“This, what’s going on?” Dongbo Xueying couldn’t help but exclaim.
“The ReserveMeta Elder has always been our Xia Clan’s secret,” said the elder in yellow robes. “The Xia Clan’s Meta Elders—you should know about them, right?”
Dongbo Xueying nodded.
He naturally knew about the Xia Clan’s Meta Elders! Among humanity’s Demigods, those not affiliated with the Demon God Cult, Blood Blade Tavern, or Earth Temple all had the qualifications to become Meta Elders of the Xia Clan! The Meta Elder Council was the highest echelon of the entire Xia Clan, managing its affairs and ensuring the clan’s eternal prosperity.
“Our resources are limited, and we cannot nurture every single extraordinary individual,” said the elder in yellow robes. “Therefore, long ago, we initiated the ‘ ReserveMeta Elder’ plan. From among the airborne-level prodigies, we select those with potential and devote our full efforts to cultivating them. If successful, they will bring enormous benefits to the entire clan. The chosen geniuses usually have the potential to grasp Third-Rank Truths, or even aspire toward Second-Rank Truths. Once they master such powerful Truths, their chances of becoming Demigods significantly increase. Such Demigods would become the backbone of our Xia Clan!”
Dongbo Xueying nodded.
Indeed.
Even among Demigods, differences in Truth mastery could lead to drastic disparities in power.
Take Elder Orland of the Beast Clan, for instance, who mastered the Life Truth. Though he hadn’t refined the ‘Original Divine Heart,’ he still ranked third among the Demigods! His power troubled every human expert greatly precisely because his Life Truth was a Third-Rank Truth.
For any race, the strongest elites bring the greatest benefits to their people. Hence, the Xia Clan also nurtures those with the potential to grasp Third-Rank or even Second-Rank Truths.
“What about me then?” Dongbo Xueying asked, somewhat puzzled. “Do you believe I can master a Third-Rank Truth?”
“No.”
The elder in yellow robes replied, “You are an exception.”
“An exception?” Dongbo Xueying was surprised.
“Previously, we selected and cultivated a total of eight extraordinary individuals. Among them, four have already grasped some mysteries of space and may one day master Spatial Truths!” said the yellow-robed elder, Gong Yu. “One has grasped the mystery of Death, another Life, another Yin, and another has begun to understand Time.”
Dongbo Xueying was stunned.
The nine-tier classification of Truths was something Dongbo Xueying had long learned about from books and records—knowledge every extraordinary being should possess.
First-Rank Truths: Truths like Time, Chaos, Extremity, or Chaos Truths were legendary even among countless worlds, including the Divine Realm and the Dark Abyss. Normally, one could only begin to touch the mysteries of Time upon becoming a deity. Extraordinary beings generally couldn’t grasp the mysteries of Time unless they were born with ancient bloodlines that awakened such Time-related talents, offering a chance to comprehend Time’s secrets.
In short, First-Rank Truths were the most perfect and legendary Truths across countless worlds.
Second-Rank Truths: Spatial Truth, Yin-Yang Truth, Life-Death Truth, Great Destruction Truth, Reincarnation Truth, Time Stasis, Time Acceleration, Time Deceleration…
These were also legendary Truths. Mastering them would be extraordinary. In battle, one side might have great power and speed, but the other could wield Time Stasis! Even a momentary freeze could allow one to kill an utterly defenseless enemy.
Therefore, the gap in cultivation was a fundamental difference.
Power alone would be easily crushed and destroyed!
Third-Rank Truths: Spatial Cutting Truth, Spatial Destruction Truth, Spatial Shifting, Shadow Space… In short, branches of Spatial Truths generally reached the level of Third-Rank Truths. Other Third-Rank Truths included Death Truth, Destruction Truth, Life Truth, Gravitational Truth, Yin Truth, Yang Truth, and Vibration Truth…
…
The top three Ranks were all formidable. Even without considering First and Second Ranks, mastering a Third-Rank Truth alone could allow one to dominate an entire era.
“This one among the eight has already begun to grasp Time-related mysteries and may ascend to Second-Rank Truths,” Dongbo Xueying mused inwardly. “The other seven are aiming for Third-Rank. But me? What do you mean by ‘exception’?”
“You have already managed to fuse the mysteries of water and fire. In the future, you have a solid chance of mastering the ‘Water-Fire Truth’ of the Fourth Rank,” said the yellow-robed elder, Gong Yu.
“Fourth Rank?” Dongbo Xueying was momentarily stunned.
Everyone else was aiming for Third or Second Rank, and only he was at Fourth?
“They are merely hopeful,” said the elder in yellow robes. “Mastering Third or Second Rank Truths is extremely difficult. Perhaps only two or three of them might succeed! And even fewer might ascend to Demigod status. If just one of them becomes a Demigod who masters a Third-Rank Truth, our cultivation efforts will have been well worth it!”
“As for you! You have over a ninety percent chance of mastering the Water-Fire Truth!” said the yellow-robed elder. “Their chances are slim, but yours are great! Although it’s only a Fourth-Rank Truth, it’s still acceptable. Moreover, you’re very young, and Elder Chao Qing strongly recommended you… so eventually, the vote passed.”
He didn’t elaborate further, but in reality, during that vote, nine elders agreed while six opposed—a high rate of opposition. Normally, when selecting gifted individuals, the vote usually passed easily.
“You’re young. Perhaps in the future, you may advance further, evolving from the Water-Fire Truth to the Yin-Yang Truth,” said the yellow-robed elder, Gong Yu.
Truths were not static.
They could evolve.
For example, the Gravitational Truth could potentially evolve gradually, even reaching the First-Rank ‘Chaos Truth.’
“Your youth was also a reason many elders supported you,” Gong Yu smiled. “Come, let’s go meet your senior brothers and sisters.”
…
Flying over this world of endless mountains, Gong Yu explained, “This range is known as the Red Cloud Mountains, and this spatial world is also called the ‘Red Cloud Mountains World’… because the Shenghuo Palace, our clan’s supreme artifact, was obtained by an ancestor of ours, the Red Cloud Emperor, after he ascended to the Divine Realm. He went to great lengths to send it back to his homeland.”
“Red Cloud Emperor.” Dongbo Xueying memorized the name inwardly. It was precisely because some of our Xia Clan ancestors, even after becoming deities, never forgot their homeland, sending back one divine artifact after another, that the Xia Clan had accumulated sufficient strength to completely suppress the Beast Clans and the native extraordinary beings!
Whoosh.
“Just ahead,” Gong Yu pointed toward a mountain peak in the distance. The mountain was exquisitely beautiful, with many springs. The bubbling springs were shrouded in mist, and near some of them stood clusters of bamboo huts.
“This is where your senior brothers and sisters usually stay,” Gong Yu said.
“Brother Gong Yu,” a voice called out.
The mist around one of the springs quickly dissipated, revealing nine figures standing on the open ground. At the forefront was a man in green robes, his presence as radiant as the sun. His invisible pressure caused everyone nearby to feel reverence.
“Master!” Dongbo Xueying immediately recognized him—it was his own Water Source Hermitage Master, Sikong Yang!
“Master Sikong,” Gong Yu slightly bowed, clearly showing a lower status, for Sikong Yang was among the most supreme existences among humanity.
“Xueying, stand over there,” Sikong Yang said.
“Yes,” Dongbo Xueying immediately obediently stood beside the eight figures, male and female. He vaguely realized that these eight were likely the other eight extraordinary beings being cultivated.
“From today onward, our Red Cloud Mountains have gained another extraordinary being,” Sikong Yang said. “You probably all know him. He is Dongbo Xueying, who recently underwent the Trial of Immortality and Death—Dongbo Xueying has arrived last and is your youngest junior brother. In the coming centuries, or even longer, you will cultivate together. I hope you cherish this bond of seniority and juniority. If among you, two or three powerful Demigods of our Xia Clan can emerge, I, as your master, will be immensely proud.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage