Emergence

"But there are exceptions to everything. What I've described above are merely ordinary cultivation techniques—the Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow grades. As for Saint-grade and Emperor-grade techniques, they are like you, Ming'er. The spiritual energy you absorb from the Qi Sea Realm is Sun Power, also known as sun qi. Its quality far surpasses the spiritual energy condensed in the Qi Condensation Realm." Jiang Lingtian tirelessly imparted cultivation knowledge to three-year-old Jiang Ming.

"The Qi Sea opened through Saint-grade and Emperor-grade techniques can bypass the Qi Condensation Realm entirely and gather qi directly into a core."

"Ming'er, absorb spiritual energy first and fill your Qi Sea. Your father has matters to attend to." With that, Jiang Lingtian left.

This was Jiang Ming's private courtyard. Though it was not large, it had many maidservants, each with a figure and appearance that stood at the very peak in her own way.

Following the circulation route of the Crimson Sun Heaven-Burning Art, Jiang Ming drew spiritual energy into his body, where it transformed into crimson Sun Power and entered his crimson Qi Sea.

"This isn't hard at all." Jiang Ming scratched his head.

Ten breaths later, his Qi Sea was full. Seeing that Jiang Lingtian had not returned, he could only explore on his own. According to what Jiang Lingtian had said, Emperor-grade techniques did not require one to refine the quality of spiritual energy.

Following the description in the Core Gathering section of the Crimson Sun Heaven-Burning Art, Zhang Chengzhen began gathering qi into a core. Another incense stick's worth of time passed, and a crimson inner core floated within his Qi Sea. A single mark ran across its surface, while waves of scorching heat emanated from within.

"Was it really this easy?" Jiang Ming muttered to himself. "What is this mark? Don't tell me I cultivated it wrong. It seems I can absorb spiritual energy again... Forget it, I'll absorb it first and worry later."

Jiang Ming sat cross-legged once more and began circulating the Crimson Sun Heaven-Burning Art. As spiritual energy entered his body, rumbling sounds echoed from within him. Half an hour later, a second mark appeared on the crimson inner core.

This should be the core marks from fantasy novels, right? But weren't those for pill refining? Why did mine have them too?

Jiang Ming shook his head and stopped dwelling on it, continuing to absorb spiritual energy.

An hour later, the third core mark appeared.

"Gurgle, gurgle." Jiang Ming's stomach lodged its protest. It was clearly already time for lunch.

Jiang Ming immediately walked out of the cultivation room and called for the maidservants to arrange his meal.

Before long, dish after dish was brought to the table. Dragon meat and phoenix meat were nothing unusual; there were even kunpeng wings, thousand-year willow, ten-thousand-year ginseng, and all manner of heavenly treasures. This was merely an ordinary meal for Jiang Ming.

After eating his fill, Jiang Ming lowered his head and glanced down. Sigh, when would he finally grow up? At three years old, he could not do anything. As he thought, he gradually fell asleep.

Five years later,

Jiang Ming was now nine years old. Under the guidance of his clansmen, he naturally came to understand that core marks represented one's realm—one core mark per realm. Jiang Ming now possessed nine core marks, but he was in no hurry to break through.

Do you know how he had spent those five years? Every day, he ate, drank, and played. He ate delicacies from mountain and sea, played with peerless maidservants, drank divine nectar and jade liquor, and occasionally wandered around the Spirit Realm. Everyone who saw him had to address him as Imperial Son, and he could even tease his clan elder sisters from time to time.

That day, Jiang Ming found Jiang Lingtian. "Father, your son hopes to go out and gain experience. Flowers raised in a greenhouse will ultimately find it difficult to achieve great things."

Jiang Lingtian pondered for a moment after hearing this. "You may, but first you must enter the Extreme Core-Gathering Realm and open the tenth core mark."

"The extreme realm? So I can make a tenth core mark after all." Jiang Ming muttered to himself, then turned and returned to the cultivation room to prepare for cultivation.

One day later, a scorching aura surged out from the cultivation room. Jiang Ming's entire body was crimson, and white mist rose with every breath from his nose.

"The tenth one is complete!"

Above the crimson Qi Sea floated a crimson inner core, carved with ten core marks.

Why not shatter the core and form a Nascent Soul directly?

No sooner said than done. Jiang Ming immediately recited the Nascent Soul section of the Crimson Sun Heaven-Burning Art, concentrating his essence, qi, and spirit within the inner core. Ten days later, the crimson inner core shattered, and from within emerged a Nascent Soul one zhang tall, shaped like Jiang Ming and crimson from head to toe.

"This Imperial Son has succeeded! Today is the day this Imperial Son descends upon the outside world!" Jiang Ming threw back his head and laughed.

Although he had not cultivated much these past years, he had dabbled in knowledge of all kinds and understood a little of everything.

Core Gathering had an extreme realm, and the Nascent Soul Realm did as well. One zhang meant one realm; ten zhang was the extreme.

Jiang Ming immediately went to explain the matter to Jiang Lingtian. Jiang Lingtian was astonished as well and could only say, "Ming'er, you have been cultivating your technique all this time, but you have not touched divine abilities. Go to the Divine Ability Hall and choose a few divine abilities. Remember: broad but not refined."

Jiang Ming nodded and immediately flew toward the Divine Ability Hall.

Normally, one could fly briefly upon reaching the Qi Condensation Realm. Jiang Ming was now in the Nascent Soul Realm, so flying back and forth came as easily as breathing.

Divine Ability Hall.

"Imperial Son, what kind of divine abilities do you require?" the elder guarding the Divine Ability Hall asked with a smile.

Jiang Ming thought for a moment. "One movement technique and one combat technique. I won't be able to train too many."

The main thing was that he did not want to train. This trip was for having fun.

"For a movement technique, I recommend Scarlet Feather Flash. It is a top-tier movement technique of the Phoenix Clan, Emperor-grade. As for a combat technique, the Sun-Sundering Heaven Technique is also Emperor-grade, and it suits the Imperial Son's Sun Power very well," the guarding elder said with a genial smile.

"Alright, those two, then." Zhang Chengzhen immediately agreed.

The guarding elder took out two jade slips and handed them to Jiang Ming. Jiang Ming accepted them and extended his spiritual sense. The moment it touched the jade slips, they transformed into streams of light and entered Jiang Ming's mind. Figures within continuously demonstrated Scarlet Feather Flash and the Sun-Sundering Heaven Technique.

Scarlet Feather Flash could manifest wings at the shoulder blades on one's back to accelerate, allowing one to perform consecutive, rapid flashes. Hmm, not difficult.

The Sun-Sundering Heaven Technique gathered Sun Power, unleashing its purest yang, its utmost hardness, its greatest strength, to strike with a devastating blow. Hmm, not difficult either.

After watching a few times, Jiang Ming had already learned how to use them. The figures in his mind slowly dispersed.

Crimson feathers condensed behind Jiang Ming's back. With a single flash, he left the Divine Ability Hall.

Upon seeing Jiang Lingtian, he hurried forward. "Father, I'm ready. Please open the passage to the Spirit Realm."

Jiang Lingtian nodded and opened a vortex before him. Without another word, Jiang Ming stepped into it. After Jiang Ming departed, Jiang Lingtian spoke to the air, "Go. Protect the Imperial Son well."

"Yes!" A ripple passed through the void, then vanished without a trace.

Central Province, Azure Region.

"Where the hell did this send me? There's not even a soul around." Jiang Ming complained beneath the blazing sun.

He only knew that the Spirit Realm was in Central Province, but he had no idea what Central Province was like.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Ming rose into the air and flew in the direction of the sun. During his flight, threads of Sun Power flowed into his body.

Rumble—

Sounds of battle came from ahead. Zhang Chengzhen spread out his spiritual sense and immediately detected a person and a tiger: one at the Qi Condensation Realm, and a second-rank demonic beast.

Since he had not seen anyone for so long, he thought he might as well go take a look.

A young woman was half-kneeling on the ground. Her white robes were stained with dust and blood, outlining her graceful figure. A trace of blood at the corner of her lips lent an unusual beauty to her fair face.

Opposite her stood a massive black tiger. The aura of a peak second-rank demonic beast spread forth, terrifying beyond measure.

To be honest, Jiang Ming did not even recognize what kind of demonic beast it was. In his daily life, it was either dragons and phoenixes, kunpengs, or qilin and White Tigers.