“How could it be so serious!”
Li Mu couldn't imagine the scene of the Dharma-ending Age descending. His Cultivation had always been enhanced by planting Spiritual Plants and absorbing their spiritual attributes. If the Dharma-ending Age descended, let alone Cultivating, he definitely wouldn't be able to plant Spiritual Plants.
His Cultivation Technique was closely related to the life force of this vast Spirit Realm. The vigorous growth of every Spiritual Plant was the cornerstone of his fight against the Years and his pursuit of longevity. If the Dharma-ending Age were to descend, all of this seemed destined to become a bubble, making Li Mu feel an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.
“The depletion of Spiritual Qi didn't happen overnight. This kind of thing actually started very early, but it has only recently begun to intensify!” Sword Master Feng said with a look of despondency, as if lamenting being born at the wrong time: “Thinking back then, the Spirit Realm was prosperous, Great Vehicle Dao Lords emerged in droves, and myriad Daos contended—how glorious! Now, that brilliant era has become a fleeting cloud. Even ten thousand Years ago, the Spirit Realm had no less than a hundred Dao Lords, but now, even the strongest Sect in our Sect’s Central Continent Domain only has two Dao Lords presiding. It's harder than ascending to heaven for us to make further progress, alas!”
Upon hearing this, Li Mu was speechless for a moment. He could feel Sword Master Feng's sorrow but didn't know how to comfort him.
In a thousand Years, by planting numerous sixth and seventh-tier Spiritual Plants in seven Secret Realms, Li Mu was confident of reaching the Realm of a Great Vehicle Dao Lord. His Painting World Treasure Mansion, like a mobile Secret Realm, allowed him to temporarily avoid conflict in troubled times and accumulate resources. Within these thousand Years, he could collect a large amount of Spirit Stones and Spiritual Veins, thus avoiding the descent of the Dharma-ending Age and surviving for a period without issue.
But this prolonged struggle was ultimately not a long-term solution.
The Treasure Mansion Space could not generate spiritual power out of thin air, and Spirit Stones and Spiritual Veins would eventually be depleted. Therefore, the fundamental solution was to completely resolve the problem of spiritual power depletion.
The two were silent for a long time. Li Mu looked at Sword Master Feng and couldn't help but ask, “Sword Master, after the Spiritual Qi depletion and the Dharma-ending Age descend, will there truly be a day of Spiritual Qi recovery?”
Facing such a grand change in eras, an individual's power was extremely insignificant. Even if he reached the position of a Dao Lord after a thousand Years, Li Mu had no confidence in facing such a problem.
Upon hearing this, Sword Master Feng was slightly stunned. After a moment of deep thought, he replied, “The recovery of Spiritual Qi is not something that human power can easily predict. But according to ancient records, all things in heaven and earth have Reincarnation. The rise and fall of Spiritual Qi also follow this Dao. In the past, the Spirit Realm experienced several cycles of Spiritual Qi depletion and recovery. Each recovery was accompanied by celestial phenomena, the emergence of spiritual objects, and the flourishing of Dao and Law.”
“However!” Sword Master Feng's tone shifted, becoming heavier, and he shook his head, saying, “If the Dharma-ending Age truly descends comprehensively, its duration and depth of impact will far exceed the past. Whether a day of recovery can be ushered in again, and when it will recover, are all unknown.”
Upon hearing this, a ripple stirred in Li Mu’s heart, a mix of fear of the unknown and longing for hope. Thinking of something, Li Mu looked at Sword Master Feng and put forward his idea: “Sword Master, in the face of such a predicament, could we consider finding another path? For example, actively lifting the Seal of the two-Realm passage and seeking an opportunity to go to the Upper Realm? Perhaps we can find a ray of hope there?”
Upon hearing this, Sword Master Feng’s lips curved into a complex smile. That smile contained both an acknowledgment of Li Mu's imagination and an understanding of the harsh reality.
“What you mentioned about opening the two-Realm passage indeed makes it possible to Ascend to the Upper Realm, but the difficulties and dangers involved far exceed what you and I can imagine. The Seal Domain Great Formation was set up to protect the Spirit Realm and prevent the Demon Abyss from invading. If the Seal is lifted, the first thing we will face is the invasion of the Demon Abyss. Moreover, even if the Seal of the two-Realm passage is broken, whether the Upper Realm will accept us, and whether there truly is the source of Spiritual Qi we need, all of this is unknown. Furthermore!” Sword Master Feng’s words revealed a hint of helplessness as he added, “Matters of the Upper Realm are far more complex and volatile than those of the Spirit Realm. Rashly going there might not only fail to find a chance of survival but could instead lead to deeper crises.”
Meeting Sword Master Feng’s meaningful gaze, Li Mu nodded awkwardly.
Sword Master Feng gave a wry smile and continued, “Leaving aside the matter of the Demon Abyss invading our Realm if the two-Realm passage Seal is opened, just Ascending to the Upper Realm is by no means easy. The Upper Realm has set many restrictions and severe tests for Ascenders from the Spirit Realm, and these restrictions are not only about Cultivation and strength.”
“The Upper Realm has extremely high requirements for the Cultivation of Ascenders. Those who are not at Mahayana Perfection, or strong individuals who have comprehended a supreme Law, will find it difficult to be accepted by the Upper Realm. However, this is just the beginning; the real tests are yet to come.”
“Secondly, the Upper Realm forces, in order to maintain their own balance and order, have implemented a strict isolation and examination system for Ascenders, taking strict precautions against every Ascender. Few Ascending Cultivators can be recognized and accepted by the Upper Realm forces.”
“Moreover, since the two-Realm passage was Sealed ten thousand Years ago, communication with the Upper Realm has been cut off. Even if the two-Realm passage opens and we Ascend, we might suffer cold treatment and exclusion, or even suppression from hostile forces,” Sword Master Feng said with a deep gaze and a solemn voice.
Li Mu frowned, not surprised by the scenario Sword Master Feng described. However, if the Spirit Realm's Spiritual Qi depleted, Ascending to the Upper Realm would undoubtedly be a very good path.
As if seeing through Li Mu’s thoughts, Sword Master Feng smiled gently and reminded him, “Elder Li, your ambitions are lofty! However, Ascending to the Upper Realm is not a child’s game to be joked about. Not to mention that the two-Realm passage is currently re-Sealed, just with the current level of Spiritual Qi, breaking through the last barrier to Great Vehicle Dao Lord is as difficult as ascending to heaven! Otherwise, the two Dao Lords wouldn't risk going to the Nine Nether Land.”
“Furthermore, the two-Realm passage has not been opened for a long time, and we know nothing about the situation in the Upper Realm. Rashly going there might not only fail to obtain the expected help but could also lead to an even more dangerous situation. The fundamental method right now is to find a solution to the Spirit Realm's Spiritual Qi depletion,” Sword Master Feng said, looking at Li Mu and advising him.
In Sword Master Feng's eyes, Li Mu cultivated the Five Elements and Yin and Yang simultaneously, walking the ancient Chaotic Great Dao. If it were in ancient times, with abundant Spiritual Qi, cultivating this method would be fine. However, now that the Spirit Realm's Spiritual Qi is increasingly scarce and in danger of depletion, cultivating such a supreme Dao is simply a path to death, and the outcome is predetermined. As for aspiring to become a Great Vehicle Dao Lord and Ascend to the Upper Realm, that is wishful thinking!
Sword Master Feng thought of this point, looked at Li Mu, and directly advised him. “Elder Li, your talent is exceptional, and the Dao you Cultivate is unprecedented and will be difficult for future generations to match. But precisely because of this, you need to be more down-to-earth and pragmatic. Although your Cultivation Technique is powerful, it also consumes an extreme amount of Spiritual Qi. The current Spiritual Qi environment of the Spirit Realm is no longer comparable to the past. Blindly pursuing this path will likely exhaust your limited vitality and leave you with nothing.”
Upon hearing this, Li Mu was slightly stunned. He immediately understood Sword Master Feng's meaning. However, the Cultivation Technique he practiced was unrelated to his own efforts and accumulated Cultivation over time; instead, it relied on planting high-tier Spiritual Plants and obtaining spiritual light clusters to improve his Cultivation, making it completely unnecessary to change to other Cultivation Techniques.
Seeing Li Mu deep in thought, Sword Master Feng thought he had convinced him.
“Elder Li, I am not asking you to give up your pursuit of higher Realms!” Sword Master Feng persevered, his tone showing more understanding, and continued to advise, “Rather, I hope that while you pursue, you can find a Cultivation method that harmonizes with the current environment. Although the ancient method you Cultivate is profound, it is not the only path. Perhaps you can try to integrate other methods, or create your own Cultivation system, to adapt to the coming Spiritual Qi depletion era.”
Meeting Sword Master Feng’s concerned gaze, Li Mu could only smile and nod: “Thank you for your guidance, Sword Master. I will definitely give it deep thought and choose a suitable Cultivation method.”
Upon hearing this, Sword Master Feng’s face showed a relieved smile. Immediately, he began to introduce the situation outside the Jiuyou Domain to Li Mu.
“Elder Li, do you know that the Spirit Realm we are in is merely a speck of dust in the vast Universe? In the boundless outer Star Domain, there are many unknown and desolate corners.” Sword Master Feng’s voice became low and mysterious, as if it could pierce through the barriers of time and space, guiding thoughts to that distant and mysterious outer region.
Upon hearing this, Li Mu was slightly stunned. He was not surprised by this point and replied with a smile, “I’ve checked many ancient records before, so I have some understanding.”
“Hmm, since you’ve already dabbled in it, then I will describe in detail how those outer forces have carved out their territories in this vast starry sky,” Sword Master Feng nodded and continued.
“First, I must mention the Xuanxiao Sect. They occupy the most fertile area of the Tianxuan Star Domain. The Xuanxiao Sect, like our Sect, is renowned for its Sword Dao. Within the Sect, Sword Cultivators are as numerous as clouds.”
“The Nether Sect, however, is completely different from the Xuanxiao Sect. They occupy the Gloomy Star Domain, which is close to the Nine Nether Land. That is a place where the sun never shines year-round, covered by thick dark clouds. The Nether Sect Cultivates Nether power, specializing in controlling the undead and shadows. Their Cultivation Techniques are bizarre and unpredictable, making it impossible to guard against them. In this Star Domain, the Nether Sect has established a massive Nether Great Formation, which is the resting place of departed souls, providing one of their sources.”
“Besides these two great Sects, there are also many other forces distributed throughout the outer regions, such as the Blazing Sun Sect, skilled in Artifact Refining, which occupies the Star Domain near the Fiery Sun Star, where the stars seem to be cast from lava, providing unique conditions for refining Magic Treasures; and the Misty Valley, proficient in pharmacology, which occupies the Wood Source Star Domain rich in Spiritual Plants. All the Disciples in the valley are Great Masters of Alchemy and pharmacology, capable of refining Spirit Pills that can bring the dead back to life.”
“These Sect forces, whether strong or weak, overt or covert, have all established stable rule within their respective Star Domains, forming a complex outer Realm pattern. The outer world is far more complex than the distribution of forces in the Spirit Realm.”
“However, the Star Domains where these outer forces are located have a world of difference in Spiritual Qi concentration compared to Qi Ling Star, where we are. Qi Ling Star, as a bright pearl of the Spirit Realm, benefits from its unique geographical location and geological structure, gathering the purest and most concentrated Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth, making it a Holy Land for Cultivation coveted by countless Cultivators. In contrast, although the Star Domains occupied by those outer forces each have their own characteristics, the Spiritual Qi concentration in most places is far less than that of Qi Ling Star, and in some places, the Spiritual Qi is so thin that it can almost be ignored.”
“However, it is precisely this environment that has forced the outer forces to develop their own unique Cultivation systems and ways of survival. The reason why the Xuanxiao Sect can stand firm in the Tianxuan Star Domain, in addition to its powerful Sword Dao Legacy, is also because they are good at utilizing the special resources within the Star Domain, such as the power of the stars, to enhance their own Cultivation. The Nether Sect, even more so, has brought the coldness of the Gloomy Star Domain and the power of the Nether to the extreme, creating a unique Cultivation Technique system.”
“As for the Blazing Sun Sect and the Misty Valley, they have brought Artifact Refining and pharmacology to the extreme in their respective fields of expertise, not only meeting the internal needs of the Sect but also occupying a pivotal position in the outer market. These Sect forces, although in different environments, have all stood for tens of thousands of Years in this vast starry sky in their own ways, and should not be underestimated.”
Sword Master Feng eloquently introduced the distribution of forces in the outer Realm to Li Mu. At the same time, while they were talking, the Breaking Heaven spiritual ship pierced through the clouds, exited the atmosphere of Qi Ling Star, and headed towards the vast and boundless depths of the Universe.
Under the Breaking Heaven spiritual ship's protective array, the starry sky outside the deck came into view. Stars were like sand, and the Milky Way was like a ribbon, a dazzling sight that filled one with awe.
Li Mu stood on the spiritual ship's observation deck, looking at the unfamiliar yet magnificent cosmic scene outside the window, feeling an unprecedented shock and excitement surging within him.
As the spiritual ship went deeper, the two began to feel the unique aura of the outer world.
“Elder Li, look, that is the interstellar route we are about to cross, and it is also the bridge connecting the Spirit Realm to the outer Realm. Along this route, we will reach Wu Ling Star, a resource star in the outer Realm under our Sect’s control, in a few days,” Sword Master Feng said, pointing to a faintly visible trajectory of starlight ahead, with a hint of pride in his tone.
Li Mu followed the direction of Sword Master Feng's finger and looked. He saw that in the vast sea of stars, a faint route outlined by starlight shimmered, like the most delicate silver line in the sky, connecting the unknown with hope. He took a deep breath, feeling the vastness and freedom from the depths of the Universe, and a surge of ambition rose in his heart.
“Wu Ling Star, as one of our Sect’s strongholds in the outer Realm, is not only rich in resources but also our outpost for developing power in the outer Star Domain,” Sword Master Feng continued to introduce, and then entrusted Li Mu, “All the array materials are ready. It will be troublesome for Elder Li then.”
“Sword Master, you are too kind! Li will definitely do his best and live up to your trust,” Li Mu smiled slightly and responded forcefully.
Time flew by like a white steed, and in the blink of an eye, several days passed quietly as the spiritual ship sped along.
The Breaking Heaven spiritual ship's propulsion array roared, consuming a massive amount of Top-Grade Spirit Stones, driving it like a meteor, cutting through the dark night sky, leaving behind dazzling trails of light. As the distance gradually shortened, the blurry and distant outline of Wu Ling Star ahead began to become clear in their view.
Li Mu stood on the deck observation platform, his gaze no longer holding the shock and excitement he felt when seeing the cosmic starry sky up close. Instead, it was replaced by an anticipation of embarking on a new journey.
Sword Master Feng used his Divine Thought to control and adjust the spiritual ship’s course, ensuring it arrived at its destination accurately. (End of Chapter)
