Wu Tian had spent his first few days in the Ethereal Moon Sect quietly observing. Though he had secured a place as an inner disciple, he had yet to draw much attention, exactly as he intended.
While he cultivated in solitude, word of his effortless victory in the entrance trials had begun spreading among the other disciples. Some were skeptical, some curious, but Wu Tian ignored them all. Knowledge was power. Before he made any major moves, he needed to understand the true power structure of this world.
An Unexpected ConversationOne afternoon, while meditating in a quiet corner of the sect's training ground, Wu Tian was approached by Elder Luo Jian, a senior instructor known for his extensive knowledge of the Mortal Realm's history.
"You're from the outer suburbs, aren't you?" the elder asked, stroking his beard.
Wu Tian nodded. That was the story he had let spread. No one knew his true origins—only that he had come from a small, impoverished village.
Luo Jian chuckled. "Then I assume you don't know much about how power is structured in the Mortal Realm."
Wu Tian's expression remained calm, but he nodded again. Let the elder believe what he wanted.
Taking this as a sign of ignorance, Luo Jian began explaining. "The Mortal Realm is ruled not by kingdoms, but by power. And power is dictated by cultivation levels."
Wu Tian listened carefully.
Power Ranking in the Mortal RealmLuo Jian continued, gesturing toward the mountains beyond the sect. "Every cultivator follows the same path of ascension. However, the highest realms remain out of reach for most."
He outlined the power levels as follows:
Qi Gathering Realm (1-9 Stages) – The first step in cultivation. Barely stronger than mortals.
Foundation Establishment (Early, Mid, Late) – The building block of true cultivation, where meridians are refined and Qi manipulation begins.
Core Formation (Early, Mid, Late) – Cultivators at this stage develop Qi Cores within their dantians, vastly increasing their energy reserves.
Nascent Soul (Early, Mid, Late) – The formation of a Nascent Soul, allowing spiritual projection and limited space manipulation.
Soul Transformation (Early, Mid, Late) – A cultivator's Qi transforms into a higher state of spiritual energy, unlocking minor domain control.
Origin Lord Realm (Peak of Mortal Realm) – Considered the pinnacle of the Mortal Realm. Those at this stage are near-immortal, and their understanding of Dao deepens.
Wu Tian noted that the highest known stage was Origin Lord Realm—yet there was still more beyond that.
"What about those who ascend beyond Origin Lord?" he asked.
Luo Jian hesitated, before shaking his head. "No one knows. Some ancient masters disappear without a trace, leaving behind their legacies. Some say they reach an unknown realm… but no records exist."
Wu Tian smirked inwardly. They simply did not know about the Boundless Starsea.
Rare Daos and the Mysterious Dao of SpaceAs Luo Jian continued, he spoke of the most mysterious paths one could walk—the Dao itself.
"Many cultivators cultivate elemental Daos—Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth. Some specialize in the Grand Daos of Sword, Destruction, or Creation," the elder explained. "But among them, some Daos are nearly impossible to cultivate."
Wu Tian raised an eyebrow. He had an idea of what was coming.
"The Dao of Space," Luo Jian said, his voice lowering. "It is among the rarest paths, one that very few in history have ever been able to grasp."
Wu Tian's expression remained neutral, but his interest sharpened. Few? Then that meant there were others.
Luo Jian sighed, shaking his head. "In the entire Mortal Realm, there are only two known cultivators who can manipulate space—and their abilities are far from complete."
He listed their names:
Grandmaster Xuan Yu, an elusive figure said to live in seclusion. His control of space is weak, only allowing short-range teleportation.
Ye Qinghai, a rogue cultivator known for bending reality with spatial distortions, but unable to manipulate space freely.
Both were far from mastering the Dao of Space.
Wu Tian inwardly scoffed. Compared to him, they were like children playing with wooden swords.
The Knowledge Sea and Its AwakeningLuo Jian then changed the subject, his tone more serious. "Do you know about the Knowledge Sea?"
Wu Tian feigned curiosity. "I've heard the term, but I don't know when or how one acquires it."
The elder nodded. "The Knowledge Sea is a realm of consciousness within a cultivator's soul, where comprehension of the Dao deepens and insights manifest."
He continued, "Only cultivators who reach Nascent Soul Realm or higher have a chance of unlocking it. When a cultivator's spirit reaches a certain threshold, their mind expands, forming the Knowledge Sea."
Wu Tian already knew all of this, but hearing it confirmed the world's understanding—or rather, their lack of it.
Some geniuses unlocked their Knowledge Sea earlier due to profound enlightenment or special constitutions, but for most, it was a threshold that marked their ascension beyond ordinary limits.
Elder Luo Jian sighed. "There are rumors of those who possess a Knowledge Sea before reaching Nascent Soul, but such individuals are rarer than phoenix feathers."
Wu Tian smirked inwardly. He was one such anomaly—but no one could know.
The Hidden TruthLuo Jian continued, "It is said that those who attempt to cultivate Space either die from the backlash… or simply disappear."
Wu Tian resisted the urge to laugh. It wasn't that they disappeared. It was that they reached a level that people could no longer comprehend.
The elder finished his explanation and looked at Wu Tian curiously. "Why do you ask? Surely, you don't intend to pursue the Dao of Space?"
Wu Tian gave a slight smile. "Just curious, Elder Luo."
The old man nodded. "Curiosity is good. But beware—those who reach too far often burn themselves in the process."
Wu Tian simply bowed and left.
He had learned everything he needed.
Reflection and Future PlansThat night, Wu Tian sat alone in his courtyard, contemplating everything he had learned.
The Mortal Realm's highest cultivators believed Origin Lord was the peak.
No one knew about the Boundless Starsea.
Only two others had attempted Space cultivation, and their abilities were pitiful in comparison.
The Knowledge Sea was considered a mark of higher enlightenment, rarely appearing before Nascent Soul Realm.
He was truly alone in his path.
And that was exactly how he wanted it.
With a deep breath, he focused on his own cultivation. He had reached True Qi Formation—Mid Stage, but it was time to push forward.
His next step would be Core Formation.
As he closed his eyes and began refining his Qi, his path was clearer than ever.