The aroma of wine filled the private room. Outside the window, the lights of Returning Light Heavenly City resembled a galaxy suspended in the night, and beyond the distant dome, the cold yet magnificent afterglow of the Skeleton Star Sea could be seen. Ye Wuhen leaned back in his jade chair, a wine glass in his hand. Although his face showed some signs of intoxication, his eyes were clearer than before.
He looked at Qin Yu and said slowly with a sincere tone, "Brother Qin, you haven't been in the Source of Epochless · Upper Layer for very long. Although you already know the general structure, you've only scratched the surface of what's truly deep inside."
You just asked me why the rules of the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain are decided by the Lineage of the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain. To put it simply, this matter is not complicated. It is because in the Source of Epochless · Upper Layer, although there are temples, sects, Rogue Cultivators, and various forces intertwined, those who truly stand at the top and can determine the overall direction are still the Ten Great Lineage.
However, these Ten Great Lineage are also divided into different levels. If we only consider their foundation and overall strength, the Ju Lineage, Chi Lineage, Shangguan Lineage, and Hua Lineage of the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain are actually among the weaker ones in the Ten Great Lineage. Even so, they still firmly hold the position of the upper-level overlords. The fundamental reason for this is that...
They all have allies and marriage alliances with Lineage in the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain behind them. The Ju Lineage and the Chi Lineage have always been closest to the Xuanyuan Lineage in the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain, while the Shangguan Lineage and the Hua Lineage have always maintained close ties with the Nangong Lineage.
You should know that the power of those major Lineage in the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain is no longer limited to one region or one realm. Their roots extend to multiple multidimensional universes. Many resource-rich secret realms, ancient traditions, ancient inheritances, and even some original relics that have long been buried in the past are all in their hands.
The area where the Stele Forest Imperial City is located has a deep causal connection with the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain. Therefore, every few years, when the Xuanyuan Lineage and the Nangong Lineage want to select a group of young powerhouses from various domains to enter special secret realms, undertake certain ancient missions, or simply compete for certain resources that cannot be openly offered, they will use the name of the Grand Competition to conduct the selection.
If one can stand out in this competition, then entering the Lineage's core system, becoming a true Lineage disciple, and enjoying all the Lineage's resources and cultivation will be a natural progression.
As he said this, he tilted his head back and drank the spirit wine in his cup in one gulp. Then he gently exhaled a breath of wine, and his eyes were filled with emotion. He continued, "Brother Qin, in the Source of Epochless · Upper Layer, on the surface, the temples, sects, and Rogue Cultivator cultivators are intertwined and mutually restraining each other. It seems that anyone can stir up trouble. But when it comes to deciding the overall situation, in the end, it is the Ten Great Lineage whose words carry the most weight."
This is especially true for the younger generation at the very top. Currently, there are ten individuals in the upper echelons who are universally recognized as the most outstanding talents. They all come from the Ten Great Lineage, and none of them are ordinary young cultivators.
Their cultivation, mastery of the Dao, level of Fate Soul, time, space, life and death, cause and effect, five elements, yin and yang, destiny, reincarnation, nothingness, rules, logic, narrative symbols/language power/ideological time/historical subject/self-space/place are far beyond the imagination of ordinary geniuses.
Many of them possessed strength comparable to the elders of their Lineage, and some had even surpassed some of the older generation. Yet, they were all only twenty-five or twenty-six years old. It was precisely because of this that they were called the true 'young' prodigies of the upper echelons.
They are truly the cream of the crop, standing above all their contemporaries. The other so-called geniuses might shine like the sun in an ordinary sect, but compared to those ten, the gap is often so vast it's despairing.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu's gaze sharpened slightly, and he slowly set down his wine glass, his eyes becoming even more focused than before. He naturally knew that if he wanted to truly establish himself in this upper echelon, he would inevitably encounter these contemporaries standing at the top of the pyramid sooner or later.
Now that he could obtain some information from Ye Wuhen in advance, it was naturally extremely important. So he looked at Ye Wuhen and said in a calm and serious tone, "Brother Ye, could you tell me in detail about the situation of these ten top geniuses?"
Ye Wuhen smiled upon hearing this, raised his hand to refill Qin Yu's cup, and then picked up his own cup, nodding and saying, "Of course, no problem. I can't speak for others, but I know the four prodigies of the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain quite well. Currently ranked first is Hua Yanyang of the Hua Lineage. His cultivation has reached the Wuji Realm, and what's most terrifying isn't just his cultivation level, but also the extremely domineering nature of his Fate Soul Dao."
It is said that the path he cultivates leads directly to the 'Flower Burial Origin,' allowing him to cause all things to instantly cycle between blooming and Annihilation with every gesture, making him extremely difficult to deal with. Ranking second is Shangguan Shumu of the Shangguan Lineage. He too is at the Wuji Realm, but his path leans more towards Order Adjudication and suppression. It is rumored that he can seal off the causal chain of a thousand miles with a single thought, preemptively eliminating his opponent's chance to even make a move.
The most terrifying thing about these people isn't their killing power, but that you haven't even realized you've lost. As for the third and fourth, they are Chi Xiyue the Chi Lineage and Ju Lingyuan from the Ju Lineage, respectively. Both are at the Wuji Realm, but don't underestimate the difference between them just because they're at the same level. These are powerhouses at this level...
Even among those at the same Wuji Realm, the methods they cultivate, their Fate Soul foundation, their supernatural powers and logic, and even their understanding of cause and effect and origin can be worlds apart. Some are adept at suppressing all laws with a single thought, some specialize in reversing the fate of their Fate Soul, and some break through all realms with the Void Evolution. On the surface, they may seem to be at the same realm, but when they actually fight, a single glance or a wisp of energy might be enough to determine the victor.
As Ye Wuhen spoke, his expression turned serious, as if he himself felt an overwhelming pressure every time he mentioned these names. He gently swirled the wine in his glass and added with a wry smile, "As for the other six geniuses in the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain and the Supreme Stillness Domain, I know very little about them. After all, someone of my level is far from qualified to truly set foot in the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain, let alone the deepest Supreme Stillness Domain."
Even without knowing the specific details, one can easily imagine that those six are the true pinnacle of the younger generation. While the four prodigies of the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain are already astonishing enough, compared to the other two domains...
Who is stronger and who is weaker? I'm afraid no one would dare to make a definitive judgment. Hey, in the end, what we consider strong might just be, in their eyes, insignificant juniors who haven't yet truly matured.
After he finished speaking, the private room fell silent for a moment, with only the faint sunlight streaming through the window reflecting on the table and the aroma of wine slowly wafting in the air. Qin Yu listened quietly to everything, a faint fighting spirit gradually rising deep in his eyes.
Because he knew very well that what awaited him in this grand competition at the Stele Forest Imperial City was not just a mere selection, but a top-level contest that had begun ahead of schedule.
The private room was filled with the aroma of wine, and the spiritual dishes on the table still emitted a faint Spiritual Qi. Returning Light Heavenly City grew deeper, and the lights of the city towers and streets in the distance resembled a spread-out galaxy.
Ye Wuhen's words about the top talents still echoed in the air. Qin Yu, holding his wine glass, pondered for a moment, then suddenly frowned slightly as if he had remembered something. He looked up at Ye Wuhen and said, "Hey, wait a minute, Brother Ye, when you mentioned those talents, you only said they were all at the Wuji Realm, but you didn't specify whether they were at the initial or Supreme of the Wuji Realm. Isn't there a distinction between them?"
Ye Wuhen was taken aback at first, then seemed to suddenly remember something, slapped his forehead, smiled and put the wine glass on the table, saying, "Oh, right, right, that's something I forgot to mention earlier."
Brother Qin, you ask a very good question. This matter actually touches upon the most crucial change in the Source of Epochless · Upper Layer. The real fundamental reason lies in the fact that—after the "Eternal Silence Realm," the division of cultivation realms has undergone a complete transformation.
As he spoke, his expression gradually became serious, and his tone was no longer as casual as before. He slowly explained, "Before the Eternal Silence Realm, the path of cultivation is still within the relatively active realm of Dharma. Therefore, each realm can be divided into levels such as initial stage, intermediate stage, advanced stage, Ultimate stage, and Supreme according to the depth of cultivation."
That's because at that stage, cultivators are still constantly accumulating power, perfecting their laws, and stabilizing their Fate Soul essence; all of this can be measured by levels. But once they cross the Eternal Silence Realm and truly step into the Wuji Realm, things are completely different."
Ye Wuhen paused slightly, seemingly considering how to express this extremely abstract concept, before continuing, "The so-called Wuji Realm is defined as— 'Wuji Beginningless, Endless Nameless; all realms and all descriptions end here.' In other words, when a cultivator enters this realm, it is no longer simply a matter of increased power."
Instead, it enters an absolute state, a realm that transcends existence and non-existence, birth and death, time and space, and causality. At this level, no language, thought, or even concept can truly touch its essence, let alone distinguish between relative levels such as beginner and intermediate.
He picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, and continued, "That's why, starting from the Wuji Realm, the realm itself is already an Ultimate symbol. It doesn't represent the amount of power, but rather a certain Ultimate understanding of the 'Dao'."
Each subsequent realm, such as the Void Emanation Realm and the Silent Form Realm, may seem like a continuous upward breakthrough, but it is not a simple accumulation of levels. Rather, it is a presentation of the Ultimate reality from different perspectives.
Each realm points to a certain Ultimate 'Daoist state,' and the transitions between them are not quantitative accumulations, but qualitative leaps—a complete transformation and transcendence.
As Ye Wuhen spoke, his expression became somewhat solemn. He gently tapped the table, as if emphasizing the key point. "Therefore, starting from the Wuji Realm, there are no longer any further subdivisions of realms. There are three fundamental reasons for this."
First is absoluteness—each realm itself represents a certain Limit state, such as 'Wuji', 'Kong', 'Ji', and 'Dao'. Since they are Limit, they cannot be further divided into smaller stages.
Secondly, there is transcendence—these realms transcend all relative concepts such as existence and non-existence, birth and death, time, space, and even thoughts. The division of initial and intermediate levels is based on relative comparison, and therefore has lost its meaning here.
The third is ineffability—these states are often described as 'limited by words and devoid of thought.' Since even language cannot accurately describe them, they naturally cannot be quantified by levels."
He sighed softly again and continued, "The most crucial point is that, starting from the Wuji Realm, breakthroughs are no longer a gradual process of cultivation, but rather a sudden enlightenment or a leap forward."
There is no transition between two extreme states, Does Not Exist any concept of a "half-step." Therefore, although those top geniuses are all in the Wuji Realm,
However, the differences between them often lie in their understanding of the Dao, the depth of their Fate Soul essence, and the level of their supernatural logic, rather than simply in their different realms.
Qin Yu listened quietly to the explanation, his wine glass already placed on the table, a deep shock gradually appearing in his eyes. Only after Ye Wuhen finished speaking did he slowly exhale, his gaze involuntarily turning to the vast night sky outside the window, as if for the first time truly realizing the immensity and profundity of the path of higher cultivation.
It turns out that once a cultivator truly enters the Wuji Realm, they have fundamentally broken free from the previous hierarchical cultivation system. They are no longer measured by simple power levels, but instead stand directly on the threshold of a certain Ultimate path. That realm is not merely an improvement in cultivation level, but a complete leap in existence.
Qin Yu remained silent for a moment, then a deeper light gradually ignited in his eyes.
He finally understood why Ye Wuhen had shown such a complex expression when he mentioned those top geniuses.
Because in a sense, once a cultivator enters the Wuji Realm, they truly begin to touch the origin of the Great Dao. It is no longer a simple contest of strength and weakness, but a battle over the "Dao".