Ascension Path

"……So that's your story. You've had bad luck, but it seems like things are finally looking up."

Lan Yi observed Xiao Hongzhuan, who was wolfing down his food with great interest.

At that moment, Xiao Hongzhuan looked like a genuine hungry ghost from the "Hungry Ghost Scene." He ate as if he wouldn't die from overeating, devouring the fish and meat on the table. If he hadn't had some reserves from before, starving for days and then binge-eating like this would have surely been fatal.

Even after washing up.

Xiao Hongzhuan still looked like a refugee.

Whether it was his height, demeanor, speech, appearance, or abilities, Xiao Hongzhuan seemed like a nobody from the roadside who couldn't possibly be connected to Immortal Master Lan Yi.

If Lan Yi hadn't personally confirmed it.

None of the Martial Artists would have ever believed that such a person could be from the same hometown as Immortal Master Lan Yi. It was simply too demeaning. To put it bluntly, someone like Xiao Hongzhuan wouldn't even require a Heavenly General level expert to deal with; any Qi Cultivation Practitioner could easily subdue him with one hand.

Might makes right.

This "might" didn't just refer to strength. If one possessed great knowledge that could benefit their people, or cultivated Destiny Clusters that were advantageous, they would also be respected within the Martial Artist community.

Clearly, Xiao Hongzhuan had some skills, but his current abilities weren't enough to suppress these Martial Artists, who were like fierce tigers and dragons.

Many Martial Artists stood around the dining table at this moment.

Zhao Jian, Zhao Sikong, Liu Baiyuan, Guo Decheng. Besides these familiar faces, there were several other Martial Artists who had arrived in Jinling over the past two days, seeking Bestowing Martial Arts and weapons from the Martial Artist group. Among those qualified to enter the inner circle were Spear King Kuang Yimin, Divine Gunner Li Shuwen, Sword Immortal Li Jinglin, and Tiger Head Young Protector Sun Lutang.

These were humans who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts before the spiritual energy resurgence.

Upon entering the Jinling region, they had almost all begun their journey into Qi Cultivation at a pace far exceeding ordinary people. Even without Lan Yi bestowing the true teachings of Martial Arts, they would have been able to slowly forge a transcendent path belonging to Innate Qi.

Now, these Martial Arts powerhouses stood quietly to the side, listening.

The more they listened, the more their hearts were filled with shock.

The secrets of the Immortal Realm, the path of conquest, Void Cultivation in Martial Arts, the river of Daoist Arts – every piece of secret information was a profound secret capable of shattering the worldview of anyone in this era.

Lan Yi didn't stop them from listening.

Firstly, the War Zone wasn't like some unscrupulous and cowardly transmigration Oddities that strictly guarded the origins of psionic cultivators. Once the path of conquest was opened, it was equivalent to the barriers of the Artificial Divine Realm being opened to the main world. If psionic cultivators from the main world lacked the courage to conquer the heavens, they would eventually face backlash.

If they possessed the strength and courage, then all the resources of the heavens would be theirs to use, allowing them to suppress the numerous forces within the Artificial Divine Realm and become a truly top-tier power.

Facts had also proven this.

Later, the psionic cultivators of the River Civilization and Dayang Civilization joined forces to build the Two Realms Mountain, a feat of star control akin to a stabilizing needle. It truly established the main world's unshakeable position.

Not just the main world.

Lan Yi had never concealed information regarding psionic energy, Innate Qi, Destiny Clusters, Daoist Arts, and so on from the very beginning.

This was one of the spontaneous principles of the first generation of psionic cultivators.

While the teachings could be passed on, Lan Yi prioritized passing them to the River Civilization among the human civilizations within the Artificial Divine Realm, followed by the Dayang Civilization, then human civilization in general, and finally the human race. The teachings were given to you; how much you learned was your own ability. If you could truly catch up, you could join the civilization and conquer the Artificial Divine Realm.

This was also one of the first-generation cultivator principles.

For psionic cultivators from the main world who were stranded in the Artificial Divine Realm, if there were no past grievances or conflicts of interest, it was fine to help with a small effort. No one would force you if you didn't want to.

Besides these, there was another principle.

The competition and conflict between the River Civilization and Dayang Civilization was a constant in the Artificial Divine Realm.

Regardless of which side's psionic cultivators were modifying the Artificial Divine Realm, they would favor their own civilization. However, they would not seek to annihilate the other human civilization. Of course, there was still a lot of room for maneuver in not annihilating them; how it played out depended on the psionic cultivators' abilities and integrity.

However, if the human civilization in the Artificial Divine Realm was in peril, this principle would automatically shift to disregarding differences and prioritizing helping the human civilization overcome the crisis before anything else.

The constant love-hate relationship between the River Civilization and Dayang Civilization was the norm.

Let alone leaving Earth.

Even if they left the Artificial Divine Realm and entered the unpredictable boundaries, or ventured into the even stranger and more broken outer regions, this struggle, etched into the souls of the two civilizations, would not disappear.

With so much information.

Let alone the Martial Artists like Zhao Jian, even Xiao Hongzhuan, the unlucky fellow from the main world, was stunned into silence.

"Big Boss Lan, I'm truly impressed."

Comparing oneself to others could be infuriating.

Xiao Hongzhuan had been feeling a bit sour in his heart, thinking, We were both among the first batch to enter the Artificial Divine Realm, why are you so outrageously strong? After this conversation, he had no trace of sourness towards Lan Yi, only deep admiration.

This was a golden thigh to cling to!

Was he going to wait to lie down and win without clinging to the big boss's thigh? Did he think he could be as heaven-defying as Lan Yi?

Having been educated by harsh reality and become honest, Xiao Hongzhuan was just short of directly asking to be taken in.

Lan Yi indeed intended to take him in.

However, it wouldn't be for free. Xiao Hongzhuan possessed a Destiny Cluster called "Earth Fiend," which Lan Yi needed.

"This Immortal Realm is truly..." Guo Decheng murmured with difficulty, his worldview having been refreshed.

"The Immortal Realm lives up to its name. As for Immortal Master Lan Yi, he is likely incredibly esteemed even within the Immortal Realm."

Spear King Kuang Yimin had a sharp eye.

Just by listening to their conversation, he had managed to roughly piece together the situation, interpreting Lan Yi and Xiao Hongzhuan's presence in the War Zone as an immortal descending to undergo tribulation, with a vast difference in immortal status and a struggle between immortal factions.

It really wasn't bad.

Although Lan Yi was accustomed to Kuang Yimin's explanation, it was indeed easier for the martial artists who were digesting a huge amount of information to accept.

Their gazes towards Lan Yi became even more filled with admiration and respect.

In the eyes of the martial artists, Lan Yi's immortal rank would be at least a Grand Unity Golden Immortal in the Immortal Realm!

As for Xiao Hongzhuan.

He was probably just an insignificant, low-ranking immortal.

It would be difficult for him to even survive a tribulation descent to protect himself, let alone possess the divine might of Immortal Master Lan Yi.

"If that's the case, we martial artists can not only restore the Divine Land, eliminate barbarians and kill foreigners, but we also have hope of reaching the Ascension Path!" Sword Immortal Li Jinglin's face was flushed, and his words ignited the blood of many spirited martial artists!

If Lan Yi hadn't been here.

They probably wouldn't have been just excited.

They would have been eager to demonstrate their martial arts on the spot and vent their excited emotions.

They could also go to the Immortal Realm! Not only could they go, but they would also be a direct descendant of a true immortal with an extremely high immortal rank. This opportunity was likely due to their ancestral graves' auspicious smoke reaching the heavens, and their ancestors' coffins were already emitting fire!

"Whether or not one ascends to immortality is another matter, but for now, my hands are itching a bit."

Seeing Lan Yi cast an encouraging glance, Li Shuwen couldn't help but grin, his gaze fixed intently on Guo Decheng.

"In front of the Immortal Masters, shall we spar?"

"My 'Just Fist, No Second Strike' and 'Fierce Tiger Climbs the Mountain'—if it were before, I would certainly not be able to defeat you, but now..." Guo Decheng glanced at his silent master, Kuang Yimin, and smilingly accepted Li Shuwen's challenge. "...Senior Divine Gunner, it's fine if you and Master come at me together."