In truth, the limit for bearing a soul within an Immortal Zombie body was actually slightly higher than that of an ordinary flesh-and-blood body — it simply lacked the ability to nourish the soul.
Only a living, fresh flesh-and-blood body could nourish the soul. Within a dead corpse, the soul would only grow increasingly withered.
The primary reason Fang Yuan's soul had been able to hold on until now was the Courage Gu. Beyond that, he had also employed various other Soul Path techniques to assist in its nourishment.
Although the Dark Shadow Demon Venerable had brought devastation to all living beings, his era had also seen Soul Path reach its absolute zenith. Countless outstanding figures of the Soul Path emerged one after another, creating a vast wealth of Soul Path methods.
Even after passing through the era of the Land of Bliss Immortal Venerable, a great many precious Soul Path techniques still survived to the present day, their legacy passed down to benefit later generations.
"I don't cultivate the Soul Path. Soul Path Gu Immortals have Soul Path Dao Marks upon their bodies, which allows them to bear even more powerful souls." Upon realizing he had reached his limit, Fang Yuan left the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land and traveled to the Star Constellation Blessed Land.
The Lost Soul Valley was situated here.
Fang Yuan entered the Lost Soul Valley.
The Lost Soul Valley had originally been transformed by the Shadow Sect, its appearance changed beyond recognition. But after Fang Yuan had Tai Bai Yun Sheng intervene, the Lost Soul Valley had been restored to its original ecology.
The terrain within Lost Soul Valley was complex, resembling a labyrinth. The Records of the Human Ancestor recorded that the Human Ancestor himself had once been trapped within a maze, unable to find a way out.
Now, Fang Yuan emulated the Human Ancestor, venturing into Lost Soul Valley.
He directly allowed his soul to leave his body.
A wave of grey-white mist billowed in.
This was the famous Soul-Shaking Mist.
Fang Yuan's soul was enveloped by the Soul-Shaking Mist, gradually growing loose and dissipated.
After the mist passed, a gust of yin wind blew in.
This was the notorious Soul-Scattering Wind.
The yin wind cut like blades. Fang Yuan's soul was carved by the wind edges, suffering countless wounds. The incomparable agony nearly drove Fang Yuan mad. This pain was rooted deep within the soul, ten thousand times worse than being sliced to death!
Fang Yuan threw his head back in a furious roar, but without his physical body, he could only produce piercing, ear-splitting soul shrieks.
After enduring for a brief while, Fang Yuan painfully realized that he had once again reached his limit.
He wisely chose to retreat, his soul returning to the Immortal Zombie body.
With the protection of the Immortal Zombie body, the power of the Soul-Shaking Mist and Soul-Scattering Wind immediately dropped by a great deal.
Fang Yuan was able to safely withdraw from Lost Soul Valley.
He examined his own soul.
After enduring the ravages of the Soul-Shaking Mist and Soul-Scattering Wind, Fang Yuan's soul had shrunk considerably — clearly, it had suffered substantial damage.
If he stayed any longer, though it might not yet reach the severity of complete soul dissolution, the slave he had bound — the Featherman Gu Immortal Zhou Zhong — would likely break free from control.
This was because the soul was the foundation of the slave bond. When the soul suffered severe damage, the effectiveness of the slave contract would be greatly diminished, giving the enslaved party the possibility of resistance and escape.
"I wonder how the Human Ancestor ever managed to stay in Lost Soul Valley for so long back then."
Fang Yuan mused for a moment, then returned to Soul Shaking Mountain.
He continued consuming the Courage Gu.
Though the Courage Gu was merely a mortal Gu, it truly lived up to its legendary status. Using it to treat soul wounds produced almost instantaneous results.
Very quickly, the injuries on Fang Yuan's soul completely vanished, utterly gone — fully healed!
At this point, Fang Yuan examined his soul once more.
It was immediately obvious — his soul had become at least twice as dense and solid as before! Moreover, the soul itself seemed to have been coated with a layer of oil, emitting a faint, ethereal glow.
He extended his perception further and found that the burden on his soul from enslaving the Featherman Gu Immortal Zhou Zhong had also decreased by thirty percent.
The inhuman torment and agony he had endured in Lost Soul Valley had all been worthwhile.
It was precisely because the impurities within his soul had been purged in Lost Soul Valley. Like a piece of iron being forged and smelted countless times, ultimately transformed into steel — the quality of his soul had immediately risen to a whole new level.
And on Soul Shaking Mountain, as the Courage Gu continued to be consumed, his soul grew stronger at an inconceivable rate, increasing in quantity by leaps and bounds.
"Lost Soul Valley refines the soul. Soul Shaking Mountain strengthens it. Qualitative and quantitative transformations working in concert — the soul's foundation advances by a thousand miles each day. Such tremendous success came so rapidly. No wonder in my previous life, after Hei Loulan and Fairy Li Shan obtained Lost Soul Valley, they spent all their time shuttling between Soul Shaking Mountain and Lost Soul Valley, building up their soul foundations. They had developed an addiction to it!"
Fang Yuan sighed.
He too wished to emulate Hei Loulan and Fairy Li Shan, but there were far too many things he still needed to do. Before him lay the most critical task of all — the Battle of Yi Tian Mountain, and the Immortal Gu House known as the Startling Swan Melee Arena.
Without question, the stronger Fang Yuan's strength became, the greater his chances of seizing the Startling Swan Melee Arena at the critical moment.
Fang Yuan could only do his best to consider every possible scenario and arrange his priorities more rationally. He squeezed out every last second, fighting against time to cultivate!
Finally, Fang Yuan received news that the Immortal Gu House Startling Swan Melee Arena had appeared.
"What's going on? I had set up numerous arrangements near Yi Tian Mountain, yet someone managed to uproot them all without a sound." In the midst of his hectic schedule, Fang Yuan carved out time to personally investigate in the Southern Border.
But he discovered nothing of value.
Just as in his previous life, upon Yi Tian Mountain, an ancient fierce battle replayed itself over and over.
In that battle, a mysterious Gu Immortal bearing a Red Lotus mark upon his forehead had ultimately relied upon the Immortal Gu House Startling Swan Melee Arena to barely suppress the Great Strength True Martial Body — a formidable Eighth Transformation enemy.