Chapter 861: Chapter 857: Pan Gu Secret Realm
Only to see Zhuo Junwu ponder for a moment, then calmly said: “I am not from Earth.”
“Ah!” Ye Fan couldn’t help but jump in fright, instinctively shrinking back cautiously.
However, he soon sat upright again. Zhuo Junwu was his master, who had taught him ancient martial arts for thirteen years; even if he were a ghost, he couldn’t possibly harm him.
Zhuo Junwu clearly saw Ye Fan’s reaction and revealed a slight smile, saying: “I come from a secret realm of cultivation, a place dedicated to cultivation.”
“A secret realm of cultivation?” Considering Zhuo Junwu’s earlier shocking revelation that he wasn’t from Earth, Ye Fan couldn’t help but be astonished.
Ever since he knew that cultivators truly existed in this world, he always thought that although cultivators were different from ordinary people, they were still regular people who had trained. Admittedly, cultivators were mysterious, as elusive as dragons, but he always assumed they hid deep in the mountains and forests.
Zhuo Junwu nodded: “Indeed. The secret realm of cultivation does not exist on Earth. Earth’s Kunlun Mountain is merely one of many entrances to the secret realm.”
“Master, how big is the secret realm of cultivation?” Ye Fan was somewhat curious.
Zhuo Junwu thoughtfully said: “Even I don’t know for sure. However, legend has it that the secret realm of cultivation spans millions of miles, vast and boundless. It is said that it was jointly created by ten ancient great powers, including Pan Gu, Fu Xi, Nuwa, and Emperor Jun, using tremendous magical abilities.”
“Among them, in order to create this land of cultivation, the mighty Pan Gu didn’t hesitate to sacrifice himself, refining his body into the earth, his eyes into the sun and moon, and his blood into rivers and lakes. Great indeed is the deity Pan Gu.”
As he spoke, admiration and reverence were written all over Zhuo Junwu’s face.
“Therefore, the secret realm of cultivation is also called the Pan Gu Secret Realm.”
Upon hearing Zhuo Junwu mention the figures from mythology, Ye Fan suddenly thought of something and curiously asked: “In legends, one day in the Immortal Realm equals one year in the Mortal Realm, is that true?”
“No.” Zhuo Junwu shook his head and said, “Quite the opposite, on Earth, every day that passes equals ten days in the Pan Gu Secret Realm. The time flow ratio between the Pan Gu Secret Realm and the universe is ten to one.”
“How could this be possible?” Ye Fan couldn’t help but widen his eyes, thinking it defies all common sense.
Isn’t the pursuit of longevity the goal of cultivation? Why would they create a secret realm with a faster time flow? Even though cultivators live much longer than ordinary people, with a tenfold difference in time flow, a mortal living a hundred years means a cultivator has already lived a thousand years; they might even die before mortals, so what’s the point of cultivating?
A reversed time flow ratio is what’s logical.
Zhuo Junwu said: “This is true. It is said that the Pan Gu Secret Realm was created because of a massive crisis. As for what kind of crisis, even I am unclear.”
After a while, Ye Fan finally accepted this fact, which defied common sense.
“Right, Master, are the conditions for entering and leaving the Pan Gu Secret Realm and Earth very stringent?” Ye Fan suddenly thought of a question.
If the Pan Gu Secret Realm spans millions of miles, then its area should be at least ten thousand times the surface area of Earth. With such an immense size, countless cultivators should be living inside. Yet the people on Earth know almost nothing about cultivators, only hearing fuzzy legends about immortals. Thus, he inferred that the conditions for entering and leaving the Pan Gu Secret Realm and Earth must be stringent. Only in this way would people from the Pan Gu Secret Realm not easily travel to Earth.
“Not at all.” Zhuo Junwu once again shattered Ye Fan’s common sense, “The conditions for traveling between the Pan Gu Secret Realm and Earth are rather simple. However, for people from Earth, the conditions are a bit difficult. The condition is reaching the Golden Core Realm. It’s not easy for a native Earthling to cultivate a Golden Core practitioner.”
“Have you ever heard of someone reaching enlightenment and thus elevating others as well?” Zhuo Junwu continued, “As long as there is one Golden Core Realm practitioner, they can bring a group from Earth into the Pan Gu Secret Realm.”
Ye Fan asked in confusion: “Then why are cultivators rarely seen on Earth? Although cultivators can fly around, if many come to Earth, surely people would notice.”
“That’s because Earth’s spiritual energy is exceedingly thin, almost nonexistent. If they have no reason, no one is willing to linger on Earth,” Zhuo Junwu explained, “Rumor has it that after the Pan Gu Secret Realm was created in ancient times, it immediately seized all the spiritual energy from surrounding stars and continuously absorbed it, maintaining the realm’s operation, turning it into a cultivation paradise.”
Ye Fan curiously asked: “Master, what level is the Golden Core Realm? Is it the highest realm of ancient martial arts practice, the Pinnacle Core Path?”
“No, it’s half a level higher than the Pinnacle Core Path of ancient martial arts practice.” Zhuo Junwu said, “The Pinnacle Core Path of ancient martial arts just forms a Void Core, and further cultivation is needed to condense a true Golden Core.”
Saying this, Zhuo Junwu intentionally aroused Ye Fan’s desire for cultivation, saying: “As the saying goes, once a Golden Core is consumed, one’s fate is in one’s own hands, not governed by heaven. With the achievement of the Golden Core, one is no longer mortal; besides extending life by five hundred years, one can also fly through the skies, use various magical treasures and spirit arts, detached from mundane life, indistinguishable from the immortals of Chinese legend. With further cultivation, life becomes increasingly prolonged, and magical powers grow ever stronger.”
“Oh, I see.” Ye Fan responded calmly, showing little interest, and went on to ask, “By the way, Master, how strong is our Lihuo Sect in the Pan Gu Secret Realm?”
“Well…” Zhuo Junwu replied vaguely, “Our Lihuo Sect’s ‘Nine Yang Divine Skill’ is a renowned cultivation technique within the Pan Gu Secret Realm. Since you haven’t truly started cultivating yet, there’s no need for you to know much, so it won’t affect your cultivation mindset.”
“Yes, Master.” Ye Fan replied and didn’t pursue the matter further.
No matter if his sect was strong or weak, he wouldn’t change sects. Besides, he didn’t plan to cultivate and enter the Pan Gu Secret Realm at all, so whether his sect was powerful or not didn’t really relate to him.
On the third day, Ye Fan successfully took leave and moved into a standalone villa.
Since he didn’t know what abnormalities might occur while practicing the ‘Nine Yang Divine Skill,’ once settled, Ye Fan sent Wei Ziling back to Sunshine Estate.
At noon, in the second-floor living room, Zhuo Junwu was finally about to begin teaching Ye Fan the ‘Nine Yang Divine Skill.’
“Ye Fan, the 327th disciple of Lihuo Sect, kneel to receive the cultivation technique!” Zhuo Junwu said with unprecedented seriousness.
Ye Fan immediately knelt, respectfully and sincerely saying: “Disciple Ye Fan beseeches Master to grant the cultivation technique!”
Only to see Zhuo Junwu magically take out a piece of pure white, smooth jade slip. The jade slip was small, only two fingers wide and two inches long, but evidently extraordinary.
“This is the highest secret teaching of our sect, the ‘Nine Yang Divine Skill,’ which I now formally impart to you. You must diligently and painstakingly cultivate it, and let the legacy of our sect shine brightly. At the same time, you must keep it well guarded, never divulging it or letting it be lost. Remember, remember!” Zhuo Junwu solemnly instructed.
“Disciple obeys!” Ye Fan immediately said, feeling a surge of excitement within, not for cultivating immortality, but finally being able to restore Li Zhaojun’s personality.