“Conquer the world together?” Wu Yuan snorted with laughter.
If he became an eldritch warrior, he would indeed be near invincible in close combat with his second-degree eldritch tattoos.
“But old Fang.” Wu Yuan shook his head, “When I spoke with the realm master, he mentioned a methodology called eldritch universal cultivation, where I can cultivate both paths.”
“Both?” Fang Xia regarded Wu Yuan as if he were looking at a monster.
Suddenly, he blurted out, “Young Master, what is the current detection range of your Soul Force?”
“800 meters,” Wu Yuan replied.
In truth, after Wu Yuan received his heavenly-endowed eldritch tattoos, his soul underwent a remarkable transformation, increasing his Soul Force range to 1300 meters. Was Fang Xia someone he could trust? Yes! However, Wu Yuan always adhered to the belief that ‘the human heart is unfathomable’. Unless it was absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t reveal all his secrets to anyone.
“800 meters?” Fang Xia exclaimed, “Young Master, I now know why the realm master chose you as his successor, and why your growth is so rapid.”
“If I had your soul talent, I daresay I might have already grasped True Intent by now!” Fang Xia sighed with regret.
“Is a range of 800 meters that amazing?” Wu Yuan was rather surprised by his reaction.
“Of course it’s amazing.” Fang Xia said solemnly, “Young Master, do you know what’s the exploration range of my Soul Force? I am currently at the eighth stage of the Qi Sea phase.”
“I don’t know.” Wu Yuan shook his head.
“400 meters,” Fang Xia chuckled.
“So small?” Wu Yuan was taken aback. Fang Xia could be considered a powerhouse among Qi Sea cultivators, yet his soul was weaker than his own?
“You think this is small?” Fang Xia shook his head with a bitter smile. “Young Master, it seems you don’t understand. Do you know the three requirements to enter the Golden Core phase?”
“I don’t.” Wu Yuan confessed, shaking his head.
He really had no idea about these things, after all, he was still far from becoming a true eldritch warrior.
“The first is to accumulate essentia till one reaches the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase, the second is to reach the Unity level in martial skill, and the third is for one’s Soul Force range to extend at least 500 meters.” Fang Xia explained slowly, “The first two are easy to achieve, but strengthening one’s soul is the most difficult.”
“Over the past hundred years, I’ve reached the threshold of the Domain stage and in the recent decade, my soul has greatly expanded, yet I’ve only barely reached this step.
“Young Master, you haven’t even become an eldritch warrior yet, but your soul is already this powerful.” Fang Xia marveled, lost in thought. “Once you become an eldritch warrior, your soul will strengthen by leaps and bounds. Perhaps it might even be comparable to a genuine Golden Core Superior.”
He sighed, “Comparison is truly the thief of joy.”
Wu Yuan nodded faintly. A ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator’s Soul Force could only reach a range of around 400 meters. But once they broke through to become a Golden Core Superior, the soul would be nourished by the Golden Core. Reaching a range of dozens of li was quite normal.
He understood that the strength of his soul could not be solely attributed to talent, but also to his Visualization of the black pagoda and the heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos. Once he progressed to become an eldritch warrior, the corresponding improvement might not be as dramatic.
Suddenly, Wu Yuan realized something and asked, “Old Fang, you’ve already progressed from the Harmony of Man and Nature and reached the threshold of the Domain stage?”
“Hehe!” Fang Xia responded with a smug expression, “Young Master, you seem surprised.”
“Based on the information from the realm master’s records, a Qi Sea cultivator at the Domain stage can easily decimate a group of late-stage cultivators in the same phase.” Wu Yuan was truly impressed.
The Fundamentals, Power Surge, and Rigid Yet Supple represented the unearthing of the human body’s strength.
Perception, Integration, and Unity—these were the levels of a practitioner’s progression from the inside out, where one gradually sensed and harnessed heaven and earth’s power.
The Domain stage was reached once a cultivator perfected the Unity level, gained a deeper understanding of heaven and earth’s workings, grasped the essence of a specific heaven and earth’s power, and commanded more than 200,000 catties of heaven and earth’s power.
Even without artifacts or arcane arts, a cultivator at the Domain stage could easily overpower a large group of Qi Sea phase cultivators simply by tapping into heaven and earth’s power.
One had to understand that the minimum skill requirement to enter the Golden Core phase was the Unity level. In other words, not all Golden Core Superiors were necessarily able to control Domains.
“Young Master, it’s not as exaggerated as you think,” Fang Xia shook his head, “Whether it’s the Unity level or the Domain stage, it all comes down to how one harnesses heaven and earth’s power. The main difference between me and other late-stage Qi Sea cultivators is the artifacts I possess.”
“Artifacts?” Wu Yuan was taken aback.
“In this world, there are numerous immortal relics left behind by ancient cultivators from the earlier eras of the Summerpeak World,” Fang Xia explained. “Factions like Great Jin and the Starcom Consortium have been accumulating these relics over a long span of time. Some of them even possess sixth-grade or fifth-grade spirit equipment, which will greatly enhance their strength. Even if my skills reach an advanced stage, I might not necessarily be able to defeat them.”
Wu Yuan had a moment of realization.
“That’s why we need to maintain a low profile, lure them into attacking us, and set up an ambush,” Fang Xia chuckled, “While waiting for Young Master to become an eldritch warrior, I’ll take care of a few late-stage Qi Sea cultivators and acquire more resources and powerful artifacts. When you have broken through and all preparations are complete, it will be our turn to show the world who’s boss. Together, we can eliminate one faction after another, plundering all those treasures they’ve accumulated.”
Wu Yuan shook his head helplessly. He never expected Fang Xia’s ambitions to be so grand.
“Young Master, I’m not joking,” Fang Xia declared with a serious look. “The path to immortality is one of struggle! It is the relentless pursuit of opportunities, the acquisition of artifacts, and the quest for longevity itself!”
“The ebb and flow of heaven and earth, the cyclical rise and fall of all things, these are the natural laws. The path to immortality is a rebellion against nature, but it is not nature itself that we defy, rather the laws that govern it.”
“Why did I admonish Huan Jian and praise Bu Yu? Severing one’s worldly ties and transcending the mundane may sound noble,” Fang Xia mused, shaking his head. “But is the arduous journey to immortality not another form of worldly struggle?”
“With a Dao Heart that forsakes even the most basic worldly desires, how can one hope to challenge the Heavenly Dao? How can one carve a blood-soaked path through the bodies of countless cultivators? Sooner or later, one shall crumble to mere dust and bones!”
“The factions in Middle Land call themselves ‘factions’, but in reality, they are nothing more than a bunch of loose cultivators. All those precious artifacts are as good as trash in their hands. Allowing them to hold onto such treasures is a sin! Stripping them bare and sparing their lives is already an act of mercy,” Fang Xia stated with indifference. “By consolidating their resources, Young Master, we increase our chances of advancing to the Amethyst Cradle phase.”
“Young master, you have incredible soul talent, allowing you to potentially cultivate two paths simultaneously. But whether it be raising a lifebound eldritch beast or cultivating a lifebound artifact in the future, great reserves of resources and treasures are required. If you don’t fight for the resources you need, forget traversing two paths, even a single path will be impossible to complete,” Fang Xia spoke gravely.
“Young master, why do you think the strong establish sects?” Fang Xia abruptly questioned, seemingly changing the topic.
“Establish sects?” Wu Yuan paused, caught off guard by the question. He had never given this much thought.
“Why do they desire to dominate the world? To leave a legacy? That is what mortals would think. Since they are limited by their lifespan, they hope that their ideals and will would be immortalized instead. Cultivators nearing their final days also tend to have such mindsets,” Fang Xia shook his head. “But for the cultivators in their prime, the establishment of sects or nations is not merely for the sake of leaving legacies!”
“I can live for 500 years. Once I reach the Golden Core phase, my lifespan will be extended to 1000 years. How many of my disciples and grandchildren can possibly surpass me in longevity?” Fang Xia chuckled. “And if I were to reach the Amethyst Cradle phase, my lifespan would be lengthened beyond imagination!”
Wu Yuan chuckled. Indeed, the disparity in lifespan between cultivators and ordinary people was staggering. It wasn’t surprising that their mindsets changed as well.
Fang Xia leaned in. “I have three motives for revitalizing the Cloudstride Sect. Firstly, to acquire resources. By expanding our territories and training an army of skilled cultivators and Grandmasters, we will have the manpower to explore the far reaches of the world, the overseas continents, and perhaps even the entire expanse of the Summerpeak World with unparalleled efficiency. The likelihood of discovering a treasure trove increases exponentially compared to searching individually.”
Wu Yuan listened intently. These were concepts he had never considered before.
“Secondly, it is to uncover talent,” Fang Xia stated with conviction. “With the passing of generations, perhaps prodigious talents will be born within our vast territory. By investing resources into their growth, there is a chance that they might surpass even me. And as they grow, I may be able to benefit from their achievements.”
Fang Xia’s chuckle filled the air. “It’s the same in your case, Young Master,” he said. “Without the Cloudstride Sect, you wouldn’t have placed such trust in me. When you unite the entire Summerpeak World in the future, even the smallest bit of power that slips through your fingers might be enough to elevate me to greater heights.”
Wu Yuan found himself caught between laughter and tears, unsure of how to respond to Fang Xia’s unorthodox thinking.
“And lastly, Faith!” Fang Xia declared.
Faith? Wu Yuan furrowed his brow, his confusion evident. The realm master had mentioned it once or twice, but it was still a mystery to him.
“Faith, or rather incense offerings. The soul of an intelligent being is extremely unique. According to the ‘Eldritch Codex’ I’m cultivating, when an intelligent being worships another being, their Faith and incense offerings contain mysterious power.” Fang Xia explained in a deep voice.
“Once one reaches the Amethyst Cradle stage, they can propagate their Faith and refine this mysterious power, greatly enhancing their cultivation. However, countless powerhouses dominate the macrocosms and set many strict regulations on evangelization. Amethyst Cradle cultivators are far too weak to qualify to propagate their Faith.”
“Although the Summerpeak World is expansive, it has only been a few thousand years since it experienced a resurgence. Many civilizations within its borders have yet to fully revive.”
Fang Xia’s excitement was palpable as he continued, “Young Master, this is our chance! We must strive to unify the entire Summerpeak. Only this way, when cultivators from the macrocosm descend into this world or when we ourselves venture into the macrocosm, will we possess the qualifications to defy fate and forge ahead on the path to immortality.”
Wu Yuan mulled over Fang Xia’s words. He understood that Fang Xia’s words were spoken from the heart. These were all part of his Dao Heart.
“Old Fang, I appreciate the guidance,” Wu Yuan gave him a sincere bow.
Fang Xia grinned. He had long noticed Wu Yuan’s exceptional talent and personal moral values. However, certain rules did not apply to the journey to immortality. As instructed by the realm master, Fang Xia knew that it was his duty to provide timely guidance to Wu Yuan.