This question left Long Yuan and Mu Yunyi stunned at the same time.
They had thought Xu Changqing would bring instructions from the Nine Extremes Heavenly King, or reveal the Heavenly King's next arrangements.
They had never expected him to ask this instead.
Long Yuan fell silent for a moment, his gaze lingering briefly on the White Tiger mark on the back of Xu Changqing's hand. He quickly made up his mind.
The man before him was someone the Nine Extremes Heavenly King valued.
No matter how far he would go in the future, that honor alone was enough to make Long Yuan reassess their relationship.
Drawing closer now clearly brought benefits and no harm.
With that in mind, Long Yuan answered, "The Nine Extremes Heavenly King has existed for far too long. Perhaps only the Great Dao Venerable knows his exact cultivation or realm."
Xu Changqing asked again, "Then you must know the realms after Spirit Transformation, right?"
Long Yuan nodded. "Yes, I know that.
"After Spirit Transformation come Void Refinement, Body Integration, and Mahayana."
Xu Changqing pressed on, "Could you be more specific?"
Mu Yunyi stood quietly to the side, listening without interrupting.
Long Yuan smiled faintly, then raised one finger. "Golden Core Realm: awaken divine abilities."
Then he raised a second finger. "Nascent Soul Realm: give birth to a dharma manifestation."
Then he raised a third finger. "Spirit Transformation Realm: the dharma manifestation transforms into a deity.
"Once the deity is formed, a cultivator no longer merely borrows the laws of heaven and earth. They can instead use the deity as a medium to actively wield the laws."
Xu Changqing nodded slightly at this.
He already knew all of this. After reaching Third-Level Spirit Transformation, his deities had indeed elevated his control and understanding of the power