Chapter 1372: Nine Ranks

Entering the city, the surroundings were bustling streets and alleys, with occasional travelers on either side.

“Conquering the Dungeons!”

“Going to the Fifth Underground City! Who wants to come along?”

“Spatial rings, artifact-grade, obtained from the underground civilization. Interested parties, come forward.”

A colorful, plump little bird stood on the Emperor’s shoulder. For a moment, he found himself unsure of what to do. After all, he had previously been omniscient and omnipotent, effortlessly entering any era and observing it as an outsider. Now, being personally immersed, he didn't know where to begin to develop.

“Spatial rings,” the plump little bird on his shoulder chirped, shaking its head as it looked around the bustling market. “They can still rob the Bloodline Human Race for their bloodline artifacts now… I'm afraid when the Age of Dharma Decline truly arrives, even spatial rings will be gone… The world will suddenly become so inconvenient.”

“After the Dharma Decline, no more spirits or monsters,” the Emperor tapped the little bird’s head, smiling. “And no more talk of ghosts or deities! Spatial rings are definitely part of the supernatural chaos; once the Age of Dharma Decline fully descends, people won’t believe in them anymore; they’ll just be prehistoric myths.”

“Heh heh.” The plump little bird chirped twice, sounding rather odd.

“Alright, let's spend some resources and buy a place to settle down,” Xu Zhi thought. He immediately inquired about property locations, first staying in an inn. He spent over a week acquiring identification documents and other necessities, then found a suitable plot and purchased a large courtyard villa. Getting everything set up, befriending the neighbors, clearing up many trivial matters, and then applying for a warrior's license, he already felt overwhelmed with busyness.

Half a month had already passed. The strong scent of the mortal world, filled with human activity, wafted over him. In just a few days, things had become so complicated; what about years or even centuries?

Xu Zhi’s first feeling was one of weariness, a seemingly endless expanse of it. Previously, he had always observed from the sidelines, never truly immersing himself in worldly cultivation. Witnessing a historical turning point every few centuries, or even spending a decade or more in seclusion, felt like the blink of an eye. Now, actually having to live and navigate the mortal world for hundreds of years…

Xu Zhi also wanted to keep things simple, perhaps just creating a villa as he had before, but that wasn't feasible here. This wasn’t the Zerg, and there was no Zerg protective shield. He was just an ordinary deity here, and if he didn't maintain a low profile, he would inevitably be 'checked' like Messiah before him. Messiah could die, but his current physical body could not. Because each grand universe can only have one life-soul imprint, one parallel self. If he were to die, his presence in this parallel universe would cease to exist.

“Before, I always relied on my ability to isolate myself from others’ perceptions,” Xu Zhi mused. “Now that I have to truly live a grounded life, I realize how troublesome it is to be alive. No wonder the Dao Heart can decay.” Xu Zhi shook his head, beginning to understand Phoenix's state of mind. “People don't age, their hearts do…”

He recalled his own life at twenty-six, the exhaustion of being an office worker, and the days that culminated in cancer. Life truly wasn't easy. Even in a fantasy martial arts world, seemingly glamorous figures like Emperor Qi and other heroes still had to deal with countless daily trivialities.

Phoenix chuckled, “I think it’s alright. In fact, living in the mortal world for a decade or two can temper one's Dao Heart, and being refined by mundane affairs and human relations can be beneficial… But over a long period, it becomes unsustainable. Thousands or tens of thousands of years can wear a person down… Just like me, constantly working outside, burdened by trivialities. Over time, even a brilliant pearl can become clouded with dust.”

Xu Zhi was speechless.

Phoenix stated seriously, “Even an eighth-tier deity needs to eat and drink, buy groceries, and cook. Besides, you're not a deity right now, so you should go to the market every day to buy food, then come back and cook… When necessary, you'll also need to go out and complete some tasks to earn money.”

“I'm a bird; if I go out to buy groceries, I'll be killed,” the little bird chirped. “We can't attract attention in this extraordinary world, because with the Twilight of the Gods descending, this is our other future.”

Days began to repeat themselves. Every day, Xu Zhi repeated the same routine: cultivating soul and martial arts, beginning his ascent to the ninth tier. Both Xu Zhi and Phoenix were cultivating for the ninth tier. Such days were monotonous, yet inevitable. Being new to this place, his cultivation level had to be revealed gradually. Immediately exposing himself as a deity would certainly arouse suspicion. Xu Zhi's public persona was that of a wandering young man in his twenties, already a martial arts prodigy. Over the years, his visible cultivation had slowly climbed, currently appearing to be at the sixth tier.

While adapting to the external environment, Xu Zhi naturally also delved into researching the ninth tier. The boundless wisdom of the Grand Universe Technique surged forth, allowing Xu Zhi to fully grasp the concept and realm of the ninth-tier martial arts.

“I finally see the path ahead,” Xu Zhi said softly. “Ninth-tier martial arts also involve the fusion of soul and body… While ninth-tier bloodlines twist the rules of the universe, ninth-tier martial arts involve mastering the rules of the universe.”

“Mastering?” Phoenix asked.

“Yes, mastering, not twisting, because the universe's rules are already too perfect to be twisted.”

Phoenix pondered this. Twisting rules meant making the universe's rules exceed their limits: light surpassing light speed, space being shattered and warped. Mastering rules, however, meant utilizing existing cosmic rules, like manipulating light, but without being able to make light exceed its inherent limits.

“From that perspective, it seems significantly weaker,” Phoenix frowned.

Xu Zhi shook his head. “It’s different… The eras are different. Ancient times were flawed, which allowed them to be manipulated… It’s like a program with loopholes that we exploited to create cheats. Now that the program is complete, we can only operate within its rules. This is the most natural and proper path.”

“So, what about the ninth-tier martial art, 'Rehe Force,' publicized by Renard?” Phoenix asked.

“The ninth tier is indeed a qualitative leap from eighth-tier martial arts,” Xu Zhi replied. “He is likely using nuclear fusion and fission to form reactors within each cell.”

Phoenix fell silent for a moment. “Fusion nuclear explosions? That is indeed a ninth-tier energy level, capable of destroying a planet. From that standpoint, it is certainly weaker than our Dao-achievers at the same realm.”

Xu Zhi didn't confirm or deny, continuing his discourse: “It’s already very good. Only the old universe, with its weaker rules, could be leveraged. In ancient times, cosmic rules were even more incomplete, to the point where a deity's breakthrough could cause an entire galaxy to tremble. That was the most unstable period…”

Phoenix naturally knew this. The more ancient the era, the more unstable the cosmic rules. Let alone deities, even a seventh-tier Heavenly Emperor's breakthrough could turn the world upside down.

Phoenix nodded. “I know, of course! This is returning to simplicity, where great skill appears artless! It’s excellent that a cultivation method has been found now. Ninth-tier martial arts might be weak, but the tenth tier might even surpass Saints? Even if it doesn’t, it’s still a gateway to the eleventh tier.” That was true eternity! To transcend the universe and obtain the sole cosmic truth. None of them cared whether the ninth or tenth tiers were powerful; they only cared about the ultimate goal of the eleventh tier. The current cultivation methods within the universe's rules were merely pathways to eternity.

“Then should I also cultivate Rehe Force?” Phoenix asked.

“You can,” the Emperor considered for a moment before replying. “Actually, martial arts cultivation isn't restricted by bloodlines. As long as one has enough energy, many types can be cultivated… In a sense, ninth-tier martial arts, unrestricted by cultivation limits, if practiced sufficiently, can surpass ninth-tier Dao-achievers of bloodlines.”

Phoenix was stunned.

“However, this is just a deduction,” the Emperor continued. “This path is still in its infancy, and I am still working on its development… Perhaps there's a possibility of transcending the Age of Rules; there's no reason for later eras to be weaker.” With the Grand Universe Technique, and the influx of countless talents from the “Myriad Worlds,” along with the new burst of genius intelligence from the fourth cosmic layer transforming into Zerg… Xu Zhi, now possessing the Grand Universe Technique, was indeed qualified to say this. However, he merely possessed the accumulated knowledge they had pioneered, not their inherent talent and wisdom.

“Currently, I have deduced three ninth-tier martial arts techniques,” Xu Zhi said softly.

Phoenix was completely astonished. Three? One should know that the Berserker had failed to deduce any, and Renard, who did succeed, only deduced one. Yet her husband had deduced three in just a few years?

The Emperor explained, “First, fire: raising body temperature, a very simple principle, though the technique itself is somewhat complex and weaker than ‘Rehe Force’… Second, lightning: through cellular osmosis within the body… And third, quantum!”

“Quantum?” Phoenix was bewildered.

“Yes, quantum is also a natural rule under the universe's laws, not outside of twisted rules,” Xu Zhi explained softly. “Quantum martial arts should be the most difficult to cultivate and master among all martial arts. You can start by cultivating 'Rehe Force,' and I will observe carefully and guide you.”

Xu Zhi stood up. “At the same time, we should establish a martial arts hall, or even a school… Because one person's deduced cultivation techniques will always have imperfections. We need to find enough test subjects.”