Chapter 461 - 286: Great Sun Glaze (Part 1)
The master and his two disciples hadn’t seen each other in a long time and chatted for quite a while.
Tang Lihui proposed a new idea, thinking that Yu Fei’s suggestion of using the Holographic Docking Pods for online games might actually be a good direction to take.
"Master, Senior Sister, if we release the devices to ordinary people and turn the various Border Realms into game-like dungeons for everyone to participate in, we might be able to collect the most data. With such a massive player base, perhaps we could find a breakthrough."
"Following that line of thought, we could definitely develop a real-time strategy game and quantify the data on Martial Artists and alien races. It might actually be useful."
At these words, Ye Shuping couldn’t help but fall into deep thought. He had never considered including ordinary people in his plans. The vast majority of Martial Artists in this world never thought to consider common folk when faced with a crisis.
Their power was too weak to affect the larger situation. The prevailing value in martial society was to provide ordinary people with a fair and just social environment and grant them human rights that were, on the surface, equal. However, when it came to supernatural martial knowledge, everything beyond the introductory basics was completely sealed off.
It was both a form of protection and a display of arrogance.
Ye Shuping pondered. Tang Lihui’s suggestion had great merit. Among ordinary people, there were many respectable scholars who also possessed great wisdom.
"It’s worth a try, but this matter is too involved and requires careful study. Let’s wait for the prototype to be finalized. We seven will test it first, and once it’s stable, we’ll gradually roll it out. As for the mundane world... there’s no rush, but it’s something to consider."
Tang Lihui said no more. When his master decided on a policy, especially one concerning low to mid-level Martial Artists, it would almost certainly become official nine times out of ten. The old man hadn’t personally fought in over a century, but his power was a subtle, pervasive influence in every corner of the world.
The intelligence Tang Lihui had gathered indicated that his master had killed no fewer than a double-digit number of his peers at the Martial Saint level.
The next day, Zhuo Feiming had already left. She took Yu Fei’s sword, Zhanming, as well as the desolate beast materials that Tang Lihui had processed. Crafting the protective gear and forging a Grandmaster-level spirit weapon would both take some time.
Zhuo Feiming had asked Yu Fei about his requirements for the new sword. He wasn’t particular about whether it was a heavy or a light sword; at his current level, the physical form of the weapon had little effect on his power. Attunement was far more important.
Ye Shuping had arranged for Yu Fei’s breakthrough to take place in the Red Sun Realm.
It was already October. Officially, Yu Fei was now a junior in college.
Over the past year, he had completely detached from the normal activities and missions of the Celestial Pride Class. First, he’d spent the better part of half a year mining and cultivating in the Profound Bright Palace, and then he’d gone to train in the Desolate Beast Forest Sea for another half a year. Time had flown by.
His friends in the Yulin Army were constantly worried about his whereabouts. Jiang Nianwei had even asked Tang Lihui about him multiple times, only to be fobbed off each time. The official story was that he was on a special mission requiring secrecy and radio silence.
Without the monstrous combat power of Yu Fei to lead them, the Yulin Army was lacking in top-tier strength, making their missions considerably more difficult. However, with Feng Hua occasionally lending a hand and their good relationship with the Salted Fish Class, they managed to get by.
"After this breakthrough, once you’ve advanced to the Gang Qi Realm, you must go out and travel to find your own opportunities!"
On the way to the Red Sun Realm, Ye Shuping continued his instruction.
"Cultivation in the Gang Qi Realm is a process of transforming your Inner Qi..."
"Breaking through from the Five Realms Divine Intent to the sixth realm, the Gang Qi Realm, is a natural process. The spiritual source you’ve formed in your Qi Sea is the very incubator that will strengthen your Divine Intent..."
"When your Divine Intent spontaneously breaks through the spiritual source and manifests within your Qi Sea, your cultivation will have entered the Gang Qi Realm..."
"You must infuse your Qi Sea with Divine Intent, imbuing every strand of Inner Qi with your will. That is how you gather qi to form Gang Qi. At that point, the quality of your Inner Qi will increase dramatically, and it can then be called Gang Qi—the namesake of the sixth realm of the martial path..."
"In ancient times, Martial Artists reaching this stage would often choose to absorb the fiercest energies of the world into their own bodies. In the modern era, we have discarded this practice.
Absorbing external Gang Qi will boost a Martial Artist’s strength, but it hinders the path to becoming a Martial Saint. Besides, there isn’t a wide variety of Gang Qi available for Martial Artists to choose from these days. The martial path is a quest to find the universe within one’s own body. If your foundation relies on external things, there will always be hidden dangers..."
"[All Things Return to Origin Scripture] describes this in detail. Your foundation is solid, so for this step, all you need to do is follow the procedure..."
"Once you reach Gang Qi Perfection, you’ll need to search for an opportunity to break through to the Grandmaster realm..."
Ye Shuping suddenly stopped and stared quietly at Yu Fei.
"Once you become a Grandmaster, you will be considered to have officially completed your apprenticeship..."
"Huh? Mr. Tang is in the eighth realm and he still stays by your side, but I graduate as soon as I become a Grandmaster?"
Yu Fei was quite surprised. The old man had abundant resources. ’It’s nice and cool in the shade of a big tree,’ as they say. Until he achieved absolute power, he was more than willing to lie low under Ye Shuping’s protection.
"Oh, you," Mr. Ye said, a gentle smile on his face.
"You have a teleportation ability. Once you become a Grandmaster, I doubt even a Martial Saint could kill you. What is there to be afraid of? The world is a vast place, so go out and explore it with confidence!"
"Following the customs of the ancient sects, you have the strength and the qualification to become a world-walker for our Shenhan. Go and see what the world is really like. You can punish evil and promote good, or you can just travel and enjoy yourself. In short, as long as you don’t cause any trouble, you can do as you please!"
Ye Shuping considered himself a good judge of character. Yu Fei might be a bit of a blockhead, but deep down, he possessed a simple, genuine kindness. Letting him go out and see the world might change a great many things.
Along the way, Yu Fei voiced the question that was on his mind.
"Master, didn’t you say that the temperature in the [Red Sun Realm] is unsuitable for human life right now? Will we be okay just going in like this?"
"Rest assured. The cultivation techniques for the [Great Sun Glaze Body] were originally the supreme arts of the Celestial Yang Sect. The Red Sun Realm is their land of heritage."
Ye Shuping added, "If you think of the [Red Sun Realm] as just an open-world resource zone, your view is too narrow. This realm is a natural treasure trove for Martial Artists who practice fire or yang-attribute Cultivation Techniques. The ubiquitous high temperatures and fiery environment help Martial Artists comprehend Intent and can even provide powerful support for the Domain cultivation that comes after the Grandmaster realm."
"You must use Yang Fire as a conduit to draw the True Intent of the Great Sun into your body. So let me ask you, what is the Great Sun?"
Yu Fei answered without a moment’s hesitation:
"The Great Sun is just the sun, right? A star!"
"You’re correct, the Great Sun is a star. But have you ever considered what the galaxies in the Border Realms are like? Our home planet revolves around its sun, forming a solar system that rotates through four seasons without pause. But what kind of galactic structure do these Border Realms have?"
The question stumped Yu Fei. From any angle, the Border Realms didn’t seem to be simple star systems. Each one had its own sun, but they all varied in temperature and size. Furthermore, the realms themselves weren’t spherical like planets. It was truly hard to imagine.
Ye Shuping continued:
"Early on, we suspected the Border Realms might have the legendary structure of a ’square earth under a round sky.’ But after applying scientific methods of calculation, we determined that the suns in the Border Realms are indeed stars—and what’s more, they are all different stars!"
"Almost none of the Border Realms are structured like galaxies. Instead, they are more like unique ’vast continents’ or other spatial forms, possessing their own unique structural rules."
"Take the [Primordial Sea and Sky Realm], for instance. To uncover the secret of its floating islands, we once went to great lengths to cut several Floating Islands into pieces and transport them entirely out of the Cross-Border Black Fog. Every single piece of soil and rock was studied in detail. In the end, we discovered they were just ordinary earth and stone, possessing no inherent ability to float!"
"Furthermore, the moment we shattered a Floating Island, the dense primordial energy of heaven and earth that had gathered there would simply vanish into thin air. It’s incomprehensible!"
"Currently, we believe that these Border Realms may possess ruling forces that none of us understand. They are different from the martial path—perhaps they represent another path to supernatural power..."
"But let’s get back on topic. Only when the Red Sun Realm enters its active period and its internal temperature soars can you condense the Great Sun True Flame and grasp the True Intent of the Great Sun. It is impossible at any other time!"
"On our home planet, there’s simply no opportunity to master this Cultivation Technique. We can’t exactly send you to the edge of the sun in a spaceship, can we?"