Cultivation on the Mutian Continent comprises four major stages: the Foundation Realm, the Advanced Realm, the Minor Accomplishment Realm, and the Mahayana Realm.
The Foundation Realm focuses primarily on the cultivation of phantom power, maintaining that physical strength is the root of vital energy. It is divided into ten tiers, with every three tiers forming a level. Only upon reaching the sixth level of phantom power does the aura of spiritual grace begin to manifest.
The Advanced Realm focuses primarily on the aura of spiritual grace, maintaining that vital energy is the root of human existence. It contains two major tiers: the Spirit Human Realm and the Spirit Venerable Realm. Each tier is further divided into ten minor realms.
The Minor Accomplishment Realm focuses primarily on the path of mystical arts, maintaining that the Dao is the origin of all things. It contains two major tiers: the Mystic Monarch Realm and the Mystic Sect Realm. Each tier is likewise divided into ten minor realms.
The Mahayana Realm centers entirely upon the concept of enlightenment—enlightenment of heaven and earth, of all living beings, and of oneself. It contains two major tiers: the Saint Venerable Realm and the God Realm.
As for the legendary Misty Realm beyond the God Realm, it remains merely a legend, and no one truly knows what the Misty Realm entails.
Li Chunfeng was naturally gifted with high intelligence and formidable physical strength, allowing him to master phantom power with effortless ease. In his youth, his brilliance was utterly unrivaled, and he was groomed as the future head of the Li family.
As he grew older, however, he began to act dissolute and neglected his studies. The genius youth stopped progressing at the Fourth Realm Phantom Power, drawing sighs of regret or mockery from the onlookers for a time.
Li Chunfeng cared nothing for such illusory praise; what he truly cared about was familial affection. Back then, people had paid him far too much attention while ignoring his equally outstanding elder brother, Li Chunhui.
It was plain that Li Chunhui harbored a certain resentment in his heart. Li Chunfeng had seen all of this, and between the position of family head and his brother, he chose the latter.
He began to conceal his brilliance, faking an injury during an external training excursion, and thereafter embarked on a downward trajectory along the path of cultivation.
Later on, he achieved his wish, and his brother became the undisputed choice for family head. That year, he smiled even more happily than his brother did.
Yet in private, Li Chunfeng never once abandoned his cultivation, knowing that only by growing strong could he better protect his family. After all, the Li family was vast and complex, with numerous branches, and people were constantly casting covetous eyes upon the seat of the family head.
Yet fickle is fate; he was knocked unconscious by a single finger strike, his spiritual sense was replaced, and he was framed as a patricide who had murdered his mother and brother.
Li Chunfeng pondered for a long time without unraveling the mystery. What manner of person would treat him in such a way, and why had they not simply killed him along with the others? Furthermore, who could have dispatched the Moon Shadow Guard to carry out a dark assassination against him? It was obvious that the two parties had entirely different objectives.
Eventually, he simply stopped thinking about it. After all, his meridians had been severed, and without cultivation, he had no chance whatsoever of seeking revenge. He had wandered alone through the brambles for four whole years without finding a way out, like someone trapped in an endless labyrinth with no exit.
Until later, when he met an interesting person. That man wore a mask and spoke casually yet with no malicious intent. Not only did he reconnect Li Chunfeng's severed meridians, but he also presented him with a millennium-old Silver Panther skin, remarking that the stench of beasts on him was utterly repulsive, and that the millennium-old Silver Panther skin would effectively mask the odor.
Afterward, that man strode through the thicket of brambles deeper into the depths, leaving behind only a single sentence as he departed.
"If you wish to thank me, go take a look at the Lone Star Pavilion for me once you get out."
"Senior, what kind of place is that?"
"Mutian 181... Haha, a fine place..." With that, he vanished into the far end of the brambles.
"Mutian 181... the Lone Star Pavilion..." Li Chunfeng reminisced with relish upon the words of the masked senior from back then.
He had never heard any information regarding the Lone Star Pavilion. What he did know was that across the Mutian Continent, there were countless sects that all claimed to be Mutian 181.
These sects possessed considerable strength as well; in recent years, many outstanding disciples had emerged from each of them to display their brilliance. Yet when all was said and done, the Nine Cities and One Hundred and Eighty Lands were measured by their deep foundations—by the bedrock that had stood tall and unshaken for millions of years.