Four months of silence had changed many things.
Fang Lin had entered the Spirit Foundation Realm. His Nine Nether Phantom Body had reached Greater Mastery. His life force had awakened into Nether Life Spirit Qi, and the death force born from the Nine Abyss Shadow Scripture had condensed into Abyssal Death Shadow.
Yet after breaking through, Fang Lin did not immediately leave the valley.
He stayed for seven more days.
Not to cultivate. But, to read.
Inside the cave behind the waterfall, Fang Lin sat cross-legged with several jade slips and map fragments spread before him. Most of them had come from the storage rings of Lu Han, Yan Chi, and Guo Zhen. A few had belonged to ordinary disciples of the three Rivercloud sects.
Before this, his understanding of the Demon Immortal Continent had been shallow.
He knew it was vast. He knew it contained countless sects, clans, ruins, danger zones, and cultivation cities. He knew Rivercloud City was only a small corner of it.
But now, after reading through the jade slips, the true scale of the continent slowly opened before him.
Starry River Planet had multiple continents.
The Demon Immortal Continent was only one of them.
Yet even one continent was enormous, large enough to contain mortal kingdoms, cultivation cities, ancient ruins, forbidden lands, sect territories, hidden clans, spirit beast regions, and old battlefields left behind by powers long destroyed.
The Green Bamboo Sect, which had once seemed large to Fang Lin, was only a subordinate sect in Green County.
Above it stood a greater force.
Thousand Leaf Immortal Sect.
Fang Lin's eyes paused on the name.
He remembered seeing it before. Back when he first left Mylan Village, the background of the Green Bamboo Sect had been mentioned briefly. At that time, he had not understood what it meant.
Now he did.
The Thousand Leaf Immortal Sect was one of the peak powers of the Demon Immortal Continent. It stood above countless smaller sects, and the Green Bamboo Sect was only one branch beneath its wider influence.
A leaf beneath a larger tree.
Fang Lin continued reading.
The jade slip first described the cultivation realms known across the Demon Immortal Continent.
The first true cultivation realm was the Qi Conjunction Realm.
In this realm, cultivators began sensing spiritual Qi properly and merging it into their meridians, dantian, flesh, and spiritual pathways. Most outer sect disciples remained within this stage.
Qi Conjunction was divided into Early Qi Conjunction, Middle Qi Conjunction, Late Qi Conjunction, and Peak Qi Conjunction. It strengthened the physical body, allowed cultivators to use Qi techniques, improved speed and senses, opened spiritual perception slightly, and formed the basic combat foundation of a cultivator.
The average lifespan of a Qi Conjunction cultivator was around one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty years.
Fang Lin had already crossed this realm.
But he knew clearly that his Qi Conjunction Realm had not been ordinary. The grey seed, the Nine Nether Phantom Body, the Soul Metamorphosis Technique, and the Nine Abyss Shadow Scripture had all tempered his foundation into something far deeper than what ordinary cultivators could understand.
The second realm was the Spirit Foundation Realm.
Cultivators at this stage stabilized and solidified their spiritual foundation. Their dantian became far stronger and could store enormous amounts of Qi compared to Qi Conjunction cultivators. Inner sect disciples mainly existed within this realm. Spirit sense can be awakened in the Spirit Foundation realm, which was essential to break into the Core formation realm.
Spirit Foundation was divided into Early Spirit Foundation, Middle Spirit Foundation, Late Spirit Foundation, and Peak Spirit Foundation. Short flight became possible. Divine sense expanded greatly. Spiritual weapons could be used properly. The body and soul stabilized further, and Qi began gaining elemental attributes.
The average lifespan was around two hundred to three hundred years.
Fang Lin slowly looked inward.
Spirit Foundation Realm.
He had finally stepped into it.
His foundation was not only made of Qi. It carried body, soul, frost, shadow, life, death, and cosmic energy. This was his true advantage.
The third realm was the Core Formation Realm.
At this level, the cultivator condensed spiritual Qi into a Spiritual Core inside the dantian. This realm marked the true beginning of powerful cultivators. Sect elders and powerful clan leaders usually belonged here. One cannot enter Core Formation without Spirit Sense.
Core Formation was divided into Early Core Formation, Middle Core Formation, Late Core Formation, and Peak Core Formation. Cultivators at this stage possessed massive Qi reserves, could fly across long distances, and their spiritual pressure alone could become deadly. Their divine sense could cover entire mountains, and powerful Core Formation cultivators could destroy cities with ease.
Their average lifespan was around five hundred years.
Fang Lin's expression remained calm.
The six elders outside the Demon Sealing Ruins had been Core Formation cultivators. At that time, he could not fight them.
Even now, after entering Spirit Foundation, he still could not.
The fourth realm was the Spirit Manifestation Realm.
At this stage, the cultivator's soul and spiritual energy began manifesting externally. Spirit Manifestation cultivators could control spiritual manifestations, spirit beasts, elemental avatars, and powerful projections.
The sub-stages were Early Spirit Manifestation, Middle Spirit Manifestation, Late Spirit Manifestation, and Peak Spirit Manifestation. Soul attacks became possible. Spiritual avatars could form. Weaker cultivators could be suppressed instantly. Regeneration became stronger, and perception increased massively.
The average lifespan was around eight hundred to one thousand years.
Fang Lin's gaze lingered here for a moment.
Soul attacks.
Spiritual manifestations.
His Soul Metamorphosis Technique was already unusual. Lu Han, Yan Chi, and Guo Zhen had discovered that his soul power was strange, but they were already dead, so that secret had died with them.
Perhaps when he reached Spirit Manifestation Realm, the true terror of that technique would begin to show.
The fifth realm was the Domain Forging Realm.
Cultivators at this level forged personal Domains. Inside their Domains, their strength increased dramatically while enemies were suppressed. This realm separated true powerhouses from ordinary cultivators.
Domain Forging was divided into Early Domain Forging, Middle Domain Forging, Late Domain Forging, and Peak Domain Forging. Domain suppression, elemental territory control, the beginning of spatial influence, and overwhelming battle advantage all belonged to this realm. Powerful cultivators at this stage could destroy mountains casually.
The average lifespan was around one thousand five hundred years.
Fang Lin thought of Lu Han's River Sword Domain.
That had only been a crude domain-like technique.
Not a true Domain.
A real Domain Forging cultivator would be completely different.
The sixth realm was the Law Comprehension Realm.
Cultivators at this stage began comprehending fragments of universal Laws. Sword Law, Wind Law, Space Law, Fire Law, Death Law, and even fragments of Time all belonged to this level.
This realm was extremely difficult. Many cultivators remained trapped here forever, unable to take another step.
Its stages were Initial Law Comprehension, Lesser Law Mastery, Greater Law Mastery, and Peak Law Integration. Law attacks could ignore ordinary defenses. Reality itself began bending slightly. Space distortion appeared, the soul became extremely powerful, and cultivators at this stage often became rulers of entire regions.
The average lifespan was around three thousand years.
Fang Lin's eyes moved slightly at the words Death Law.
The Abyssal Death Shadow was still only a seed, a faint death force born from the Nine Abyss Shadow Scripture. But if death force could one day become Death Law, then the path before him was far wider than he had imagined.
The seventh realm was the Sovereign Awakening Realm.
The cultivator awakened their Sovereign Origin.
At this stage, cultivators began becoming living legends. Their will alone could suppress weaker beings.
Sovereign Awakening was divided into Early Sovereign Awakening, Middle Sovereign Awakening, Late Sovereign Awakening, and Peak Sovereign Awakening. Massive soul pressure, command over heaven and earth Qi, territory-wide suppression, spirit body transformation, and minor reality manipulation all appeared at this level.
The average lifespan exceeded five thousand years.
Fang Lin slowly closed the jade slip.
For a long time, he did not speak.
The road was long.
Very long.
The Spirit Foundation Realm, which once felt distant, was only the second step. Above him stood Core Formation, Spirit Manifestation, Domain Forging, Law Comprehension, and Sovereign Awakening.
And beyond those, perhaps there were even greater realms not recorded in these jade slips.
His current strength was still small.
But his heart did not sink.
Instead, his eyes became calmer.
The farther the road, the more answers waited at the end of it.
After the cultivation realms, the jade slips described the major forces of the Demon Immortal Continent.
The forces were divided into several levels.
Small local sects ruled towns, villages, and mountain regions. Their strongest cultivators were usually Spirit Foundation or early Core Formation. Rivercloud City's three sects belonged near the upper end of this level.
River Sword Sect.
Crimson Flame Hall.
Black Mountain Gate.
They looked powerful locally, but on the scale of the continent, they were not true giants.
Above local sects were regional sects. These controlled large cities, resource lands, mines, and multiple smaller sects. Their elders often reached Core Formation, and some had Spirit Manifestation experts hidden behind them.
Above regional sects were major powers. These influenced entire regions of the continent and possessed subordinate sects, branch forces, allied clans, trade networks, and disciples spread across many territories.
Above them stood the peak continent powers.
These were the forces whose names made ordinary sects lower their heads.
Thousand Leaf Immortal Sect was one of them.
Fang Lin read the listed names silently.
Thousand Leaf Immortal Sect.
Heavenly Sword Lake.
Scarlet Sun Palace.
Black Tortoise Mountain.
Moon Reflection Valley.
Ancient Beast Hall.
Silent Night Pavilion.
Hundred Formation Tower.
Pill Dawn Sect.
Demon Suppression Temple.
Each name represented a power far above Rivercloud City.
Some were righteous.
Some were cruel.
Some were neutral.
Some waited and watched until profit became clear.
The Thousand Leaf Immortal Sect was described as a major righteous power. Its main colors were green and white, with leaf-shaped emblems and layered robe patterns. Its disciples were known for strong foundations, refined techniques, and strict internal law. It specialized in wood, life, wind, and sword branches.
The Green Bamboo Sect belonged beneath its influence.
Fang Lin's gaze paused.
The unknown senior who had appeared outside the Demon Sealing Ruins had worn plain white robes and carried a cloud-shaped jade pendant. The jade slip mentioned that the Thousand Leaf Immortal Sect sometimes sent wandering elders to inspect subordinate regions, observe ruins, and prevent lower sects from damaging the sect's reputation.
Fang Lin's eyes deepened.
So that old man had likely come from the Thousand Leaf Immortal Sect.
That explained why the six Core Formation elders had become silent.
That explained why the Rivercloud sects had not dared to continue their massacre.
The old man had not needed to attack.
His identity alone had been enough.
Fang Lin continued reading.
Heavenly Sword Lake was a peak sword power. Its disciples wore white and blue robes marked by a sword-lake emblem. Their aura was often silver-blue, sharp, cold, and pure.
Scarlet Sun Palace cultivated fire and light techniques. Its disciples wore red-gold robes and carried radiant sun emblems. Their public image was righteous, but many records described them as arrogant and domineering.
Black Tortoise Mountain cultivated earth, water, and defensive arts. Its disciples wore black and deep green armor-robes, and their foundations were known to be heavy, stable, and difficult to shake.
Moon Reflection Valley specialized in illusion, water, moonlight, and soul techniques. Its disciples wore pale blue, silver, and white robes. They were mysterious and mostly neutral.
Ancient Beast Hall focused on beast taming and bloodline cultivation. Their colors were dark green, bronze, and beast-hide patterns. They were aggressive, but not always lawless.
Silent Night Pavilion specialized in assassination, intelligence, and shadow arts. Its disciples wore black, grey, and dark violet robes. It was feared across the continent and rarely showed open allegiance.
Hundred Formation Tower was a formation master power. Its disciples wore blue-grey robes with geometric patterns. It remained neutral and worked with whoever paid enough.
Pill Dawn Sect controlled many alchemy markets. Its disciples wore white, gold, and pale red robes. It avoided open conflict because every sect needed pills.
Demon Suppression Temple cultivated sealing, suppression, and demon-purging methods. Its robes were white, black, and gold. It was strict, severe, and dangerous.
Fang Lin's gaze lingered on the last name.
Demon Suppression Temple.
He remembered Rivercloud City's excuse.
Demonic contamination.
The phrase appeared repeatedly in the jade slips.
Sometimes it was true. Demonic Qi could corrupt cultivators. Ancient ruins could twist minds. Forbidden inheritances could devour weak souls.
But many times, the accusation was used by the strong against the weak.
A wandering cultivator found treasure?
Contaminated by demonic Qi.
A small clan refused to surrender resources?
Colluding with demonic cultivators.
A minor sect discovered a ruin first?
Hiding forbidden demonic objects.
A recruited cultivator survived a dangerous mission and returned with wealth?
Needs inspection.
Fang Lin's expression remained calm.
He had seen this with his own eyes.
The three Rivercloud sects were not righteous powers. They were local thugs wearing sect robes. Their smiles looked proper, their words sounded lawful, and their hands still reached for other people's throats.
But they dared to act so boldly because they had backing.
The jade slips did not say everything openly.
Still, Fang Lin could read between the lines.
Some lawless sects received more resources than their strength should allow. Some small city powers possessed talismans, pills, and techniques beyond their natural reach. Some accusations of demonic contamination spread too quickly, as if someone wanted such chaos to grow.
There was a hand behind them.
A larger hand.
Hidden.
Fang Lin did not know who it belonged to yet.
But he remembered.
In the cultivation world, no knife moved forever without someone sharpening it.
He stored the jade slips.
The cave became quiet again.
Outside, the waterfall roared softly.
Fang Lin looked at the organized items before him.
River Sword Sect.
Crimson Flame Hall.
Black Mountain Gate.
All local powers.
Useful as disguises.
Useful as stepping stones.
Dangerous if underestimated, but no longer impossible to face.
Thousand Leaf Immortal Sect.
A peak continent power.
It was connected to the Green Bamboo Sect, likely connected to the unknown senior, and possibly friendly.
But might be dangerous.
A friendly senior was still a senior.
A peak power was still a peak power.
And Fang Lin had too many secrets to trust anyone blindly.
The continent was wider than he had imagined.
There were good sects, bad sects, and neutral sects.
There were those who saved people, those who used people, and those who waited until the winning side became clear before deciding what justice meant.
Fang Lin slowly stood.
His aura remained restrained.
He was now in the Spirit Foundation Realm, but beneath Phantom Transformation and Shadow Breath, he still looked like a weak wandering cultivator.
He walked to the cave entrance.
Sunlight touched the forest beyond the waterfall.
For four months, he had hidden.
Now he understood the board a little better.
The pieces were larger than Rivercloud City.
Much larger.
Fang Lin's eyes became calm.
"Thousand Leaf Immortal Sect."
"Black Mountain Gate."
"Demon Sealing Ruins."
He spoke the names quietly.
Each one was a path.
Each one was a danger.
Each one might lead him closer to the truth.
Uncle Wei.
His parents.
The grey seed.
The strange powers of life and death inside him.
Fang Lin turned back and stored the jade slips.
He would not move recklessly.
But he would move.
The world outside the waterfall waited.
And Fang Lin was finally beginning to see how vast it truly was.
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