Chapter 30: What a Weak Mystic Realm
“Look, that’s Qin Luan from Dingfeng Temple!”
As people focused on the fuming Song Ying, someone finally noticed Qin Luan. Judging by their tone, he seemed to have some level of fame.
As for Jiang Li? Plain and unremarkable. Clearly not someone worth paying attention to—ignored.
“I heard he was picked up by the Dingfeng Temple Master. When he was eight, they tested his talent and found he had a single lightning spiritual root. Instantly, all the major sects extended olive branches, but he refused them all.”
“People thought that even though he had great talent, without a major sect’s support, his potential would be wasted. Who would’ve expected that through sheer comprehension and fortuitous encounters, he ended up surpassing the Dao Seeds of those very sects!”
Spiritual roots also had a hierarchy. The best were Heaven and Earth spiritual roots, followed by single-attribute roots, while the worst were the Five-Element roots.
Among single-attribute roots, metal, wood, water, fire, and earth were the most common. Wind and lightning were considered variant roots, making them much rarer. A variant single root was half a tier above a regular single root—not as strong as Heaven and Earth roots but still the pinnacle of single-attribute ones.
“Why are you pretending not to see me?!” Song Ying stood with hands on her hips, glaring at Qin Luan.
“If I didn’t see you, how could I have introduced you to Brother Kong?” Qin Luan spoke righteously. “I just didn’t want to deal with you.”
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Jiang Li asked, “Brother Qin, do you know who that person over there is?”
Qin Luan thought for a moment but couldn’t recall. Seeing that Jiang Li seemed to be on good terms with Qin Luan, Song Ying—out of consideration for him—answered instead.
“That’s Li Litong, a direct disciple of Shilong Sect. I heard that he used to have average aptitude and comprehension, but ever since he fell off a cliff, it’s like he had an epiphany—his cultivation skyrocketed. In just six months, he advanced from early to late Foundation Establishment. I fought him once, and while I easily won, I feel like he was hiding something. That wasn’t his true strength.”
Jiang Li nodded, then gestured for the two of them to continue their argument.
Amidst their bickering, the Mysterious Mystic Realm finally opened.
The number of entrants was fixed at 800. Once all 800 disciples from various sects had entered, Jiang Li—number 801—casually walked toward the entrance.
People assumed he was some rogue cultivator trying to sneak in, but to their surprise, he actually entered the Mystic Realm without being rejected.
Did they miscount?
—
Upon stepping into the Mystic Realm, Jiang Li immediately felt a repelling force.
It was like a three-year-old child trying to push an elephant. No matter how hard it tried, the elephant wouldn’t budge.
Soon, the Mystic Realm seemed to realize it couldn’t expel this uninvited guest, so it stopped wasting energy and focused on administering its trials.
Before Jiang Li appeared a stream formed of condensed spiritual energy. Just a single sip from it equaled three months of cultivation for a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Not far away, a wooden zither played itself, while celestial cranes danced gracefully to the music. Floating immortal mountains loomed in the distance—a paradise-like scene that made one reluctant to leave.
Drawn in by the scenery, Jiang Li walked up to the zither and chopped it in half, then turned to look at the celestial cranes.
Sensing danger, the cranes tried to flee, but Jiang Li grabbed one before it could escape.
Before long, smoke rose by the stream, and the rich aroma of roasting meat spread far and wide.
—
A delicate cry for help came from nearby.
Just from the sound alone, one could imagine the owner must be a stunning and fragile beauty.
Jiang Li ignored it and continued roasting his meat.
The voice drew closer until, finally, its owner appeared before him.
“Hero, please save me!”
The girl was breathtakingly beautiful, her tattered clothes barely covering her body. Clearly, they had torn while she was running, leaving her completely exposed—an image of vulnerability that could stir any man’s protective instincts.
Jiang Li was a proper man. So, naturally, he kept roasting his meat.
The girl was momentarily stunned by his blatant disregard. She had clearly never encountered such a reaction before. But recalling that her pursuers were still chasing her, she quickly pleaded again.
“Hero, please save me! There are vile men trying to defile me. If you save me, I will offer myself to you, along with all my wealth!”
She bowed deeply, revealing a generous glimpse of her fair, youthful figure.
With a trial like this, which cultivator could resist?
Jiang Li could.
One glance told him she was about sixteen, with a cultivation level around the first or second layer of Qi Refining. In the Nine Provinces, such talent would be considered utterly crippled.
If someone this weak could escape, then her pursuers couldn’t be that strong either.
Sure enough, before she could speak again, a group of men emerged from the mountain path. They grinned cruelly, surrounding both the girl and Jiang Li.
These men were slightly stronger than the girl—about halfway into the second level of Qi Refining.
Ordinarily, Qi Refining only had nine levels. There was no such thing as a “half-level.” But seeing how pitiful their cultivation was, Jiang Li had graciously invented a new tier for them.
Qi Refining Level 2.5—the Human Sovereign’s mercy.
“Running, huh? Let’s see where you can run now!” The leader leered wickedly, his intentions all too obvious. “Today, you and your little boyfriend will die together!”
“I-I’m not his girlfriend!” The girl blushed furiously.
Her reaction didn’t matter. The moment their leader gave the order—
Jiang Li tossed all of them down the mountain.
They didn’t even get the chance to fight back.
—
“Benefactor, thank you for saving me! I have no way to repay you, so I offer myself to you!” The girl gazed at him with sparkling eyes full of admiration.
Jiang Li, ever gentle, replied, “Maybe in your next life.”
“……”
“Benefactor, you must be joking! Please, allow me to take you to my village so we may properly express our gratitude.”
—
The Mystic Realm was several times richer in spiritual energy than the Nine Provinces. As Jiang Li walked toward the village, he noticed that even the wild fruits by the roadside could be considered rare spiritual treasures, useful even to Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators.
If a Foundation Establishment cultivator arrived here, they’d probably want to live in the Mystic Realm permanently.
And yet, somehow, this girl—despite being surrounded by spiritual treasures—was still stuck at Qi Refining Level 1.5.
—
Her village was quite captivating.
According to the girl, all the men in the village had been conscripted for war ten years ago. None had returned, leaving behind only widows and young girls.
These women were all extraordinarily beautiful. The moment Jiang Li arrived, he thought he had stepped into a Pure Land of the Mortal World.
The girl added that the entire country was now fractured by war. Men were scarce, leaving many widows and maidens in various villages, all of whom were as beautiful as those here. Given Jiang Li’s overwhelming strength, if he joined the battlefield, he could surely unify the land and become king.
—
During their conversation, Jiang Li learned that the people of this realm couldn’t cultivate immortality. They could only train their bodies and refine their martial skills. The abundant spiritual treasures were useless to them.
By their standards, the girl was considered a genius, already reaching the “Postnatal” level at a young age.
Above Postnatal was “Innate.”
Above Innate was the legendary “Grandmaster.”
And according to her, the Grandmaster level was equivalent to… Qi Refining Level 7 to 9.
Jiang Li inhaled sharply.
The entire Mystic Realm seemed to drop a few degrees.
What a weak Mystic Realm.