Chapter 1620: Tower Master's Guidance

Oh!

Grandmaster Myriad Weapons' eyes widened: "There really is such a weapon spirit?"

"What an eye-opener!"

"Then, at this rate, it's only a matter of time before this sword is upgraded to a quasi-World Weapon!"

He couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret as he looked at the Demonic Sword.

This was a quasi-World Weapon!

A quasi-World Weapon that he could never forge in his lifetime ended up benefiting someone else.

But then he thought, this weapon spirit only reacted to Jiang Fan.

If anyone else obtained it, the Demonic Sword would merely be a top-grade spirit sword; it could never be upgraded to a quasi-World Weapon.

The regret in his heart thus dissipated, leaving only helpless envy:

"The material of the Demonic Sword and your resentful soul happened to merge perfectly."

"It was fated that you should obtain a quasi-World Weapon."

Jiang Fan said joyfully, "Many thanks to you, Senior, for making this possible."

Grandmaster Myriad Weapons smiled, "I look forward to the day it becomes a quasi-World Weapon."

After speaking, he flashed away.

Jiang Fan stroked the Demonic Sword, his face full of anticipation as well: "Chen Jing, oh Chen Jing, I wonder what surprises you'll bring me after upgrading the Demonic Sword to a quasi-World Weapon."

Clang, clang, clang—

Chen Jing's anger was his answer.

Jiang Fan laughed heartily, slung the sword behind his back, and looked again at the Grade 7 Grand Pill in his palm.

At this moment, the Pavilion Master of Jiangshan Yipin came over and reminded him:

"This pill, if you take it now, will be of no use."

Jiang Fan was surprised: "Please enlighten me, Pavilion Master."

Although he had advanced to the Soul Transformation realm, he knew nothing about this realm.

This was also why he hadn't rashly swallowed the pill to break through.

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan Yipin sat cross-legged beside him like an elder, patiently explaining:

"The breakthroughs for the Soul Transformation realm and the Nascent Soul realm are different."

"In the Nascent Soul realm, apart from the final 'Entering Madness' stage, you can quickly advance through the other stages with resources."

"However, the Soul Transformation realm is different. It's impossible to break through quickly with only resources."

"Otherwise, the children of Sages would have long since become Heaven-Human Five Declines and unified the martial arts world, leaving no opportunities for people of ordinary origins like us."

Children of Sages?

Jiang Fan's heart stirred. So, there was such a group in the Central Lands.

But upon closer thought, Sages were also human; they had emotions and desires, including the desire to procreate.

Wasn't Rebellious Bones a Demonic Sage, a descendant of a true spirit?

The resources obtained by the children of living Sages were beyond what ordinary people could achieve in ten lifetimes.

If the Nascent Soul realm didn't have the 'Entering Madness' stage as a bottleneck, they could probably easily enter the Soul Transformation realm.

He nodded slightly and said, "It seems that 'a dragon has nine sons, and each is different.'"

"Not all children of Sages are exceptionally gifted and capable of transcending the Soul Transformation realm."

"The 'Entering Madness' barrier gives all martial artists in the world a fair chance, allowing ordinary people to compete on the same starting line as the descendants of Sages."

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan Yipin nodded with satisfaction: "What an excellent example of learning by analogy."

"Exactly, there are also distinctions of superiority and inferiority among the descendants of Sages."

"The 'Entering Madness' stage in the Nascent Soul realm stops most dull-witted descendants of Sages at the Nascent Soul realm, preventing the Sages' descendants from always being superior to ordinary people."

"This is even more true for the Soul Transformation realm."

"To break through in the Soul Transformation realm, resources are one aspect, and comprehension is another."

"You must continue to comprehend the Dao you follow, and once you achieve a new level of understanding, you can 'leap over the dragon's gate.' It is at this point that you will need vast heaven-and-earth resources."

"Every Heaven-Human Two Declines or above that you see has come through a difficult journey, step by arduous step; none of them had an easy path."

Jiang Fan suddenly understood.

Finding one's Dao in the Nascent Soul realm was merely the beginning.

He pondered, "What about when one's Dao is comprehended to its limit?"

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan Yipin smiled, "Naturally, that would be the laws."

Jiang Fan understood completely.

Comprehending a certain Dao thoroughly meant touching its essence, which is the law.

He pondered, "How can one confirm that their Dao has reached a new level?"

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan Yipin patiently said, "Close your eyes and let your mind enter your dantian."

Jiang Fan complied.

Soon, his mind sank into his pitch-black dantian. Only then did he discover that although his Nascent Soul had disappeared with his Soul Transformation, there were now five altars in its original position.

On top of each altar was a torch.

One of them was lit.

The other four were extinguished.

Jiang Fan's mind tried to ascend an extinguished altar, but he found himself stopped at the steps of the altar, unable to go up.

At this moment, the Pavilion Master of Jiangshan Yipin's voice echoed in his mind.

"The steps are called the Divine Ascension Steps. The deeper your comprehension of the Flawless Dao, the more steps you can ascend."

"When you have completed all ten steps, the torch on the altar will light up, granting you the ability to undergo Soul Transformation again."

"If you happen to have the resources at that time to allow your body to advance further, you can immediately enter the Heaven-Human Two Declines realm."

"By analogy, only by simultaneously advancing both your Dao and your body can you enter the next realm, until you reach the Heaven-Human Five Declines, lighting up five torches, and five flame marks will appear on your Divine Ring."

Jiang Fan understood completely.

He had always wondered where the torches on the Divine Ring came from.

Now he finally understood.

When he underwent Dao Confirmation and Soul Transformation, the torch on the first altar was lit, which is why there was a flame mark on his Divine Ring.

By extension, each time a torch was lit, it signified a completely new Soul Transformation.

After five Soul Transformations, one could become a Grandmaster of Heaven-Human Five Declines.

At that point, they could accept the merits of heaven and earth to become a Sage.

He withdrew his consciousness, rubbed his temples, and said with a wry smile:

"The breakthroughs in the Soul Transformation realm are far too difficult, aren't they?"

"Each breakthrough not only requires a world-shaking grand pill but also a complete new elevation of one's Dao!"

"This difficulty is even greater than that of Dao Confirmation and Soul Transformation!"

During Dao Confirmation and Soul Transformation, at least one only needed their Dao to be perfected, without requiring special resources.

Soul Transformation, however, was different; it was almost like reliving the path of Dao Confirmation and Soul Transformation.

Besides that, endless resources were also needed.

He suddenly asked again, "What if one fails to comprehend a new Dao for a long time?"

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan Yipin replied, "Then it depends on your luck."

"If you're lucky, you'll live to the end of a Heaven-Human One Decline's lifespan, two hundred years, dying peacefully of old age."

"If you're unlucky, like Venerable Evil Crow whose domain was shattered, the Heaven-Human Tribulation of Decay will strike, your body will reek, and you'll die suddenly within a year."

Looking at Jiang Fan's Full Moon Divine Ring, a hint of concern flashed in his eyes:

"I'm referring to ordinary Divine Rings. Your Ancestral Dao Divine Ring is so dominant, I'm afraid your Heaven-Human Tribulation of Decay will be far more intense than for ordinary people."

"You might not even have a year to undergo a second Soul Transformation."

Jiang Fan's expression turned serious.

Everything had two sides. While the Ancestral Dao Divine Ring was incomparably dominant, it likely had significant flaws in certain aspects.

It seemed he would have to seize every opportunity to comprehend the Dao in the future, and even more importantly, prepare breakthrough resources as much as possible.

Lest he truly perish under the Heaven-Human Tribulation of Decay.

"Also…" The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan Yipin gazed at the Ancestral Dao Divine Ring and asked curiously, "How many times can your domain be activated?"

Only then did Jiang Fan realize this question.

He remembered how Princess Zi Jiang's Time Origin, after being used three times, caused the stars to dim and lose their radiance.

There were limitations to using an Origin; the same should apply to domains.

Otherwise, cultivators in the Soul Transformation realm could simply continuously release their domains during battle.

However, judging from the actions of Soul Transformation realm cultivators, domains were only used at critical moments and not easily deployed.

He tentatively asked, "How many times can your domain be activated, Pavilion Master?"

"Five activations deplete it, and it takes a day to recover."

Indeed, there were only five opportunities for activation.