Nighttime Talk

At night, Arannis and Jie Ning lay half-reclined on the bed, embracing each other.

"Jie Ning, do you think I'm dreaming?" Arannis suddenly asked.

"Why would you think that?" Jie Ning found it strange.

"Look, before I met you, I was just an ordinary Level 5 Mage. Back then, becoming a Level 9 Mage one day already felt like an impossible dream."

"But after I met you, I quickly became a Level 6 Mage. Then, over these past few years, I rapidly broke through the thresholds of Level 7 and Level 8. Now, the Level 9 Mage that once seemed so impossibly distant is already within reach..." Although Jie Ning had long explained that staying by his side would improve her aptitude and comprehension, recalling the changes of the past few years still left Arannis sounding full of disbelief.

Jie Ning gently patted Arannis with the arm wrapped around her. "You broke through to Level 6 because your own accumulation was already sufficient. It just so happened that the breakthrough came at that time."

"As for the changes afterward, that is the wonder of Heavenly Law. I merely comprehended some Mysteries of life within Heaven and Earth, yet it produced such an effect." Jie Ning was somewhat moved as well.

In his previous life, before he knew that the world he inhabited was The Nine Cauldrons, he had constantly explored how to advance after becoming a Grandmaster. Though he had achieved some minor results, shallow waters could not nurture a true dragon, and in the end, he could only die with regrets.

At the time, because the Internal Family Boxing he practiced had some similarities to the martial arts mentioned in novels from his previous life, Jie Ning had tried using theories from novels such as Dragon Snake Romance as references for his deductions. Unfortunately, he had not achieved much.

Later, after arriving in Coiling Dragon in this life, especially after comprehending some Laws, some of his original ideas unexpectedly underwent a qualitative transformation.

In his previous life, he had once envisioned a realm called the "Land Immortal" for the future of Internal Family Boxing. One's own small magnetic field would resonate with the universe's great magnetic field, using the small magnetic field to alter the great magnetic field of Heaven and Earth.

As the saying went, when the time was right, Heaven and Earth would lend their strength. The "Land Immortal" Jie Ning envisioned would have Heaven and Earth lending their strength at every moment.

And wherever such a "Land Immortal" resided would be that Land Immortal's Dojo. Wherever the heart found peace was home.

Within such a "Dojo," the magnetic field of Heaven and Earth would change in accordance with the human body. This was the legendary Cave Heaven and Blessed Land. Even ordinary people living there could remain free from illness and disaster throughout their lives, living to a hundred years old.

Although the principles behind realizing this idea in this world differed somewhat, the effects were indeed rather similar.

Jie Ning was currently constantly studying and adjusting his own Life Fluctuations. Without his deliberate control, these fluctuations would naturally affect the environment and living beings around him. This was also Jie Ning's method of comprehending and cultivating the Life Law.

In nature, every form of life had an environment most suitable for its survival and growth.

And after Jie Ning, as a human, adjusted his own fluctuations, the resulting environment naturally benefited humans the most. During this time, Arannis had naturally been the greatest beneficiary.

However, Jie Ning estimated that his influence was currently limited to those below the Saint Realm. If someone reached the Saint Realm, even without understanding the Life Law, the natural evolution of their body would make their own Life Fluctuations increasingly difficult to influence.

Unless Jie Ning forcibly controlled them... At the Saint Realm level, Jie Ning suspected that doing so would instead affect their comprehension of Laws, leaving them only able to follow in his footsteps. After all, the method by which he turned other lives into his puppets worked the same way.

Of course, if Jie Ning's strength improved further, perhaps he would be able to eliminate this limitation.

With Jie Ning's reassurance, Arannis emerged from her state of anxious uncertainty.

"Pfft—hahahaha..." At that moment, seemingly thinking of something, Arannis suddenly burst into laughter.

Jie Ning looked strangely at Arannis, who was laughing uncontrollably in his arms.

Noticing his gaze, Arannis blinked mischievously. "Great Saint Magus Jie Ning, when I think about how you had that expression like you possessed profound insight into life just moments ago, only to comprehend the Earth Mystery and break through to become a Saint Realm Mage in the end, I find it absolutely hilarious."

Jie Ning could only reply innocently, "There was nothing I could do about sudden inspiration..."

"Even without that insight, my spiritual power had been rapidly growing through my understanding of life. Breaking through to the Saint Realm was only a matter of days."

"But just as I was about to take that final step, I suddenly gained insight into the Earth Element."

"Still, thanks to my insight into the Earth Element, I also gained some new understanding of the Earth-walking Technique..."

Arannis had initially been smiling, but the more she listened, the more something felt off. What did he mean, "Still, luckily I gained new insight"? Looking at Jie Ning's handsome face, she suddenly wanted to punch him.

Don't get angry, don't get angry. He didn't mean it... Arannis "struggled" to suppress the urge to throw a punch.

"So how far are you from becoming a god?" Setting aside her little feelings, Arannis was still very curious about the growth of Jie Ning's strength.

Jie Ning thought for a moment. "I have a feeling that whether it is the Life Law or the Earth Law, I am not too far from the dividing line of becoming a god."

"Then won't you soon become a god like War God Highness?" Arannis said in surprise.

Jie Ning lowered his head and kissed Arannis on the cheek. "It may seem like I'm only a few steps away from becoming a god, but every single one of those steps is worlds apart."

"Currently, all Saint Realm experts across the Bana Continent can be divided into three levels."

"The first type consists of those whose Battle Qi has merely reached the Saint Realm level, with no comprehension whatsoever of Laws or rules. Such weakest Saint Realm experts account for ninety-five percent of all Saint Realm experts." Jie Ning spoke bluntly. "Most Battle Qi cultivation manuals on the continent came from Overgods, and even those that did not were derived from them. As long as a cultivator was somewhat talented and reasonably diligent, they basically had hope of reaching the Saint Realm."

"The second type of Saint Realm expert is someone like me. Their Battle Qi or spiritual power has broken through to the Saint Realm, and they possess a certain degree of comprehension of the Mysteries of Heaven and Earth. Such people account for ninety-nine percent of the remaining numbers. Their strength varies according to how many Mysteries they have comprehended, but the difference is not especially great."

"The third type has already comprehended their Mysteries to the limit and only lacks a final thread before breaking through to godhood. They are invincible among Saint Realm experts, and there are only a dozen or so such Saint Realm Limits across the entire continent." As he spoke, Jie Ning smiled at Arannis. "You have actually met one of them."

Arannis was somewhat surprised. "I've met one too?"

Then she thought it over. "Was it one of the seniors who attended our wedding?"

After all, the only Saint Realm experts she had met were those important figures who attended her wedding. Several candidates immediately surfaced in Arannis's mind.

Jie Ning nodded. "It was Senior Gru of our Dalut Family."

"It wasn't Duke Darut?" Arannis was surprised. In her memory, Senior Gru had been extremely low-key. Aside from occasionally making a few sarcastic remarks about Duke Darut, he usually sat quietly. He had not looked like the strongest person present at all.

Jie Ning explained, "Even within our Dalut Family, only Saint Realm experts and above know of Senior Gru's strength. Outside the family, even fewer people know."

Jie Ning recalled the scene of Duke Darut provoking him into challenging Gru, only for him to get thoroughly beaten.

Several parts of his body immediately began to ache faintly in phantom pain.

If Gru had not shown restraint for the sake of Jie Ning's newlywed status, that beating would probably have been even worse.

Ancestor Darut really had no sense of decency. Jie Ning secretly grumbled.

Darut: I got beaten by Gru, so none of you juniors are getting away either.

The Saint Realm experts of the Dalut Family: That's right...

"So that's how it was..." Arannis found it somewhat unbelievable.

"A Saint Realm expert's strength is not determined by age. Even someone who has lived for a thousand years may still not have comprehended even the slightest Mystery." Jie Ning reminded her. "But you can try guessing which elemental Laws and Profound Mysteries Senior Gru comprehended."

Recalling Gru's perpetually calm expression, Arannis said uncertainly, "Water Element, or perhaps Earth Element?"

Jie Ning grinned. His mouth had taken a punch too back then. "...It was Fire Profound Mystery, and one with extremely strong offensive power. Every one of his attacks could be said to contain explosive might."

"Ah..." Arannis could not, for the moment, connect Gru's calm expression with the fiery, explosive passion usually associated with Fire Element users. "But shouldn't Fire Element warriors be hot-blooded and irritable...?"

Jie Ning explained, "Apparently, several hundred years ago, Senior Gru really was like that. Later, after realizing that an explosion should not always be unrestrained, but should instead be like magma and focus more on buildup before eruption, he gradually learned to cultivate his temperament. Only in battle would he reveal his violent side, and his strength improved enormously because of it."

"This is also a method of comprehending Mysteries: integrating one's comprehension of Mysteries into one's life. Not only can it improve one's control over those Mysteries, but whenever one is inspired, it can also naturally deepen one's understanding of them. This was a method Senior Gru strongly recommended to me..."

Although the other Saint Realm experts didn't seem to approve much... I found it quite useful after putting it into practice. Jie Ning remembered that when Gru had shared his experience, several other Saint Realm experts had seemed to have rather complicated expressions.

The other Saint Realm experts: That's because you people are freaks. How could normal people suddenly gain insights all the time?

Happy New Year's Day, everyone.

It was rare to have a holiday, so I slept the whole day.

P.S. Thanks to Infinite Sword Demon and Jianghu Four Bugs for the monthly tickets.

As usual, please send recommendation tickets and monthly tickets.

There should be more today. As for whether it will be one chapter or two, that depends on my speed.