The Crown Princess’s Reward
The remnants of the battle faded into the stillness of the forest, and the air grew calm again. Tianyang, with a flick of his wrist, sheathed his high legendary-grade Yin-Yang Sword, and turned to the crown princess, his gaze calm but filled with intrigue. "Let's discuss your reward," he said with a subtle smile.
The princess, still catching her breath from the earlier fight, straightened herself. Her royal demeanor returned as she introduced herself once more, her voice carrying a regal air. "My name is Qin Xuan'er, the crown princess of the Qin Empire. And you, my benefactors?"
Tianyang glanced at Yuqing, his hand still intertwined with hers. Yuqing returned the glance, her eyes soft and filled with understanding. Without hesitation, she spoke first, her tone gentle but intimate. "My name is Tian Xian'er, and I'm from the East."
Tianyang felt his cheeks flush at the name Yuqing used, one that implied a deeper connection between them. He squeezed her hand gently, teasing her with a playful smirk. "I'm Qing Lin, also from the East," he said, his voice light with amusement. His teasing touch and intimate gaze caused Yuqing's cheeks to redden, and she looked away shyly.
Qin Xuan'er watched the exchange with a knowing smile. She clasped her hands in gratitude and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Xian'er Xiao Meimei and Lin Xiao Xiongdi, for saving my life. Initially, I had thought to reward you with a low sky-tier technique, but after witnessing your skills & techniques in battle—on par with my own—I realized it would be insufficient. You deserve far more."
Tianyang raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "And what might that be?"
The princess's lips curved into a small smile. "A mid-sky-tier ancient beast technique. It has the ability to raise a beast's bloodline level and accelerate its cultivation. The technique works by absorbing the bloodlines and demon cores of higher-level beasts."
The words left Tianyang, Yuqing, and even Yao'er visibly intrigued. Yao'er, perched on Tianyang's shoulder, tilted his head curiously, his azure scales glimmering faintly.
"But," Qin Xuan'er continued, her tone more serious now, "there's one problem."
Yuqing leaned forward slightly, her brows furrowing. "What's the problem?"
Qin Xuan'er's expression darkened. "I don't have the technique with me. To be precise, it's located at the destination we were headed to before the Blood Rage Sect ambushed us. Someone within my royal family must have tipped them off."
Tianyang's reaction was immediate. His eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "What place could be so valuable that even the sect master of the Blood Rage Sect would personally intercept you?"
The princess's voice dropped, barely above a whisper, as if the very air around them could carry her secret to unfriendly ears. "It's an ancient cave belonging to a fallen Immortal Ascension Realm cultivator. More accurately, it's a separate space filled with treasures beyond imagination: sky-tier techniques, legendary-grade artifacts, and even some divine-tier and divine-grade treasures. The cave also holds divine-grade holy herbs, divine-grade pills, and the inheritance of a divine-level alchemist. That map," she gestured toward her carriage, "is the key to the cave's location."
Yuqing's eyes sparkled with excitement as she clung to Tianyang's arm. "That place is in the Misty Forest, isn't it? It must be filled with countless demon beasts. We'll need to be extra careful!"
Tianyang looked down at Yao'er, a knowing grin on his face. "Looks like we've found the perfect place for you to gain some experience."
The little dragon puffed out his chest and let out a soft, prideful roar, earning a laugh from the group.
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The days that followed were filled with lighthearted banter, shared stories, and laughter. Qin Xuan'er, despite her royal status, proved to be approachable, her wit and charm making the journey lively.
Tianyang and Yuqing also found moments of intimacy, their bond growing stronger with each passing day. Whether it was exchanging glances during quiet campfires or walking side by side under the moonlight, their connection deepened in ways words couldn't capture.
Yao'er became the group's source of joy and mischief, often darting around playfully or practicing his azure flames, leaving charred patches of forest floor in his wake.
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After weeks of travel, the group finally arrived at the entrance to the separate space, hidden deep within the Misty Forest. Before them stood a massive stone gate, ancient runes glowing faintly along its surface. The air around the gate crackled with energy, and the aura of the Immortal Ascension Realm cultivator lingered, oppressive yet awe-inspiring.
Qin Xuan'er stepped forward, holding the map in her hands. "This is it," she said, her voice filled with a mix of awe and reverence.
Tianyang and Yuqing exchanged a glance, their resolve clear. Tianyang unsheathed his Yin-Yang Sword, while Yuqing retrieved a rare-grade talisman for defensive measures. Yao'er perched on Tianyang's shoulder, his eyes glowing faintly as he sensed the immense power emanating from the gate.
Qin Xuan'er turned to them, her expression serious. "Beyond this gate lies unimaginable danger—and unimaginable rewards. Are you ready?"
Tianyang smirked, his voice steady. "Always."
With a nod, Qin Xuan'er activated the map, and the ancient runes on the gate flared to life. The stone doors groaned open, revealing a swirling vortex of light.
As the group stepped forward, the air seemed to hum with anticipation. The journey into the unknown had begun.
Important Information!
In the cultivation world of the Azure Continent, alchemists are highly revered for their ability to refine pills, concoctions, and elixirs that aid cultivators in their path. Their ranks align with the ranking system for artifacts and are categorized based on their skill and mastery over pill refinement, their ability to handle rare ingredients, and the quality of their products.
Alchemist Ranks
1. Rare-Grade Alchemist
Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate.
Specialization: Able to refine basic and low-tier pills, typically earth-tier and lower-grade pills.
Success Rate: Moderate success rate; often limited to common ingredients and simpler techniques.
Impact: These alchemists are often employed by small sects or towns.
2. Unique-Grade Alchemist
Skill Level: Advanced mastery of pill refinement.
Specialization: Can refine sky-tier pills and higher-quality elixirs.
Success Rate: High for complex recipes involving rare ingredients.
Impact: These alchemists are highly sought after by mid-tier sects, noble families, and kingdoms.
3. Legendary-Grade Alchemist
Skill Level: Grandmaster level, capable of refining near-perfect pills.
Specialization: Experts in creating divine-tier pills and elixirs that can enhance cultivation significantly.
Success Rate: Near-perfect success rate with even the rarest and most volatile ingredients.
Impact: These alchemists are treasures to top-tier sects, empires, and clans.
4. Divine-Grade Alchemist
Skill Level: Godlike mastery over alchemy, transcending mortal limitations.
Specialization: Able to refine pills that can awaken bloodlines, extend lifespans, and even heal soul damage. Divine-grade alchemists often create unique, one-of-a-kind pills.
Success Rate: Perfect or nearly perfect, with an understanding of the Dao of Alchemy itself.
Impact: These individuals are revered across the continent, often shaping the fate of powerful factions. Their creations are the stuff of legends.
Key Characteristics of Alchemist Ranks
Cauldron Quality: Higher-ranked alchemists use legendary-grade or divine-grade cauldrons, which significantly influence the pill's refinement process.
Ingredients Mastery: Understanding rare and ancient ingredients, especially divine-grade herbs and beast materials, is crucial for alchemists to ascend ranks.
Pill Quality: Pills refined by legendary- or divine-grade alchemists often contain fewer impurities, making them more potent and easier to absorb by cultivators.
Fire Quality: Mastery over the alchemy flame is essential, with flames being ranked similarly to techniques (e.g., earth-tier, sky-tier, or divine-tier).
Earth-tier flames: Sufficient for refining basic pills.
Sky-tier flames: Capable of refining higher-quality pills with greater precision and speed.
Divine-tier flames: Can purify ingredients to their peak potential and are essential for handling volatile or divine-grade materials.
Special flames, such as heavenly flames or beast essence flames, can drastically enhance the refinement process.
The quality of fire an alchemist wields directly impacts their ability to refine pills of higher grades, making it a cornerstone of alchemical success.
Alchemists of unique-grade and above are rare, with legendary-grade alchemists numbering fewer than a dozen on the Azure Continent. Divine-grade alchemists are almost mythical, often leaving behind their legacies in hidden spaces, like the one Qin Xuan'er mentioned.
Immortal Ascension Realm Cultivator
The Immortal Ascension Realm represents a turning point in a cultivator's journey, marking their transcendence from mortal limits toward true immortality. Cultivators in this realm can influence the heavens and earth, bend natural laws, and even touch upon the mysteries of divinity.
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Stages and Advancements
The Immortal Ascension Realm is divided into nine stages, with each stage requiring the cultivator to refine their essence, comprehend profound laws, and fortify their spirit and body to withstand the trials of immortality.
1. Initial Stages (1–3):
Cultivators expand their understanding of laws and heavenly dao.
The transformation of spiritual essence into immortal qi begins.
Their lifespan extends to thousands of years.
2. Mid Stages (4–6):
Greater mastery over immortal qi allows cultivators to form pseudo-domains, areas of influence that reflect their law comprehension.
They gain access to powerful immortal-tier techniques and can wield low to mid-divine-grade artifacts effectively.
Their presence begins to exert pressure on lower-realm cultivators and even natural environments.
3. Peak Stages (7–9):
They can create immortal domains, small, self-sustaining worlds governed by their laws.
Their comprehension of heavenly laws reaches perfection, allowing them to rewrite natural phenomena.
These cultivators are feared and revered, as their power rivals that of deities.
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Key Characteristics of Immortal Ascension Cultivators
1. Immortal Qi:
Mortal spiritual essence is fully converted into immortal qi, a purer and more potent energy.
This qi can sustain their existence indefinitely, making them immune to aging and disease.
2. Comprehension of Laws:
Mastery over a specific set of heavenly laws (e.g., time, space, fire, life) is essential.
Immortal Ascension cultivators wield these laws to reshape reality around them.
3. Physical and Spiritual Transformation:
Their bodies become nearly indestructible, capable of withstanding attacks from divine-tier techniques.
Their souls are fortified to withstand heavenly tribulations, allowing them to transcend mortality.
4. Immortal Tribulations:
Each breakthrough in this realm invites heavenly tribulations, testing the cultivator's strength, comprehension, and resolve.
Failure to overcome these trials can result in death or a regression in cultivation.
5. Immortal Domains:
These are personal realms governed by the cultivator's laws.
Inside their domain, they are virtually invincible, capable of rewriting the natural order at will.
6. Longevity and Influence:
Their lifespan extends to tens of thousands of years, and their mere presence can influence mortal realms.
Many Immortal Ascension cultivators become founders of sects, guardians of empires, or protectors of sacred lands.
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Powers and Techniques
1. Techniques:
Earth-tier techniques: Obsolete at this stage, unless modified with immortal qi.
Sky-tier techniques: Effective but often serve as the foundation for more advanced techniques.
Divine-tier techniques: Essential for battle; these techniques harmonize with heavenly laws and immortal qi to unleash devastating power.
2. Artifacts:
Legendary-grade artifacts: Common among cultivators in this realm.
Divine-grade artifacts: Highly coveted and often personalized to the cultivator's laws.
3. Combat Prowess:
Their attacks are imbued with the essence of their laws, allowing them to manipulate the battlefield.
Examples:
A cultivator mastering the Law of Fire might summon unquenchable flames that can burn souls.
A cultivator with the Law of Space could trap opponents in spatial rifts or teleport instantly.
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Immortal Ascension Realm in Society
1. Status:
Immortal Ascension cultivators are often revered as living legends, worshipped by mortals and even lower-realm cultivators.
Their existence shapes the destiny of nations and sects.
2. Influence:
They often create or guard sacred lands, where the laws of heaven are altered to promote cultivation.
Many legendary inheritances and techniques originate from these cultivators.
3. Enemies and Allies:
While their power grants them respect, it also draws the ire of rivals, heavenly beasts, or even celestial entities.
Alliances with other Immortal Ascension cultivators or divine beasts are crucial for survival.
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Challenges of the Immortal Ascension Realm
1. Heavenly Tribulations:
With every breakthrough, the heavens test the cultivator's worthiness. These tribulations increase in severity with each stage.
2. Comprehension Bottlenecks:
Many cultivators are stuck at certain stages for millennia due to an inability to fully comprehend heavenly laws.
3. Resource Dependency:
They require vast amounts of immortal-grade spiritual herbs, divine-grade pills, and other rare resources to advance.
4. The Dao Heart:
Maintaining a clear and unwavering Dao Heart is crucial. Even the slightest wavering can lead to deviation or failure during breakthroughs.
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Legends of Immortal Ascension Realm Cultivators
Cultivators of this realm are often the protagonists of legends, their feats inscribed in history:
Founders of Divine Clans: Many Immortal Ascension cultivators have founded the greatest sects or clans in history.
Creators of Inheritances: They leave behind immortal caves, divine-tier techniques, and divine-grade artifacts for future generations.
Defenders of Realms: Many have protected the Azure Continent from heavenly beasts, celestial invasions, or calamities.
The Immortal Ascension Realm is a pinnacle of cultivation, where the mortal and divine intersect, creating beings of unparalleled power and influence.