The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 986: Oracle District

Chapter 986: Oracle District

Oracle District . . .

Han Bingxue understood that he only needed to endure this discomfort for a single day, and afterward, the pain would dissipate. In fact, he knew that this temporary suffering would have long-term benefits for his body's flexibility.

Yet, the agony was nearly unbearable. He had briefly considered asking Cha Eun Xiao for assistance, but every time he glanced at Cha Eun Xiao, a sense of Schadenfreude gleamed in the latter's eyes. Cha Eun Xiao's silent amusement at Han Bingxue's expense made him abandon any thoughts of seeking help.

After their arduous journey, the trio finally reached Oracle District. The first thing they noticed was the relative opulence compared to the towns they had encountered earlier. However, there was a stark contrast – fewer formidable cultivators resided here.

As they ventured further north into the heart of Oracle District, they realized that powerful cultivators were in short supply. By the time they were one-third of the way to the center, the most potent cultivators they could sense had not surpassed level six of the Dao Origin Stage.

Xuan Bing provided an explanation, "Oracle District is the least fertile cultivation district in the Qing-Yun Realm. Its inhabitants are generous but not potent martial cultivators. Genuinely formidable figures seldom venture here."

She elaborated, "Legend has it that a god once descended to this area. This god reportedly sighed and claimed that it was unsuitable for martial cultivation. This proclamation could have been a prophecy or even a curse. Since then, Oracle District has produced no individual who has reached level nine of the Dao Origin Stage. This is why it has come to be known as Oracle District."

Examining the current state of affairs, Xuan Bing mused, "I believe it has deteriorated even further compared to a thousand years ago. On our journey here, I sensed only one cultivator who had nearly reached level seven of the Dao Origin Stage. No one else exceeded that level. It appears that as we approach the center, cultivators become progressively weaker. I suspect that cultivators ahead will be even less potent. This means that a level seven Dao Origin Stage cultivator could effectively rule over Oracle District."

With her dark robe billowing, she adopted a sardonic smile and added, "While this district is vast, if Misty Cloud Palace wishes to control it, a handful of level seven disciples would suffice to exercise complete dominion over Oracle District."

Cha Eun Xiao gazed into the horizon, lost in contemplation. His outward appearance seemed absentminded, but internally, he was astounded.

*"Is this Oracle District the home of Cha Clan?"*

*"Is this the birthplace of my father, Cha Nantian?"*

No matter how talented his father may have been, he was constrained by the limitations of Oracle District. Cha Eun Xiao pondered this revelation and, unbeknownst to others, his thoughts were racing.

He attempted to absorb the spiritual qi in the atmosphere by inhaling deeply and utilizing the East-rising Purple Qi to enhance his cultivation. However, to his astonishment, he found that he couldn't absorb any of the spiritual qi in this environment. The spiritual qi simply hung in the air, eluding his attempts to draw it into his body.

*"This is perplexing,"* he thought.

Since he had begun his second life and mastered the East-rising Purple Qi, Cha Eun Xiao had experienced swift progress in his cultivation. This method was a primary factor in his rapid improvement. During his time at Cold Moon Palace, where the spiritual qi was abundant, he could absorb ten times the amount of spiritual qi in two hours, even without employing the East-rising Purple Qi. However, here in Oracle District, with the assistance of the East-rising Purple Qi, he could only absorb a mere one-tenth of the quantity in the same timeframe.

The disparity was staggering. Cha Eun Xiao examined the local environment and determined that the spiritual qi here was abundant but also more vigorous than elsewhere. This meant that cultivators had to expend hundreds of times more effort to harness the spiritual qi, which posed a considerable challenge.

They found themselves in a peculiar situation - here, in Oracle District, they weren't merely absorbing the qi as they usually did in other places. Instead, they had to capture, conquer, and then absorb it. This process proved to be considerably more challenging, and only those who experienced it firsthand could truly appreciate the difficulty it entailed.

Cha Eun Xiao had attempted to harness the spiritual qi, and he quickly realized that cultivation in this area was incredibly inefficient, despite his mastery of the East-rising Purple Qi. In comparison to the rapid cultivation he had experienced outside of Oracle District, it felt as though he had gone from riding an eagle to a broken oxcart.

"What is the matter with this place? Everything feels so unusual here," Cha Eun Xiao murmured as he opened his eyes.

"You've sensed it too? Your perception is quite sharp," Xuan Bing remarked with a bitter smile. She continued, "This district is vast, but the powerful factions in the realm have deliberately chosen not to control it, and you've just discovered the reason. After all, the biggest fist enforces the rules, and in our world, cultivation is the most crucial factor."

She further explained, "The forces in the realm could effortlessly conquer Oracle District with minimal resources. Yet, it provides minimal benefit in return. More importantly, those who enter this district will experience a gradual deterioration. If a sect's disciples weaken, it weakens the entire sect. This emptiness serves to debilitate them further."

Xuan Bing then emphasized, "It's not that the martial world has abandoned this place; rather, they simply have no desire for it. Because of the rich spiritual energy here, the natural resources have remained valuable. Our world has tried to keep this information hidden. On the outskirts of this district, our people are dedicated to purchasing medicinal materials. To illustrate, Misty Cloud Palace relies heavily on the Regeneration Ink Lotus, which is primarily sourced from Oracle District."