Four Levels of Cultivation, the World of Gods and Anomalies is Deeper Than Imagined

"Moo~" The Old Green Ox let out a low moo, finally snapping the stunned crowd back to reality.

One of the escorts looked at Fan Wu's retreating back and couldn't help but take a deep breath.

He suppressed his fear and whispered, "No wonder that official from the Imperial Astronomy Bureau was so polite to him at first. When I saw him earlier, I actually mistook him for a bandit..."

As he spoke, he considered a possibility and swallowed nervously, "I hope this Daoist Master doesn't hold a grudge against me for this matter, right?"

At that moment, he felt a chill run down his neck.

He was afraid that Daoist Master Fan would give him the same sword strike.

If such a Daoist Master, who could kill ghosts like swatting flies, were to strike him, he might not even have a chance to become an evil ghost, right?

Perhaps... he wouldn't even have a chance to reincarnate in the underworld?

Hiss!

"Don't worry! A Daoist Master with such abilities, how could he be such a petty person?" An older escort beside him patted his shoulder and said comfortingly.

"I wonder if that Daoist Master takes disciples. If I could learn even one or two moves, maybe I could be called a master too."

"With your looks, you want to become a disciple? You don't even have the qualifications to visit a brothel!"

"Hey, are you looking down on me?!"

"Tsk, if you're so confident, why don't you try to ask?"

"Uh, well... cough cough!"

The escorts muttered amongst themselves in low voices, their tones hushed as if they were afraid of disturbing Fan Wu.

Little did they know, Fan Wu heard every word.

With Fan Wu's current incredibly sharp hearing, he could even detect a slight quickening of their heartbeats...

Fan Wu could tell that the escorts' discussions were tinged with a hint of fear.

This fear didn't seem to stem from the supernatural entities, but from facing him, Fan Wu, directly.

In other words...

In the eyes of these escorts, he, Fan Wu, was perhaps scarier than ghosts?

Whatever.

Facing the escorts' fearful chatter, Fan Wu let it go in one ear and out the other.

He didn't take it to heart at all.

He couldn't be bothered to argue.

At this moment... he had already picked up the scabbard of the Demon-Slaying Sword.

After lightly wiping down the blade.

He sheathed it.

Then, he went over to the Old Green Ox and took out a brand new inner lining and a Daoist robe from the satchel on its back.

He put them on.

Afterward, Fan Wu noticed that Xie Jiuyi, the Imperial Astronomy Bureau Lieutenant, was walking towards him.

He didn't want to initiate a conversation with Xie Jiuyi, as he always felt that people from the Imperial Astronomy Bureau were synonymous with trouble.

But Xie Jiuyi spoke first.

He heard the man say in a tone of both admiration and envy, "Fellow Daoist Fan, your current cultivation must be close to entering the 'Qi Refinement into Spirit' realm, right?"

Fan Wu: "?"

What Qi Refinement into Spirit?

Sorry.

Don't know it!

Hearing Xie Jiuyi use what seemed to be a Daoist term, Fan Wu was completely clueless.

All the scriptures his deceitful master had him study were fabricated.

How could Fan Wu possibly know any of these professional terms used by cultivators?

Seeing Fan Wu's expressionless face and his lack of response.

Xie Jiuyi thought he had said something wrong.

Recalling Fan Wu's fierce actions of tearing apart the evil ghost and shattering the strange shadow just now...

Xie Jiuyi was startled.

He immediately chuckled awkwardly, "It was my mistake. Such private matters should not be inquired about."

"Um, sir..." Escort Leader Lin also mustered up his courage and followed, tentatively asking in a low voice, "Shouldn't we leave this place and find a place to stay?"

Although the anomalous entities here seemed to have been dealt with by this burly Daoist Master.

But staying in a place like this made escort leader Lin feel very unsafe.

He was afraid that a few evil ghosts would suddenly appear from somewhere.

As a result, he hadn't relaxed at all and still appeared somewhat nervous.

After all, for him, there could be no mistakes when escorting goods for the Imperial Astronomy Bureau.

If there was a mistake, he would never be a caravan leader in this life...

It was even uncertain if he could continue to be a regular escort.

Fan Wu's question also caused Xie Jiuyi to breathe a sigh of relief, giving him an opportunity to change the subject.

"Mhm," he replied, turning to Caravan Leader Lin. "This place is indeed not suitable for staying long. Let's continue on our journey!"

"Yes, sir!" The caravan leader Lin nodded.

Then, the caravan leader Lin, unable to suppress his curiosity, scratched the back of his head awkwardly and asked weakly, "Sir, what did you mean by 'Qi Refinement into Spirit' just now?"

The caravan leader, Lin, was very curious about such things.

If he knew some things about cultivators, he would have plenty of material to brag about in the future.

Xie Jiuyi casually replied, "It's... a realm for cultivators! Qi Refinement into Essence, Qi Refinement into Spirit, Spirit Refinement into Void, Void Unification with Dao. These four realms represent different levels of strength."

He chuckled, "Although my position as an Imperial Astronomy Bureau Lieutenant sounds impressive, I'm only at the Qi Refinement into Essence level. And among those at Qi Refinement into Essence, I'd only be considered average!"

"Hiss!!" 镖头 Lin gasped.

In his eyes, Xie Jiuyi, this Imperial Astronomy Bureau Lieutenant, was already a big shot, and a powerful one at that!

Yet this sir frankly admitted that his strength was merely at a very basic, average level?

In that case... what kind of level would those more powerful cultivators be at?

As this question flashed through his mind.

The caravan leader, Lin, couldn't help but cast his gaze towards Fan Wu ahead.

This Daoist Master should be even more formidable than Sir Xie Jiuyi, right?

The escort leader, Lin, discovered that when he got close to Fan Wu.

He actually didn't dare to look up and meet his gaze!

There was no helping it.

The pressure Fan Wu exuded...

Was too immense!

Fan Wu, on the other hand, completely ignored the caravan leader Lin, because at this moment, Fan Wu had keenly captured... information revealed in Xie Jiuyi's words that he hadn't known before – the cultivation realms!!

Qi Refinement into Essence.

Qi Refinement into Spirit.

Spirit Refinement into Void.

Void Unification with Dao.

Were these the universally recognized realms for cultivators in the World of Gods and Anomalies?

Fan Wu had witnessed Xie Jiuyi's methods of killing ghosts.

Compared to the Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple in Prison Dragon County, or the White-Bearded Old Daoist Yang Yizi, or the heretical Daoist Xuan Shizi...

Xie Jiuyi was clearly more powerful than them.

Was such an Imperial Astronomy Bureau Lieutenant only at the Qi Refinement into Essence realm?

It seemed the water in this World of Gods and Anomalies.

Was not just a little bit deep!!

Shaking his head.

He cast aside the distracting thoughts in his mind one by one, Fan Wu patted the Old Green Ox's neck, signaling that they should travel at night.

He clearly didn't want to linger in this place.

Lest a few more "people" of that "Great Venerable" appear later.

The Old Green Ox was very intelligent and hadn't been startled or run off by the frequent appearance of anomalous entities earlier.

With a "Moo."

The Old Green Ox, carrying the luggage, followed Fan Wu and continued on their way along the overgrown dirt path.

Seeing this.

Although the escorts of the Huwei Escort Agency feared Fan Wu's formidable combat prowess, they also feared encountering such anomalous entities again.

So, they quickly urged their horses forward, wanting to keep up with Fan Wu.

There was no other way; in the eyes of this group of people, Fan Wu was a powerhouse.

Following behind a powerhouse...

At least it was safer.