Julian processed this information carefully. It explained so much—why his original world felt so constrained, why the energy there was so thin compared to his own world.
Each stage of the Demi-God Realm represents a fundamental transformation, the system elaborated. And Host, after reaching the Early Demi-God realm, your previous world can no longer contain you. The world's laws will automatically reject you, and you'll be sucked out and thrown to a world well capable of handling a demi-god's presence.
Julian's mental focus sharpened. So ascension isn't a choice at that point? It's automatic?
For most cultivators, yes, the system confirmed. The moment you break through to Early Demi-God, the world recognizes you as beyond its capacity and forcibly ejects you to a higher realm. It's one of the fundamental laws of cultivation.
What about my world? Julian asked immediately.
Your world is unique, the system said. Unlike natural worlds created by the Heavens with fixed limitations, your personal realm is directly tied to your soul and power. It grows alongside you, evolving as you evolve.
Julian's curiosity spiked.
Since you have just begun absorbing Heaven's energy in significant quantities, the system continued, your world has already evolved. It is now capable of holding and sustaining up to three Peak Demi-Gods.
Three Peak Demi-Gods? Julian repeated, impressed. That's... significant.
Indeed. And as you continue to cultivate and strengthen yourself, this world will expand its capacity accordingly. Eventually, it could become capable of sustaining God Realm cultivators, or even higher. The potential is essentially limitless, bound only by your own cultivation progress.
Hmm, Julian nodded mentally, processing this. Then another question occurred to him. So what realm am I currently in?
The system paused—a hesitation that immediately made Julian's attention sharpen.
"It is complicated," the system finally said. In what way? Julian frowned mentally.
Well, Host, let me explain properly how the system began. The Demi-God Realm is a realm that exists between mortality and immortality. It is the transitional stage where one sheds their mortal limitations and begins the journey toward true divinity.
"I understand that part," Julian said. But where do I fall?
Only after you reach Peak Demi-God, the system continued, seemingly ignoring his question for the moment, will you have the chance to enter the Zones of Purification. As you know, within these zones, you must challenge the Heaven's Energy directly—prove yourself worthy of ascending beyond the Demi-God Realm. And only by gaining Heaven's recognition can you successfully break through to the God Realm.
And above the God Realm? Julian prompted, sensing there was more.
Above it are indeed other realms, the system confirmed. But those are beyond your current concern.
"Which brings me back to my question," Julian pressed. What realm am I in?
The system seemed to gather itself, as if preparing to deliver complex information. To make it short and easy to understand, Host, your situation is quite unique. You died to a subordinate of the Supreme Being of Death while you were still in the Grand Mage Realm—the peak of mortal cultivation, but still fundamentally mortal.
Julian nodded mentally, remembering that final battle all too clearly.
Then you reincarnated as Rael, and the system continued. And during your fight with the Patriarch in that new life, something extraordinary happened. You awakened power that corresponded to the Early Demi-God realm. Your body, your soul, your energy—all of it underwent a fundamental transformation in that moment of crisis.
Julian's mental attention was completely focused now.
But here's where it becomes complicated, the system said. You did not progress through the cultivation stages properly. You did not consolidate your foundation as an early demi-god. You did not gradually advance to Mid Demi-God, refining your power and understanding. You did not reach Peak Demi-God through normal cultivation.
What did I do? Julian asked, though he was beginning to suspect.
"You directly challenged the Heaven's Energy," the system said, and there was something like awe in its voice. Without going through the Mid and Peak stages of Demi-God cultivation, while your foundation was still unstable and incomplete, you accessed the Heaven's Energy and made it acknowledge you. And impossibly, incredibly, you succeeded. The Heaven's Energy accepted you.
But… didn't you tell me to do it? Julian asked, narrowing his eyes.
COUGHCOUGHCOUGH Well… I didn't actually think you'd succeed"
For a moment, Julian remained silent and then he laughed, amused by the system. So what does that make me?
In terms of raw classification, your cultivation base registers as Early God Realm, the system said. You have Heaven's recognition. You have absorbed its energy. You have undergone the fundamental transformation that marks the transition from demi-god to god.
Julian felt a surge of relief.
However, the system continued, and Julian sensed that something important was coming. Your foundation is... unconventional. Your power is real, but it's not as refined or as stable as it should be. A properly cultivated Early God who went through all the correct stages would likely defeat you in direct combat, despite you both being in the same realm.
"So I'm an early god, but a flawed one," Julian summarized.
A God with room for improvement, the system corrected gently. Your power is genuine. But you lack control.
Can I fix this? Julian asked immediately. Can I go back and properly cultivate through those stages?
"Yes," the system replied. You can reinforce your foundation, refine your understanding, and essentially catch up to where you should be.
Julian absorbed this thoughtfully.
"So let me make sure I understand," Julian said slowly. I died as a Grand Mage. Reincarnated and awakened early Demi-God power during a moment of crisis. Then, without properly consolidating that power or advancing through the stages, I reached Zones of Purification and directly challenged Heaven's qi and gained recognition, throwing me straight to the Early God Realm. But because I skipped so many steps, my foundation is shaky.
"That is a perfect summary, Host," the system confirmed.
And my world, Julian continued, is capable of holding three Peak Demi-Gods because it's evolving alongside me. Once I properly consolidate my foundation and advance further in the God Realm, it will become even stronger.
Correct again.