600 King Domain!
âThis is the expert from the Thousand Divination Tower, correct?â Zhang Youji cupped his fists at Gou Jie. âIâve heard tales of a Thousand Divination Tower in Qingzhou. They use wooden fish as bells, and horsetail whisks to sweep the floor. Mysteries even the Daoists and Buddhas are unaware of. Iâve longed to visit it.â
Zhang Youji shook his head. âI donât have one.â
Surprised, Gou Jie pressed, âBut youâve reached the king realm, havenât you?â
Again, Zhang Youji responded with a definitive, âNo.â
Gou Jieâs anxiety was evident. âThen, how do you intend to help? The white-robed king is a looming threat not just to Qin Huai but for all of Qingzhou.â
âIâm simply here to follow Brother Qinâs lead,â Zhang Youji said, bowing slightly toward Qin Huai. âMy familiarity with Qingzhou and the white-robed king is minimal. Whatever Brother Qin requires, Iâm at his service.â
Qin Huai, with a sly smile, suggested, âThen, Daozi, perhaps youâd care to join me at the Heartâs Eye Pavilion?â
Zhang Youjiâs robe fluttered as he responded enthusiastically, âLetâs go!â As he spoke, his form began to blur and fade.
âWait, Daozi!â Qin Huai interrupted.
Instantly, Zhang Youjiâs figure sharpened back into focus. Qin Huai squinted, trying to discern the magic at play. Had Zhang Youji performed the technique again, Qin Huaiâs trained eye wouldâve recognized it.
Zhang Youji looked curious. âWhat can I help you with, Brother Qin?â
Qin Huai responded with a half-teasing tone, âBefore we proceed, perhaps you could enlighten us about the wonders of the king realm? Here in Qingzhou, such knowledge is a rarity.â
âAh, the king realmâ¦â Zhang Youji began contemplatively. âTo transition from the visceral prefecture realm to the spiritual altar realm, one must integrate their soul with blood, qi, bones, and organs until soul and body are one. Itâs not just about merging but purifying every aspect of oneself.â
âThe pursuit of martial arts often involves adopting othersâ methods, essentially using oneâs training to harness external elements. Bone patterns draw from the imprints of nature, living beings, and the supernatural. Certain practitioners can even seize life forces and the energies of the universe,â Zhang Youji mused with a light chuckle. âIn some ways, martial artists and bandits have much in common.â
He continued, âThus, thereâs a sect that avoids external elements altogether, relying purely on their own blood and bones. Of course, Brother Qin is already familiar with that sect.â
âThe Sacred Heart Sect, right?â Qin Huai said.
âYes, their disciples are reckless, consuming all they can to advance. Itâs the polar opposite approach.â Zhang Youji sighed. âBecause our earlier cultivation steps arenât solely rooted in our essence, when soul and body merge, the soulâs power purifies the body.
âIt expels foreign essence and turns it into your own. Achieving full synchronization heralds the entrance to the king realm. In the spiritual altar realm, my spirit reigns, using my flesh and blood as its foundation.â
Zhang Youji took a moment to quench his thirst, downing a bowl of wine, then elaborated further. âUpon reaching the king realm, one establishes their king domain. This is a divine power technique stemming from the spirit item youâve refined according to your earlier cultivation. Different paths lead to distinct king domains. The compatibility of cultivation techniques with the guardian spirit items determines the strength of the king domain.â
As Zhang Daozi spoke, Qin Huai and Gou Jie absorbed every word.
For Qin Huai, these insights were revelations. Heâd known of conflicts in cultivation methods causing stagnation, regression, or even death, but this comprehensive understanding was new.
Gratitude evident, Qin Huai cupped his fists sincerely. âThank you for your explanation, Daozi!â
Recalling his black dragon world, could that be a domain and a divine ability?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om