Chapter 869
The Possibility of Ascension
Seeing the male immortal's mercenary demeanor, Chen Jie chuckled and said, "Looking at you, who would have thought you were from the Upper Realm?"
Upon hearing this, the male immortal stretched his neck and said, "People in the upper realm are also people. Don't think too highly of the upper realm. It's not that different from here."
Chen Jie nodded and waved his hand to untie the ropes binding him.
The male immortal then cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, thank you."
Looking at his relaxed demeanor, as if he weren't a prisoner at all, Chen Jie frowned and said, "Now you can tell me, what's your name? Where are you from?"
The male immortal spoke up: "I, my name is Xu Yuandao, and I am from the Upper Realm."
Upon hearing this, Phagpa asked, "Upper Realm, you keep talking about Upper Realm, what exactly is this Upper Realm?"
Hearing this, everyone nodded. Indeed, they knew very little about the Upper Realm. The other party always referred to himself as the Upper Realm, but no one could say for sure where this Upper Realm was.
Phagpa directly raised the question: Is this upper realm the realm of immortals, demons, Buddhas, or something else? There needs to be an explanation.
Upon hearing Phagpa's question, Xu Yuandao replied, "The Great Thousand World I live in is called Tianyuan Continent, not the Immortal World you speak of."
Upon hearing this, Phagpa frowned and asked, "In your world of Tianyuan Continent, are there Buddhas? Are there Tathagata Buddhas and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattvas?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuandao chuckled and said, "There is no Buddha as you described, nor is there a Bodhisattva named Shizang. There are only some high-level Buddhist practitioners."
"Those who practice Buddhism."
Phagpa asked with some surprise, "What is a Buddhist practitioner?"
"Someone like you, are you not practicing Buddhism or Taoism?"
Xu Yuandao looked at Phagpa and asked.
Phagpa asked somewhat bewilderedly, "I cultivate martial arts, using martial arts to enter Buddhism. Does that count as cultivating Buddhism?"
Xu Yuan said, "Then you're taking the path of a martial monk, which is quite rare in the Tianyuan Continent. After all, our Tianyuan Continent has abundant spiritual energy, so few of us suffer physically; we mainly focus on cultivating qi."
Chen Jie listened to Xu Yuandao's words and frowned slightly. The Upper Realm did not seem to be the Immortal Realm he had imagined, but rather a cultivation world. He thought this without saying anything.
At this moment, Zhang Sanfeng spoke up, "You said the world you live in is called Tianyuan Continent. What exactly is this continent like? Can you describe it to us?"
"What exactly are the vast and small worlds you speak of? And how did you discover our world?"
Zhang Sanfeng's questions were always to the core, directly asking about the difference between the Greater Thousand Worlds and the Lesser Thousand Worlds.
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuandao noticed the teapot and teacups on the table. He pointed to the teapot and said, "Look at this vast world. It's just like this teapot. What emanates from outside the teapot is the microcosm, which is this circle of teacups."
"A great universe has many smaller universes, which are like many small teacups."
"The reason why we, the people of the Great Thousand World, want to obtain such a Small Thousand World is that as long as we obtain this Small Thousand World, we can refine it and thus improve our strength."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jie looked at Xu Yuan and said, "Refining minor worlds to increase strength, are there many people in your Tianyuan Continent who refine minor worlds?"
Xu Yuandao shook his head and said, "Naturally, there aren't many. Although minor worlds aren't rare, they aren't many either. In the Upper Realm, they are treasures among treasures. Anyone who can refine a minor world can be considered a hegemon in the Great World."
"We call him Daojun."
Chen Jie and the others exchanged glances, then looked at Xu Yuan and asked, "How many Dao Lords do you have in your Upper Realm?"
"Those with names and surnames should be the Twelve Dao Lords, who each govern one of the twelve domains of the Tianyuan Continent. Each one is a regional overlord, and even the top sect leaders on the continent have to treat them with respect and address them as Dao Lords."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jie nodded slightly: "It seems that this Dao Lord is indeed powerful. By the way, how do you people in the Upper Realm divide your cultivation realms?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuandao said, "The cultivation realms of our Tianyuan Continent are divided into nine levels."
"Nine floors?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Jie and the other two were all invigorated, as this concerned them greatly, given that it involved martial arts realms.
After all, the three of them had already basically reached the ceiling of this realm, and it would be extremely difficult to improve their realm further. Moreover, no one in this world had ascended normally for hundreds of years.
The three thought their path was blocked, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better, and heaven sent them these immortals from the upper realm.
At this time, they were filled with boundless longing for the future. Whether it was Phagpa, Chen Jiu Si, or Zhang San Feng, they were all very interested in the upper realm.
Xu Yuandao knew that people in the Lesser Thousand Worlds valued the future very much, so he kept them in suspense for a moment and said, "I'm a little thirsty, could you give me a glass of water?"
Chen Jie saw through Xu Yuandao's little scheme, but didn't argue with him. He poured him a glass of water and said, "Fellow Daoist, we've come this far, so don't try anything funny. Drink this water and let's talk properly."
Xu Yuandao smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's not a secret. There's nothing to hide from you."
Xu Yuandao took a sip of water and slowly said, "The realms in Tianyuan Continent are divided into nine levels, and each level is further divided into nine grades: Qi Induction Realm, Spirit Gathering Realm, True Essence Condensation Realm, Profound Insight Realm, Law Evolution Realm, Creation Realm, Forgetfulness Realm, Calamity Annihilation Realm, and Return to Origin Realm."
"Among them, the Sitting in Oblivion Realm, also known as the Dao Lord, are beings who possess a small world in their hands. As for the Tribulation Annihilation Realm and the Return to Origin Realm, they are just legendary realms. Currently, such experts are rarely seen on the Tianyuan Continent. It is only said that there are two Tribulation Annihilation Realm experts in Sky City and Demon Abyss."
Xu Yuandao said slowly.
After listening to Xu Yuandao's introduction, Chen Jiu Si, Phasiba, and Zhang Sanfeng exchanged glances, surprised that it turned out this way.
At this point, Chen Jiu Si asked again, "We roughly understand this realm, but what realm are you at?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuandao replied, "Me? I am at the seventh level of the Condensation Realm."
After finishing his sentence, Xu Yuandao continued, "Of course, I know what you're thinking. Don't you think my seventh level of the Condensation Realm is a bit low?"
After hearing Xu Yuandao's words, Chen Jiu Si and the other two shook their heads to indicate that they had no such intention and told him not to overthink it.
Xu Yuandao smiled and said, "My seventh level of the Condensation Realm is actually not low. In the Great Thousand World, I can be considered a good person. Even in some major sects, I can become a protector or steward."
"I never imagined that your Lesser Thousand Worlds would be so abnormal. Not only do you have this abnormality of cultivating the path of incense, but there is also someone who, relying on his own talent, broke through the upper limit of this world in the Lesser Immortal World and became the ninth level of the Condensation Realm."
Xu Yuandao pointed at Zhang Sanfeng, a helpless expression on his face. Faced with such a figure, he could only accept his fate; he never expected this world to have so many freaks. Chen Jiu Si was one thing—he could understand cultivating the path of incense offerings—but what was with this Taoist priest?
How did he break through the limits of this world and become a being at the ninth level of the Condensation Realm?
Compared to this, the monk is nothing at all. At this point, Xu Yuandao glanced at Phagpa.
That one glance was enough to break down the defenses of this renowned Living Buddha.
Phagpa looked at Xu Yuan and said, "What do you mean? Did I offend you or provoke you? Why do you look down on me like this?"
Xu Yuandao looked aggrieved: "I'm innocent! I just glanced at it casually."
Phagpa angrily retorted, "You are clearly implying something."
Chen Jie immediately comforted him, saying, "Master, Master, don't be angry. He's an outsider, what does he know? You know how powerful you are, Master."
Zhang Sanfeng then spoke up, saying, "Master, do not be angry with greed, anger, or ignorance."
"Amitabha."
After being persuaded by the two, Phagpa quickly made a gesture, calmed down, and sighed, "He's right. I really am still not skilled enough. Just a glance from him and I'm like this. Sigh..."
Phagpa was now aware of the gap between himself and the other party. He sighed but did not show any dissatisfaction.
Seeing Phagpa's state, Chen Jie comforted him, saying, "There's still a long way to go. Now that we know the news from the previous session, we have a way out. We can continue to make progress in the future. Although Master Zhang and I are half a step ahead of you, it's not impossible that the master will surpass us later."
Upon hearing this, Phagpa looked at Chen Jie and said, "Your Majesty is still so good at comforting people."
Chen Jie said, "This is not meant to comfort you. The road ahead is right there. As long as you bravely move forward, you will surely reach the peak."
After explaining this, Chen looked at Xu Yuan and said, "Tell me how you came to this world."
This is what Chen Jie is most concerned about: if people from the upper realm can come and go as they please, how can he have any peace in this world?
Xu Yuandao looked at Chen Jiedao and said, "You should know this, the Boundary-Breaking Hammer."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jie said, "I know the name 'Boundary-Breaking Hammer,' but I don't know its specific use. Please enlighten me, fellow Daoist."
Xu Yuandao said, "As the name suggests, the Boundary-Breaking Hammer is a treasure that breaks through the spatial barrier between two realms. This item is extremely powerful, seizing the creation of heaven and earth, and can only be made by elders of the Dharma Transformation Realm."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jie said, "So, is this Lesser Thousand Worlds just going to be plundered by the Greater Thousand Worlds like this?"
"How is that possible? The Lesser Thousand Worlds also have their own world will. Although an elder at the Dharma Transformation Realm can create a World-Breaking Hammer, the highest level of the World-Breaking Hammer he creates can only allow a True Condensation Realm expert at the fifth level to enter this world."
"As for experts above the fifth level of the Condensation Realm, it is very difficult for them to enter this Lesser Thousand World. If they do enter, they will be rejected by the world's will."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jie nodded slightly: "I see. No wonder I haven't seen any more powerful beings enter this world."
Xu Yuan said, "It's no use for them to enter this world. Who would have thought that such a being as you would emerge in this world? With the blessing of incense power, your strength is already comparable to that of an elder in the Dharma Transformation Realm."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jie said, "In your vast world, an existence like me is nothing special."
"No, no, no, although the Great Thousand Worlds are powerful, there are very few like you who were born in a Lesser Thousand Worlds, used the resources of their own world, eventually unified the entire world, developed the power of incense offerings, and finally attained the Dao through incense offerings."
"I'm afraid only that Taiyi Divine Lord from back then can be compared to you, right?"
"The Supreme God Lord".
Chen Jie looked at Xu Yuandao with a puzzled expression.
Xu Yuandao nodded slightly and said, "That's right, it's Taiyi Divine Lord, a powerful expert in the Guiyuan Realm back then. He dominated the Tianyuan Continent for an entire era. As long as he was there, no one in the Tianyuan Continent dared to claim the title of sovereign or king. He was an existence that dominated an entire era."
According to legend, after he unified the Lesser Thousand Worlds, he refined the Lesser Thousand Worlds, ascended to the Upper Realm, and became that unique being.
"I never expected that someone would follow in his footsteps today. I must say, you really surprised me."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jie was also surprised by this Taiyi Divine Lord. Had a senior already walked the path he was meant to walk?
He was able to unify the world because of his knowledge from his previous life, and he didn't know whether this Taiyi God was a transmigrator or just a local native.
As Chen Jie was pondering this, Zhang Sanfeng spoke up, "I have a question. Fellow Daoist, could you please enlighten me?"
Xu Yuandao looked at Zhang Sanfeng and said, "Tell me what you know. I will tell you everything I know without reservation."
Zhang Sanfeng asked, "What is the ascension passage? Why has no one in our world ascended for nearly a thousand years?"
"The ascension pathway to your world has collapsed."
"It collapsed?"
Upon hearing this, everyone present was astonished. The ascension passage to their world had actually collapsed?
How did it collapse?
Zhang Sanfeng pressed for an answer, and Xu Yuandao replied, "I don't know about that. Your world is located in a very remote area. I, Fairy Lan, and the others from the Tai Xuan Sect were chasing demonic cultivators when we arrived in this remote region and discovered traces of this small world."
"Otherwise, given the location of your small world, no one would be able to find it."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jie nodded slightly and said, "I see. If the ascension passage collapses, can it be repaired?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuandao replied, "Of course it's possible. You need to find the entrance to the ascension passage. Then clear away the debris inside the passage, and it will naturally become clear."
Xu Yuandao spoke calmly, but a shadow of gloom flashed in his eyes, clearly indicating that he was holding back something, and who knows what he was brooding over.
However, this shadow was fleeting, and Zhang Sanfeng and the others did not notice anything different about him.
Chen Jie frowned slightly: "Finding the ascension passage will probably take time, and Zhang Zhenren and Basiba are already over 140 years old. The lifespan limit in this world is 150 years. If they cannot find the ascension passage, they will probably pass away."
"If we didn't know the way to the upper realm, that would be one thing, but now that hope is right in front of us, it would be too cruel to let the two of them pass away like this. If we don't find the ascension passage, is there any other way?"
Thinking this, Chen Jie looked at Xu Yuan and said, "The Boundary-Breaking Hammer, you should have one on you, right?" (End of Chapter)