Chapter 1755: Breakthrough Conditions for the Ancient Saint

Painting and calligraphy skills can reach such a pinnacle that an entire world can be depicted, allowing people to live within it unknowingly.

Legend has it that tens of thousands of years ago, the Calligrapher and Painter Guild had a master artist who painted an entire world along with a beautiful woman. After spending a long time with the woman within the painting, he unexpectedly fell in love, entered the painting, and never re-emerged.

This painting on the wall, personally created by Master Kong, far surpasses the previous artist's work in both its artistic conception and its mastery over space and time. Entering it feels like stepping into a vast, folded dimension—endless and boundless, with no end in sight.

"This painting contains spiritual energy, and it's incredibly rich!"

Standing on a rock, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, secretly marveling at the profound power of Master Kong's painting and calligraphy.

To achieve this, his understanding of painting and calligraphy must have surpassed the nine-star level, reaching a state of returning to true simplicity.

The world within the painting before him was indistinguishable from the outside world in every detail. Even the Dragonbone Lance could pierce through space and travel within it. Most crucially, any damaged space could slowly restore itself.

If one didn't know it was a painting, it would be impossible to imagine it as a virtual environment.

"Father, Mother, try to see if there's an opportunity here to break through to the Ancient Sage realm!"

Finding an open space, Zhang Xuan called out to Sword Saint Xing and Sword Saint Meng, who were still filled with shock.

His own cultivation was only at the peak of the Golden Body realm, so he couldn't sense it even if he wanted to. His parents, however, were different; they had already reached their peak, just a step away from that realm.

"Okay!"

Understanding that their son had a purpose in saying this, the two didn't say much more. They sat down simultaneously and began to cultivate quietly.

*Rumbling!*

As they cultivated, the spiritual energy in the sky immediately descended, flowing into their bodies through their acupoints. Their auras grew increasingly stronger.

"We can indeed feel the barrier; it feels like it could break at any moment... much easier than outside!"

Not long after, the two stopped and stood up.

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

Previously, it had merely been a guess by him and Little Amulet. If there truly was something that could help one break through to the Ancient Sage realm, the value of this painting would be immense.

"Since that's the case, try to break through now..." Zhang Xuan said with a smile.

He had just thrown out all the Hundred Schools of Thought experts from the Winter Cold Pavilion. The Ancient Sage who had previously stopped him must be furious to the point of exploding.

If his parents broke through to the Ancient Sage level at this moment, even if that person wanted to seize the painting, they would surely be somewhat apprehensive.

"Break through now?" Hearing this, Sword Saint Xing and Sword Saint Meng exchanged glances, each giving a wry smile. "You're thinking of Ancient Sages too simply!"

"Although this place contains the heavens and earth sealed from ancient times, possessing the aura and power that can help one break through to Ancient Sage... to succeed, one still needs to expend an unimaginable amount of effort. It's not something that can be achieved instantly!"

Sword Saint Xing continued, "Back then, Master Kong had three thousand disciples, yet only seventy-two of them reached the Ancient Sage level. Not everyone successfully broke through! To break through this realm, that aura is indeed crucial, but... if one's own accumulation isn't sufficient, even with this resource, it's useless!"

Zhang Xuan was startled. "That's true..."

His father was right.

No realm can be achieved overnight, especially a major one like Ancient Sage. If one's comprehension of the heavens, earth, and nature isn't sufficient, even with the conditions for breakthrough present, success is impossible.

After all, not everyone in ancient times became an Ancient Sage; those who reached this level were all exceptionally brilliant and peerless geniuses.

"What exactly is this 'aura for breaking through to Ancient Sage'?" he asked, looking puzzled.

"I can't really describe it," Sword Saint Xing replied. "However, later generations named it 'Ancient Sage Power.' With sufficient personal accumulation and this power, one can 'leap over the dragon's gate' and succeed. Both are indispensable!"

Zhang Xuan nodded. "Does this power always exist, or... can it disappear?"

"I'm not clear on where this power comes from or why it appears," Sword Saint Xing replied. "However, it's likely a non-renewable resource, similar to some rare ores. Once it's depleted, it's almost impossible for it to reappear! Back then, when no new Ancient Sages could emerge on the continent, panic lasted for over a thousand years. Countless exceptionally talented individuals, despite having enough accumulation, simply couldn't step into that realm... That's when they realized the existence of Ancient Sage Power!"

Sword Saint Xing said slowly. As a clan leader, he knew this period of history very well, as it had been passed down orally.

That period could be called the winter of the Master Teacher Continent—its most dangerous and severe moment.

Cultivators reached the Great Perfection of the Immortal Realm but couldn't break through, leading to unimaginable fear.

Coupled with constant attacks from the Spirit Clan, the Master Teacher Pavilion experienced a period of widespread panic, nearly falling and collapsing completely.

Fortunately, the Ancient Sages who were still alive at the time made a crucial decision: to enter slumber!

This resolved the hidden danger and alleviated the widespread panic.

Otherwise, humanity might have long ceased to exist.

"Ancient Sage Power is indispensable for breaking through to Ancient Sage," Zhang Xuan said. "Besides this, what else is needed?"

His parents couldn't break through, and insufficient accumulation was the main reason. But what exactly constituted "enough accumulation"?

In other words, besides Ancient Sage Power, what other conditions were required to be eligible to challenge this supreme realm?

"Ancient Sages have, since ancient times, represented the strongest cultivators," Sword Saint Xing explained. "Therefore, the path to breakthrough has long been studied. First, one must possess Ancient Sage Power! Second, one's state of mind must reach 30.0! Third, the soul realm must reach one million kilometers!"

"Soul realm? One million kilometers?" Zhang Xuan frowned. "What is that?"

He understood Ancient Sage Power and a state of mind of 30.0 as mentioned, but what did "soul realm... one million kilometers" mean?

"It's simple," Sword Saint Xing explained. "You condense your soul power into a thread and extend it into the distance. The maximum distance it can extend is your soul realm!"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

His soul power, tempered by lightning and heavenly flames, was extremely powerful. He had used it to explore his surroundings, but he had never before condensed it into a thread and extended it.

"Do you want to try and see what realm your soul has reached?"

Seeing his expression, Sword Saint Xing knew he must not have tried it and immediately chuckled.

Without knowing the conditions for breaking through to Ancient Sage, no one would experiment with their soul in this manner. After all, condensing soul power into a thread and extending it far away is a great test for the soul; if it breaks, it can cause immense damage to one's mind.

"Okay, I'll try!"

He nodded, his heart filled with curiosity.

Taking a deep breath, his soul power immediately condensed into a fine thread and extended straight in one direction.

One hundred thousand kilometers!

Two hundred thousand kilometers!

Three hundred thousand kilometers...

In the blink of an eye, it exceeded five hundred thousand kilometers and still showed no sign of stopping. What's more, he felt that he hadn't even used... one-tenth of his soul power!