Chapter 722: Nine Refining Realms

The battle had finally drawn to a close.

Of the ten great Super-powers, the Celestial Essence Commerce Association—from its president down to its elite experts—had been utterly wiped out.

The Demon Flood Dragon Race, the Sea Dragon Race, and the Yaksha Race had also lost powerful experts in the fighting.

The Four Great Pirate Kings had all submitted to Jiang Chen.

After this battle…

The balance of power across the entire Azure Sky Sea had been completely overturned.

And the man at the center of it all—Jiang Chen—had used this battle to become the new Overlord of the Azure Sky Sea!

Now, the undisputed Overlords of the Azure Sky Sea were Heaven’s Edge Sea Pavilion, the Demon Flood Dragon Race, the Yaksha Race, the Sea Dragon Race, and the Mermaid Clan.

Jiang Chen’s name would soon sweep across the entire Azure Sky Sea.

A name that had become taboo!

Of course, Jiang Chen himself was unaware of all this.

At that moment, at Duann Tianya’s invitation, Jiang Chen was sitting with him and Hai Zheng inside Heaven’s Edge Sea Pavilion.

Hai Zheng savored the delicacies on the table, smacked his lips, and said, “You humans really know how to enjoy life! It’s nothing like us from the Sea Dragon Race. The best we can do is just roast our meat…”

As he spoke, he picked up a roasted beast leg and began to wolf it down.

Duann Tianya chuckled. “If you like the food, Brother Hai, I can pick out a few of my best chefs and send them to you later!”

“Haha, in that case, my thanks, Master Duann!” Hai Zheng laughed heartily.

His gaze then swept over to Jiang Chen. “I never would have guessed, kid! You’re so damn strong that even Yebo couldn’t handle you. Incredible!”

Jiang Chen gave a wry smile. “Please don’t make fun of me, Senior. If I hadn’t had a physical breakthrough inside Unrivaled Sword Valley, Yebo would have blasted me to smithereens long ago!”

“Oh? Now that you mention it, that reminds me. Unrivaled Sword Valley is rich in Dragon Qi,” Hai Zheng said, his interest piqued. “You must have tempered your body with it to reach your current state, correct?”

Jiang Chen nodded.

“More than just tempering with Dragon Qi,” Duann Tianya said. “This young brother of mine absorbed an entire pool of Dragon Blood!”

HISS!

Hai Zheng sucked in a sharp breath, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Chen with disbelief.

He, of course, knew about the Flood Dragon Duann Tianya had slain—a creature that had been on the verge of transforming into a True Dragon. The energy contained within its Dragon Blood was so immense that not even an Emperor Realm Sea Dragon would dare to absorb it so recklessly. After all, while Dragon Blood possessed supreme power, it was far too volatile and incompatible with one’s own bloodline.

It had to be absorbed with extreme caution, and all impurities had to be purged.

He shook his head and sighed. “It’s a shame you’re not a member of my Sea Dragon Race.”

Jiang Chen shrugged, raised his wine cup, and addressed them both. “I thank you for your help this time. In the future, if you ever need me, I will not refuse as long as it’s within my power to help!”

“Haha, that’s what I was waiting to hear! Just don’t forget to give my Sea Dragon Race some of that young dragon’s Essence Blood!” Hai Zheng said.

Duann Tianya simply smiled.

After a few more rounds of drinks…

Hai Zheng looked toward Duann Tianya, his gaze intense, and said in a low voice, “Master Duann, if I’m not mistaken, your domain has already reached the Third Refinement, hasn’t it?”

“I just reached the Third Refinement not long ago,” Duann Tianya replied with a smile.

Hai Zheng looked at him with admiration. “Incredible! It seems that aside from my clan’s First Ancestor and the foremost Supreme Elders of the Demon Flood Dragon and Yaksha Races, you, Duann Tianya, are now the strongest in the Azure Sky Sea!”

Duann Tianya just chuckled, not responding to the praise.

Jiang Chen looked confused. ‘Domain Third Refinement?’

Hai Zheng paused, then slapped his forehead with a laugh. “I forgot Brother Jiang only recently entered the Emperor Realm. This Domain Third Refinement is actually part of the process of breaking through to the Demigod Realm. You should know that for an Emperor Realm expert to become a Demigod, they need to merge their domain into the Dao Origin Void, then carve out a space within it to evolve a Small World, right?”

Jiang Chen nodded. He was, of course, familiar with this fundamental knowledge.

Hai Zheng continued, “Ordinary Emperor Realm experts, upon reaching Emperor Realm Perfection, will choose to fuse their domain with the Dao Origin Void and evolve a Small World. However, some geniuses choose to first refine their domain to its absolute limit before breaking through to the Demigod Realm…”

As Hai Zheng explained, Jiang Chen gradually began to understand.

Emperor Realm Perfection.

It signified that one’s grasp of a Mystical Technique had reached the Tier Ten level. The next step was to master the Power of Law.

But the Laws were immensely powerful!

They were not something a physical body or a domain could withstand on its own.

Therefore…

To become a Demigod, one had to evolve a Small World to bear the Power of Law.

Among Demigods, the strength of one’s Small World determined the strength of the Demigod. When condensing a Small World, some peerless geniuses would choose to form multiple Small Worlds before ascending to the Demigod Realm.

But the more Small Worlds one had, the greater the backlash and the higher the toll on one’s body.

Thus…

Some Martial Artists who wished to walk the ultimate path would choose to refine and enhance their domain instead!

“This method of Domain Condensation is also known as the *Nine Refining Realms*. It means that a domain can be refined a maximum of nine times. Nine is the absolute limit; any more, and you will suffer divine retribution. In the history of Zhongzhou, there have been countless peerless prodigies, even Invincible Venerables, who attempted a tenth refinement. None of them survived. They all died on that path. Therefore, in Zhongzhou, and indeed the entire Qiankun Continent, the highest recorded achievement is the Domain Ninth Refinement!”

Duann Tianya elaborated, “However, the more times a domain is refined, the more difficult it becomes to form a Small World. That’s why ordinary Martial Artists don’t choose to refine their domains. Only geniuses who aspire to walk the ultimate path will choose this road!”

As he spoke, a Jade Scroll appeared in Duann Tianya’s hand. He passed it to Jiang Chen and said with a smile, “This is the Secret Technique for the *Nine Refining Realms*. With your talent, you are bound to walk this path one day!”

Hai Zheng nodded in agreement.

Jiang Chen gave Duann Tianya a grateful look, took the Jade Scroll for the *Nine Refining Realms*, and immediately absorbed its contents right in front of them.

Jiang Chen’s eyes lit up.

‘I am destined to walk the ultimate path. I must cultivate this *Nine Refining Realms*!’

However…

‘All of this will have to wait until I reach Emperor Realm Perfection,’ he thought.

Just then…

Zuo Yu’s voice came from outside the door. “Master, I’ve brought Duann Yu!”

“Let him in,” Duann Tianya said flatly.

“Yes, sir!”

Zuo Yu led a pale-faced Duann Yu before them. The moment Duann Yu saw Jiang Chen, his legs began to tremble. He looked at Duann Tianya with a bitter expression. “Father, I greet you. Senior Hai Zheng, I greet you. And…” He looked at Jiang Chen, his face a mask of conflict, unsure of how to address him.

Duann Tianya snorted coldly. “Jiang Chen is a brother to your father!”

Duann Yu’s heart skipped a beat. With a face full of bitterness, he respectfully called out, “Duann Yu greets Uncle Jiang!”

That single word, “Uncle,” made Duann Yu grit his teeth so hard he thought they would shatter.

He had once dreamed of torturing Jiang Chen, of making him beg for a death that would never come. And now? Now he had to stand respectfully before the man and call him *Uncle*?

The humiliation made Duann Yu wish he could dig a hole and crawl into it.

Duann Tianya looked at Jiang Chen. “Younger Brother Jiang, this son of mine is poorly disciplined and has offended you. You decide how he should be punished.”

“Father…” Duann Yu began anxiously, but a single cold glare from Duann Tianya silenced him.

He looked at Jiang Chen, his heart filled with dread.

Jiang Chen found it rather amusing. ‘This Duann Yu used to be so arrogant, looking down his nose at everyone. Who’d have thought he’d now have to call me ‘Uncle’? And that his life and death are mine to decide?’

A playful smile touched the corner of his lips. He adopted the air of an elder and said, “Brother Duann, let’s just forget it. Young Yu is still a child, after all, and easily led astray. The real culprit behind this was Ma Kun. Ah, Young Yu,” he said, turning to the boy, “you must remember in the future that some people simply aren’t worth associating with. Understand?”

This was clearly the tone of an elder scolding a junior!

Duann Yu clenched his jaw, his eyes filled with rage and hatred.

Duann Tianya snorted again. “Have you still not thanked your Uncle Jiang?”

“Duann Yu… thanks… Uncle Jiang…” Duann Yu forced the words out through gritted teeth.

Jiang Chen nodded sagely.

Duann Tianya then declared, “From this day forward, you are confined to Heaven’s Edge Pavilion for secluded cultivation. You will not emerge until you break through to the Human Emperor realm!”

“Yes!”

Duann Yu didn’t dare defy his father’s command. With a dark expression, he turned and left.

Jiang Chen sipped his fine wine. ‘This feeling of being called ‘Uncle’ isn’t half bad,’ he mused.