Information regarding "Ghost Valley Secret Manual"

[Ordinary wide man]

This discussion contains information that might be mild spoilers regarding the main/ side story of the game.

Context and current progression

I'm not sure if the area names are generated differently,
but in my case Yunmo = 3rd main area (Origin/ Nascent).
And Everfrost is the small area connecting to the next map: MuXian (presumably Soul Formation/ Enlightenment).

I'm currently in between Yunmo/ Everfrost stage, Nascent Soul.
This is not my first time encountering this specific NPC, iirc he once appeared in HuaFeng explaining what and how to craft artifacts.
When entering Everfrost for the 2nd/3rd time, he appeared and gave a book called Ghost Valley Secret Manual.

Item Description

Below is the description of the item:
Ghost Valley Secret Manual
Secret Technique
---------------------
A highly valued item passed down from generation to generation in the Ghost Valley sect. If a mortal gains insight to this treasure, they would immediately earn a huge amount of experience. However, countless talented individuals have failed to do so and ended up living their entire lives in regret.
---------------------

The item is consumable. Upon using, it will open several pages of the manual, all characters in Chinese, no translation.
There are no other notable changes except the visuals on your cultivation page.
For each stage of your cultivation, your "cultivation?" is presented by different images. In Nascent Soul, it is a baby.
After using the manual, the baby is now surrounded by 5 orbs, in clock-wise order: Spirit- Will- Soul- Anima- Vigor.


I have several questions:

• What is this book?
  
• Am I supposed to breakthrough to Soul Formation after using this book to maximize its effects
  OR
  
• Is it better to use the book after acquiring more information on the "Ghost Valley sect."?

I don't mind spoilers, and was just curious about the book at this stage.
Let me know if you know anything about it.
Thank you : )

[Milgrau]

I think the answers you want are in 5 region and beyond, witch is not in the game at the moment. Use the book for another type of cultivation that use the 'soul' of 5 monsters with bonus to your stats when you have then, that's the way to reach soul formation btw.

[Ordinary wide man]

Originally posted by Milgrau:

I think the answers you want are in 5 region and beyond, witch is not in the game at the moment. Use the book for another type of cultivation that use the 'soul' of 5 monsters with bonus to your stats when you have then, that's the way to reach soul formation btw.

Thank you for the information.
Does it mean that I am supposed to read the book to progress, or is it merely a choice to gain stats and benefits? Is it possible to advance to the next step without reading the book at all?

Also, I switched game language to Chinese, noted down the Kanji, and look them up online. Google translation of those results seems to suggest that the book only serves as a reference to famous quotes (in real Chinese history?) and other phases of cultivation in the game.
It seems like the correct answer is to read the book and then proceed with breakthrough to soul formation.

[Anthony]

Anyone have an update for this topic?
I would like to know what I have to do after I read this manual.

[Ordinary wide man]

So I finished most content the current update has to offer.


The book is meant to be read in order to ascent from Nascent Soul stage to Soul Formation stage. To be more specific, it left a clue as to how would we achieve that.

After you read the manual, you are supposed to find the artifacts guarded by the 5 divine deities. The location of these artifacts are in Everfrost.

Each of them are guarded by a guardian, who will give you a test to prove that you're worthy. Upon finishing the test, you will be able to challenge the deity for the artifact.

NOTE: You cannot challenge the dragon without the blessing. You can still challenge it, but will be frozen for the entire duration of the fight until you die.

After you collect all artifact, go back to "Stairway to Heaven" in Yunmo to challenge. If you succeed, you will gain the required item to ascend.
It is recommended to fight all rooms during the challenge for better stat boost. I would also recommend to keep the dragon soul when you ascent.

[YonnnesT]

I only read the "Ghost Valley Secret Manual" after reaching mid-stage Soul Formation because I thought it would increase cultivation, but it ended up doing nothing for me.

[Ordinary wide man]

Did you ended up retaining a divine soul after ascending to Soul Formation?
I think if you could retain it anyway, then the book itself serves as a lore point rather than having any functionality.

[lucifier]

Originally posted by Zack:

So I finished most content the current update has to offer.


The book is meant to be read in order to ascent from Nascent Soul stage to Soul Formation stage. To be more specific, it left a clue as to how would we achieve that.

After you read the manual, you are supposed to find the artifacts guarded by the 5 divine deities. The location of these artifacts are in Everfrost.

Each of them are guarded by a guardian, who will give you a test to prove that you're worthy. Upon finishing the test, you will be able to challenge the deity for the artifact.

NOTE: You cannot challenge the dragon without the blessing. You can still challenge it, but will be frozen for the entire duration of the fight until you die.

After you collect all artifact, go back to "Stairway to Heaven" in Yunmo to challenge. If you succeed, you will gain the required item to ascend.
It is recommended to fight all rooms during the challenge for better stat boost. I would also recommend to keep the dragon soul when you ascent.

So you can get to soul stage ingame now?

[Ordinary wide man]

As of right now, Reborn and Enlightenment are the only two stages that are still being developed.
Both Nascent Soul and Soul Formation are now reachable.