“The Middle Land Immortal Hall isn’t permanently accessible?” Wu Yuan asked with a frown.
“It isn’t. As Dong Pan mentioned, each opening of the Middle Land Immortal Hall requires a vast amount of etherstone,” Fang Xia explained. “If they were to keep it open for an extended period, the cost would be astronomical. The Wu Sect cannot afford it.”
Understanding dawned on Wu Yuan. From the immortal slip, he learned that within the vast Greenridge Macrocosm, the majority of immortal sects and nations established their own voidrealms and operated them 24/7. The functions and capabilities of each voidrealm varied.
Compared to these true immortal sects, the Wu Sect didn’t have the resources to sustain the full-time operation of the Middle Land Immortal Hall.
“Typically, the Middle Land Immortal Hall holds a scheduled meeting once every decade,” Fang Xia explained. “The time interval between these meetings depends on the whims of the Wu Sect.”
“Unless, of course, a significant event that affects the entire Middle Land occurs.” Fang Xia chuckled. “After all, the Middle Land Immortal Hall is essentially a special artifact, with its core controlled by the Wu Sect.”
Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Huan Jian all nodded. The artifact was in the hands of the Wu Sect. Naturally, the Wu Sect had the final say on how it was used.
“Our Cloudstride Sect will soon undergo an astronomical rise in strength,” Fang Xia stated. “That is why Dong Pan has decided to open the Middle Land Immortal Hall. I also believe it to be a perfect opportunity to announce the presence of our Cloudstride Sect to every corner of the world.”
“Furthermore, if the four of us enter the Middle Land Immortal Hall together, the other factions who are unsure of our situation will assume that there are four Heavenly Rankers in our ranks. This will make them think twice before making any reckless moves,” Fang Xia declared with utmost seriousness.
Wu Yuan and the others nodded in agreement. Powerful factions might try to hide their true power by not sending all their Heavenly Rankers into the Middle Land Immortal Realm. Meanwhile, weaker factions would attempt to put on a strong front to deter their enemies.
The Cloudstride Sect was still a newly rising faction, hence they needed to show the other factions that they were not to be taken lightly.
“Huan Jian, Bu Yu, in the coming days, do not hold back on the spiritual liquid. Refine your physical constitutions and open your qi seas as soon as possible,” Fang Xia instructed. “Advancing from the first stage of the Qi Sea phase to the sixth stage is merely a matter of accumulating essentia, there are no other obstacles.”
“Both of you are already in your later years. Therefore, you must cultivate your mana as quickly as possible, or else you will have no hope of reaching the Golden Core stage in this lifetime,” Fang Xia warned.
“Understood,” Bu Yu and Huan Jian respectfully replied.
With Fang Xia’s guidance, they had grown well-versed in various aspects of immortal cultivation, grasping the key points to take note of in the nine stages of the Qi Sea phase.
“You may leave,” Fang Xia said, “I have something to discuss with Wu Yuan.”
Bu Yu and Huan Jian bowed and promptly departed. In recent days, they resided in a new courtyard house established near the entrance of the cave.
In the jade chamber, only Fang Xia and Wu Yuan remained.
“Young Master,” Fang Xia immediately broke into a warm smile, “May I know what level your physical strength has reached?”
“A single-arm punch strength of 620,000 catties.” Wu Yuan told him the truth.
Under the dual influence of the eldritch tattoos and blood-red mist, his physical constitution had improved without pause recently.
“620,000 catties?” A flicker of astonishment flashed through Fang Xia’s eyes, “Master, you have not yet begun Viscera Cultivation and Marrow Cleansing, have you?”
“No,” Wu Yuan shook his head.
Fang Xia fell silent. After a momentary pause, he finally spoke again. “Young Master,” he began tentatively, “the eldritch tattoos you’ve condensed…they must be the legendary top three degree eldritch tattoos, am I correct?”
Wu Yuan’s eyes widened. It was spot on!
“You don’t need to reply, Young Master. I know it is not my place to ask you such questions. I simply deduced it based on the progress of your physical cultivation.” Fang Xia continued, his words filled with anticipation. “Once you’ve completed Viscera Cultivation and Marrow Cleansing, your base fist strength could potentially skyrocket to several million catties.”
“And once your soul chamber is opened…” Fang Xia shook his head. “Whether body refiners or qi refiners, there are no inherent aspects that make one superior or inferior apart from one’s immortal root.”
“If one establishes ninth-degree eldritch tattoos, their maximum physical strength upon becoming an eldritch warrior would only reach a little over two million catties.”
“So weak?” Wu Yuan frowned slightly. With his current strength of 600,000 catties, if he utilized Threefold Power Surge and heaven and earth’s power, he could nearly reach that level already.
Fang Xia laughed. “Do not underestimate it. A newly emerged qi refiner with a ninth-degree immortal root may have a weak physique, but with essentia, their overall strength can still exceed two million catties.”
Wu Yuan listened attentively.
“If you possess third-degree eldritch tattoos, then once you become a body refiner, even at the first stage of the Communion phase, your body’s mana alone could rival that of a seventh-stage Qi Sea cultivator or seventh-stage Communion cultivator with a ninth-degree immortal root.”
“For every one degree difference in immortal root, it requires one cultivation stage difference to bridge the gap.”
“As for two cultivators with the same immortal root but one is a cultivation phase more advanced, the more advanced cultivator is six cultivation stages stronger,” he explained. “Young master, with your third-degree eldritch tattoos, once you reach the ninth stage of the Communion phase, you could potentially rival a first-stage Golden Core cultivator with a ninth-grade immortal root.”
Wu Yuan nodded faintly. He had already learned everything Fang Xia said through the immortal slips. However, Fang Xia had gotten one thing wrong. His eldritch tattoos were not third-degree, but rather second-degree!
Someone with legendary first-degree eldritch tattoos would be able to rival the bottom tier of ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators and Communion cultivators the moment they entered the Communion phase.
“Young Master, the main reason why I accepted Great Jin’s truce is to buy time for your breakthrough,” Fang Xia said with a smile. “Once you achieve it, with a bit of cultivation, your strength will be sufficient to rival the high-tier qi refiners.”
“Based on my estimation, qi refiners in the Middle Land mostly lack any noteworthy cultivation methods, and mostly end up establishing immortal roots of the bottom three degrees.”
Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. Unless the disparity in cultivation level was clear, it was difficult to determine a person’s immortal root or cultivation stage at first glance. One could only vaguely perceive the strength of their vital aura and mana.
This was why numerous Heavenly Rankers believed Fang Xia was a ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator. Fang Xia had established sixth-degree eldritch tattoos. Although he was only at the eighth stage of the Qi Sea phase, his mana was on par with a seventh-degree immortal root ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator.
Throughout the Middle Land, establishing a seventh-degree immortal root was an incredible feat. One’s external environment, cultivation methods, and immortal root establishment treasures all affected the degree of one’s immortal root.
“Young Master, your physique has been undergoing rapid transformation. Over this period, I assume your soul has grown stronger?” Fang Xia asked, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.
Wu Yuan vaguely nodded, offering no further explanation. There were matters that he was willing to divulge to Fang Xia, but when it involved the black pagoda, Wu Yuan preferred to keep it a secret. The black pagoda was far too mysterious. Unless absolutely necessary, Wu Yuan would not disclose it to anyone.
“Young Master, your public persona is Wu Yuan, and your undercover identity is Shadow Blade,” Fang Xia continued, “But I don’t believe you should use either of the two identities at the Middle Land Immortal Hall. Instead, you should assume a new identity. Moreover, this identity should be shocking enough to rock the entire world, ensuring all factions think twice before bearing ill will toward our Cloudstride Sect.”
“Oh?” Wu Yuan’s curiosity was piqued.
“Young Master, have a look,” Fang Xia said, handing the intelligence on the Middle Land Immortal Hall to Wu Yuan. A mischievous chuckle escaped his lips. “It was this information that sparked an idea.”
Wu Yuan examined the document.
“Immortal Hall Soul Imprint Ranking: Each hall jade holder, upon entering the Immortal Hall, can leave their soul imprints…The Immortal Hall Soul Imprint Ranking is synonymous with the Heavenly Rankings!”
“Heavenly Rankings?” Wu Yuan was taken aback.
It was only through this piece of information that he realized that the renowned ‘Heavenly Rankings’ was not decided by the Starcom Consortium, but rather the strength of one’s soul imprint in the Immortal Hall.
After a moment of contemplation, Wu Yuan grasped Fang Xia’s idea and was unable to suppress a smile. “Old Fang, this approach is excellent. If it can be accomplished, I believe that everyone will have to acknowledge the strength of our Cloudstride Sect.”
“Haha. In doing so, Great Jin and the other factions would certainly hesitate to make any moves, granting Young Master ample time to cultivate,” Fang Xia laughed. “Our Cloudstride Sect will also have a chance to train our disciples, build our forces, and when the time is right, wage war to reclaim the Chu Continent.”
“Indeed,” Wu Yuan nodded, before suddenly smiling. “Although, I may not necessarily require a new identity. I have quite a number of sock puppets[1] in stock.”
Fang Xia was completely puzzled. Sock puppet? What was that?
1. A sock puppet is a false online identity used for deceptive purposes. ☜