600 King Domain!
“This is the expert from the Thousand Divination Tower, correct?” Zhang Youji cupped his fists at Gou Jie. “I’ve heard tales of a Thousand Divination Tower in Qingzhou. They use wooden fish as bells, and horsetail whisks to sweep the floor. Mysteries even the Daoists and Buddhas are unaware of. I’ve longed to visit it.”
“Daozi, your words honor us.” Gou Jie replied, the earlier tension in his posture easing somewhat. Realizing that the newcomer was from the True Path Sect, Gou Jie found the man’s silent approach more understandable. “You mentioned helping the alliance master against the Sacred Heart Sect’s white-robed king. What might your strategy be?”
Zhang Youji shook his head. “I don’t have one.”
Surprised, Gou Jie pressed, “But you’ve reached the king realm, haven’t you?”
Again, Zhang Youji responded with a definitive, “No.”
Gou Jie’s anxiety was evident. “Then, how do you intend to help? The white-robed king is a looming threat not just to Qin Huai but for all of Qingzhou.”
“I’m simply here to follow Brother Qin’s lead,” Zhang Youji said, bowing slightly toward Qin Huai. “My familiarity with Qingzhou and the white-robed king is minimal. Whatever Brother Qin requires, I’m at his service.”
Qin Huai, with a sly smile, suggested, “Then, Daozi, perhaps you’d care to join me at the Heart’s Eye Pavilion?”
Zhang Youji’s robe fluttered as he responded enthusiastically, “Let’s go!” As he spoke, his form began to blur and fade.
“Wait, Daozi!” Qin Huai interrupted.
Instantly, Zhang Youji’s figure sharpened back into focus. Qin Huai squinted, trying to discern the magic at play. Had Zhang Youji performed the technique again, Qin Huai’s trained eye would’ve recognized it.
Zhang Youji looked curious. “What can I help you with, Brother Qin?”
Qin Huai responded with a half-teasing tone, “Before we proceed, perhaps you could enlighten us about the wonders of the king realm? Here in Qingzhou, such knowledge is a rarity.”
“Ah, the king realm…” Zhang Youji began contemplatively. “To transition from the visceral prefecture realm to the spiritual altar realm, one must integrate their soul with blood, qi, bones, and organs until soul and body are one. It’s not just about merging but purifying every aspect of oneself.”
“The pursuit of martial arts often involves adopting others’ methods, essentially using one’s training to harness external elements. Bone patterns draw from the imprints of nature, living beings, and the supernatural. Certain practitioners can even seize life forces and the energies of the universe,” Zhang Youji mused with a light chuckle. “In some ways, martial artists and bandits have much in common.”
He continued, “Thus, there’s a sect that avoids external elements altogether, relying purely on their own blood and bones. Of course, Brother Qin is already familiar with that sect.”
“The Sacred Heart Sect, right?” Qin Huai said.
“Yes, their disciples are reckless, consuming all they can to advance. It’s the polar opposite approach.” Zhang Youji sighed. “Because our earlier cultivation steps aren’t solely rooted in our essence, when soul and body merge, the soul’s power purifies the body.
“It expels foreign essence and turns it into your own. Achieving full synchronization heralds the entrance to the king realm. In the spiritual altar realm, my spirit reigns, using my flesh and blood as its foundation.”
Zhang Youji took a moment to quench his thirst, downing a bowl of wine, then elaborated further. “Upon reaching the king realm, one establishes their king domain. This is a divine power technique stemming from the spirit item you’ve refined according to your earlier cultivation. Different paths lead to distinct king domains. The compatibility of cultivation techniques with the guardian spirit items determines the strength of the king domain.”
As Zhang Daozi spoke, Qin Huai and Gou Jie absorbed every word.
For Qin Huai, these insights were revelations. He’d known of conflicts in cultivation methods causing stagnation, regression, or even death, but this comprehensive understanding was new.
Now, it made sense why certain prodigies and even regular disciples, when trained optimally from youth, surpassed their peers in every realm. His past battles with conventional cultivators compared to those from the six royal clans felt markedly different.
Gratitude evident, Qin Huai cupped his fists sincerely. “Thank you for your explanation, Daozi!”
Zhang Youji’s words had indeed enlightened him. He just didn’t know that his seven techniques were the same, but their compatibility was far apart… What would the king domain look like in the end?
Recalling his black dragon world, could that be a domain and a divine ability?