novelraw Chapter 81 : The Realms
Chapter 81 : The Realms
81: The Realms
The standard treatment for an academy student was a twenty percent discount on credits for department-internal cultivation methods, with external methods and items at full price. The credit system was, after all, a resource and method exchange system for academy students. If everyone got a discount, there would be no need for a standard price.
"Yuyin, cultivation methods are usually the most expensive. Our academy’s repository is vast and profound. There are still a few ancient, rare books that you absolutely cannot see outside. With your current credits, you still can’t afford them. I suggest you choose from the ones I can gift you." Since Yuyin was her Direct Disciple, Chen Qian'ning naturally wanted to use the rules to help Yuyin select the best resources.
"Mm, thank you, Teacher." Yuyin felt a bit excited.
The Lingdu Source Martial Academy was one of the two top Source Martial academies in the Huaxia Nation. Even though its history was shorter, it had the support of the entire Huaxia government, and its collection was likely no less than that of sects with millennia of history.
Chen Qian'ning stood up and sat directly beside Yuyin. She took out her phone, opened the academy app with the Department Head’s special permissions, and found the cultivation method overview to show Yuyin.
"Teacher…" To look at the phone together, they had unknowingly moved very close. Chen Qian'ning’s leg was also pressed against Yuyin’s thigh. The delicate, stockinged legs of the two women rubbed against each other. It was a truly rare and wondrous sensation.
However, Yuyin still focused her mind on looking at those cultivation methods.
It was worthy of the Lingdu Source Martial Academy. There were numerous cultivation methods, such as "Arhat’s Ascetic Cultivation," "Kunlun Snow Source Record," "Introduction to Source Cultivation for Black International Students," "Lingdu Dance Charmer’s Allure Cultivation Method," and so on. Yuyin also glanced at "Yuan Shixi," which had an exchange price of 5 credits.
"Only 5 credits? But this is a secret method worth over 500,000 on the open market, and you can’t even buy it." Yuyin thought to herself. The treatment of a Lingdu Source Martial Academy student was truly incomparable to the outside world.
Chen Qian'ning was also a practical woman. She directly tapped to sort by price.
With that, the first screen that came up was filled with cultivation methods that had a special star symbol in front of them. These were hidden methods that ordinary students’ apps couldn’t see, and they were also the true bottom-of-the-chest treasures of the Lingdu Source Martial Academy.
The existence of the Lingdu Source Martial Academy was to cultivate elite Source Martial Practitioners. For a student at the level of a Department Head’s Direct Disciple, there were no longer any reservations.
"This…" Yuyin couldn’t help but feel her chest rise and fall. One by one, these cultivation methods, the cheapest of which still required 320 credits to exchange! Credits, don’t be fooled by how easily Yuyin earned them; they were extremely difficult to acquire. For an ordinary student, earning 20 credits in a semester through desperate, hard work was considered good. Most students’ credits after four years were far from enough.
Ranked first, "Myriad Source Mountain and Sea Record," 1000 credits.
The words "Myriad Source" made one feel that it encompassed everything.
Second, "Flying Sky Scripture," 960 credits.
Third, "Wu Gang’s Strongman" revised edition, 600 credits.
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Chen Qian'ning said in Yuyin’s ear, "Although this ‘Myriad Source Mountain and Sea Record’ is ranked highest, if a man were to cultivate it, it would naturally be the best choice. But for a female cultivator like you with an extremely high Female Cultivator Index, in my opinion, I still recommend this one, the ‘Flying Sky Scripture.’"
"The Flying Sky Scripture was obtained by Old Master Hu when he was still in his prime. He risked his life to bring back a traced copy from a mysterious ancient cave mural on The Other Side. For this secret manual, countless Source Martial Practitioners of our Huaxia Nation sacrificed their lives back then. Only Old Master Hu escaped and brought back this scripture. Old Master Hu once told me that the cave was filled with paintings of flying celestial maidens, breathtakingly beautiful… This is the most suitable cultivation method for a woman like you. What do you think?"
"Teacher, I also took a fancy to this one at first glance. Let’s go with this one."
960 credits, not much cheaper than the first one. It was probably because it was only suitable for female cultivators and lacked universal applicability. And these two words, "Flying Sky," also made Yuyin long for it.
This was affinity at first sight. Yuyin accepted immediately.
Chen Qian'ning nodded. "Then I will use my authority to gift you this scripture. However, this is a top-tier ancient book with no electronic version. Tomorrow morning, come find me on the summit of North Yushan Mountain. I will give you the transcribed copy."
Of course, she couldn’t give Yuyin the original copy; that was a national treasure and might not even be in the Lingdu Source Martial Academy.
Today’s harvest exceeded Yuyin’s expectations. She hadn’t imagined that she could obtain the academy’s most powerful female cultivation method. If she had to rely on earning credits herself, even she would find it very difficult. Moreover, if she wasn’t a Direct Disciple, she probably wouldn’t even be able to see this method.
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The next morning, very early, Yuyin went up to North Yushan Mountain, the highest peak in the entire Lingdu Special District, though it was only a few hundred meters high, since the Lingdu Special District was mostly flat ground and had no high mountains.
Unexpectedly, Chen Qian'ning had arrived even earlier. Looking at her standing on the mountaintop, the white hands holding the teaching stick behind her, which was placed against her plump, perky buttocks wrapped in a short skirt, Yuyin couldn’t help but feel her heart palpitate.
"Teacher, I’m not late, am I?" Yuyin asked, a little worried.
Chen Qian'ning turned around and said sternly, "You are late. Come here, hold out your palm."
"Huh?" Yuyin hesitated slightly.
"Hehe… Just kidding. I didn’t set a specific time with you."
Chen Qian'ning opened a black briefcase that was placed to the side and carefully took out a blue-covered book, "Flying Sky Scripture," written in clerical script. It had the same ancient appearance as all cultivation methods, with only the title being different.
But these three words, "Flying Sky Scripture," were of extraordinary value.
Yuyin took the cultivation method with both hands. Although it was a transcribed copy, she could feel the weight within it. To snatch out this cultivation method, decades ago, how many seniors of the Huaxia Nation had fallen into eternal sleep on The Other Side…
"Yuyin, keep it safe. It must not be leaked or privately transcribed. This is the true path to flight. Old Master Hu once said that this ‘Flying Sky Scripture’ is an ancient, rare book that, once cultivated, can take one from Gathering Source to Form Spirit, and even allow one to cultivate all the way to the Nine Tribulations." Chen Qian'ning said with a grave gaze.
"Nine Tribulations?" Yuyin was very confused. "Teacher, what are the Nine Tribulations?"
Chen Qian'ning let out a long, soft sigh. She walked to the edge of the mountain cliff. The cold, clear mountain wind blew against her mature, queen-like graceful body. Her gaze looked up to the firmament, her cloud-like hair flying. "Yuyin, are you still not clear about the realms of us cultivators?"
"Please teach me, Teacher." Yuyin nodded and stood to the side, listening attentively.
Chen Qian'ning said, "Ordinary people absorb Primordial Energy. When their Primordial Energy value reaches a certain level of intensity, they can attempt to break through, using the method of Gathering Source to Form Spirit, to become a Source Martial Practitioner."
"And a Source Martial Practitioner is actually a general term used to distinguish cultivators from ordinary people."
"The difference in strength between Source Martial Practitioners is enormous, much greater than the gap between a new Source Martial Practitioner and an ordinary person. You could say… between the most ordinary Source Martial Practitioner and a Source Martial Grandmaster, there is a world of difference!"
"According to the tradition of our Huaxia Nation, which is in fact a globally recognized standard that has always been integrated from various ancient books and the heritage of ancient sects, Source Martial Practitioners can be divided into the following great realms based on their cultivation level: the Spirit-Seeking Realm, the Purple Domain Realm, the Void Truth Realm, and the Nine Tribulations Realm."
"Spirit-Seeking, Purple Domain, Void Truth, Nine Tribulations." Yuyin’s heart surged, as if these short words, in her mind, were like parting clouds to see the sun, connecting into an incomparably broad path to the heavens.
Chen Qian'ning turned to look at Yuyin. "Once you step into the realm of Source Martial Practitioners, you are in the Spirit-Seeking Realm. For example, you, and most of the student Source Martial Practitioners in the academy, are all in the Spirit-Seeking Realm."
"Teacher, so after the Spirit-Seeking Realm comes the Purple Domain Realm?" Yuyin asked eagerly.
Chen Qian'ning nodded. "Yes, but… breaking through from the Spirit-Seeking Realm to the Purple Domain Realm is far from as easy as breaking through to become a Source Martial Practitioner… Most Source Martial Practitioners are unable to cross this threshold in their entire lives."
Seeing the confusion in Yuyin’s eyes, Chen Qian'ning continued, "What I just spoke of are the great cultivation realms. But you should know that each cultivation realm is also divided into several cultivation cycles. For example, the Spirit-Seeking Realm can be divided into six cultivation cycles: Early Stage, Mid Stage, Late Stage, Perfection Stage, Remnant Stage, and Desolation Stage."
"Six?" Yuyin was puzzled. "Teacher, I can generally understand from Early Stage to Perfection Stage, but what about the last two realms?"
"In fact, if cultivation goes smoothly, then upon reaching Perfection Stage, one should be able to break through." Chen Qian'ning said. "However… the path of cultivation is as unpredictable as the weather. It is full of changes. Once the path deviates or one’s aptitude is insufficient but one still forces it, and they cannot achieve true Perfection from the Late-Stage of Spirit-Seeking Realm, they mistakenly stray onto a deviant path. That is the Remnant Stage. In this cycle, one’s strength might not increase but instead decrease. And if one continues to cultivate from the Remnant Stage, there is only a very small chance to mend everything and return to Perfection. In most cases, one continues to fall into depravity, cultivating all the way to the Desolation Stage."
"The Desolation Stage… is a cycle where one has failed in cultivation and reached the end of a wrong path. If one continues to cultivate on this path, one’s strength might become greater than in the Perfection Stage, but… one can never break through again. The great path of cultivation ends here. Similarly, if the breakthrough from the Perfection Stage fails, one will also be injured and fall into the Remnant Stage. If one cannot mend it, one will continue to fall into the Desolation Stage."
Chen Qian'ning took a deep breath. "The path of cultivation, every step toward a great realm, is a breakthrough of one’s own limits. Breaking through limits is, of course, extremely dangerous. If you succeed, your strength will soar. If there is the slightest mistake, you will suffer great damage in return, and it might even be an irreparable consequence."
Yuyin listened and didn’t speak for a long time. The path of cultivation, with its huge rewards accompanied by huge risks, was indeed shocking and awe-inspiring to hear about, but Yuyin could understand the principle.
Her own "New Stage" in the God-Devouring Chess should be the Early Stage; it was just that the name was slightly different.
"New Stage, Mid Stage, Late Stage, Perfection, Remnant, Desolation."
Of the six cycles of a great realm’s cultivation, only four were successful ones. As for the Remnant and Desolation Stages, those were the paths of failure.
"No one can guarantee success, but I will do everything possible to ensure my own breakthroughs are successful." Yuyin thought with careful consideration.
Seeing that Yuyin’s eyes were sharp and her natural talent was evident and that she should have understood her words, Chen Qian’ning continued, "With this main Primordial Energy cultivation method, the next steps are body refinement methods and sword arts. These three can be called the three great foundations of a sword cultivator. Our Lingdu Source Martial Academy places great importance on physical cultivation. In the first semester, don’t be in a hurry to advance your sword arts. Building a solid foundation is the root. Body refinement and Qi cultivation complement each other. It’s best to start them simultaneously. As for this body refinement cultivation method…"
When Chen Qian'ning mentioned body refinement, a thought flashed through Yuyin’s mind.
"Teacher, regarding a body refinement method, I happen to have one that is quite good. Would it be possible for me to ask you to take a look at it for me?" Yuyin said immediately.
Her "Imperial Daughter Body Refinement" required two people to cooperate in its continued cultivation, and the other party had to be a powerful woman. If she could ask Chen Qian'ning to help her cultivate, that would naturally be for the best. It was just that she didn’t know if her teacher would be willing. Yuyin was planning in her heart whether she could try to hint to Chen Qian'ning to cultivate together.