Gazing Up

The Lower Realm.

Sunlight, moon, and stars are never seen here throughout the year.

In a fragmented world known as North Qi, a torrential downpour raged, thunder roared, and the sky remained a chaotic blur.

North Qi lay at the extreme north of the Fourth Realm, its borders pressed against the boundary wall where "Eerie Mists" occasionally manifested.

Closest to the boundary wall and the Eerie Mists sat the sprawling Cenji Mountains. Viewed from high above, the range resembled a giant, dormant serpent with a winding body, as if it were desperately crawling outward, attempting to escape the boundary wall and the Eerie Mists.

Toward the "serpent's mouth" facing the exterior lay a precipitous gorge, where the wind howled with a shrill, ghostly wail.

Yet, on the barren plains ten miles away, three stone houses stood, appearing quite abrupt.

In today's inclement weather, the fences surrounding the stone houses rattled and clattered, as if they might collapse at any moment.

Above the stone houses, a colossal azure divine bird hovered in the air, its broad wings spread wide, remaining aloft without a single flap.

The bird's motionless, outstretched wings spanned several acres, each feather resembling divine jade and refined iron, casting a cyan radiance that lit the courtyard below as if it were broad daylight.

Furthermore, strands of divine light condensed into substance, hanging down like a cyan curtain to shroud the stone houses and the surrounding area, keeping the courtyard as warm as spring.

In the yard, a young girl in the bloom of youth clutched the hem of her luxurious dress, looking toward the distance with nervous unease, as if anxiously waiting for something.

At the same time, Sun Bin gazed at the girl in her new attire with the burning intensity of one beholding a rare treasure, growing more satisfied the longer he looked.

The little girl had washed her face and shed her coarse hempen clothes, revealing features of unexpected delicacy and beauty that made Sun Bin's eyes light up.

He had never expected that this trip to the Lower Realm would yield such a significant discovery in the form of this young girl.

"Elder Sun, we still have urgent business to attend to; we cannot delay too long."

Also in the yard, a short, stout middle-aged man in yellow robes, having waited a long time without seeing anyone arrive, felt compelled to bite the bullet and offer a reminder.

The girl's eyelashes fluttered urgently as she replied in a crisp, pleading voice, "My brother will be back soon!"

"Very well, then we shall wait a while longer." Sun Bin nodded with a smile.

Turning to the side, he cast an indifferent glance at the two men behind him, and the pair, who had been full of complaints, immediately fell silent, not daring to utter another word.

After an unknown amount of time, Sun Bin's expression shifted. He looked toward the muddy path ahead and saw a blurred figure clad in a straw raincoat slowly emerging through the torrential rain.

Under the gray sky, the newcomer possessed a tall, sturdy frame, carrying a longbow and a bamboo basket on his back with a long blade at his waist, striding forward through the storm.

Sun Bin squinted to look closer and could not help but be astonished: "Little girl, your brother is only two years older than you—just fifteen?"

"Yes, that's right."

Pang Lin, whose vision was hindered by the downpour and could not see the distant scenery as clearly as Sun Bin, replied in a low voice.

Sun Bin chuckled softly, a strange look in his eyes as he nodded. "Hmm, perhaps there really will be a new surprise."

According to his personal assessment, Pang Lin's dantian spirit sea possessed a naturally formed lightning vortex; with a little guidance, she could gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in this special weather and condense it into thunder and lightning within her own vortex.

A cultivation genius like Pang Lin was extremely rare even in the Upper Realm. Sun Bin had not expected to encounter one by chance in the spirit-starved Lower Realm, and he was naturally overjoyed.

Thinking that Pang Lin was already such a talent, and seeing her brother's extraordinary bearing from afar, Sun Bin felt a surge of anticipation.

"BOOM!"

A sudden, thunderous crack erupted from the depths of the gray sky, like the wrath of a god, causing the beasts deep within the Cenji Mountains to tremble in fear.

Pang Jian, who hunted in the Cenji Mountains year-round and was much taller and more robust than other youths his age, frowned as he looked toward the distant mountains being ravaged by the storm.

Under the murky, dim sky, the youth's face was like a sculpture, his features sharp and defined, his eyes clear and bright.

"Strange," Pang Jian wondered to himself.

In his memory, the Cenji Mountains and the surrounding territory had not seen such severe weather in years.

The reason he had come out of the mountains early this time to exchange his prey for grain, oil, and rice in Linshan Town was precisely because this bizarre weather had triggered flash floods, making it difficult for him to even travel within the Cenji Mountains.

Thinking that if he could not hunt in the mountains for a long time and earn enough silver, it would delay the path of education he was paving for his sister, Pang Jian felt his mood grow irritable.

In the rain, Pang Jian strode forward while lost in thought, drawing closer to home.

A moment later, the youth stopped abruptly, his eyes widening as he stared in disbelief at the sky above his home.

A massive, wondrous azure bird was currently hovering above his house, like a divine avian from myth.

The bird's incredibly broad wings radiated a brilliant, colorful glow, its wing bones shining like gold, iron, and jade, its aura utterly staggering.

Strands of cyan radiance hung down like a curtain from the edges of the bird's divine feathers, shrouding the house and courtyard alike, shielding them from the onslaught of the storm.

Since childhood, the youth had roamed every corner of the Cenji Mountains under his father's guidance, yet he had never seen such a miraculous creature.

The sight of the divine bird suspended in the air, with its dazzling glow and majestic, sacred presence, deeply shocked him.

After staring blankly for a long while, the youth finally regained his senses, suddenly remembering his sister left at home.

"Pang Lin!"

With a tremor in his heart, the youth moved like a leopard, sprinting through the rain at his top speed toward his house, terrified that his sister might have met with some accident.

Thunder roared and the storm continued to ravage the earth. The sprinting youth was frantic with worry, his face covered in rainwater, his vision gradually blurring.

The already uneven ground of the wilderness, battered by the downpour, turned water-filled pits into natural traps, causing him to stumble and fall repeatedly.

The youth ignored his disheveled state and the mud caking his body, scrambling up to dash forward with all his might.

Finally, as he neared the Suspended Divine Bird, the youth suddenly let out a thunderous shout: "Pang Lin!"

Receiving no response after his cry, the youth did not hesitate for a second; he drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed straight for the divine bird's forehead.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The divine bird did not move an inch. The arrows struck its forehead, sparking only a few flickers of electric light without leaving a single scratch.

Sun Bin, along with the guards Yin Shan and Yin Hai standing behind him, could not help but chuckle at the sight of the youth's bow-wielding stance.

Hovering in mid-air, the Azure Vulture grew annoyed by the youth's arrows. Its cold eyes narrowed, and the thunder deep within the firmament was suddenly stirred.

"Boom! Boom-boom!"

Violent bolts of lightning plummeted from the sky, slamming into the muddy ground around the youth's hut. They blasted out massive, charred craters where sparks of thunder-fire sputtered in every direction.

At the same time, a vast and mighty divine pressure suddenly descended.

Pang Jian felt his heart tremble with terror. He sensed that the air around him was saturated with lightning and thunder capable of shattering his very bones; he knew that if he dared to move even an inch, he would be instantly annihilated, body and soul.

"Brother!"

Beneath the azure curtain of light, Pang Lin had already responded, calling out in desperation, but her voice could not penetrate the divine barrier.

"That's enough."

Sun Bin gave a low command, and the light curtain, which had appeared somewhat murky from the outside, suddenly turned crystal clear.

Only then could Pang Jian see his sister's frantic shouting; he could read the meaning from her lips, yet he still could not hear a sound.

The youth grew wary, realizing at last that neither the divine bird in the sky, the strange curtain of light surrounding his home, nor the strangers who had intruded were mere mortals or ordinary objects.

Through the brilliant azure light, the youth looked at the unharmed Pang Lin and noticed that the coarse hempen clothes she had worn all her life had been replaced by a gorgeous, brightly colored dress.

Her delicate, lovely face complemented the brand-new dress perfectly. Her entire aura had transformed; she no longer looked like a wild mountain girl, but rather like a noble young lady from a wealthy family.

Beside his sister stood a gaunt old man in green robes who clearly held an extraordinary status, accompanied by two middle-aged men—one tall and one short.

The old man's eyes were like lightning, even more piercing than the azure divine light that separated him from his home. His hands hung naturally at his sides, tucked into loose sleeves, as if a terrifying storm were brewing within them.

Pang Jian was stunned, unsure of what had happened to his home, but seeing that his sister was safe, he let out a breath of relief and lowered his bow.

Immediately, Pang Jian fixed a cold stare on Sun Bin and asked without a hint of fear, "Who are you?"

Sun Bin scrutinized the youth before him and, finding that the boy was unafraid, smiled. "A benefactor who can change the fate of you and your sister."

Pang Jian, unusually tall for his young age, possessed a fierce, wild nature in his physique, gaze, and temperament—the result of years spent hunting alone in the mountains. He was like a beast of the forest, a fact that secretly amazed Sun Bin.

Though Pang Jian's spirit and temperament were remarkable, the distance made it impossible for Sun Bin to judge his aptitude for cultivation.

"Let that wild brat in."

Sun Bin did not look up as he spoke softly to the Azure Vulture above.

Hearing this, the divine bird raised its head and let out a melodious chirp, and the thunderous roar instantly subsided.

Pang Jian felt a heavy burden lift, his body suddenly light and free, and he realized he could finally hear the sounds from within the brilliant light curtain.

Taking another look at the three strangers, Pang Jian gripped his long blade and stepped forward with the caution of one entering a pack of beasts.

As his body touched and passed through the curtain, he felt a wave of warmth before stepping into his home.

Outside, the world was drenched in a torrential, bone-chilling rain, but the courtyard beneath the light curtain was as warm as spring. Not a single drop of rain fell, as if it were a different space entirely, leaving Pang Jian feeling increasingly astonished.

"Boy, to us, Pang Lin is a treasure of unparalleled worth. Living in the Lower Realm with you will only bury her talent. Therefore, whether you or she likes it or not, I will take her away this time to cultivate in the world of the Upper Realm."

Sun Bin spoke bluntly, stating his purpose with crisp finality before adding, "This is a settled fact that neither you nor Pang Lin can change. From today on, she will ascend to the heavens and leave behind this Lower Realm, where the spiritual energy is thin and tainted."

"As for you..."

Sun Bin drew out the sound, his brows twitching.

From the depths of his dark eye sockets, beams of azure lightning suddenly shot out, instantly vanishing into Pang Jian's body.

The youth felt a stinging pain all over, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He could clearly feel the beams of nether lightning, like thin, sharp blades, wandering through his limbs and bones, weaving through his internal organs.

The lightning acted as an extension of Sun Bin's eyes, controlled with exquisite precision as it probed and inspected every inch of Pang Jian's body.

The youth suffered immensely, enduring such "torture," yet he gritted his teeth and did not let out a single cry.

Pang Lin's pretty face was filled with tension. Even though she saw her brother's agony, she did not dare to breathe, fearing she might ruin his good fortune.

She knew clearly that whether her brother could win Sun Bin's favor as she had depended entirely on this moment.

"His temperament is truly excellent."

Sun Bin offered a generous word of praise, and Yin Hai and Yin Shan behind him echoed the sentiment with equal amazement.

Most mortals who had not yet stepped onto the path of cultivation could not withstand such brutal "bone-probing and marrow-searching," often fainting from the intense pain within moments. Only a rare few could endure it while screaming in agony.

The three of them had never seen anyone like this youth, who could stand tall without making a sound.

"Elder Sun, we've really struck gold this time!"

The short, stout Yin Hai was overjoyed. Before the beams of "Spirit-Seeking Nether Lightning" had even finished their inspection, he offered his congratulations in advance: "This trip was not in vain, not in vain at all!"

"We almost missed another piece of rare jade!" The tall, thin Yin Shan glared fiercely at his younger brother, blaming him for being so impatient earlier.

Sun Bin grinned and laughed heartily, his mood quite pleasant, as he waved his hand and said, "I knew that if the sister was like this, the brother certainly wouldn't be any worse. It was well worth the long wait."

"Return to the Sea!"

Following Sun Bin's sharp shout, the many flickering "Spirit-Seeking Nether Lightning" suddenly surged into the youth's dantian spirit sea.

However, Sun Bin, who had been full of anticipation, suddenly frowned deeply as the wisps of lightning dissipated within the youth's dantian.

"That's not right, this shouldn't be!"

Sun Bin first scratched his head and ears, then stared fixedly at the youth's dantian, carefully sensing the trajectory of the Spirit-Seeking Nether Lightning.

After a long while, having tested it several times, Sun Bin couldn't help but sigh toward the sky, stamping his feet with regret as he lamented, "To be siblings, yet have such vastly different cultivation aptitudes—it is truly a pity. What a shame, what a waste of such a good temperament!"

He had originally thought that even if the brother's talent didn't match the sister's, as long as the gap wasn't too outrageous, he would have been willing to take them both to the upper realm.

But inside the youth's dantian spirit sea, not only was there no natural lightning vortex, but it was also incredibly murky.

Even if he embarked on the path of cultivation, his future progress would be incomparably slow, destined to achieve very little.

"That can't be, right?"

Yin Hai and Yin Shan, the two brothers, felt unable to comprehend this and wanted Sun Bin to examine him once more.

Pang Lin, who had been full of confidence, felt as if she had been struck by a heavy blow upon hearing this, and she blurted out, "How is that possible? Old man, could you take another careful look?"

In her heart, her brother was the most powerful and extraordinary person in the world; since she possessed such excellent cultivation talent, her brother could only be even more outstanding.

She could not accept Sun Bin's verdict on her brother.

"This matter is settled; there is no need to look again."

Sun Bin shook his head helplessly as beams of nether lightning flew out from the youth's body, once again hiding within his eye sockets.

"Kid, I regret to inform you that we cannot take you away from here. Your cultivation aptitude is too poor; if I take you, I won't be able to answer to those above." Having seen too many storms, Sun Bin quickly regained his composure and said indifferently, "The place we are going has no room for someone like you, and there would be no benefit for you even if you went."

"If my brother can't go, then I won't go either!" Pang Lin shouted loudly.

"I said, this matter is not up to you two siblings," Sun Bin hummed.

"Xiao Lin, go with them. Go to a better and wider world; in the future, Brother will come to find you."

It was the youth, explicitly abandoned by Sun Bin, who took a deep breath and, enduring the lingering stinging pain in his body, took the initiative to persuade her: "Don't worry, I will definitely be able to find you in the higher world above."

When he said this, the youth's expression was firm, and deep within his clear eyes, a certain captivating brilliance seemed to bloom.

Sun Bin looked at the youth, a look of contemplation appearing in his eyes.

The two brothers, Yin Shan and Yin Hai, were also drawn by the radiance in the youth's eyes at that moment, and they couldn't help but recall their own hardships, causing the mocking words that had reached their throats to be swallowed back.

"No, I don't want to go!"

Knowing that a parting today might mean they would never meet again, Pang Lin shook her head incessantly, her eyes brimming with tears.

The two had relied on each other since they were young and shared a deep bond; naturally, she did not want to leave alone.

"Girl, it might not be realistic for him to come to the upper realm to find you later."

Sun Bin coughed lightly and offered a new line of thought: "However, once you prove yourself in the sect, as long as you break through to the Dongxuan Realm, you can return to find him and arrange a place for him in the upper realm."

Glancing at the Cenji Mountains, he added with concern, "Instead of staying here in the Fourth Realm, where the spiritual energy is thin and which is destined to suffer a catastrophic disaster at some point in the future."

"Dongxuan Realm?" Pang Lin asked as if she had grabbed a life-saving straw.

"Yes, in this realm, there are many practitioners in the Qi Refining, Pulse Opening, and Marrow Cleansing realms. In the realm above, those in the Xiantian, Dongxuan, and Ningshen realms are more common," Sun Bin patiently advised. "Girl, your aptitude is extraordinary; as long as you cultivate diligently, entering the Dongxuan Realm within a hundred years will not be difficult."

After hesitating for a moment, he took out a tattered, dark yellow ancient book wrapped in oil paper and tossed it into the youth's arms.

"This is the Pot-Heaven Qi Cultivation Art I accidentally obtained in a forbidden area. I hope it helps you, kid, to embark on the path of cultivation and allows you to live until the day Pang Lin comes to pick you up."

"Whoosh!"

Before the siblings could say goodbye, the azure light screen surrounding them slowly closed in from the outside, eventually wrapping only around Pang Lin like a cylinder of radiant light, dragging her toward the divine bird first.

Before the light screen ascended, the three of Sun Bin had already allowed their spiritual energy to overflow, insulating them from the torrential rain.

"Kid, we shall meet again."

Leaving these words behind, the three of them soared into the sky, landing one after another on the long neck of the Azure Vulture.

The divine bird let out a low cry and flew toward the gray, deep sky amidst the pouring rain.

Pang Jian looked up, and there were even a few remnants of azure nether lightning jumping and flickering in his eyes, increasing his vision countless times over.

Between him and Sun Bin, there seemed to be a secret thread that allowed his gaze to follow Sun Bin's movements.

He felt that the strange lightning that had checked his cultivation potential had left a portion within his body, specifically to allow him to see Sun Bin and the others as they drifted further and further away.

Thus, his gaze followed the divine bird as it ascended toward the firmament.

The youth did not feel dejected because he had not been taken along; what he could not achieve for his sister, he was instead comforted and proud that she could achieve it with her own talent.

Under the gray sky, the divine bird spread its wings and soared into the sky amidst the wind and rain, flying higher and higher.

After reaching a certain altitude, through the brilliance radiating from the divine bird, Pang Jian vaguely saw the horizon covered in leaden clouds, where countless shattered worlds like North Qi were scattered like islands across the upper realm.

There were also two massive continents hidden deep within the thick clouds, like mansions carved out of the void by towering gods, naturally drawing in the spiritual energy of the surrounding heavens and earth.

Those two legendary lands were the sacred places that the common people of their realm dreamed of reaching.

He knew that was another world.

There, it represented the lofty sect powers, represented a life of wealth and superiority, and powerful cultivators with long lifespans.

Pang Jian couldn't help but tighten his grip on the ancient book in his hand, a flame called desire burning deep within his eyes, growing ever more intense.

For his younger sister Pang Lin, and for himself as well, he swore to climb up to those two higher heavens.

The divine bird continued to soar toward the heights. Pang Jian's gaze flickered, still struggling to track the Azure Vulture, attempting to determine the divine bird's final landing spot so he could know his sister's whereabouts.

Before long, he saw the divine bird cross over the two continents of the Third Realm. As it continued to soar through the high sky, there were, shockingly, three other even more towering and miraculous lands above.

So, in the upper realm above his head, there actually existed even higher realms, and even more magnificent, higher worlds.

"The Second Realm!"

Pang Jian's body jolted violently. He suddenly realized that his sister's final destination might be even more unreachable than he had imagined.

It was also at this moment that he saw a bright, clear moon hanging high in the firmament, with scattered stars circling and shining around it, illuminating the world below.

And beneath the bright moon and stars, besides the Third Realm he had heard of, there were indeed two higher layers of worlds.

The so-called upper realm actually consisted of three worlds in total, each one higher than the last.

This scene was a magnificent spectacle he had never seen in his life, one that had not even appeared in his dreams.

Deeply shaken, the young boy, who lived in a lower realm where the sun, moon, and stars were eternally hidden, looked up at the firmament and felt his heart fill with boundless imagination.

Climbing to the peak and standing in the highest heaven of the upper realms became his unquenchable dream.

The old author's new book sets sail. Please add it to your collections to read and cast a few recommendation votes. Hmm, a timid reminder: I have also written Spirit Realm, God Slayer, Infinite Demonic Path, Devil King, and Ten Directions Heavenly Scholar.