Manifesting the Sovereign Sea was already proof that Liu Bai possessed the qualification to become a Sovereign.
But the steps that followed required even more effort, such as allowing his Sovereign Sea to truly take form.
At this moment, even though Liu Bai was able to manifest the Sovereign Sea, his primary foundation was still his Qi Sea. Whether it was his Spirit or the various divine artifacts, all of them still resided within the Qi Sea.
Next, he needed to shatter the Qi Sea and allow the Sovereign Sea to completely replace it. Only then would he be considered truly qualified to become a Sovereign. To be precise, a pseudo Sovereign.
The cultivation system of the Great Thousand World could be summarized in just a few words: break and then establish anew.
Every true metamorphosis required destroying old shackles before new growth could emerge.
Right now he was merely breaking the Qi Sea. When one reached Earth Sovereign, the physical body needed to be shattered and rebuilt. At the final step of Heavenly Sovereign, the physical body had to be fully transformed into a spiritual form and merged with the Celestial Body.
The entire path was nothing but shattering and reforging again and again.
Each cycle of breaking and rebuilding would elevate a cultivator's life level, a transformation that spanned from bloodline to soul.
When Liu Bai awakened from cultivation, even the Northern Sea Dragon looked at him with a strange expression.
"You really never fail to surprise me…"
Staring at the youthful face before him, the Dragon Kun recalled that Liu Bai was not even twenty years old. To touch the level of Sovereign at such an age would make him a top genius in any region.
"If the elders of the academy find out you have reached this level, I am afraid all of them will have their jaws fall off."
"But you have merely forced open the entrance to the Sovereign Sea with external help. To truly step into the Sovereign Realm, you need to shatter your Qi Sea and replace it with the Sovereign Sea. Only then will you truly possess one."
Liu Bai nodded.
At this moment Jiuyou also walked forward. Her beautiful eyes carried a rare seriousness as she softly said, "There is still a long road between stepping into the Sovereign Realm and becoming a true Sovereign expert. Many people have broken through for many years but have never been acknowledged as true Sovereigns. This is very normal. You must be prepared in advance."
Hearing her concern, Liu Bai understood she was no longer angry. He immediately smiled gratefully. "You are right. I will listen to you."
Jiuyou froze slightly at his words, then the corners of her lips lifted into a charming curve. She let out a light hum and did not continue speaking.
The Northern Sea Dragon on the side was instantly irritated. He had lectured Liu Bai so much earlier, yet in the end a single sentence from the girl had more impact. His whiskers bristled in frustration.
"Enough, enough. You two youngsters have no idea how to show understanding for your elder. I still do not even have a partner yet. Is it really proper for you to act like this in front of me?"
The ancient single Dragon Kun let out an indignant roar. With one wave of his hand, he used spiritual power to separate Liu Bai and Jiuyou, giving them no chance to continue talking. Then, beneath the projection of an immense Dragon Kun form, he shot toward the Northern Heaven Continent at a speed that defied belief.
When they finally returned to the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy, nearly half a year had passed since their departure.
This journey had taken eight to nine months in total. The academy was already preparing for a new round of student recruitment.
When the Northern Sea Dragon brought Liu Bai and Jiuyou before Dean, the latter could no longer hide his joy.
"Good, good. As long as you returned safely."
During this long period, the dean had been extremely worried, especially when Liu Bai's life or death had been unknown.
"I made you worry, Dean. But I gained quite a lot this time. I will likely be able to break through to the Sovereign Realm soon…"
Hearing this, the dean finally examined Liu Bai carefully. His expression froze.
"Third Stage of Spirit Disaster?"
Although the journey had indeed taken a long time, reaching this stage was still surprising.
"Not only that. This brat has already opened the Sovereign Sea. In a short while he will be able to step into the Sovereign Realm."
"What?!"
The dean's face could no longer remain calm as shock filled his expression.
"A Sovereign under twenty…"
Such a monster could truly be raised by their Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy?
Liu Bai's background was simple, merely someone from a minor family in a small region. His decision to move his clan into Northern Heaven City proved he did not view the academy merely as a tool or temporary stepping stone.
Because of this, Liu Bai's existence held significant meaning for the academy.
With the talent he had already displayed, his future achievements would likely surpass the dean himself. This was an excellent sign for everyone.
"To shatter the Qi Sea requires a terrifying amount of spiritual energy. Fortunately, our academy's treasury contains the Qi Breaking Pill. Take it as a reward for your cultivation progress."
Liu Bai was still officially a student of the academy and remained ranked first on the Heavenly Ranking. According to academy rules, each advancement came with rewards, so the dean was not breaking any rules.
"Thank you, Dean." Liu Bai did not refuse and expressed his gratitude with a smile.
Sometimes, refusing a gift meant far more than just turning down an item.
In fact Liu Bai had an easier method: adding points with experience. Even though he had opened the Sovereign Sea, his realm was still at the third stage of Spirit Disaster. He only needed one million experience to step directly into the Sovereign Realm. Perhaps he would not even need to endure the pain of shattering the Qi Sea.
The only problem was finding a way to obtain that much experience…
"Right, Dean. How did our Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy perform in this year's academy competition?"
Based on time, the competition should have already ended. Liu Bai wondered whether the academy had achieved better results compared to the original storyline.
"Not bad." A smile appeared on the dean's face as he spoke.
Many top forces across the Northern Heaven Continent had willingly sent their children to the academy, giving Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy enough strong students to compete even without Liu Bai.
"We sent out three teams this year. One reached fourth place, the other two placed eighth and sixteenth. It is the best result in many years."
"With these results, we will feel much less pressure in the next competition."
He knew clearly that students like Xia Youran and the others, who came from the peak powers of the continent, would not remain until the next tournament. Thus the main force for the future rested on Liu Bai's generation of students.
They were no longer freshmen, because a new batch of students would soon join the academy.
Having read the original story, Liu Bai understood exactly what the dean meant.
After all, the next Academy Great Competition in the original work was the decisive moment that determined whether Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy could keep its place among the Five Great Academies.
"Haha, enough. I have nagged long enough. You have traveled for many months, so go rest first."
"Do not worry. Not many people in the academy know what happened. Your Liu family has not received any news either. You do not need to worry about them."
"Thank you, Dean. I will take my leave now."
Liu Bai nodded before leaving the Spiritual Academy's great hall together with Jiu You.
Watching the two figures vanish, the Dean suddenly felt a trace of emotion rise within him. He looked at the Northern Sea Dragon beside him and asked, "What do you think his limit will be in the future?"
"His limit? How would I know…" The Northern Sea Dragon shook his head, then let out a bitter laugh. "This old man has always considered himself to have sharp eyes for people, yet with that little fellow Liu Bai, I was slapped in the face again and again."
"The first time I saw him, that boy looked like an ordinary youth at best. Even among the students of his year, he did not appear particularly outstanding."
"But he kept breaking everyone's expectations, time after time. His cultivation speed alone is already completely unreasonable, and from what I heard, he even studies Spiritual Arrays, learns forging, and can refine pills as well…"
"I simply cannot imagine how a single person can learn so many things in such a limited amount of time, and excel in every one of them!"
Thinking back to when they first made their agreement, the most difficult Deity-grade Spiritual Art, the Five Elemental Divine Thunder, had actually been cultivated by this boy to the Greater Mastery stage in just a few months.
Such comprehension was utterly unheard of.
It was only then that the Northern Sea Dragon began truly paying attention to Liu Bai, and the more he observed, the more he realized this youth was a monster. Even in the Great Thousand World, such a monstrous talent was exceedingly rare.
Yet to this very day, if someone were to meet him for the first time, they would still think he was just an ordinary youth. Perhaps somewhat talented, perhaps blessed with some fortuitous encounters, but absolutely not the terrifying existence the Northern Sea Dragon knew him to be.
That contradiction was exactly the nature of Liu Bai.
"Perhaps this boy is simply born lucky, always able to obtain some unknown treasures to protect himself."
After discussing Liu Bai for a while, the Northern Sea Dragon turned around and left, returning to the depths of the Thunder Domain to continue his secluded cultivation.
As for the Dean, he had to get busy once more.
Because this round of the Spiritual Road was about to end. Soon, the final results would be revealed: how many would ascend the throne of King, and who would become a Spirit Crown wielder.
Liu Bai returned quietly. He merely sent a message to Su Xuan and the others, telling them he would not be going to the Willow God Association's residence, and then headed straight to the Spiritual Artifact Institute.
As his acknowledged teacher, Elder Chi Huo was someone Liu Bai would naturally visit upon returning from outside.
However, he had not been in the mood for forging recently, so when the pleasantly surprised Elder Chi Huo dragged him straight into the forging room, Liu Bai felt a little uneasy.
Fortunately, his forging skills were fixed abilities solidified by the system. Once mastered, no matter how long it had been, they would never regress or be forgotten. This allowed Liu Bai to escape a scolding.
However, since his Divine Refinement Method was still only at the introductory stage, his forging realm had not increased. He still could not guarantee that he could craft a complete High-grade Spiritual Artifact.
But due to his powerful Spirit and his mastery over a new flame, Liu Bai's foundation in refining materials had become even more skillful. He barely passed his teacher's test.
"Good boy, your cultivation speed makes your teacher ashamed. And this Undying Flame of yours is indeed one of the top tier flames of the Great Thousand World. Even forging a Divine Artifact in the future would not be a problem. But… it is still lacking in one aspect."
What Liu Bai had fused with was merely a trace of Jiu You's flame essence. He could control it, but he could not nurture new flame nor strengthen it further. That was why Elder Chi Huo said so.
"It is fine. I already made preparations." Liu Bai smiled lightly and waved his hand.
The Innate Five Elemental Spirit Disk flew out of his body. Under the enveloping brilliance of the disk, a golden flame swayed gently. At the center of the flame, one could faintly see a tiny golden firebird soaring.
"This is… the Hao Tian True Flame?!"
Liu Bai was surprised. "Teacher, you actually recognize this flame?"
When Elder Chi Huo heard this, his previously shocked expression immediately darkened. He glared and snapped, "Are you looking down on this old man?"
Liu Bai hurriedly apologized. "No no, that was never my intention. It is just that the Hao Tian True Flame was birthed from the Golden Crow of the Brilliant Sun, which has long vanished from the Great Thousand World. The Hao Tian True Flame has not appeared for many years, so the fact that Teacher could recognize it at a glance truly surprised me."
There were countless Spirit Flames, Divine Flames, Saint Flames, and Exotic Flames throughout the Great Thousand World. Among golden divine beast flames alone, there were quite a few similar in appearance.
"Hmph, you brat. It seems you have not even looked at the flame catalog I gave you, which contains records of every flame type ever documented in the Great Thousand World. The Hao Tian True Flame is within the top hundred, with detailed descriptions and even recorded illustrations."
Liu Bai blinked, suddenly remembering something. He quickly took out a small scroll from his spatial ring.
He unfurled it. Several blazing golden characters leaped into view: The Myriad Flame Record.
Just like the Myriad Beast Record, it documented the ranking of a particular category of items across the entire Great Thousand World.
Liu Bai's eyes immediately landed on a familiar name… Emperor Flame.
Was this not the strongest flame of that Xiao Yan? It was precisely with the Emperor Flame that Xiao Yan attained the title of Flame Emperor, becoming the sole ruler of the Dou Qi Continent. After entering the Great Thousand World, he relied on the Emperor Flame to rise rapidly, and within one hundred years became one of the strongest forces in the Great Thousand World, joining Lin Dong in overturning the entire world's view of the lower planes.
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