Translator: CinderTL
"A Lesser Chiliocosm," Li Chunjun murmured as he walked through a land teeming with lush, ancient trees.
Due to the higher oxygen content, the trees in this Lesser Chiliocosm were even more majestic, and the animals were generally larger. As he traversed the landscape, Li Chunjun clearly sensed the exotic atmosphere of a foreign land.
This planet wasn't without its dangers. Some exotic beasts possessed combat power comparable to Core Formation cultivators. However, such threats were insignificant to him now.
Moreover, the Wood Spirit Clan, whose strongest warriors were estimated to be Nine Tribulation True Monarchs, could easily become the absolute overlords of this world. While he couldn't yet rival Void Refining cultivators, his combat power had undoubtedly reached the Sixth-Rank.
The Sixth-Rank, as the world knew it, was the Cosmic Radiance-Tier.
At level 32, he had conservatively estimated that reaching the Cosmic Radiance-Tier was assured. With favorable circumstances, he could even break into the mid-ranks of the Cosmic Light List.
Now at level 33, with his Mind Realm having broken through to the third layer, securing a spot in the top ten seemed highly promising.
Whether he could ascend to the very top of the Cosmic Light List remained to be seen until he actually fought.
In other words, he was currently among the elite of the Sixth-Rank.
Once he truly became a Nine Tribulation True Monarch, Li Chunjun believed he had a considerable chance of further advancement, potentially reaching a state comparable to the Life Mother Tree or the Golden Crow Battleship at their Seventh-Rank peak.
"Top-tier Sixth-Rank," he murmured to himself, settling onto a rock. After a long silence, he spoke again: "Void Refining corresponds to Seventh-Rank, Dao Unification to Tenth-Tier, Supreme Powerhouses... let's consider them Twelfth-Tier. Ascending to Immortality would require at least Thirteenth-Tier."
This estimate followed the standard hierarchical progression. If the true gap between Immortals and Supreme Powerhouses proved as vast as that between Void Refining and Primordial Spirit cultivators, it wouldn't be surprising for Fourteenth-Tier or even Fifteenth-Tier stages to emerge in between. But whether it was Fourteenth-Tier or Fifteenth-Tier, his current Sixth-Rank still fell far short of those heights.
"Too slow," Li Chunjun sighed. He needed to ascend more swiftly to Seventh-Rank, Eighth-Rank, Ninth-Rank, Tenth-Tier, and beyond. To achieve this rapid progress, enhancing his Life Level remained the best approach. While improvements in Life Level might not directly translate to immediate power gains, they would comprehensively strengthen his foundation and potential.
Just like now...
Li Chunjun clenched his fist, and profound Spatial Mysteries coalesced in his palm, blossoming like a lotus flower.
"Seventy-nine Spatial Mysteries," he murmured.
Gaining two more in just a few days was astonishing, even considering the rapid initial progress in comprehending Spatial Mysteries.
At this rate, he could reach 108 Spatial Mysteries within a month or two—matching the level of Li Hentian, the former top-ranked cultivator on the Star Brilliance List.
"If the difficulty of comprehending Spatial Mysteries increases as I expect, I should be able to grasp 1,024 rudimentary Void Mysteries within ten to twenty years."
According to the Great Void Kunpeng Art he cultivated, achieving Lesser Perfection in a single Law would allow him to attempt condensing a Dharma Manifestation. Upon reaching Greater Perfection, he could merge with his Dharma Manifestation and ascend to become a Supreme Sage.
Further advancement required achieving Perfection in a Law, which would then grant access to the Great Dao. By achieving Dao Unification, he could enter the Dao Venerable realm, truly standing at the pinnacle of the Cosmos.
The cultivation process in the Void Refinement Realm primarily involved elevating one's Mind Realm—using Mind Power to encompass and wield the power of the Laws.
Since the three stages of the Void Refinement Realm—Void Refining, Dharma Manifestation, and Supreme Sage—share the same fundamental nature, differing only in their manifestations, they are commonly referred to as the Void Refining Early Stage, Mid Stage, and Late Stage.
The stage where one touches upon the Great Dao and stands on the threshold of Dao Unification is known as the Void Refining Perfection Stage.
Based on his understanding, Li Chunjun surmised that this corresponded to Life Level 40.
Lost in thought, Li Chunjun lost interest in observing the landscapes of this Lesser Thousand World, so different from those of Blue Star.
"Expedite the next phase of the plan!" he commanded.
He soared into the sky, and with a single stride, he had crossed the Imperial Capital of the Wood Spirit Empire, descending behind the royal palace.
Clearly, he had no desire for further interaction with the people of the Wood Spirit Empire.
Noticing the stream of light that was Li Chunjun's avatar entering the palace, Yu Jin, Dong Xuan, and the others hurried over.
"Sword Master," they said, landing swiftly before him.
Upon their arrival, Yu Jin promptly presented a piece of wood radiating a dense life aura, imbued with a trace of Life Dao Resonance.
"This is the material left behind after the Life Mother Tree's demise," Yu Jin explained.
Li Chunjun reached out and took the material. "A Dao Artifact-grade material," he noted.
Yu Jin nodded.
The primary difference between Dao Artifact-grade and Sixth-Rank materials lies in the Dao Rhythm they contain. This essence not only aids cultivators in comprehending the profound mysteries of the Laws but also amplifies their ability to wield the power of those Laws.
Of course, Sixth-Rank materials also possess this property.
However...
With Li Chunjun's current mastery of 79 Spatial Mysteries, each Sixth-Rank material, depending on its quality, could increase his control over these Law Mysteries by roughly 100-200 points.
Seventh-Rank materials, on the other hand, offer both a fixed increase of 100-200 points in Law Mystery control and a 100% percentage-based amplification.
At first glance, Seventh-Rank materials might seem only twice as effective as Sixth-Rank materials. In fact, that 100% amplification might even appear less valuable than the fixed 100-200 point boost. However, as Li Chunjun's understanding of the Laws deepened, the benefits of this percentage-based growth would become increasingly significant.
Once Li Chunjun reached the entry level of the Void Law, requiring mastery of 1,024 Void Mysteries, that 100% amplification would translate to an additional 1,024 Void Mysteries.
And if the entry level of the Void Law yielded such benefits, the minor and major mastery stages would undoubtedly offer even greater advantages.
This was the subtle yet significant difference between Seventh-Rank and Sixth-Rank materials.
Alas...
"It's neither Void material nor Destruction material," Li Chunjun murmured, examining the branch. "It resonates with Life Dao, but I don't cultivate the Life Law."
"We've already dispatched people to inventory the Wood Spirit Empire's treasury," Yu Jin said with a smile. "A detailed list should be ready soon. I'm confident we'll find many useful items there."
"Not necessarily," Li Chunjun replied, shaking his head. "The Wood Spirit Clan has always been a vassal of the Immortal God Race. If they had anything truly valuable, the Immortal Gods would have taken it long ago. Why would they leave it for their subordinates?"
After a moment's thought, he added, "However, things aren't absolute. The Wood Spirits' method of imbuing plants with sentience might be considered a minor skill by the Divine Race, since their cultivation relies on the number of intelligent beings. But for us humans, it could prove remarkably effective."
Plant spirits could enhance plant growth, transforming them into top-tier spiritual materials and medicinal herbs. When refined using human alchemy techniques, even a fraction of their medicinal potency could yield tenfold results. This was precisely why plant spirits, alongside artifact spirits and intelligent lifeforms, were classified as First-Tier Protected Species by humanity.
"Inventory the resources as quickly as possible," Li Chunjun instructed.
"Yes, sir," Yu Jin replied with a slight nod.
He glanced toward the garden's entrance. "The leader of the Wood Spirit Clan, the newly appointed Empress chosen by the Life Mother Tree, wishes to meet with you. What are your thoughts?"
"Do they still possess the Wood Spirit Clan's medium-free hyperspace communication technology?" Li Chunjun asked.
"Yes, they do," Yu Jin confirmed. "The Wood Spirit Clan, emulating the Divine Race, harnessed the Life Mother Tree's power to merge the collective consciousness of numerous Wood Spirits into a single artificial 'Divine Spirit' they call the Spirits of Nature. This entity can communicate with any plant spirit."
"The Life Mother Tree?" Li Chunjun frowned. "But it's already dead..."
"Before its demise, the Life Mother Tree condensed its remaining power into a Life Tree Seed, which fused with Empress Elsa's body. She can now communicate in its stead," Yu Jin explained.
Li Chunjun was somewhat surprised by this revelation.
But he quickly understood the Life Mother Tree's motives. This measure ensured the Wood Spirit Clan retained its value, preventing them from being casually discarded.
"Bring her in," Li Chunjun instructed.
"Yes, sir."
Yu Jin acknowledged the instruction and swiftly activated his Divine Sense.
Moments later, Princess Elsa arrived in the imperial palace garden, adorned in full ceremonial attire.
Approaching Li Chunjun, she knelt before him with utmost reverence, prostrating herself in the five-point obeisance: "Elsa, chieftain of the Wood Spirit Clan, pays homage to the great Divine Spirit of the Human Race. To be granted an audience with Your Majesty is the greatest honor of my life."
Li Chunjun glanced at her, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "What did the Life Mother Tree tell you?"
"After enduring the spatial storm, the Mother Tree was on the verge of death. Thanks to Your Majesty's benevolence, we were able to vanquish the terrifying Heart Demon invaders. Your Majesty's intervention revitalized her life force, allowing her to bid us farewell and leave behind the Life Tree Seed."
Elsa remained prostrate on the ground. "You are the Wood Spirit Clan's most revered benefactor. Your kindness will forever be etched in our hearts. We pledge to follow Your Majesty as your most devout believers."
Listening to her account, Li Chunjun effortlessly discerned its truth through the profound mysteries of Mind Power.
It was only natural.
Though he had demanded the Life Mother Tree's trunk as compensation, she had already been nearing the end of her natural life.
For the Wood Spirit Clan, lacking powerful allies, a Seventh-Tier Dao Artifact-grade material was more of a curse than a blessing.
Yet, by exchanging this treasure for the protection of a Human Race cultivator with the potential to reach the Void Refining stage...
The dying Life Mother Tree would undoubtedly find peace, her final message to Elsa overflowing with gratitude.
But if resentment were allowed to fester, if the Wood Spirit Clan harbored ulterior motives...
Their complete annihilation would only be a matter of time.
"Rise," Li Chunjun commanded. "Tell me about the power over the Spirits of Nature that you wield."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Elsa replied, rising but daring not meet his gaze. Lowering her head, she explained, "Bearing the Life Mother Tree's seed, combined with my own strength, allows me to project the power of the Spirits of Nature into the four surrounding Lesser Thousand Worlds. Through this connection, I can gather intelligence from other Spirits of Nature—or even plant spirits—within those realms..."
She paused hesitantly before adding, "With considerable effort, I could even extend my communication range to the three more distant Lesser Thousand Worlds."
"You can also gather intelligence from those worlds?" Li Chunjun's interest piqued.
"Yes," she confirmed.
Elsa replied, "Each Spirit of Nature and plant spirit typically possesses a long lifespan and vast knowledge. However, their communication methods are rather cumbersome, requiring multiple connections to obtain detailed information."
"Multiple connections? Is your ability insufficient to sustain repeated interspatial links?" Li Chunjun's gaze settled on the Wood Spirit. "Is it because your cultivation is too weak?"
Elsa lowered her head in shame.
Li Chunjun scrutinized her briefly. Elsa's strength was considerable; her Divine Sense intensity rivaled that of a Ninth Tribulation True Monarch. However, her Cultivation Technique was severely lacking, her use of Divine Sense barely surpassing instinct. This deficiency was evident in the sluggish fluidity of her condensed Divine Sense, which paled in comparison to even Li Chunjun's own, despite being only a First Tribulation True Monarch.
"Fetch her several cultivation manuals for spiritual beings," Li Chunjun instructed Yu Jin.
Cultivation Techniques for spiritual beings at the Spirit Refinement Great Realm were hardly rare within Human Race territories.
Moreover... He glanced at Elsa. "If you were to cultivate Mind Power, could you expand your communication range and obtain more precise information from other plant spirits?"
(End of the Chapter)
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