https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-169-The-Structure-of-the-Cultivation-World/13506095/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-171-Why-Am-I-Becoming-More-Like-a-Demon-Lord-Again-/13506137/
Chapter 170: Spiritual Root Secrets, Celestial Vanguard Opportunities
Chapter 170: Spiritual Root Secrets, Celestial Vanguard Opportunities
"Unbelievable."
Lv Yang's expression grew increasingly astonished as he examined the cultivation manual in his hands. At first glance, the Emerald Sun Cultivation Realm seemed utterly powerless against Foundation Building True Men.
But appearances could be deceiving.
The simplest logic dictated that a force unable to challenge Foundation Builders would never dominate so many islands in the lawless overseas territories.
Either the Emerald Sun had a Foundation Building True Man secretly backing them, or their theoretical peak—Grand Harmony Cultivators—possessed techniques rivaling Foundation Builders. Otherwise, this treasure trove of resources would've been devoured long ago.
Yet these concerns paled beside deeper revelations.
Having experienced the Refinement Realm, Lv Yang remained constantly vigilant. He refused to underestimate any opponent or dismiss mature systems.
Soon, he latched onto a critical realization:
"Qingting Patriarch's Nascent Soul—though a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator—is still of exceptional quality."
By conventional standards, its refinement ranked Fifth-Rank.
If mere Nascent Soul cultivation achieved this level, what about higher realms? Three tiers lay beyond Nascent Soul: Refining Spirit, Returning to Void, and Harmonizing with the Dao.
"Continuous purification of true qi... Nascent Soul at Fifth-Rank, Refining Spirit at Fourth-Rank? Returning to Void at Third-Rank? Could Harmonizing with the Dao even reach Second-Rank true qi?"
True Qi Rank determined a cultivator's pinnacle. Below Seventh-Rank meant Foundation Building was impossible. Below Third-Rank barred Golden Core advancement. Nascent Soul required First-Rank.
Second-Rank was barely conceivable.
But what if Harmonizing with the Dao wasn't the Emerald Sun's limit? What if higher realms existed—raising true qi beyond First-Rank?
"First-Rank true qi!?"
The thought stunned Lv Yang. Such power shaped Nascent Souls—how could this overseas backwater possess such opportunity?
Even his Nine Metamorphosis Dragon Art, created by a Golden Core Sovereign, produced only Third-Rank true qi. He'd never encountered a cultivation technique generating Second-Rank true qi across eight lifetimes.
Yet doubts surfaced moments later:
"Wait—doesn't Refining Qi Perfection cap lifespan at 150 years?"
Qi Gathering Stage theoretically granted 150 years, but most cultivators died before reaching 120.
But the Emerald Sun?
Their system spanned from Refining Qi to Harmonizing with the Dao—yet their lifespans defied logic.
"Purifying true qi extends life? Impossible."
Worse, the Emerald Sun focused on cultivating Spiritual Roots, not personal longevity. By all rights, they shouldn't live longer.
Yet their monks lived extraordinarily long lives—long enough to make Lv Yang, a Foundation Builder, envious.
But their lifespan structure was bizarre.
"Commoners rarely exceed 30-40 years. They marry at 15, become grandparents by 30. Reaching 40 is considered auspicious."
"Refining Qi cultivators fare little better—40-50 years."
"Golden Core might reach 80, Foundation Builders 120, Nascent Souls 200, Refining Spirit 300, Returning to Void 500, Harmonizing with the Dao a full 1,000 years!"
The revelation nearly made Lv Yang leap from his seat. A Refining Qi monk rivaling a Golden Core Sovereign's lifespan—and without Reincarnation?
Realization struck:
"No, they don't transcend Reincarnation—they can't. Without Foundation Building transformation, death is permanent. Their longevity must stem from avoiding Dragon-Binding Wind tribulations."
But even that explanation failed scrutiny.
Avoiding tribulations merely raised lifespan ceilings. How did Refining Qi monks reach millennia?
Lv Yang's brow furrowed. Then, inspiration struck.
"Viewing this through Holy Sect logic..."
He produced Liu Chi's Mutated Thunder Spiritual Root—the foundation of their cultivation. Summoning Xiao Furen for collaborative research, three days later they confirmed:
"Exactly as suspected!"
"A genius concept!" Lv Yang pushed aside the unconscious Xiao Furen, eyes blazing as he studied the Spiritual Root.
"This is the Emerald Sun's secret to longevity!"
"The Spiritual Root acts as a siphon—draining life force from commoners and lower cultivators to replenish their own!"
Hence the short lifespans of ordinary folk.
Even Grand Harmony Cultivators' millennium-long lives represented this realm's upper limit. Without Reincarnation, 1,000 years was the zenith.
"In other words, the Emerald Sun is a colossal pyramid. The masses sustain lower monks, who sustain higher monks, all feeding the Grand Harmony elites at the apex."
Soul-sucking exploitation—Holy Sect principles incarnate!
"Yet this system's origins likely trace to the Pre-Heavenly True Men, not Holy Sect disciples."
Flipping through ancient texts, Lv Yang paused at a passage:
"Domain Heaven Devils War?"
The records described the Immortal Alliance's formation—how native cultivators united to repel invading Domain Heaven Devils.
Yet frowning, Lv Yang questioned:
"Did native cultivators truly win? A single Foundation Builder could slaughter thousands of Refining Qi Perfection monks. How could 'heavenly devils' so easily be repelled?"
"Did the Immortal Alliance actually arise from the devils' victory—merely wearing native powers' guise to reshape the Emerald Sun? The current system suggests complete success."
Figures like Chen Xinghai labored their entire lives for the Alliance. Monks like Xiao Furen and Qingting Patriarch enjoyed limited freedom—but remained little more than privileged employees in this hierarchical pyramid.
Under the Immortal Alliance's iron rule, the truth crystallized in Lv Yang's mind. His Ultimate Heaven Instrument surged with insight:
"Wu Earth, the Yang of Soil, embodies stabilizing weight, dwelling at the center. Spring and Summer recede before its motion; Autumn and Winter absorb its stillness. It governs the ten thousand things!"
"Thus my Breakthrough opportunity reveals itself—the Celestial Vanguard's Wu Earth lies hidden within the Immortal Alliance!"
Celestial Vanguard and Terrestrial Sha weren't always physical treasures—they could manifest as metaphysical concepts.
Wu Earth governed all, much like the Immortal Alliance governed the Emerald Sun. The Alliance was the mountain crushing the Emerald Sun.
That mountain was his sought-after Wu Earth.
To extract this Celestial Vanguard's essence required either toppling or supplanting the Immortal Alliance itself!
"No wonder so many fail to find it. True seekers need Karmic Merit Fortune to encounter opportunity, Daoist cultivation to recognize it, and strength to survive Foundation Stage tribulations."
Had his insight faltered—"Wu Earth governs all"—he'd wander blindly like a headless fly.
"Truly, cultivation is a path of endless trials."
As Lv Yang mused, a voice rang from Divine Thunder Sect's borders. A divine consciousness descended, locking onto him:
"May I inquire—Holy Sect cultivator?"
"Immortal Alliance seeks audience."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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