The vastness of the Dao Realm

Only when he saw that Jiang Yan understood did Dragonflame Daoist nod.

For Jiang Yan to be accepted as Blowing Fire High Person's disciple, Muling Daoist Boy's recommendation alone was not enough. His talent also had to win approval.

Since their master had sent him to fetch this junior brother, his talent was presumably quite outstanding, at least no worse than his own.

As fellow disciples of Blowing Fire High Person, they naturally ought to help one another. Only once this junior brother's cultivation rose could they work together with one heart.

This was also why Long Yan had remained so amiable, answering every question.

Had it been an outsider, winning such a pleasant attitude from him would not have been so easy.

Those who cultivated the Fire Dao were already prone to its influence, becoming more hot-tempered. How much more so when everyone in Blowing Fire High Person's line cultivated the Fire Dao?

Seeing how little his future junior brother knew, Dragonflame Daoist grew interested as well. Traveling was boring anyway, so this was a good chance to give Jiang Yan some basic knowledge.

"Junior brother, now that you understand the rules of our East River Prefecture Academy, don't readily assume they apply if you enter somewhere else in the future."

Jiang Yan also understood Dragonflame Daoist's intent. He sat up straight and adopted a proper attitude, while Muling Daoist Boy sat obediently behind him without making a sound.

"May I ask why, senior brother?"

Dragonflame Daoist did not answer, instead posing a question first.

"Junior brother, do you know just how vast our Dao Realm is?"

"Well, I only know that the Dao Realm has the Nineteen Provinces, and even a single province is boundlessly vast. But as for anything concrete, I don't know."

"It's only natural that you don't. Even I, now at the seventh grade upper stage and invested through the register as Dragonflame Daoist, don't know the full extent of the Dao Realm."

Even Dragonflame Daoist did not know?

And what was register investiture?

Jiang Yan felt that his knowledge was truly shallow. He would have to make up for it when he had the chance, or he would surely suffer for it in the future.

"Senior brother, what is this register investiture?"

"Register investiture is a title bestowed on a Daoist's own Dao Register by the Immortal Dynasty's fortune after they earn merit in a Plane War.

"It has many wondrous effects, greatly aiding cultivation and the refinement of arts."

Jiang Yan nodded in understanding. This so-called register investiture was, in fact, a commendation for a Daoist's military merit.

Yet it was not merely a symbol of honor; it could also directly aid their Dao Path.

Having explained register investiture, Dragonflame Daoist continued, bringing the topic back to where it had been.

"Though I don't know how vast the Dao Realm is, I do have a clear idea of Donghe Prefecture's territory."

"Donghe Prefecture governs more than twenty counties, covers tens of thousands of li, and has an immortal citizen population of over ten billion."

Dragonflame Daoist paused first, giving Jiang Yan a moment to think, then stressed:

"And that only includes those within the Dao Realm, not its subordinate planes. The immortal citizens of this East River Realm, for example, aren't counted."

Jiang Yan was startled by those enormous figures as well, though his ignorance was hardly his fault.

The Jiang Household's standing was lowly. Even that ancestor in its history might not have been as powerful as Dragonflame Daoist was now. In terms of knowledge, they were indeed rather limited.

"A single prefecture already has such territory and population, and above it are commanderies and provinces.

"A commandery often governs twenty or thirty prefectures, while a province governs another twenty or thirty commanderies. The Dao Realm has nineteen provinces like that.

"As for the subordinate planes left out of that count, they are beyond number. Perhaps only those above the third grade can have a clear grasp of the specifics?"

Dragonflame Daoist delivered all this in one stretch, giving Jiang Yan no chance to keep thinking before continuing:

"And when the Dao Realm wages war across the planes, the circumstances it encounters differ. A single set of rules can only cultivate a Dao Army like a pool of stagnant water. To prevent what happened with the High Antiquity Qi Refiners from happening again,

"the Dao Academies and Dao Armies subordinate to the provinces, commanderies, and prefectures must all abide by the Immortal Dynasty Laws, but beyond that,

"the customs and rules they establish themselves often differ, sometimes even standing poles apart."

"For instance, some commanderies and prefectures have their disciples live like demons, devouring flesh raw and drinking blood. Those who lust and thirst for slaughter attain the Dao, while the kindhearted and compassionate are reduced to bones.

"Those under them are often like Desire Corpse Daoist. When they encounter a realm inclined toward peace, sending Daoists like these to conquer it often carries all before them."

"Compared to them, the rules of our East River Prefecture Academy practically make it a charitable refuge."

"It is precisely because of these arrangements of the Immortal Dynasty that our Dao Realm can triumph wherever it goes. Whatever opponent it encounters, it has means of preparation and countermeasures."

Having said all this, Dragonflame Daoist saw that Jiang Yan was deep in thought and stopped speaking, leaving him to think for himself.

Jiang Yan was indeed astonished by the logic behind how the Immortal Dynasty operated.

According to Dragonflame Daoist, since the Immortal Dynasty specifically cultivated Demon Daoists like these,

would it also have dedicated Benevolent Daoists for planes with other circumstances?

Drawing ten conclusions from a single thing he heard, Jiang Yan had even thought that, if there were Ghost-and-Spirit Planes, would sending a contingent of Daoists of the Netherworld-Penetrating and Beast-Commanding Dao not counter them perfectly?

Under rules like these, the Immortal Dynasty was practically an enormous war machine.

It prepared in advance to deal with every kind of opponent it might encounter. No wonder it could become a dominant power.

For some inexplicable reason, Jiang Yan felt different from before, though his cultivation had plainly not changed.

Yet after learning more, he could plan his own future from a higher vantage point.

He had not yet entered Blowing Fire High Person's tutelage, and a single explanation from the man's second disciple could already produce such an effect.

He had to admit that, at this moment, he could scarcely wait.

Seeing that Jiang Yan had not been discouraged by such a vast world, but instead seemed eager to try his hand,

Dragonflame Daoist finally felt completely reassured. He stopped testing him and urged Red Glaze beneath him onward at full speed.

Indeed, this had not merely been to broaden Jiang Yan's knowledge; it had also been another test.

Nor was it without basis. After all, with the Dao Realm so vast, just how many prodigies would be born within it?

Someone from a small lineage like Jiang Yan might suddenly become anxious over gains and losses upon hearing this. That would do nothing to help his circumstances, instead robbing his heart of its edge.

Fortunately, Jiang Yan's Dao heart was firm, and he also possessed the Stone Book, a wondrous treasure. Even after learning all this, he felt only longing and anticipation, without the slightest fear.

Blowing Fire High Person's cultivation grounds were not far from the town where the Prefecture Academy stood.

With Red Glaze traveling at full speed, the sun was only just about to set when Dragonflame Daoist raised a hand and pointed ahead.

"Junior brother, that is our Fire-Breathing Lineage's foothold in the East River Realm."

Hearing this, Jiang Yan looked up curiously. He saw nothing, but was in no hurry. As a seventh-grade cultivator, Dragonflame Daoist naturally could see farther than he could.

A little while later, a vast Volcanic Range came into view on the plain below.

Several volcanic craters rose and fell at varying heights. The entire area was filled with red mountains, without a trace of green.

This place was already in the rear of the territory controlled by the Immortal Dynasty in the East River Realm.

Amid an uninterrupted expanse of plains, this abrupt Volcanic Range of red volcanoes was like thick ink poured into a pool of clear water, strikingly conspicuous.

As Jiang Yan gazed at the somewhat out-of-place Volcanic Range below, something suddenly occurred to him, and he turned his eyes toward Dragonflame Daoist beside him.