During their days of cultivation on Mountain Rain Peak, Chu Lingguang and Xuanyuan Jinkang had learned from many sources—the Mental Realm evolution Skill, diagrams of the Mental Realm, related books, and even lectures from Teacher Yun Hong and others.
They learned that the Mental Realm power of the Unity of Heart and Body could allow one to cultivate the True Martial Realm to its absolute limit, and even break through to the Life and Death Realm.
Chu Lingguang had now awakened one hundred and twenty-three responses. Even Eunuch Liu admitted to himself that he and Guo Wei combined would be no match for Chu Lingguang.
At Xiazigou, Chu Lingguang had moved as if through an empty battlefield. Even the king of the Sea Demons, the Cloud Mist Flood Dragon, was easily slain by him after his breakthrough.
Originally, Chu Lingguang had imagined that even if he hadn’t reached the peak of the True Martial Realm, he couldn’t be far from it. He never expected Liu Ziyun to say that he would most likely have to awaken every single response within the fourth level of the Mental Realm just to reach that peak.
And that wasn’t even to break through.
"Perhaps I misspoke. I only wished to tell you, Chu, that the stronger one’s foundation in the True Martial Realm and the more power responses one has, the faster their cultivation will be when they step into the Qi Refining Realm and begin Introducing Qi into the Body. Their speed will be a thousand miles a day, far surpassing their peers."
Liu Ziyun noticed the change in Chu Lingguang’s expression and, worried he might be overthinking it, quickly explained.
"Lord Liu, you seem to know a great deal about Qi Refining cultivation?"
Chu Lingguang asked, looking thoughtful.
"Everyone who is bottlenecked at the True Martial Realm yearns to break through life and death and enter the Qi Refining Realm. Even if that goal seems impossibly distant, we use any free time we have to find ways to create an opportunity for ourselves. We hope that one day we can step into the Qi Refining Realm and feel just how powerful that level truly is."
Liu Ziyun explained.
Chu Lingguang was speechless for a moment. He recalled Eunuch Liu’s request that he help Xuanyuan Jinkang enter Yuanchu Mountain to cultivate.
Eunuch Liu’s deep obsession was probably because he, too, had been stuck at the True Martial Realm for years, unable to advance a single inch. He must have shared Liu Ziyun’s helpless yearning for the power of the Qi Refining Realm, which was why he pinned his hopes on Xuanyuan Jinkang, wishing for him to experience its power in his stead.
’I wonder if my master is like Eunuch Liu and Lord Liu,’ Chu Lingguang mused, ’filled with a longing for the power of the Qi Refining Realm, secretly collecting cultivation methods for a breakthrough.’
"Chu, you are young and accomplished. It’s a foregone conclusion that you will one day step into the Qi Refining Realm. My request is simple. I only hope that when you achieve Perfection in your cultivation, you will allow me to truly experience what that power feels like."
Liu Ziyun added.
"I promise you, Lord Liu. If I am ever able to enter Yuanchu Mountain and break through the True Martial Realm, I will certainly come find you to fulfill my promise."
Chu Lingguang vowed solemnly.
Just letting Liu Ziyun experience the power, rather than helping him break through, was something Chu Lingguang could do quite easily.
"Excellent. I wish you success and Perfection, and an early entry into Yuanchu Mountain to continue your cultivation."
Liu Ziyun said, raising his cup.
"Thank you. I also hope that you, Lord Liu, can one day fulfill your wish and successfully step into the Qi Refining Realm."
Chu Lingguang said, raising his cup in turn.
"Good!"
The two of them drained their cups.
"Lord Liu, as the Governor of Qingzhou Prefecture, you hold a high and powerful position. Is it possible that in all these years, you’ve never encountered an expert from the Qi Refining Realm?"
After they finished their wine, Chu Lingguang voiced the question on his mind.
Xuanyuan Jinkang was also extremely curious about the answer.
"I have seen some, yes. But those who can reach that realm are almost exclusively from Yuanchu Mountain. As for those outside the mountain, they are all busy with their own cultivation and searching for resources. Why would they bother with common folk like us?"
Liu Ziyun said with a self-deprecating laugh.
"Lord Liu, you have served in Qingzhou Prefecture for so many years. Even if not for merit, then for sheer hard work—have you never sought help from the Court?"
Xuanyuan Jinkang asked.
"The Court is exceptionally strict in its control over powers beyond the True Martial Realm. Unless you can help the Court expand its territory, you won’t be able to obtain such cultivation Skills. Even the Royal Family and Relatives must exchange merit for them."
Liu Ziyun said with a sigh of resignation.
"Why would the Court do that? If all our soldiers and generals could cultivate to the Qi Refining Realm, what would there be to fear from the paltry Turkic Kingdom?"
Xuanyuan Jinkang was completely baffled.
"At first, I thought the same as you. I felt the Court was unreasonable and utterly hidebound. It was only later that I learned that the emergence of Qi Refining Realm experts is controlled by Yuanchu Mountain and the Demon Sect."
"As soon as such a person appears in the mortal world, those two powers will use every means possible to pull them into their own factions. In the end, very few are left to serve the Court."
Liu Ziyun shook his head with a bitter smile.
"My master once said that even if the Great Yuan Dynasty falls, Yuanchu Mountain will still stand tall. For thousands of years, dynasties have risen and fallen, but no matter who holds power, Yuanchu Mountain never disappears. Now it seems the reason Yuanchu Mountain has always persisted is that it holds the path to the Qi Refining Realm firmly in its grasp. Only cultivators from Yuanchu Mountain can touch that next level, and even the Court is powerless against them."
Chu Lingguang said, the realization dawning on him.
No wonder even chosen ones like Yan Zhen and Qin Yu were fighting tooth and nail to enter Yuanchu Mountain. It turned out that if one couldn’t enter the mountain, they would lose any chance of advancing further and breaking through the True Martial Realm.
For the many cultivation geniuses who clearly possessed the talent and strength to break through but were held back by the lack of the necessary cultivation Skills, this was an unimaginable form of torture.
Driven by this power dynamic, everyone tried to find ways to earn merit for the Court. The Court, in turn, would recommend them to Yuanchu Mountain, ensuring a steady supply of outstanding young talents. This system both maintained the Court’s operations and allowed Yuanchu Mountain’s legacy to continue.