Volume One: The Youth Enters the World Chapter Three: The Primordial Spirit Continent

Fang Tian saw that the elder spirit of the sword had no objections, and since he had many questions left to ask, he addressed him, “Grandpa Tian, ever since I can remember, I have never left this place. I know nothing about the world beyond. Listening to you just now, I realize the outside world must be beyond my imagination, and I am very curious. I’d like to hear you speak about it.”

Grandpa Tian nodded and replied, “I intended to tell you all this anyway. Besides, you need to cultivate.” Fang Tian asked in surprise, “Cultivate? What is that? Is it like the powerful figure you just mentioned?” “Yes. Deep cultivation can reach the realm of my former master. Though my master’s realm was high, it was not the strongest. In any case, as you gradually cultivate toward such heights, you’ll naturally come to understand.”

Who would have thought that a country boy like Fang Tian would one day touch a world he knew nothing about? Yet, thinking of the fate of the previous owner of this sword, he felt that even those mighty figures eventually returned to dust. What use was cultivation then? Better to live a simple, happy life.

Though Fang Tian was still young, his mind was as thoughtful as that of an adult, full of ideas.

Grandpa Tian watched his pondering expression and asked, “Young man, is there something you want to say?” Fang Tian snapped back and responded, “Grandpa Tian, just call me Tian. I don’t have much to say, but I wonder what cultivation is really for. All the fighting and killing, in the end, isn’t it just a matter of losing one’s life?”

Grandpa Tian laughed, realizing this mountain boy had yet to understand the benefits cultivation brings, as he had not experienced them.

Grandpa Tian then began to impart knowledge, explaining what cultivation meant, and Fang Tian listened attentively.

It turned out the outside world was vast—so vast as to be unimaginable. The place where Fang Tian lived was merely at the extreme north of this world. The closer one got to the center, the more populous and prosperous it became. This world had a name: the Primordial Spirit Continent.

In ancient times, when the continent first formed, heaven and earth were chaotic and desolate, yet filled with spiritual energy. Later, heaven and earth created myriad beings, all nourished by spiritual energy. As time passed, life flourished, turning this once barren continent vibrant.

Among these beings, some, favored by the power of heaven and earth over countless ages, gradually developed intelligence and self-awareness. These beings gained extraordinary abilities, commanding the winds and rain, traversing the heavens and earth, capable of anything. They were called the Ancient Sacred Spirits.

After eons, the Ancient Sacred Spirits suddenly vanished. Soon after, other beings began to develop intelligence, evolving continuously. Thus, the spiritual race, the demon race, and the human race emerged. Each race, as time passed, developed its own unique ways of absorbing spiritual energy.

The spiritual race was born with spiritual bodies, needing no cultivation; merely absorbing spiritual energy allowed them to surpass themselves. The demon race cultivated inner cores, gathering spiritual energy within them; the longer the core gathers energy, the stronger they become. Some rare beasts, though lacking intelligence, grew powerful by absorbing spiritual energy.

Humans, however, were different. They absorbed spiritual energy slowly, and what they absorbed brought no power; their lifespans were brief, unlike the other two races, who had innate advantages and long lives.

For a time, humans had no foothold on the continent, subject to the whims of others. Yet humans refused to accept their weakness and began searching for ways to grow stronger. Gradually, they developed their own method of cultivation: “Drawing spirit into the body, forming the spirit seed.”

With the spirit seed, humans absorbed spiritual energy faster and gained strength. As research into spiritual energy deepened, humans grew stronger and their lifespans increased. Only then did they secure a place on the continent.

The human cultivation system matured over time, divided into nine realms, each with nine levels. Each breakthrough increased power and extended lifespan. At the highest realm, human lifespans nearly matched those of the other races.

Grandpa Tian paused here, and Fang Tian pressed, “Grandpa Tian, why did you stop?” “I’m looking for something. Just a moment.” After a while, “Alright, I’ll continue.”

Grandpa Tian described the division of realms, but only spoke of the first three, saying the later ones would be revealed as Fang Tian reached them, for premature knowledge would not help but might disturb his state of mind. So Fang Tian didn’t mind.

The first three realms were: Spirit Induction Realm, Spirit Gathering Realm, and Spirit Seed Realm.

The first, Spirit Induction Realm, involved drawing spiritual energy into the body, strengthening it. When cultivated to the ninth level, one could possess strength enough to shatter mountains and stones with a single punch.

To break through the first realm, one must gather the spiritual energy drawn into the body within the meridians. Humans have nine meridians and nine acupoints, all interconnected. When energy is gathered in one meridian, one can break through to the second realm, Spirit Gathering Realm.

Upon reaching the Spirit Gathering Realm, one can begin to use internal spiritual energy as power—not merely physical strength, but the ability to strike at a distance, attacking within a hundred steps. Each level of Spirit Gathering Realm requires drawing more spirit into the body and gathering it in another meridian, with usable spiritual energy increasing in strength.

When all nine meridians are gathered, energy circulates, acupoints open wide. The cultivator must then draw the energy from the meridians into the acupoints, condensing it into a seed, thus breaking through to the third realm, Spirit Seed Realm.

Each acupoint condensed forms a new level; as acupoints drive the meridians, spiritual energy becomes inexhaustible, and only then can a cultivator freely absorb spiritual energy.

Upon reaching the third realm, the cultivator no longer relies solely on internal energy for attack. As acupoints and meridians operate, they can draw upon surrounding spiritual energy, combining it with their own. Now, the cultivator begins to wield power over the elements.

As for the higher realms, Grandpa Tian did not elaborate, and Fang Tian did not ask.

He marveled at the hidden potential within humans, finding it wondrous, and quickly asked, “Grandpa Tian, how does one draw spiritual energy into the body?” Grandpa Tian replied, “Drawing spirit into the body requires a cultivation method, and these methods vary in quality. The human race has divided them into grades based on their effectiveness in absorbing spiritual energy: Earth grade, Heaven grade, Origin grade, Spirit grade, and Divine grade. Each grade is divided into lower, middle, and upper tiers.”

“As for Divine grade methods, none of my previous masters ever cultivated them—the highest was Spirit grade. Divine grade may not even exist,” Grandpa Tian continued. “Tian, it’s about time you started cultivating.”

“Grandpa Tian, can you send me home first? I’ve been here so long, I’m afraid my father will worry,” Fang Tian asked.

Grandpa Tian shook his head, “That would not be wise. Every time I use my power, it triggers anomalies in the heavens and earth. If I travel back and forth, this place will be exposed, which would be bad for you and the villagers. To avoid trouble, you should cultivate here. When you reach the first level of Spirit Gathering Realm, you can use spiritual energy to return on your own.”

Fang Tian realized there was no solution, but wondered how long it would take to cultivate. Grandpa Tian saw his uncertainty and said, “You needn’t worry. Time within this sword flows much slower than outside. One year here is only ten days outside; three years is just a month.”

“Really?” Fang Tian’s spirits soared. “Good, I’ll begin cultivation now.”

[End of chapter]