Luo Chen had obtained Beaded Curtain Lock nearly thirty years ago and had studied it day and night without pause. Every word of the text had been etched deeply into his mind, and every sentence had been examined and verified through constant contemplation.1

He had even gotten the cultivation insights from the Falling Cloud Sect as supplementary guidance. Beyond that, he had spent vast resources to assist Chu Kui in using this technique first, allowing him to act as a forerunner to test its effectiveness.0

Luo Chen regarded this secret art with far greater importance than the three Lower Path arts. Even Stilling Wind and Waves served only as an auxiliary technique, and the few Nether Origin Pills in his storage pouch were merely backup resources for the process. Only the Upper Path art offered the highest chance of success.0

The fact that Chu Kui had nearly succeeded was proof enough of that. After all, he had practiced Beaded Curtain Lock only to the stage of minor mastery. At major mastery, it required the condensation of not thirty-six but three hundred sixty-five spirit beads, a number that matched the cycle of heaven.[1]2

Now that Chu Kui had verified the feasibility of this secret art, Luo Chen's preparations were complete. It was time to begin cultivation. 1

The first step was to split and divide his divine soul. Luo Chen closed his eyes and allowed his will and consciousness to sink...0