Born Into the World

"But there were exceptions to everything. Those above were merely ordinary cultivation arts, the Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow-grade arts. As for Saint-grade and Emperor-level arts, just like you, Ming'er, the spiritual energy absorbed from the Qi Sea Realm became Sun Power, also called Sun Qi. Its quality far surpassed the spiritual energy refined 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-level arts can directly skip the Qi Condensation Realm and gather Qi into a core."

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

This was Jiang Ming's personal courtyard. Though the yard was not large, it had many maidservants, each with her own exceptional figure and looks.

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 difficult at all." Jiang Ming scratched his head.

Ten breaths later, his Qi Sea was completely filled. Seeing that Jiang Lingtian had yet to return, he could only figure things out himself. According to what Jiang Lingtian had said, Emperor-level arts did not require refining the quality of spiritual energy.

Zhang Chengzhen began gathering Qi into a core according to the Core Gathering section of the Crimson Sun Heaven-Burning Art. Another incense stick's worth of time passed, and a crimson inner core floated within his Qi Sea. A single mark lay upon it, while waves of scorching heat radiated from within.

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

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

These should be the core marks from fantasy novels, right? But weren't those for alchemy? 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 voiced its protest. It was clearly 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 dining table. Dragon meat and phoenix meat were nothing unusual, along with Kunpeng wings, thousand-year willow, ten-thousand-year ginseng, and all manner of heavenly treasures. These were merely an ordinary meal for Jiang Ming.

After eating his fill, Jiang Ming lowered his head and glanced down. Sigh, when will I finally grow up? Being three years old means I can't do anything. As he thought, he drifted off to sleep.

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 realms. One core mark meant one realm. Jiang Ming now had nine core marks, yet he was in no hurry to break through.

Did you know how he had spent these five years? Every day, he ate, drank, and played. He ate mountains and seas of delicacies, played with peerless maidservants, drank jade nectar and fine wine, and occasionally wandered around the Spirit Realm. Everyone who saw him had to call him Imperial Son, and he could even tease his clan sisters now and then.

One day, Jiang Ming found Jiang Lingtian. "Father, your son wishes to go out and gain experience. Flowers raised in a greenhouse will ultimately struggle to achieve great things."

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

"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 emerged from the cultivation room. Jiang Ming's entire body was crimson, and white mist rose with every breath he exhaled.

"The tenth one is complete!"

Above the crimson Qi Sea floated a crimson inner core engraved 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 and concentrated his essence, Qi, and spirit within the inner core. Ten days later, the crimson inner core shattered, and from within emerged a crimson Nascent Soul one zhang tall, bearing Jiang Ming's appearance.

"This Imperial Son has succeeded! Today is the day this Imperial Son descends upon the outside world!" Jiang Ming laughed loudly.

Though he had not cultivated much these past few years, he had dabbled in knowledge from every field and understood a little of everything.

Core Gathering had an extreme realm, and so did the Nascent Soul Realm. One zhang was one realm, and ten zhang was the extreme.

Jiang Ming immediately went to explain the matter to Jiang Lingtian. Jiang Lingtian was greatly astonished as well and could only say, "Ming'er, you have been cultivating arts all this time but have not studied 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.

Ordinarily, one could fly briefly upon reaching the Qi Condensation Realm. Jiang Ming was now in the Nascent Soul Realm, so flying back and forth posed no pressure at all.

Divine Ability Hall,

"Imperial Son, what type of divine ability do you need?" the elder guarding the Divine Ability Hall asked with a smile.

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

Mainly because he did not want to train. This trip was for playing.

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

"Alright, these 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 sent out his spiritual sense. The moment it touched the jade slips, they transformed into streams of light and entered Jiang Ming's mind. Within them, figures continuously demonstrated Scarlet Feather Flash and the Sun-Sundering Heaven Technique.

Scarlet Feather Flash could form wings at the shoulder blades on one's back to accelerate, allowing for continuous, rapid flashes. Mm, not difficult.

The Sun-Sundering Heaven Technique gathered Sun Power and unleashed its purest Yang, its supreme hardness and strength, delivering a destructive strike. Mm, not difficult either.

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

Jiang Ming condensed scarlet feathers behind his back, then vanished in a flash from the Divine Ability Hall.

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

Jiang Lingtian nodded, opening a vortex before them. Jiang Ming stepped into it without another word. After Jiang Ming left, Jiang Lingtian said to the air, "Go. Protect the Imperial Son well."

"Yes!" A ripple came from the void before fading away.

Central Province, Azure Region.

"Where the hell did this send me? There's not 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 soared into the sky and flew in the direction of the sun. As he flew, threads of Sun Power flowed into his body.

Rumble—

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

Since he had not seen another person in so long, he figured he might as well go take a look.

A woman knelt halfway to the ground, her white robes stained with dust and blood. Her figure was graceful, and the trace of blood at the corner of her lips on that fair face carried a peculiar beauty.

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

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