? In fact, wouldn’t doing so actually weaken it?

Shen Wushen gazed at Qi Yuan seriously. "The Nascent Soul originates from the Golden Core. Even if it were divided into two, it wouldn’t make any difference."

He was sincerely asking for guidance.

The other Nascent Souls found it strange. Is there really any need to discuss such a thing?

Shen Zhifeng's expression shifted repeatedly. She wanted to remind Shen Wushen, but eventually decided against it.

"You're not wrong. That’s how ordinary people think. Only true geniuses blaze a different path. The solution is simple. Just don’t shatter the core! Let the Golden Core walk the Golden Core's path. Let the Nascent Soul walk the Nascent Soul's path. Two broad roads of light, both leading to Rome."

Qi Yuan's words were astonishing. The unfamiliar term "Rome" made them sound even more profound.

The other Nascent Souls frowned, trying to comprehend the deeper meaning. Could the Golden Core really walk its own path? Could the Nascent Soul walk another?

Shen Wushen also frowned deeply, thinking carefully.

At that moment, Shen Zhifeng cut in sharply. "Nonsense! How could such a Great Dao exist in this world? Young Master, do not be deceived!"

She believed Qi Yuan was talking nonsense to toy with them. Many Nascent Souls shared that thought. Qi Yuan's theory was too incomprehensible. After all, human cognition was difficult to overturn. On Blue Planet, if someone told a passerby that the Earth was flat, would they believe it?

Shen Zhifeng then said, "Why don’t you produce two Nascent Souls for us to see?"

Qi Yuan shrugged. "Why should I show you my Nascent Souls?"

Though he had indeed held the gathering to show off, there was a difference between showing off voluntarily and being forced to.

Shen Zhifeng froze. "For ten Jade-tier cultivation methods!"

Qi Yuan felt no ripple in his heart. That was more like it.

Still, he recalled his wager with Shen Wushen. "If I have two Nascent Souls, then what?"

He intended to squeeze more out.

Shen Zhifeng declared, "If you do, I'll give you one hundred thousand spirit stones! If it turns out you’re just lying, you'll serve as Young Master's sparring partner for ten years."

A brainless fan was still a brainless fan. Even now, she was still thinking of Shen Wushen.

"No. I'm not interested in spirit stones," Qi Yuan replied.

Qi Yuan truly wasn't. At his level, he could claim he had no interest in money like Jack Mu. Only cultivation methods interested him.

Shen Zhifeng clenched her jaw. As a sect master, she could produce more, but she couldn't gamble sect assets?!

After thinking, she gritted her teeth. "If you truly have two Nascent Souls, I will eat Wu Dian's boots. How about that?!"

Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. Was there such entertainment? Generally, when dealing with white moonlights, Qi Yuan preferred harming others to benefit himself. But this? Harming others without benefiting himself, he liked that too.

"Deal!"

The Nascent Souls looked at each other, some struggling not to laugh.

Wu Dian hadn't expected to be dragged into this. "True Lord, hurry and show us the two Nascent Souls!"

Wu Dian had his reasons for never wearing shoes, and it wasn’t for lack of them. He even possessed a rare magical pair of boots that boosted his speed tremendously. Once, he had cultivated a powerful footwork technique, but something went awry. Consequently, his feet developed an unbearable odor—not of mortals, but of immortals!

Thus, his magical boots became contaminated, reeking like a dead rat in a drain. Since then, he could no longer wear shoes. Only going barefoot would let the smell dissipate. He still kept the boots, hoping to sell them. However, even at twenty thousand spirit stones, no Nascent Soul would touch them.

Wu Dian said excitedly, "Sect Master Shen, if you're going to eat my boots, you must pay me twenty thousand spirit stones!"

That was why he hoped Qi Yuan would win, so his boots would finally find a home. He took them out from a separate storage pouch. Instantly, a wave of stench swept across the area.

"Wu Dian, put them away!"

"Ugh!"

Even Nascent Souls couldn't bear the stench.

Qi Yuan grinned. "The cultivation world is better. When someone bets on eating boots, they actually eat them."

Too many people on Blue Planet cheated in their bets. If Qi Yuan encountered them, he'd make them honest.

With so many Nascent Souls at his behest, producing two was child’s play. And this time, unlike when he healed Jiang Lingsu, rousing them into half-awakened states wasn’t necessary.

"Watch closely, my two Nascent Souls," Qi Yuan declared.

Two streaks of light flashed. Two crystal-clear, infant-like Nascent Souls floated beside him. Each radiated ancient, restrained energy, as if concealing immense power.

Every Nascent Soul sensed extreme danger. They trembled as they gasped.

"Two Nascent Souls!"

"He truly has two!"

"Hahaha! My boots can finally be sold!"

Withered Tree widened his eyes. Two Nascent Souls?!

This was even more unbelievable than reaching Nascent Soul at twenty!

Shen Zhifeng widened her eyes. "Impossible!"

Golden light burst from her eyes as she activated an ocular technique to pierce through illusions. No matter how she looked, there were indeed two Nascent Souls.

Shen Wushen saw far more than the others. These are Nascent Souls...? No... How can Nascent Souls be this terrifying?

He felt as if he were facing Yin Spirits. Even his master, a Step Seven Mythic, did not give the same pressure. This was absurd.

Qi Yuan smirked. "Alright, you've seen them. Shouldn’t you eat Wu Dian's boots now?"

Harming others for fun felt great.