The chapter begins with a heavy atmosphere as Master Die Yuan turns to his disciple, Sai, his voice carrying the weight of authority.
"Sai," Die Yuan began, "you are currently lingering at the mid-stage of Level 7. If you hope to survive the True Domain, you must break through to the high stage—or better yet, the peak of Level 7. It is the minimum requirement to even set foot there."
He gestured toward the cache of blood pills Sai had refined from the enemies he had slain. "Do not let those pills go to waste. Use every last one of them. Refine them, absorb their essence, and force your cultivation to ascend."
Sai nodded, though he looked around the desolate surroundings. "I understand, Master. But where should I begin? A breakthrough of this magnitude requires a secure location."
Die Yuan scanned the area, his eyes sharp. "No need to search for a hidden cave. Sit right here. Begin your cultivation now. I will stand guard and ensure no one disturbs your progress. Go."
The Two-Month TribulationWith his Master's protection guaranteed, Sai sat cross-legged and began the arduous process of absorbing the pills. At first, there was nothing but silence. The energy was stubborn, refusing to yield. One day passed, then two, then three.
The days bled into weeks, and the weeks into months. For two full months, Sai remained like a stone statue, his breath shallow, his internal energy swirling in a chaotic storm. Just as it seemed as though the breakthrough might fail, the world itself began to react.
The sky, which had been bright and clear, suddenly bruised into a deep, abyssal black. Thick, suffocating clouds swirled above Sai's head. The winds howled, turning into a localized hurricane, and the air crackled with the scent of ozone. To any onlooker, it looked as if the world was ending—a localized apocalypse centered on one young man.
CRACK!
A massive bolt of Heavenly Thunder—a streak of pure, blinding white light—descended from the heavens. It struck Sai directly, the sheer force of the impact shattering the ground beneath him and sending a massive plume of dust and debris into the air.
Beyond the LimitDie Yuan watched calmly as the dust settled. From the center of the crater, a figure emerged. Sai stepped out, his aura transformed. The power radiating from him was sharper, more refined. He had successfully reached the Level 7 High Stage.
"Congratulations, Sai," Die Yuan said, a hint of pride in his tone. "You have finally crossed the threshold."
"Thank you, Master," Sai replied, bowing low. As he felt his new power, a question surfaced. "Master, you mentioned the True Domain, but what about the Heavenly Land? What is that place truly like?"
Die Yuan's expression turned grave. "In the Heavenly Land, martial artists between Levels 7 and 9 are as common as grass. People believe that 'Low Immortals' reside there."
"Low Immortals?" Sai asked, puzzled. "What does that mean?"
"A Low Immortal is someone who has reached Level 10," Die Yuan explained. "But Level 10 is not the end. It is merely the limit of human cultivation. Beyond Level 10, 'Levels' no longer exist. Instead, we measure power by Ranks. There are Ranks 1 through 10 above the mortal limit."
Sai's eyes widened. "Ranks instead of Levels? Then... Master, what is your Rank?"
Die Yuan smiled faintly. "I am currently at Rank 2."
"But Master," Sai stammered, "whenever I sense your power, it always appears to be Level 7. How can that be?"
"Sharp as always," Die Yuan chuckled. "It is true that my base form appears as Level 7. However, much like your Blood Demon Transformation, I possess a transformation of my own. That transformation is what holds the power of Rank 2, not my original physical body. Do you understand, my disciple?"
"I see... I understand, Master."
Die Yuan turned his gaze toward the horizon. "The time has come. You must begin your journey to the Heavenly Land."
"I am ready," Sai said firmly. "But where is it located?"
Die Yuan shook his head. "That is for you to discover. I will not hand you the map to your destiny; you must find it yourself. I will tell you only this: seek your path in the West."The chapter begins under a sky so breathtakingly beautiful it felt surreal. The scene shifts to a village that was anything but ordinary; this was a sanctuary for demonic cultivators. This hidden hub served as a base of operations where cultivators planned their illicit activities before infiltrating great cities and rival countries. Think of it as the headquarters for the underworld's elite.
Standing firmly at the village gates was Sai.
Deep within the village, the atmosphere was buzzing. A high-stakes function was underway, attended by none other than Ming Chai, a VIP guest and the formidable leader of a renowned demonic sect. Despite the festivities, Ming Chai found herself walking toward the outskirts, headed for the main gate on personal business.
At that moment, Sai was attempting to enter the village. However, four guards blocked his path, their expressions stern. "Hold it right there," one barked. "The village is closed to outsiders today. You can't enter without an Entry Card, which you clearly lack." They eyed him with suspicion. "Wait... are you a member of a righteous sect trying to sneak in?"
Ming Chai, standing nearby, observed the exchange in silence. She couldn't help but feel a flicker of irony; these guards had no idea they were provoking a literal monster—a man who could wipe out their entire clan in the blink of an eye.
Sai's patience finally snapped. He didn't say a word, but as he turned his head to glare at the four guards, a suffocating killing intent exploded from him. Though the guards were at Cultivation Level 6, they froze in pure terror, their bodies turning to stone under his gaze.
Seeing the commotion, Ming Chai stepped forward. "Stop," she commanded, looking at Sai. "Who are you to try and force your way in?"
Sai looked her up and down. "And who might you be?"
The guards, finding their voices now that their leader was present, yelled, "How dare you speak to her with such disrespect! No matter how strong you think you are, you're nothing compared to a Sect Leader! Get on your knees and beg for mercy!"
Sai smirked. "A leader, huh? Which sect? You certainly have the look of a demonic cultivator. Tell me... are you actually strong?"
The guards were outraged, but Ming Chai raised a hand to silence them. She squinted at Sai. "You're a demonic cultivator as well, yet your energy only registers at Level 5. Why is that?"
In reality, Sai was using a concealment technique to mask his true power. Furthermore, unlike many in this world, Sai didn't possess a 'System'—in fact, he didn't even know what a System was.
Sai let out a dry chuckle. "You're hiding your power too, aren't you? But I can see right through you. You're at the Mid-Stage of Level 7, aren't you?"
Ming Chai's heart skipped a beat. Her composure shattered. "How... how could you possibly know my exact level?"
"Don't be so surprised," Sai said calmly. "You should know by now—if someone can see through your hidden power, it means they are vastly stronger than you. It means you have no hope of winning."
The realization hit Ming Chai like a physical blow. This man was on an entirely different level. The guards tried to rationalize it, whispering that he must be using a high-level artifact to cheat, but Ming Chai silenced them with a sharp scream.
"May I ask for your name?" Ming Chai asked, her tone now respectful.
"I am Sai," he replied. "Disciple of the Ruthless Demon of Heaven."
The name hit the group like a thunderclap. News of Sai's recent exploits had spread through both the demonic and righteous sects like wildfire. In fact, Ming Chai had come to this village specifically to find information on him.
"Master Sai," Ming Chai said, bowing slightly. "What brings you to a place like this?"
"I heard your people know everything," Sai replied.
"We know much, though perhaps not everything," she countered.
"Then tell me," Sai's eyes grew serious. "Where is the Heavenly Land?"
Ming Chai turned pale. "The Heavenly Land? Why would you seek such a place? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is?"
"I don't care about the danger," Sai said, his voice cold and determined. "I will do whatever it takes to get there. Now, do you know the way or not?"
Ming Chai took a deep breath, her eyes meeting his. "I know the way. But... I have one condition."