Martial Dao Realm Classification, 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 designated by the Great Gan Imperial Court. The Empress had also decreed that any member of a demonic cult, or anyone connected to one, would be killed without mercy.

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

Yet the assassination ultimately ended in failure, and the Saintess of the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult was captured and thrown into the Heavenly Prison.

Afterward, Ren Ruohai had secretly released the Saintess of the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult. Ren Xiaoyao took the blame and was demoted to become a menial disciple of the Imperial Observatory.

Who could have imagined that after escaping the Heavenly Prison, Liu Ruyan had not returned to the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult? Instead, she had lain low 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 a massive whirlpool.

Ren Xiaoyao glanced outside.

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

Should I just call for help?

But if I anger Liu Ruyan, would this Demonic Cult Saintess simply kill me outright?

Liu Ruyan seemed to have guessed Ren Xiaoyao's thoughts. She let out a coquettish 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 here late at night, he was more than happy to help make a match. He should be a guest at Sun Gazing Peak now. Even if you screamed yourself hoarse, he would not appear."

Hearing this, the heart Ren Xiaoyao had been holding up finally died.

This demonic maiden was far too calculating. She had pretended to admire him, putting everyone's guard down.

Now he was truly done for.

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

Liu Ruyan smiled seductively. "Ren Xiaoyao, there is no need 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 a cripple?"

Hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao knew Liu Ruyan was about to lay a trap for him. So 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?"

"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 probably not hesitate to pay any price to destroy our cult."

Liu Ruyan shook her head. At the mention of the Empress, she too was deeply wary.

Yet Liu Ruyan was very pleased 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, staring straight at him. Her gaze made Ren Xiaoyao's old face flush red. He lowered his head, not daring to meet her eyes.

Liu Ruyan leaned close to Ren Xiaoyao's ear and whispered,

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

"Restore my aptitude?"

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

Liu Ruyan shot Ren Xiaoyao a coquettish look. Her breath was fragrant as orchids, her eyes as soft as silk, as she said,

"Naturally, it is a Dual Cultivation art of Yin-Yang Harmony. 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 art?

Ren Xiaoyao understood at once.

Bitterness filled his heart.

This demonic maiden truly wanted to have her cake and eat it too.

But he had yet to enter 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 disappoint the Saintess's trust."

Liu Ruyan also laughed sweetly.

"Good. I will leave the Capital City for a while to avoid the heat. After some time, I will sneak back into the Imperial Observatory to find you. If you obtain the Great Evolution Tome, I will certainly reward you handsomely."

Reward me?

I think you want to reward yourself instead.

Ren Xiaoyao grumbled inwardly, while a sense of urgency rose within him.

Strength!

In this world, strength spoke for everything!

Even with a mighty tree to lean against, without strength, one could still only be slaughtered at another's whim when trapped in danger.

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

Just as Liu Ruyan was about to start getting handsy 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 and say, "Young Master, time is tight this time. When this Saintess returns next time, I will dote on you properly."

With that, Liu Ruyan hurried away, her figure vanishing into the moonlight.

Only then did Ren Xiaoyao let out a breath. He had escaped the Tiger's Mouth.

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

[You have encountered threats from the Demonic Maiden Liu Ruyan. You have the following choices:]

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

[Two: Pretend to cooperate. Once you have the ability to contend against Liu Ruyan, you may obtain a high-level Martial Arts Technique: Qi Sword.]

He could choose?

Naturally, Ren Xiaoyao did not hesitate. He 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?

Naturally, Ren Xiaoyao could not figure out the answer.

But he did not dwell on it.

He shut the door and continued cultivating.

He had reached the critical moment 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 continuously absorbed spiritual energy.

Half an Hour later, Ren Xiaoyao only felt strands of peculiar aura faintly forming within his body.

This aura was mysterious beyond mystery, as though it contained profound secrets surpassing the limits of the world.

It worked!

Joy appeared on Ren Xiaoyao's face.

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

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

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

Yet before Ren Xiaoyao could begin exploring—

"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 also sighed in 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."

Ren Xiaoyao looked at Li Chunfeng and 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 fallen for your handsome face, so I deliberately avoided you two and created an opportunity for you, kid. I never expected to fall for her trick. Now it seems she had another motive. Since she voluntarily revealed her identity to you, I imagine she must have threatened you in some way?"

"There was no threat. You know as well as I do that my life is worthless. What could she use to threaten me? But Liu Ruyan did offer me temptation, telling me to steal your Great Evolution Tome. If I succeeded, she could find a way to restore my aptitude."

"The Great Evolution Tome?"

Hearing this, Li Chunfeng furrowed his brows and muttered to himself,

"Could it be that the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult is also involved in the operation within the Capital City this time? It seems the Empress will have trouble sleeping for a while again."

"An operation in 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 a good thing. In the coming days, people from the Facing Heaven Pavilion will likely come to investigate. You may truthfully speak of 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 Martial Dao realms divided?"

"You still have thoughts of practicing martial arts?"

Li Chunfeng looked at Ren Xiaoyao and shook his head. "You are being watched closely. You are destined to be unable to practice martial arts, so give up on that thought. 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 hidden force. Only after cultivating hidden force to its limit could they cultivate true qi, at which point they were considered ranked. Only after becoming ranked could one be considered a true Martial Artist.

A Ranked Expert could use true qi to activate Martial Arts Techniques, allowing them to run across walls and leap over eaves, becoming Invulnerable to Blades and Spears, Invulnerable to Water and Fire.

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 was a tremendous threat to Ren Xiaoyao.

"Her? She 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 cultivate a technique that can Conceal True Qi, which is why I failed to see her strength before."

Li Chunfeng answered.

The First-Rank Realm.

Was that not the pinnacle of Martial Dao experts?

Ren Xiaoyao immediately grew tense.

If I wanted to contend against Liu Ruyan, how many years of the monkey would that take?

Ren Xiaoyao sighed inwardly, but then 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. Beyond First Rank lies 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 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 before? The so-called Martial Dao is nothing more than passing clouds and drifting smoke. Our final destination will be dust between Heaven and Earth. Compared to the Vast Universe and Endless Space-Time, all things are 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 I could reach the Super-Rank Realm someday, I should have the strength for self-preservation in this world, right?

However, since Ren Xiaoyao cultivated immortality, he could not yet judge which Martial Dao realm his current 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 like on countless nights before, he gazed up at the stars of the heavens.

It was as though his thoughts had flown beyond the constellations, no longer in the mortal world.

Ren Xiaoyao remained in his room.

After entering the Dao Realm First Heaven, he discovered that his speed of drawing in spiritual energy from between Heaven and Earth had become much faster. It was like changing from a Small Riverbed into a Great Riverbed: the water would go through a Surge Period before gradually stabilizing.

Ren Xiaoyao was currently in that Surge Period.

He only felt the spiritual power within his body expanding with every breath.

Not until 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 peering into the essence of all things.

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

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

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