Chapter 80: All Different

A Fantasy Novel

Cultivation techniques are categorized into Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Yellow-grade techniques allow cultivation up to the third level of the Spirit Creek Realm, Profound-grade up to the sixth, and Earth-grade up to the ninth.

The Spirit Creek Realm only has nine levels, so theoretically, an Earth-grade technique should be enough for a cultivator to reach grand completion in this realm.

However, this isn't actually the case. Earth-grade techniques can only open 180 spiritual apertures, while the human body contains a full 360.

After cultivating to 180 apertures, one must switch to a Heaven-grade technique to open more.

A ninth-level Spirit Creek Realm cultivator who has practiced an Earth-grade technique and opened 180 apertures can open the 181st aperture after switching to a Heaven-grade technique. However, changing techniques will cause their original realm to drop by several levels. In the Heaven-grade technique's classification, 180 apertures only correspond to the sixth level of the Spirit Creek Realm.

In short, the number of spiritual apertures a cultivator has opened is not the sole criterion for judging their cultivation level. Instead, it's about how many minor heavenly circulation cycles they have within their body.

Cultivators who have opened the same number of spiritual apertures do not necessarily have the same cultivation level.

During his only lesson, the sect master once explained the differences between cultivation techniques to Lu Ye, which is why he remembered these details.

This Luo Ji appeared to be only a second-level Spirit Creek Realm cultivator, but he had opened at least 50 spiritual apertures! This was evident because his spiritual power fluctuations during spellcasting were much stronger than Lu Ye’s.

With Heaven-grade techniques, 18 apertures correspond to the first level, and 45 apertures to the second!

Upon realizing this, Lu Ye immediately understood that Luo Ji was the strongest opponent he had encountered so far.

It's important to note that under Earth-grade techniques, opening 45 apertures is the standard for the fourth level of the Spirit Creek Realm. In other words, Luo Ji, who cultivated a Heaven-grade technique and was only at the second level, had actual cultivation equivalent to a normal cultivator's fourth to fifth level. Combined with his proficiency in spells, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage even against a regular fifth-level cultivator.

This was the true depth of a disciple from a top sect.

They began to define their future paths at a very young age, then continuously refined and explored those paths, honing their bodies. When they reached a suitable age, they would begin cultivation without rushing to improve their realm. This was because each level of cultivation they gained required opening two or three times more spiritual apertures than ordinary cultivators.

Such individuals, even at lower cultivation levels, could often contend across two or three minor tiers. Once their cultivation increased, defeating opponents beyond their level was commonplace.

Once such individuals matured, they would all become hegemonic powerhouses!

Lu Ye had the honor of meeting a future hegemon...

The instantaneous exchange ended with his complete defeat. The moment Luo Ji appeared, Lu Ye charged forward, but the opponent's few spells forced him back to his original position.

For a blade cultivator like him, engaging a spell cultivator meant closing the distance for close combat was paramount. However, Luo Ji's presence was clearly not that easy to approach.

"Which sect is this barbarian from?" Luo Ji didn't press his advantage because he was confident of victory. It wasn't that he underestimated Lu Ye; rather, the environment was not conducive for a blade cultivator like Lu Ye to excel, but it made his spells even more threatening. In the early stages of cultivation, the ability to cast spells offered a significant advantage.

And in this narrow passage, Lu Ye had no room to maneuver.

Lu Ye clearly realized this. Retreating through the exit behind him was the correct move, but he didn't intend to do so.

He had a vague feeling that if he retreated now, the next time he faced Luo Ji, he might lack the courage to confront him directly. From Luo Ji's first sentence, it could be inferred that this person had specifically come for him.

There was no escaping!

Then there was only one choice: fight!

The opponent had profound depth; did he not? After all, the spells Luo Ji was currently using were small-scale, and his Spirit Guard纹 (Spirit Guard Rune/纹) could block them.

Tightening his grip on the blade in his right hand, Lu Ye leaned slightly forward, lowering his center of gravity, assuming the posture of a leopard poised to pounce.

Taking a deep breath, the spiritual power within his three minor heavenly circulation systems surged and roared. In the next instant, he lunged forward, sending scattered stones flying.

"Blaze!" Luo Ji shouted.

Having been caught off guard once before, Lu Ye's eyes were still stinging, so upon hearing Luo Ji's shout, he immediately squinted and raised his left hand to shield his eyes.

However, there was no blinding flash. Instead, a chilling ice shard shot towards him, accompanied by Luo Ji's mocking laughter: "Fooled you!"

You dog! Lu Ye was furious. He finally understood why this guy always shouted before casting a spell—it was to set up a trap for this moment. Truly devious.

He raised his blade and struck, shattering the ice shard. But immediately after, more ice shards came, whistling through the air.

The opponent seemed to be casting spells without pause. Had Lu Ye not witnessed it himself, he would have suspected this guy was secretly activating an ice-type spirit talisman.

Clang, clang, clang... the sounds rang out as Lu Ye's long blade danced, shattering one ice shard after another. Those he couldn't shatter in time could only be blocked with his Spirit Guard. He struggled to advance, and the passage grew cold from the large amount of ice shards produced.

For a full ten-plus seconds, Lu Ye only moved forward three steps! Each incoming ice shard carried immense impact, hindering his progress.

Suddenly, Yiyi's small head popped out from behind the rock wall behind Luo Ji. But before she could act, Luo Ji seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He sharply turned his head, pointed a finger, and a golden arc shot towards Yiyi.

Yiyi shrieked and quickly pulled her head back.

"Roar!" Amber roared, thinking Yiyi had been hurt.

This tiger's roar was distinctly different. When the roar sounded, Lu Ye felt as if his head had been struck by a small hammer. The opposing Luo Ji stumbled a step, muttering in surprise, "A unique beast?"

He had seen Amber before but hadn't paid much attention until now, realizing that this magnificent white tiger seemed to possess some special abilities.

He had no time for further thought, because just as he was distracted by Amber's roar, Lu Ye had seized the opportunity to lunge forward.

Luo Ji roared, "Blaze!"

Having been fooled once, would Lu Ye fall for it again? He merely squinted slightly and charged forward regardless.

Crack, crackle...

The ice shards scattered around suddenly enveloped Lu Ye, rapidly solidifying. It seemed as though they were going to freeze Lu Ye within.

In this critical moment, Lu Ye had no choice but to retreat. Just as he regained his footing, a huge block of ice appeared between him and Luo Ji. If he hadn't moved quickly, this ice block would definitely have encased him, and if that had happened, with Luo Ji's methods, Lu Ye would have been dead.

"Phew..." Seeing Lu Ye blocked by the ice, Luo Ji breathed a sigh of relief.

The intensity of this battle had exceeded his expectations. Originally, when Nine Stars Sect asked him to deal with Lu Ye, he thought it would be a simple task. Even if the opponent came from some top force, their strength was evident—a third-level Spirit Creek Realm cultivator practicing an ordinary technique was not someone he took seriously.

Only after truly engaging did he discover that this third-level cultivator was... somewhat different from the third-level cultivators he had encountered before.

New book reading: