The realm of the soul, whether it's the initial out-of-body stage where one refines their vital energy, the "Day Journey" stage where one masters the power of the sun to cleanse negative energies, or the "Sacred Manifestation" where the soul takes on a form similar to the physical body, all these stages involve practitioners whose souls are essentially still "yin"—the souls of the departed.

  However, if one can surpass Sacred Manifestation and reach the realm of the "Yin God," the transformation becomes completely different.

  In this state, the soul transcends mortality, shedding its mundane nature and acquiring a divine essence. The Yin God is born anew, with a divine presence both inside and outside, as ethereal and illusory as a dream.

  "Yin God practitioners are revered as 'Masters' in the world, with high status," said Lu Qingmo. "In powers like the Xuandu Sect, a Yin God Master can also serve as an Elder, and many ancient teachings are ruled by the Yin God."

  "In the Ghost and Spirit Department across the Great Qi, a Yin God Master can hold the title of Regional Manager, overseeing a province's affairs, making them one of the most powerful officials in the land."

  "It is at this stage that the strength dynamic between cultivators and martial artists completely shifts."

  "A Day Journey cultivator can begin to fight against martial artists, and a Sacred Manifestation cultivator is nearly on par with a martial artist. But once one steps into the realm of the Yin God, most cultivators surpass martial artists of the same level."

  "The Black Mountain God, upon ascending to godhood, was at this stage."

  "Those who reach this level are often rare prodigies, capable of defeating opponents of higher rank."

  Han listened attentively, showing no disrespect. However, his determination remained unchanged.

  "Regardless of how powerful the Yin God Masters are, the Ghost Elder of the Wuchang Hall will die by my hand!" Han declared, his voice resolute.

  "Even if he breaks through and ascends to a higher realm, I swear to kill him."

  Han's words were firm, as if his resolve alone could bend the very air around him. If the Drift Bottle, this "life cheat," could capture the desires of its master, his wish would surely fill the bottle by now.

  So far, the demonic cultivators he'd encountered were nothing but evil, deserving of death. The Ghost Elder's cruel deeds only added to the fire of his vengeance.

  "Anyone who dares to harm me..." Han’s voice echoed with cold wrath. "A former Buddha once said: 'You have already chosen your path to death.'"

  "I believe that day will come," Lu Qingmo said seriously, not dismissing Han's words. She merely wished for him to be cautious, but she recognized his talent.

  Her own path might have been severed, but Han was like the rising sun, a future full of promise.

  While she might remain stuck in Sacred Manifestation for life, watching Han grow further and further away, she believed that even if he couldn't ascend to immortality, he could at least reach the Yellow Springs or the Blue Skies.

  In a hundred years, she would be nothing more than a pile of dust, while Han would remain at the peak of his life, lighting the world.

  Lu Qingmo sighed inwardly at this thought.

  Eventually, they would part ways, each living in different worlds. It wasn’t that Han couldn't catch up to her, but rather that she couldn't catch up to him.

  Han, still contemplating, asked a question that had been lingering in his mind.

  "Aunt Mo, why haven't you returned to the Xuandu Sect in fifteen years?"

  "I don't want to go back," Lu Qingmo shook her head. "Staying in the sect, dealing with all kinds of people every day... It’s draining. Everything has changed."

  Han understood now. After an esteemed prodigy like her had fallen from grace, the attitudes of some people must have changed, and the reality of the world was harsh. The phrase "people come and go" didn't quite fit, but it seemed to apply to her situation.

  Xiao Qingwan was a prime example.

  Han then recalled another point. "Aunt Mo, has the Heavenly Thunder Fire Seal technique caused you any trouble?"

  "I once considered offering it to the Sect Master, but he refused. He said that this technique was something I acquired on my own, and I can pass it on to whoever I choose."

  Lu Qingmo responded indifferently, "With the Sect Master's words, no one can force me. Unless I willingly pass it on, no one can get it."

  Han was silent. While her words seemed reassuring, the truth was probably far from it.

  The Sect Master, an immortal being, might not care about this technique, but the members of the Xuandu Sect surely did.

  There were likely many dirty dealings surrounding this technique and other things Lu Qingmo had that Han could hardly imagine.

  Lu Qingmo once thought about passing the technique on, but after certain events, her heart grew cold, and she never entertained the idea again.

  Han now began to understand why Lu Qingmo had distanced herself from Yujing.

  "Don’t you want to visit your master?" Han asked.

  "She’s been in seclusion for eighteen years," Lu Qingmo replied, shaking her head. "Eighteen years without a word. I wanted to pass the Heavenly Thunder Fire Seal to her, but I couldn’t."

  "Eighteen years?" Han was shocked. "That's practically the length of your Master's life. What kind of cultivation is she doing? Has she become an immortal?"

  "She is indeed formidable," Lu Qingmo said, her eyes meeting Han’s with a slight smile.

  Stolen story; please report.

  "Your master is truly amazing."

  Han looked at her, still in awe. "Aunt Mo, what will happen when you return to Xuandu Sect?"

  "No worries. The remaining opportunity to pass on the technique is reserved for my master. No one can argue with that. As a disciple, it’s my duty to honor her," Lu Qingmo said with a smile.

  "You don’t need to worry about me. I can’t progress any further, but my current strength ensures that no one in the Xuandu Sect can threaten me."

  The Sacred Manifestation stage provides protection everywhere, and experts above it are rare.

  Even though Lu Qingmo’s path was severed, her strength was still formidable.

  "Now, your breakthrough is the most important thing," Lu Qingmo said, pulling her hand away from Han’s grasp.

  "You don’t want to let go, do you?"

  "With your soul's foundation, refining the sunlight will be easy. You already have the incense needed for your breakthrough."

  Lu Qingmo slowly continued, "You just need to repeatedly refine the sunlight, allowing your soul to adapt and undergo transformation. Once that happens, you'll have successfully broken through to the Day Journey."

  Because the energy of sunlight is entirely opposite to the nature of the soul, the process of advancing to Day Journey requires time.

  Just as An Lang once refined sunlight with the help of protective charms, Han would need several attempts to refine the sun's energy. However, with his unique talent, he would likely break through within a single day.

  "The first time you refine the sun’s power, it will feel scorching. The pain is normal," Lu Qingmo warned. "But if, during your breakthrough, you feel as though your soul is being consumed by flames, you must immediately return to your physical body. Otherwise, your soul will dissipate, indicating that your soul's foundation isn't enough to break through."

  "Of course, with your foundation, such a thing won’t happen. You can handle any discomfort easily."

  Just as the Night Journey stage tested the soul’s ability to handle the moon's energy, the Day Journey requires the soul to face the full power of the sun.

  "Just like the Night Journey, during the Day Journey, your soul will naturally long for the sunlight, and even the great sun itself."

  "To shed the yin body and transform into yang is the ultimate desire of the soul. This is the final goal of cultivation. Thus, during the Day Journey, your soul's yearning for the sun will be much stronger than during the Night Journey."

  Han’s heart stirred. "The Yang God?"

  Lu Qingmo was surprised. "How did you come up with that?"

  "You mentioned the Yin God earlier, and now you’re talking about shedding the yin body... I thought of the Yang God."

  "You’re quite clever," Lu Qingmo smiled. "You do have a good sense."

  "..."

  Couldn’t she just let me have one moment of glory?

  "Aunt Mo, I’m sure I’ll attract the Sun Demon soon," Han said.

  After all, if the Energy Demon and Moon Demon came, it would only make sense for the Sun Demon to show up as well.

  And with all three demons coming, they would likely attempt to divide and conquer Han.

  The Moon Demon, though, was no threat. He treated Han like a son, constantly giving him gifts.

  But if both the Energy Demon and the Sun Demon arrived, Han would have to rely on his own power to resolve the situation.

  "I think you have a way to deal with these heavenly demons. The Sun Demon shouldn't be able to hurt you," Lu Qingmo said confidently.

  Han immediately grew anxious. "Aunt Mo, the Day Demons are the kind of threat that only those in the Day Wanderer realm face. I’m afraid I’m not strong enough to deal with them alone—you have to help me!"

  You can’t just stand by, can you?

  Lu Qingmo didn’t say anything, merely looking at Han.

  No one falls in the same spot twice. And even if they do, there will never be a third time.

  The incidents with the Vital Qi Demon and the Moon Demon had already taught Lu Qingmo a lesson.

  If I intervene now, I might not be helping you subdue the Day Demons—I might end up subduing myself…

  But should I really leave him to handle it alone?

  “I’ve heard from the elders in the sect about these Day Demons,” Lu Qingmo said after a pause. "Once summoned, a cultivator is essentially trapped in a blazing hell, experiencing extreme torment.”

  “They are far more difficult to deal with and more vicious than the Vital Qi Demon or the Moon Demon, and…”

  Lu Qingmo continued, carefully explaining the key steps for Han to break through to the Day Wanderer realm, leaving no room for confusion, ensuring he would succeed.

  When the explanation ended, the night was still dark. Han pulled An Lang out from the Ghost Dwelling.

  An Lang still appeared drowsy, but at least her ghostly face had returned to its normal color.

  "Aunt Mo, An Lang spent some time near the Yin-Ming Rift and came out like this—it’s as if she drank fake wine," Han said.

  "I’m awake," An Lang replied weakly.

  "Right, right..."

  "Seems like she absorbed some ghostly aura," Han added.

  An Lang confirmed, “Yes, some of it drifted out of the rift. I didn’t absorb it, but it still entered my body on its own.”

  Lu Qingmo speculated, "This might be because of An Lang’s unique condition. The Yin-Yang Stone has altered her ghostly form, and now she wields the power of the Yellow Springs."

  "So, does that mean it’s harmful?" Han asked.

  "No harm at all, Young Master," An Lang said confidently.

  "I feel fine. My body’s warm, and there’s something flowing inside me. I think I could even fly soon."

  "...Do ghosts wet the bed too?"

  "Young Master, stop mocking me!" An Lang glared at him before retreating back into the Ghost Dwelling for more sleep.

  Lu Qingmo concluded, “There shouldn’t be any harm. An Lang is...special.”

  Soon, morning came.

  The first rays of sunlight spread across the sky, and Han's soul detached from his body, standing beneath the radiant sunlight.

  The incense, which aided in his breakthrough to Day Wanderer, had already been lit, its smoke rising in delicate curls, creating a protective aura around his soul.

  An Lang, still groggy, emerged from the Ghost Dwelling, extending her own domain to give Han a second layer of support and protection.

  Despite how much Young Master squeezes, exploits, and mocks me, I can’t help it. I’m An Lang, with a beautiful appearance and kind heart, so I’ll still help him.

  With the visualizing diagram in mind, Han focused on the Sun Refining technique, absorbing the sunlight, refining it, and drawing out the power of the sun.

  Comfort. Warmth. Relaxation…

  Han felt his soul unwind, like sinking into a hot spring.

  He didn’t feel the scorching heat of the sun; instead, he only noticed a slight increase in the “temperature” of his soul.

  Rather than discomfort, it made him feel even more at ease.

  For the first time in a long while, his cold body felt warmth.

  Unlike typical cultivators, Han didn’t experience the usual problems during a breakthrough.

  Sunlight poured into his body, and the sun's power gradually filled his soul.

  This gave Han the sensation that the dark energy within his soul had vanished, transforming his soul into pure yang.

  Though it was an illusion, it was an illusion that drew him in, impossible to resist.

  The yearning of a yin soul to shed its dark form was rooted in the essence of the soul.

  Unlike his indifference to the moon during his Night Wanderer breakthrough, Han now truly felt the pull of the sun in the sky.

  Fly towards it! If he could just fly up, he would completely shed his dark form and become a sun god!

  The moment this thought emerged, Han ruthlessly crushed it.

  “Trying to mess with me, huh?”

  “Want me to fly up there? You come down here first!”

  He shook off the impulse and rejected the temptation.

  I’ve faced worse temptations before!

  Such small tricks won’t fool me!

  Although Han didn’t shed his dark form, the sun’s power did help his soul undergo a transformation.

  Vital Qi, Yin power, Sun power…

  The steps were orderly, each connecting to the next—none could be omitted.

  At this moment, it wasn’t just the Sun’s power refining his soul, but also the foundational energy in his soul, triggering a miraculous transformation.

  Han’s soul gleamed with a layer of sunlight, appearing divine.

  The aura rapidly intensified, bringing with it a feeling of pressure.

  Suddenly, a strong wind whipped around Han, as his surging soul energy seemed to move the very heavens and earth.

  Lu Qingmo, standing not far from Han, felt her dress press tightly against her body.

  Today, she wore a purple gown that seemed to flow with elegance. Now, pressed to her skin, it accentuated her curves, making her look even more captivating.

  Her figure, with its alluring proportions, created an undeniable magnetism, the patterns of the gown stretching taut over her form.

  Her slender waist, graceful and enticing, her long legs wrapped tightly in the gown, adding an irresistible allure.

  Even as she moved, the silhouette of her hips, wrapped in the purple dress, suggested a perfect figure—tight and inviting.

  In this moment, beauty and grace converged.