Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 205: Terranean Body (3)

Chapter 205: Terranean Body (3)

At the entrance of the relic cave nestled in Cloudhill, towering trees crowded together.

Fang Xia looked at Xu Hui with a warm smile. "You must be Xu Hui.”

Xu Hui's face betrayed his nervousness as he replied, "Indeed, Ancestor."

No matter how composed and collected Xu Hui typically was, his insides twisted in anxiety as he faced the sect's ancestor, a Heavenly Ranker.

"Both Grandmaster Shadow Blade and Grandmaster Huan Jian hold you in high regard," Fang Xia said softly. "They both firmly believe that you, out of all the disciples, possess the greatest potential to reach the Heavenly Rankings."

"Wu Yuan surpasses me tenfold," Xu Hui hastily interjected.

“Just tenfold?” A smile tugged at the corners of Fang Xia's lips, though his eyes failed to mirror the same mirth.

His response caught Xu Hui off guard.

"Forget about Wu Yuan," Fang Xia's smile faded, turning serious. "Tell me, are you willing to become my disciple?"

Xu Hui's eyes lit up.

...

Under Fang Xia's guidance, the Cloudstride Sect began transforming into a war machine, preparing to achieve the ambitious goal of unifying the Jiang Continent.

Wu Yuan knew about these extensive plans, but chose not to involve himself. In Fang Xia's own words: "If these disciples cannot even handle such trivial matters, what purpose do they serve? If the Heavenly Rankers from the Middle Land assail us, and if I, old Fang, fail to protect Cloudhill, what use am I to you, Young Master? Young Master, please rest assured and focus on your cultivation!"

And so, Wu Yuan made his way directly to a courtyard house assigned by Huan Jian, situated only a few li from the entrance to the relic cave. The courtyard house wasn’t large, but well designed, offering all the necessary amenities. A multitude of maidservants and servants bustled about, attending to their duties.

Within the spacious meditation chamber, Wu Yuan sat in the lotus position.

Fang Xia really knows what he’s doing.

Compared to the veteran cultivator who had spent decades traversing the length and breadth of the middle land and cultivated non-stop for a century, Wu Yuan admitted that he was far less experienced.

However, the advantages of youth cannot be ignored.

He remained composed, his mind untroubled by concerns for his safety as he now enjoyed protection from an eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator who reached the Domain stage. There was barely anyone in the Middle Land who could threaten him. As for Golden Core Superiors?

If Fang Xia can be acknowledged as someone whose "talent is not bad" by the realm master, his strength can certainly be placed at the pinnacle of the Middle Land's cultivators.

While there might be other martial artists throughout the thirteen continents with talent comparable to Fang Xia's, what were the chances that they would inherit a cultivation legacy at the same tier? It was important to remember that the lineage of the Fourth Eldritch Realm originated not from a cultivator within the Summerpeak World, but from the distant Greenridge Macrocosm.

The realm master said that cultivators at the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase likely exist within the Middle Land. However, the probability that a Golden Core Superior has emerged is extremely low.

As for the Amethyst Cradle phase, Wu Yuan felt it even less probable. Even during the prime of the Summerpeak World, Amethyst Cradle Reverends were already the peak powerhouses.

Either way, I must not be complacent or slack off on my cultivation efforts. He did not forget the realm master’s warnings and advice.

The Middle Land was only a small corner of the entire Summerpeak World. 100,000 years after the major war in the Greenridge Macrocosm, civilization was reborn here. But what about the other regions in the Summerpeak World? Would powerful cultivators emerge from their depths?

Old Fang plans to unify Summerpeak to facilitate the propagation of Faith to the masses. It’s likely that cultivators in other regions of this world who have reached a high cultivation level share similar aspirations. After all, the Hou Feng Tribe ruled over numerous worlds like Summerpeak, and the realm master descended to Summerpeak along with the Fourth Eldritch Realm. This all seems to hint at a connection between the Greenridge Macrocosm and the Summerpeak World.

Would Golden Core Superiors and Amethyst Cradle Reverends descend into the Middle Land one day? Everything was unknown, yet the possibility existed.

Whether these powerful cultivators will be a blessing or a curse, whether they arrive with good or evil intentions, is uncertain. However, an Amethyst Cradle Reverend has the power to destroy the entire Middle Land. No matter what, one should not leave their destiny in the hands of outsiders. Wu Yuan felt a sense of wariness and urgency in his heart.

The only thing he could do was to strengthen himself.

If I reach the Spiritual Body phase or even the Shambhala phase, it will greatly increase my chances of weathering any future storms. Wu Yuan contemplated the path forward.

Since he had both talent and opportunity, it was only right that he worked hard.

As Old Fang advised, becoming an eldritch warrior is the first step. Since my eldritch tattoos are second-degree, once I achieve this, my immortal root will rival that of a late-stage qi refiner in the Qi Sea phase.

Eldritch tattoos, a type of immortal root, were divided into nine degrees. The strength of one's immortal root determined the quality of the essentia generated, making it incredibly important!

Whether it be the first-degree eldritch tattoos or the first-degree immortal root, both are practically myths within the vast expanse of the Greenridge Macrocosm. Second-degree eldritch tattoos are already the pinnacle of immortal roots in the realm of reality.

Take for example a Qi Sea cultivator with a second-degree immortal root. Even at the first-stage Qi Sea phase, their mana could rival that of an eighth-stage Qi Sea cultivator with a low degree immortal root. Once a second-degree immortal root cultivator became a late-stage Qi Sea cultivator, their mana was comparable to a Golden Core Superior!

On the other hand, a poor immortal root would not only result in inferior quality mana, but it would also hinder the growth of the soul, the cultivation of arcane arts, the refinement of lifebound artifacts, and numerous other aspects. The repercussions were numerous and far-reaching.

In theory, one could gradually upgrade their immortal root to a higher degree midway through their cultivation path, but with one’s path already fixed, this was immensely difficult.

If one possesses a low degree immortal root (ninth, eighth, and seventh degrees) the Amethyst Cradle phase will be the furthest they can go. Wu Yuan sighed.

In his hand, an immortal slip materialized. As his Soul Force entered it, a torrent of information flooded Wu Yuan's mind. An immortal slip was essentially a book designed for cultivators.

Instead of rushing to start cultivating, Wu Yuan decided to first finish reading all eight immortal slips from the realm master. Only by expanding his knowledge and horizons could he formulate the most accurate cultivation plan and arrangements.

Taking the right path was far more important than speeding ahead on the wrong one.

So it turns out that numerous qi refining classes exist, each with its own unique specializations. Sword immortals reign supreme in battle, while array cultivators are unrivaled in defense...

Body refiners are also divided into eldritch warrior, blood devil body, demonic deity, divine spirit paths, etc. Among those, divine spirit cultivation is the mainstream path among humans. Legends speak of countless worlds governed by the Immortal Court beyond the macrocosm, where god-like beings engage in fierce battles...

Array cultivation, alchemy teachings...

Cultivation can also change the lives of mortals. In the macrocosm, the influence of cultivation on the mortal realm is multifaceted. With an artifact, a mortal can also fly and burrow into the earth...

Wu Yuan was completely absorbed in the immortal slips, his knowledge expanding and his understanding of the cultivation world deepening with every word he devoured.

The concepts of the two major cultivation schools of thought – qi refining and body refining, began to crystallize in his mind, and he started to grasp the true meaning behind Fang Xia's words. The path to immortality was indeed one of competition.

Hours passed, and the sun set and rose again before Wu Yuan, tired but satisfied, finally finished reading.

The immortal slips had contained an overwhelming amount of information, not just in text form but also through vivid images and instructive videos. Trying to explain it all in words was simply an impossible task.

Although Wu Yuan possessed a strong soul, capable of processing far more information than an ordinary person, the sheer volume of knowledge he had absorbed left him feeling somewhat dizzy. But after some time, he regained his composure and opened his eyes, a brilliant clarity shining through his fatigue. Learning new things was truly exhilarating.

With a little more time to digest and organize this newfound knowledge, even Fang Xia won't be able to match my theoretical understanding of cultivation paths. Wu Yuan smiled faintly.

Even though Fang Xia had received guidance from the realm master, it couldn't compare to the effort he invested into Wu Yuan, to whom he had imparted all the knowledge he possessed.