"They called omniscience sagehood, and the wondrous without fixed form divinity. A sage was understanding, the Dao, sound itself. The Dao passed through all things; illumination shone upon all things. Hear a sound, and know the circumstances.
Young Dragon, Young Dragon—graceful and sinuous as a dragon. Setting aside Jianghuai, even a true dragon was a perfected Young Dragon.
The world called experts of the Young Dragon Realm Martial Saints. There was naturally such description and comparison behind it. When ordinary mortals cultivated to such a level, I believe the title Martial Saint could not be more fitting.
Beyond that, the Furnace called it Martial Immortal. From saint to immortal, therefore Young Dragon cultivation was the road of ascending to immortality.
The road to immortality has thirteen steps. The higher one climbs, the stronger one's cultivation becomes."
"Thirteen?"
"Indeed. In Daoism, twelve is called the number of earth, cyclical and ever-repeating. Thirteen corresponds to heaven, from earth to heaven—the image of decay giving way to renewal. This is according to the various schools.
Ten is the number of heaven, circulating without cease. Ten plus three, from heaven to the Dao—the image of returning to one's roots, opening the world and becoming true. This is according to the Supreme."
"King Chong, why not speak more plainly?"
"In Daoism, twelve is one cycle of numbers, while thirteen signifies transcending the cycle: not within the Five Elements, beyond the Three Realms. In Daoism, even demons, devils, ghosts, and monsters remain within reincarnation. Only gods and immortals transcend it.
Not only in Daoism—thirteen is also the number of perfection in Buddhism. A Buddhist pagoda rises no higher than thirteen stories.
These thirteen steps can roughly be divided into five realms: initial, middle, high, full, and awakened. Three steps make one realm, while the thirteenth step