Chapter 1049: Oh~~~~

Chapter 1050: Below the Semi-Sage, the First Grandmaster

Within the deep pit.

Xu Xiaoshou had no idea how much time had passed. Once he finally regained some mobility, he immediately drew upon his lingyuan to levitate, all while maintaining a careful distance between his clothing and his sensitive skin to avoid any further irritation.

Now that he had a moment to breathe, he could properly assess the effects of the Shengji Guo.

"What realm am I in now?"

After consuming the Shengji Guo, his body had been wildly bouncing between the air and the ground, so he hadn't even noticed when the breakthrough occurred. Logically, a breakthrough to Zongshi should bring significant insights into the Dao principles.

Unfortunately, those insights paled in comparison to the intense pleasure from the Shengji Guo and the breathing method.

"The Dao is formless; when divided into yin and yang, it becomes right and wrong, giving birth to one and two, forming squares and circles, with edges and corners, shapes and angles..."

"Thus, it determines black and white, verifies heaven and earth, establishes the past and future, and judges time and space..."

"It is called water and fire, gold and wood, wind and thunder, light and darkness..."

"It can also be called all the contradictions in the world, born from the heart, yet the heavens maintain eternal definitions!"

The delayed insights into the Dao principles hadn't been completely washed away by the pleasure; they had simply settled deep in his mind. As Xu Xiaoshou revisited them, he quickly realized that he had broken through to Tianxiang and entered Yin Yang.

In the Zongshi Yin Yang realm, one contemplates with the heart, observes the heavenly Dao, and manifests it, thereby laying the foundation for the future path.

However, most of these insights Xu Xiaoshou could find similar concepts in his "Sword Mastery" at the Wangzuo level.

The sword Dao encompasses three thousand paths, covering everything.

This was once a mainstream in the previous era, not inferior to the refining spirit Dao.

Thus, Xu Xiaoshou felt like he was simply reviewing knowledge of the heavenly Dao, or shifting his perspective from the sword Dao's view of the heavens to the refining spirit Dao's view.

Reviewing the old to learn the new.

When he opened his eyes again, the space around him still appeared empty.

Yet, Xu Xiaoshou felt as if he could see the rules of the vast world.

They formed visible, tangible lines, weaving into a net of heavenly Dao rules, much like how Bai Ku had used the Tianji ability of the fish to see the Tianji Dao principles.

"So, if this ability evolves further, it's similar to after severing the Dao, where one can merge with the heavens and achieve unity with the universe?" Xu Xiaoshou pondered thoughtfully.

He turned his inner gaze to his Qi Hai.

Now, his Qi Hai had expanded greatly, like a vast ocean.

The Tianxiang realm allowed his Qi Hai to manifest all phenomena of heaven and earth, such as tides, storms, and tsunamis, with no real offensive capabilities but initially forming the prototype of the Dantian world.

The Yin Yang realm then added the heavenly Dao to his Dantian world, along with rules, day and night, right and wrong, making it more vivid.

However, it still offered no substantial effects.

Zongshi, after all, was just a foundation, paving the way for the Wangzuo Dao realm and the explosive abilities after severing the Dao.

The stronger the insights into the Dao principles during this stage, the greater the chance of comprehending the refining spirit mysteries in the Wangzuo Dao realm, and the more terrifying the combat power after severing the Dao.

But from the perspective of Zongshi alone, the most tangible benefit of each breakthrough was simply a massive change in the quality and quantity of lingyuan.

That was it.

"I've gotten stronger, but not by much..."

Of course, this was in comparison to the Wangzuo Dao realm or after severing the Dao.

Looking at his Qi Hai, which had expanded more than tenfold, Xu Xiaoshou felt that at his level, it was on par with the Wangzuo Dao realm, and perhaps even comparable to after severing the Dao.

Previously, using "One Step to Heaven" required him to consider the range and frequency, factoring in "Endless Vitality," "Abundant Yuanqi," and "Transformation."

Now, it seemed he wouldn't need to.

Unless it was an exaggerated spatial teleportation across a prefecture or a realm, his Qi Hai probably wouldn't run dry.

This boost was clearly more than what the Zongshi Yin Yang realm alone could provide.

"Is it just the Yin Yang realm?" Xu Xiaoshou frowned.

Breaking through with the Shengji Guo had the major drawback of preventing him from suppressing his realm, and he had no idea how many levels he had actually advanced.

He was already at the peak of Tianxiang, so if one Shengji Guo only pushed him to Yin Yang, Xu Xiaoshou thought it didn't add up.

"Starlight..."

Upon closer inspection, above his Qi Hai, there were not only the phenomena of heaven and earth and the Yin Yang Dao, but also faint, unobtrusive specks of starlight.

Xu Xiaoshou finally understood.

He searched his memory and found another set of Dao insights that had been overshadowed by the pleasure...

Damn it, hidden so deeply—who was actually breaking through here? How could he not even know it himself?

He retrieved it.

And read it.

"The nine heavens' stars divine the unknown; worship them with the heart to connect the universe..."

"The three thousand worlds, sought with lingyuan, span up and down, the four directions, past and present..."

"One Qi Hai as a realm, the stars as ten thousand realms, called universe and eternity, worshiped through the stars..."

The faint Dao sounds echoed in his ears.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Xu Xiaoshou emerged from his state of enlightenment.

"Xing Si realm!"

"So, I've already reached the Xing Si realm..."

If Tianxiang and Yin Yang involved realizing the Dao with the Dantian world as a prototype, cultivating an illusory divine kingdom in the heart,

Then Xing Si meant drawing upon the power of the nine heavens' stars.

Up and down as space, past and present as time.

This could be interpreted as the heart's divine kingdom world taking initial shape upon breaking through to Xing Si, establishing the foundation for future "domains" and "Taixu worlds."

And one Qi Hai as a realm, the stars as ten thousand realms.

This meant his inner world as one, with the vast, unseen other three thousand worlds represented by the stars, collectively called the "universe."

I cultivate one realm, yet ten thousand realms still exist.

The power of ten thousand realms is beyond human reach.

Though I have cultivated one realm, the ten thousand remain; it's not that one realm can oppose them, nor can one person's power rival thousands.

"Stars represent the unknown..."

"So, this means that even if I develop my Qi Hai world into a domain or Taixu world, it's still just one path on the road to sainthood—the refining spirit Dao."

"And those stars, each representing the unknown, are other paths leading to Banisheng or Shengdi through cultivation?"

The more Xu Xiaoshou thought about it, the more he marveled at the profundity of the heavenly Dao.

Based on the countless refining spirit masters of Shengshen Continent and the price paid over endless time, people in the previous era, after the decline of sword Dao, had finally developed the refining spirit path.

This path could lead to sainthood and was more aligned with the era's trends, so it became mainstream.

But it was just one path; the other roads that people hadn't found didn't mean they didn't exist.

The myriad great Daos would forever wait there quietly.

Waiting for some genius of the era to discover and reveal them.

Those other paths were like a point on the stars in his Qi Hai; if one surpassed the refining spirit Dao, perhaps the next era would dawn.

"But it's too difficult."

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head with a sigh.

That's why the unknown is the greatest fear.

And even more terrifying than that is knowing a little, barely stepping through the threshold, glimpsing the vast starry sea and its infinity, then realizing you'll never reach that level in your lifetime and giving up entirely.

To hear the Dao at dawn and die content at dusk.

In his daze, Xu Xiaoshou seemed to understand why that saying existed.

Gazing at the star points in his Qi Hai, knowing they were paths to sainthood not inferior to sword Dao or refining spirit Dao, he truly felt his own insignificance.

A mayfly in the heavens and earth, a mere grain in the vast sea.

Human efforts have limits; someone like Bazun An, who reached the peak of sword Dao through refining spirit, was already a rare genius.

To blaze a new trail and discover another path to sainthood... no, not discover, but unearth it—how could that be achieved by one person alone?

Perhaps an entire era's efforts could make it happen.

"My life is but a moment, the Yangtze endless; knowing I can't attain it quickly, I entrust my lament to the sad wind..."

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head and mused, unmoved by the "endless" or the "future," quickly calming his mind.

From the weak waters of three thousand, take just one ladleful.

Since both refining spirit Dao and sword Dao can lead to sainthood, walking one steadily is enough.

To master both would be the mark of a genius transcending the era.

He wasn't one of those academics obsessed with narrow pursuits, so why waste time on the futile task—or grand feat—of unearthing another path for others?

Xu Xiaoshou respected those people.

But he knew he could never be one of them.

So, he'd walk the path left by his predecessors well; if he could achieve mastery, then perhaps branch out—that was his fitting self-positioning.

"I've reached Xing Si realm without realizing it..."

"Breakthroughs come like flowing water, in the most unsuspecting moments..."

Regaining his composure, Xu Xiaoshou felt a slight surge of excitement.

Leaping from Zongshi Tianxiang to Zongshi Xing Si, he was just one realm away from Wangzuo Dao realm—this progress was impressively fast.

Of course, it couldn't compare to freaks like Lei Xier.

Xu Xiaoshou was quite satisfied with his current breakthroughs.

But satisfaction aside, he still had doubts...

"Hold on, the Shengji Guo is a treasure even in ancient times that only those at the Taixu level could enjoy."

"How could it only bring a couple of minor breakthroughs for a mere Zongshi?"

"And besides, Xing Si isn't even complete—it's just barely at the start?"

Xu Xiaoshou examined his Qi Hai again.

The Qi Hai surged like tides, constantly rippling, looking impressive, but it was merely a widened basin with a thin layer of water, far from being full to overflow.

This preliminary judgment put him at Xing Si initial stage, a far cry from what he expected for Xing Si great completion.

"Is my Qi Hai too vast for the Shengji Guo to fill?"

"That can't be..."

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head.

Even for Wangzuo Dao realm, sacred medicines could bring qualitative leaps, let alone for a Zongshi minor realm.

"The Shengji Guo must have other powers that got stolen!"

"It looks like I went from Tianxiang to Xing Si, but really, it's just from Tianxiang peak to Xing Si initial. How could the Shengji Guo's energy only fill the Yin Yang realm?"

"So... there's a thief in my body!"

Xu Xiaoshou quickly zeroed in on the suspects, glaring fiercely at the various treasures above his Qi Hai.

His Qi Hai had way too many thieves: the Jinzhao Origin Seed, Three Days Frozen Calamity, Pinghu Little Blue Flower, his own sword intent, the big uncle's sword intent, and the white light bead from the Wolfbei Shengren that had been transferred there...

Stealing a bit of sacred medicine power was par for the course!

But if you're going to steal, at least give me some feedback—or else, you're done for!

Xu Xiaoshou scanned his familiar treasures and soon had his attention caught by a pure, sacred power.

"Shengli!"

His eyebrows shot up, and he was overjoyed.

This faint trace of Shengli was from the Shengji Guo and had indeed appeared in his Qi Hai.

"Come on, let's test you first!"

Xu Xiaoshou set everything else aside.

Shengli!

This was something that Shuangdai and Hong Dang Xiong dreamed of!

Once obtained, it made one the top Taixu below Banisheng.

Xu Xiaoshou had long considered himself the top Zongshi below Banisheng; in this stage, perhaps only Bazun An from decades ago, when he was still at Zongshi level, could match him.

But with Shengli, it was on a whole different level.

This would truly make him the top Zongshi below Banisheng!

Bazun An at Zongshi level?

Just a plaything!

With a thought, he drew upon the Shengli.

Xu Xiaoshou opened his eyes from his inner vision, a sharp glint flashing in them.

"Buzz!"

In the Yuanfu world, immense pressure descended from above.

In that instant, winds arose in heaven and earth, spiritual herbs bowed, poisonous fish hid, and gravel trembled.

Even A Bing and A Huo in the adjacent space sensed something and let out low roars.

"Ho!"

"Roar..."

It was a power that, in terms of rank, could suppress anyone or any creature below Banisheng.

A Bing and A Huo looked around in confusion and alarm, their gazes locking onto Xu Xiaoshou in the Shenong Drug Garden.

"Ho ho ho?"

A Huo straightened up with effort, scratching his head in curiosity.

Wasn't this the ability of that guy we killed before? Now the master has it too?

And this pressure seems even stronger than that so-called assassin's?

"Can it even compare?"

Sensing A Huo's thoughts, Xu Xiaoshou chuckled.

He had swallowed the Shengji Guo whole, while Shuangdai had wasted over 99 percent of its power!

The initial Shengli energy they received was on completely different levels!

Xu Xiaoshou hadn't specifically directed this pressure at anyone, but if he had, even a massive being like A Huo might have been forced to his knees unexpectedly.

"It's strong, but for now, it's still not as good as Shengxue."

Clenching his fist and feeling the attribute-less Shengli, Xu Xiaoshou reached a preliminary conclusion.

Shengxue was refined power stripped from a mature Banisheng, and general users might even gain a Shengxiang from it.

The accompanying Shengli from the Shengji Guo, however, came from a mere sacred plant, so it was inherently weaker than that of a true Banisheng by more than a notch—how could they be compared?

Of course, comparing the Shengli from Shengji Guo to Shengxue from a Banisheng wasn't fair to begin with.

You could pop a hundred Shengji Guo and still not become Banisheng, so how could the Shengli from one fruit match Shengxue?

That would be ridiculous!

The Shengli from Shengji Guo was meant for showing off below Banisheng!

"Heh heh, I'm really strong."

Xu Xiaoshou thought, laughing happily.

He didn't underestimate his current Shengli's power—after all, it was Shengli and shouldn't be taken lightly.

But what he truly valued was its potential for growth...

"Just as I thought, once it becomes part of my body, the Shengli from Shengji Guo can grow on its own and even be influenced by passive skills to accelerate its cultivation!"

Gazing at the Shengli in his Qi Hai, which, thanks to "Transformation," was continuously drawing power from "Endless Vitality," "Abundant Yuanqi," and his own qi and blood to grow faster, Xu Xiaoshou felt that the Zhandao and Taixu on Xukong Island were doomed.

How could it take months or years to grow to match the peak power from consuming Shengxue?

With all his passive skills acting as intermediaries through "Transformation," in just a few days, this Shengli could expand, multiply, and reach terrifying levels, right?

If that's still too slow...

He could consciously consume sacred medicines, even if it meant wasting their power, and use "Transformation" to channel all that energy to the Shengli.

"Hee hee hee hee hee..."

Xu Xiaoshou let out a maniacal laugh.

He was certain that if he did this, in just a few hours, he could create a "constantly consuming Shengxue, always at peak state, with no side effects" version of the top Zongshi below Banisheng!

Xu Xiaoshou?

No, no... I'm Xu Mengshu!

Zhandao?

Taixu?

If you have Shengxue, that's different; if you have Shengxiang, go your own way.

But if you don't...

Sorry, from now on, when you see me, you'd better take a detour.

Otherwise...

You're all just playthings!

You'll all end up dead!

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly stood up, flicked his sleeve, and puffed out his chest proudly: "I'm playing the resource suppression game!"

The next second, forgetting to keep his clothing away from his sensitive skin in his excitement, Xu Xiaoshou plummeted heavily from the air.