A Smooth Breakthrough, the Twelfth Realm! Preparing for the Supreme Realm

A month later at noon, Jiang Yan suddenly pushed open Qin Wangchuan's door, his chest still heaving violently, and his cuffs still carrying the lingering aura of thunder and fire.

His eyes shone brightly, and his voice trembled with excitement. "Eldest Brother, I did it! I've officially mastered the First Gear the <Wanjie Thunder Furnace>!"

"He's even broken through to the Eighth Realm!"

"It's the Eighth Realm!"

"You can own a territory now!"

Having a domain makes one invincible in the Lower Realm.

Inside the room, Qin Wangchuan stood with his back to him by the window, a talisman just taking shape at the tip of his brush.

This is a new talisman created by sealing one of his own slashes into the talisman.

Although the process wasn't smooth, it finally succeeded.

Hearing the noise, Qin Wangchuan didn't turn around, but simply gave a very soft "hmm" to indicate that he knew.

He then took out a short, ice-blue blade with runes flowing across its surface, radiating a chilling aura—it was the "Xuanming Ice Soul Blade," a top-grade magical Law Artifact that the Tongtian Family had sought out.

He then took out the Ten Directions Profound Sword, which was covered in cracks.

The moment the Ancient Sword appeared, the Xuanming Ice Soul Blade emitted mournful cries, as if it had encountered its natural nemesis.

Qin Wangchuan brought the two together.

Without a sound, the Xuanming Ice Soul Blade was quickly devoured as if ice and snow were melting away, leaving not even a speck of dust behind.

The cracks on the surface of the Ten Directions Profound Sword healed considerably at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the flowing light on the sword body became even more profound, but it ultimately failed to break through that boundary.

"The next absorption will probably be at least two months from now." He gently stroked the sword, feeling the surging power within. "One more absorption, and it will be upgraded to Law Artifact."

As the grade of the Ten Directions Profound Sword increases, the number of swords it needs to absorb also increases.

The scene of weapons devouring each other was bizarre, but Jiang Yan's attention was completely captivated by another detail—

A faint golden light flowed around Qin Wangchuan, swirling like morning mist.

Sunlight streamed through the half-open window, making it difficult to discern whether the sunlight was brighter or the shimmering light emanating from his body was more dazzling.

In addition, my Eldest Brother surprisingly didn't set up his stall today.

A thought flashed through his mind, and Jiang Yan tentatively asked, "Eldest Brother... you, you've broken through too?"

"Um."

Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Jiang Yan's eyes widened suddenly, momentarily stunned. "When did this happen? We were clearly just last night..."

"I broke through to the next level as soon as I woke up." Qin Wangchuan finished speaking and casually twirled his sword.

The sword's edge sliced through the air, emitting a clear, melodious dragon's roar. The Ten Directions Profound Sword transformed into a radiant arc in his palm, reflecting a chilling glint in his eyes.

Some cultivators retain the habit of sleeping, and Qin Wangchuan is one of them.

With his gaze fixed on the talisman, he was completely unaware that Jiang Yan behind him was staring wide-eyed.

His little head was filled with immense shock.

Jiang Yan recalled how he had survived the past month—not only was he beaten half to death, but he also suffered several backlashes from the lightning and fire, causing him to vomit blood and nearly sever his meridians before finally breaking through.

But my Eldest Brother just... did it all so quietly...

"Damn..." Jiang Yan muttered to himself, scratching his head unconsciously, "Is the difference between people from the Lower Realm and those from the Upper Realm really that big?"

Jiang Yan was naturally unaware that Qin Wangchuan's talent had already transcended the boundaries Lower Realm, reaching another dimension.

Currently, the Twelfth Realm: Half-Venerable.

Although this stage is not the dividing line between strength and weakness, and everything still falls into place naturally, it is of paramount importance. Cultivators need to find various heavenly materials and earthly treasures to temper their Divine Soul during this stage, and concentrate on consolidating their strength to lay an unparalleled foundation for the next realm.

The true transformation lies in the Thirteenth Realm, "Supreme Being".

That was the real watershed moment.

Only when one enters the Supreme Realm, the actions of proclaiming to Heaven and Earth that were previously in the Heaven Earth Realm, will be of any use.

Based on the effect of the announcement, it resonates with heaven and earth, inherits the Dao Rhyme, and condenses into the Heaven and Earth Law that stands between heaven and earth.

In this world, only the "law" is the key to determining whether a person is powerful or not.

The Heaven and Earth Law are the manifestation of those laws.

Of course, not everyone can succeed.

Countless exceptionally talented individuals have stopped here, unable to condense their Dharma Manifestation throughout their lives, forever trapped in the Half-Venerable Realm.

Only when one succeeds can one truly establish a foothold in this world.

"Boom--!"

The sudden loud noise interrupted the two.

The entire inn shook violently, the window frames rattled, and a surge of violent Spiritual Power swept through the city like a tidal wave.

Jiang Yan staggered and grabbed the table for support, looking out the window with surprise and uncertainty. "What happened?"

Qin Wangchuan finally turned around, his gaze sweeping across the sky outside the window. "There are powerful figures fighting." He sensed their strength briefly, his tone certain, "Their aura is sharp, but they lack staying power; they are young Prodigy. They might be one of your future opponents."

"Me?" Jiang Yan pointed to his nose, his face falling. "Just from the noise, I knew I couldn't win..."

"Even if you can't win, you have to fight." Qin Wangchuan's tone was calm and unwavering. "You can only win."

"What if... we lose?"

"Then I'll do it."

The three words were spoken lightly, but Jiang Yan suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Why does that sound a little scary?

A moment later, there was a cautious knock on the door.

The waiter's voice came through the door. "Gentlemen, you've been frightened! The commotion was caused by the massacre of the Thousand Puppet Sect next door. The manager specifically instructed me to go to each room to explain that there is absolutely no danger, so please rest assured."

Qin Wangchuan thought for a moment and then called the waiter in.

He was a young waiter in his early twenties, with an honest face and dark skin, as if he had been exposed to the smoke of a stove for many years.

"What can I do for you, sir?" the waiter asked respectfully.

"I've heard there's a Qin Clan nearby? What's their reputation like?" Qin Wangchuan asked.

The waiter's face turned pale instantly.

He hurriedly slipped inside, slammed the door shut, and whispered, "Sir, watch your words! Talking about that Lineage... it'll cost you your head!"

Under Jiang Yan's curious gaze, Xiao Er suddenly leaned down mysteriously, cupping his hands around his mouth as if he were about to reveal some earth-shattering secret.

Jiang Yan couldn't help but hold his breath and bring his ear closer.

The next moment.

But then the waiter suddenly straightened up and laughed loudly, "Just kidding, look how nervous you are!"

"Ouch!" Jiang Yan was startled by the sudden movement and punched him playfully. "You!"

It's not surprising that he was being teased; from the moment he walked in, Jiang Yan had a strange expression on his face, and he subconsciously made a joke.

"Haha." The waiter chuckled twice before becoming serious and said, "Seriously, I've heard that the Qin Clan's influence extends throughout all walks of life."

"I haven't been to other realms, but this branch in the Tongtian Realm is indeed extraordinary."

"One clan can establish one city. The Qin Clan did have a few members who bullied others before, but they quickly faded into obscurity. They're also useful for dealing with any major threats, so they're not bad. It's just that..."

The waiter abruptly changed the subject, lowering his voice and adding a touch of genuine resentment, "A while ago, a rumor spread that the Qin Clan was opening up their martial arts techniques to the public. A few brothers and I believed it and rushed there overnight. In the end, we didn't get the techniques; instead, we got a beating."

Qin Wangchuan became interested, "Oh?"

"This matter caused quite a stir back then. Nine out of ten people who went ended up like us, getting a cold shoulder," the waiter said, lowering his voice and revealing a hint of mystery in his eyes. "But the strange thing is, a few people actually did receive the inheritance of the cultivation technique and were politely invited in by the Qin Clan!"

Jiang Yan listened intently, then subconsciously asked, "Why is that? Are they exceptionally talented?"

"At first, everyone guessed the same thing." The waiter waved his hand, giving him a look that said, "You're too young." "But later, some people figured it out. Among those people, there were scions of prestigious families, Saint Son sects, and even one who brought rare treasures with him... Do you think there wasn't something fishy going on here?"

"A little trick?" Jiang Yan blinked, confused.

The waiter, looking at him with an air of utter ignorance, bluntly stated, "It's an insider deal! On the surface, it's called an open inheritance, but behind the scenes, the price has probably already been set!"

After saying that, he remembered something and hurriedly waved his hand, "Hey! I didn't say that! It's what everyone in the neighborhood is saying! Think about it, why should we ordinary people return empty-handed, while high-ranking officials and nobles get to receive the martial arts techniques?"

There's definitely something inside!

Hearing the waiter's indignant speculation, a fierce glint flashed in Qin Wangchuan's eyes, but it wasn't directed at the waiter; rather, it was at the rumor of this insider deal itself.

Qin Wangchuan understood that these rumors stemmed precisely from the restrictions he had personally imposed on the Chuanliu Pavilion.

There are two reasons why this pavilion failed to be rolled out on a large scale:

Firstly, the Three Thousand Provinces are too vast; even if each prefecture were to establish one, it would still be a considerable undertaking.

Secondly, it is too difficult to manage. Once you establish it, you have to manage it. If you can't manage it, it may become a disaster.

So, he came up with a plan.

The Qin Clan's influence extends throughout the heavens, like a ready-made ditch; and the cultivation techniques transmitted by the Chuanliu Pavilion are like flowing water.

Through the Qin Clan's scattered branches, the cultivation technique was sent to all corners of the world.

It was originally intended for ease of management.

Unexpectedly, it became a case of favoritism and self-interest.

Jiang Yan listened, his mind completely blank.

What Qin Clan?

What kind of exercise?

The waiter, unaware of their thoughts, sighed, a hint of melancholy flashing in his eyes. "What a pity... Everyone says the Qin Clan originated from the Immortal Realm. If only we could have obtained even a fraction of their wealth..."

At this point, the waiter shook his head and swallowed the rest of his sentence.

Once upon a time, he also dreamed of immortality.

I envision myself standing between heaven and earth, proclaiming to the world: I have arrived!

But in this chaotic Mortal World, that thought gradually became like an old wind chime hanging under the eaves—only making a few scattered sounds when the wind blows by.