Chapter 439: Eleven Layers, the Stratification of Great Absolute Truth

Chapter 439: The Eleventh Layer, the Stratification of the Great Principle

Within the cave dwelling, Qi Yuan turned his form, his gaze falling upon the porcelain bottle.

[The Ascending Enlightenment Blood-Shaping Pill: when consumed, it can briefly stimulate enlightenment and enhance bloodline. There are several flaws; modify them... the effect can be tripled.]

Seeing this information, Qi Yuan lowered his brows.

"This is a good thing. Just lately, my mind hasn't been sharp enough—I can't even out-argue Sister Oxhorn. Once I go to the Principle Discourse Assembly and eat it, I'll surely become much smarter."

Enlightenment and bloodline enhancement could temporarily boost the mind—a fine treasure.

"But then again... this pill can still be optimized..."

Gazing at the pill, Qi Yuan prepared to hand it over to his Divine Infant.

His eyes then fell upon the Ten Thousand Soul Banner he had picked up from Mona.

"This banner harms the harmony of heaven, but... the concept is quite good."

Qi Yuan looked at the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, and his eyes saw much within it.

This soul banner required collecting the souls of living beings from the world to strengthen itself.

When the banner shook, heaven and earth would crack.

"What if, based on this, I refine a Human Sovereign Banner?"

Qi Yuan mused idly.

During this time, he had entertained the idea of forging a Creation Artifact.

After all, he had been studying Creation Artifacts lately.

Creation Artifacts came in many types: functional support and combat-oriented.

The Gate of Principle, the Wall of Principle, the Demon Luo Well, and the Buddhist Kingdom all belonged to the support type.

Combat types, however, were rarer.

Many combat-type Creation Artifacts were artificially modified... or refined.

For Yang God Celestial Venerables, combat-type Creation Artifacts provided an extremely terrifying boost to battle power.

Of course, Qi Yuan was only thinking about it.

Modifying or refining a combat-type Creation Artifact was no simple matter.

It required a Great Principle realm expert with great fortune, spending endless years grinding away to achieve it.

"For now, I'll cultivate the 'Ancestral Blood Art' and improve my cultivation!"

The Principle Discourse Assembly was about to begin; Qi Yuan needed to rapidly boost his strength.

Otherwise, if he encountered a powerful enemy without the means to protect himself, he'd only be left crying.

As Qi Yuan thought this, he waved his hand, and the Ancestral Blood Spirit Water that Ziyuan Xiaolu had collected for him appeared.

It was very red, like blood, and carried a faint rusty smell.

"Why does it look a bit like menstrual blood?"

Qi Yuan didn't dwell on it further. Instead, he received the data from the intelligent micro-detection bugs to locate the place where the Ancestral Blood resided.

If he cultivated step by step, Qi Yuan estimated it would take a hundred years to reach perfection.

That hundred years referred to a place like the Sixth Heaven.

Switching to the Fifth Heaven, or a world with a faster flow of time, would require even more than a hundred years.

A hundred years was too long.

Qi Yuan was still a young man, after all.

Though he had spent quite some time in the game, in reality he was just over twenty.

"Right now, I'm barely at the Principle realm—I'm still too weak!"

"Hurry up, gain more means to protect myself!"

Qi Yuan let out a faint sigh.

His gaze fell upon the Ancestral Blood Spirit Water. The path to finding the Black Demon Ancestral Blood was long and arduous.

...

The Ghost Dominion.

Gloomy and terrifying, dark and eerie.

A Principle realm expert appeared, his head bearing three faces: an old man's face, a woman's face, and a child's face.

These three faces were tied to this expert's Dao.

When he killed enough of a certain type of being, it would solidify into a face.

"We pay respects to the Celestial Venerable!"

The several Yang Gods present bowed, their expressions respectful.

The Three-Faced Celestial Venerable's gaze was manic, terrifying yet powerful.

He had once slain a Yang God Celestial Venerable, his combat prowess especially astonishing.

Among the Principle realm Yang Gods of the Ghost Dominion, he was supreme.

The Yang Gods present dared not meet the Three-Faced Celestial Venerable's eyes.

At this moment, their thoughts were tangled.

After all, just now, that Great Principle from the Black Demon Abyss had slain a Yang God of the Ghost Dominion.

This sent a chill through the hearts of the Yang Gods present.

Their strength was great, but when facing a Great Principle, they couldn't even flee fast enough.

Could this be a summons for war between the Black Demon Abyss and the Ghost Dominion?

With the Great Principle not appearing, the Three-Faced Celestial Venerable was the de facto ruler of the Ghost Dominion.

They all wanted to know how the Three-Faced Celestial Venerable viewed this matter.

"The Banner Lord says that after the Principle Discourse Assembly ends, we will go to war with several divisions of the Black Demon Abyss!" the Three-Faced Celestial Venerable declared maniacally.

The Yang God Celestial Venerables present were shaken by these words.

Because this news was far beyond their expectations.

How had the Banner Lord suddenly become so bold?

One had to know that the Black Demon Abyss's hard power absolutely surpassed that of the Ghost Dominion.

To go to war over the fall of a single Yang God Celestial Venerable seemed far too frivolous.

After all, between such major powers, friction was common, but actual declarations of war were rare.

The Yang God Celestial Venerables present were no fools; they instantly sensed that the waters behind this ran deep—it was certainly not that simple.

"As for the reason..." the Three-Phase Heavenly Sovereign narrowed his eyes. "You will know when the Supreme Principle Discourse Assembly ends."

He gazed upon these Yang Gods, his eyes tinged with pity and regret.

To have attained the realm of Yang God Heavenly Sovereign, to share the lifespan of heaven and earth, to see stars fall yet remain undying.

Without a powerful enemy, and not daring to break through and encounter the Root Demon Tribulation, one could almost be free from worry, never fearing perdition.

Alas... they had crossed paths with Lin Ya's Molt.

Hearing the Banner Lord mention Lin Ya's Molt, even the Three-Phase Heavenly Sovereign was startled.

Never had he imagined that beings as mighty as Yang Gods—who could casually extinguish the Heavenly Dao and devour worlds—were, in some sense, mere chess pieces.

"This..."

"What exactly is the matter?"

The Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns present exchanged bewildered glances.

Of Lin Ya's Molt, they knew nothing.

Generally, only the Great Supreme Principles and certain extraordinary beings were privy to such matters.

"To wage war against the Black Demon Abyss, the front lines may span ten thousand, even a hundred thousand years.

Recently, a few promising talents have emerged within the Black Demon Abyss: one Black Sword, one Blood Robe."

At the mention of the Black Sword, even the Three-Phase Heavenly Sovereign's expression grew grave.

That one—even the Banner Lord had singled him out, eager to slay him.

His talent... was unparalleled, yet acceptable; the Sixth Heaven never lacked geniuses.

But his bloodline was truly terrifying.

Especially the Black Demon Abyss's most supreme bloodline, combined with his fearsome talent, would be a killing stroke.

The Banner Lord even deduced that this one might have the chance to become a Great Supreme Principle wielding the Ultimate Principle.

This only deepened the Three-Phase Heavenly Sovereign's envy and jealousy.

Great Supreme Principles who wield the Ultimate Principle numbered fewer than two handfuls across the entire Sixth Heaven.

Their Ghost Imperial Heaven had no shortage of Great Supreme Principles, but not a single one wielded the Ultimate Principle.

"When the Supreme Principle Discourse Assembly begins, Lord Fog, you shall be responsible for slaying the Black Sword!"

The Three-Phase Heavenly Sovereign spoke calmly, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.

The Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns present were somewhat astonished at this.

For Lord Fog was a Great Heavenly Position Perfect Yang God, a mere step away from Supreme Principle.

This time, attending the Supreme Principle Discourse Assembly, he had a high chance of stepping into the Supreme Principle realm.

How many years had the Black Sword been a Yang God?

Three thousand?

In the realm of Yang Gods, that made him but a newcomer. Sending a Great Heavenly Position Perfect Yang God was a great honor to him.

"Very well," Lord Fog replied, his expression placid, a veil of mist obscuring his face.

"As for the Blood Robe..." The Three-Phase Heavenly Sovereign looked at the assembly, his demeanor relaxed. "Which of you would like this minor merit?"

Slaying the Black Sword would be a great merit for Ghost Imperial Heaven, worthy even of the Banner Lord's reward.

The Blood Robe, however, was but a minor merit.

After all, though the Blood Robe was formidable, in the eyes of these Yang Gods, anyone who had not attained Yang God was nothing more.

"I shall take it myself," said the Great Joy Heavenly Sovereign, stepping forward with a smile in his eyes. "Even a mosquito's leg is meat."

"Granted," the Three-Phase Heavenly Sovereign nodded.

He had initially considered sending a few Mythicals to kill the Blood Robe, but that was too risky.

"To be safe, a clone of the Ten Thousand Soul Ghost Banner may be lent to you two, to draw them both into a Strange Land and slay them there!" the Three-Phase Heavenly Sovereign declared.

With Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns making the move, aided by a clone of the Ten Thousand Soul Ghost Banner, slaying two prodigies within a Strange Land would be the simplest of tasks.

No doubt, the Black Demon Abyss would never expect Ghost Imperial Heaven to dare retaliate so boldly, let alone declare war.

...

"Hard, hard, harder than ascending to the azure sky."

Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

Then, he came to his senses.

"These old sayings are behind the times now—ascending the azure sky is easy enough, isn't it?"

And that one about never having eaten pork but having seen a pig run—

Now it should be: "Never seen a pig run, but have eaten pork."

"Through my diligent efforts, plus a little Black Demon Ancestral Blood, the *Ancestral Blood Art* has finally reached the Eleventh Layer."

During this time, following the instructions of Purple Origin Ancestor, Qi Yuan had not left the Black Demon Abyss.

But he had many Divine Infants.

From the intelligent micro-probe insects, he learned of the whereabouts of some Black Demon Ancestral Blood and sent his Divine Infants to retrieve it.

Now, with the Black Demon Ancestral Blood exhausted, he had finally stepped into the Eleventh Layer.

At the Ninth Layer, Qi Yuan's Ten Thousand Dao Martial God strength was already comparable to a Supreme Principle.

Now, at the Eleventh Layer, his combat power had increased terrifyingly.

But Qi Yuan knew he was still far from a Great Supreme Principle.

"Still, if I run into a Great Supreme Principle now... I should be able to escape, right?"

Qi Yuan pondered.

Supreme Principle and Great Supreme Principle were both the second layer of Yang God.

The gap between them was immense.

The further one went, the difference of a minor realm might be greater than the difference of a major realm earlier.

"I need to comprehend an Ultimate Principle, or I won't feel safe."

Qi Yuan thought to himself.

But his foundation was too shallow.

After all, he was only at the Purple Mansion.

His realm was insufficient.

Even if he comprehended an Ultimate Principle, he probably wouldn't be a match for those veteran Great Supreme Principles of the Grand Imperial Palace.

"I'd lose fighting that one from the Grand Imperial Palace, but I'd win arguing with Sister Horn."

At this thought, Qi Yuan's mood lifted.

The Ultimate Principle was still very useful.

Once his Myriad Dao War God cultivation rivaled the Great Principle, combined with the Supreme Principle, he might be able to contend with that Great Principle of the Taihuang Palace.

"No, I must go ask Ziyuan Ancestor just how strong a Great Principle really is."

Qi Yuan pondered.

He still had no clear understanding of the Great Principle.

Fortunately, Ziyuan Ancestor had said he could call upon him at the ninth layer.

"Old man, you there?"

Qi Yuan dispelled all the formations and called out into the air.

Silence. No response.

"Old man, I've reached the ninth layer of the *Ancestral Blood Art*!"

Still no response.

"Oh, old man, it's you, Ziyuan Ancestor!"

Qi Yuan suddenly remembered he hadn't called him by name.

He probably couldn't hear him.

In an instant, time and space in heaven and earth seemed to freeze, and Ziyuan Ancestor's ethereal voice came: "What is it now?"

"Didn't you say I could find you at the ninth layer? I've reached the ninth layer!"

"The... ninth layer?" Ziyuan Ancestor swallowed.

Last time... wasn't it the seventh?

That was less than a year ago.

Hmm... understandable.

"What do you want?" Though shaken inside, he pretended nothing was wrong.

"I want to know... how strong a Great Principle expert is. For instance... where do you rank among Great Principle experts?" Qi Yuan looked seriously at Ziyuan Ancestor.

"Ahem, why ask about this?" Ziyuan Ancestor turned his head away. "Among Great Principles, this old man ranks on the third level."

"Top three? Pretty strong. How many levels are there?"

"...Three."

"Well, last place. You don't seem so impressive, huh?"

"Hmph, beating you would be effortless." Ziyuan Ancestor had a good temper.

Of course, that was toward Qi Yuan.

No one else in the Ziyuan Heaven would dare speak to him like that.

"The third level is like me—generally having passed the Root Demon Calamity three times and possessing one auxiliary-type Creation Artifact," Ziyuan Ancestor said.

"Root Demon Calamity?" Qi Yuan heard this term again.

"All those in the Principle Realm must pass the Root Demon Calamity to increase their power.

It is a terrifying calamity, related to the cultivation of the mind, yet unrelated.

Chaotic and without rules.

As for the Root Demon Calamity, just think of it as the ancient thunder tribulation or heart demon tribulation." Mentioning the Root Demon Calamity, Ziyuan Ancestor's eyes held a grave expression.

After becoming a Great Principle, he had now passed it three times. The next Root Demon Calamity... he was not confident he would survive.

If he failed, he might die.

"So, the Great Principle realm is measured by the number of Root Demon Calamities passed?"

"Yes and no," Ziyuan Ancestor explained. "For example, Penglai Heavenly Venerable is at one calamity. My cultivation surpasses his, yet when I fight him, I cannot even wound him.

Passing the calamity increases cultivation but doesn't play a decisive role.

What plays a decisive role is the Creation Artifact and the grade of the Principle."

Penglai Heavenly Venerable was a newly ascended Great Principle of the Black Demon Abyss.

Qi Yuan listened carefully—this was important.

"But if I were a Great Principle with an offensive-type Creation Artifact, I could wound him," Ziyuan Ancestor said, his expression complex. "That is the second-level strength among Great Principles. Offensive Creation Artifacts are too rare, extremely uncommon."

Offensive Creation Artifacts were mostly improved from ordinary Creation Artifacts by Great Principles who once mastered the Supreme Principle, through endless years and great fortune. They were exceedingly rare.

Currently, in the Black Demon Abyss, only two Great Principles possessed offensive Creation Artifacts.

"The first level, as you should know, is a Great Principle who has mastered the Supreme Principle and possesses an offensive Creation Artifact.

He... can kill a Great Principle!" Ziyuan Ancestor's expression was solemn.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan pondered: "I have a question."

"Speak."

"What about a Great Principle who has mastered the Supreme Principle but lacks an offensive Creation Artifact?

And what about a Great Principle who doesn't even have a Creation Artifact?

Which level does the former rank, and which level does the latter?"

"A Great Principle who has mastered the Supreme Principle but can't obtain an offensive Creation Artifact—he has no face to live. He'd be dead, nonexistent," Ziyuan Ancestor said exasperatedly.

Though offensive Creation Artifacts were rare, those Great Principles who mastered the Supreme Principle were all ancestors of major powers. How could they fail to obtain an offensive Creation Artifact?

As for auxiliary-type Creation Artifacts, some forces in the Fifth Heaven and other heavens also had them. If a Great Principle wanted one, how could they not get it?

"Are Great Principles so fragile?" Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. "Say I have a Great Principle enemy. I cyberbully him every day, hire a water army—could I scold him to death?"

With so many divine infants, if he could scold that Taihuang Palace fellow to death, that would be interesting.

"Get lost..." Ziyuan Ancestor was utterly speechless.

Couldn't he understand human speech?

ps: There's a red envelope with a password in the author's note.

ps: Sorry, I've had some health issues. Starting to resume updates!

Mainly, everyone has different writing habits, and it might also be related to blood sugar. The author gets drowsy after eating and can't write, or can't maintain high energy for writing. Doing other tasks that don't require much thinking is fine.

Of course, I could force myself to write, but... well, it's already poorly written, and it would get even worse.

My state really affects me a lot. Whether I'm focused and serious can easily be seen from the plot.

So for many days, I've been writing on an empty stomach, only daring to eat one meal a day. This went on for a long time, and my body started having minor issues.

Now I've bought brown sugar and am trying to change this bad habit!

Finally, my deepest apologies!

Sending an Alipay red envelope with a password. Go grab it, lords, but don't share it in groups.

The password is [Jindan is a star], six characters!

(End of this chapter)