Chapter 212: Spirit Realm’s Immortal Contention Era, Four Steps To Ascension And Eight Realms
This one sentence contained far too much meaning.
Previously, Ning Qi had faintly felt some doubts. The remaining people in the Martial World had actually figured out methods related to the World Will so quickly, which seemed a bit too fast. Now it seemed to make some sense. Numerous thoughts had already emerged in his mind.
Before Ning Qi could think further.
The Old Black Tortoise continued:
“With your Martial World’s foundation, it would be too difficult to revive the World Will.”
Ning Qi’s eyes instantly narrowed:
“Your Martial World?”
He had grasped the key phrase.
The Old Black Tortoise chuckled:
“That’s right. Strictly speaking, although I have lived in the Martial World for so many years, I am not a person of your Martial World. Let me formally introduce myself. I come from the True Martial Realm and am a Seed Inheritor of the True Martial Immortal Sect.”
Ning Qi’s breathing had unknowingly stagnated.
All the confusion suddenly became clear.
No wonder he had always felt that the True Martial Hall was somewhat detached from worldly affairs, even somewhat incompatible with the Martial World. Just from what he had seen and heard in the True Martial Hall, it did not resemble what the Martial World should have. It turned out to originate from another world.
“Is the True Martial Realm also an Upper World like the Mountain Sea Realm?” Ning Qi asked.
The Old Black Tortoise’s gaze held a trace of melancholy:
“That’s right, but the correct statement is that both the True Martial Realm and the Mountain Sea Realm are Spirit Realms with complete World Rules, while your Martial World is a Small World with deficient rules. The Mountain Sea World is your Upper World, but the True Martial Realm is not your Upper World.”
This short sentence contained far too much information.
Ning Qi only felt that in an instant, heaven and earth had become vast. The world he was in was actually just a Small World?
His heart surged with emotion as he quietly awaited the Old Black Tortoise’s explanation.
The Old Black Tortoise continued:
“The Sea of Realms is vast beyond measure, with countless Spirit Realms floating and sinking within it, their number immense. Spirit Realms have complete rules and cultivators as numerous as the clouds. The strongest can defy the heavens and ascend to immortality. Beneath each Spirit Realm, there are innumerable Small Worlds of varying degrees of rule deficiency. If one reaches the limit, they can break through the realm and ascend to the corresponding Upper World of the Small World.”
Ning Qi’s eyes lit up at once.
“Immortals?! Is there a stronger world above the Spirit Realms?”
He sought longevity, and now it was as if a scroll of longevity was slowly unfolding before his eyes, filling him with uncontrollable excitement.
The Old Black Tortoise’s eyes also held yearning:
“The Immortal Realm! Above the Spirit Realms is called the Immortal Realm, the goal of countless Spirit Realm Cultivators is to ascend to the Immortal Realm and achieve the position of True Immortal! But…”
His tone shifted, and he said regretfully:
“Unknown epochs ago, the Immortal Realm was already lost, and from then on, no one has ascended to immortality.”
He added an explanation:
“One epoch is one million years.”
Ning Qi fell silent.
One million years—what an immensely long span of time. The schemes of numerous Ancient Saints in the Martial World spanned only tens of thousands of years, which seemed so insignificant before an epoch. The Immortal Realm, lost countless epochs ago, was an existence of such indestructibility.
A longing arose in his heart, along with regret:
“The Immortal Realm… why was it lost?”
The Old Black Tortoise clicked his tongue:
“No one knows. Perhaps only a very few truly supreme epoch-old Monsters know fragments of it. After the Immortal Realm was lost, the era of ascension to immortality came to an end, and from then on…”
“The Spirit Realm Contending for Immortality Epoch!”
Ning Qi’s spirit shook.
No matter how good the Immortal Realm was, it was still somewhat distant for him now. The urgent matter at hand was still the threat from the Mountain Sea Realm. He had a feeling that this Spirit Realm Contending for Immortality Epoch was connected to the current situation in the Martial World.
These few short words made him sense the taste of bloodshed and carnage.
The Old Black Tortoise sighed:
“With the Immortal Realm lost, no one can become a True Immortal anymore. Even the strongest can at most live through one epoch. For us, one epoch is naturally extremely long, but for those Great Powers with aspirations of immortality, a pathless future ahead is worse than death.”
“But in the end, someone came up with a way: raise the world’s limit. Since Spirit Realms cannot accommodate True Immortals, then elevate the Spirit Realm’s limit until it can accommodate True Immortals, or even stronger beings! Perhaps one day, it could even become another supreme Immortal Realm!”
“And how to elevate the world’s limit?”
“That is by devouring the Origin of other worlds!”
Ning Qi’s expression gradually calmed.
Devouring World Origin sounded simple, but it undoubtedly came with countless killings. This was world invasion. He understood now—this was the fundamental reason for the Mountain Sea Realm’s invasion of the Martial World: to devour the Martial World’s Origin. As for the Martial World’s Native Inhabitants, they were no different from ants to them.
It could not be said who was right or wrong.
It was merely the law of the jungle.
Ning Qi frowned:
“How much help can the Origin of a Small World like the Martial World provide to a Spirit Realm’s elevation?”
Although he did not know how much stronger a Spirit Realm was compared to a Small World, the gap was undoubtedly not small. The Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint had once said that the experts appearing beyond the Martial World’s sky curtain were even more terrifying than the Martial World’s World Will.
The Mysterious Turtle chuckled:
“No matter how small the mosquito meat is, it’s still meat. Quantitative change can lead to qualitative change. After all, devouring other Spirit Realms is not that easy. Leaving aside whether world coordinates can be found, even if they are, which is stronger or weaker is uncertain. One misstep and it could capsize.”
“Devouring Lower Worlds is much easier. Ascenders from Lower Worlds come with their own coordinates. Then release the Life Poison and sit back to reap the harvest. It doesn’t take much time, and layouts can be set in many Lower Worlds simultaneously—safe and efficient.”
There was some sarcasm in his laughter.
This description was all too similar to harvesting leeks crop after crop.
As for those ascenders, their fates were probably not much better.
Ning Qi halted his steps:
“Spirit Realms are so strong. Since they know the coordinates of Lower Worlds, why not simply send a Supreme Expert to sweep them clean? Why go to such great lengths?”
The Mysterious Turtle shook his head:
“Naturally, there are restrictions. From a Lower World, one can ascend to an Upper World simply by reaching the required cultivation, opening a World Channel. But even if an Upper World knows the Lower World’s coordinates, it cannot easily descend. This is the protection of the Sea of Realms Rules for Small Worlds.”
“And Life Poison is one of their methods. Life Poison fuses into the spiritual energy of the Lower World, weakening its resistance while forming anchor points. Once fused with Martial Saint level experts, it can even form Dao Beacons. With inside and outside working together, a World Channel can be opened.”
“Although this World Channel only allows passage for cultivators below the Small World’s strongest combat power, it is still extremely terrifying.”
“Think about it: cultivators equivalent to hundreds or thousands of Martial Saint Realm experts, each wielding stronger Magic Tools and cultivating stronger Spells, sweeping through like locusts. Which world could resist? They would soon be slaughtered clean, becoming nourishment for the Spirit Realm’s growth along with the Small World.”
His tone was eerie, as if he were accustomed to it.
Ning Qi’s mind involuntarily conjured a horrifying scene of blood rain falling from the sky:
“But the Martial World has held out for tens of thousands of years…”
The Mysterious Turtle chuckled in disbelief:
“You wouldn’t think your Martial World is weak, would you?”
“Let me tell you, the Martial World is actually among the strongest tier of Small Worlds. Its strongest is equivalent to the Mana Realm in Spirit Realms, which is what you call the Martial Saint Realm, and its World Will has even awakened. This is extremely rare—perhaps not one in a million Small Worlds is like yours.”
“Do you know that in many Small Worlds, the strongest are only at the level of your Heavenly Human Realm Martial Artists, or even just Core Elixir Realm? Their World Rules are deficient to a terrifying degree. Even with spiritual energy, they cannot accommodate powerful individuals. Some Small Worlds are even spiritual energy deserts.”
Ning Qi was somewhat stunned.
This was too weak. He could suppress vast swaths with a wave of his hand.
Thinking this way, his reincarnation into the Martial World could be considered fortunate?
The two stepped through the gate of the grand hall, where a Garden appeared before them, filled with all sorts of spiritual herbs and exotic flowers emitting enticing auras. Any single one taken out would drive Martial World Martial Artists mad with desire.
The Mysterious Turtle continued laughing:
“Of course, the reason the Martial World has held out for tens of thousands of years also partly owes to the existence of the True Martial Hall.”
“Otherwise, just the Life Poison alone would be enough to give you a hard time, let alone surviving the subsequent invasions and plans.”
Ning Qi nodded.
He had now sorted out the causes and effects.
But he also had more doubts.
“I have a few questions to ask Senior.”
“Ask away.”
Ning Qi’s eyes held anticipation:
“Earlier, I heard Senior mention the Mana Realm. May I ask if this is the Spirit Realm’s cultivation system?”
The Old Black Tortoise thought for a moment and said:
“Very well. Your temperament is extraordinary, so it doesn’t hurt to tell you.”
“Over countless epochs, almost all Spirit Realms have popularized this Immortal Dao Cultivation System, namely the Four Steps to Ascension and Eight Realms!”
Ning Qi held his breath.
The Old Black Tortoise continued:
“The so-called four steps are Refining Essence into Qi, Refining Qi into Spirit, Refining Spirit into Void, and Refining Void into Dao. One step further leads to the realm of immortal True Immortals!”
“And if subdivided further, there are eight realms.”
“Refining Essence into Qi divides into the Houtian Realm and Perception Realm. The former cultivates the essence of the human body, the latter senses the qi of heaven and earth. Corresponding to your Martial World’s cultivation system, the Houtian Realm covers cultivation before the Core Elixir Realm, while the Perception Realm is similar to the Heavenly Human Realm.”
“Refining Qi into Spirit includes the Mana Realm and Purple Mansion Realm. The Mana Realm tempers spiritual energy into Mana, corresponding to your Martial Saint Realm. The Purple Mansion Realm condenses the Natal Divine Ability to open up— this realm corresponds to your Break Through Realm and Ascend Divine Ability Realm, but strictly speaking, the Divine Ability Realm is not a complete Purple Mansion Realm and requires further perfection.”
Ning Qi listened extremely attentively, feeling as if a door to a new world was opening before him.
“Refining Spirit into Void includes the Nascent Soul Realm and Void Dao Realm.”
“Refining Void into Dao includes the Body Integration Realm and Dao Integration Realm.”
“Dao Integration Realm cultivators are the strongest that Spirit Realms can accommodate, with lifespans reaching one epoch! But that was before. Now, some powerful Spirit Realms have surely broken the limit and birthed True Immortals.”
Ripples stirred in Ning Qi’s heart.
Although the Immortal Realm was lost, this was still a path to longevity and True Immortality.
For the first time, he had such a clear direction.
Suppressing the agitation in his heart.
Ning Qi took a deep breath and asked again:
“Since Senior and the True Martial Hall come from the True Martial Realm, why did you come to the Martial World?”
The Elder’s figure paused slightly, and only after a moment did he slowly speak:
“Because the True Martial Realm is gone.”
Ning Qi’s eyes held some apology. Before he could speak, the Elder waved his hand:
“No matter. This was a long time ago. The True Martial Realm’s strongest overlord was the True Martial Immortal Sect, and I originated from it. At that time, I was even just an egg, with only vague consciousness. I faintly sensed an astonishing great battle erupting.”
“Then a Mark told me that from then on, I was the True Martial Immortal Sect’s Seed Inheritor. After drifting through the Sea of Realms Sea Currents for an unknown time, the True Martial Hall’s power was nearly exhausted. To evade tracking, it ultimately depleted its remaining strength and fell into the Martial World. And I was born here. In a sense, I am also half a person of the Martial World.”
As he spoke, his face showed some bitterness and helplessness toward destiny:
“Later, after receiving partial Memory infusion, I learned that the True Martial Realm was destroyed by the Mountain Sea Realm.”
If he had hatched normally in the True Martial Realm, his strength would far exceed what it was now.
But fortune played tricks on people.
Now he could only be trapped in this cage, unable to break free.
Unable to ascend, and the True Martial Hall beaten into a remnant, having lost the ability to traverse worlds.
He was now bound to the Martial World’s fortunes—prosperity together, ruin together. If the Martial World was devoured of its Origin by the Mountain Sea Realm, the True Martial Inheritance would be completely severed.
“Back then, they were also eggs like me, hatching one after another. But they differ from me. I am the True Martial Immortal Sect’s Seed Inheritor and can step into the True Martial Hall, while they cannot even leave it, denied freedom.”
The Old Black Tortoise looked at the Spiritual Beasts faintly visible in the White Mist, with some sympathy and pity.
Denied freedom—truly terrifying.
Ning Qi bowed respectfully:
“Thank you, Senior, for resolving my confusion.”
At this point, he had thoroughly understood what happened in the Ancient Era.
He digested the information learned today, which encompassed so much that it greatly broadened his horizons. Although crisis was approaching, at least he now knew the causes and effects and would not flail about like a headless fly.
The two continued walking and finally stopped before the incomparably majestic True Martial Hall. Seeing it again, Ning Qi still felt the same shock in his heart, especially now that he knew its origins. If he was not mistaken, the True Martial Hall was originally an extremely powerful Treasure.
The gate of the grand hall opened automatically, and light engulfed the two.
When the light dissipated, only a golden portal stood alone. The previous silver portal and bronze portal had vanished.
“The other two portals were tests I set. Only this one is the true test of the True Martial Inheritance. Now, you should understand why I had you reach the Martial Saint Realm before coming again.”
Ning Qi nodded.
He had already guessed.
The Hunchbacked Elder’s emotional voice echoed in the True Martial Hall:
“Since my birth, the True Martial Hall has selected one Supreme Expert after another in your Martial World for assessment, but without exception, all failed. Your appearance has given me the last sliver of hope.”
“Young Ning, your talent and comprehension are unprecedented. At merely thirteen years old, you have achieved such accomplishments. Throughout ancient and modern times, no one can match you.”
His eyes held thick expectation and hope:
“Perhaps, you can pass the True Martial Hall’s assessment and obtain the True Martial Immortal Sect’s Inheritance!”
“At that time, there might even be hope of finding a way to break the deadlock.”
