Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 723 - 310: Jade Light Immortal Sect (Part 2)
Previously on Cultivating with Top Enlightenment...
Ning Qi felt himself pulled into what appeared to be an isolated void, detached from the War Realm itself.
As he glanced around, the area struck Ning Qi as no larger than a single chamber, surrounded on all sides—above, below, and across north, south, east, and west—by shimmering illusory barriers that flowed like liquid, endlessly forming rippling waves.
"Will the Mountain and Sea Realm Will appear right in front of me?" Ning Qi wondered inwardly.
The undulations on the barrier ahead of him began to ease, finally settling into stillness.
Gradually, the barrier turned as clear as a sheet of ice, revealing a vague, hazy silhouette of a figure within it.
"Do you possess the assurance to keep claiming the half-enemy realm and the full enemy realm?"
The hazy silhouette uttered.
Ning Qi replied, "Provided the Realm Venerable grants me sufficient Realm Power, I hold that assurance!"
The hazy silhouette paused briefly once more before continuing:
"What amount counts as sufficient? The Venerable must oversee the Nine Great War Realms. If every one demands the Venerable supply them with ample Realm Power, then why would the Venerable require your involvement? The Venerable could simply step into the fray personally!"
Ning Qi silently observed the hazy silhouette on the barrier.
Unlike the earlier overwhelming presence, this form felt somewhat more tangible and approachable, almost lifelike.
Yet, could this truly be the projected illusion of the Mountain and Sea Realm Will?
Ning Qi stated, "I wish to pose a question to you."
"Ask away without restraint."
"Earlier, I heard from a Vast Realm cultivator that their Domain Masters have also ventured into the War Realm. Should they wield Realm Power granted by the Vast Realm Will, what countermeasures should we take?"
Such details had not been revealed by the Mountain and Sea Realm Will prior to the Spirit Realm War's outbreak.
It had merely outlined a framework of rewards and punishments, without specifying the array of possible scenarios.
Evidently, it held little regard for typical cultivators.
Communication with it was reserved for Domain Masters such as Ning Qi, and only when circumstances aligned would the Mountain and Sea Realm Will deign to provide explicit guidance.
Clearly, despite serving as Domain Master of the Profound Truth Realm, Ning Qi's value to the Mountain and Sea Realm Will remained rather minor.
After all, the Profound Truth Realm stood as just a peripheral Spirit Domain in the vast Mountain and Sea Realm.
Ignoring Ning Qi’s inquiry, the hazy silhouette responded, "If there are more questions on your mind, voice them now."
Undeterred, Ning Qi proceeded to fire off two additional queries.
"Should an enemy Domain Master unleash Spirit Realm Power inside the War Realm, the mere dozens of Realm Powers from the Realm Venerable would surely fall short against them. How can we overcome such a challenge?"
"With hundreds of Spirit Domains under the Realm Venerable's domain, how many Mountain and Sea Spirit Domains occupy the War Realm section where my Profound Truth Realm resides?"
The hazy silhouette appeared to examine Ning Qi with intense focus.
The nature of one's questions reveals their inner thoughts, gauging their vision and the scope of their perspective.
Naturally, this demands matching capability; without it, it's akin to ordinary folk debating state matters—talking brilliantly yet unable to act, amounting to empty words.
Ning Qi stood apart, having secured half an enemy realm, which gained him a measure of the Mountain and Sea Realm Will's goodwill, granting this private void for exchange.
The hazy silhouette declared:
"To your final query, the Venerable replies: nine Spirit Domains have been assigned to the Southeast War Realm in total."
"That said, encounters among you aren't guaranteed, as the Southeast War Realm splits into upper, middle, and lower zones."
"Your Profound Truth Realm occupies the Lower Realm, alongside the adjacent Fuyao Realm and Langya Domain in the same zone."
At these words, a flurry of ideas raced through Ning Qi’s thoughts.
The layout of the War Realm now lay crystal clear in his grasp.
So, the War Realm itself divided into three distinct layers.
No surprise their Profound Truth Realm ended up in the Lower Realm, explaining the Mountain and Sea Realm Will's scant attention.
Were he not the Domain Master or hadn't claimed half an enemy realm, the Mountain and Sea Realm Will likely wouldn't spare him a glance.
The Mountain and Sea Realm spanned immensely, encompassing hundreds of Spirit Domains, each harboring dozens of Sects.
To the Mountain and Sea Realm Will, the bulk of Sect cultivators served as disposable fodder to whittle down Vast Realm forces, so it naturally withheld deeper insights from such pawns.
The hazy silhouette added, "For your other inquiries, the Venerable withholds answers at present. When your power grows and you've seized additional nodes in the War Realm, the Venerable may choose to enlighten you based on developments."
"That being said, should you prove dedicated to conquering half-enemy and enemy realms, the Venerable offers an artifact for direct contact at any moment, upon which I might extend further power to you!"
Ning Qi gazed at the barrier before him, where the hazy silhouette vanished immediately after its words.
Yet, a circular emblem lingered on the surface.
Approaching, Ning Qi peeled it away and inspected it meticulously.
Crafted from some enigmatic substance—not metal, not timber—this circular emblem bore an intricate design: peaks rising above and waters flowing beneath, seamlessly merging into emblems of mountain and sea.
Click!
A sharp snap echoed, signaling Ning Qi's abrupt return to the real world.
He turned his eyes to the Profound Truth Realm forces, who remained frozen in their prior formation.
Witnessing this, Ning Qi realized the exchange with the Mountain and Sea Realm Will had unfolded in a mere blink, with virtually no time passing.
With a casual flick, Ning Qi sent the Sea and Mountain Mark twirling through the air a few rotations before snatching it back.
A trace of enigma flickered across Ning Qi’s face at that instant.
Excellent—he had edged nearer to genuine communion with the Mountain and Sea Realm Will!
Surveying the Profound Truth Realm troops poised for his command, Ning Qi retrieved the Soul-Searching Plate and channeled spiritual power into it.
Its inner needle, forged from spirit sword essence, emitted a resounding "clang" and whirled ceaselessly across the plate.