Chapter 141: Exit Monolith and Reading Books (1)

[Extraction from the Akashic Records Universe is currently impossible. To perform a successful extraction, you must be touching an exit monolith and then wait the usual 5 minutes.]

As he read the message, his face paled. 'So I'm stuck in this cutthroat cultivation world until I find this exit monolith... Joy.'

He forced a smirk, trying to joke to himself to suppress the rising panic. 'And since the party system is temporarily deactivated, I can't send messages to the girls. In three days, they'll enter this dangerous world without any information or preparation!'

His thoughts swirled chaotically. 'I need to find this exit monolith before then, or things could turn ugly real fast.' His gaze instinctively shifted toward the Diron's Landscape book, hoping it contained some information on this so-called exit monolith.

Just as he was about to open it, a sudden realization struck him—he was still in a public space, standing alone in a corner. He hesitated. While the likelihood was low, there was always a chance that someone might take offense to him reading a book in public. This world followed a different set of social norms, and caution was never a bad thing.

Deciding it would be safer to read later in private, he resumed walking, passing under another stone archway—this one leading outside the building.

The moment he stepped out, he was met with the sight of a sprawling, bustling city. The architecture was an eclectic mix of styles, yet the dominant aesthetic was undeniably Chinese, with curved roofs, intricate woodwork, and traditional ornamental designs. However, interwoven with these were structures of various other architectural styles, giving the city a unique and exotic charm.

As Mikael walked through the streets, he observed the people around him. Just like inside the building, everyone he saw was human. 'No other races? No aliens, demi-humans, or elves?' he noted with mild curiosity. It was strange, considering the diversity of beings that should exist within the Akashic Records Universe considering that it was linked to innumerable worlds by the Hub so there should be various different races going around in this world right?

Then, he remembered something from the Records' interface—something about appearing in a location suitable for him. 'Does that mean humans are placed in human-controlled regions? That would make sense.' He wasn't entirely sure, but for now, it seemed like a reasonable assumption.

Shrugging off the thought, he continued wandering the city. Snippets of conversation reached his ears, one in particular catching his attention—a certain Jiang Xuan was being pursued by the Flame Sovereign Sect and now had a high bounty on his head.

Mikael took mental note of the information before moving on, eventually arriving at an inn. Without wasting time, he rented a room for the night and headed straight to his chambers.

"Finally," he murmured to himself, shutting the door behind him. He sat down, took out the Diron's Landscape book, and flipped it open.

Flip.

The crisp sound of turning pages filled the quiet room as Mikael delved into the contents. Many might have found the book dry, given that much of it focused on the political landscape of the surrounding regions.

But for someone like Mikael—someone who knew that knowledge could mean the difference between survival and death—this was far from boring. Even someone who despised reading would have forced themselves through it, knowing its value. And as someone who occasionally enjoyed a good book, Mikael found it at least somewhat engaging.

Diron's Landscape – Page 13

It is important to note that Diron is the name of this realm as it is called in the Outer Lands. However, in the Central Core, it is more commonly referred to as a planet.

Page 17

Diron is divided into two main regions.

The Outer Lands—which is likely where you are as you read this book—is a land of cultivation ruled by the law of the strong. Here, power is the ultimate authority, and the weak exist only at the mercy of the strong. Concepts such as justice or righteousness hold no weight unless your fist is large enough to enforce them.

The primary currency of the Outer Lands is spirit stones—small blue crystals infused with qi, which aid in cultivation. These stones are categorized into different grades, with each tier being exponentially more valuable than the one below it. The standard conversion follows this pattern:

10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones = 1 Standard-Grade Spirit Stone

10 Standard-Grade Spirit Stones = 1 High-Grade Spirit Stone

And so on.

The Outer Lands are predominantly controlled by ancient and powerful sects. While some influential clans do exist, the true rulers of this region are the sects, whose authority is unrivaled. Later in this book, I will explore their hierarchy in greater detail.

The Central Core is the second major region of Diron.

Unfortunately, I do not possess much firsthand knowledge about this area. However, I can still provide some key information. Like the Outer Lands, the Central Core follows the path of cultivation, yet its approach differs in a crucial way—it places a greater emphasis on something called technology.

I must admit that my understanding of this technology is limited, but from what I have gathered, it allows for the crafting of artifacts capable of performing extraordinary feats—feats that can be utilized even by mortals.

The Central Core is also closer to the Akashic Records, it's influence more interlocked in their everyday lives compared to the Outer Lands where it's influence is a lot lower. The Central Core region operates under far stricter laws than the Outer Lands. While strength still holds great importance, it does not grant absolute authority in the same way it does outside the Core.

The currency of the Central Core is Akashic Credits, a system of exchange entirely managed through the Akashic Records. Unfortunately, I lack further details on how it functions.

Lastly, the power structures in the Central Core are far more diverse than those in the Outer Lands. While sects still hold influence, the dominant forces in this region are corporations, enterprises, academies, research institutions, and various other organizations.

Page 26

Gaining entry into the Akashic Records Universe is simple. It only requires someone outside of it, within the Hub, to will their arrival, and they will materialize near an entry monolith—a massive black monolith engraved with glowing blue runes. These monoliths are typically housed within buildings controlled by local factions, though they are rarely monitored since access to the Akashic Records Universe remains largely unrestricted.

Exiting, however, is another matter entirely.

Unlike entry, leaving the Akashic Records Universe is heavily regulated. To initiate extraction, one must physically touch an exit monolith—a large black monolith adorned with red runic carvings—and then wait for five minutes before they will be extracted. Only after this waiting period will they be able to leave the Akashic Records Universe.

For convenience, exit monoliths are generally placed near entry monoliths. However, unlike their entry counterparts, they are under strict surveillance by local factions. The reason for this is simple: an exit monolith provides the means to permanently escape from the Akashic Records Universe—and, in this case, from Diron itself. It is a lifeline for those seeking to evade their enemies, which is precisely why the use of these monoliths is closely monitored.

Those who are wanted by powerful factions will find it exceedingly difficult to access an exit monolith, as their enemies will ensure they are barred from leaving.

Page 32

If you are reading this section, you are most likely residing in the Suncrest Region, a territory located within the Outer Lands of Diron.

This region is ruled by three dominant sects, known as the Three Overlords:

The Flame Sovereign Sect

The Wandering Sword Sect

The Frozen Serenity Sect

The Flame Sovereign Sect is a faction that…

'Interesting,' Mikael thought as he closed the book, having just finished reading 150 pages. His gaze then shifted to Cultivation Beginning, the next book in line. Without hesitation, he reached for it and flipped it open

Cultivation Beginning – Page 1

All living beings are bound by the cycle of birth and death, trapped within the endless flow of Samsara. To cultivate is to break these chains, to transcend the mortal coil, and step into eternity.

While the how of cultivation differs across realms, its essence remains the same—it is the pursuit of strength, the ascent through the layers of life, the relentless struggle to reach higher and become something greater.

Cultivation is a path that defies the heavens, one fraught with danger and trials. But for those who walk it successfully, the rewards are boundless, transforming an ordinary mortal into something beyond human.

Page 8

Before delving into the details of cultivation realms, it is crucial to first understand how cultivation itself works.

Cultivation is divided into realms, which reflect an individual's power and progression along this path. While various cultivation methods exist, they all follow the same overarching structure and focus on these realms.

However, cultivation isn't merely separated into realms. It is structured around three fundamental leaps, each marking a significant evolutionary step in a cultivator's journey.

Crossing a Minor Realm

The first leap a cultivator must take is advancing between minor realms.

For example, progressing from the 1st layer of the Spiritual Foundation Realm to the 2nd layer is considered a minor realm breakthrough.

The difference between these layers is noticeable but not insurmountable, as it can be bridged through superior techniques, cultivation methods, tactics, and various other factors.

However, the higher one climbs, the more difficult these minor realm leaps become, as the gap between each layer increases.

For instance, if the power difference between the 1st and 2nd layer of the Spiritual Foundation Realm is around 20%, the difference between the 8th and 9th layer could be closer to 30%.

IMPORTANT: These numbers are only approximations. The actual differences may be greater or smaller.

Crossing a Major Realm

The second leap is crossing a major realm.

For example, transitioning from the 9th layer of the Spiritual Foundation Realm to the 1st layer of the Core Formation Realm is considered a major realm breakthrough.

The difference between major realms is immense, as each breakthrough represents a fundamental transformation—especially at higher levels, where the gap becomes even more pronounced.

Although it is possible to fight someone a major realm above one's own, it is exceptionally difficult. Only the most talented geniuses can achieve such feats. For the vast majority, battling an opponent even one major realm higher is a death sentence. In most cases, fleeing is the only option and even then it's often a luxury.

Crossing a Phase

The third and most profound leap is crossing a phase, often referred to simply as a phase breakthrough.

If crossing a major realm is a transformation, then crossing a phase is a true ascension—a complete metamorphosis in one's existence.

A single phase can span across multiple major realms, making progression through it an almost insurmountable challenge—even for the most gifted of geniuses. The disparity in power is so immense that escaping from someone just one phase higher is almost unthinkable.

As with minor and major realms, the higher the phase, the more pronounced the divide becomes.

Among all the phase transitions, the only one that could be considered somewhat manageable—though still extremely difficult—is the leap from the Mortal Phase to the Foundation Phase.

For instance, take someone who stands at the absolute peak of the Body Forging Realm—the sole realm of the Mortal Phase—and have them face off against an opponent at the first layer of the Spiritual Foundation Realm, which marks the beginning of the Foundation Phase.

In such a scenario, if the Body Forging cultivator is an exceptional genius, and the opponent is particularly weak even by standards of the first layer of the Spiritual Foundation Realm, then the genius may just stand a fighting chance. But even then, it would remain exactly that—a chance. Not a guarantee of victory. In all likelihood, it still wouldn't be enough.

Author Note:

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