The Origin Return Realm was the dividing line before the ranks of true peak experts, a realm where everyone lingered, all for the sake of rising one day and reaching the peak!
Next, Xiao Yan read some explanations of Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills. As he had expected, even the Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills on the Origin Martial Continent were far more powerful than those on the Dou Qi Continent.
Beyond the basic Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow tiers, the Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills of the Origin Martial Continent also had Human Class, Spirit Class, Intent Grade, Saint Class, and Saint Taboo tiers. Each tier was further divided into three grades: low, middle, and high.
Although there were five tiers, there were mainly only four, since Saint Class Taboo techniques could not be cultivated casually.
The words "Saint Class Taboo" were no idle label. The word "taboo" alone was enough to give people cause for concern.
A Saint Class Taboo cultivation method could allow a cultivator to advance even faster than someone cultivating a Saint Class method. Once a Saint Class cultivation method was cultivated to its peak, the cultivator could imperceptibly turn heaven and earth to their own use while cultivating, transforming their body into heaven and earth and borrowing their might to aid their cultivation, achieving twice the result with half the effort.
Saint Class Taboo cultivation methods were even stronger. They possessed every characteristic of Saint Class methods, but their abilities were even more powerful. Once a Saint Class Taboo cultivation method was cultivated to mastery, it would circulate automatically within the cultivator's body, aiding their cultivation at all times. It could also draw on the energy of heaven and earth to help an injured cultivator heal quickly, with extraordinarily powerful results. Such heaven-defying abilities naturally moved many cultivators, but they could only dream of them, for Saint Class Taboo cultivation methods had one fatal flaw: they continuously absorbed the life essence within the cultivator's body. In the end, the cultivator's vitality would fail and they would die. Otherwise, so many young and powerful cultivators on the Origin Martial Continent would not have died in their prime. These people single-mindedly pursued the pleasures that strength brought. In the end, they rose because of these methods and perished because of them, returning to dust. Even after death, they were scorned by the world, for anyone who cultivated such a method was called a demonic cultivator. Some Saint Class Taboo cultivation methods were so cruel and overbearing that the world rejected them, and so people called those who cultivated taboo methods demonic cultivators. That, however, was only how people in the Outer Region saw them. In the Central Region, as long as one had strength, who would care what cultivation method one practiced? Strength was the continent's true prevailing tune.
Below Saint Class cultivation methods were Intent Grade methods. As their name suggested, Intent Grade methods combined intent with Origin Qi for cultivation. While cultivating, one released one's Soul Power and fused it with the Origin Qi of heaven and earth, stirring up the energy of heaven and earth to form an energy storm. Refining the Origin Qi of heaven and earth felt like refining the whole world, an immensely awe-inspiring sight.
Spirit Class cultivation methods drew upon the earth's spiritual veins during cultivation. They absorbed the Qi of the earth and used it to draw in the energy of heaven and earth, attacking on two fronts with a might that towered over the heavens. After cultivation, one's presence became solid and vigorous. If an earth-affinity cultivator practiced such a method, not only would they achieve twice the result with half the effort, but they would also have a certain chance of drawing upon the power of the earth and comprehending the mysteries of heaven and earth.
With a Human Class cultivation method, the cultivator's entire being was the method while cultivating. The method was the person, and the person was the method, drawing the energy of heaven and earth for their own use. Such methods also required little comprehension to cultivate, merging directly with the person and allowing extremely rapid cultivation.
Reading about these benefits set Xiao Yan's heart racing, but sadly, he had no idea how many years it would take for his Flame Burning Mantra to reach that point.
"Tsk, tsk, these cultivation methods are all extraordinary. Even some of their secondary abilities alone are several times stronger than those of some Heaven Class methods! Tsk, tsk." Whenever Xiao Yan thought of those methods' profound abilities, he could not help marveling inwardly.
After cultivation methods came Dou Techniques. Ever since Xiao Yan witnessed the Mysterious Nether Soul-Devouring Palm that Old Ghost Yan Mo used, he had developed a keen interest in the Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills of the Origin Martial Continent. Gu You had also told Xiao Yan earlier that his Buddha's Fury Reincarnation was a Human Class Dou Technique, which made him even more interested, so he read very carefully.
The book's explanations of Dou Techniques were much the same as those of cultivation methods.
When a Human Class Dou Technique was unleashed, a human-shaped phantom appeared. Naturally, the more proficiently the Dou Technique was cultivated, the more solid the phantom became and the greater its power. The phantom took the form of the Dou Technique's creator, for the creator understood it best and could naturally control it like a fish in water, using it with complete ease.
When a Spirit Class Dou Technique was unleashed, it drew upon the Qi of the earth for support and brought the energy of heaven and earth into play to strengthen the technique. The longer it was maintained, the more energy it absorbed from heaven and earth, and the greater its power became.
In an Intent Class Dou Technique, "intent" referred to soul power. An Intent Class Dou Technique was a combination of soul power and Origin Qi, each complementing the other. Origin Qi mainly attacked the body, while soul power struck the soul, reaching straight to its source and inflicting tremendous damage. Its might could obliterate both body and soul, making it truly terrifying.
For example, the Mysterious Nether Soul-Devouring Palm that Old Ghost Yan Mo had used earlier was an Intent Class Dou Technique. Even Yuan Qing had been so shaken that he lost his composure, leaving Xiao Yan unaware of what tier the Dou Technique belonged to. Judging from Yuan Qing's reaction, however, even they could not obtain an Intent Class Dou Technique casually.
Xiao Yan's eyes shone brightly as he read. That was a rare treasure! If he could snatch it from Old Ghost Yan Mo, tsk, tsk, it would be enough to serve as a trump card!
Once a Saint Class Dou Technique was unleashed, heaven and earth trembled, mountains and rivers crumbled, and all things quaked in fear. When it was used, heaven and earth merged with it. Once a Saint Class Dou Technique was unleashed, no one could escape. Its might could burn the heavens, boil the seas, and destroy all things; it could even annihilate heaven and earth. As the world said: when a Saint Class Dou Technique appeared, heaven and earth fell silent!
Xiao Yan clicked his tongue as he read. It was only a Dou Technique, yet it could make the whole world tremble in fear. He truly could not imagine how formidable a Saint Class Forbidden Dou Technique would be.
The last one was Saint Class Forbidden Dou Techniques!
This page stood alone, unlike the others, which ran together. It opened with six large, bright red characters, emphasizing the subject with utmost gravity and instantly making Xiao Yan's expression turn solemn.
Saint Class Forbidden Dou Techniques surpassed even Saint Class Dou Techniques and possessed the true power to destroy heaven and earth. If unleashed by a super expert, they could instantly kill even an expert of the same level, leaving absolutely no chance of survival. Even against a super expert one level higher, they could still kill their opponent; at worst, the opponent would surely be gravely wounded and near death!
The words had been written without the slightest hesitation, utterly decisive and unequivocal. Xiao Yan drew a sharp breath, his pupils contracting suddenly. It took him quite a while to recover.
If it spoke of super experts, they had to be at least Yuan Zong level!
He had never imagined that a mere Dou Technique could possess such tremendous power. If a Yuan Zong could destroy heaven and earth with it, what if a Yuan Zun expert used it? Or even a more powerful Yuan Sheng expert-what would its might be like then?
Xiao Yan did not dare imagine it. After finishing the book, he went to find an inn first.
A short while later, Xiao Yan stood before an inn called the Ten Thousand Blessings Pavilion. He smiled faintly and went inside. Upon entering, he glanced at the packed first floor, chuckled softly, and headed up to the second.
As soon as he reached the second floor, Xiao Yan spotted a table by the window and walked over.
Xiao Yan had just sat down when a waiter came running over with a smile and asked him:
"What would you like, honored guest?"
Xiao Yan ordered a few dishes and sat quietly waiting. Not long after he sat down, two more people came up the stairs to the second floor: a young man and woman. The man was handsome, his black hair hanging loosely about him. He looked every bit a beautiful man, but the hint of sly, effeminate malice between his brows spoiled his distinguished air. He wore green robes, with strands of gold thread twisting across his sleeves to form the faint image of a massive golden python. When the man in green moved slightly without thinking, the python seemed to come alive, giving off an eerie golden glow that looked utterly wondrous. He also held a jade fan, its surface a uniform green, edged in gold and threaded through with fine golden lines. The whole fan radiated a dazzling blue-gold light.
The woman wore snow-white robes and had a pretty face and purple hair reaching her waist. Gold and silver adorned her from head to toe. She looked utterly delicate, like someone raised in the lap of luxury, and one glance at her stirred a desire to protect her from the bottom of one's heart. Yet the spoiled, overbearing look on her face instantly dulled the pleasure of looking at her somewhat, though it did not affect the opinions of the people in the inn.
As soon as the two reached the second floor, nearly everyone except Xiao Yan looked at them with stars in their eyes, their gazes full of envy and admiration. The pair paid them no attention whatsoever. Their faces were full of arrogance, their noses pointed at the sky. Without even looking ahead, they walked straight toward Xiao Yan's table.
When they reached the table, the sinister-looking man's half-closed eyes snapped open. Frowning slightly, he glared at Xiao Yan, who was eating with a calm expression. The young, beautiful woman also showed a hint of displeasure.
The man snapped his jade fan shut, folded his arms across his chest, and glared at Xiao Yan with bristling brows.
"Hmph! Where did this wild brat come from? Don't you know this table is reserved for this young master and Sister Rong? Get lost, or don't blame this young master for showing no mercy!"
With that, he flicked his jade fan open again. It made a series of grating clacks, an intensely irritating sound. But as soon as it rang out, everyone in the inn changed expression. Behind the young man, a withered-faced old man in black robes had appeared at some unknown time.
Xiao Yan was unmoved by the young man's words and continued eating the dishes on his plate. It was not that Xiao Yan had taken pity on him. He had simply learned many new things today and was in a fairly good mood, so he did not want to fight the man. In Xiao Yan's eyes, the man was nothing more than an ant. Even the old man in black behind him was only a Two-Star Dou Zong. What was there to care about?
The man, however, thought otherwise. Seeing Xiao Yan act this way made him even more displeased, and his expression turned extremely ugly, his face darkening. He waved the jade fan in his hand, and the old man in black suddenly moved, charging explosively at Xiao Yan. He could not help sneering as he said:
"You can't blame this old man for your death today. Of all the people you could have offended, you had to offend my young master. Since you've already angered him, use your blood to wash away his anger!"
The man in green also gave a cold smile at the sight and called to the old man in black charging at Xiao Yan:
"Elder Mo, remember not to dirty the table. Otherwise, my little sister and I won't be able to enjoy our meal."
The old man in black nodded slightly and sent a fist blasting toward Xiao Yan's head.
"Bang!"
A muffled sound rang out as fist met palm. The old man's scrawny fist was stopped by a fair hand, halting beside Xiao Yan's head, unable to advance an inch. The old man's expression changed. Xiao Yan pushed with his palm, and though the push seemed light, it sent the old man crashing into a pillar in the inn. Although he did not cough up blood, his expression grew even graver. He looked at Xiao Yan as though he were looking at a devil, utterly terrified.
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