"The path of cultivation focuses on mastering the Great Dao."
"The path of magic focuses on dissecting the laws of nature."
"The path of physical cultivation focuses on creating one's own inner world."
"Though all roads lead to Rome, and the ultimate goal of all transcendent systems is eternal immortality, the specific methods and approaches differ."
Pingshui County.
The top floor of the government residence.
The wooden window was wide open, and a strong wind blew into the room, causing Xu Xi's robes to flutter noisily.
Xu Xi sat cross-legged, looking down at his right hand, watching his fingers clench and release, the roaring force causing the air to hiss.
Waves of energy continuously shot out from the gaps between his fingers.
"Compared to when I first broke through to the Xiantian realm, my strength has clearly increased several times over."
"If we factor in the Gang Qi, the gap in power would likely be even more staggering."
Xu Xi pondered deeply.
This transformation was undoubtedly related to the growth of his physical energy.
But more crucially, it was Xu Xi's observation of the principles of the world that allowed his physical energy to align more closely with the natural order, resulting in such a tremendous increase in power.
"External strength is fragile; true ascension lies in the flesh."
"Reliance on tools is unreliable; true sainthood is achieved through the body."
"The path of martial arts is becoming more and more fascinating."
Xu Xi laughed heartily, officially beginning his breakthrough, replacing the will of heaven with his own martial intent.
The circulation of physical energy, modeled after the external world, inherently possesses "inertia."
It is the rhythm of the heavens and earth, the order of the ever-changing world. What Xu Xi aimed to do now was to completely replace this with his own will, becoming the master of his physical energy.
Not just a practitioner, but a ruler.
"Rise!"
The physical energy roared like a surging tide.
Wave after wave, it washed over Xu Xi's internal organs, saturating every inch of his flesh.
"Breaking through to the Xiantian realm, reversing the mundane to the transcendent, isn't particularly difficult."
"Most of the effort lies in the accumulation of physical energy."
"But the three stages of Xiantian are different."
"Each stage's transformation, each stage's growth, is not only tied to the martial artist's physical energy but also intertwined with every aspect of their being."
"It’s no longer something that can be explained by mere talent or innate ability."
"It’s about a deeper level of intent and spirit."
"With my experience in cultivation and magic, plus the persistent trait, this isn’t too difficult for me."
Xu Xi raised his hand.
The physical energy within him grew increasingly turbulent.
In a daze, there seemed to be a series of cracking sounds, one after another, followed by a chain of explosions.
Now was the time!
At the moment the physical energy circulation collapsed, Xu Xi's long-nurtured martial soul forcefully took control of every strand of energy, halting its instinct to recover and forcing it to a standstill.
"Breakthrough to Martial Grandmaster, achieved in an instant!"
Xu Xi slightly closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, the energy he had restrained began to circulate rapidly within him.
Spinning.
Intertwining.
It was as if a true inner world had formed, endlessly cycling under Xu Xi's firm control.
His eyes shone like lightning, illuminating the dim room.
His bones and tendons resonated, producing thunderous roars.
With every movement, an overwhelming, majestic power was unleashed.
"This breakthrough is somewhat similar to becoming a Grand Magus in the magic system."
"One controls the elements."
"The other controls physical energy."
"But the two paths are entirely different."
"Becoming a Grand Magus grants initial control over the elemental powers of the world; becoming a Soul-Nurturing Grandmaster grants control over the inner world of physical energy."
"This feeling is almost like an endless vista."
Xu Xi remained seated for a long time, familiarizing himself with the surge of physical energy within him and the changes brought about by his martial soul's integration into his inner world.
At the top floor of the government residence, the wind grew even more turbulent.
But this wasn’t wind from the outside.
It was the result of Xu Xi spreading his palm, where invisible Gang Qi flickered in and out of existence, creating ripples in reality.
"Whoosh~~~"
"Whoosh!!!"
The wind howled, scattering objects in the room.
Only when Xu Xi dispersed the Gang Qi in his hand did the top floor return to calm.
"While not as versatile as cultivation or magic, in terms of pure physical strength, it has reached an unimaginable level," Xu Xi concluded.
During the Observation Realm, Xu Xi's innate Gang Qi merged with the Nine Thunder Blade, forming a thunderous blade aura.
But now, with his breakthrough to the Soul-Nurturing Realm and complete control over his inner world's energy circulation, the thunderous blade aura had reverted to a simple, unadorned form.
This wasn’t emptiness.
It was the origin of all things.
Now, no matter where Xu Xi was, the inner world of his physical energy would connect with his entire body, forming an eternally burning furnace, providing an endless source of power.
Techniques like fist arts and blade arts were merely variations of this power.
"From what I’ve read in the classics, I’ve never seen a Soul-Nurturing Realm with such abilities."
"Normally, the inner world of a Soul-Nurturing martial artist varies greatly, closely tied to the individual."
"So that’s it…"
"It’s the persistent trait and the martial evolution trait."
Xu Xi pondered.
His strength in the Soul-Nurturing Realm was somewhat beyond the norm.
Ordinary Soul-Nurturing martial artists would be weaker and lack the divine marvel of his universal furnace.
"However…"
"Even without the persistent and martial evolution traits, the inner world of a Soul-Nurturing martial artist is still astonishing."
"The self-sustaining cycle of the inner world elevates Soul-Nurturing martial artists to an unprecedented level."
"This is something that Observation Realm Xiantian martial artists and Body-Tempering martial artists could hardly imagine."
Xu Xi stood up.
With a light flick of his arm, another gust of wind appeared, sweeping away the mess he had created earlier.
Looking at the now clean top floor, Xu Xi turned his gaze outward. The autumn colors of Pingshui Town were deepening, tinged with orange and yellow.
But Xu Xi wasn’t looking at the scenery.
His gaze went further—toward the Great Qian Imperial Capital, toward the Ten Thousand Mountains, toward the vast shadows hidden within those endless ranges.
"The first stage of Xiantian grants the ability to walk on air."
"The second stage ensures an endless supply of physical energy, with the inner world sustaining the body eternally."
"Though I haven’t reached the third stage, I can somewhat imagine its grandeur."
"The human path of physical cultivation is not weak. If this trend continues, even the sky-obscuring demons of the Ten Thousand Mountains could be challenged."
"But why…"
"Since the founding of Great Qian, have [criminals] been sent to the borders?"
"And why do the demons of the Ten Thousand Mountains only form demonic hordes to plunder during spring and winter, never venturing deep into Great Qian’s heartland?"
"Is it just an unspoken agreement or pact?"
"Or is there a greater secret hidden beneath it all?"
Xu Xi descended the stairs.
He faintly sensed that, just as the gods of the magical world had sealed the heavens and locked the earth, there were also hidden secrets in this martial world.
This world had its problems.