This was a state that only occurred when one's body returned to its innate origin—a sensation akin to returning to the womb. That overwhelming sense of safety, warmth, and the profound mysteries of creation made the entire body and soul instinctively sink into it. One could easily wish to stay there for eternity—even if it meant dying in that blissful stillness. To reach the end of the world, the edge of heaven and earth.
This… was a tribulation.
A tribulation that one inevitably faced upon reaching the Great Perfection of the Dharma Phase Realm.But this was not a lightning tribulation—it was a Fetal Breath Tribulation, also known as the Tribulation of Creation. It forced the cultivator's body, mind, and will to return to the state of an unborn fetus in the womb. In that state, the mind and will had no memory, only the experience of that beautiful and mysterious peace. Once immersed in it, they might never awaken—this was the most dangerous moment.
To awaken from this required one's own strength—perhaps a sudden recovery of memory, or a spark of consciousness. But it could also result in total failure. The danger was unpredictable, and many cultivators chose not to take this step lightly. It was said that there were special methods to avoid the confusion of the womb at the Dharma Phase level.
For example, the Du'e Pill (渡厄丹). It could help one bypass the fetal confusion and recover memory naturally, thus breaking through the illusion. However, using the Du'e Pill meant giving up a fated opportunity.
Because while this was a disaster, it was also a great blessing.
Remaining in the state of Innate Fetal Breath offered enormous benefits for the Dharma Phase. The Dharma Phase would continuously grow—perhaps even breaking through directly into the Nascent Soul Realm.
What is the Nascent Soul?
In essence, it is the fusion of the human soul and seven spirits, returning into the Dharma Phase. The Dharma Phase then becomes the embryo of the Nascent Soul. However, this transformation is like a child growing into an adult—it needs time.
If one used the Du'e Pill to bypass the Fetal Confusion, then the transformation toward the Nascent Soul would require a long process. But if one endured the Fetal Breath Tribulation by their own strength, they would absorb the power of creation during the tribulation, causing the Dharma Phase to naturally evolve toward the Nascent Soul.
In essence, the Nascent Soul is no different than a ghost—a fully evolved spirit.
The peak of the Dharma Phase Realm represents the fusion of the human soul and seven spirits. The Nascent Soul Realm, however, requires the fusion of the Earth Soul (地魂)—which, to some extent, puts one on the path of transcending reincarnation.
During the Fetal Breath, the Dharma Phase would naturally attract the Earth Soul, allowing it to merge. With this fusion, the transformation into the Nascent Soul occurred. Without this blessing, and with the use of the Du'e Pill, one would miss this critical opportunity.
Yi Tianxing had no knowledge of any of this.
He only felt his body and soul immersed in a warm and comfortable state, with no desire to awaken. Instinctively, his human soul fused perfectly with the Dharma Phase. At that moment, he saw the Heavenly Emperor Dharma Body completely condensed—its form possessing an almost tangible texture. In many ways, it was indistinguishable from his real body.
His control over the forces of heaven and earth soared.
Especially the coverage of the core Life Diagram (命图), which instantly expanded tenfold. Its grasp of the world's laws became more potent, and invisible transformations heightened its might. Streams of Heavenly Dao Rhythms flowed endlessly into the Life Diagram. Inside it, true dragons roared with majestic presence, exuding boundless pressure.
And then it happened—
From the earth, an Earth Soul rose into the air and entered Yi Tianxing's body. Within the Fetal Breath, it effortlessly merged with his Dharma Phase.
The instant it fused, the Dharma Phase began to change.
The transformation was mystical—a completion of the soul. His resonance with the world instantly deepened, undergoing a remarkable metamorphosis. In the Nascent Soul Realm, one could command even more powerful forces of nature. The path of the Nascent Soul marked the beginning of true longevity. Once the Nascent Soul was formed, the internal true essence completely transformed into mana, also known as Dao Force (道行).
This process was usually long and arduous—but now, it was passed through naturally and silently during the Fetal Breath Tribulation, without the slightest trace of worldly struggle.
Yet Yi Tianxing remained unaware of any of this.
His consciousness continued to drift in that unknown state of bliss.
Time flowed quietly.
In the secluded chamber, Yi Tianxing sat cross-legged on the meditation mat—not breathing, his entire body cold. He looked no different from a corpse.
If he did not awaken from the Fetal Breath, he would undoubtedly perish. A death in bliss.
One day.Two days.Three days.
That womb-like sensation was impossibly alluring—so difficult to abandon.
Three days passed, and Yi Tianxing showed no signs of waking.
"Main body, this sleep has been pleasant, but don't overindulge—it's time to wake up."
A voice echoed in Yi Tianxing's mind like a temple bell or evening drum.
"Sigh…"
A long sigh escaped his lips. His eyes, shut for three days, slowly opened. A profound light flickered within them as he looked around and murmured:
"The Fetal Breath Tribulation is truly powerful—both fortune and calamity. If it weren't for you, my avatar, I don't know how long I would have slept. That state of returning to the womb… truly intoxicating. But yes—this was indeed a blessing."
Nascent Soul Realm.
Yes—he could clearly feel it now. During those three days, his cultivation had silently reached the Nascent Soul Realm. After fusing his human and Earth souls, his connection to the world was more intimate and vivid. The Nascent Soul was undying—it could seize bodies and reincarnate. Its existence gave him far more ways to preserve his life.
His true essence had entirely transformed into mana.
Within his Divine Sea, unbeknownst to him, a tremendous change had occurred. It had turned into a vast ocean.
Chaos-hued mana surged within. Each droplet of mana contained shifting elemental Dao Rhythms—wood, fire, water, metal, earth. Influenced by the source of his many Life Apertures (命窍), these imprints naturally formed in his mana.
With a single thought, he entered his Sea of Consciousness Life Aperture.
Ding!
At that moment, a yellow-jade colored Fate Scroll (法牒) appeared within the Life Aperture, as if conjured from the void. On it were twenty-nine deep cracks, like ancient scars of time etched into ceramic.
Yet the Fate Scroll was undergoing a strange transformation.
An invisible force of creation continued to pour in, slowly turning its yellow hue into blue, and expanding its size.
The change was visible to the naked eye.
"This… is the miracle of life."
As the Fate Scroll changed, an involuntary thought surfaced. He could feel the explosive rise in his life potential—a true evolution of life.
Unknowingly, his Fate Wheel (命轮) fully transformed—becoming crystal-clear blue jade, exuding a vast, sacred aura.
The Fate Scroll grew to several times its former size. The original twenty-nine cracks remained, though now they seemed insignificant on this massive wheel.
He could see that this newborn Fate Wheel could easily accommodate tens of thousands of cracks.
This was the blue Fate Wheel of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
"The Nascent Soul Realm grants a theoretical lifespan of ten thousand years. My Fate Wheel has undergone the most perfect evolution."
Yi Tianxing reflected silently.
For any cultivator, lifespan was of utmost importance. The moment they broke through, the first thing they would inspect was the transformation of their Fate Wheel. Only with a perfect evolution and deep foundation could one reach the maximum lifespan.
In truth, most Nascent Soul cultivators couldn't attain ten thousand years of life—many only lived for six or seven thousand, or perhaps eight thousand at best.
If their foundation had suffered damage, their lifespan might be further reduced.
But clearly—Yi Tianxing was not one of them.
"Ten thousand years of undying life. I've truly achieved it this time."
Yi Tianxing chuckled and shook his head.
However, his mind didn't leave the Sea of Consciousness Life Aperture just yet.
There, above the ice-blue Fate Wheel, floated a second wheel—one slightly illusory in form. Though its size and color matched the real Fate Wheel, it exuded a shimmering brilliance.
"A False Fate Wheel (伪命轮)!"
Yes—it was a False Fate Wheel.
What was a False Fate Wheel? It was a wheel that wasn't his original but still part of his lifespan—a supplementary life wheel. For example, if one consumed a Longevity Herb (寿株) after reaching the maximum of their original Fate Wheel, the extra lifespan would be condensed into this second wheel, protecting against the ravages of time.
If one's original Fate Wheel had only two thousand years, and they consumed a Longevity Herb, it could raise it to three thousand. Any excess would be stored in the False Fate Wheel.