Chapter 82: Chapter 82
It soon became clear why Lyralei had come.
It was regarding the library and the mystery of the energy of Heaven and Earth. This matter was no secret, so there was no need to hide anything from Ethan.
"The energy of Heaven and Earth," Lyralei began gently, "is an ancient and extremely mysterious force. Its true nature and origin, I believe, Mr. Stone would havet that explain far better than I ever could, so I will not trouble you with overly detailed explanations."
She looked at Ethan with kind eyes.
"However, this energy is not something ordinary cultivators can perceive or absorb easily. It exists hidden in the space between heaven and earth. Only those cultivators with strong mental energy and extraordinary talents have the chance to sense it."
"Generally speaking," she continued, "a cultivator must reach the Body Integration realm and achieve a qualitative improvement in mental energy before one can even hope to feel the energy of Heaven and Earth."
Although Ethan already understood this very well, he played the part of a novice and nodded carefully, giving space for more knowledge.
"Does one have to be at the Body Integration realm to sense it?" Ethan asked, his voice gentle and curious.
Lyralei smiled a little and said, "Not necessarily. Upon reaching the Body Integration realm, your mental power surges, dramatically increasing the likelihood of sensing the energy of Heaven and Earth. But the true ability to perceive and absorb it only fully manifests after advancing to the Tribulation Transcendence realm."
"There is a small chance that cultivators below the Body Integration realm might glimpse this energy, but that possibility is so remote it can practically be ignored."
Taking a sip of tea to moisten her throat, she settled deeper into explanation.
"I came here tonight to offer an opportunity to try to contact this energy. I found a favorable accumulation of energy—second-class earth vein energy in particular."
Lyralei extended her slender, elegant hand.
At first, nothing seemed to rest upon her palm. The energy of Heaven and Earth was invisible unless extraordinary power or a special method was applied.
Ethan blinked and focused his mental power into his eyes, seeing now a dense yellow light mist swirling on her palm.
This was clearly the leftover energy of Heaven and Earth from her own cultivation.
’As expected of a cultivator in the Mahayana realm.’ Ethan thought in surprise.
’she can freely store and draw upon this energy.’
Lyralei asked eagerly, though her face seemed calm.
"Can you see what I am holding?"
"Yes, I see it," Ethan replied steadily.
"The yellow light mist carries profound power, endless and long-lasting."
At Ethan’s words, Lyralei betrayed a rare look of surprise. Composing herself quickly, she said quietly.
"Junior brother, you truly are gifted. For one going through the physical cultivation to feel the earth veins energy between Heaven and Earth is a extremely rare talent."
Her tone betrayed genuine wonder.
"Senior sister, you seem unusually complimentary," Ethan noted with a little smile.
"I wonder if you feel any strange sensation yourself?" Ethan asked, sudden intensity in his gaze.
"What sort of strange feeling?"
"It’s difficult to explain exactly. When you absorb the energy of Heaven and Earth, it feels as if invisible, enormous hands isolate the energy from this world, hindering its flow."
Lyralei’s face shifted into seriousness.
She studied Ethan’s dark, clear eyes that held calm depths like a still lake.
She thought to herself that she had underestimated this young disciple.
This kid could clearly sense the resistance between Heaven and Earth—an insight few cultivators, even those in the Tribulation Transcendence realm, could claim.
It was only after completing the Mahayana Tribulation and entering the Mahayana realm that cultivators usually sensed this invisible resistance more obviously.
"I did not expect your perception to have already reached this level, junior brother."
"Yes, that big hand, the one that obstructs the absorption of heaven and earth’s energy, is called the Resistance of Heaven and Earth."
"This resistance is immensely powerful and unshakable. It is likely a fundamental law of this world. Like a net, it blocks the path cultivators must take to reach immortality."
"So, to practice immortality and cultivation is to defy Heaven itself."
"To ’defy Heaven’ means breaking through this resistance, absorbing the energy of Heaven and Earth to withstand the Mahayana catastrophe, surviving nine cycles of Mahayana Tribulations, and being reborn after each."
"Only then can one become the supreme being."
Lyralei’s voice softened but remained full of strength. "Only after becoming supreme can there even be a slim chance to walk the path of The Emperor."
"That’s it." Ethan nodded slowly, absorbing the weight of her words.
He realized even someone as strong as Lyralei could barely feel the resistance that impeded her cultivation.
But she couldn’t see the vast net woven by countless thick chains across the starry sky like he had.
That net sealed the sky and earth, tearfully isolating the most vital heavenly and earthly energies.
A cultivator relying solely on the mortal vein energy couldn’t hope to survive the unforgiving Mahayana Tribulation.
Hence many powerful men stall in the Tribulation Transcendence realm, while only the few who progress through nine rounds of Mahayana become supreme.
Nine revolutions of Mahayana, nine rebirths, and a single misstep means eternal ruin.
No wonder so few rise to true power in this world.
Skyreach Territory spans nearly a fifth of the continent’s land, yet Ethan has never heard of a single supreme being born from it.
Of course, supreme beings might quietly exist—he is just not strong enough to sense them.
"Since you can sense the energy of the earth veins, you can absorb it," Lyralei encouraged, her palms waving gently.
"The insights you gain from this energy will greatly benefit your cultivation in the future."
Golden wisps of earth energy threaded through the air, flowing toward Ethan’s open palms.
Inside, his mind cried out.
"I can’t absorb any more of the energy!"
Yet stopping was difficult.
Though this earth vein energy was originally his to gather, fate had presented it by accident.
Ethan bowed.
"Thank you, senior sister."
Lyralei appeared slightly displeased.
"Don’t be so formal—I am your senior sister. I dislike such distance between us."
Ethan smiled crookedly.
"Then I will be a little brazen, senior sister. I do not have anything valuable here, but I do have wine. Would you accept a drink with me?"
"Junior brother, I am not good at drinking, but if you have food to offer, I might consider," Lyralei responded.
"However, the main reason I came tonight was to give you the energy of the earth veins. I also must absorb a great deal myself. It will take time."
Her voice softened, more peaceful and approachable than before.
A/N:
Extra Chapters
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200 power stones - 2 Extra Chapters
Capsule - 1 Extra Chapters
Massage Chair - 3 Extra Chapters
Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters
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