“This is just the beginning.” Although Dongbo Xueying felt exhilarated, he harbored no trace of pride. He remained clear-headed. “When I comprehended the first-grade true intent, the ‘World True Intent,’ it was destined that I would master the World Divine Heart and become a First Heaven Realm God.”
Beside him, the artifact spirit Qing Shi nodded. “Indeed, for a first-grade true intent Transcendent, becoming a Realm God is the least challenging step. However, advancing to the Second Heaven, Third Heaven, or Fourth Heaven Realm God—each step requires immense hardship! Yet, no matter how arduous, the hope remains great. Many First Heaven Realm Gods cultivate to the point of madness, their True Divine Hearts collapsing, yet still fail to break through to the Second Heaven.”
Dongbo Xueying smiled faintly.
Indeed.
Even for him, after the war, he had cultivated for over six hundred years. With the aid of his avatar, his ‘Stellar Divine Heart’ had reached the peak of the Deity level. But advancing it to the ‘Hunyuan Divine Heart’ seemed just a step away—yet that step was the hardest to cross. In the Divine Realm, countless Deities stagnated at the peak, unable to progress further. Advancing to a first-grade Divine Heart was exceedingly difficult. As for his ‘Extreme Penetration Divine Heart,’ its progress was negligible, not even reaching the peak of the Deity level.
“Becoming a First Heaven Realm God will happen soon. But how long will it take to reach the Second Heaven?” Dongbo Xueying shook his head.
“Evolving a second-grade Divine Heart to a first-grade is inherently arduous. In the Divine Realm, countless Deities ascend with second-grade Divine Hearts. But I can tell you this—out of a hundred million such Deities, not a single one evolves their Divine Heart to first-grade and becomes a Realm God!” Qing Shi sighed.
Dongbo Xueying was stunned. “Not even one in a hundred million?”
The odds were absurdly low.
“Realm Gods can better preserve their True Divine Hearts and live longer. Deities, with their weaker cultivation, are more prone to their True Divine Hearts collapsing… Thus, Deities perish in droves, while Realm Gods endure. Yet even in a vast starfield, Realm Gods are few and far between.” Qing Shi continued, “But Dongbo, you are a once-in-an-era ‘first-grade true intent Transcendent.’ You are destined to progress far faster than other Deities or Realm Gods. Ah, truly, how is your comprehension so profound? Can you tell me how you managed to perceive the essence of the world’s laws and grasp a first-grade true intent while still a Transcendent?”
Dongbo Xueying chuckled. “Comprehension?”
Truthfully, during cultivation, one could sense their own transformation. In his youth, his obsessive spear training had honed his mind, allowing him to perceive spear techniques more directly. His life-and-death battle with ‘Xiang Pangyun’ had triggered a soul-deep metamorphosis—a burst of enlightenment in the face of mortality.
Comprehension wasn’t innate. It grew through experiences, setbacks, epiphanies, and brushes with death. No one was born with peerless comprehension. Even the offspring of mighty figures, though innately brilliant, couldn’t shortcut the understanding of the world’s laws—it required an inner spark, a ‘comprehension’ that could only be refined through tempering. Even the finest jade needed carving.
Dongbo Xueying’s journey—his victories, the salvation of his wife—had reshaped his worldview, elevating his comprehension. That was how he grasped the ‘World True Intent.’
“I’ve heard the Sacred Master say,” Qing Shi mused, “that those who comprehend first-grade true intents do so without luck. The Divine Realm, the Abyss, and countless mortal worlds produce many Transcendents with second-grade true intents. But first-grade? They emerge once in an eternity, with no discernible pattern.”
“Indeed, no luck involved.” Dongbo Xueying nodded. “Enough. I’ll begin refining the Redstone Mountain now.”
“I’ve long awaited this day.” Qing Shi smiled.
“Boom!”
Dongbo Xueying extended a hand, and crimson Realm Divine Power surged forth, piercing the void and merging with the Redstone Mountain’s true form.
The Redstone Mountain, a cave-world treasure, was a True Divine Artifact—a tier above Realm Artifacts, and an exceedingly rare spatial treasure. Even a mighty figure like the Sacred Master of the Red Dust possessed only one such artifact. The Redstone lineage also included Senior Brother Huiming, a Fourth Heaven Realm God and a hegemon of the Divine Realm, who owned another.
With the Sacred Master deceased and Qing Shi offering no resistance, Dongbo Xueying refined the treasure in moments. The instant it was his, he felt as though he had refined the very heart of the world.
Now, the entire Redstone Mountain lay under his command.
“Having just become a First Heaven Realm God, it’s not yet time to reveal myself,” Dongbo Xueying said. “Right now, any mighty figure could obliterate me with a thought.”
Even within the material world, mighty beings could annihilate a First Heaven Realm God from vast distances with but a thought. That was why their names were never spoken lightly.
“True,” Qing Shi agreed. “Ordinary mighty figures can slay First Heaven Realm Gods with a thought. But the likes of His Majesty of the Bloodblade Divine Court, the Island Master of Spacetime Island, and the Palace Master of the Myriad Gods Hall—they can erase Second Heaven Realm Gods just as easily. However, with a ‘vow’ in place, bound by karmic ties, even a Third Heaven Realm God could be slain by beings of their caliber.”
Dongbo Xueying grinned. “Hence, I avoid vows lightly and never break them. Only upon reaching the Second Heaven will I be somewhat safer.”
As a Second Heaven Realm God, even if exposed, ordinary mighty figures couldn’t touch him. Only entities like the Bloodblade Divine Emperor, the Spacetime Island Master, or the Myriad Gods Palace Master could erase him with a thought. But those beings stood at the absolute pinnacle of the Divine Realm and the Abyss—invincible, prideful, and above such petty actions.
“Yet reaching the Second Heaven…” Dongbo Xueying sighed.
“Dongbo, participating in the Bloodblade Divine Court’s Myriad Blossom Banquet and clashing with countless Deity-level experts will surely spark insights. Seek tutelage under a mighty figure, and your second first-grade Divine Heart will come swiftly,” Qing Shi encouraged.
“May that day arrive soon. For now, I have matters to attend to.” With a step, Dongbo Xueying departed the Redstone Mountain.
—
**Xia Clan World.**
“Rumble—” Every titled expert and Transcendent sensitive to the world’s energies felt the pervasive tremors.
“What’s happening? It’s as if the entire Xia Clan World is shaking.”
“What’s going on?”
Many Xia Clan Transcendents took to the skies, scanning the horizons, yet found no anomalies. They exchanged messages, but none knew the cause.
Moments later, Palace Master Chen announced publicly: “Divine Monarch Dongbo has refined the World Heart!”
“Refined it?”
“Hahaha!”
“The World Heart is refined? Our Xia Clan truly owns this world now!”
“At last! I can die without regrets.”
“A Material World Lord! Our Xia Clan has birthed a Material World Lord!”
Jubilation swept through the Xia Clan Transcendents. They understood the significance. Though Dongbo Xueying’s success had been anticipated, until now, uncertainty had gnawed at them. Six hundred years post-war, the news finally arrived—the Xia Clan World Heart was refined. A Material World Lord had risen!
—
The news spread swiftly through the followers of the Dark God and the Demon Lord.
“What? The Xia Clan World has a Material World Lord?”
“Another Material World Lord emerges?”
“Alas, our hopes are dashed.”
Across the Dark Abyss and the Divine Realm, whispers carried the tidings, reaching even major factions: “A Material World Lord? When this Dongbo Xueying ascends to the Divine Realm, we must recruit him. These lords are masters of survival, their true forms hidden in mortal worlds.”
—
**In the Witch God’s Material World.**
“Six hundred years later, he refines the World Heart?” The Witch God’s lips curled slightly. “As I predicted. Refining the World Heart is simple—peak Deity-level suffices. But becoming a Realm God? That demands a complete first-grade Divine Heart. Evolving a second-grade to first-grade is no trivial feat. I refined my World Heart within ten thousand years, yet becoming a Realm God… that took far longer.”
“Yuan Qing.”
The Witch God’s voice resonated across the realms. “Yuan Qing, your senior brother Dongbo Xueying has forged the World Heart, ascending as the sovereign of the Xia Clan’s domain. Without question, he shall show no mercy to the Demon Beast kin.”
On the desolate plains, Yuan Qing paused mid-stride.
“Senior Brother Xueying, a Material World Lord now? I knew your victory would lead here.” His eyes gleamed coldly. “Wait for me. We’ll meet again in the Divine Realm.”
—
**Xia Clan World.**
To mask his true power, Dongbo Xueying had honed the World Heart soon after the battle. Only to conceal his first-grade true intent did he withhold its revelation until this moment. To the Witch God, the Great Demon God, and the Third Heaven Realm Deity of the Earth Shrine, his advancement likely appeared unremarkable.
“Six hundred years.” Dongbo Xueying stood atop Snowrock Mountain, Yu Jingqiu by his side.
“Long enough. It’s time to deal with the remnants of the Demon Beast Clan—especially Grand Elder Orland. He took the Divine Realm War Machine, the ‘Golden Man.’ I’ll be taking it back.”
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