Xiao Xue saw the determination in his eyes and knew his mind. She asked softly, "Do you know about the Immortal's sects?"
"Immortal sect?" Fang Ling said, shaking his head.
Xiao Xue wasn't surprised at all. Instead, she explained, "The so-called Immortal's sects are the sects that pass down cultivation and Taoist magic arts. Your Chu State's Imperial Preceptor is one of the disciples of this kind of sect."
"A disciple?" Fang Ling was secretly shocked. "From what you said, are there many people in the world who can use such an immortal art?"
Xiao Xue nodded slightly and said, “Do you know that apart from your Chu State, the dozen or so countries in this great earth all have their own Imperial Preceptors?”
“I have heard of this before.” Fang Ling nodded. Ever since he was young, he had been taught by his mother to learn about the history of each country. The history of this land could be traced back to a few thousand years ago. In such a distant era, it seemed as though each country already had the existence of the Imperial Preceptor.
At this time, Xiao Xue gathered some strength, sat up from the bed, leaned against the pillow and said, "In fact, not only these dozen countries, but also outside the glaciers in the north, on the plateau in the west, the mountains in the south, and outside the Eastern Sea Region, there are also countries like these. In terms of the number of countries, I'm afraid that there are hundreds of them, and even some places that I don't know."
“What?” Fang Ling was shocked again. He always thought that there were only a dozen countries in the world. He never imagined that there would be so many countries in the universe. Furthermore, this was only within the scope of Xiao Xue’s knowledge.
Xiao Xue ignored Fang Ling’s astonishment and continued, “Behind the state, there is an Immortal Sect. The disciples of the Immortal Sect possess an unimaginable power. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that a single person could destroy a country.”
Fang Ling frowned, feeling that these words were too preposterous. However, Xiao Xue spoke with a straight face and didn’t seem like she was joking at all.
He thought about it carefully and took his own fusion technique as an example. Not only was he able to fuse medicinal materials and cure diseases, he was also able to fuse with other similar substances. So there must be all sorts of other immortal arts. But it was too exaggerated to destroy a country by oneself.
However, he suddenly came to a realization and asked, "Based on what you said, does it mean that the Imperial Preceptor exists to protect the country from the attacks of the disciples of other immortal sects?"
Xiao Xue did not expect the young man to be so smart. With just a few words, he was able to connect the dots. She nodded approvingly and said, "The major immortal sects are located between mountains and hidden seas. There are spirit designs and a world of magic arts. Mortals cannot approach it. The world formed there is higher than the mortal world and is called the Cultivation World. There are all kinds of immortal rules in the Cultivation World. One of them is that the disciples are not allowed to intervene in the political affairs of the mortal world, and they are not allowed to kill mortals. However, since there are immortal rules, there are people who break the rules. Therefore, the purpose of the Imperial Preceptor of overseeing the various countries is to expel these immortal sects' disciples of disturbing the mortal world."
Although Fang Ling felt that these things were too magical, he quickly calmed down, touched his chin and said, "However, this is definitely not purely for help, isn't it?"
Xiao Xue couldn’t help but take another look at him. Even though this youth was young, his temperament was much better than an ordinary person. Even if he had heard of such a strange thing, he would still be able to quickly discern the unreasonableness in his words. As such, she said, “Of course, the Imperial Preceptor protects the various countries. Those countries will provide the sects with the necessary items. Outside of necessary items like gold, silver, and cloth, the Imperial Preceptor will personally pick out some mortals with exquisite bones and talents for cultivation every year.”
Fang Ling narrowed his eyes and asked, "So, many children of the royals, nobles, and officials are practitioners?"
Xiao Xue said, "Don't underestimate the path of cultivation. The selection of the mortals is also carefully selected. It can be said that it is one in ten thousand. In the end, only a few hundred people will be sent to the Immortal's Sect. And a part of these one hundred people will be eliminated, and only sixty or seventy people will remain in the end."
Fang Ling thought for a moment and said, "Can one become a cultivator as soon as he enter the Immortal's Sect?"
Xiao Xue shook her head and said, "When one first enters an Immortal's Sect, it takes decades of cultivation to reach the realm of cultivators. Before that, these people are still mortals. But when they live above the Immortal's Sect, since they have a mortal heart, it is inevitable that they miss the human world. Under the circumstances of the rules of the sect, these people may also interfere in the affairs of the human world."
This time, Fang Ling understood that there were actually two kinds of people in the so-called sect. One was mortals who were practicing the way of cultivation, and the other was a successful practitioner.
Cultivators probably had a high state of mind and did not care about the affairs of the human world, but the mortal disciples were different. From time to time, they would intervene in the affairs of the human world and even cause some trouble. If he really became the king of a country, he was afraid that he would inevitably get into disputes with these disciples of the Immortal's Sects.
He asked, "How big is the gap between mortals and cultivators?"
Xiao Xue lightly said, "From the perspective of the Immortals' Sects, mortals generally step into the Tao through martial arts, and their cultivation realm is called the Martial Arts Realm."
“The Martial Arts Realm?” Fang Lingxi asked curiously.
Xiao Xue explained, “The Martial Arts Realm has a total of seven levels. They are the Brutal Force Realm, the Qi Storage Realm, the Hard Force Realm, the Qi Merging Realm, the Qi Drawing Realm, the Origin Transformation Realm, and the Mortal Body Realm.
The Brutal Force stage was a stage a martial artist could reach within a few years of cultivation. Practicing martial arts and physical strength would allow the physical body to reach an initial stage of strength.
In the Qi Storage Realm, a martial artist could absorb the Qi of Heaven and Earth through breathing to improve his physical body and improve his strength. His body could be as light as a swallow and his strength could break the stone tablet.
In the Hard Force Realm, martial artists would store all the Qi of Heaven and Earth they absorbed on the surface of their body to further enhance their strength and form a protective Qi.
In the Qi Merging Realm, a martial artist was able to take the first step in merging the Qi of Heaven and Earth with his power, turning the power into the power of qi. The punch would arrive before the power reached its target, injuring others in an intangible realm.
In the Qi Drawing realmRealm, a martial artist could freely manipulate and absorb the Qi of Heaven and Earth. When the Qi was united inside and outside the body, not only could it move outside the body, but it could also be spread all over the internal organs and refine the Vajra Body.
In the Origin Transformation realm, a martial artist began to absorb the energy of heaven and earth and fuse it with the Houtian energy in their body, forming the true essence power. From then on, this power would condense into a sword and injure the enemy from a hundred feet away.
In the Heaven Realm, the Qi of Heaven and Earth and the Acquired Qi merge completely and turn into Innate Qi. You will be reborn. When you reach the most powerful state, you will attract the thunder ordeal and step on the way of cultivation."
No matter how calm Fang Ling was, he was dumbfounded when he heard this. He only knew that there were martial arts, but he had never thought that there would be such a detailed division of the realms. He gradually calmed down. It seemed that the Solar Fire Force that he absorbed through the dagger should be the Qi of Heaven and Earth. In that case, he had reached the Qi Storage Realm.
He couldn’t help but ask, “Then how many years will it take to reach the Heaven Realm?”
Xiao Xue had expected this question. She smiled faintly and said, "Ordinary mortals are already a world-class master when they cultivate to the Qi Drawing Realm. It will take at least 50 to 60 years or longer. When they reach the Origin Transformation Realm, they can be regarded as an otherworldly master. It will take even more time to break through. Those who are not talented may not be able to break through in their lifetime, and those who have cultivated to the Mortal Body Realm can only be regarded as rare phoenix feathers and unicorn horns."
Fang Ling was secretly surprised and asked, "What about the disciples of the immortal sect?"
Xiao Xue said, “Immortal Sect disciples cultivate the path of cultivation from the very beginning. They break away from the path of martial arts and are born from refining Qi. Because they are ordinary people, their realm can also be measured by the realm of martial arts. If their talent is high, it will only take them forty years to reach the Origin Transformation Realm.”
Fang Ling was shocked to hear this. He didn't expect that practicing the Tao could shorten the time by half. What kind of magic speed was this? At the age of 40, he could become a supermundane master. According to the realm, he could condense his Qi into a sword and hurt people a hundred feet away. How amazing was the cultivation of the Heaven Realm?
Moreover, these were only disciples of the Immortal's Sects. How terrifying would it be to reach the higher cultivation realm?
This time, Fang Ling completely believed what Xiao Xue said. It was true that a cultivator could destroy a country by himself. He took a deep breath, calmed down, and quickly took out the dagger, asking, "What are the patterns on this dagger?"
Xiao Xue took the dagger with some emotion and sighed softly. "This is the spiritual mark engraved on the magic tool by a cultivator with supreme magic power. Not everyone can open this mark. Either there is a special way, or you have to be stronger than the opponent. In fact, I have tried several times, but I have not found a way to crack it." Speaking of this, she stared at Fang Ling curiously and asked, "I want to know, how did you open it?"
"My hand was cut open by it," Fang Ling said with a faint smile. Since Xiao Xue had told him so much, then he wouldn't be stingy with such a bit of information.
Xiao Xue suddenly came to a realization. "So that's how it is. It seems that this magic tool is indeed something that the descendants of the Chu State's royal family possess."
“What? What’s going on?” Fang Ling understood the meaning behind these words and was taken aback.
Xiao Xue was a little thirsty. She drank a cup of tea and said, “I found this dagger in a cave on a high mountain while travelling. It has the unique aura of a cultivator, so it must have been left behind by a cultivator. Because the style of this dagger is similar to that of the Chu State, I came to the Imperial City by chance. Now it seems that the cultivator must have the royal blood of the Chu State, and the only way to remove the mental engraving is to have the blood of a person with the same bloodline.”
Fang Ling’s heart shook when he heard this. That person was surely not the son of this Emperor Chu of these two generations, then he was definitely someone from before the third generation, and his age couldn’t be considered to be young anymore. But, no matter who he was, if he encountered this person, then he must properly thank the person. If it wasn’t for the dagger he left behind, it would be impossible for him to bring forward his plans to leave the palace.
While he was thinking, he heard Xiao Xue say, “What you have now should be a portion of the memories engraved on your mind. Although I don’t know what kind of ability was given to you by that memory, it isn’t complete. Now, do as I say and place your hand on this mental imprint. Try to make contact with it and you will know all the secrets engraved on your mind.”
Fang Ling nodded and held the dagger with both hands, closing his eyes to sense the existence of the Mental Energy engraving. Gradually, he felt the lines on his hands start to rotate, and his consciousness seemed to be pulled into a space.

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