Although it sounded like utter nonsense mixed with a persecution complex, a part of Su Zhou's words were actually true.

Before the revival of spiritual energy, the Awakened level was the highest level of extraordinary combat power of this era. Even the leader of the Holy Serpent Prayer Society, a world-class organization, and even the various Sages of the Zheng Nation, were no more than that level.

And the combat power of this level was very simple: take an RPG to the face with no preparation and no armor. Even if you didn't die, it would be a difficult experience. Many mid-level personnel were only at the Kai Ling (Opening of Spiritual Channels) level because the spiritual energy concentration was not enough, and they couldn't awaken.

But with the revival of spiritual energy, once the concentration increased, these cultivators who had practiced for more than ten or even decades before the opening of the heavens could quickly become Awakened. And those who were already Awakened, such as Professor Zhang Fucheng of the Zheng Yi Academy, broke through a small realm on the very day of the revival of spiritual energy, breaking through the bottleneck that had stuck him for several years.

"The revival of spiritual energy has been going on for more than a month. I estimate that the other side has at least five Awakened, and coupled with the fact that they will definitely not only use cold weapons, even without heavy weapons, it is a great threat."

Skillfully wielding the spear in his hand, transforming into various techniques and styles, Su Zhou whispered to himself while creating whistling gusts of wind around him: "Unless I can get a set of exoskeleton armor, it will be difficult to take revenge—tch, my thoughts are not unblocked, truly unpleasant!"

--But do I really need exoskeleton armor?

"No, no, Su Zhou, you've been wrong from the start."

Yala clicked her tongue twice at this time, shaking her tail, like a human shaking a finger: "Why do you have to compare 'exoskeleton armor' with those people, a field where they have absolute technological superiority?"

"They have technology, but you have divine skills!"

"After you ate the Wisdom Fruit last time, didn't I teach you the 'Universal Three Styles' that very day? A technique that can be the foundation of all techniques, displaying its power in any world and any environment, as long as you have spiritual energy in your body..."

Yala might as well not have said anything. As soon as she spoke, Su Zhou immediately stopped his spear, causing the floor to shake, and began to complain: "Those so-called Universal Three Styles are simple, that's true, and they do have some power, but are you saying this thing can compare to hot weapons and exoskeleton armor? Don't joke around!"

As he said that, he stretched out his hand, his palm upright like a knife, a layer of faint cyan-purple spiritual energy overflowing from the edge of the hand blade, condensing into a semi-transparent qi blade. With a wave of the hand blade, this qi blade left Su Zhou's palm and flew forward, slowly dissipating after several meters.

Next, Su Zhou turned his hand over, spiritual light surging under his fair skin, gradually condensing into triangular spiritual energy structures, making his skin and flesh as hard as corundum, harder than iron.

Finally, he raised his wrist, put up his thumb, and poked it at the location of his stomach.

"One move, 'Yugi Pokong' (Void Piercing with Qi), bluntly speaking, it's just letting me gather spiritual energy and launch it in an efficient way, turning it into a qi blade—don't say it doesn't hit far, I can now infuse spiritual energy into a punch and easily punch through a tree, but this qi blade, even if I concentrate and exert force, can at most cut half an inch deep."

"'Ningqi Yu Ti' (Solidifying Qi in the Body) is actively using spiritual energy to strengthen the holy triangle structure, increasing defense in a short period of time. I feel like it might be able to block a pistol bullet, but a slightly more advanced rifle will still break through my flesh and blood, let alone a barrage."

"Finally, 'Lianjing Huaqi' (Refining Essence into Qi), you even said something about 'a great serpent swallowing an elephant,' but in reality, it's just actively using spiritual energy to strengthen my digestive ability... Do I even need that!?"

Su Zhou's complaints were full of genuine emotion, obviously something he had been holding in his heart for a long time.

After eating the Wisdom Fruit, although he knew that Yala wouldn't let him reach the sky in one step, going to cultivate those divine demon techniques that he was destined not to be able to control right now, did he really need to spend more than a month polishing and cultivating the 'Universal Three Styles,' three moves that he had roughly mastered in a day? Wouldn't it be better to learn something like 'War God's Swift Spear' or 'Gift of Liberation'?

"My contractor, do not underestimate these seemingly simple techniques. It is precisely because they are simple that they are easy to learn but difficult to master—you are only just barely entering the door now."

Feeling Su Zhou's dissatisfaction, Yala's tone suddenly became serious: "The Awakened level has three small stages, corresponding to 'Condensing Spirituality,' 'Transcending the Physical Body,' and 'Soul Clarity'—that is, the spirit that drives spiritual energy, the body that is immune to heat and cold, and the soul that can observe the spirit world."

"You have already crossed these three stages, even crossed them innately—so what you need to do now is to consolidate your foundation and prepare for breaking through to 'Extraordinary' in the future. Not to mention, you want to destroy a transcendent family that has been passed down for hundreds of years with your own strength!"

"Can't you understand the disadvantages of being overly ambitious? Or are you going to give up a wider future for the sake of momentary pleasure?"

"...I understand—please, guide me!"

When the Serpent Spirit became serious, it actually had the temperament of a good teacher. Even though Su Zhou was impatient, he took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and then quietly listened to the other party's teachings.

And Yala also understood that if she didn't explain the reason clearly at this time, Su Zhou's cultivation speed would definitely slow down if he had doubts in his heart, so she deliberately slowed down her speech and explained seriously.

"The Extraordinary stage above Awakening is also known as Xiantian (Innate), also known as Tongxuan (Understanding the Mysterious), and there are even more names in other systems. Its foundation is to construct your own power into a structure that is unique to you and most convenient to use, and then use this as a foundation to make yourself a formation, construct your own spiritual world, and communicate with the great source of heaven and earth."

"Ningqi Yu Ti (Solidifying Qi in the Body) is the technique of self-construction. Yugi Pokong (Void Piercing with Qi) is the first step in controlling the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the future. And Lianjing Huaqi (Refining Essence into Qi), as someone who has read many Daoist scriptures, don't you understand that this technique, which greatly enhances eating, that is, cultivation efficiency, is the foundation of everything above?"

Yala's teachings were powerful: "These three major basic cultivation methods are the foundation of all techniques in the world. No matter which one you break through to Great Accomplishment, you can use it to completely awaken and achieve the Extraordinary stage!"

"I understand, so that's how it is!" Hearing this, Su Zhou's eyes suddenly widened. The Wisdom Fruit made his thinking clear, and he immediately discovered the limitations of his previous thinking—he had previously regarded these three styles as a kind of skill and used them in combat, which naturally seemed a bit useless.

But in reality, the 'Universal Three Styles' is a method of training, a special cultivation method! Its power may only be slowly revealed after a period of persistent cultivation!

And Yala glanced at Su Zhou, who seemed to have understood something and was frowning in thought, and couldn't help but sigh: "Originally, I thought you could slowly cultivate in school, and then slowly excavate the essence of these techniques yourself. In that case, you would have a deeper understanding of cultivation, and the early polishing would be crucial to the later stages."

"But I was wrong about one thing. You are obviously not the kind of person who can calm down and seclude yourself, figure it out on your own, and then break through the bottleneck—Su Zhou, you need actual combat."

"The Evil-Devouring Demon Lord, as expected, can only be fully grown in the battle against evil. Although your world is developing steadily and the methods of dealing with problems are very mature, in the short term, it is precisely because it is too stable that this world lacks the most important 'combat' and 'opportunity'."

Saying this, Yala nodded slightly, as if she had made a decision.

"Start preparing, Su Zhou. If you really want to gain the power to destroy an entire organization of transcendents with your own strength within this year, then there is only one way."

The Serpent Spirit said this, and Su Zhou immediately reacted to what Yala was going to say next.

Then, as expected, Yala flicked her tail and pointed to the silver pocket watch on Su Zhou's desk. Her tone was calm: "That is to go to another world—to cultivate with the resources of another world, and to fight against the evil enemies of another world."

"Presumably, there, you should be able to transform these 'impractical' techniques into your own unique combat skills."

"Really! Yay!" Hearing this, Su Zhou was very happy at first. He clenched the spear in his hand and raised it high, looking almost like he was about to cheer.

--What, an old transcendent organization with hundreds of years of history! I, Su Zhou, have Yala, and the Heavenly God Scale. I have cheats, and I can go to other worlds to collect resources and hone my skills!

Saying that I can't annihilate your organization alone?! Who are you looking down on!

But soon, he seemed to have thought of something.

So Su Zhou's smile came to an abrupt end. He silently raised his head and looked out the window.

Su Zhou said softly: "Yes, even in other worlds, there are villains who need to be swept away."

"That's for sure."

Yala didn't care and said: "Order and chaos restrain and promote each other. As long as civilization still has room for progress, the spiral of good and evil will not stop—any world is the same, you don't have to be so sentimental."

But Su Zhou didn't respond this time. He just silently picked up the spear and then began to practice the 'Universal Three Styles' again.

Yala was right—he was only just barely entering the path of transcendence. Even for the sake of eliminating evil, he couldn't be overly ambitious and needed to be down-to-earth.

Let's cultivate with peace of mind!

The time to prepare for the first crossing to another world was neither short nor long.

Time was spent cultivating spiritual techniques, martial arts, and hunting more and more evil spirits and grudges. For many ordinary people, these first two months of the revival of spiritual energy did not bring about any major changes, except that insects became harder to kill.

The transcendent factors lurking in the masses were gradually awakening in the increasingly strong spiritual energy. This process needed time to soak in, and no one knew how many 'superpowers' would be catalyzed in the near future.

Change was brewing, and transformation was waiting.

And on this day, December 7, 2014.

Winter, heavy snow.

All preparations were complete.

The crossing was about to begin.