Pope of the Temple?
Ye Li's eyes lit up slightly. This was the first time he had heard the other party mention this person, and he asked curiously, "Is there a big difference between an eighth-level martial artist and Seventh Tier martial artist?"
"Very big."
Yang Qingshan didn't hesitate much and immediately nodded, saying, "If the difference between the Ninth Rank Seventh Tier and the peak of the Seventh Tier is one, then the difference between the peak of the Seventh Tier and the first level of the eighth rank is ten."
"If you were to peruse the eighth-tier martial arts techniques in the Bureau's secret archives, you would find that most of them revolve around manipulating the power of heaven and earth."
"The profound mysteries contained within are far beyond the grasp of martial artists at the Dao Observation Realm."
"Speaking of which..."
At this point, Yang Qingshan seemed to suddenly remember something and tentatively asked, "General Ye, what is your current cultivation level?"
"Peak of the Dao Observation Realm"
Ye Li said calmly.
There was no point in hiding this, and he planned to ask about the eighth rank next.
It's true that the peak of the Seventh Tier is the top combat power in the Qingyi Bureau, but that doesn't mean there are no eighth-rank warriors in the Bureau. Presumably, there are methods for advancing to the eighth rank.
It's good to find out the situation in advance so that he can prepare for his future attempt to reach the eighth rank.
"... So that's how it is. So he really is at the peak of the Dao Observation Realm."
Yang Qingshan chuckled dryly, his heart churning with uncontrollable turmoil, even causing the body formed from his mind to tremble slightly.
This is enough to show the extent of the shock he felt.
In fact, when he learned that Ye Li possessed the ability to instantly kill Half-step Grandmaster across five thousand feet, he judged that Ye Li had most likely advanced to the peak of the Dao Observation Realm.
But speculation is one thing, hearing the person involved admit it themselves is another.
Moreover, in his memory, the young man in front of him was at the peak of the Martial Infant stage just a few days ago, but after returning from a trip to the Federation, he reached the Dao Observation Realm, and a few days later, he reached the peak of the Dao Observation Realm as if it were nothing...
This is absolutely outrageous.
Yang Qingshan used to think that as the current leader of the Qingyi Bureau, with hundreds of years of experience, what kind of Martial Dao prodigies hadn't he seen?
But he only realized today that there were some extraordinary talents he had never seen before.
Not only had he never seen it before, he couldn't even quite understand how Ye Li had managed to do it.
Could he be the reincarnation of some powerful cosmic being?
After all, the other party's resume didn't seem to be something a human could achieve; rather, it was like a reincarnated god-king gradually regaining his former strength.
Of course, that was just a joke.
It's incomprehensible, but that's all it is.
Both were Arbiter in the Qingyi Bureau, and there was no inherent hierarchy between them.
In other words, Ye Li had no obligation to explain himself.
After much deliberation, Yang Qingshan could only accept one fact—
That's the speed at which an unparalleled genius breaks through realms; ordinary geniuses simply can't comprehend it.
That's really discouraging.
In my youth, I was considered a prodigy who caused a sensation throughout the nations, but today, seeing a true Martial Dao prodigy, I feel a sense of melancholy, like a frog at the bottom of a well gazing at the moon...
Yang Qingshan rubbed his temples, trying to soothe the body formed from his mind.
He then looked at Ye Li again and said seriously, "Since that's the case, then it's necessary to tell you some things about the eighth rank."
"As you and I both know, after achieving the Golden Body of the Dao Observation Realm, one's bone marrow is as pure as mercury, and one's Blood Vitality are as abundant as a great river tide, and one's physical body has reached an extremely high level."
"To achieve further breakthroughs, one must utilize the Golden Body to cultivate one's spirit, construct Gate of Heaven and Earth, and thus truly achieve external communication with the world."
"This is the eighth rank, the Hegemony Realm."
"Within Huaxia, eighth-tier martial artists are collectively referred to as [Grandmaster] or [Land Immortal], while the Federation calls them [Emperor]."
Ye Li nodded slightly as he listened to Yang Qingshan's explanation.
After listening to this, it seems that the so-called Hegemony Realm does indeed have some merit.
Connecting to the outside world... Yang Qingshan explained this step very simply, but anyone who thinks about it for a moment can understand the danger involved.
The power of heaven and earth permeates every part of the Blue Star, almost omnipresent.
Constructing Spatial Gate forces the fragile human spirit to withstand the impact of the forces of heaven and earth; if one is not resilient enough, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Fortunately, the life essence of a martial artist at the Dao Observation Realm has undergone a qualitative change.
Even if they fail to pass the test, they most likely won't end up with mental impairment.
However, the incurable hidden wounds are unavoidable.
Ye Li composed himself; thinking about such things was pointless.
For me, accumulating more Malice Points is the right path.
As long as there are enough Malice Points, this so-called Spatial Gate is a project that can be completed in an instant.
If not, then the Malice Points is not high enough.
"As far as I know, there are currently three Emperor within the Federation, and that Pope of the Temple is one of them. More than a hundred years ago, he successfully built the Gate of Heaven and Earth and entered the Hegemony Realm."
As he spoke, Yang Qingshan coughed twice. To make Ye Li realize the seriousness of the matter, he continued solemnly:
"Since then, no one has seen her use her full strength again, and naturally no one knows what level of strength she has reached now."
"The two Grandmasters within the Qingyi Bureau are usually responsible for guarding the most dangerous Heaven and Heaven and Earth Pass within Huaxia territory, which has been impregnable for decades."
"No one can replace them, not even me. Otherwise, we would have had them accompany you this time."
"But you don't need to worry..."
Yang Qingshan took a deep breath and chuckled softly, "Huaxia has a long history. Although the number of eighth-tier martial artists is tight, there are still quite a few eighth-tier Treasured Artifacts."
"This is the advantage of a long history, General Ye."
"At that time, I will bring a few suitable eighth-tier Treasured Artifacts, and with your combined efforts, even if the Pope of the temple has ulterior motives towards you, it won't be much of a threat."
Eighth-tier Treasured Artifacts extremely difficult to forge. In other small countries on Blue Star, it would probably take hundreds of years to forge even one.
The good news is that Huaxia is no longer a small country, nor does it have a history of more than a few hundred years.
It's alright, at least it has some sense of historical depth now...
Ye Li nodded slightly, then looked up and asked, "Do those eighth-tier Treasured Artifacts hidden in Huaxia require two people to use?"
"Um?"
Yang Qingshan was taken aback at first, then subconsciously shook his head and said, "No, but the consumption of true energy from wielding an eighth-tier Treasured Artifacts is enormous, and ordinary peak Dao Observation Realm probably can't handle it."
Upon hearing this...
Ye Li didn't say much, but simply looked calmly at the old general.
"..."
Yang Qingshan also realized what Ye Li meant.
After a long silence, he couldn't help but say, "General Ye, shouldn't everything adhere to some basic rules?"
No matter how prodigious you are, wielding Treasured Artifacts isn't related to your training speed, so why are you still thinking of going solo?!
"I'm going to Shanhai Pass later."
Ye Li said calmly, "Trouble you please prepare some eighth-tier Cultivation Method and martial arts skills for me, and also test the conditions for using the Treasured Artifacts?"
After his trip to the Federation, he realized that it was better to handle matters involving traveling abroad on his own.
Otherwise, if you hesitate and overthink things, it might affect your performance and put you in a difficult situation.
"..."
Yang Qingshan wanted to use many allusions to Huaxia to try and dissuade the young man from going it alone.
Even after racking his brains, he couldn't think of a single historical martial artist who could be compared to Ye Li.
It's just too outrageous.
For many martial artists, twenty years old is the prime of their lives.
Who can directly reach the peak of the Dao Observation Realm?
They covered a distance in a short time that others might not be able to complete in hundreds of years, leaving anyone who came here dumbfounded.
"Be safe."
Yang Qingshan let out a long sigh of relief, then smiled with a hint of relief, "General Ye, please conceal your presence when you come."
To be honest...
He now only hopes that the four Beast Venerable in that Secret Realm will attack Shanhai Pass, and that they will behave themselves if they encounter Ye Li directly.