Chapter 739 - 371: Divinity Transformation Tribulation (2)

Chapter 739: Chapter 371: Divinity Transformation Tribulation (2)

"I can undo it, but I can’t guarantee what will happen after the Technique sealing the Martial Arts Realm is broken."

Cheng Zongyang’s expression grew solemn as a thought surfaced in his mind.

’Did the previous Realm Master not want the Martial Arts Realm to connect with the Realm of Ten Thousand Races? Maybe there was some taboo, and he sealed it just to protect the Martial Arts Realm?’

’The existence of other passages proves they were once connected. They were just sealed later on. What Qing Xuanzi said before also proves this point.’

’So why did the Realm Master protect the Martial Arts Realm? Was it to prevent a crisis from spreading from the Martial Arts Realm to the Realm of Ten Thousand Races, or was it to protect the Martial Arts Realm from the outside?’

He didn’t want to make a rash decision. He figured that instead of guessing blindly, he should find someone to ask.

He immediately took out the Flying Cloud Shuttle, left the Immortal City, and set off to find Qing Xuanzi. Perhaps he would know something.

About fifteen minutes later, he arrived at the Cyan Profound Sect’s encampment once more.

By making a bit of a commotion, Cheng Zongyang figured Qing Xuanzi would be able to see him, so he waited for a moment.

Sure enough, the scenery before him shifted, and a portal-like opening appeared, revealing a different vista.

Seeing this, Cheng Zongyang stepped through, and the Array Gate closed behind him.

"Realm Master, what brings you here so suddenly? Have you run into danger? Do you need my help?" Qing Xuanzi’s Spirit Body materialized before Cheng Zongyang in the next instant.

Cheng Zongyang cupped his fist. "My apologies for the disturbance, Senior. I haven’t run into danger. Rather, I wish to ask you about something."

"Please, Realm Master, ask away," Qing Xuanzi said with a smile.

"Is the Martial Arts Realm sealed?" Cheng Zongyang asked directly.

Qing Xuanzi paused, his expression tinged with surprise. He sensed Cheng Zongyang’s Cultivation and asked, puzzled, "Realm Master, with your current Cultivation, you shouldn’t be able to perceive such a sealing force. Did you hear this from the Five Great Immortal Sects?"

Cheng Zongyang hadn’t expected Qing Xuanzi to actually know the details. He quickly replied, "No, I discovered it by accident while trying to do something. What is this seal all about? Can it be undone?"

Qing Xuanzi turned and floated slowly down a path, with Cheng Zongyang following at his side.

"Realm Master, the seal on this world was the work of the previous Realm Master. It is called the ’Divinity Transformation Tribulation.’ Its sole purpose is to prevent the emergence of Divinity Transformation Cultivators in this world. It was laid down after the Realm Master left; this is what my master told me.

"He said that this world originally had no capacity for Cultivation Immortality. All of it, from the rules of Cultivation to the very Cultivation Resources, was established by the Realm Master.

"When he was here, there were not only Divinity Transformation Cultivators but even Tribulation Cultivators, and they could enter the Realm of Ten Thousand Races as well.

"After that incident, without him in control, the rules dictated that if a Divinity Transformation Realm Cultivator were to appear, a vast amount of the world’s resources would converge upon them. The resources required to promote to Divinity Transformation are simply too great. This world cannot bear such a strain.

"Thus, he laid down the Divinity Transformation Tribulation, allowing only Nascent Soul Cultivators to exist at the highest level. Anyone who surpasses the Nascent Soul Realm cannot remain in this world.

"Furthermore, my master said the Realm Master also transformed this world’s core, creating a new environment for Cultivation Immortality. However, it too can only sustain Cultivators at the Nascent Soul Realm. His purpose was to give this world’s Cultivators a path of retreat. Once the surface resources were exhausted, they could enter the Earth’s Core to continue their Cultivation."

At this, Qing Xuanzi’s expression gradually darkened.

"After the enemies from beyond our domain arrived, all the Cultivators below Divinity Transformation from the Five Great Immortal Sects—along with every Cultivation Immortality Family, power, and Loose Cultivator—were all moved into the Earth Core Cultivation Immortality Realm. All resources related to Cultivation Immortality were transferred away as well. It’s just that my master and the others were following the Realm Master to war, so they paid this no mind."

After listening, Cheng Zongyang frowned. "So if I undo the seal, those Cultivators can promote to the Divinity Transformation Realm?"

Qing Xuanzi shook his head. "No. The conditions for that no longer exist. The current surface environment, what you call the Martial Arts Realm, has absolutely no Spiritual Qi. It’s impossible. As for the Earth Core Cultivation Immortality Realm... that’s even more impossible."

At this, his voice trailed off. He stopped, seemingly remembering something, and let out a deep sigh.

"Four hundred years ago, I entered the Earth Core Cultivation Immortality Realm through the East Sea Abyss and saw the passage there that connects to the Realm of Ten Thousand Races. It must have been forced open by the shockwaves of battle. But everything in the Realm of Ten Thousand Races had vanished. All the Cultivation Resources were gone.

"People, resources—everything was gone. Every city in the entire Realm of Ten Thousand Races had been destroyed. The battle had clearly raged from beyond our domain into the Realm of Ten Thousand Races itself, causing the seal on that passage to weaken. Even back then, I knew the Realm Master and the others had failed. I just couldn’t bring myself to admit it.

"Because the Realm Master was too strong. His power was something I can hardly put into words! He was like a creator. The gap between us was like that between a common child and myself. I ask you, how could such a Realm Master possibly fail? If even he fell in battle, then how terrifyingly powerful must the enemy have been?"

After he finished, he looked at Cheng Zongyang. "So, hundreds of years ago, they didn’t have the resources to break through. After centuries of consumption, they have even less of a chance now. The Earth Core Cultivation Immortality Realm lacks the resources to elevate a Nascent Soul Cultivator to the Divinity Transformation Realm, to say nothing of the now-ruined Realm of Ten Thousand Races."

Cheng Zongyang finally understood. He pondered for a moment before asking, "So, even if I undo the seal now, it will have no effect on this world?"

"None," Qing Xuanzi said. "Unless your power reaches the level of the previous Realm Master, allowing you to change the rules and create a new environment for Cultivation Immortality, no more Divinity Transformation Cultivators will ever appear."

This put Cheng Zongyang’s mind at ease.

He had been worried that undoing the seal would cause it to loosen and release some manner of demons or monsters.

Having received a definitive answer, Cheng Zongyang felt reassured. He then changed the subject, asking about recent events. Finally, he invited Qing Xuanzi to live in the Immortal City, or even to enter the Realm of Ten Thousand Races to re-establish his sect and recruit new disciples.

He also briefly updated him on the current situation in the Realm of Ten Thousand Races.

After some thought, Qing Xuanzi politely declined, but he didn’t entirely rule out the possibility.

After all, he was somewhat interested in taking on disciples, which would allow him to pass on the legacy of the Cyan Profound Sect.

With that, Cheng Zongyang didn’t linger and returned to the Immortal City.

On the way back, while riding the Flying Cloud Shuttle, Cheng Zongyang recounted what he had learned to the Ring Spirit. He finished with a laugh, saying:

"So I guess I was worrying over nothing. To think I was concerned that undoing the seal would release some demons or monsters."

However, the Ring Spirit replied, "No, your concerns were not misplaced."

Cheng Zongyang’s smile froze, his expression turning serious. "What do you mean?"

The Ring Spirit’s tone grew grave. "If the previous Realm Master was as powerful as Qing Xuanzi claims, preventing Divinity Transformation Cultivators from appearing in the Cultivation Immortality Realm would have been a simple matter of establishing a rule. There would be absolutely no need to go to the trouble of creating a seal."

"It’s just as if you wanted to prevent Divinity Transformation Cultivators from appearing in the Realm of Ten Thousand Races; you could simply establish a rule. Would you need to waste time and effort setting up a Sealing Technique?"

Cheng Zongyang shook his head. That would indeed be redundant.

The Ring Spirit continued, "Besides, this seal doesn’t just enact the Divinity Transformation Tribulation on the Martial Arts Realm; it also blocks the passage to the Realm of Ten Thousand Races."

Realization dawned on Cheng Zongyang. "Was Qing Xuanzi lying?"

"Probably not. But it’s likely he didn’t hear the full story from his master. Or rather, he doesn’t know the real secret. Perhaps even his master was kept in the dark."

The Ring Spirit’s tone grew increasingly solemn. "Based on our previous discoveries and conclusions, the previous Realm Master knew he might be defeated. So, he set up a Sealing Technique to seal off the Realm of Ten Thousand Races, preventing the enemy from entering this world through its passages. And the Earth Core Cultivation Immortality Realm Qing Xuanzi mentioned was the path of retreat for those Cultivators.

"Qing Xuanzi merely said that the passage there was originally sealed, but was later damaged by the aftershocks of the battle and eventually opened on its own. By then, the enemy had already withdrawn."

Cheng Zongyang said, "So your analysis is that the Sealing Technique’s primary purpose is to seal the two worlds from each other, not to target Divinity Transformation? In other words, preventing the emergence of Divinity Transformation Cultivators is just a side effect of the Technique?"

"That’s most likely the case," the Ring Spirit replied.

"What will happen if I open it?" Cheng Zongyang asked again, his brow furrowed.