Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Master, it’s bad! (4000 words, two chapters combined)

“Wu Dynasty Weekly Gazette! Wu Dynasty Weekly Gazette! The fourth miss of Xu Guo Mansion—Xuenuo entered the Cavern Realm at the age of five! Unprecedented! Unprecedented!”

“Xuenuo transformed her Innate Sword Bone into a Life-Bonded Flying Sword, naming it—Qingming!”

“The Ten Thousand Sword Sect will hold the Great Ten Thousand Swords Ceremony in two years, and Sect Leader Jiang Luoyu has ordered disciple Xuenuo to preside over the ceremony!”

“The fourth miss of Xu Guo Mansion has become famous far and wide; His Majesty is delighted. Starting today, taxes will be halved for one year!”

The Wu Kingdom has its Weekly Gazette, recording significant events that have occurred and been passed down within the Wu Dynasty over the past week, similar to a weekly newspaper.

And just as Xuenuo’s name appeared in the “Divine Mechanism Book” of Tianji City, the entire world came to know the three characters “Xuenuo.”

But the issue lies in the fact that even Sect Leader Jiang Luoyu of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect took five hundred years to enter the Xiānrén Jìng!

The Red Beauty List records the top one hundred beauties in the world.

“Their father is my father’s subordinate, an Undersecretary of the Ministry of War!”

Entering the Cavern Realm means becoming a person of the mountain, with a lifespan reaching five hundred.

I imagine the readers have noticed that this follows the cultivation levels from “Sword Coming,” though there have been some modifications.

Ming furrowed his brow slightly.

“Miss Xu is indeed powerful, but if Miss enters the path of cultivation, she won’t be any less impressive.” said Caodie who was standing beside him.

So many cultivators die without being able to take that step.

By the time Xuenuo’s master arrives, he’ll likely be wielding a sword, personally severing karmic ties in the Wu Kingdom.

Listening to Caodie’s words, Ming silently took note.

However, Ming glanced at Caodie again.

Ming didn’t know if these were common knowledge, but he felt that this maid of Lady Qin seemed to know quite a bit.

Unconsciously, Ming and Qingwan had already arrived at the entrance of the lecture hall.

Though Ming didn’t intend to break the law, knowing the laws of the Wu Dynasty would give him a clear understanding of what he should and shouldn’t do.

For great talents, the Nascent Soul Stage is merely the beginning.

Shuiya shook his head, dismissing further thoughts, and with hands behind his back, planned to visit the Spring Wind Tower.

Ming also felt that he needed to train harder.

“Hmm,” Ming nodded.

“Possible, yet not possible,” Caodie replied.

What attribute points would I gain if I watched Little Liu Bei grow up?

Unlike the increase in Righteous Aura or Literary Aura, which gives no noticeable feeling,

The Nascent Soul Stage is already the level where one can establish a sect.

Among cultivators in these five realms, all are still considered mortals, capable of using simple spells and dharma instruments, but not much more. Their lifespans are only extended by forty or fifty years compared to ordinary people.

But as long as His Majesty has even a fleeting thought of “because of her sister, let him inherit the title,” then the national fortune of the Wu Kingdom will indirectly affect Xuenuo through the “Duke of Xu Country Title.”

“Hmm, go ahead. I’ll send someone to bring two jars of wine to you later. These ten jars of wine are all thanks to you,” Shuiya chuckled.

Know the law before breaking it.

Even the strongest martial artists have lifespans not exceeding three hundred.

But when it comes to those with great talent, the Nascent Soul Stage is just the start.

Shuiya respectfully received the imperial decree from the eunuch.

Ming let out a slight sigh of relief.

Martial artists breaking through realms cannot trigger the Divine Mechanism Book’s response, but if you beat someone on the list so badly they’re utterly humiliated, wouldn’t they lose face staying in their position? The Divine Mechanism Book can only add your name.

Ming smiled, exhaled, and then kicked him hard in the stomach.

Indeed, a supreme martial artist can match against a cultivator in the Ascension Realm.

The hereditary dukedom is never decided by the family head, but by His Majesty.

And the Cavern Realm, as the first realm of the middle five realms, is also the first life-and-death major hurdle for cultivators’ practice!

Once you enter the Cavern Realm, you can abstain from food, ride the wind, and truly be called a person of the mountain.

But Ming observed Pengda sitting beside the passage, still struggling to stay awake during class, occasionally pinching himself to keep alert.

There are known to be no more than fifty cultivators in the Xiānrén Jìng, basically all existing as venerable ancestors.

Apart from Xuenuo, the youngest person is Mo Wushuang, ranked ninth on the Azurecloud List—at twenty-one years old.

From this, one can see the significance of Xuenuo ascending to tenth place on the Azurecloud List at the age of five.

Ming was momentarily stunned.

“This is indeed regrettable, but it doesn’t matter. Miss Xu is still a citizen of the Wu Kingdom, and wherever she goes, she remains our Wu Kingdom’s banner,” Eunuch Wei smiled. “Since the imperial decree has been delivered, I shall return to report.”

After Eunuch Wei left, everyone dispersed. Wang Feng stepped forward and bowed to Shuiya: “Father, I will return to the courtyard.”

Shuiya watched Wang Feng’s retreating back, shaking his head, feeling somewhat sorry for his daughter-in-law.

They can be considered somewhat skilled Taoist priests of the jianghu.

[You have read 100 words of the “Wu Dynasty Legal Code,” Spirit +1, Eloquence +1]

“Cultivators have fifteen realms in total.

At this moment, the person who had been knocked down grabbed a rock and threw it at the back of Pengda’s head.

Most importantly, they knew their crying would be useless.

Entering the lecture hall, Ming heard many children discussing the name “Xuenuo,” with admiration shining in many of their eyes.

The upper five realms—Jade Pudding Realm, with a known total number of only three hundred people in the world, either sect leaders or elders of large sects.

For cultivators, three hundred years mean nothing, but for ordinary people, three hundred years would have returned them to dust.

The Divine Mechanism Book is an ancient treasure passed down in Tianji City since ancient times.

If anyone breaks through a realm, it will trigger the Divine Mechanism Book’s response, and the book will rank accordingly.

“It’s very impressive.”

Of course, for elementary school students aged five, six, or seven, it’s all the same—equally dull.

Ming started to feel sleepy while listening, but for the sake of attribute points, he endured.

This is shared glory.

Do you, as a young master of Xu Guo Mansion, really need to work so hard when you’re destined to live a life of comfort without a hereditary dukedom?

Half the class passed, and a man in a python robe arrived at the lecture hall.

“Your father is the Minister of War?” Ming confirmed.

Compared to yesterday when various young masters and misses went berserk, refusing to enter the lecture hall,

But Xuenuo, at the age of five, entered the Cavern Realm.

No successors are known.

Flying ascension is known to have occurred only ten times, with the last change in the Ascension Realm list happening three hundred years ago when Sect Leader Jiang Luoyu of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect cleaved open the Heavenly Gate and ascended.

But regardless, Xuenuo is still a citizen of the Wu Kingdom!

In just a year, Xuenuo directly crossed five realms, entering the Cavern Realm and ranking among the top ten on the Azurecloud List!

Based on what Ming learned from conversations between mothers and Lady Qin.

A hereditary dukedom requires an imperial decree from His Majesty.

“That sister Caodie, what realms do cultivators have?” Just as Ming wanted to ask, Qingwan asked first.

As long as you have a spiritual root, cultivate diligently, and live until the end of your natural life, you can generally reach the Furnace Building Realm.

“Master, it’s bad! The son of the Minister of War and the sons of two undersecretaries have had their teeth knocked out by Young Master.”

The Nascent Soul Realm is also known as the Earth Immortal Realm, the ultimate limit for the vast majority of cultivators.

Shuiya sent his son to escort the visitor.

Seeing the ocean, one may enter the Dragon Gate.

Climbing to the Nascent Soul Realm, one becomes a true cultivator.

The more Ming read the “Wu Dynasty Legal Code,” the clearer he felt, as if his tongue became more agile?

Could this be the effect of the spirit and eloquence attributes?

“???”

Both sides fought fiercely.

Ming was puzzled.

Xuenuo, despite her talent, would still need three hundred years.

But cultivators who can enter the Cavern Realm are one in a hundred.

Students cheered and rushed out of the lecture hall to play in the courtyard.

As for the lost two realms, none have ever appeared, existing only in legends.

And just as Ming was engrossed in leveling up, a little girl ran into the lecture hall shouting.

“Yes, do you know fear now?” Xiong Haizhi shouted loudly.

Ming then opened a new book, the “Wu Dynasty Legal Code.”

Yesterday, the entire mansion discussed this event, and Ming vaguely understood how formidable the Cavern Realm was.

“All officials from the Ministry of War, that makes things easier.”

“Sister Caodie, can martial artists enter the Azurecloud List?” Ming asked.

[This chapter mainly serves as a transition, explaining some realm settings so that readers won’t be confused about future plot developments.

“Imperial Decree: Xuenuo, citizen of the Wu Kingdom, entered the Cavern Realm at the age of five, ranking tenth on the Azurecloud List. Her name resonates across the land. Reward Xu Guo Mansion with ten jars of Guihua liquor from Jiuxian Valley. Decree ends.”

Firstly, the lower five realms: Qi Entry, Mind Illumination, Crucible Burning, Qi Practice, Furnace Building.

“These ten jars of Guihua liquor from Jiuxian Valley have been treasured by His Majesty for a long time. His Majesty usually doesn’t drink much, but this time he has given Duke Xu more than half, showing how truly pleased His Majesty is.” Eunuch Wei said, pinching his fingers delicately.

The middle five realms are respectively: Cavern, Sea Viewing, Dragon Gate, Golden Core, Nascent Soul.

But after reaching the middle five realms, things are different.

This made Ming curious.

“Father, where do you get such ideas? Your daughter-in-law takes her leave.” Wang Feng politely excused herself, saying no more, and turned to leave.

“Eunuch Wei, please walk slowly. Zheng’er, go see off Eunuch Wei.”

Shuiya laughed, secretly slipping several silver tickets into Eunuch Wei’s sleeve: “Unfortunately, Xuenuo possesses innate sword bones and cannot assist the country.”

Mr. Xiao told the students to rest for a moment as he had something to attend to.

After the cave realm, comes the sea-viewing realm, where divine consciousness greatly increases.

“…” Ming thought what Caodie said made perfect sense.

Ming walked into the courtyard and saw Pengda fighting three opponents in the yard.

“Brother Ming, did you see those words in the sky yesterday? Sister Xuenuo is truly amazing~~~”

“My father is the Minister of War! Bear Heaven!”

Especially in the capital of the Wu Kingdom, one of the political centers of the ten major human dynasties, excitement erupted.

Xu Guo Mansion, a eunuch with a shrill voice announced.

The “Wu Dynasty Legal Code” does not enhance Righteous Aura and Literary Aura, but other things instead.

With great difficulty, they bore such a talented daughter, but because she was born with innate sword bones, she must be removed from the family register, and even her mother cannot acknowledge her. In the future, even if Xuenuo returns, she will be treated as a guest.

Taking the Azurecloud List as an example.

Today, they would behave much better.

This copy of the “Wu Dynasty Legal Code” was purchased by Ming with the help of Sister Chunyan.

“But why did sister Caodie say it’s possible?” Ming was confused.

Mr. Xiao didn’t teach “Analects” today but instead taught “Rites Records.”

Not long after, Mr. Xiao entered the lecture hall.

Even whether this ‘lost two realms’ truly exist is unknown.”

On the way to school, Qingwan hugged Ming’s arm, happily skipping along.

Nodding, Ming genuinely felt happy for Xuenuo.

Unless Xuenuo reaches the Xiānrén Jìng, she will remain unaffected by any dynasty’s fortune.

Though Xuenuo was born with innate sword bones and thus could not be influenced by the dynasty’s fortune, resulting in her removal from the Xu Family Register. Even if she achieves great cultivation in the future, she cannot hold important positions in the Wu Kingdom or even recognize her relatives.

“When you mention Xuenuo in the future, the name of the Wu Kingdom will undoubtedly be mentioned too!

The Azurecloud List only records one hundred prodigies under thirty years old.

Nowadays, there are thirteen realms in existence; if we include the legendary two realms, cultivators have a total of fifteen realms.

Middle Five Realms – Cavern, Sea-Viewing, Dragon Gate, Golden Core, Nascent Soul.

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