The mysterious silence that had filled the manor's corridor was now being left far behind. Elder Wang Shen, the City Lord, and Yan Kai Long remained there, locked in a profound debate over the philosophical intricacies of the 'Nameless Technique.'
Ye Fang offered one final respectful bow, like a devoted disciple, and retreated toward his chamber with measured, calm steps. His composure was so absolute it seemed as though he was heading into a deep state of meditation. But the moment he closed the heavy wooden door and slid the bolt home, his "Profound Sage" mask vanished in an instant.
"Phew! My life is saved!"
Standing in the center of the room, Ye Fang let out a long, weary sigh. He immediately tried to wipe the soot from his face with his sleeve. Strangely, as the immense pressure of the corridor faded, the deep crimson hue in his eyes—which had flared from the stone's explosion and the clash of mysterious energies—gradually receded. His pupils returned to their normal state.
He washed his face with water from a basin in the corner. As he caught his reflection in the mirror, a sudden wave of guilt and confusion washed over him.
'Man...' Ye Fang thought, running a hand through his damp hair, 'I don't know what's happening to me since I arrived in this world. I keep calling Elder Wang Shen "Old Man" or "Uncle" in my head. He is vastly superior to me in age, experience, and strength. He respected me, gave me shelter in his manor, and yet I was being so disrespectful in my thoughts? Is this God-Demon physique making my consciousness too aggressive and arrogant?'
Suddenly, a blue light shimmered in the quiet air. The Little System manifested right before him, floating effortlessly. This time, she had adjusted her nightdress, and her face wore its trademark mischievous and sharp smile.
"Aya, Host! Finally realizing your mistakes?" the System chirped, circling him in the air. "Honestly, I should have given you an Oscar for that 'Nameless Technique' nonsense. What a masterful web of lies you spun!"
Ye Fang took a deep breath, his expression becoming uncharacteristically serious. "System, stop joking. I need to know something very important. When I was with Elder Wang Shen, they were discussing Steps and Realms of cultivation. They mentioned the 'Mythical Reaper Soul' and the 'Third Step.' I know nothing of this world's power hierarchy. Can you explain the levels of strength here? And where does Elder Wang Shen himself stand?"
Seeing the genuine hunger for knowledge in Ye Fang's eyes, the Little System's attitude shifted toward seriousness. She sat cross-legged in the air, expanded her blue holographic screen, and spoke gravely:
"Very well, Host. Since you have now plunged deep into this world, this knowledge is vital for your survival. In this vast Tianxia Continent and the infinite cosmos beyond, the path of cultivation is not a straight line. It is divided into 5 Steps. Each Step contains several profound and terrifying Realms. Listen carefully, for I shall detail them for you."
The First Step: The Limit of Mortality
"Host, this is the initial phase where every ordinary mortal begins their journey. It is often called the 'Boundary of Flesh.' It consists of seven distinct realms:"
Body Tempering: Here, the practitioner tempers their bones, skin, and muscles until they are as hard as refined steel. This is the foundation; without a powerful body, one cannot withstand the spiritual energy (Qi) to come.
Qi Condensation: At this stage, the seeker learns to draw natural energy, or 'Qi,' from the environment and condense it within their Dantian.
Foundation Establishment: The gaseous Qi in the Dantian is compressed into a liquid state. This forms the bedrock for all future growth. The first warrior you faced in the arena, Chen Hu, was at this level.
Golden Core: The liquid energy solidifies into a hard, Golden Core. Reaching this stage grants the practitioner a lifespan of centuries and the ability to tread upon the air. Yan Kai Long is currently at the peak of this realm.
Spiritual Ring: Spiritual energy rings begin to form around the practitioner's Dantian. These rings serve as both a supreme defense and a massive multiplier of their power. City Lord Wang Long is at the 'Spiritual Ring Peak.'
Body Integration: The cultivator merges their soul and physical body into a singular entity. The body itself becomes a vessel of pure energy.
Tribulation Transcendence: The final and most perilous hurdle of the First Step. The practitioner must face the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation. If they survive, they shatter the shackles of the mortal world and ascend to the Second Step.
Second step :
"When a cultivator transcends the First Step," the Little System continued, her voice echoing with a celestial resonance, "they rise above the category of mere mortals and begin to perceive the fundamental laws of the cosmos. This phase consists of six terrifying realms:"
Light and Dark Manifestation: The cultivator internalizes the duality of the universe—the laws of light and darkness, creation and destruction. They no longer just use energy; they embody it.
Star Shattering: "Host, pay close attention! The man standing before you, Elder Wang Shen, is at the early stage of this very realm." The System's screen flickered with a visual of a star cracking under pressure. "A cultivator at this level is so potent that a single thought or a stray surge of their energy can make minor stars and celestial bodies tremble. They can wipe entire cities off the map with a flick of their wrist. This is exactly why the entire marketplace was paralyzed under the mere weight of his 'Divine Sense'!"
Mahayana: At this stage, the seeker's existence expands beyond physical constraints. They can travel across vast distances using nothing but the sheer force of their consciousness.
Dao Manifestation: The cultivator begins to directly perceive and shape the Dao—the primordial truth and the 'Way' of the universe. They are no longer subjects of the laws; they become the architects.
Nirvana: This is the realm of total purification. The old identity, the physical husk, and the heavy chains of Karma are incinerated, allowing the soul to establish itself in a state of supreme, divine serenity.
Divine Transformation: The cultivator's entire being is fundamentally reconstructed into a divine form. At this point, they no longer belong to the mortal realms. They are entities of pure divinity.
Third Step:
The Little System whispered, her voice tinged with a rare gravity, "Is where a cultivator transcends the visible world and seizes authority over the unseen powers of the Void. It is often called the 'Threshold of Immortality.' This step consists of seven soul-shaking realms:"
Void Sensing: The practitioner begins to perceive the primordial emptiness—the Void—that exists between all things in the universe.
Void Refining: The cultivator absorbs the chaotic energy of the Void into their body and refines it into a power that defies common logic.
Mythical Reaper Soul: "Yes, Host, this is the very name that made Elder Wang Shen tremble in absolute terror!" The System's avatar shuddered. "He believes that the Master standing behind you resides at this level. At this stage, a cultivator's soul becomes so potent that it acts like a God of Death (Reaper). They can annihilate the soul of any lower-level practitioner with a single, cold glance."
Nirvana Rebirth: Here, the cultivator achieves total victory over death. Even if their physical body is reduced to dust, they can reconstruct their entire existence using the energy of the Void.
Void Core: An ultra-dense core containing the collective power of the Void is established within the practitioner, becoming their new source of life.
Void King: One becomes the sovereign of the Void dimension itself. At this peak, a cultivator possesses the terrifying ability to warp both Space and Time.
Void Tribulation: The final, cataclysmic trial. To enter the true empire of Immortality, one must survive the apocalyptic judgments of the Void.
After revealing the terrifying depths of the Third Step, the Little System suddenly went silent. A heavy, suffocating stillness filled the chamber. She deactivated her glowing holographic screens and turned her gaze toward Ye Fang, her expression uncharacteristically grim.
Ye Fang, who had been listening as if spellbound, felt a surge of restlessness. The hunger for more—for the ultimate truth—burned in his eyes.
"Hey! Why did you stop?" Ye Fang asked, his voice laced with agitation. "What's wrong now? Tell me about the remaining two steps! What are Step 4 and Step 5? Just how god-like are the beings who stand at those peaks?"
The Little System let out a cold, weary sigh and slowly shook her head. Her voice took on a tone of absolute authority.
"My apologies, Host. The remaining two phases—Step 4 and Step 5—are currently 'Locked' for you."
"What? Locked?!" Ye Fang nearly leaped out of his skin. "Why? Why can't you tell me? I am your Host! I have every right to know the limits of power in this universe!"
"Yes, Host. They are completely sealed," the System replied in a flat, mechanical tone. "The information regarding those realms is so potent that at your current cultivation level, merely hearing of them could shatter your consciousness. They are the 'Absolute Forbidden Secrets' of this cosmos. Until you reach at least the peak of the Third Step, my database will not grant access to those files."
Ye Fang slumped back onto his bed, his mind spinning in a vortex of shock and wonder. He realized with a jolt that he had only just dipped his toes into the shallow edge of the shore, while the true ocean of cultivation was infinitely deep and terrifyingly vast.
'Step 5...' he mused, a chill running down his spine. 'If a being at Step 2 can make the stars tremble, what in the heavens does a Step 5 cultivator do? Do they balance entire universes on the tips of their fingers?'