48. The Limit
Chapter 48: The Limit
The Eight Realms of Martial Arts. Although everyone present was familiar with the names of these realms, their understanding of the intricacies of each realm varied due to their different family backgrounds.
"The first four realms have ten levels each. Depending on the cultivation methods practiced, the gap between a top-tier genius and an ordinary martial artist within the same realm can be as vast as the heavens and the earth," Su Yehua explained the distinctions between the four realms:
"… After the Zhoutian realm comes the Jihun realm, where one cultivates the 'Soul Condensation Technique.'"
"Different levels of the Soul Condensation Technique allow for varying numbers of soul condensations. A top-tier technique can enable more than 50 condensations."
"But compared to the Soul Condensation Technique, the most crucial aspect of the Jihun realm is the level of soul thought you inherit."
"This determines the maximum number of times the soul image can be condensed!"
Su Yehua's gaze swept over the audience and continued, "If you inherit the soul thought of a Four Establishments realm expert, you can condense the soul 80 times!"
"If you inherit a demon soul, it can range from 30 to 60 times, depending on the demon soul's species."
"If it's merely a mountain spirit or ghost, the upper limit is only 20 times, which a mid-tier Soul Condensation Technique can satisfy."
At this point, Su Yehua paused, her gaze passing over two young men in luxurious clothing with python patterns on their sleeves: "If you inherit a soul thought beyond the Four Establishments realm, as far as I know, it can reach up to 180 condensations, which should be close to the Jihun realm's limit!"
This statement left many heirs of noble families visibly shocked.
The gap between the top-tier Jihun realm and the ordinary Jihun realm is nearly tenfold!
However, the two young men Su Yehua glanced at had different expressions. One appeared slightly uncomfortable, while the other showed pride, especially when he noticed the commotion around him. He cast a disdainful and scornful look.
180 is not the limit... Li Hao glanced at the beautiful instructor and shook his head internally.
The highest limit is 360 condensations.
…Probably.
Li Hao added a couple of words in his heart. Just because he couldn't do it didn't mean others couldn't reach higher levels...
By inheriting the souls of heaven and earth, he practiced four top-tier Soul Condensation Techniques and five upper-tier Soul Condensation Techniques to reach this limit.
Even if he practiced other Soul Condensation Techniques, he couldn't break the 360-condensation limit. Any further advancement was... his limit.
When he reached 360 condensations, Li Hao also comprehended another form of soul power.
He called it... the Celestial Earth Image.
…
At this moment, Su Yehua continued, "If you undergo soul condensation at our Tan Palace Academy and meet the qualifications, you can enter the Black and White Hall for cultivation, inheriting the soul thought of a Four Establishments realm. Except for the royal family, this is the top choice for soul condensation!"
"Of course, some students here come from prominent families and have Four Establishments realm ancestors, so they lack nothing in this regard, but others can consider it."
Many people's eyes brightened. Unlike Li Hao and other heirs of noble families or those two young men with python patterns on their sleeves, they did not come from illustrious backgrounds.
A Four Establishments realm hero's soul is top-tier in the martial temple and extremely rare. Unless one's aptitude is exceptionally high or they happen to catch the right eye, it's almost impossible to gain favor.
And Tan Palace, worthy of being the top academy across the nineteen states, offers such top-tier resources openly.
"After the Jihun realm is the Shenyou realm," Su Yehua continued softly, "The Shenyou realm is already equivalent to a military lieutenant or a renowned martial hero. It's very impressive and can serve as an instructor in the Yi Academy at our Tan Palace Academy."
Many people nodded slightly.
Shenyou… is already the level of a family head for some of them.
They can dominate a region in many cities.
"The Shenyou realm allows the soul to leave the body, covering several miles, observing everything within a radius of several miles."
"It can break through demonic illusions and sorcery."
"And the cultivation method for the Shenyou realm is the Spirit Refining Method!"
Su Yehua said, "Spirit Refining Methods vary in quality. A common Spirit Refining Method, even when cultivated to the highest level, can only cover a little over three miles."
"But an upper-tier Spirit Refining Method can increase that range by more than double, reaching up to seven miles."
"Top-tier Spirit Refining Methods are even more impressive, with a maximum range of eighteen miles!"
She glanced around at the disciples below, noting their shocked and complex expressions, and said calmly, "Eighteen miles is not the limit for the Shenyou realm, but top-tier Spirit Refining Methods are extremely rare, controlled only by a handful of elite families."
"And our Tan Palace Academy has one."
Hearing this, many noble disciples' eyes lit up.
"If you study diligently and stay in the Jia Academy, you will naturally have the opportunity to access it in the future," Su Yehua said with a smile.
"Really?"
"They're willing to teach this?"
"Our family head's Spirit Refining Method is only mid-tier, I heard."
Some people clenched their fists excitedly.
Studying hard at Tan Palace Academy means they have the chance to surpass their family heads one day!
The thought of it was exhilarating…
"Heh…" A youth in the front row with python patterns on his sleeves sneered, his disdain evident.
A top-tier Spirit Refining Method, only eighteen miles?
It's still far inferior to the royal family's Great Yu First Spirit Refining Method, which, when cultivated to the highest level, can reach twenty-five miles!
That's almost half a city!
Against ordinary Shenyou realm practitioners, it's an easy crush.
The further the Shenyou range, the stronger the soul, the more powerful the demonic techniques it can break through, and it can even escape the clutches of some great demons.
Su Yehua noticed the disdain in the royal youth's eyes but showed no expression. She was aware of the royal family's Great Yu First Spirit Refining Method but did not mention it. After all, this was related to imperial matters.
Discussions about the imperial family must be handled with care.
"Teacher, what is the limit of the Shenyou realm? Is it twenty miles?" someone curiously asked.
Su Yehua glanced at the inquiring youth, noting the curiosity of many others, and shook her head slightly, "Twenty miles is not the limit. The highest limit is about twenty-five miles or maybe thirty…"
"Thirty miles!"
Everyone was shocked. That's ten times the range of ordinary Spirit Refining Methods.
The gap between the limit and ordinary capabilities in each realm seems to be nearly tenfold!
It's hard to imagine how terrifying it would be if one reached the limit in every realm.
After hearing Su Yehua's words, the royal youth's eyes showed contempt.
Thirty miles? The royal First Spirit Refining Method is only twenty-five miles. This Tan Palace Academy teacher is making baseless claims, misleading students. It's laughable! He felt a surge of desire to expose and mock the teacher's words but recalled his mother's earnest instructions to keep a low profile at Tan Palace Academy...
Forget it, as long as I know the truth. Let them fool these fools.
With this in mind, he restrained his impulse and leaned back in his chair, a faint mocking smile on his lips.
Thirty miles… Li Hao shook his head again internally.
What this beautiful instructor said differed significantly from his own experience.
Simply cultivating three top-tier Spirit Refining Methods from the Listening Rain Pavilion allowed his Shenyou to reach thirty-five miles.
Later, Old Feng helped him sneak into the royal secret vault and obtain a copy of the Great Yu First Spirit Refining Method, pushing his Shenyou distance to fifty miles!
It could cover an entire city, with his soul able to reach any spot in an instant.
But that wasn't the limit. Li Hao felt he could go further. If he could find more top-tier Spirit Refining Methods to cross-reference, he could further refine his soul.
"If you can reach the Shenyou realm before twenty, you will be considered a genius wherever you go," Su Yehua said with a smile.
"But I've heard of someone reaching the Shenyou realm at sixteen," a noble youth said.
"My father told me that the Northern Yan Sword Saint reached Shenyou perfection at fifteen!"
The other disciples were also discussing, having previously only marveled. Now, with a deeper understanding, they realized how terrifying these achievements were.
Before, it was like looking at the moon from the bottom of a well. Now, after stepping into this threshold, it felt like a mayfly gazing at the sky!
"That's something only the top geniuses with nine-tiered battle bodies can achieve," Su Yehua said. "But don't be discouraged. Reaching the Shenyou realm sooner is undoubtedly better, but in the latter four realms, relying solely on physical aptitude has diminishing returns."
"In the Fifteen Li realm, you can still barely rely on talent to gain an advantage, but reaching the Tianren Grandmaster realm depends on character, comprehension, opportunities, and other acquired factors. Therefore, if you can touch the Tianren threshold, anyone can hope to step into the realm of masters!"
"Teacher, what are the latter four realms like?" someone curiously asked.