Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 920 - 393: The Passage Between Two Realms

Ning Qi, astride the formidable black-haired donkey beast, journeyed through the expansive Sea of Realms.

His intended destination was none other than the Vast Realm, a place Ning Qi aimed to connect with the True Martial Realm, much like the established link between the True Martial Realm and the Mountain and Sea Realm.

This new connection would grant him unfettered access to the Vast Realm, serving as crucial reconnaissance for his future endeavors.

Currently, the Saint Ancestor and the Sea Ancestor were locked in a fierce confrontation within the War Realm. While Ning Qi had considered a visit to the Mountain and Sea Realm, the presence of the Mountain Ancestor, who had yet to join the fray, gave him pause.

Consequently, Ning Qi opted to first explore the Vast Realm, an area devoid of any Ancestors, to gather intelligence.

His guiding principle remained consistent: thoroughly scout before committing to action.

Ning Qi urged the black-haired donkey onward, its powerful strides carrying them deeper into the Sea of Realms.

The donkey, a creature Ning Qi found quite agreeable, bore him with unwavering determination, eager to escape the perilous Sea of Realms and return to the safety of the inner world.

Abruptly, the beast halted. It turned its massive head, its dark eyes fixing on Ning Qi.

"Brave man, the Black Water Region lies before us. Do you still intend to proceed?" the donkey inquired.

Ning Qi's response was firm, "With me here, what is there to fear?"

Despite a moment of hesitation, the black-haired donkey resumed its forward march.

As a fierce beast native to the Sea of Realms, its understanding of the vast expanse was limited.

Within its perception, the Sea of Realms was segmented into three distinct zones.

The first, closest to the inner worlds, was perpetually shrouded in a hazy gray mist and was considered the safest territory within the Sea of Realms.

Adjacent to this misty zone lay the second, the Black Water Region, which grew progressively more perilous the deeper one ventured.

For countless years, the black-haired donkey had never dared to venture more than ten miles into the Black Water Region.

This was because beyond that ten-mile threshold lay the third zone: the Chaotic Flow Area.

In this treacherous expanse, the black water surged with extreme velocity, akin to the tempestuous waves of the deepest oceans, harboring monstrous entities that instilled even the black-haired donkey with profound fear.

From grotesquely mutated creatures to constantly shifting, enigmatic landscapes, and other unknown, dreadful beings and perils, the Chaotic Flow Area was a realm of absolute terror.

In essence, the Chaotic Flow Area was a place no fierce beast at the Harmonization limit, like the black-haired donkey, would ever dare to approach.

Survival wasn't the sole concern; the greater danger was the potential loss of one's very nature, being utterly consumed by the chaotic currents.

In its youth, fueled by audacious curiosity and the recklessness of a spirited young creature, it had once strayed into the Chaotic Flow Area.

Had its mother not intervened to rescue it, it would have been irretrievably lost, its life nearly extinguished within that maelstrom.

That harrowing experience was etched into its very being, a lesson seared into its soul!

Tragically, its mother had vanished within the Chaotic Flow Area during the very act of saving it.

She had expende d all her strength to propel the young donkey out of the chaotic currents. Upon its return to the relative safety of the Black Water Region, half of its cultivation was lost, its lifespan drastically reduced, leaving it critically weakened!

From that day forward, the black-haired donkey refused to venture beyond the ten-mile boundary of the Black Water Region. Even entering the Black Water Region itself was an ordeal, dredging up these painful memories.

Its deepest yearning was to return to the world within, to live a life of pastoral tranquility.

A life filled with blooming flowers, verdant grass, the warmth of the sun, the gentle glow of the moon and stars, and most importantly, the opportunity to find a mate!

Its mother had always stressed the importance of filial piety, vehemently asserting that among all transgressions, failing to produce offspring was the most grievous.

Alas, a tragic reality had befallen their lineage, with the black-haired donkey's mother and itself being the sole remaining opposite-sex pair within the Sea of Realms.

In the current generation, for the black-haired donkey to encounter another of its kind, particularly a female, was an impossibility within the known reaches of the Sea of Realms.

Therefore, its most fervent desire was to return to the inner world and fulfill its mother’s final wish.

Now, as they re-entered the Black Water Region, the black-haired donkey became lost in a flood of past recollections, its mood visibly darkening.

Ning Qi, sensing the donkey's distress, offered reassurance, "Do not be afraid. Once my task is complete, I shall permit you to return to the inner world."

Upon hearing this promise, the donkey's spirits visibly brightened.

Its large, expressive eyes rolled as it solemnly addressed Ning Qi, "Brave man, I know not your true identity, but to traverse between worlds so freely, you must be an extraordinary hero..."

"Speak plainly and focus on the task at hand," Ning Qi interjected, gently squeezing the donkey's back with his legs.

The black-haired donkey yelped, "Ouch, ouch, ow, ow, ow!"

Ning Qi eased his grip.

The black-haired donkey, ceasing its complaints, proceeded in the direction Ning Qi had pointed.

Upon entering the Black Water Region, Ning Qi commenced his observations of this locale.

In stark contrast to the previously encountered misty gray expanse of the Sea of Realms, the Black Water Region truly lived up to its appellation.

The misty area here looked like diluted black water, with the concentration of actual black water being at least ten times greater!

This was merely a visual distinction; in terms of sensory perception, Ning Qi found his brow furrowing slightly.

As he stepped into the Black Water Region, the same chaotic sensation that had previously permeated the misty area once again enveloped his being.

Ning Qi even went so far as to shift the power within his body, attempting to gain a genuine understanding of the phenomenon.

Thus, he withdrew the Sea of Realms' power residing within him, consciously refraining from employing his True Martial Realm Power, and chose instead to rely solely on the perception of an ordinary cultivator.

The instant he retracted his power, Ning Qi felt akin to a monkey shackled by a golden hoop – possessing immense divine techniques yet being compelled to submit.

His vision abruptly dimmed, nearly causing him to tumble from the black-haired donkey's back.

This sudden shift in state naturally caused the black-haired donkey considerable alarm.

Hadn't Ning Qi displayed such formidable strength moments ago? How could he have become so feeble all of a sudden?