Otherworldly Desert Dust

The snow-covered plains were milky white, and the sky a clear azure, as countless stars reflected upon this snow-white mirror-like terrain of the Snow Realm, like a scene from a fairy-tale wonderland. After several failed attempts to awaken, Wu Hen had no choice but to try stepping into the Snow Realm at last. "The Snow Realm can easily lead to one getting lost, no less than the barren frontier. If you aim to leave, you'll need to be careful," Shen Wenhai warned Wu Hen. When Wu Hen was absorbing the Spiritual Factors of the Snow Realm, he gained some insights and felt that there was still hope for a breakthrough in his Taste Spiritual Awakening. He decided to face the cold directly. Having stepped out of the Pure Land Thin Realm with a Desert Dust Life physique, the sight of a land adorned with countless stars still brought Wu Hen an immense visual shock. It was as if billions of stars were frozen into the ground, and as he walked above them, it felt like strolling in the Star River. A cold breath rushed towards his face. Wu Hen chose a small peak and sat atop it, feeling the spiritual charm of the Snow Spirits in this solitary world. In the Scroll Realm, Wu Hen had learned how to communicate with nature. When he focused his mind entirely, he released all his Perception, letting it roam freely like a soul out of body throughout the world. In the process of roaming, nature's appearance became dramatically different, no longer fixed mountains, unchanging rivers, or static scenes. All things seemed to morph into innumerable entities of Dark Matter, varying in forms, singing and whispering. They sent signals both soft and friendly and tinged with vigilance and hostility towards actual life. As his Perception roamed, Wu Hen "saw" an incredibly majestic snow kingdom, where Spiritual Factors seemed like elves with their own thoughts and natures. They moved according to certain Heaven and Earth Laws and occasionally broke these rules out of curiosity, floating close to Wu Hen, scrutinising this real Desert Dust Life. To be honest, Wu Hen felt like an evil, strange uncle, initially exuding a harmless aura to attract these pure Snow Elves of heaven and earth. When the time was ripe, he would abduct them into his body, using the Skin Breathing Technique to absorb them into his lungs, transforming them into the energy that would sculpt his physique and facilitate his evolution. Of course, this process would also be met with resistance and retaliation. Among the Snow Spirit Factors were some brave and fierce spirits with toxic barbs, like a rampaging snowstorm. When Wu Hen excessively harvested the Spiritual Energy of this realm, they swept towards him vengefully. If Wu Hen couldn't pacify this resentful fury, he wouldn't just fail to gain the spiritual charm, but might also become lost in the Snow Realm forever. Thus, this process of harvesting Spiritual Energy required wisdom. Understanding this measure was a skill to be learned, akin to scientists exploring the cosmic mysteries of deep space. "Stray wanderer, please come to me." Suddenly, a voice rang in Wu Hen's ears, like a gentle breeze carrying a language he could understand. Wu Hen abruptly looked up, seeing a series of Holy Mountains in front of him where white snow flowed down constantly, presenting an ever-unfolding scene of an avalanche. The voice came from within that avalanching mountain. Was it a Demon's call, or an invitation from the Snow Mountain Saint Spirit? At that moment, Wu Hen couldn't be sure, but after all, it was an opportunity, and his curiosity was getting the better of him. "Coming, old pal!" Wu Hen responded without hesitation. After a brief pause, he responded and boldly headed towards the source of the voice. Some sounds in the world are mysterious and special, and only those with a strong Listening Sense can perceive the call of the cosmic Dark Matter. From a scientific perspective, what is known as the Spiritual Energy Recovery is beneficial cosmic Dark Matter for humanity's evolution. Those cosmic Dark Matters that can interact with humans can also be considered the souls of matter. Human Perception has its limits. For instance, humans have labeled the electromagnetic waves they can see as visible light. Those that human Perception can't distinguish can only be captured through instruments. So, what exactly would these lights look like if captured by instruments and presented in the visual field, in the mind? The same is true of hearing. Ordinary human hearing can't capture ultrasound or infrasound, but this act is like measuring the earth with a ruler because people subconsciously use themselves as a reference for all measurements. Ultrasound and infrasound are indeed vast. The frequency heard by human ears is just a short segment of it. As hearing and vision awaken, the scale of capture will expand. The world Wu Hen saw was already different, including the sounds he heard. If he listened intently, he could even hear a stone making a sound akin to a sigh, even if it's unclear whether the sigh conveyed comfort or boredom. And the souls of matter make sounds as well. Some even have wisdom. Many of their behaviors may be incomprehensible to life, but when Perception reaches a certain level, everything seems not so profound. It's more like a person understanding nature, discovering nature's own unique and marvelous language. As a general rule, those that "communicate" with humans are often opportunities. It could be seen as a millennium-old ginseng that has cultivated into a spirit, capable of speaking human language. Some Dark Matters in the world are the same. They try to break through the dimensional barrier, greeting life and trading with it in a mystical and mysterious way. Throughout the long river of human development, these have remained undiscovered, the primary reason being the blockage of Perception, similar to the communication barrier that two-dimensional beings can't understand three-dimensional life. Wu Hen also knew that some voices might just be traps. They are set by nature for greedy beings, like the pitcher plant that releases a sweet fragrance only detectable by insects, luring them into its digestive tract to provide nourishment. But humans, like many insects, sometimes know the dangers and yet think... Why can't I be the one in a million who eats the good stuff and gets away safely? The skilled dare greatly! The gambler's mindset isn't exclusive to humans. It's a competitive instinct for life in the universe to crave evolution and yearn for nirvana! Take a gamble and a bicycle might turn into a motorcycle! Wu Hen strode forward, walking toward the mountain amidst the avalanche. In the midst of the avalanche, Wu Hen saw a structure resembling a temple, formed by drifting snow mist, exuding a sense of mystery and sanctity. From its appearance, it didn't seem to be the den of any Evil Land's demons. Wu Hen trod on the continuously collapsing snow, climbing towards the high Snow Temple. The process was extraordinarily difficult, testing both Wu Hen's physical condition and his endurance. From within the Snow Temple still came that soft and kind voice, as if a Snow Goddess God was visiting the mortal world for the first time, wanting to ask the first man she met what things to be aware of and how to stop feeling nervous, aspiring to appear like an immortal frequently visiting the mortal world. The more the other party acted in this manner, the more vigilant Wu Hen became. After all, he had experienced the dazzling world within the Otherworldly Dust and knew that the more beautiful, the more dangerous; the poisonous mushroom theory was absolutely applicable in Otherworldly Dust. However, his three major senses of Perception brought no signals of danger. Instead, they were like three simpletons entering a large city for the first time, marveling at the city's prosperity while accepting the kindness of a big sister with a tragic life story, in a posture of 'if I don't help her, who will?' His Listening Sense felt this way, his vision felt this way, and even his sense of taste agreed. There was nothing to be done then; his brain also felt he should go in and explore, what if she truly needed his help? "I, too, am here for the first time and lack experience," Wu Hen reached the top of the avalanche mountain and stood before the enchanting temple. "You and I are fated..." "Can I get a discount?" Wu Hen instinctively wanted to blurt out these words, carrying the traits of a businessman even to this pristine and holy place. "I am a Si Xue's descendant, and seeing you arrogantly gathering the Heaven and Earth Spirit here, I was initially going to punish you," said the Snow Temple's Saint Spirit. "Oh, my apologies, my apologies. A relative of Si Xue, I... I meant no offense. Just that I sensed the purity of Snow Spirits Factor between heaven and earth and wished to gather it within myself for evolution, especially since I'm about to step into the Cang Chu Divine Realm teeming with formidable beings, and I urgently need to enhance my strength," Wu Hen, upon hearing the mention of Si Xue, immediately changed his attitude. A Scroll True God, indeed! In truth, when departing from the Scroll Realm, those eight True Gods did not give him a hard time. They only told him that when he roamed Otherworldly, he should worship at their temples if he saw them and preferably solve some troubles for their descendants. Wu Hen had nearly entirely forgotten about this. Unexpectedly, while meditating and practicing in the Snow Realm, he encountered one such temple. "Our Spirit Race has always been friendly. If you take in moderation, we are willing to offer up our Spiritual Seed, just like those trees that bury their seeds within their fruit. We need beings like you to carry our Spiritual Factor throughout the universe, so heaven and earth are no longer void and desolate," said the Saint Spirit within the Snow Temple. "Understood, understood, I indeed got greedy just now," Wu Hen earnestly apologized. Gathering and plundering are two different concepts. Just now, Wu Hen had gone all out to evolve his sense of taste once more, slightly leaning towards plundering. No wonder it displeased the Saint Spirit here. "That cannot be entirely blamed on you. After all, you are about to reach the Spirit Fusion Realm. I'm just giving you a benign reminder. You need to observe proper measure, or else you risk backlash and losing your way," the Snow Temple Saint Spirit explained. "Spirit Fusion Realm?" Wu Hen was somewhat unfamiliar with this term. "Si Xue didn't tell you?" asked the Snow Temple Saint Spirit. Wu Hen shook his head vigorously. He really hadn't communicated much with those Scroll True Gods; they were too mysterious and lofty, and it was the somewhat scatter-brained Uncle Chongli Mountain who had taught him skills. "When you can feel the sprouting of the Heaven and Earth Spirit and absorb it, that is called Spirit Awakening." "When you can integrate the Heaven and Earth Spirit within you and use it flawlessly, that is called Spirit Fusion." "When you can form a bond with the Heaven and Earth Spirit akin to a steadfast contract, that is called a Spirit Contract." "You have now reached what we consider the second realm, Spirit Fusion," explained the Snow Temple Saint Spirit patiently to Wu Hen.