Longing Is the Most Distant Distance
On the lush green plains, dense grasses grow.
Beneath my feet was damp earth, as if a heavy rain had just fallen. The earthy smell mingled with the fresh fragrance of green grass. Taking a deep breath, I felt as if I were melting into this breath of life.
With ample water and fertile soil, these grasses grow to over ten meters tall, and walking among them, you can see nothing but the robust green grass.
"When I came to the Bodhi Ancient Tree to meditate last time, I arrived directly under the tree through the spatial passage, and I really didn't realize that these green grasses were so lush," Nine Nether exclaimed in amazement.
Mu Chen remained silent and followed the group forward.
This was a group of over a hundred people, led by a woman with a mature figure and striking looks. Her long hair was casually draped behind her, floating three to five meters above the ground as she flew forward at a leisurely pace.
This woman is also one of the Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign of the Endless Fire Domain. It is said that her true form is an Ancient Mandala Flower, and she can be called a pillar of the Endless Fire Domain.
For most forces in the Great Thousand World, having a Heavenly Sovereign is enough to qualify them as a major force, while Earthly Sovereign is the mainstay. Even the top forces cannot ignore the existence of Earthly Sovereign.
However, in the Endless Fire Domain, there are two Ruler Realm, and more than a dozen Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign on the surface Heavenly Sovereign are everywhere, but Earthly Sovereign are truly not up to par.
Everyone in the group obediently followed behind this Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign.
Everyone here has cultivated the Myriad Forms Return to One Dharma Body, and is also a competitor in the Samsara Dharma Form Samsara Society for the Dharma Body of Reincarnation. This trip is to "give them special treatment".
Mu Chen casually picked a grass seed the size of a fist. It was a green grass seed, nothing special about it. It wasn't sweet and didn't have much energy. Its only redeeming quality was that it was very hydrating and thirst-quenching.
As he gently exhaled a breath of stale air, Mu Chen felt much more relaxed.
Having joined the Endless Fire Domain for only a few years, I've spent every day in intense and exciting training. Now that I've slowed down, it's quite relaxing.
Within the Endless Fire Domain, only those with the fastest breakthrough speed can retain a spot for resource supply. Everyone is working hard day and night to cultivate, and they also have to find time to study supernatural abilities to prevent being defeated by those of lower realms and becoming a stepping stone for others.
The records within the Endless Fire Domain state that a young man named Ye Xiu joined the Endless Fire Domain after just passing through the Sovereign's Minor Tribulations. It took him twenty-three years to break through to the Heavenly Sovereign. During this process, he also won ten Cross-Tier Combat —from the first to the Eighth Grade, and the upper and lower Earthly Sovereign. Only the ninth-rank Sovereign failed to challenge the lower Earthly Sovereign.
What's truly disheartening is that Ye Xiu is also one of the contenders for the Reincarnation Dharma Body, and he is already at the peak of the Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign, with the breakthrough to the Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign Supreme just around the corner.
Mu Chen glanced at the man in white at the front of the line. The man didn't react to Mu Chen's gaze at all, as if he was already used to such prying eyes.
"Nine Nether, how is your Nine Revolutions Saint Ascension Art progressing?" Mu Chen suddenly asked.
Nine Nether rolled her eyes. "We finally get a chance to relax, and you still bring up cultivation!"
After making a sarcastic remark about Mu Chen, Nine Nether didn't hide anything and said frankly, "Although the process was shorter than ten years, I'm only at the fifth level now, having just broken through to the Immortal Grade. My combat strength can barely be considered top-tier among Immortal Grade!"
Mu Chen nodded and looked at Ye Xiu's back again. He could feel the terrifying power lurking within that body, as if it contained thousands of Divine Beasts. If it made a move, it would surely cause an earth-shattering event.
"Never mind, I'm only at the Spiritual Grade, it's normal that I can't obtain the Reincarnation Dharma Body." Mu Chen shook his head, feeling much more relaxed.
After traveling for a full day and night through the lush green grasslands, the group finally arrived at a plain.
The grass here has become sparse and short. In the center of the plain, there is a towering tree that seems to block out the sky and is millions of feet tall, exuding a unique charm.
The nearby sunlight is blocked by towering trees, and the soil's fertility is completely depleted, making it difficult for grass to grow, which is normal.
But no one paid any attention to the towering tree.
All eyes were drawn to the figure under the shade of the tree.
"Is everyone here?"
The next moment, more than a hundred people appeared in a Small Space filled with green vitality, with a small tree in the center.
Everyone is familiar with this space; it is the Bodhi Tree Origin Space, where Enlightenment Beneath the Bodhi Tree.
However, the complete version of Enlightenment Beneath the Bodhi Tree involves Hundred Generations of Reincarnation of reincarnation. While everyone sits cross-legged under the Bodhi Tree, the version experienced by the others is a censored version. A hundred people sit cross-legged in the space, with Flame Emperor presiding under the tree, and each person Reincarnation once.
There was no other way; there were too many people queuing up in the Endless Fire Domain, and they were also offering some spots at the external auction house. So each person could only come once for the weakened version.
However, the benefits are obvious. Once one reaches the peak of the Sovereign Realm, one's soul will step into the Reincarnation, feel the Laws of Heaven and Earth, and one's physical body will be nourished by the Bodhi Ancient Tree and connected with the power of the earth, greatly reducing the difficulty of breaking through the next two realms.
But everyone noticed the difference this time... Perhaps, this time they could experience the complete Hundred Generations of Reincarnation?
Mandala nodded to Xiao Yan and said, "One hundred and twelve practitioners of the Myriad Forms Return to One Dharma Body, twenty-two bloodline contract practitioners, and one hundred and thirty-four outstanding young talents are all here."
Xiao Yan casually glanced at everyone and began to explain, "I used some fragments of Lower Plane to piece together a Dream Plane. In this Reincarnation, you will all experience a hundred lifetimes in the Dream Plane, experiencing different lives."
"Upon reaching the highest level of cultivation, there is a chance to awaken memories of past lives, but your own memories will remain obscured. Moreover, your personal experiences are actually quite short. Therefore, this trial carries the risk of sinking into oblivion."
"At the same time, I will use Nightmare Heavenly Mist to affect your minds and burn your bodies with Origin Samsara Fire. I cannot take care of all of you. Some of you may return, but they may be remnants of your souls."
"One last reminder: if you want to quit, do it now; if you have any questions, ask them now."
"I have a question!" Ye Xiu took half a step forward. "Is the Dream Plane a real dimension? Will we people influence each other?"
"The Dream Plane both illusory and real. If you treat it as fake, that makes sense; if you treat it as real, you can use the supernatural powers created over a hundred lifetimes, and your combat experience will be retained."
"As for mutual influence, once memories are obscured, what remains is one's personal nature, and one is unaware of the competitive relationship between them."
Xiao Yan replied with a few words, then asked, "Does anyone else have questions?"
Mu Chen glanced at Nine Nether, as if advising her to back down, but before he could speak, he was glared at fiercely. "What are you doing, a mere Spirit Rank cultivator, showing off?"
Mu Chen remained silent, thinking to himself that the Samsara Society probably had many Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign, and your Immortal Grade is just so-so.
Of course, Mu Chen wouldn't say something so easily offensive.
"If there are no problems and no one is quitting, then let's begin!"
Xiao Yan gave a soft shout and casually formed a few seemingly profound hand seals. A thick white mist surged from his palm, enveloping the space.
At the same time, the entire space twisted, and invisible, blurry flames devoured these young people, the power of Reincarnation seeping into the depths of each soul.
"Boss, your hand seals this time are different from last time." Mandala stepped forward, moved closer to Xiao Yan, and deliberately lowered her voice.
Xiao Yan's lips twitched, he ruffled a handful of Mandala's smooth long hair, and looked up, saying, "I've made some progress recently, so I've simplified it a bit."
"Oh, I see." Mandala rested her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful, but then immediately added, "Then why are there three more hand gestures than the time before last?"
Xiao Yan remained expressionless, pretending not to hear, and focused his mind on the Dream Plane, beginning to inspect the situation of the more than one hundred competitors.
Mandala chuckled mischievously, her figure gradually disappearing—although she cultivated the One Qi Transforms Three Pure Ones and possessed two clones, Xiao Yan directly entrusted her with managing three Mandala Flower Tea Garden, leaving none to waste.
Yes, that's one of the reasons why Mandala always likes to sabotage things!
As time passed day by day, the time ratio in the Dream Plane was different from that in the Dou Qi Continent. The time ratio between the somewhat illusory Dream Plane and the Great Thousand World reached an astonishing 100 to 1.
The world inside the Dream Plane is just an ordinary "martial arts" world, with most people being ordinary. The world is like the end of the Dharma era, where the laws are not obvious and the World Energy and earth is terrifyingly thin. Even a hundred-year-old ginseng is hard to find, and its medicinal power is not as good as that of a ginseng seedling in the Great Thousand World.
An ordinary person's lifespan is only a few decades. Even if one practices martial arts and trains their muscles and bones every day, their lifespan under natural conditions is only a little over a hundred years.
If one were to enter the martial world and get into a conflict with someone, it was common for a common man to die on the spot in a fit of rage, with blood splattering everywhere.
As for awakening past life memories at the peak of one's cultivation, that can only be achieved by Postnatal Return to Innate after birth Innate Realm breaking through one's spiritual power—it has absolutely no effect on physical aging.
All these measures are designed to prevent anyone from living too long and placing too much burden on the Bodhi Ancient Tree, resulting in a comprehensive set of restrictions.
After the time shift between the Dream Plane and the Great Thousand World, and the Bodhi Ancient Tree accelerated the process, Xiao Yan himself also activated the Cosmic Time Flame to influence time. In just three days, everyone gradually woke up.
Xiao Yan waved his hand, and the 134 people were thrown out of the space to break through their own limits. Xiao Yan himself then began to tend to the somewhat wilted Bodhi Ancient Tree.
Mu Chen slowly opened his eyes.
Throughout a hundred Reincarnation, Mu Chen only reached the peak of his cultivation once, and even then, he only saw fragments of his past. In the other seventy-odd lifetimes, he was an ordinary farmer, craftsman, fisherman, tailor, and so on...
Most memories are limited by family factors. There was no money to practice martial arts, let alone buy books. The only option was to follow in one's father's footsteps, grow up, get married, have children, and live a mediocre life.
Even if one enters the martial arts world, one still has to worry about basic necessities like food, drink, clothing, shelter, and transportation. One needs to eat rice grown by farmers, wear clothes sewn by tailors, and use weapons made by craftsmen, and there is not much difference between one and an ordinary person.
Such an ordinary experience seemed useless, but Mu Chen still fell into deep thought.
Every living being in this Great Thousand World will enter the Reincarnation after death. They are utterly ordinary, yet they are the foundation of this Great Thousand World. Without "mortals," this edifice of cultivation would collapse.
The former Immortal Great Emperor has already stepped into the Half-Step Ruler Realm. In terms of life form, he even surpasses the Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign. Compared to mortals, he is even more lofty and like a god.
If he had surrendered to the Outer Realm Evil Clan, he would have definitely gained a high status. However, the Immortal Great Emperor fought the Outer Realm Evil Clan to the very end for the sake of mere mortals, and died and his soul dissipated.
When drinking water, one should not forget its source. When one reaches the highest level of cultivation, one should also learn to look back. Perhaps this is the profound meaning of Flame Emperor?
As Mu Chen digested his insights and broke through to a higher realm, he thought with a sense of reverence.
As Xiao Yan was recovering from the damage to the Bodhi Ancient Tree, he sneezed three times in a row, seriously suspecting that someone was talking about him behind his back. His original idea of sending all his future Reincarnation to the Dream Plane for low energy consumption and low returns became even more firm.
Monopolies are so arrogant, if you don't like it, come and fight me!
Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, leaned against the Bodhi Ancient Tree, and stepped out of the space to inspect the situation.
These fledglings, whom Xiao Yan saw as eagerly awaiting their turn to break through, were all at least at the Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign. Their breakthroughs were incredibly dramatic, tearing apart the Spiritual Power of heaven and earth and causing space to crumble inch by inch. However, none of them were willing to give up their own breakthrough opportunities to fulfill the wishes of others.
The fact that they didn't fight on the spot was out of respect for the Endless Fire Domain.
With a wave of his hand, Xiao Yan caused the space to explode violently, throwing everyone into the sky, with each person separated by at least ten thousand miles.
"Take out the Sovereign Spirit Liquid from your pockets. If you borrow it from me, you'll have to pay me back double after you break through!"
A slightly mercenary roar rang out, causing many cultivators to stiffen slightly, feeling a slight damage to the majestic figure of the Flame Emperor in their hearts.
However, the power of heaven and earth on this continent was indeed insufficient for so many Heavenly Sovereign to break through at the same time. After the data was processed, some people could not hold on any longer and began to use their divine senses to borrow Sovereign Spirit Liquid from Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan earned a measly few dozen small goals.
With Xiao Yan providing a stable space, Sovereign Spirit Liquid, and prohibiting fighting, the numerous Heavenly Sovereign, free from worries, all put in their best effort to break through.
A series of powerful and terrifying pressures burst forth, but before they could travel far, they were frozen within a hundred feet of the breakthrough participant, unable to cause the slightest ripple.
Mu Chen also spent two days stabilizing his cultivation at the peak of the Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign Supreme.
Upon opening his eyes, he was greeted by Nine Nether's puzzled and pretty face.
"What's wrong?" Mu Chen asked, calming his breathing.
"For more than eighty of my hundred lifetimes, I was a bird of all kinds, such as sparrows, crows, and magpies. In more than ten lifetimes, I was just a canary kept by high-ranking officials and nobles. I wasn't even a spirit beast, yet I still managed to break through." Nine Nether said, shaking his head and frowning.
Mu Chen chuckled and confidently explained to Nine Nether, "This is the brilliance of the Flame Emperor! Ordinary beings also struggle for survival every day, and after death, they return to dust. In essence, we are just slightly stronger beings!"
Looking at Mu Chen's confident words, Nine Nether You nodded with a hint of doubt.
Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, his gaze sharp as lightning, and immediately locked onto Mu Chen. Seeing the kid nodding at him with feigned longing, he promptly made a note of him.