Chapter 294: Chapter 203: Detachment Realm! Breaking out of the shell, Expelling objects, Manifesting form, Possession!
Inner Sect Disciples, Primordial Pill Realm.
Outer Disciples, Furnace Fire Realm.
Servant Disciples, Detachment Realm.
A very clear hierarchy was established in Jiang Shu’s mind. He increasingly understood the value of the Jade Token from Master Ming Lei. Regardless of one’s age, as soon as one reached the Furnace Fire Realm, they could become an Outer Disciple. According to Luo Yu, the True Martial Sect’s quota for Disciples was undoubtedly very strictly controlled. The considerations were not just the Realm but also one’s Cultivation Talent. The Da Jing Dynasty, being a mid-level Dynasty, could produce geniuses at the Detachment Realm like Luo Yu. If it were a higher-level, or even a so-called super-level Dynasty, could they produce true geniuses of the Furnace Fire Realm? Standing out in the Great Dynastic Battle was by no means an easy feat.
"Did you ever imagine that even we, being such geniuses, would end up merely as servant disciples after participating and smoothly passing through the Great Dynastic Battle?" Luo Yu said. "We consider ourselves lucky. If we had stayed in the Dynasty for our whole lives, we might have been stuck in the Detachment Realm forever. What good would a lifespan of three hundred years be compared to the five-hundred-year lifespan of someone in the Furnace Fire Realm?"
"Moreover, being a servant disciple is only temporary. If we successfully break through and are promoted to an Outer Disciple, in the future, we can even look forward to reaching the Primordial Pill Realm."
Having reached the Detachment Realm before thirty, Luo Yu was unwilling to remain at this level for his entire life. The Great Dynastic Battle was something he was determined to take part in, even if it meant starting out as a servant disciple.
"The Detachment Realm, considered the Peak for experts in the Da Jing Dynasty, is merely foundational in Martial Arts Cultivation within the Sect, just like the three major barriers of Qi and blood before the Skin Grinding Realm," Luo Yu continued as they ate, quickly revealing everything he knew. "Only upon reaching the Furnace Fire Realm does a new beginning truly start."
The delicacies on the table were quickly devoured. Without any rest, the two immediately headed for the Hidden Technique Pavilion.
"Supreme Cultivation Techniques are extremely precious," Luo Yu said. "Our Luo Family, after a thousand years of accumulation, possesses only three sets. I hope Brother Jiang will keep this confidential."
The Luo Family’s Hidden Technique Pavilion was located in the eastern courtyard.
Before Jiang Shu could get close, a powerful wave of spiritual power swept over him. It only stopped scrutinizing his entire body when it noticed Luo Yu by his side.
"Greetings, Third Elder," Luo Yu bowed respectfully when they reached the entrance of the Hidden Technique Pavilion. Although he was now a true genius of the Luo Family and was soon to participate in the Great Dynastic Battle, he still held profound respect for his family’s elders. After all, the family’s growth to its current strength, and the continuous Cultivation resources he had received, were ultimately due to the efforts of these older generation experts.
"So, this is the Jiang Shu, the Jiang Genius you mentioned?" the Third Elder remarked. "Indeed, a young hero. Go on into the Hidden Technique Pavilion; I won’t delay you further."
The Luo Family’s Third Elder looked at Jiang Shu with satisfaction. Although supreme Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts were precious, if they could bring Jiang Shu and Luo Yu closer, it was undoubtedly a very worthwhile exchange. After all, a Sect was different from a Dynasty. Once in the Sect, Luo Yu, as a servant disciple, would have countless tedious tasks to perform daily. Having a familiar companion for mutual support and to advance together through trials would undoubtedly make their future path somewhat broader. Moreover, this Jiang Shu had saved Luo Yu’s life.
"The supreme Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts are all on the sixth floor," Luo Yu said, stopping at the staircase and not continuing forward. "I’ve been in there many times already, so I won’t disturb you, Brother Jiang."
He gave Jiang Shu enough time and space to choose.
"Thank you, Brother Luo."
Without further pleasantries, Jiang Shu walked straight in. Although the Luo Family’s Hidden Technique Pavilion was very spacious, due to the scarcity of supreme Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts, the replicated Jade Scrolls on the shelves—only a dozen or so Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts—were visible at a glance.
Jiang Shu quickly skimmed past the Martial Arts.
He had already cultivated the "Heavenly Gang Dragon Capturing Hand" to Great Success; it wasn’t wise to bite off more than he could chew. With only a few months left until the Great Dynastic Battle, he needed to focus more of his energy on cultivating his Cultivation Technique to successfully advance to the Detachment Realm and further strengthen his spiritual power.
Spiritual Cultivation within the Universal Cultivation Method, Meditation Breathing—these are actually higher levels of deep sleep, developing the brain domain during sleep, enhancing life force, and emphasizing both spirit and physique. But here, the supreme Cultivation Techniques represent a different Cultivation philosophy. If the Universal Cultivation Method is stillness, then the Detachment Realm Cultivation of the Da Jing Dynasty is movement.
Picking up the Luo Family’s treasured supreme Cultivation Technique, the "Boundless Tidal Soul Cleansing Verse," Jiang Shu mused internally.
He had already traversed the Body Refinement and Qi Refinement stages of the Da Jing Dynasty and was exceedingly familiar with them. However, he didn’t know much about the Detachment Realm. The only Detachment Realm expert he had fought, Liang Yuewu, patriarch of the Liang Family, had been injured and, in order to recover, had rarely used his spiritual power. Although Liang Yuewu possessed a Middle Stage Detachment Realm cultivation base and Early Stage Detachment Realm strength, his actual performance had only been comparable to someone half-step into the Detachment Realm.
The "Crystal Meditation Method" involves self-visualization as a crystal, cultivating in a static state. The "Boundless Tidal Soul Cleansing Verse," on the other hand, uses Primordial Power from the acupoints throughout the body to continuously impact the brain in a tidal fashion, thereby refining the Martial Artist’s soul. According to the Cultivation Technique’s divisions, from entry-level to Perfection, it corresponds to four stages of a Martial Artist’s Soul Power: Shell Emergence, Object Driving, Manifestation, and Possession.
Shell Emergence: When the spirit is highly concentrated, the soul emerges from its ’shell’ and moves around the body.
Object Driving: The soul exists between the ethereal and the real, able to move objects that require a certain amount of physical strength.
Manifestation: The soul condenses Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi to form a true physical shape—like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow; like dew, or like lightning. Upon reaching this Realm, even if the physical body is killed, the soul can temporarily reside in certain special Treasures.