"To talk about the ranks of alchemists, we must first talk about the ranks of pills."
Qiu Yuanxi drew three corresponding circles next to the three circles she had just drawn and said, "The ranks of pills are actually similar to our cultivation levels, divided into Mortal, Illusion, Great Illusion, Illusion Spirit, Spirit, King, Emperor, Profound, Heaven, Desolate, Saint, Emperor, Immortal, and Divine. Among these, Immortal and Divine are equivalent to the Immortal Realm and Divine Realm we just mentioned."
"Cultivation?"
"Yes. In fact, pills of the Spirit rank can gradually develop their own consciousness, but they cannot communicate with us. It is not until the Saint rank that they can speak to us like high-level demonic beasts. And at the Immortal rank, pills can transform into human form and cultivate like us, with the same cultivation levels as mentioned before."
Seeing their astonished expressions, Qiu Yuanxi smiled and said, "Don't think I'm joking, I've seen it with my own eyes."
Hearing their collective gasps, Qiu Yuanxi laughed even more heartily and said, "Now you know how much your knowledge is lacking. In fact, it's not just pills that are divided like this, but also demonic beasts, weapons, talismans, and formations."
Without giving them time to react, Qiu Yuanxi continued, "Correspondingly, alchemists, artifact refiners, talisman masters, and formation masters are divided into Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Illusion Master, Grandmaster, King, Emperor, Grandmaster, Great Grandmaster, Venerable Master, Saint, Emperor, Immortal, and Divine."
This time, Qiu Yuanxi thoughtfully gave them time to digest. With the previous explanations, these new terms were now more acceptable.
Ling Luochen suddenly remembered his conversation with Ling Luoyi and asked, "Miss Qiu, could you tell us about the Human Realm? That way, we won't be too lost when we go to the Upper Realm."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Yuanxi looked at him and said, "That's fine. With your talent, resources, and effort, you should be able to reach the Upper Realm in another few years or decades. It's time to tell you these things so you can be prepared."
With a gentle wave of her hand, all the writing Qiu Yuanxi had just put down vanished like stardust. Qiu Yuanxi then drew a large circle and several concentric circles within it.
Everyone watched, and except for Ling Luochen, they all looked bewildered.
Seeing their confusion, Qiu Yuanxi said, "It won't be difficult to understand if you connect my drawing with your continent. This largest circle is equivalent to your continent, which is the entire Human Realm. And your continent is equivalent to the outermost part of this diagram, the edge of the Ancient Spirit Continent."
"Miss Qiu, are we the weakest?" someone asked disappointedly, looking at the diagram where there was nothing outside the position of the Ancient Spirit Continent.
"Not necessarily," Qiu Yuanxi shook her head and said, "Below the Ancient Spirit Continent, there is the Mortal Continent, which is a continent without spiritual energy and where cultivation is impossible."
Hearing this, they became even more dejected, not expecting their continent to be only superior to the Mortal Continent.
Ling Luomeng suddenly asked curiously, "Then, Sister Qiu, which continent are you from? I heard Brother Jun mention that you suddenly appeared out of nowhere on their way to Dragon Clear Country and almost killed them."
Hearing Ling Luomeng's words, Qiu Yuanxi also recalled the situation at that time and felt a bit embarrassed.
Ling Luochen smoothed things over, "Mengmeng, it's all in the past. We haven't said anything, so you shouldn't be so indignant."
Hearing Ling Luochen's words, Ling Luomeng felt that her words were a bit ambiguous and immediately became anxious, saying, "Sister Qiu, I didn't mean to blame you."
"It's okay, it was my fault back then," Qiu Yuanxi said apologetically.
"Miss Qiu, what happened back then is in the past, and you have already compensated everyone. You don't need to keep it in mind," Ling Luochen comforted her.
"I know," Qiu Yuanxi looked at Ling Luomeng again and said, "Since Little Mengmeng wants to know which continent Sister Qiu is from, then Sister Qiu will tell you. Sister Qiu is from the Azure Continent, which is two grades higher than here."
After hearing Qiu Yuanxi's words, everyone was astonished again. They had thought that Qiu Yuanxi must be from the Upper Realm, but they didn't expect her to be from a continent two grades higher than theirs. Such a person of high status would apologize to them and live with them for almost a year! Moreover, this Miss Qiu was a friend of their Eldest Miss, so did that mean their Eldest Miss had also gone to the Azure Continent?!
"Miss Qiu, then what is at the center of the circle?" Ling Luochen seized the opportunity to ask, as he had always been curious about the place that Ling Luoyi had mentioned as being of equal status to the Heavenly Profound Domain.
"Um..." Hearing this, Qiu Yuanxi hesitated.
However, since she had already said so much, it wouldn't hurt to say a little more.
In less than a breath, Qiu Yuanxi convinced herself and said to Ling Luochen, "That place is the Sacred Domain, and it is the most powerful place in the entire Human Realm, bar none. People in the Sacred Domain, regardless of their age or appearance, are all at the Immortal Realm cultivation level and should not be underestimated."
Although Qiu Yuanxi was the Saintess of Medicine, her cultivation was not enough to enter the Sacred Domain. Therefore, the Pure Heart Hall within the Sacred Palace of the Sacred Domain had not been visited by its owner even once in the twelve years since it had an owner. However, like Ling Luoyi's Luo Yun Hall, it was managed by two elders, so it was not in disarray.
After hearing Qiu Yuanxi's words, and remembering that Ling Luoyi had said she returned from the 'Heavenly Profound Domain' of the Human Realm, Ling Luochen understood why Ling Luoyi had said that after returning from there, she felt superior to those around her.
"Immortal Realm, is that being an immortal?" Ling Luochen murmured, not realizing he had asked the question.
"Sort of," Qiu Yuanxi said, a little uncertainly, but still explained to them, "To break through to the Immortal Realm from the Spirit Realm, one must cultivate Immortal Bones! Regardless of whether your cultivation has reached the required level, as long as you have Immortal Bones, you will definitely break through to the Immortal Realm, it's just a matter of time. And these Immortal Bones don't necessarily have to be cultivated by oneself; they can also be from others."
Qiu Yuanxi paused and explained the reason for her uncertainty, "Actually, I used to think that cultivating to the Immortal Realm meant becoming an immortal. But Little Luo'er said that no matter the realm, one's race cannot change. Your body, bones, and bloodline are all human, and these cannot be changed. This is different from what I learned since childhood. I always felt something was strange, but afraid of causing trouble for Little Luo'er, I didn't mention it to anyone. However, I haven't reached the Immortal Realm yet, nor have I cultivated Immortal Bones, so I don't know what's strange."
Ling Luochen didn't hear the rest of her words, as he had already fallen into extreme shock.
Luo'er had told him before that she had returned from the 'Heavenly Profound Domain' of the Human Realm. According to Miss Qiu's explanation, the 'Heavenly Profound Domain' of the Human Realm referred to the Sacred Domain, and all people in the Sacred Domain were at the Immortal Realm cultivation level. This meant that before returning, Luo'er was already at the Immortal Realm cultivation level! Half a year ago, when the Wei family came to the Ling family to cause trouble again, she had left to advance her cultivation, so what realm had her cultivation reached now?!
He was still thinking about working hard to become stronger to protect her. Could he really protect her?
Seeing Ling Luochen's solemn expression, Qiu Yuanxi felt a little flustered. Little Luo'er hadn't told them because she was afraid they would be discouraged, but she had said it so directly. Had she discouraged them?