Several days later, Qing Muling returned to the floating lands and began his closed-door cultivation to prepare for his breakthrough to a new realm.
From the Qi Refining Realm, mortals embark on the path of cultivation, followed by the Understanding Mystery Realm, Condensing Elixir Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, Divine Soul Realm, True Person Realm, True One Realm, Heart Demon Realm, and Destiny Realm—a total of nine major realms. Each realm is more difficult than the last, and countless cultivators find themselves stuck at these major thresholds.
Even the elite disciples from the Supreme Dao Lineages, with their top-tier techniques and divine abilities, would typically need over a thousand years to methodically progress through these nine realms and lay the foundation for Ascending to Immortality. And that's assuming everything goes smoothly.
To significantly shorten this process, one would need exceptional innate talent, a vast trove of rare resources, guidance from a powerful master, or some heaven-defying opportunity. Of course, the vast majority of cultivators don't have such conditions.
Most disciples exhaust their potential and fortune midway through their journey, with no hope of advancing further in their lifetime. Those lucky enough to reach the realm of Ascending to Immortality are always a rare few. Not to mention those unfortunate souls who suffer injuries or perish in calamities along the way.
***
Inside the secret chamber.
Qing Muling had entered a deep state of enlightenment, his body surrounded by a brilliant aura of Dao comprehension. This time, Senior Sister Luo Huan did not join him in cultivation but instead sat quietly by his side, guarding him as he meditated.
Under the influence of the Harmony Spirit Seed and the phantom of the Blue Lotus leaf, a massive influx of spiritual essence descended from the depths of the void, flowing into Qing Muling like converging rivers. His body radiated with five-colored brilliance, and auspicious qi shimmered around him. His blood qi surged within the chamber like a furnace, rumbling faintly like a landslide or tsunami.
In the True One Realm, all the various techniques and divine abilities cultivated are unified and refined into a single entity, marking another sublime transformation from the physical body to the divine soul—clear inside and out, merging with the void. The myriad array patterns and formations inscribed within his body were further perfected, his magical power growing even more profound and pure, thereby unleashing even greater destructive force.
Compared to the True Person Realm, the lifespan of cultivators in the True One Realm doesn't increase by much, usually by about a thousand years—from five to around six thousand years. However, this number is astonishing compared to lower-level cultivators.
Deep within the sea of consciousness, the surface of the Harmony Spirit Seed gradually sprouted countless profound and obscure Dao patterns. Amidst layers of auspicious clouds and radiant light, boundless azure and violet auspicious qi enveloped the area. The rich essence of Dao Rhyme spread out, slowly and continuously merging with Qing Muling's divine soul, strengthening his foundational talents.
The sixth phantom of the Blue Lotus leaf had fully materialized and stabilized, its clear, water-like radiance illuminating the entire sea of consciousness. Through internal vision with his divine abilities, Qing Muling's fortune had once again surged significantly—nearly five times that of his peak in the True Person Realm and still slowly increasing.
Qing Muling made a quick assessment. Even if Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace had fully restored its Main Altar and had the Xinyu Emperor presiding over it, with its fortune greatly increased, it was still on par with him after his breakthrough to the True One Realm.
In other words, the fortune Qing Muling possessed was equivalent to that of the entire Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. If he were to break through to the Heart Demon Realm in the future, he might be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with those peak Supreme Dao Lineages—Calamity Fate Palace being the exception.
As for the lofty Dao Court, Qing Muling had no thoughts about it for now. After all, it was a colossal entity with three peak Emperors presiding over it. At least until he broke through to the True Immortal realm, he might have a chance to compete with them in terms of fortune.
After reaching the True One Realm, his innate divine abilities were enhanced to varying degrees. For example, his ability to divine fortune now allowed him to easily see through all the secrets of targets below the Destiny Realm, including prodigious talents, unless a powerful being intervened to obscure the truth and fate.
His innate divine ability to perceive all array formations, traps, curses, and hexes had expanded from a range of one hundred and fifty miles to five hundred miles, leaving nowhere for those below the Elemental Immortal level to hide.
Thanks to the growth of the Harmony Spirit Seed, Qing Muling's ability to cultivate with the essence of spiritual herbs and grasses had also improved significantly. Just one application could increase their medicinal power by eight hundred years.
The reason was simply that they received a richer feedback of primordial essence. As for the limit of this ability, it depended solely on Qing Muling's capacity to digest and absorb the essence of spiritual herbs and grasses.
"Following this trend, mass-producing divine herbs shouldn't be a problem, but Heavenly Medicine… I still don't see that possibility. Perhaps I'll have to wait until the Harmony Spirit Seed fully matures and more phantoms of the Blue Lotus leaf differentiate before I can attempt it?" Qing Muling pondered silently.
For Supreme Dao Lineages, divine herbs were already considered rare strategic resources, and Heavenly Medicine was like the lifeblood. Unless one was a direct disciple of the direct lineage, not to mention using it, even getting a glimpse was a great fortune.
Nowadays, in the Great Void, only a few superpowers like Dao Court, Calamity Fate Palace, the ancient Dragon and Phoenix clans, and the Kylin clan dared to openly admit to having various Heavenly Medicines in their Hidden Cave Mystical Realms. Most Supreme Dao Lineages didn't have the confidence to do so, and if they had Heavenly Medicine resources, they would choose to keep it secret.
Qing Muling's ability to shift through the void had reached a maximum distance of over thirty thousand miles. No matter what perilous or dangerous situation he found himself in, or the constraints of array formations, he could instantly escape and flee far away.
***
Three days and nights passed quietly. Once the surging magical power within him gradually calmed down and his realm stabilized, Qing Muling finally ended his cultivation and opened his eyes.
"Is it over? Just as I expected, Junior Brother, you're the most formidable," Luo Huan said, leaning over with her delicate body, checking his internal condition and expressing her satisfaction.
Qing Muling asked, "With my current level, I should have no problem defeating a prodigious talent from the Destiny Realm in a one-on-one fight, right?"
"Absolutely," Luo Huan affirmed confidently. "Not just defeating, but even inflicting serious injury or killing shouldn't be too difficult. The Supreme Sect Master was right; you're that special one. The usual standards of strength for ordinary cultivators just don't apply to you."
"That's good to hear."
Qing Muling nodded slightly. His magical power was more than ten times that of his peers, allowing him to fully utilize the power of his various treasures. Even if those prodigious talents were stronger than he estimated and each had their own trump cards, they still wouldn't be able to overpower him.
"Now we can finally relax," Luo Huan said with a smile. "In the cultivation world, a thousand years is used as the standard for a generation of disciples. When you first joined the sect, even though you hadn't reached the Understanding Mystery Realm, you were still considered a peer of the Senior Sisters."
"So, according to some unwritten rules, if disciples from other Dao Lineages publicly challenge you to a sparring match, you can't refuse. Your Senior Sisters can't take on those troubles for you either; you have to resolve them yourself."
"The Supreme Sect Master and your Senior Sisters were worried you'd be at a disadvantage, so they've been making preparations to avoid these troubles for you as much as possible. Now, they can relax."
"I understand."
Qing Muling quickly grasped the situation. As a core direct disciple of a Supreme Dao Lineage, it was impossible not to interact with people from other sects and powers, especially during routine sect gatherings, debates on the Dao, mystical realm explorations, and trials for the new generation of disciples. Disciples from various sects inevitably had to step forward and perform, and these were obligations that couldn't be shirked.
Previously, Qing Muling's cultivation level wasn't high enough, so he had to avoid these matters, and no one in the sect said anything. However, this wasn't a long-term solution. Neither his master nor his Senior Sisters could protect him forever. Sooner or later, he would have to face many challenges himself, and relying on others wouldn't work.
Now that Qing Muling had stepped into the True One Realm and possessed the strength to contend with Destiny Realm cultivators, he could handle most challenges on his own. If he advanced further to the Heart Demon Realm, he could even confront those in the Ascending to Immortality Realm.
"By the way, how was the effect of the enlightenment aura?" Qing Muling asked again.
"Very good," Luo Huan replied with a smile. "After your successful breakthrough, I made an estimate. Practicing with you for ten days is roughly equivalent to five or six years of solitary cultivation for a prodigious talent. The gap is truly unbelievable!"
She was now at the Elemental Immortal realm, so that was the reference standard. If it were the Destiny Realm or Ascending to Immortality Realm, the effect of the enlightenment aura would undoubtedly be even more pronounced.
And for high-level cultivators, a single period of closed-door cultivation could last for decades or even centuries. If she could always benefit from the enlightenment aura by Qing Muling's side, the speed of her cultivation progress would be terrifying.
Qing Muling exhaled lightly, "It seems the master was right to seal the news at all costs; otherwise, I'd never have peace in the future!"
Luo Huan's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she sighed softly, "That may be true, but it can't be kept secret for too long. Even my family's old ancestor is being kept in the dark. But once you advance a few more realms, by then, even the Supreme Sect Master and those core elders will need to rely on your ability to break through, won't they? What will you do then?"
As Qing Muling's realm rose higher and the Harmony Spirit Seed matured further, the efficacy of the enlightenment aura would also rise. By then, even those Supreme Elders would probably want to come and benefit from it.
"Let's take it one step at a time," Qing Muling shook his head, no longer dwelling on such a headache-inducing issue. After all, there's always a way out of a difficult situation. It's not like he would stop cultivating just to avoid trouble, right?
Luo Huan's beautiful eyes shimmered, and she leaned gently into his embrace, her voice sultry, "So now, do you plan to report your breakthrough to the Supreme Sect Master immediately, or keep it hidden for a while longer? Continue dual cultivation with your Senior Sister?"
"It can't be hidden. My progress in cultivation is something the master is always concerned about."
Qing Muling caressed Luo Huan's fair and snowy Daxuezi, feeling its amazing elasticity and smoothness, "So it's better to inform her as soon as possible. Besides, your Senior Sisters have been waiting too long. If it drags on, their resentment towards you will only deepen!"
"Alright, let's do as Junior Brother says."
Luo Huan didn't say anything more. Considering the great calamity was upon them, every bit of cultivation progress meant a better chance of safely crossing the tribulation. So it was best for Qi Yalan and the other Senior Sisters to rush to break through to the Elemental Immortal realm as soon as possible.
Thus, Qing Muling took out his communication jade talisman, infused it with magical power, and began to contact the Supreme Sect Master.
【Mu Yinghua: You've broken through so quickly? I thought it would take a few more months. It seems your Senior Sister Luo has been a great help.】
Qing Muling rubbed his face. Continuous dual cultivation naturally led to rapid progress, but Luo Huan's cultivation was much higher than his, so she benefited more.
Of course, now that he was at the True One Realm and the gap in their cultivation levels had narrowed, the gains from dual cultivation would increase in the future.
When another Senior Sister joins Luo Huan for dual cultivation next time, the benefits will double.
【Qing Muling: Master, you can continue to arrange for the Senior Sisters to draw lots. They must have been looking forward to it for a long time.】
【Mu Yinghua: No problem, but there will be more Senior Sisters participating in the draw this round. You know why!】
【Qing Muling: Why?】
【Mu Yinghua: The elders have already decided that the winners of each group in the sword-fighting competition are eligible to meet you. But since you went out on your travels, this matter has been delayed. However, they haven't given up on it, so you'll have to face it sooner or later.】
Looking at the message displayed on the jade talisman, Qing Muling was somewhat speechless. But considering how much the master had shielded him, enduring the elders' complaints every day, it was hard for him to say anything else.
Allowing them to participate in the draw this time was Mu Yinghua's concession. Although the chances of being drawn were not high, it was still an opportunity for fair competition.
【Qing Muling: Alright, Master, just arrange it. But I don't want outsiders to come this time. Choose from among those three.】
【Mu Yinghua: …That's a bit difficult. The elders are watching, and it would be hard to justify favoritism. It might not be well-received.】
【Qing Muling: That's for you to figure out, Master. Hmm, you wouldn't let your disciple down, would you?】
【Mu Yinghua: …】
In the Sect Master's abode, Mu Yinghua looked at the communication jade talisman in her hand, both amused and annoyed. This audacious fellow actually dared to give the Sect Master a tough problem? He really deserved a spanking!
"That rascal, wait until you return to the sect next time, and see how I deal with you!"
Mu Yinghua muttered, pondering for a moment and feeling that there was still room to maneuver. It was rare for Qing Muling to make a request, so she had to try to satisfy him this time.
Having made up her mind, Mu Yinghua sent people to notify Cheng Yulan and the other two personal disciples to come over, as well as Qi Shuyu, Su Yunmo, and other senior core disciples.
In no time, colorful lights soared from various famous mountains and Daoist sites, converging rapidly towards the Imperial Dao Peak.
Within a short period of time, dozens of Senior Sisters who received the message had all arrived.
Proofreader & Editor:Peter Pan