Afterabriefrest,ImademywaytotheAsuraDivineHalltoseekmymaster.Thatwastheentirepurposeofthistrip.

“Master…isitpossibleformytalenttobefurtherenhanced?”

Hegme,thenbehindme—asifseeingsomeoneelse.Hisbrowsfurrowedslightly,andafaintsmileappearedattheerofhislips.

“Yourtalent…IbelieveIuandsomethingnow.”

AlthoughIhadoheDivineLordofAsuraafewtimes,herarelyshowedanyexpressionbeyondcalmindifferehathowallgreatbeingsoftheDaoorBuddhapathare—sereneanduhin?

Hetinued,

“Asyourcultivationgrows,thesealonyouriwillgraduallyloosen—untilitispletelyrestored.ThatisaheightevenSaintswouldenvy.”

“Thesealedgift?”

“ThesecretsofHeavenmustnotberevealed,”herepliedcryptically.“However,Ilendyouaportionofyourtalent—butyoumustpayaprireturn.”

Heraisedofinger,andiinstant,asoftwhitelightradiatedfrommybody.Mythoughtsbecamestartlinglyclear,aabreakthroughstirringinmycultivation.Twomier,thelightfaded,andmyrealmhadadvaheMidFoundatioablishmentstage.Mymilikeithadbee—questionsIoncehadaboutcultivationweresuddenlycrystalclear.

Thenmymasterslowlyadded,

“WhatI’vegrantedyouisbutthetipoftheiceberg.”

Myhearttrembled.Justhowextraordinarywasmyinaltalent?Whywasitsealed?Andwhosealedit?

BeforeIcoulddwellonit,hesaid,

“Now,youmustpaytheprice.BreakthroughtoPeakFoundatioablishmentwithintwoyears.Also,IshallsharesomethingunknowntomostcultivatorsoftheYangRealm.”

TwoyearstoreachpeakFoundation?Difficult,butnotunreasonable.Holy,itsoundedmorelikeablessingthanapunishment—Ithoughthe’ddemandalimborsomething.

“‘DivineLord’isnotmerelyatitle;italsorepresentsacultivationrealm.”

Hepaused.

“Tellme,Tianyan—doyouknowthestagesofcultivation?”

Irepliedwithouthesitation,

“QiRefining,Foundatioablishment,CoreFormation,Soul,HeartIllumination,SoulDivision,Unity,Tribution,andfinallyGrandAssion—agesinall.”

Heaskedagain,

“DoyouknowwhatliesbeyondGrandAssion?”

Ihadmysuspis—afterall,thepathofcultivationisultimatelytobeeanImmortal—butIshookmyhead,invitinghisanswer.

“BeyondGrandAssionistherealmofImmortality.Yetoverthepastthousandyears,fewintheDiviarhavereachedit.

Fromyourperspective,theranksofimmortalsbeginatImmortalSoldier,followedbyImmeneral,ImmortalKing,ImmortalLord,ImmortalEmperor,andthenImmortalSn.

AfterreagtheSnstage,onemaybreakintothe‘Extreme’realm,andfinallyreachPrimordial—thepinhereare21minorrealmsintotal,andthePrimordialSnrepresentsthefinalstepohtotrueimmortality.”

“Dependingonone''''''''scultivationsystem,thetitlesmayvary.Inthedemonicpath,theyareDemonSoldier,DemonGeneral,andsoon.ForthosecultivatingBuddhistordivihs,youmayhearBuddhaSoldier,DivineSoldier,andsoon.Therearealsoghostcultivators,beastcultivators,andothers.”

Inodded,myheadspinningfromthefloodofinformation—butmyexcitementoutweighedthedizziness.Ineverim