Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: [Unspecified]
Chapter Title: Inconceivable
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"Inconceivable."
Staring at the Dao scripture in his hand, Lu Yang's expression grew increasingly astonished. From the sound of it, this so-called Biyang Cultivation World seemed utterly helpless against a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
But that was merely surface level.
The simplest logic dictated that a force incapable of resisting Foundation Establishment couldn't possibly claim so much island territory in a lawless place like the outer seas.
So either the Biyang Cultivation World had genuine Foundation Establishment cultivators pulling strings from the shadows, or their theoretical pinnacle—Great Cultivators of Dao Union—possessed other means comparable to Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, such a juicy prize teeming with talent would have long been devoured clean.
And even that was secondary.
Having experienced the Refining Law Secret Realm, Lu Yang constantly reminded himself never to underestimate anyone, let alone an established system.
Thus, he quickly noticed something far more crucial:
"Ancestor Master Qingting. A Soul Condensation Realm cultivator, yet the Nascent Soul he condensed qualifies as top-grade True Qi in terms of quality."
In fact, it could rank as fifth-grade.
If even Soul Condensation achieved this...
What about higher realms? There were three realms beyond Soul Condensation!
"Continuously purifying True Qi—Soul Condensation reaches fifth-grade, Soul Refining to fourth? Void Return third-grade, Dao Union even second-grade True Qi?"
That was the key.
A cultivator's True Qi grade largely determined their future. Below seventh-grade, no Foundation Establishment; below third-grade, no Golden Core; without first-grade, Nascent Soul was unattainable!
Second-grade True Qi was barely acceptable.
But if Dao Union wasn't the Biyang Cultivation World's limit? If realms extended beyond, could True Qi ascend further?
"First-grade True Qi!?"
For a moment, Lu Yang was stunned by his own speculation. First-grade True Qi! Tied to Nascent Soul—could a mere overseas speck hold such fortune?
Even his *Nine Transformations Dragon Art*, created by a Golden Core True Lord and a fruition-level true technique, only produced third-grade True Qi. As for techniques yielding second-grade, Lu Yang hadn't glimpsed one across eight lifetimes—they seemed nonexistent.
Let alone first-grade!
Yet the next instant, doubt creased Lu Yang's brow:
"Hold on—doesn't Qi Refining Great Perfection max out at a hundred fifty years?"
Qi Refining Realm: theoretical lifespan of 150 years!
In practice, most Qi Refining cultivators died before 120 or 130.
But the Biyang Cultivation World?
From low Qi Refining to Dao Union Great Cultivators, all fell under Qi Refining Great Perfection. Where did their lifespans come from?
"Purifying True Qi extends life? Impossible."
"Besides, this system's 'refining spirit roots' doesn't refine the self—it's theoretically lifespan-neutral at best."
Yet in truth, Biyang cultivators enjoyed remarkably long lives, enough to evoke envy from a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Lu Yang.
Their lifespan structure was bizarre, though.
"Mortals max out at thirty or forty, so they marry in their teens, become grandparents by thirty, and forty counts as auspicious."
"Qi Refining cultivators fare little better—forty or fifty years."
"Foundation Casting a bit longer, to eighty. Core Formation 120, Soul Condensation 200, Soul Refining 300, Void Return 500, Dao Union 1000."
Inconceivable!
Lu Yang nearly leaped up. A Qi Refining cultivator rivaling a Golden Core True Lord's lifespan—without reincarnation!
But he quickly realized:
"No, not without reincarnation—they simply can't reincarnate. Without true Foundation Establishment, the soul doesn't transform qualitatively. Death is final. The longevity likely stems from avoiding Bifeng erosion."
Still not quite right.
Avoiding Bifeng merely raised the ceiling, but the floor? How did Qi Refining cultivators push lifespans to a thousand years?
And mortals plus low-realm cultivators had pathetically short lives.
Higher realms gained disproportionately more upon breakthrough—Void Return to Dao Union doubled outright, a chasm apart.
"If I apply the Primal Saint Sect's perspective..."
Lu Yang's brows relaxed as he abruptly withdrew a thunderous root filament, Liu Chi's mutated Lightning Spirit Root—also the foundation of cultivation.
He then summoned Lady Xiao to assist in the research.
Three days later.
"...As expected!"
"What a Spirit Root! A genius concept!" Lu Yang shoved aside the fainted Lady Xiao, eyes blazing at the Spirit Root in hand.
Spirit Roots were the key to Biyang cultivators' lifespans!
Called Spirit Roots, they were absorbers, siphoning lifespan from mortals and low-realm cultivators to replenish their own losses!
Thus the pitiful spans of mortals and low-realm folk.
Dao Union Great Cultivators' millennium lifespan was likely the world's cap—sans reincarnation, 1000 years was the limit.
In other words, the entire Biyang Cultivation World formed a massive pyramid. Vast mortal bases fueled cultivators with their lives, low-realm cultivators fed higher ones, all sustaining the Dao Union apex.
Marrow-sucking, bone-scraping—Primal Saint Sect doctrine!
"But given this system's traits, it should tie to Innate True Persons, not Primal Saint Sect disciples."
Lu Yang skimmed the records, halting at one page.
"The War of Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons?"
The text detailed the Immortal Alliance's founding: Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons appeared from nowhere; local cultivators united to repel them.
As he read, Lu Yang frowned.
"Post-war, surviving locals founded the modern Immortal Alliance, gradually adopting marrow-sucking ways."
"Doesn't add up."
"Did the locals truly win?"
A bunch of Qi Refining Great Perfections—any single Foundation Establishment cultivator could slaughter them. What kind of pushovers were these demons, repelled by locals?
"Win and found the Alliance... More likely the demons won, hijacking local shells and reputations to overhaul Biyang Cultivation World. Judging by the Alliance's structure, the transformation succeeded spectacularly."
Folks like Chen Xinghai slaved for the Alliance lifelong.
Cultivators like Lady Xiao or Ancestor Master Qingting had some freedom, but ultimately were glorified Alliance wage-slaves.
A perfect pyramid.
Under Immortal Alliance rule, iron laws reigned.
In a flash of insight, Lu Yang's Heaven-Scrutinizing Instrument whirred at his brow:
"Wu as Yang Earth—heavy and steadfast, centered for orthodoxy."
"Spring-summer Qi stirs and retreats, autumn-winter Qi calms and contracts—the arbiter of all life cycles!"
"So that's it. My breakthrough opportunity: arbiter of all things. The 【Zhuyong】 I seek, Wu Earth's Heavenly Gang, hides within this Immortal Alliance!"
Heavenly Gangs and Earthly Fiends arose from Qiankun—sometimes not objects, but abstract archetypes.
Wu Earth governed life's cycles, mirroring the Immortal Alliance over Biyang Cultivation World.
The Alliance was the mountain crushing Biyang.
That mountain was his Wu Earth!
To claim this Heavenly Gang archetype, topple or supplant the Alliance!
"No wonder Heavenly Gangs and Earthly Fiends are elusive."
If mere treasures, why would so many stall at this minor Foundation Establishment sub-realm? Why no Primal Saint Sect stockpile?
"To find them: first, merit and fortune for encounter. Second, sufficient cultivation to recognize. Third, strength—or perish in the Foundation Establishment tribulation."
Like now.
Without insight into "Wu Earth as arbiter of life," he'd flail blindly, seeking in vain.
"The path of cultivation... truly arduous at every step!"
As Lu Yang sighed, a voice rang from beyond the Divine Empyrean Sect, accompanied by a divine sense locking onto him from the heavens:
"Might I ask if you are a lofty Primal Saint Sect cultivator?"
"Immortal Alliance—Fairy Piaomiao requests an audience."