What Realm Was He Really In?

[Shining for Love: Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit! A cultivation art lost for a thousand years! And he just gave it away?!]

[Yaoyao's Little Red Riding Hood: Her brother is loaded! What kind of god-tier move was that?!]

[Extraordinary: An art of that caliber would be the crown jewel of any sect, and he just...]

[Lasalado: I'm jealous. Seriously jealous. Did this monk save the galaxy in his last life?]

[Three-Dimensional: Just how many treasures does Celestial Master Chen have? He can casually pull out an art lost for a thousand years?]

[Occult Whiz: I told you Chen Hao was no ordinary guy! An ordinary person could never possess an art of that caliber!]

Only after a long while did Hui Ming regain his composure. He raised his head and looked at Chen Hao, his eyes filled with gratitude and reverence.

"Benefactor... I don't know what to say. I will never forget this kindness. From this day forward, everyone in Esoteric Buddhism is yours to command!"

He knelt and bowed solemnly.

At the sight, the young monks also dropped to their knees. Hui Jing hesitated, then knelt as well.

Chen Hao reached out and helped Hui Ming up. "There's no need for this, Master. It's only a cultivation art. Nothing worth mentioning."

Nothing worth mentioning...

Hui Ming smiled bitterly. Only Chen Hao could say such a thing.

He drew a deep breath, carefully put the booklet away, and looked at Chen Hao. "Benefactor, there is one more question I would venture to ask."

"Go ahead."

"Benefactor... what realm are you really in?"

The hall fell silent again.

Everyone stared at Chen Hao, waiting for his answer.

Chen Hao glanced at him and said evenly, "Why do you ask, Master?"

Hui Ming smiled bitterly. "I have cultivated for over sixty years and like to think I've met many great masters. But I have never encountered anyone like you. Slaying the Gu Diao King with one sword strike, walking on water, casually producing a cultivation art lost for a thousand years... none of these feats are possible in the Transformation Realm or the Return to the True Realm. I truly am curious."

Chen Hao was silent for a moment before offering a single sentence. "Your cultivation realm doesn't matter. What matters is your state of mind."

That was as good as saying nothing.

Hui Ming froze, then smiled wryly. Knowing Chen Hao was unwilling to elaborate, he did not press him.

He rose. "I will remember your guidance, Benefactor. You've had a tiring journey. Please get some rest. If you need anything tomorrow, simply let us know."

Chen Hao nodded and left the hall with the others.

Back in the guest quarters, Chen Siyao could no longer hold herself back. "You're incredible, big brother! You just gave that cultivation art away?"

Yang Wanqing came over too. "Hao, do you have any other treasures? Let me have a look!"

Chen Hao glanced at her. "No."

"I don't believe you!" Yang Wanqing pouted. "You definitely do!"

Watching from the side, Cai Jingwen couldn't help laughing. She looked at Chen Hao and said softly, "That monk will remember what you did today for the rest of his life."

Chen Hao gave a faint smile without saying anything.

Holding the Wolf Cub, Li Li suddenly asked, "Mr. Chen, you... just who are you?"

Chen Hao glanced at her. "An ordinary person."

Li Li opened her mouth. She wanted to ask whether an ordinary person could slay a monster with one sword strike, walk on water, or casually give away a cultivation art lost for a thousand years.

But when she saw Chen Hao's calm expression, she swallowed her words.

Forget it. Asking won't get me anywhere.

Night deepened, and everyone returned to their rooms to rest.

In the main hall, however, Hui Ming remained awake for a long time. Sitting on a meditation cushion with the yellowed booklet in his hands, he read through it over and over, his eyes brimming with excitement and emotion.

Several young monks stayed beside him, none of them sleeping either.

At last, one of them couldn't resist asking, "Tripa, that benefactor, Chen... what is his cultivation level, exactly?"

Hui Ming raised his head and looked out at the night sky. After a long silence, he said slowly, "I'm afraid... he is already a Xiantian master."

"A Xiantian master?" Hui Jing was taken aback. "Khenpo, what realm is Xiantian? Doesn't the Return to the True Realm come after the Transformation Realm?"

Hui Ming glanced at him, a complicated look flickering in his eyes. "The Return to Truth does indeed follow the Transformation Realm. But above it lies another realm, known as Xiantian. Buddhist scriptures occasionally mention it, yet very few have ever truly reached it."

He paused, his voice low. "Legend has it that those who reach the Xiantian realm can transform their bodies and extend their lives, even... touch the legendary path to immortality."

The young monks were all dumbstruck.

The path to immortality?

Wasn't that a myth?

Hui Jing murmured, "So... that man has already reached the legendary realm?"

Hui Ming nodded. "I'm afraid so. Otherwise, how could he have slain the Gu Diao King with a single sword strike? How could he have walked on water? How could he..." He looked down at the booklet in his hands. "Casually produce a cultivation art lost for a thousand years?"

He sighed, his eyes filled with longing. "I have cultivated for over sixty years. I thought the peak of the Transformation Realm was my limit, that I would never advance another inch in this lifetime.

"I never imagined... never imagined I would live to see the final three levels of the Great Sun Sutra. If I can unravel their mysteries, perhaps I might reach the threshold of Xiantian before my life is over."

He tightened his grip on the booklet, determination shining in his eyes.

Watching him, Hui Jing felt a jumble of emotions.

He recalled questioning Chen Hao earlier that day, and the words Chen Hao had spoken: "Some people exist in this world to shatter everything you think you know."

So it really was true.

He lowered his head and silently apologized to Chen Hao.

Outside the window, moonlight flowed like water.

A hundred meters away, Chen Hao stood before the window of his guest room, his hands clasped behind his back.

His divine sense had clearly caught every word spoken in the main hall.

A Xiantian master.

A faint smile curled his lips.

That old monk still underestimated me.

Beyond Xiantian lay Foundation Establishment. Beyond Foundation Establishment came Core Formation. Above Core Formation was Nascent Soul Refinement.

And he had long since surpassed all those realms, reaching far beyond them.

But...

He raised his head toward the night sky, his gaze deep.

The spiritual energy of this world has been cut off. Without reaching Foundation Establishment, a person can live little more than a hundred years. Even Foundation Establishment only adds a few centuries. Core Formation, Nascent Soul Refinement... in this age of declining cultivation, they are nothing but illusions and fleeting dreams.

He looked down at the Wolf Cub in his arms. The little creature was sound asleep, its tiny body rising and falling gently with each breath.

The bloodline of a Moonshadow Wolf, a descendant of a Primordial Divine Beast. Ten thousand years ago, it would have soared through the highest heavens, ruled over countless wolves, and howled at the moon as it swallowed stars.

But now, it was only a palm-sized cub that needed his protection to survive in this age of declining cultivation.

Chen Hao gently stroked its head, his gaze distant.

The road ahead is still long.

But however long it is, I'll keep walking.

For myself, and for these... lives entrusted to me.

Outside the window, moonlight spilled down, coating his silhouette in silver.

In her guest room, Cai Jingwen lay in bed, unable to sleep.

She turned over. Through the window, she could faintly see the light from Chen Hao's room next door.

What was that man doing right now?

She recalled everything that had happened that day: his figure walking on water, his magnificent sword strike that slew the monster, his calm manner as he gave away the cultivation art.

Did someone like him really exist?

She sighed softly.

Beside her, Li Li rolled over and asked drowsily, "Jingwen, still awake?"

"I can't sleep," Cai Jingwen said quietly.

Li Li opened her eyes and looked at her. After a brief silence, she suddenly asked, "Have you fallen for Mr. Chen?"

Cai Jingwen froze and said nothing.

Li Li sighed. "I can tell. Ever since he saved you, you've looked at him differently."

Cai Jingwen remained silent.

Li Li continued, "But Jingwen, a man like that... isn't someone we can hold on to."

Cai Jingwen smiled, a trace of bitterness in her expression. "I know."