"Although the Pure Yang Medical Immortal is undergoing tribulation, they are an unparalleled existence in the mortal realm.
However, when placed in the Lesser Immortal Realm, their strength is insufficient.
No wonder the Pure Yang Medical Immortal self-deprecatingly calls himself a mountain king.
But even being a mountain king is not that easy…
Chen Jiuyang clicked his tongue. A mountain king at least commands a mountain range.
In this world, a Martial Dao Emperor Realm powerhouse can be compared to a Tribulation Transcending or Mahayana stage cultivator.
This aligns with the descriptions in ancient texts of the Lesser Immortal Realm.
The deeper one delves into Martial Dao, the exponentially their combat power increases upon breakthrough.
The Lesser Immortal Realm prioritizes combat power.
After Chen Jiuyang broke through to the second layer of the Venerable Realm, many people from the Dongtian Sect sent him congratulatory gifts. Chen Jiuyang accepted them all and reciprocated with elixirs.
In a short period, he made many new acquaintances.
However, his routine remained unchanged: in the morning, he would spend time in the library flipping through ancient books, then oversee the refining of elixirs in the Pill Hall, visit mortal cities in the afternoon, and practice martial arts in the evening.
In this pyramid-like cultivation world, even in the Lesser Immortal Realm, Venerable Realm cultivation is considered mainstream core cultivation, with the higher echelons being the Emperor Realm.
As for the Martial Dao Emperor Realm, they are known as Human Emperors, and none have appeared for tens of thousands of years.
The lifespan of Martial Dao is indeed inferior to Immortal Dao. Upon reaching the Void Returning stage, Immortal Dao cultivators can live for ten thousand years, those in the Dao Harmonizing stage for tens of thousands of years, and Tribulation Transcending stage cultivators can live up to a hundred thousand years.
Martial Dao Human Emperors, even at the Emperor Realm cultivation, only have a lifespan of ten thousand years.
'But… a single Human Emperor is enough to suppress the entire Lesser Immortal Realm! Their combat power is supreme!'
Chen Jiuyang, now having entered the Venerable Realm, with all factors combined, has a lifespan of just over five hundred years.
A lifespan of five hundred years is even less than the eight hundred years of a Nascent Soul cultivator, while a Soul Transformation cultivator's lifespan ranges from three thousand to eight thousand years.
Immortal Dao pursues longevity, while Martial Dao pursues combat power; two fundamentally different paths.
Emperor Realm Martial Artists have a fixed lifespan of five thousand years, but compared to Immortal Dao, it is still far too short.
After browsing ancient texts, even in the Lesser Immortal Realm, the number of Martial Dao cultivators is not particularly large; Immortal Dao cultivators are more numerous.
Chen Jiuyang was somewhat perplexed and sought out the Sect Master, Feng Yunzi, to ask: "Sect Master, why are there so few Martial Dao cultivators in the Lesser Immortal Realm?"
Feng Yunzi, who had lived for a thousand years, replied: "This is the Lesser Immortal Realm; it should primarily focus on immortal cultivation and longevity. Immortal Dao is the foundation of this world.
Although Martial Dao is good, it relies too heavily on individual talent, especially after entering Immortal Dao, it is very difficult to switch to Martial Dao.
For Immortal Dao, one only needs spiritual roots. Immortal Dao has flourished for an epoch, and the path has long been clearly mapped out by various capable predecessors. As long as one cultivates diligently and follows the rules, they can at least achieve Nascent Soul.
However, Martial Dao relies too much on individual comprehension. If comprehension is insufficient, it may be extremely difficult to even step into the Earth Realm.
…"
Chen Jiuyang had never considered such a question, but Feng Yunzi's words seemed to hold truth.
Martial Dao being more difficult than Immortal Dao might be the reason for Martial Dao's superior combat power compared to Immortal Dao.
However, the Martial Dao of Earth is different from the Immortal Dao of the Lesser Immortal Realm.
For example, Lin Yuexian and Ji Lengyue had somewhat poor Martial Dao talent, so Chen Jiuyang had no choice but to have them switch to Immortal Dao.
But switching from Martial Dao to Immortal Dao is very easy, like going with the flow.
Feng Yunzi spoke: "Immortal Dao and Martial Dao have coexisted for an epoch, but in such a long time, fewer than a hundred Human Emperors in Martial Dao have been born.
Every Human Emperor is born with extraordinary destiny and defies the heavens. Once they appear, they will shake the nine heavens and earth, suppressing the Lesser Immortal Realm with a single hand.
Although Martial Dao Human Emperors are strong, they are too difficult to achieve.
If one only lives for ten thousand years, then reaching the Void Returning stage is sufficient.
Chen Jiuyang nodded slowly. Even in the Lesser Immortal Realm, it is this difficult.
It is even more difficult on Earth in the mortal realm…
In his memory, on Earth in the mortal realm, Martial Dao's strongest were at most Emperor Realm experts. There seemed to be no Emperor Realm experts. If there were Emperor Realm experts, how could the Five Great Sacred Lands be so rampant?
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind: Yan Huang entered the Emperor Path at the age of one hundred, with nine hundred years of lifespan remaining. With his astonishing talent, does he have a chance to become the first Martial Dao Human Emperor on Earth?
"Then there is the realm."
"Although Martial Dao realms are divided into Venerable Realm, Emperor Realm, and Imperial Realm."
"However, the Venerable Realm has thirteen layers, each layer a different heaven. One must nurture their Dao to its extreme before entering the Emperor Realm.
Unlike Immortal Dao, where everything is a gradual process, reaching fruition naturally.
The thirteen layers of the Venerable Realm can be called Great Experts.
The Emperor Realm has thirty-three layers of heaven. The first ten layers belong to peerless Great Experts.
The middle ten layers are known as the Sage stage. A single strand of hair can collapse mountains, and a drop of blood can pierce a small sect, or even regenerate from a drop of blood.
The last ten layers are called the Great Sage stage, where one can contend with Tribulation Transcending stage Great Experts with their physical body.
The final three layers are Pseudo-Emperors, who can contend with Immortals and traverse the universe.
They can pluck stars with their bare hands and shatter a small planet with a single punch.
In the later stages, Martial Dao can no longer be called Martial Dao; more people prefer to call it Dao Martial.
Even a true rogue Immortal would find it difficult to shatter a small planet with one move or pluck stars with their bare hands.
Dao flourishes in the world, called Immortal; Dao reaches its extreme in power, called Martial.
The knowledge Feng Yunzi shared was secret information that Chen Jiuyang had not found in ancient texts.
It can only be said that living longer truly broadens one's horizons.
After digesting this knowledge, Chen Jiuyang respectfully cupped his fists to Feng Yunzi: "Thank you, Sect Master, for clarifying my doubts."
"It is nothing." Feng Yunzi possessed the demeanor of a wise and elder Immortal Dao master.
In his eyes, Chen Jiuyang was like a Martial Dao fanatic. Apart from refining elixirs and cultivating techniques, his only form of entertainment was visiting the mortal world. For several months, he hadn't even committed any acts of oppressing mortals.
"It's a pity… he has already stepped into Martial Dao and it's hard to turn back. Otherwise, with such a disposition, he would be a good seedling."
Feng Yunzi sighed inwardly.
Chen Jiuyang left the Sect Master's hall and flew towards the mortal city.
His mind, however, was in contemplation.
At the eighth layer of the Venerable Realm, one can contend with Void Returning stage cultivators, and at the peak of the Venerable Realm, one can shake Dao Harmonizing stage cultivators.
Emperor Realm Martial Artists are comparable to Tribulation Transcending and Mahayana stage Immortal Dao cultivators.
He calculated in his heart that to depart and use the teleportation array to search the vast Lesser Immortal Realm for Zixuan's descent, he would need at least the strength of the peak Venerable Realm.
To be safe, he would have to reach the Emperor Path.
Otherwise, even if he found Zixuan, he wouldn't be able to bring her back.
After all, the elders of the Five Great Sacred Lands who ascended with Zixuan were also present.
"The most urgent matter is to improve my cultivation."
"But nurturing the Dao cannot be rushed… let alone the fact that my cultivation speed is already fast enough…"