CHAPTER 863: CHAPTER 586: A NEW CEILING

"The Great Xia Martial Arts Civilization has flourished until now, yet only four Supreme Internal Powers have been developed. No wonder, with my talent, after studying for a whole year, I still haven’t succeeded."

Lu Chenzhou sighed inwardly.

"According to the rules, redeeming a Supreme Internal Power requires a hundred thousand Mid-grade Primordial Stones. However, since you are the Military Leader and have found Heavenly Immortal Dew for Bai Feng, if you wish to view them, you can come to me anytime. The Four Major Internal Powers are top-secret Martial Arts, currently only accessible to Seventh Realm cultivators."

"Thank you, Senior. I will contemplate on my own for now." Lu Chenzhou cupped his fists in thanks.

"There’s no need to rush Internal Strength research. After the Seventh Realm, the true core of cultivation lies in the Dao Realm. If you can keep up with this, all else will follow.

Moreover, human ability has its limits. After the Seventh Realm, the refinement of Qi-Blood, the tempering of True Gang, and the strengthening of the body... for rapid growth in Spirit, one cannot do without the assistance of Heaven and Earth Treasures.

Otherwise, to rely solely on bitter cultivation—well, for a genius like you, it’s not impossible, but time waits for no one.

Chenzhou, though I’ve pioneered the way to Breakthrough Seven and Breakthrough Eight, I’m well aware that for my potential to break through to Nine in a short time... it is as difficult as reaching the heavens.

This arduous task, I leave to the Dragon King and you. I hope that before the veil shatters, the Tianxia human civilization may witness the rise of a new Great Power."

There was a hint of fatigue in the Eternal Immortal’s voice; though a founder of the Dao, appearing boundlessly glorious, only he knew the perils within.

His era had passed; what came next belonged to these "younger ones" like the Dragon King and Lu Chenzhou.

"Junior understands."

After seeking guidance from the Eternal Immortal, Lu Chenzhou saw the light.

"Eternal Immortal Gang, Heavenly Treasure Gang, Perpetual Spring True Gang... different Internal Powers mean entirely different Qi Energy characteristics."

He immersed his mind in the Inner Heaven and Earth, feeling the pulse of planets and the breath of the starry sky, striving to comprehend the "World’s Energy."

Thus in silent meditation for a month, he gradually achieved insight.

"The Martial Artist’s body is but a microcosmic world."

"[Essence] is the framework of the world—endless time and space, and the myriad stars sprawling above."

"[Spirit] is the will of the world, reigning above spacetime, ruling all beneath."

"[Qi] is the energy of the world, circulating through spacetime and sustaining its operation."

"And what constitutes the foundation of world order—combining [Essence, Qi, Spirit], animating and bringing order to the world—is none other than rules, namely, understanding the [Dao]."

"Essence, Qi, Spirit, and Dao—these four as one form a complete world: Martial Arts!"

"To create the Internal Strength most suited for myself, shutting myself away won’t do. I should venture out and observe the world."

With this thought, Lu Chenzhou came to the Elder Council.

Prince Northern Guardian, the Old Ghost of the Yellow River, and other Seventh Realm powers appeared in succession.

"Military Leader, do you need something?"

"I plan to journey for a period, to comprehend cultivation methods."

"Understood. Military Leader, rest assured and go."

In Tianxia today, there are forty-eight Seventh Realm powers, and twelve guardians protect the Human World, truly an impregnable defense.

Whether or not Lu Chenzhou remained made little difference.

Moreover, he would leave behind a projection clone within the Human World.

Apart from Eighth Realm threats, other enemies could hardly endanger Tianxia’s situation.

...

Cave Heaven of Yuan Mountain.

"Junior Brother wants to cultivate arduously in the starry sky?" Old Master Turtle opened his eyes.

"Yes." In Lu Chenzhou’s eyes, starlight flickered.

"Very well. In the past, when the Old Ancestor encountered bottlenecks in cultivation, he liked to travel through the starry sky over the Xia Realm, witnessing the wonders of the universe, seeking insight into Star Power.

You follow the World Dao; your best teacher is not me, nor the Old Ancestor, nor anyone else, but the earth beneath your feet and the starry sky above your head."

After speaking, Old Master Turtle raised his hand to capture, and a stream of light came flying from Yuanbao Divine Mountain.

A deep blue compass hovered mid-air, its surface inscribed with intricate arrays and runes, forming the image of the boundless stars in the end.

"This item is the [Primordial Mountain Star Plate], a relic of the Old Ancestor, considered a special Eighth Rank Spiritual Weapon. It cannot be used to fight, but its sole purpose is to guide one’s path in the starry sky, to seek out possible locations of [Star Oddities]. Now that your ’Mountain Moving Scripture’ is close to the Fourth Level, for future cultivation and breakthroughs, you cannot do without Star Oddities; you can also collect some along the way."

"Thank you, Senior Brother. That is just what I needed."

Now, the effect of Father Lifting Fruit on advancing the ’Mountain Moving Scripture’ is negligible at best.

Lu Chenzhou was able to progress quickly all by virtue of his astounding perception.

In fact, to approach the Fourth Level in mere decades—when compared to the Seven Saints, who spent centuries in cultivation—cannot be called slow.

But it is still not enough!

The protection of the Veil is nearing its end.

He must go even faster!

After witnessing the power of Blood Demon Grandmother’s clone, he knew he still had a large gap to the Late Stage of the Seventh Realm.

If he could grasp the [Four Seas Power], he could advance another step.

Before departing, Old Master Turtle warned, "Star Oddities are a general term for the Heaven and Earth Treasures within a Star Core. According to their place of origin, they are divided into [Golden Star], [Red Star], and [Black Star], um, to use Da Xia’s scientific terms, they’re planets, fixed stars, and black holes, these three celestial bodies... Be warned, with your strength, do not go provoking Red Star level or above oddities."

"I understand."

Star Oddities are spiritual—even if not life forms, they are aggressive.

Back then, before proving himself as a Great Power, the Old Ancestor of Yuan Mountain nearly got swallowed by black holes several times while hunting Star Oddities.

"This book is the ’Travel Star Book’, casually recorded by Teacher over ten thousand years of wandering the stars, cataloguing hundreds of unfathomable cosmic wonders and Star Oddities."

"Thank you, Senior Brother. I shall take my leave."

...

Meanwhile,

Eastern Extreme Territory, Moon Cold High Class World.

Here in the Earth Core, it was bitterly cold.

It seemed even spacetime was frozen, eternal and unchanging.

Within ice sculptures, however, a burly figure stood upon the earth in a peculiar pose, long hair draping his shoulders.

In the darkness, two streaks of golden light pierced the void. The Cangtian Dragon King opened his eyes, his invisible aura ripping through thousands of miles of ancient ice, radiating outward like a spider web.

"When the heart is as clear as ice, the heavens may fall unalarmed... The ultimate cold of this Moon Cold Realm, it truly is something good for fighting the Heavenly Demon."

The Dragon King stepped from the ice and, at a wave, tore open a rift in the void leading straight to the Ruins Sea.

"You’re leaving?" A woman in palace robes appeared with an emotionless face; she was none other than the will of Moon Cold.

"Thank you for your demonstration." The Dragon King bade farewell.

"Why do you persist in seeking transcendence?" The woman frowned. "The Great Cosmic Will reigns above all beings, even over the Divine; it will not allow any powerful life within to transcend."

"Great Cosmic Will? If it suppresses me, then I will replace it."

The Dragon King remained as confident as ever. Cultivating to this day, he’d never feared any enemy’s strength.

The Dragon King arrived at the Ruins Sea, gazing upon this universe, looking toward the Forbidden Zone, wordless in silence.

...

On this day,

The Martial Arts Peak of the Xia Realm rose yet another step higher.

Yet with the explosion in the number of Martial Artists and Grandmasters, such changes today seemed ordinary and mundane.

The beings of the Xia Realm only thought another Seventh Realm power had emerged.

Only the Eternal Immortal keenly noticed all this, contacting the Dragon King through the Candle Dragon Order.

"You’ve broken through to Eight?"

"It seems you’ve been at the Eighth Realm for some time."

"Beyond the Eighth Realm, every step is a new world. I’m still far from being a Great Power."

"Leave what comes next to me... How is Lu Chenzhou?"

"He’s been at Breakthrough Seven for five years already."

"Heh, faster than me, impressive." The Dragon King laughed. "I’m planning to venture into the ancient tomb of the Fighting Ancestor."

The Eternal Immortal’s expression changed slightly: "That place is extremely perilous, best to at least reach the Middle Realm first."

The Heavenly Fighting Sect had four Great Powers: one Emperor and three Ancestors.

The three Ancestors were: Ape Ancestor, Fighting Ancestor, and Blade Ancestor.

The Emperor Zhan’s legacy was at the highest point of Star-Picking Tower; Ape Ancestor’s was in the Xia Realm, while Fighting Ancestor’s was in Beidou World.

"Time waits for no one, I have confidence."

"Wish you success. Once the Mystic Sky war is over, I’ll go challenge the Sword River Ancient Realm."

The Sword River Ancient Realm, the Cave Heaven World opened by Blade Ancestor, contains what is said to be the very best saber technique of the Great Universe.

"Speaking of Mystic Sky Realm, how are things? Need my help? Or should I go and meet Yan Ming Realm Venerable?" said the Dragon King casually.

"No! The gap between Early and Middle Stage Eighth Realm is tremendous. With Great World fortune supporting him, Yan Ming Realm Venerable is already approaching Late Stage; not to mention the Divine Race have Clan’s Sacred Artifacts and such. As for the war with the Divine Alliance, there’s no need for you to worry. I’ve already contacted some allies. Your top priority is Breaking through to Nine. As long as you become a Great Power, no matter the Divine Alliance’s hidden strength, we have nothing to fear!" said the Eternal Immortal.

"True enough, the Divine Alliance is ultimately but a troupe of jumping clowns. Our real enemy remains the Forbidden Zone."

...

Mystic Sky Realm.

Beneath the towering Boundary Tower, the Divine Alliance’s army was encamped, Evil Qi sweeping for ten thousand miles around.

A Void Dragon Clan member, thousands of feet long, coiled beneath the tower, dragon blood soaking the land as endless Void Power surged into it.

The long-sealed bronze gate trembled and buzzed.

The four Great Commanders looked nervous.

After ten breaths, the bronze gate cracked open a seam; before the army could advance, it slammed shut again.

Fang Xingyu frowned. "What happened?"

The Void Dragon Descendant shook his head, helpless. "Master, the Boundary Tower has been sealed too long. My strength alone isn’t enough to open it."

Yin Jiujiao’s expression hardened. "Are we going to have to catch another Void Dragon Clan member?"

In the entire Ancient Dragon Realm, there are only two Seventh Realms Void Dragon Descendants—the Dragon King and the Dragon Queen.

The Dragon King is Middle Stage Seventh Realm, and has already been captured, the Dragon Queen at Early Stage.

"The entire Ancient Dragon Realm is on full alert now. If we go again, it would be courting death."

"Should we get the four World Venerables to send their Eighth Realm Avatars, plus projections of the Four Clans’ Divine Artifacts, and force it open?"

"I’m just afraid that would destroy the Boundary Tower. They say it has a self-destruct mechanism inside."

The Great Commanders looked at each other in helplessness.

Fang Bifan’s eyes gleamed. He raised his hand to suggest:

"Aunt, I just learned via our intelligence network that Lu Chenzhou might also have mastery of the Void Dao, and that he’ll soon come to Mystic Sky Realm."

...

Eye of Truth.

The Witch God appeared somewhat surprised.

"Compared to Lu Chenzhou, this so-called number one genius of the Divine Race has an appallingly fragile will..."

Back then, trying to control Lu Chenzhou, he had exhausted all means, yet failed time after time.

After playing at Hell Difficulty, switching to easy mode, everything proceeded so smoothly the Witch God felt it almost unreal.

It even restored a bit of his confidence.

"With the power of the Divine Alliance, and adding my intelligence, Tianxia is about to have quite a time of it."