Previously on Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather...
Yang Zhenshan and Yun Xiao enter White Cloud Immortal City, observing its strict rules, puppet guards, and high entry fees. They register Yang Zhenshan's mutant beast and rent a cave mansion. While touring, they witness a cultivator flying within the city, an act usually forbidden, sparking curiosity about the city's inner workings. Yang Zhenshan plans to gather materials to refine powerful magical treasures.
"Ten Thousand Treasures Store!"
Yang Zhenshan gazed upwards at the most opulent establishment lining the bustling street. Even the grand sign alone proclaimed the immense influence and splendor of the Ten Thousand Treasures Store.
"The plaque itself appears to be a high-grade magical treasure; truly, this Ten Thousand Treasures Store is remarkably extravagant!" Yang Zhenshan mused, then stepped through its imposing entrance.
He had lingered with Yun Xiao in their cave dwelling for three days, observing the city for any unusual activity before venturing out for a stroll.
While Yun Xiao sought out old acquaintances, Yang Zhenshan directed his steps towards the renowned Ten Thousand Treasures Store.
"Welcome, honored guest, to our establishment. Kindly proceed to the third floor!" A swift-eyed maid noticed Yang Zhenshan. Her smile widened instantly as she extended the invitation to the third level.
Following the maid, Yang Zhenshan subtly employed his spiritual sense to survey the merchandise displayed on the first and second floors. An array of pills, artifacts, and talisman formations were readily available for purchase. Medicinal herbs, spirit fruits, spiritual materials, and ores were also in plentiful supply.
He noted that many of the spiritual materials were unfamiliar even to him.
"Your store seems exceptionally well-stocked with spiritual materials!" Yang Zhenshan commented casually.
The maid, leading the way, responded with evident pride. "Naturally! In terms of product variety, no other store in the entire Wanhua Western Region can rival our Ten Thousand Treasures Store!"
Upon reaching the entrance of a private chamber, the maid deactivated the room's restriction seal. "Please wait here; the store steward will be with you shortly!"
The private room was generously sized and adorned with tasteful furnishings. Yang Zhenshan observed that his spiritual sense was unable to penetrate the room's walls.
He gave a slight nod and took a seat at the tea table, pouring himself a cup of the prepared beverage. The tea was neither exceptional nor poor, likely comparable to Spiritual Dew Tea.
His wait was brief. Before he could finish the first cup, a female cultivator, possessing features as delicate as a painting, entered the room.
Her hair was styled elaborately, adorned with vermilion hairpins inset with small, clear crystal stones, lending her a surprisingly noble and captivating presence.
More significantly, this female cultivator was revealed to be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
"Greetings, fellow cultivator! I am Zhongli Xiayi. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance!" Zhongli Xiayi offered a graceful greeting, her smile akin to a gentle spring breeze, evoking an immediate sense of warmth.
Yang Zhenshan returned the gesture with a customary fist-and-palm salute. "I am Yang Zhenshan. Honored to meet you, Fairy Zhongli!"
"You may simply call me Xia Yi," Zhongli Xiayi replied as she took a seat opposite him. With practiced elegance, she lifted the teapot lid and, channeling mana, replaced the existing tea with a freshly brewed batch.
"Fairy Xia Yi!" Yang Zhenshan responded smoothly.
"Yang, you must be relatively new to White Cloud Immortal City, are you not?" Zhongli Xiayi inquired, placing the newly brewed tea before Yang Zhenshan. Her every movement exuded a refined grace, making her actions appear effortlessly pleasing.
Her demeanor was enchanting without being overtly seductive, a quality that certainly would not be perceived as coarse.
"Indeed!" Yang Zhenshan took another sip, noting that this tea was of a higher quality, now comparable to Jingyu Chun.
"May I inquire about the immortal realm from which you originate?"
"Haha, the Sea of Spirit!"
"Ah, the Sea of Spirit—I've heard it is renowned for its abundant talents and flourishing martial traditions!"
"Martial traditions! Haha, I assume Fairy holds these Martial Arts in rather low regard?"
"How could that be? All cultivation paths in this world are noble pursuits. Whether Martial Arts or the Immortal Path, they merely traverse different routes towards the same ultimate destination!"
"Different roads, different heavens, different statuses!" Yang Zhenshan chuckled.
Zhongli Xiayi gave a slight nod. "There is no inherent difference between Martial Arts and the Immortal Path. The disparity arises amongst the practitioners themselves; strength dictates one's standing."
Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard thoughtfully.
He understood Zhongli Xiayi's perspective; the notion of Martial Arts and the Immortal Path converging on the same goal was not entirely inaccurate, yet it wasn't precisely correct either. Based on his own understanding, he perceived a subtle flaw in this line of reasoning.
This was because Martial Arts had, in essence, evolved from the Immortal Path—an offshoot, so to speak.
Different paths leading to the same goal was indeed a concept to consider; the realms of Martial Arts had consistently mirrored the realms of the Immortal Path, albeit always lagging slightly behind.
"Wise words, Fairy!" Yang Zhenshan replied with a smile.
"Haha, my words are not wise; I just know of some Great Powers in Martial Arts!" Zhongli Xiayi chuckled.
"Oh! Great Powers in Martial Arts! I’m quite narrow-minded, not knowing what realm Great Powers in Martial Arts belong to! Please enlighten me, Fairy!" Yang Zhenshan humbly asked.
The three realms of Martial Arts: Innate, Golden Body, Divine Soul. Yang Zhenshan wasn’t sure what lay beyond Divine Soul.
It wasn’t that Yang Zhenshan was uninformed; rather, the Martial Arts of the Sea of Spirit ceased at the Divine Soul Realm.
"Naturally, it’s the Golden Core Realm!" Zhongli Xiayi replied.
Yang Zhenshan was taken aback, "Martial Arts Golden Core?"
"Yes, different paths leading to the same goal. Martial Arts can also reach the Golden Core Path!" Zhongli Xiayi explained.
"Is that so?" Yang Zhenshan fell into contemplation.
Even though he had given up Martial Arts, his cognition and understanding of it remained profound. In the Spirit Origin Land, most people practiced Martial Arts.
So, the question arises: Can Martial Artists undergo Core Formation?
It seems plausible!
The Golden Body Realm casts the Spirit Base, and the Divine Soul Realm refines the Divine Soul. The Spirit Base combined with the Divine Soul is enough to compensate for the lack of spiritual apertures.
Martial Artists in the Divine Soul Realm possess physiques undoubtedly comparable to Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Martial Artists in the Divine Soul Realm can also compensate for the shortcomings in their Divine Souls, refining further to even exceed Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
The final piece is mana; previously, it was mentioned that Golden Body Realm Martial Artists could wield mana, though they struggled to accumulate it compared to Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
However, upon reaching the Divine Soul Realm, Martial Artists significantly improve in their efficiency of forming mana, and their methods of using it become nearly on par with Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
