Free Web NovelChapter 617: Chapter 588: The Terrifying Foundations of the Upper Realm
The gap between the fifteenth and sixteenth level is too vast.
In the presence of a true sixteenth-level expert, a single finger could crush a multitude of consummate fifteenth-level experts; this is the disparity in power between them.
Therefore.
When a cultivator reaches the pinnacle of the fifteenth level, there is still a long way to go to reach the sixteenth level.
Thus.
This results in differences in power even among those who are at the pinnacle of the fifteenth level.
Starting from the pinnacle of the fifteenth level, the closer a cultivator gets to the sixteenth level, the more formidable they become.
The so-called Semi-Saint.
Is just that.
According to the future projections, Gu Qingyang would become a Semi-Saint after twenty thousand years, but now he has already stepped into the Semi-Saint realm, shortening the time by over twenty thousand years.
However—
To be truly compared with his future self, Gu Qingyang is aware that he still has some way to go.
Even as a Semi-Saint.
His future self is evidently stronger.
The future self has honed both Divine Techniques and Secret Techniques to an unfathomable depth over more than twenty thousand years; in terms of actual combat power, naturally, it is far superior to that of an ordinary Semi-Saint.
Nevertheless.
Now having broken through to this realm over twenty thousand years ahead of time.
Gu Qingyang has reason to believe that his self, twenty thousand years from now, will be far stronger than his self from more than twenty thousand years ago.
Subsequently.
Gu Qingyang once again pondered the future.
The time river surged magnificently.
Future images once more unfolded before his eyes.
Reflected in Gu Qingyang’s eyes were scenes of a shattered starry sky, with billions of galaxies crumbling into ruins, copious blood splattering the void, akin to the Asura Battlefield.
The sky-piercing calamity Qi permeated the entire starry sky, and Gu Qingyang only felt an unquenchable fury surge from within, as if wishing to utterly tear apart everything before him.
And in front of him.
Lay the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Road.
And at the end of the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Road stood several towering figures in the void, their abyssal, terrifying aura casting overwhelming oppression upon the entire starry sky.
"After so many years, the Lower Realm has produced yet another sixteenth-level expert!"
"But unfortunately, a single sixteenth level cannot change the Great Calamity; Taichu failed back then, and you will be no exception."
"Do not imagine that the Immortal Path can be severed again; what happened back then will not recur..."
These powerful beings gazed arrogantly, their expressions extremely indifferent, as if the fall of countless living beings was of little consequence to them.
Among these experts, Gu Qingyang saw a familiar figure, namely the sixteenth-level expert he had witnessed in several projections of the future.
However now.
In this projection of the future, the sixteenth-level expert appearing was no longer just one.
"The Upper Realm is unjust, slaughtering all life; today, I, this emperor, shall upend the heavens and see what superiority you claim!"
With a furious roar.
The Divine Tree soared from the ground, countless roots spanning the starry sky were as radiant as the Star River, striking out at numerous Upper Realm experts.
All other Upper Realm experts were also gravely attentive at this moment, collectively joining forces to encircle and attack.
This battle.
Tore the starry sky apart, obliterating galaxies.
The vast Cyan Yang Divine Realm disintegrated under this power.
Saints shed blood, half their bodies forcibly smashed by roots, and even sixteenth-level Immortal Kings’ bodies exploded, leaving only Essence Blood to escape.
However.
Upper Realm experts seemed endless.
One terrifying being after another marched forth from the end of the Immortal Path, joining this battle.
No matter how mighty the Divine Tree was, it ultimately could change nothing, being struck down until its roots shattered, and its giant trunk supporting heaven and the starry sky also ruptured thunderously.
When the Divine Tree perished.
Gu Qingyang’s consciousness returned to his body.
An unprecedented sense of weakness surged within him.
Yet.
Gu Qingyang paid no heed to these matters, his whole spirit still immersed in the images of the future.
After a long time.
Gu Qingyang gradually came to his senses.
"Still lost!"
Thinking of that final battle, his heart remained remarkably calm.
From the projected circumstances, it seems that when the Great Calamity arrives, his strength should have reached the sixteenth-level standard, and is by no means comparable to an ordinary sixteenth level.
But there were too many Upper Realm experts, one individual’s strength was fundamentally lonely.
Thus.
Losing was inevitable.
There was no way.
The time the Upper Realm gave was too short.
In just over twenty thousand years, however favored by the Starry Sky, how many experts can be cultivated.
Therefore.
To truly address the issues with the Upper Realm, it is necessary to have an absolutely overwhelming situation.
Nevertheless—
The current future situation has indeed undergone some changes.
Now every step he takes may have unpredictable effects, but for now, it seems that this effect is leaning positively.
After all.
It is indeed true that my strength is growing ever stronger.
"The sixteenth level is inadequate to contend with the Upper Realm, then take it further, breakthrough to the seventeenth level, perhaps even breaking the limitations of the seventeenth level, ascending to an even higher plane!"
Gu Qingyang’s heart was resolute.
Then.
He continued to ponder the Hongmeng Jade Disc.
The key to breaking the impasse lies both in the Cyan Yang Divine Realm and the Hongmeng Jade Disc, neither of which Gu Qingyang could afford to abandon.
...
While Gu Qingyang was in seclusion.
The Cyan Yang Divine Realm and the Divine Court continued developing in an orderly fashion.
Periodically, new worlds merged into the Cyan Yang Divine Realm, forming entirely new regions.
Simultaneously.
The Divine Court army waged war across the starry sky.
The fame of the Divine Realm spread far and wide.
Many galactic powers surrendered at the sight.
In the blink of an eye.
Several centuries passed again.
The third Celestial List ranking had arrived.
Unlike the previous Celestial List, after a thousand years, the Cyan Yang Divine Realm had undergone immense changes, with twelfth-level experts starting to emerge, and the number of eleventh-level cultivators greatly increasing.
Therefore.
Just like in the previous Celestial List.
The slot for the original eleventh-level Celestial List expanded once more, and a twelfth-level Celestial List was also established.
The Celestial List rankings began, naturally stirring excitement among numerous cultivators.
After years of arduous cultivation.
Is it not just to leave a name on the Celestial List?
Now the Celestial List serves as the best place to validate a cultivator’s strength; those who can be listed are worthy of the honorable title of ’genius,’ their future achievements boundless.
Moreover.
The benefits of entering the Celestial List were numerous enough to move any cultivator.
To put it simply.
Entering the Celestial List is akin to a fish leaping over the dragon gate.
Therefore.
Many cultivators cultivate with all their heart, waiting just for the Celestial List to reopen.
However.
Gu Qingyang did not concern himself too much with the Celestial List, only periodically issuing Celestial List rewards; the rest of his time was spent pondering the Hongmeng Jade Disc.
After all, with innumerable experts across the Upper Realm’s Three Thousand Cosmos, over twenty thousand years are not long, he must make every second count to enhance his own power.
Despite centuries of seclusion, his combat prowess remained at the pinnacle of the fifteenth level.
However.
Gu Qingyang could distinctly feel his power incrementally strengthening, gradually advancing toward the sixteenth level.
