Martial Dao Realm Classifications, Dao Realm First Heaven

Liu Ruyan sat on the bed, looking at Ren Xiaoyao with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Though the sight was utterly bewitching, Ren Xiaoyao only felt his scalp tingle.

The Mystic Moon Demonic Cult was one of the Four Great Demonic Sects branded as such by the Great Gan Imperial Court. The Empress had further decreed that any member of a demonic cult, or anyone connected to one, was to be killed without mercy.

Half a month ago, the Saintess of the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult had even infiltrated the Capital City and attempted to assassinate Princess Taiping.

Yet that assassination had ultimately ended in failure, and the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult's Saintess had been captured and thrown into the Heavenly Prison.

Later, Ren Ruohai privately released the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult's Saintess. Ren Xiaoyao took the blame, which was why he had been demoted to become a menial disciple of the Imperial Observatory.

Who would have thought that after escaping the Heavenly Prison, Liu Ruyan had not returned to the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult? Instead, she had concealed herself within the Imperial Observatory atop Fulong Mountain outside the Capital City.

Now, Liu Ruyan had voluntarily revealed her identity.

Ren Xiaoyao knew that he had already fallen into an enormous whirlpool.

Ren Xiaoyao's gaze swept toward the room outside.

Li Chunfeng's room was not far away. If Li Chunfeng noticed anything unusual, he should have been able to save Ren Xiaoyao.

Should he simply cry for help?

But if that angered Liu Ruyan, would this Demonic Cult Saintess simply kill him outright?

Liu Ruyan seemed to have guessed Ren Xiaoyao's thoughts. She gave a coy laugh and said,

"Young Master, when I came from Sun Gazing Peak to Night Gazing Peak, I naturally could not hide it from Li Chunfeng. But when he saw me coming late at night, he was more than happy to play matchmaker. He should be a guest at Sun Gazing Peak now. Even if you scream yourself hoarse, he will not appear."

Upon hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao's heart, which had been hanging by a thread, finally died.

This Demonic Maiden was far too scheming. She had pretended to admire him, making everyone lower their guard.

Now, he was truly done for.

Helpless, Ren Xiaoyao sighed. "Saintess, after laying out such a scheme, what exactly do you want?"

Liu Ruyan gave a seductive smile. "Ren Xiaoyao, there is no need for you to be nervous. Let me ask you this: you were born with a Martial Dao Sacred Body. Are you truly willing to live an ordinary life and become useless?"

Hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao knew Liu Ruyan was about to set a trap for him. He feigned delight and said, "Could it be that the Saintess wishes to recruit me into the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult, teach me martial arts, and let me defy fate and change my destiny?"

"Recruit you into the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult? I would not dare. You are someone the Empress has her eye on. If I truly did that, the Empress would likely not hesitate to pay any price to destroy my cult."

Liu Ruyan shook her head. At the mention of the Empress, she too was filled with deep apprehension.

Yet Liu Ruyan was very satisfied with Ren Xiaoyao's reaction.

Since Ren Xiaoyao was unwilling to accept his lot, he would be much easier to use.

Liu Ruyan rose from the bed and came before Ren Xiaoyao. She stared straight at him until his old face flushed red. He lowered his head, not daring to meet her eyes.

Liu Ruyan leaned close to Ren Xiaoyao's ear and spoke softly.

"Li Chunfeng possesses a Martial Dao Sacred Method called the Great Evolution Tome. Help me steal it. As thanks, I have a secret art that can restore your aptitude and allow you to practice martial arts again."

"Restore my aptitude?"

Ren Xiaoyao looked curious. "What kind of technique could be so mysterious? I wonder whether it would suit my cultivation?"

Liu Ruyan cast Ren Xiaoyao a coy glance. Her breath was like orchids, her alluring eyes like silk, as she said,

"Naturally, it is a method of Yin-Yang Harmony through Dual Cultivation. It contains endless mysteries and pleasures. You will understand when the time comes. As long as you help me, I will certainly treat you well and never let you down."

A Dual Cultivation method?

Ren Xiaoyao naturally understood in an instant.

Bitterness filled his heart.

This Demonic Maiden really wanted to have her cake and eat it too.

But he had not yet entered the Dao Realm First Heaven. How could he contend against Liu Ruyan?

Ren Xiaoyao could only feign delight. "In that case, I will certainly search diligently and not betray the Saintess's trust."

Liu Ruyan also gave a charming laugh.

"Good. During this time, I will leave the Capital City to avoid the heat. After some time, I will infiltrate the Imperial Observatory to find you again. If you obtain the Great Evolution Tome, I will certainly reward you properly."

Reward me?

I think you just want to reward yourself, don't you?

Ren Xiaoyao grumbled inwardly, while a sense of urgency also rose in his heart.

Strength!

In this world, strength spoke for everything!

Even with a towering tree to lean against, without strength, one could still only be slaughtered by others when trapped in peril.

After obtaining Ren Xiaoyao's agreement, Liu Ruyan was very satisfied.

Just as Liu Ruyan was preparing to have her way with Ren Xiaoyao, waves of clamor came from the direction of the Capital City.

Sensing the disturbance, Liu Ruyan could only helplessly pinch Ren Xiaoyao's cheek. "Young Master, time is pressing this time. Wait until next time for this Saintess to favor you."

With that, Liu Ruyan hurriedly departed, her figure vanishing into the moonlight.

Only then did Ren Xiaoyao let out a breath of relief. He had escaped the tiger's mouth.

At that moment, lines of text appeared before Ren Xiaoyao's eyes once more.

[You have encountered the threat of the Demonic Maiden Liu Ruyan. You have the following choices:]

[One: Steal the Great Evolution Tome. You will gain Liu Ruyan's favor and Yuan Tiangang's hatred.]

[Two: Pretend to cooperate. Once you possess the ability to contend against Liu Ruyan, you may obtain the high-level technique, Qi Sword.]

A choice was available?

Ren Xiaoyao naturally did not hesitate and decisively chose the second option.

However, Ren Xiaoyao also noticed the first option.

Yuan Tiangang's hatred?

Why would stealing Li Chunfeng's Great Evolution Tome earn him Yuan Tiangang's hatred?

Ren Xiaoyao naturally could not understand the answer.

But he did not dwell on it.

He shut the door and continued cultivating.

He had already reached the critical point of breaking through to the Dao Realm First Heaven. Naturally, he had to press on in one burst and enter the Dao Realm First Heaven.

Ren Xiaoyao continued absorbing spiritual energy.

Half an hour later, Ren Xiaoyao only felt faint strands of special energy beginning to emerge within his body.

This energy was profoundly mysterious, seemingly containing wonders beyond the limits of the world.

He had succeeded!

Joy appeared on Ren Xiaoyao's face.

Following the guidance of the Supreme Primordial Beginning Art, he knew that he had attained the Dao Realm First Heaven.

Within the Dao Realm First Heaven, spiritual power could arise within the body. By mobilizing spiritual power, one could carry out simple defense or attacks.

Ren Xiaoyao had only just entered this realm, so he naturally needed to explore everything himself.

Yet before Ren Xiaoyao had the chance to explore—

"Ren Xiaoyao, are you still alive?"

Li Chunfeng's anxious voice came from outside.

"Not dead yet!"

Ren Xiaoyao answered loudly.

Seeing that Ren Xiaoyao was still safe and sound, Li Chunfeng let out a breath of relief. "Where is Liu Ruyan? Did she come looking for you? That girl's identity is not right. She seems to be connected to a demonic cult."

"She came."

Looking at Li Chunfeng, Ren Xiaoyao answered truthfully, "Liu Ruyan admitted to me that she is the Saintess of the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult."

Ren Xiaoyao had not intended to conceal Liu Ruyan's matter.

Li Chunfeng gave an awkward smile and said,

"I thought she had simply taken a fancy to your looks, so I deliberately avoided you two and gave you, kid, an opportunity. Who would have thought that I had fallen for it? Now it seems she had another scheme in mind. Since she voluntarily revealed her identity to you, she must have threatened you in some way, right?"

"It was not exactly a threat. You know as well as I do that my life is worthless. What could she use to threaten me? But Liu Ruyan did tempt me with benefits. She asked me to steal your Great Evolution Tome. If I succeeded, she could find a way to restore my aptitude."

Ren Xiaoyao answered.

"The Great Evolution Tome?"

Li Chunfeng frowned upon hearing this and muttered to himself,

"Could the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult also be involved in the recent operation within the Capital City? It seems the Empress will have trouble sleeping again for some time."

"An operation within the Capital City?"

Ren Xiaoyao asked curiously, "Did something happen in the Capital City tonight? It was so noisy earlier that Liu Ruyan hurriedly left."

"Something major did happen."

Li Chunfeng nodded and said,

"But knowing too much is not necessarily a good thing. In the coming days, people from the Facing Heaven Pavilion should arrive to investigate. You may speak truthfully about Liu Ruyan, but remember not to mention the Great Evolution Tome."

"Mm."

Ren Xiaoyao nodded and asked, "Master, I am actually rather curious. How exactly are the realms of Martial Dao divided?"

"You still have thoughts of practicing martial arts?"

Li Chunfeng looked at Ren Xiaoyao and shook his head. "You are being watched too closely. You are destined to have no way of practicing martial arts, so give up on that idea. Still, I can introduce the Martial Dao of this world to you..."

According to Li Chunfeng, when ordinary people practiced martial arts, they first cultivated Dark Force. Only after cultivating Dark Force to the extreme could they produce True Qi, at which point they were considered ranked. Only after becoming ranked could one be regarded as a true Martial Artist.

A Ranked Expert could use True Qi to activate Martial Arts Techniques, allowing them to run across walls and rooftops, becoming invulnerable to blades and spears, and Invulnerable to Water and Fire.

Among them, the ranks were further divided from Ninth Rank to First Rank. Ninth Rank was the weakest, while First Rank was the strongest.

"Then what realm is Liu Ruyan in?"

Naturally, Ren Xiaoyao was most concerned about Liu Ruyan.

Because this woman would come looking for him again, she posed an enormous threat to Ren Xiaoyao.

"Her? Had she not previously attempted to assassinate Princess Taiping and fought experts from the True Martial Sect? It has basically been confirmed that she is in the First-Rank Realm. However, she should practice a technique that can Conceal True Qi, so I did not see through her strength earlier."

Li Chunfeng answered.

The First-Rank Realm.

Was that not the highest level of Martial Dao expert?

Ren Xiaoyao immediately grew tense.

How many years would it take before he could contend against Liu Ruyan?

Ren Xiaoyao sighed inwardly, but his gaze fell upon Li Chunfeng again. He asked curiously, "Then what realm are you in, Master? Are you also in the First-Rank Realm?"

"Me?"

"Of course I am not First Rank. Above First Rank is the Super-Rank Realm. As early as twenty years ago, I had already reached Super Rank."

Li Chunfeng said.

"Super Rank twenty years ago, then what about now?"

Ren Xiaoyao became even more curious about Li Chunfeng.

"Now?"

Li Chunfeng shook his head, looked at the stars filling the sky, and smiled faintly.

"Have I not said it already? So-called Martial Dao is nothing but fleeting smoke and passing clouds. Our final destination will be dust Between Heaven and Earth. Compared with the vast universe and Endless Space-Time, everything is an illusion."

The Super-Rank Realm!

Ren Xiaoyao firmly committed this realm to memory.

Li Chunfeng might not care about the Super-Rank Realm, but Ren Xiaoyao had to care!

If he could one day reach the Super-Rank Realm, he should possess the ability for self-preservation in this world, right?

However, because Ren Xiaoyao cultivated immortality, he could not yet determine what Martial Dao realm his Dao Realm First Heaven corresponded to.

Li Chunfeng did not chat with Ren Xiaoyao for long.

After giving Ren Xiaoyao a few more instructions, he headed to the Star Gazing Platform on Night Gazing Peak.

Just as on countless nights before, he gazed up at the stars of the heavens.

It seemed as though his thoughts had also flown beyond the stars, no longer remaining in the mortal world.

Ren Xiaoyao remained in his room.

After entering the Dao Realm First Heaven, he found that the speed at which he absorbed the spiritual energy Between Heaven and Earth had greatly increased. It was like changing from a small riverbed to a great riverbed: the current would experience a period of surging growth before gradually stabilizing.

Ren Xiaoyao was currently in that period of rapid growth.

With every breath, he only felt the spiritual power within his body expanding.

Only as dawn approached did the spiritual power in Ren Xiaoyao's body begin to stabilize somewhat.

At the same time, Ren Xiaoyao also developed Spiritual Sense.

According to the guidance, Spiritual Sense was a cultivator's heavenly eye, capable of perceiving the true nature of all things.

However, Ren Xiaoyao's Spiritual Sense was still in its Budding Stage, and he could not yet experience its marvelous uses.

Then, another line of information appeared before Ren Xiaoyao's eyes.

[Because you chose to pretend to help Liu Ruyan and fulfilled the condition of possessing enough strength to contend against Liu Ruyan, you have successfully obtained the Martial Arts Technique: Qi Sword.]