CHAPTER 58: ARE YOU THE FATHER OF WATER SOUL

Tang Yan said plainly, "Garment Division Master, if you have any question, feel free to ask."

Qi Yuan asked what weighed most on his mind, "Tell me where the five souls gather the most. The more, the better."

There are far too few here, scarcely enough to fill the gap between one's teeth.

The three cultivators almost thought they had misheard him. Who in their right mind would ask where the five souls were most abundant? Usually, wouldn’t they want to know the opposite?

Tang Yan answered cautiously, "A valley lies two hundred li from here. There are about two hundred Wood Souls there. Does this answer your question, Garment Division Master?"

Qi Yuan seemed somewhat dejected. "Isn’t there a place with more?"

The bun-haired girl couldn’t help but interrupt. "How many do you mean by ‘more’?"

"As many as possible. A thousand would be great. Although, ten thousand is a bit much..."

Everyone fell silent, baffled. Why in the world would he need so many? Shouldn't one first seek a quiet trial ground of cultivation, then gradually comprehend the Five Essences of Qi?

The red-robed man asked, "Why would you seek a place abundant with five souls?"

Qi Yuan stared at him blankly as if he’d asked what color was the sky. "Uh, to obtain the Five Essences of Qi? Where souls abound, the essence qi is abundant and easier to harvest."

The red-robed man was dumbstruck.

Meanwhile, Tang Yan recalled how Qi Yuan was new to the trial grounds. The newcomer probably didn't know the secrets.

Tang Yan patiently explained, "Garment Division Master, obtaining the Five Essences of Qi isn’t easy. One must observe certain key points. A thousand li east lies a great abyss, the core of the Five Elements Trial Grounds. The number of souls there exceeds ten thousand."

He described the route to the core grounds in detail.

The red-robed man, standing aside, almost burst into laughter. He held it because it’d be awkward to be caught.

Slightly stunned, Qi Yuan asked, "Is it truly so difficult to obtain the Five Essences of Qi?"

The bun-haired girl answered, "Of course. Even someone as talented as Brother Tang Yan requires an entire year to comprehend and refine a single thread of Water Essence Qi."

Qi Yuan’s expression remained unchanged. His gaze fell upon a Water Soul restrained behind the bun-haired girl. "Do you still want this?"

The girl hesitated, then instinctively replied, "No."

With one stroke, he split the Water Soul apart. "Great. Wouldn't want to compete with you over the monsters."

[Experience +100. Water Essence Qi +1 (thread).]

The red-robed man’s eyes went wide. He rubbed his eyes to make sure it wasn’t an illusion. What had he just witnessed?!

Impossible! Is it talent? Nonsense! It must be a coincidence!

Tang Yan and the bun-haired girl were thinking the same thing.

Tang Yan exclaimed in admiration, "Such astonishing talent, Garment Division Master! To comprehend Water Essence Qi in a few seconds is unheard of!"

He was now convinced that Qi Yuan was a genius surpassing himself, innately blessed with water affinity.

Not seeing himself as particularly gifted, Qi Yuan just shook his head. "I’m different from you."

As a player, he gained rewards by slaying monsters. NPCs had to grind through meditation.

His bluntness rendered the three speechless. The bun-haired girl felt Qi Yuan’s words stifling, like the red-robed man. She wished she could stuff something in his mouth to stop him from talking!

Qi Yuan looked toward the red-robed man. "Do you want those three Water Souls behind you?"

The man hastily shook his head. "No."

Smiling, Qi Yuan brandished his blade and strode forward. "Then I'll help myself."

His action left the red-robed man stunned. What is the Garment Division Master doing? Could it be...

Three swift slashes, and the three Water Souls instantly perished. Qi Yuan reaped both experience and Water Essence Qi.

Tang Yan froze. The bun-haired girl was dumbstruck. The red-robed man was at an utter loss for words.

Garment Division Master had again obtained three threads of Water Essence Qi with just three slashes.

When did the refinement of Essence Qi become so simple?

To them, each thread required endless preparation. They had to hunt suitable souls, create a conducive environment, and perform gradual comprehension. To succeed even once, they had to endure repeated trials and bitter patience. Meanwhile, all Qi Yuan had to do was swing his sword and absorb it outright. What kind of monster was this man? Could it be that the Five Elements Trial Grounds had gone awry?

The red-robed man itched to test it himself. Alas, Qi Yuan had butchered every nearby Water Souls.

Handing his giant sword to Little Bride, Qi Yuan asked once more, "What’s so hard about gaining Water Essence Qi?"

The three were quiet. Though Tang Yan had spent years honing his grasp of Water Essence, it suddenly no longer felt impressive. They stared at one another, not knowing what to say.

Qi Yuan said kindly, "We’re all different. Don’t be discouraged and keep working hard, young ones! Thank you for the information, I need to go!"

The pair strode toward the core of the Five Elements Trial Grounds, where countless souls awaited.

The three left behind stood numb with disbelief.

The red-robed man murmured, "Was I hallucinating just now?"

Tang Yan didn’t respond, but the bun-haired girl whispered, "We may have seen the same illusion."

Normally composed and refined, Tang Yan couldn’t help but curse aloud, "That Garment Division Master is truly outrageous!"

Then, he sighed heavily. "Without a doubt, he must be innately attuned to water. He must be the Water Soul’s son—no, the Water Soul’s father... scratch that! The very ancestor of the Water Soul!"

Yet the red-robed man refused to accept it. Even if one has an innate water element, how can he get a Water Essence Qi with a single strike?! The Five Elements Trial Grounds is botched!

Just then, another Water Soul appeared nearby, drifting toward him. Overjoyed, he cried excitedly, "This one is mine!"

With that, he slashed the Water Soul, yet nothing emerged.

He stood appalled, recalling the Garment Division Master's departing words. Well, everyone was different, but surely not this different!

Tang Yan sighed. "I have a suggestion, why don't we head to the core grounds?"

The other two immediately nodded. After all, people weren’t the same. Who knew when they’d next manage to grasp Water Essence Qi? Not like making a detour to the core grounds would delay them much.

To witness a man slay a Water Soul and obtain the Water Essence Qi could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance!

All three of them were attuned to water, how could they let such a historical event slip by?

***

To Qi Yuan, a thousand li wasn’t far, though it took some time to travel. Along the way, he slashed every soul in sight, swiftly collecting them. Even a tiny gain was still a gain!

Tang Yan’s group tried to follow him, but their speed couldn’t even match Qi Yuan's leisurely pace. Along the way, they spread word of what they had witnessed to the outside world.

After all, the Garment Division Master’s talent was astonishing. If he mastered Perfect Water Essence and joined forces with the Wedding Garment Empress, their combined might could reach the Peak Divine Realm! It was a pity he was too young. Still, given more time, he could be more terrifying than the Celestial God.

Oblivious to their pursuit, Qi Yuan focused on reaching level 93 before stepping into the core grounds. Without sufficient strength, even the sharpest spear would be a mere needle, especially before ten thousand souls. He decided to venture into the core grounds after he’d gotten strong enough.

Thus, when Tang Yan’s group arrived at the core grounds, Qi Yuan was nowhere to be seen.

The red-robed man stared at the core grounds from afar, shuddering at the oppressive aura. He muttered, "Could the Garment Division Master have tricked us? Perhaps he used his illusion technique and never actually came."

The bun-haired girl glared at him and stepped away. "Quiet, your mouth always draws the souls' attention!"

Tang Yan nodded. The red-robed man always spoke tauntingly, as if asking for a punch. He often drew the five souls’ attention wherever he went. It wouldn't have mattered if it was somewhere else, but this was the core grounds, where the Divine Realm souls lurked.

"You worry too much, it was pure coincidences."

Just as the red-robed man finished speaking, a thunderous roar erupted from the core grounds.

Tang Yan and the bun-haired girl exchanged glances, then fled for their lives.

Moments later, more than ten thousand souls surged out. Densely packed, they galloped like ten thousand horses shaking the earth.

The red-robed man wailed as he fled. "It’s not my fault! Wait for me!"

Tang Yan cursed. "Stop talking! Hey, wait, don't run this way, don't come near me!"

The bun-haired girl shouted, "Stay away from me!"

The three scrambled for their lives, with the endless horde of souls thundering behind them.

***

Two hours later, Qi Yuan arrived at the core grounds with Little Bride. The place was empty for some reason.

Qi Yuan frowned in puzzlement. "Did I come to the wrong place?"

He glanced at the distant mountains suspiciously. The air on the ground still bore the lingering presence of countless souls, as though they had just dispersed.

"Did they throw a party without me?" Narrowing his eyes, Qi Yuan gritted his teeth. "How could they not invite me?! That’s going too far!"

As he stepped into the core grounds, he could feel heat surging through him. It was the Five Essence of Qi boiling within.

From the depths of the abyss, something flickered faintly.

Translator notes: Btw, five souls is a Daoist/Chinese metaphysical concept which the souls are divided into five to correspond with the five elements (五行) and the five viscera (五脏) namely (1) Fire, linked to the Heart - Joy (2) Wood, linked to the Liver - Anger (3) Metal, linked to the Lungs - Grief (4) Water, linked to the Kidneys - Fear (5) Earth, linked to the Spleen - Worry/rumination. The general idea is: the five souls anchor human instincts, emotions, and bodily drives. They are what tie the soul to flesh and often represent the base, primal energies of a cultivator.

Five Souls - Relationship between five elements (五行) and the five viscera (五脏)