The gentle breeze carried with it the scent of damp vegetation, mingled with the spiritual density that seemed to fill the air like a living mist. Jun Tian walked calmly along the ancient path leading to the inner part of the Secret Realm. Silvery moss covered the ground and was shimmering under the bluish light of the natural spiritual formations, while from a distance, rivers of energy floated like translucent ribbons.
The silence was close to being sacrosanct, save the soft sound of his breathing and the rustling of leaves.
He felt his body different: light yet firm as a mountain; progress had fortified every cell, and the spiritual energy within his dantian pulsated in perfect harmony. It was as if the world around him recognized him as part of it.
In this moment, a gentle brightness shone beside him. A reflection of energy took shape from the middle of his chest, and Yue Lian emerged after a few moments. Her translucent white robes moved with the grace of waves as her ethereal figure floated; serenity filled her gaze, curiosity and tenderness meeting Jun Tian's.
"It would appear this advancement has brought you more than mere power," she said softly, her voice melodious. "Body and soul are in rare harmony within you.
Jun Tian took a deep breath, and the Qi moved naturally in the meridians.
"I feel different… it's as if everything is clearer. The air, the plants, even the sound of the energy around me." He looked into the sky and added, "But there's still something that escapes me. Even with this advancement, I feel I'm still at the beginning of something much greater."
Yue Lian silently stared at him for some time. A faint light flickered within her eyes, as if she had seen something that even he himself did not comprehend.
"That's natural. You've touched the threshold of true cultivation." To many, the Spiritual Foundation Realm is just one step above Formation, but it is really where the true path starts.
Jun Tian glanced at her curiously.
"The true path?"
She nodded slightly.
"Yes. You have heard of the mortal cultivation realms, but what do you know about their limits?"
Jun Tian thought for a while. "I only know up to the Nascent Soul Realm. They say at that time, the cultivator manages to make their soul take form and wander freely. Above that, I have only heard legends and rumors."
"Then allow me to clarify," Yue Lian replied, twirling slightly in the air. Spiritual petals began to fall around them, floating slowly as her voice echoed softly, yet deeply. "Cultivation is a path that attempts to defy heaven, and each realm is an attempt to understand and master one of the laws of existence."
She raised her hand, and a screen of light appeared, projecting images formed from pure spiritual energy.
"The first level is the Qi Gathering Realm (1.1–1.10). In it, the body learns to absorb spiritual Qi from the environment. The cultivator is still mortal, adapting to the energy. Generally, it takes fifty to eighty years for someone to fully traverse it."
The images showed a young man breathing under a cascade of energy, Qi flowing in and out of his body in a disordered manner.
— The second realm is the Qi Condensation Realm (2.1–2.10). In this, the Qi will be focused inside the internal channels, thus giving one the first true control. The cultivator begins to outline the shape of their dantian.
Jun Tian watched with attention, vividly remembering how hard it was for him to break through into that realm.
Yue Lian continued:
—The third is the Formation Establishment Realm (3.1–3.10). The body becomes a firm receptacle. Qi ceases to be merely dispersed energy and begins to support the foundation for spiritual techniques.
She paused and then a slight smile formed on her lips.
— The fourth is the Spiritual Foundation Realm (4.1–4.10) — the stage that you are in. Here, the cultivator awakens the beginning of the spiritual soul. The energy no longer serves only for the strengthening of the body but begins to touch the essence of consciousness.
Jun Tian crossed his arms, looking thoughtful.
— So that's why everything seems more alive. as if the whole world had a soul.
— Precisely — confirmed Yue Lian. — From now on, the cultivator realizes that the true opponent is not the body, but the mind and soul.
As the hand moved once again, the images within the spiritual light began to change.
— The fifth stage is Core Formation, 5.1–5.10: Qi would be transformed into pure essence and condensed into a Spiritual Core. This core is the source of all the power for a cultivator; it is a representation of one's own inner law.
Jun Tian stared intently at the golden core that emerged in the projection, slowly rotating.
— So this core is like a second heart.
— Yes. And from there comes the Golden Core, from 6.1 to 6.10, when the core is stabilized and the spiritual energy becomes as solid as metal. That is where advanced techniques and mastery of one's own Qi take place. The image changed again, revealing the cultivator in an aura of gold.
— The seventh realm is the Soul Formation (7.1–7.10). The soul begins to take independent form within the body, allowing the cultivator to create techniques based on their own consciousness.
Jun Tian frowned, absorbing each word.
— So… up to this point, the body is still the primary vessel.
— Correct. But in the eighth realm, the Nascent Soul (8.1–8.10), the body and soul begin to merge. The cultivator can project their soul outward, act through it, and even temporarily inhabit other bodies. This is the limit that most cultivators in the lower world know.
She paused for a moment, as if pondering whether or not to continue. Jun Tian, however, maintained a steady gaze.
— And after that? — she asked.
Yue Lian smiled slightly.
— After that come the forgotten realms. Few mortals know of them, and even fewer are able to comprehend them.
The projection of light expanded, and the surrounding air became denser.
— The ninth realm is that of Soul Transformation (9.1–9.10). Here, soul and body become one. The cultivator approaches the true essence of existence, and their very presence can alter the environment.
Jun Tian felt a shiver run down his spine.
Yue Lian continued:
— The tenth is the realm of Transcendence (Divine Soul) (10.1–10.10). The cultivator breaks through the limits of mortality. Their soul becomes "eternal," and they are able to touch the laws of the universe. These are the so-called "conditional mortals," those who can defy heaven.
The aura around Yue Lian intensified as she spoke the next words.
— And the eleventh… the Realm of Soul Ascension (11.1–11.10). At this point, the cultivator projects their soul beyond the mortal realm and touches the threshold of immortality. It is the transition between the lower and upper worlds.
The silence was thick. Jun Tian did not move a muscle, the weight of the revelation still on him.
After some time, he took a deep breath and said,
"So… even what I thought was the pinnacle is only the beginning of something much greater."
"The path is infinite," Yue Lian replied softly. "And yours… is even more unpredictable. Your spiritual foundation is different. By breaking through the boundaries of the second realm and reaching 2.13, you have molded a body that does not belong to this world."
Jun Tian did not say a word. For a while, he had an odd combination of humility and ambition.
She watched him, her eyes reflecting the brilliance of the spiritual formations.
"The greater the power, the heavier the burden," she said finally. "You tread a path that few would dare to follow, Jun Tian."
He nodded slowly, a calm smile forming on his face.
"Then I'll just keep going. Whatever is at the end, I'll see it with my own eyes."
They had walked a while until they came out into a clearing around a lake, where the water was crystal clear with reflections of the spiritual moon dancing on its surface. Jun Tian sat down on the shore and wrapped himself in silence.
For a few minutes, there was only the soft sound of water. Yue Lian swam close and watched him silently, a distant expression on her face.
Jun Tian suddenly lifted his head, his eyes narrowing.
"Did you feel that?"
The air around seemed to vibrate. A spiritual wave swept across the ground almost imperceptibly, yet laden with an ancient presence. Yue Lian looked in the same direction as him toward the far center of the Secret Realm.
"Something… responded to your ascent," she whispered. "Something which had been very long asleep."
Jun Tian frowned, trying to feel the disturbance again, but it had already vanished.
Yue Lian knew that this was not an illusion.
As the silence fell again at the lake, a last sentence was heard softly through the narration:
In the forgotten depths of the central area of the Secret Kingdom, the remnant soul slowly opened its eyes and the spirit world trembled accordingly.