It is unclear how much time has passed. Ning Beichen suddenly opened his eyes and saw that he was still sitting cross-legged on the illusory lotus throne, his expression filled with excitement.
The first level of crossing the sea of suffering, the Bitter Lotus Body Crossing, had been successfully cultivated.
His guess was indeed correct. Some famous mountains and great rivers, and blessed lands, contained energies that were difficult for ordinary people to comprehend. As long as such a place could be found, even a transcender could cultivate.
Not long after, Ning Beichen returned to the ground, looking both surprised and confused.
Since cultivating the Bitter Lotus Body Crossing, he had felt some strange changes within himself, changes that were difficult to describe.
For example, his eyes could now see strange images beyond normal perception, and hear peculiar sounds beyond ordinary hearing. This made Ning Beichen feel somewhat apprehensive.
However, Ning Beichen later discovered that this situation was within his control. As long as he didn't want to, he wouldn't see these strange images and hear these peculiar sounds, which finally calmed his anxious heart.
As Ning Beichen continued to study and experiment, he finally found the reason for his transformation.
It was actually very simple.
To be precise, it wasn't that he had mutated, but that he had evolved. The images he saw were from a higher dimension than the current one, and the sounds were the same.
The highest frame rate of images that humans in the current dimension could perceive was 30 frames per second. However, he could see higher frame rates.
Therefore, the strange images he had seen earlier were not hallucinations, but simply things that ordinary human eyes could not perceive.
The same applied to sound; he could now hear more frequencies that were inaudible to humans in the current dimension.
It could be said that this change was an ability that appeared after he cultivated the Bitter Lotus Body Crossing. He did not possess it before.
Ning Beichen looked at a distant tree, a slight smile on his lips. Suddenly, he saw the distant tree shatter. Strangely, Ning Beichen had made no move to attack the tree.
In fact, it was just that people in this dimension couldn't see Ning Beichen's movements. He had actually thrown a punch just now, but his attack was from a higher dimension.
If a grandmaster were standing before Ning Beichen now, and they couldn't perceive the dimension from which Ning Beichen attacked, that grandmaster would likely die without ever knowing who attacked them.
But this was not the most terrifying aspect.
The most terrifying thing was that when Ning Beichen walked towards you, you wouldn't even see him approaching, because his process of approaching would simply not exist in your perception.
Although this state could not be sustained for too long, it would be incredibly terrifying if used against an enemy.
However, Ning Beichen did not know if this was an ability that every transcender possessed, or if it was unique to him.
If it was not something every transcender possessed, but his own exclusive ability, then this cultivation technique for crossing the sea of suffering on the bronze fragment would be truly heaven-defying.
Afterward, Ning Beichen did not leave immediately. Instead, he cultivated there to consolidate his realm. It was not until a month later that Ning Beichen reluctantly departed.
The reason he left was not because the cultivation effect here had weakened, but because the second level of crossing the sea of suffering, Universal Salvation, showed no effect no matter how he cultivated, just like the first level before.
Ning Beichen understood that to cultivate the second level of Universal Salvation, it might require time or a fortunate encounter, something he could not force.
During the month that Ning Beichen was missing, the people of the Heavenly Master's Mansion were searching everywhere for him.
Although they knew he had entered the mountains of Longhu Mountain, the mountains were too vast. Finding one person's trace was more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack.
Therefore, no matter how the people of the Heavenly Master's Mansion searched, they could not find any trace of Ning Beichen, which caused the current Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, Zhang Hong, to fly into a rage and punish many of his subordinates.
Fortunately, a month later, news of Ning Beichen reappeared, which finally improved Zhang Hong's mood. He quickly sent people to invite Ning Beichen.
No matter what, they could not miss this opportunity again.
Little did Ning Beichen know that all kinds of grandmasters, both orthodox and unorthodox, were looking for him at this time, hoping to obtain some information from him, even if it was just a tiny bit.
Especially orthodox cultivators, their strength was not comparable to the few ancestors who formed the Grandmaster Alliance. After all, they controlled most of the resources and channels in the world.
Therefore, as soon as Ning Beichen emerged from the mountains, people from the Heavenly Master's Mansion found him.
As for the people of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, Ning Beichen had no complaints. In his eyes, at least the people of the Heavenly Master's Mansion had a much better impression of him than those two scoundrel Taoists from Mount Hua.
At least they treated him politely, provided him with food and lodging, and helped him resolve trouble, unlike those two scoundrel Taoists from Mount Hua who came to cause him trouble.
Soon, Ning Beichen met the current Heavenly Master, Zhang Hong, in the Heavenly Master's Mansion.
Zhang Hong was already seventy-eight years old this year, but due to his successful cultivation, he had a youthful appearance with white hair, looking no more than fifty years old.
Furthermore, in front of Ning Beichen, he showed no airs of superiority or arrogance.
"Mr. Ning, please come in. Your visit to our Longhu Mountain is an honor for our Longhu Mountain. We apologize for any lack of hospitality. Please do not take offense."
Zhang Hong said enthusiastically to Ning Beichen.
"Esteemed Heavenly Master Zhang is too kind. It was I who failed to visit you immediately upon arriving at Longhu Mountain. This was my discourtesy, and I apologize to you."
Courtesy begets courtesy. Since the other party was so polite, Ning Beichen was not someone who was arrogant.
"Not at all, not at all. When Mr. Ning arrived at our Longhu Mountain, I should have personally greeted you. However, I was worried that Mr. Ning might not like it, so I did not disturb you. Now that Mr. Ning has come to our Heavenly Master's Mansion, I, as the host, must properly entertain Mr. Ning."
Although Zhang Hong was seventy-eight years old, his voice was resonant and powerful, like a bell. He did not look down on Ning Beichen at all because of his young age.
"May I ask if Mr. Ning has any important matters to attend to on our Longhu Mountain this time? If this Heavenly Master can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to instruct me."
Zhang Hong said to Ning Beichen, his demeanor completely one of seeking favor.
For Zhang Hong, who had lived to seventy-eight years old, face was something he had long seen through. If Ning Beichen had truly taken that step, or had come from that place, what did it matter if his attitude was more subservient?
Countless cultivators had been trapped at this step for hundreds of years. Who wouldn't yearn to take that step? As long as one could take that step, what did it matter how humble their attitude was?