Chapter 28: Make a Pledge of Thunder Punishment!
Xiao Yan smiled as he listened to the young cultivator slowly opening his eyes. From Xiao Yan's perspective, the young man's cultivation was impressive—he could easily be seen as a leader on the Dou Qi Continent, having reached the strength of a Seven-Star Dou Huang. Recall that the giant wolf Xiao Yan had fought earlier was the ruthless seventh-tier magical beast known as the Howling Moon Nether Wolf. In battle, this beast charged without hesitation, even when its opponent was close to a vital point, and it never dodged. Most fighters, aware of its life-for-life fighting style, chose to retreat and wait for an opportunity, but few could withstand its relentless assault. Only those far stronger than the Howling Moon Nether Wolf dared to engage it directly. Yet the young cultivator before Xiao Yan appeared unusual—despite his modest looks, Xiao Yan sensed that his identity and strength were far greater than they appeared.
When the young cultivator finally opened his eyes and saw Xiao Yan, he leaped up from the bluestone he had been lying on, landing a few feet away while raising a cloud of gray mist. He quickly approached, bowed respectfully, and said,
"I am Liu Xiang. Thank you for saving my life. I didn't recognize you at first—please forgive me."
Liu Xiang's straightforward and cheerful tone left no room for delay, and Xiao Yan, not harboring any grudge, explained his intentions briefly. The two then left the forest together; however, to avoid unnecessary trouble and better learn about this world, Xiao Yan did not accompany Liu Xiang beyond the forest.
During their journey, Xiao Yan formed a good impression of Liu Xiang. From their conversation, Xiao Yan learned that they were in the southwest of the continent, near an ancient southern forest. This region was teeming with powerful monsters—some nearly rivaling peak human cultivators in strength—but these monsters had an agreement with the human race and refrained from unprovoked attacks, or else they would be hunted down by the strongest forces.
Liu Xiang hailed from Qingyang City, a modest city in the southwest, and belonged to the Liu family, one of two major families locked in both open and secret conflicts with the Wu family for hundreds of years. The two families had been evenly matched until about ten years ago, when the Wu family leader made a breakthrough and injured the Liu family patriarch, leaving him with lasting sequelae. Although the patriarch's condition slowly improved, the Wu family continued to dominate Qingyang City's textile markets. With the patriarch still weakened and medicinal herbs scarce, the Wu family prepared to attack the city. In desperation, Liu Xiang led his family members to search for these herbs. After two months and several battles, he finally located all the medicinal herbs—except for the last one, the Soul-Protecting Grass, which remained elusive. This impending family war left Liu Xiang and his people very anxious; had Xiao Yan not arrived in time, Liu Xiang might have become a casualty.
Time passed quickly, and soon the two neared the city. Xiao Yan observed a dark line on the distant horizon; the ground below had long changed from green grass to a well-trodden, solid road. He took a deep breath, feeling the familiar human energy amid the elements, and smiled softly,
"It's much smoother to be among humans! Being alone is dull. Brother Liu, I have other matters to attend to—see you another day!"
No sooner had he spoken than Xiao Yan's figure flashed and he disappeared, leaving Liu Xiang in stunned silence. After a long moment, Liu Xiang stepped forward, nearly losing his balance. Realizing his legs were numb, he circulated his fighting spirit to restore them and then continued his journey toward Qingyang City. This time, his speed was enhanced by martial techniques, leaving streaks of light behind as he dashed off. Muttering to himself, he remarked,
"Great... so fast. Only the Patriarch at full strength could match this pace—his power must be at least equal to his. Truly terrifying. With such talent, he must be a disciple of a major sect. If my Liu family is on good terms with him, even the Wu family will have to show courtesy. This matter must reach the Patriarch soon."
Immediately, his speed increased, and he swiftly flew toward the Liu family stronghold in Qingyang City.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan strolled through the bustling streets of the city, smiling as he watched the lively crowds. After wandering for a while, he discovered a chamber of commerce that specialized in information. Inside, he casually flipped through various documents about the continent and smiled. Selecting a book, he tossed a handful of gold coins onto the counter and left. Outside, he carefully read the dusty volume titled Detailed Explanation of the Continent.
The book explained many aspects of the continent, but Xiao Yan focused on the parts most important to him. Yuanwu Continent, as it is called, is divided into a Central Region and an Outer Region. The Outer Region is split into four parts—east, west, south, and north—which are further divided into nine states, thirty-six counties, and seventy-two prefectures. The book offered little detail about the Central Region, which did not surprise Xiao Yan.
For Xiao Yan, strength was paramount—the key to rising on the continent. He noted that most power divisions on Yuanwu Continent were similar to those on the Dou Qi Continent, but beyond the Dou Sheng level, the divisions diverged: Half Emperor, Dou Emperor, Transformation Realm, Return to Origin Mirror, Origin King, Origin Emperor, Origin Sect, Origin Reverend, Origin Saint, and Origin Emperor. These realms mark the hierarchy of power on Yuanwu Continent, with many parallels between ethics and fighters up to Fighting Saints, though the Source Transformation Realm and Return to Source Mirror stand apart.
The book further explained that the Huayuan and Guiyuan Realms do not show the typical nine-star difference seen in other realms. Instead, each comprises three stages—elementary, intermediate, and advanced—with the advanced stage further divided into two phases. Before a cultivator reaches the Huayuan Realm, they can use the Emperor's Origin between heaven and earth for cultivation, provided they first adapt to the Zhoutian Source Energy. Xiao Yan recalled that his previous breakthrough had been hindered by an incompatibility between ** and the Source Energy. Without the jade bottle, he would have been lost.
Since those born on Yuanwu Continent naturally adapt to the Source Energy early, someone like Xiao Yan will need time to adjust. The purpose of these realms is to help cultivators merge the Source Energy of heaven and earth into their bodies, making it their own. In the Source Transformation Realm, one cultivates both Dou Qi and Source Qi; upon reaching the Return to Origin Mirror, the focus shifts to Source Qi.
The human body cannot grow indefinitely. Although Dou Qi can fortify it, unchecked growth would disrupt the natural cycle of life. Practicing Source Qi allows one to absorb and refine this energy to strengthen the body, as Source Qi is milder and denser than Dou Qi, though its lethality is far less. Fortunately, after reaching the Guiyuan Mirror, cultivators must rely on Source Qi. Even top Dou Di practitioners, at their peak, cannot match a strong man from the Guiyuan Realm. This gap in realms cannot be overcome solely by raw power.
The ultimate goal of the Guiyuan Realm is to harmonize the body with the Source Energy of heaven and earth, achieving perfect unity by refining this energy into a pure white bead within the body—a milky white Source Energy bead. The purer the bead, the brighter the future, and many super sects will vie to claim a disciple with such potential. That is why many remain in the Guiyuan Realm until their moment of glory, securing not only personal power but also unparalleled honor for their families. The Guiyuan Realm serves as the ultimate foundation.
The Return to Origin Realm is the watershed between being a truly peak powerhouse and merely a peak powerhouse—a realm that everyone strives to inhabit, hoping to one day reach the pinnacle.
Xiao Yan then read further explanations about martial arts and fighting skills. As expected, the martial arts and fighting skills on Yuanwu Continent were far more formidable than those on the Dou Qi Continent.
On Yuanwu Continent, martial arts and fighting skills are classified into five levels: human, spirit, intention, saint, and saint-level taboos, each further divided into elementary, intermediate, and advanced stages. Although five types are recognized, the saint-level taboos are rarely practiced casually.
The term "saint-level taboo" is not used lightly; even the word "taboo" alone inspires caution.
Forbidden saint-level techniques allow cultivators to practice at a faster rate than regular saint-level techniques. When perfected, these techniques enable a cultivator to seamlessly merge the energy of heaven and earth with their body, achieving twice the effect with half the effort.
However, the forbidden saint-level techniques are even more powerful. Not only do they possess all the traits of regular saint-level techniques, but their strength also exceeds them. When cultivated to perfection, these techniques operate automatically within the body and can even use the energy of heaven and earth to rapidly heal injuries. Such potent abilities have impressed many cultivators, yet they are only spoken of in hushed tones because these forbidden techniques continuously absorb the cultivator's life essence, eventually leading to death. It is no wonder that many young and talented cultivators on Yuanwu Continent met premature ends—pursuing strength, they rose, then fell, and ultimately turned to dust. Even in death, they were scorned, for practitioners of these techniques were labeled as demon cultivators. Although many outer domains despise them, in the Central Domain, strength is all that matters.
Below the saint-level techniques are the mind-level techniques, which involve merging one's thoughts with source energy. When practiced, one releases their soul power to blend with the energy of heaven and earth, forming an energy storm that feels like refining the entire cosmos—a process both awe-inspiring and humbling.
Spiritual-level exercises require the use of the earth's energy veins to absorb the earth's energy and draw in the energy of heaven and earth simultaneously. This dual approach is immensely powerful, condensing a cultivator's aura and sometimes allowing them to grasp the mysteries of the cosmos with minimal effort.
For human-level skills, the practitioner and the technique become one—the skill draws on the energy of heaven and earth for personal use, merging directly with the practitioner for rapid progress.
Xiao Yan was thrilled by the potential benefits of these practices, though he had yet to master his Burning Flame Art.
"Tsk, tsk—these techniques are truly impressive. Some of their supplementary abilities are several times more powerful than even certain heavenly-grade techniques! Tsk, tsk," he murmured in awe.
Following the martial arts section, the book discussed fighting skills. Ever since Xiao Yan had witnessed the Mysterious Soul-Devouring Palm used by the old Flame Demon, he had become fascinated with the martial arts on Yuanwu Continent. Moreover, Gu You had mentioned that his Buddha's Wrath of Reincarnation was a
Xiao Yan's eyes lit up at the prospect—it was a rare treasure. If he could seize this technique from the old Flame Demon, it would serve as a powerful trump card. When a saint-level fighting skill is unleashed, the heavens and earth tremble; mountains and rivers collapse, and all are struck with terror. Such a technique is said to burn the sky, boil the sea, and destroy everything—even the heavens and earth. Xiao Yan smacked his lips in admiration and fear, uncertain of the true power of such forbidden saint-level fighting skills.
The final category was the holy forbidden fighting skill. This section, presented on its own page with six large bright red characters, immediately made Xiao Yan's face grow serious. Forbidden saint-level fighting skills are even more potent than ordinary saint-level techniques and can, if wielded by a super-strong cultivator, instantly kill an opponent of equal strength. At worst, the enemy would be left severely injured and dying. These techniques are so ruthless that practitioners are labeled as demon cultivators. While the outer domains despise such methods, in the Central Domain only strength matters.
Xiao Yan's mind raced with the potential power of such skills in the hands of a super-strong person—perhaps even at the Yuanzong level. The thought was almost too terrifying to imagine. Overwhelmed, Xiao Yan decided he needed to rest and find an inn.
A short while later, Xiao Yan stood in front of an inn called Wanfulou. Smiling slightly, he entered, surveyed the bustling first floor, and then ascended to the second floor. Near a window, he found a guest table and sat down. Soon after, a waiter approached and politely asked, "Sir, what would you like?"
Xiao Yan ordered a few side dishes and waited quietly. Not long after, two people—a young man and a young woman—descended the stairs. The young man had handsome, casually disheveled black hair, though a hint of femininity and cunning softened his heroic aura. Dressed in green with golden threads interwoven in his sleeves, forming the semblance of a giant golden python, he carried an emerald-green jasper fan with a gold edge that emitted a cyan-gold glow. The young woman, clad in snow-white, had delicate features with waist-length purple hair adorned with gold and silver jewelry. Although she appeared delicate and worthy of protection, her haughty expression quickly diminished that impression.
The two exuded arrogance as they strode to the guest table where Xiao Yan was seated. The young man glared at Xiao Yan with disdain, declaring,
"Hmph! Where did you come from, you wild boy? Don't you know this table is reserved exclusively for me and Rong Mei? Get out now, or don't blame me for my ruthlessness!"
As he spoke, he waved his jasper fan, which creaked irritably. At that moment, everyone in the inn noticed a stern old man in a black robe appear behind the young man.
Xiao Yan remained indifferent and continued eating his side dishes. He harbored no ill will; having learned much that day, he was in good spirits and did not wish to fight. In Xiao Yan's eyes, the young man was an insignificant ant, and the old man behind him was merely a two-star Dou Zong—hardly worth his concern.
However, the young man did not share Xiao Yan's indifference. His expression soured as he brandished his fan and sneered at the old man approaching Xiao Yan, saying,
"You won't blame me for your death today. Why did you have to provoke my young master when you could have provoked someone else? Now that he's angry, let your blood settle his fury!"
The young man in green smiled coldly and remarked to the old man in black, "Mr. Mo, mind not to dirty the table, or our meal will be ruined."
The old man in black nodded slightly and then punched toward Xiao Yan's head.
"Bang!"
A dull thud echoed as the old man's skinny fist was blocked by a white hand. The fist halted beside Xiao Yan's head. Changing his expression, Xiao Yan pushed with his palm, sending the old man crashing against a pillar. Although the old man did not vomit blood, his face grew solemn as he stared at Xiao Yan with an expression of deep fear, as if he were looking upon a devil.