Chapter 228: Limit

One year after advancing to the fourth tier.

Ye Qingxuan's primordial essence had been completely exhausted, yet the rapid expansion of the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven still had not ended.

Before the fourth tier, whenever the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven advanced, its area would expand by roughly ten times in a single burst.

Only after the area expanded tenfold would the expansion speed of the Grotto-Heaven slow down.

However, it would still continue to expand at an extremely slow pace during ordinary times.

But once the volume of the Grotto-Heaven increased, expanding its area by ten times in a single burst was no longer so easy.

Ye Qingxuan estimated.

Starting from the fourth tier, for every tier the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven advanced, the expansion multiplier of its area would gradually decrease.

Then, after the rapid expansion phase ended, it would continue to expand slowly over time at a normal speed.

The Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven advanced to the fourth tier.

Upon the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven advancing to the fourth tier, the growth limit of the spiritual plants within it increased, but only to a limited extent.

In fact, spiritual plants of the first to fourth tiers were the main crops planted in the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven.

Besides the significant increase in area allowing for more spiritual plants to be grown.

As time went on, the gap between cultivators and spiritual plants would grow ever wider.

Moreover, only about five thousand spiritual plants could be elevated to the lower grade of the sixth tier each time.

Even though the spiritual energy in the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven did not need to be supplied to cultivators for cultivation, and all energy could be used to nurture spiritual plants.

If the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven were compared to the Earthly Mystic Realm, then the spiritual plants grown within the Grotto-Heaven would be equivalent to the cultivators of the Earthly Mystic Realm.

However, at the sixth-tier level.

Except for some special fifth-tier spiritual plants, Ye Qingxuan had planted all spiritual plants from the first to fourth tiers.

By the time they reached the seventh-tier level, the number of spiritual plants capable of growing to the seventh tier within the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven would be even smaller.

The sixth tier was merely the beginning.

The growth limit of the spiritual plants planted within it also increased.

Both required consuming the energy of their respective worlds.

If all cultivators cultivated to the Mahayana realm, even if they possessed such talent, the Earthly Mystic Realm would not have sufficient energy to supply them.

Within the Earthly Mystic Realm, the number of cultivators that could be supported at the Mahayana level was limited.

This was the reason why Ye Qingxuan, at the very beginning, did not greedily replace all the low-tier spiritual plants in the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven to reap the benefits of planting.

The growth limit of the spiritual plants planted within the Grotto-Heaven could at most be raised to the lower grade of the sixth tier.

Whether it was cultivators, spiritual plants, or other heavenly treasures and earthly wonders, the energy required to advance by even a small level was enormous.

There was no way to nurture all spiritual plants to the highest tier.

Just like the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven before its advancement.

At the early stage of the fourth tier, even with the assistance of various sixth-tier formations.

The sixth tier was merely a quantitative change, while the seventh tier was a qualitative transformation.

Spirit Gathering Grass, Spirit Purifying Tree, and Earth Spirit Flower, these special spiritual plants.

Although they could continue to grow, and their growth speed before the seventh tier was not much different from ordinary plants below the seventh tier.

But upon reaching the supreme grade of the sixth tier, the energy and time required to transform into the seventh tier were unimaginable.

Moreover, if there was even the slightest error, the transformation would fail.

In that case, Ye Qingxuan would not only fail to obtain a single seventh-tier spiritual plant but might also lose a supreme-grade sixth-tier spiritual plant.

Like the seventh-tier White Lotus, seventh-tier Purple Bamboo, and seventh-tier Armor Vine, whose essence was inherently at the seventh-tier level.

Although their growth speed was extremely slow in the early stages due to the need to transform elemental primordial energy.

They could effortlessly cross the shackles of the sixth and seventh tiers and naturally transform into the seventh-tier level.

This was the difference between the two.

Seventh-tier spiritual plants would convert the absorbed energy into primordial energy, consuming far too much.

Therefore, in the later stages, even if the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven grew to the seventh tier.

Ye Qingxuan would still be unable to nurture all the spiritual plants within the Grotto-Heaven to the seventh tier.

Unless Ye Qingxuan was willing to sacrifice quantity for quality, choosing to nurture only seventh-tier spiritual plants.

But for the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven to advance, it needed to comprehend enough elemental mysteries and rules.

Relying solely on refining spirit ores to comprehend the rules was far from enough.

For the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven to shorten the time required for advancement.

Planting a wide variety of other spiritual plants was indispensable.

Compared to seventh-tier spiritual plants, Ye Qingxuan valued the growth of the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven and the breakthrough of his own cultivation base more.

As long as these two goals were not affected, other restrictions were trivial to Ye Qingxuan.

Earning resources was originally meant to accelerate the growth of the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven and improve his own cultivation.

Under such circumstances, Ye Qingxuan would naturally not put the cart before the horse, delaying the growth of the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven and the improvement of his own cultivation for the sake of resources.

Therefore, Ye Qingxuan could not abandon the growth of the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven in exchange for more seventh-tier spiritual plants.

After perceiving the limit of the early fourth-tier Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven and understanding all this in his heart.

Ye Qingxuan's expression remained calm, with no fluctuation in his heart.

The quota of five thousand lower-grade sixth-tier spiritual plants was sufficient in the early stages.

Moreover, as the Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven improved, this number would continue to grow.

For the remaining time, Ye Qingxuan used it to comprehend the fourth-tier Qingxuan Grotto-Heaven and perfect his Earth Immortal Art.

Then, he would elevate his Earth Immortal Body to the fourth-tier level.

In truth, Ye Qingxuan did not place excessive value on cultivation techniques or the Earth Immortal Body.

Before the Immortal Realm.

Cultivators rely on techniques to accelerate the accumulation of energy, break through realms, and transform themselves.

Indeed, many cultivators, like Ye Qingxuan, also practice body-refining techniques to elevate their physical realm.

But upon reaching the Immortal Realm level.

Comprehending the Great Dao laws is the sole standard for elevating one's cultivation base.

Once the Great Dao laws are elevated, a cultivator can, with a single thought, open deeper layers of the world's space, devouring the primordial essence and even the turbulent chaotic energy within to transform themselves.

Thus, after entering the Immortal Realm, cultivators no longer require auxiliary techniques for cultivation.

The Great Dao is singular; the primordial unity is one.

This is the pursuit after the Immortal Realm; as for techniques? They are merely flashy trifles.

Ye Qingxuan is now perfecting his comprehension of the Earth Immortal Art and refining the Earth Immortal Body.

This is merely a necessity before the Immortal Realm, and a means to ensure he does not fall behind others before reaching it, while accelerating his own growth.

Before the Immortal Realm, the Earth Immortal Body still holds great significance for Ye Qingxuan.

Once the Great Dao laws are comprehended and the Immortal Realm is broken through.

A cultivator's physical body will merge with the comprehended Great Dao laws, transforming into a Great Dao Law Body.

Whether the Earth Immortal Body or other powerful physiques cultivated deliberately by cultivators, all are insignificant before the Great Dao Law Body.

Only a Great Dao Law Body of the same level can oppose a Great Dao Law Body.

The degree of completeness in comprehended Great Dao laws determines the perfection of the formed Great Dao Law Body.

Cultivating the physical body now to strengthen one's flesh.

The only benefit after the Immortal Realm is merely to reduce the time required for the transformation of the Great Dao Law Body during the breakthrough.

(End of this chapter)