Chapter 187: Five Categories of Combat Power (Please Subscribe)

The corridor was deep and profound, permeated with evil.

Upon setting foot here, Meng Changqing gave an answer: "Simply put, regarding talent, combat power, and other such circumstances, there is a division into five categories and five tiers: the mediocre, the three tiers of the elite, the genius, the heaven-gifted, and the supreme heaven-gifted."

"These are not to say that one is destined from birth, but rather that one can improve their corresponding tier through acquired effort, so subdivided further, there is also the distinction of strength and accumulation within the same tier."

"To put it more simply, generally those who can rely on themselves to break through to the Golden Core stage must have some aspect that is top-tier elite; in other words, the Golden Core stage is the dividing line for the elite."

"Following that is the Nascent Soul stage, the dividing line for geniuses, and the Integration stage, the dividing line for the heaven-gifted... being able to cross these hurdles, or rather, being certain one can cross them, leads to being recognized as belonging to that tier."

"Therefore, it is naturally better to possess talent that exceeds the line in advance, but even if one does not, by supplementing, improving, and accumulating bit by bit, after passing the hurdle of the Nascent Soul stage, no matter what the situation was before, one will be recognized as a genius; the same applies to the latter two."

Meng Changqing tried his best to explain simply, but the content involving this situation was actually quite extensive, so he was not sure if Du En had fully understood.

"In other words, once at the Nascent Soul stage, it is already very difficult to rely on external forces to break through, whereas at the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment stages, it is still possible?"

Du En quickly captured the key point in the other's explanation.

Meng Changqing suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Very good, he understood; there was no need to stop and explain it carefully to him at such a juncture.

Then he nodded: "Correct. Although the Golden Core stage is the first formal hurdle on the path of cultivation, in reality, it is not to say it is difficult, nor is it easy; there are still quite a few methods one can use to borrow force to break through, which is why there are quite a few second- or third-rate Golden Core cultivators."

"But the mediocre cannot?"

"Correct. So, to be precise, the Golden Core stage should be the dividing line for the elite, but as you know, a top-tier elite can easily kill dozens or hundreds of third-rate elites; they are completely not on the same level, so it is subdivided into three tiers."

As Meng Changqing spoke, he felt some emotion: "The third-rate can reach Golden Core by relying on external forces, the second-rate can reach Nascent Soul by relying on external forces, but the top-tier can basically never reach Nascent Soul by relying on external forces. Therefore, this middle station on the path of cultivation is considered by some to be the starting point of a true cultivator, which is why the title of 'Great Cultivator' exists."

Only in the Immortal Sect can one be considered a person; a genius is equal to a person, while the elite below them are actually just consumables. Just looking at this struggle among the upper echelons, hundreds or thousands of top-tier elites have followed one after another, only to continuously lose their lives.

Thinking this, Du En turned his thoughts back to himself.

As for me, I probably shouldn't be considered a genius yet, just at the level of a strong top-tier, but when I reach the perfection of Foundation Establishment, perhaps I might barely count?

Thinking of this, he recalled the past and said: "I once heard a foreman friend I knew say that the Immortal Sect's standard line for determining a genius is being able to reach Foundation Establishment in just one year, and for those with good comprehension, the standard line is being able to fully grasp a low-grade technique in one month."

"This is the advantage of a head start. Those natural geniuses can complete their accumulation faster and possess a combat power gap at the same rank, allowing them to quickly approach the hurdle of the Nascent Soul stage, and the Nascent Soul stage is basically attainable. Of course, a hidden pearl like you is not an isolated case."

After adjusting his attitude and emotions, Meng Changqing began to heap praise without reservation, while also appearing to imply something.

Du En did not take the bait and fell into silence.

Meng Changqing did not mind and turned his attention to the end of the corridor.

At the entrance of the underground palace, the two stood still.

"The situation is a bit dire!"

"Indeed."

At this moment, what met their eyes was evil, writhing as if taking shape, like a viscous and turbid colloid, mixed with some residual traces of resentment and evil.

As for the evil cultivators, they had long since sacrificed themselves entirely, leaving only some floating scraps of clothing to prove they had once existed here.

Meng Changqing shook his head: "Even if these evil cultivators hadn't summoned the resentment before, they could actually still cause trouble for people and influence the situation."

"What are they doing?" Du En asked.

"Evil-object transformation, or rather, further evil-object transformation. Abandoning their own forms and thoughts, they fuse with the evil objects in the ruins, thereby creating this current state that can be called a mother-nest of evil objects, gestating even more evil, evil objects."

"Is there anything we can do now?"

"It is best not to do anything. Any attack or contact will exacerbate their breeding and gestation. When the time comes, thousands of strange evil objects will jump out, and we will only suffer heavy losses!"

As Meng Changqing said this, he laughed again: "It's fortunate we came by to take a look. Otherwise, judging by the way that resentment was fixated on you, the ones that would have gestated later would probably have instinctively swarmed toward us. As for now, come, give me a trace of magic power and a wisp of blood energy; I will graft them onto the opponent's side, and we will all bear the pressure together."

Du En nodded and released a trace of magic power and a wisp of blood energy.

Both were sparkling and contained crystal dust.

"You are already considered a strong top-tier. When you reach the perfection of Foundation Establishment and make up for the deficiency in your realm, none of those death-sworn soldiers will be your match, even if they self-destruct, it will be hard to shatter your Firm Spirit Body; you are just like a human-shaped top-grade spirit stone."

While Meng Changqing sighed with emotion, he quickly performed a secret technique to graft half of the pressure onto the Upper Envoy's side.

During the exchange just now, he was not just taking a beating; he had taken the opportunity to intercept quite a bit of their energy and Dao rhyme, which could now serve as the necessary prerequisite for the secret technique.

And as soon as he cast the spell, the other side immediately became aware.

The resentment that had been heading straight for Du En was also slightly affected, causing a pause and hesitation.

It was mainly because Meng Changqing was targeting the evil-object mother-nest, and by utilizing the residual evil traces within it, he could indirectly use it as a springboard to reach Him, thus being able to interfere slightly.

Just a little was enough; the main thing was to let the evil-object mother-nest work on two fronts and not just stare at their side.

When he finished casting the spell, the two turned around.

"Hurry back and prepare. They must have noticed over there and will likely rush their rest, launching a fierce attack under the new pressure!"

Meng Changqing focused on this, quite looking forward to them clashing again.

But Du En's focus was a bit different; there was one thing he felt he had to ask clearly.

So, while leaving the underground palace and flying on his artifact again, he sent a divine sense transmission: "Speaking of which, this Firm Spirit Art isn't used by you all to raise human-shaped spirit stones, is it?"

First Li Jian had said something similar, then there was Meng Changqing's sigh just now, and looking at the various situations in the Nanmo Border City to see the big picture from the small, it would not be surprising at all if this Falling Feather Immortal Sect really let people cultivate as spirit stones and then harvested them for use.

It was not that Du En had never thought about this aspect; after all, the Firm Spirit transformation was completed bit by bit, but he had no better technique to replace or switch to before.

And now, it seemed like a good time?

(End of chapter)