Chapter 185: Shambhala Phase, 10,000 Year Lifespan (1)

That strong? Wu Yuan was startled. Up until now, his knowledge of qi refiners had been that the spiritual qi was a higher-order power and possessed greater flexibility compared to physical strength.

But now, it seemed that in the worlds beyond, there also existed a group known as body refiners, dedicated to cultivating their physical bodies. It was a path more closely aligned with martial artists, where the body itself became the ultimate weapon. No reliance on artifacts, no need for arcane artssimply a single punch capable of shattering all laws. The mere mention of it ignited a fire within him.

"Do you understand the might of body refiners?" the black armored giant questioned as he looked down.

Wu Yuan nodded.

"The path of a body refiner is one fraught with hardship. The black-armored giant shook its head. The concept of the human body as a miniature word, creating its own cyclesdo you truly comprehend the immense challenge it presents to refine one's body to rival the real world?"

"The path of body refining is a treacherous one. And the stronger a body refiner becomes, the more they will find themselves rejected by heaven and earth itself, making it increasingly difficult to progress."

"Heaven and earth rejects them?" Wu Yuan couldn't hide his surprise.

He had trouble wrapping his head around such a concept. However, Wu Yuan had only recently stepped into the Unity level, still struggling to harness 200,000 catties of heaven and earth's power. His understanding of the intricate workings of heaven and earth was but surface-level knowledge. Engaging in a conversation on such matters, he couldn't help but feel utterly clueless.

"That was the beginning of the great Dao debate, a battle that has raged through the eons in the Greenridge Macrocosm," the black-armored giant remarked, settling himself on his magnificent throne. "But these concerns need not burden you at this stage. Focus on reaching the Amethyst Cradle or Shambhala phase before contemplating such matters."

Wu Yuan nodded. Indeed, what did he know of Dao debates, qi refining, and body refining?

In his present world, within the thirteen continents of the Middle Land, the majority of qi refiners were Qi Sea cultivators. If Wu Yuan could truly become an eldritch cultivator, he would be able to dominate the world. As for the even more distant future? That could wait.

The black-armored giant chuckled, looking down at Wu Yuan. "You inquired about the Golden Core phase. As one progresses through the nine stages of the Qi Sea phase, one will expand the qi sea and compress essentia. Once the qi sea reaches a certain size, one can step into the second phase of a qi refiner. This is the Golden Core phase."

"In the Greenridge Macrocosm, Qi Sea practitioners are as common as cow hair. However, once one reaches the Golden Core phase, one is addressed as Superior, and is granted a level of respect. At this phase, as long as you do not provoke any formidable figures, you can live your life freely without trouble. The Golden Core phase is also divided into nine stages, and cultivators at this phase have a lifespan of 1000 years!" the black-armored giant declared.

Golden Core Superior? A thousand-year lifespan?

Indeed, the saying that qi refiners scarcely feared old age was fitting. Once one stepped into the Golden Core phase, their lifespan extended to a thousand years.

Various factions in the Middle Land have produced qi refiners. Are there any Golden Core Superiors? Hard to say! After all, I cannot survey the entire Middle Land," the black-armored giant shook his head. "But even if there are, I believe there are only one or two. Moreover, their ambitions are likely to extend beyond the Middle Land."

"For Golden Core Superiors, the Middle Land is minuscule. They have surpassed the Qi Sea phase entirely, and their strength cannot be quantified in catties."

"A single arcane art of a Golden Core Superior can set mountains ablaze and boil the sea. It is not uncommon for them to traverse 100,000 li in a day, wandering between worlds, exuding a tiny fraction of resemblance to immortals and devils." The black-armored giant explained, "In short, if a Golden Core Superior wishes to unify the entire Middle Land, it should be a trivial task."

Wu Yuan was astounded. They were truly that formidable? It seemed that ordinary Qi Sea phase qi refiners could not hope to battle Golden Core Superiors.

"When one reaches the ninth stage of the Golden Core phase, it signifies that the spiritual qi within their body has reached the limit of its purity. Further progress allows the development of an Amethyst Cradle in their Qi Sea."

"The Amethyst Cradle is not an internal world, but rather a source that shatters the final barrier between the individual and heaven and earth through the meridian circulation system. Amethyst symbolizes heaven and earth, and qi refiners make heaven and earth their abode. Their minds can freely traverse through heaven and earth, and their lifespan will be greatly extended to 3000 years," the black-armored giant sighed. "At this phase, for qi refiners, they are but a step away from shedding mortal limitations. They can be referred to as Reverands."

Qi Sea practitioners had a lifespan of 500 years. Golden Core practitioners had a lifespan of 1000 years, and were addressed as Superiors. Amethyst Cradle practitioners had a lifespan of 3000 years, and were addressed as Reverands. Wu Yuan silently summarized what he had learned.

"Amethyst Cradle Reverands, in the eyes of mortal martial artists, are no different from true immortals and devils. They are able to manipulate space and are the ones who create the storage artifacts you use," the black-armored giant explained. "Before that great war 100,000 years ago, Amethyst Cradle Reverands represented the pinnacle of strength within the Summerpeak World."

"In the eyes of an Amethyst Cradle Reverand, annihilating the Middle Land is a trivial task, merely requiring them to cast a few arcane arts. The Summerpeak World has yet to completely recover from the effects of the great war. Im not sure if any Amethyst Cradle Reverands still exist in the Summerpeak World."

"Among the numerous immortal continents within the Greenridge Macrocosm, Amethyst Cradle Reverands are significant existences. They are highly sought after by large sects and families," chuckled the giant. "They possess the capability to govern vast territories and rule over billions of subjects."

"Even in a world like Summerpeak, if one reaches the ninth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase and influences the heart of the world, they can ignite Faith Incense and propagate their Faith. To mortals, an Amethyst Cradle Reverand is indistinguishable from a true immortal. Typically, in a world like this, the emergence of a single Amethyst Cradle Reverand is a rare occurrence.

Wu Yuan listened intently. He grasped the general notion that Amethyst Cradle Reverands were powerful qi refiners that held a position of dominance during the prime of the Summerpeak World.

As for the meaning behind Faith Incense or heart of the world? He couldn't quite understand, but refrained from clarifying his doubts for now.

"Wu Yuan, with your talent, if you had never met me, it would have taken you hundreds of years for you to potentially become a Golden Core Superior," murmured the black-armored titan. "As for becoming an Amethyst Cradle Reverand without guidance? Its nearly impossible!"

Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. He instinctively comprehended how difficult it was. A few arcane arts were capable of obliterating the thirteen continents of the Middle Land?

The power wielded by an Amethyst Cradle Reverand was truly inconceivable.

"The Qi Sea, Golden Core, and Amethyst Cradle phases delineate the path of a qi refiner," the black-armored titan spoke somberly. "But this is not the path of an eldritch warrior. Nor is it the path I am preparing for you."

Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback. The path of an eldritch warrior? Merely moments ago, he regarded eldritch cultivation as a distinct niche within the path of qi refining, akin to the difference between a saber and a sword. However, it appeared that things were not as he initially imagined.

Eldritch warriors, are they body refiners?

Whysee's Thoughts

For your reference: (turn phone horizontally)

Cultivation Phases

cont. (Quasi-Heavenly Ranker)

Phases

Title/other names

Lifespan (years)

Description

Qi Refiner (sword, array, alchemy, eldritch mage classes)

Qi Sea

Heavenly Ranker, land deity

soul+spiritual qi to open middle dantian lobe

Golden Core

Superior

Amethyst Cradle

Reverand

shed physical form to advance

Void Refiner

Eminence

Divided Soul

Earth Immortal (pseudo-immortal)

Tribulation

High Immortal (pseudo-immortal)

Archimmortal

Heavenly Immortal

Body Refiner (eldritch warrior, demonic, blood devil body paths)

Communion

Heavenly Ranker, land deity

soul+flesh (vital qi) to open lower dantian lobe

Spiritual Body

Superior

Shambhala

Reverand

10,000

Elysian Field

Eminence

Dharma Body

Earth XX (pseudo-immortal)

Universe Architect

High XX (pseudo-immortal)

Archeldritch, Archdemon etc.

Heavenly XX