"These five major lists pretty much cover most of the realms in the spiritual world, leaving out only the Qi Refining realm?" Yang Feilong blinked.
Bai Yidie didn't answer whether the Qi Refining realm was included, but after a moment of silence, she said, "It's difficult for those in the Qi Refining realm to get onto the Dragon-Phoenix Rankings. Because before reaching the Innate realm, their lifespan is unlikely to reach one hundred and twenty years, and even reaching one hundred is rare. Once they break through to the Innate realm, as long as it's not an unnatural death, they won't live less than two hundred years, and some can live up to three hundred. This is also why the worldly genius rankings are for those under thirty, while the spiritual world's are for those under forty. Because for the majority of people in the spiritual world, forty years old means less than one-fifth of their lifespan has passed."
"Mmm," Yang Feilong nodded. "The Heaven, Earth, Black, Yellow, and Human rankings are arranged by the strongest in each realm. Is the Dragon-Phoenix Rankings based on strength, or potential?" Yang Feilong asked after some thought.
"It's ranked based on a comprehensive assessment of potential and strength!" Bai Yidie replied.
"Ranked based on a comprehensive assessment of potential and strength?" Yang Feilong blinked and asked curiously, "If I were to go to the spiritual world, would I appear on the rankings?"
Bai Yidie looked at her disciple's curious and expectant expression and sighed, "This is also why I don't want you to go to the spiritual world so early."
Yang Feilong blinked. "You mean I could get onto the Dragon-Phoenix Rankings?"
"And the ranking wouldn't be low!" Bai Yidie nodded. "I said earlier that it's difficult for those in the Qi Refining realm to get onto the Dragon-Phoenix Rankings, but it's not that there are none. It's just that some in the Qi Refining realm are killed shortly after appearing on the Dragon-Phoenix Rankings, or they break through to the Innate realm not long after getting on the list!"
"Killed?" Yang Feilong was astonished, momentarily choked.
"Those who can get onto the Dragon-Phoenix Rankings while in the Qi Refining realm or the post-heavenly realm of ancient martial arts are top-tier geniuses, representing the Heavenly Machine Sect's high hopes for their future. Many people wouldn't want to see such individuals grow up! Because the spiritual world is extremely cruel, with a 'survival of the fittest' mentality. Also, many geniuses are unwilling to accept cultivators in the Qi Refining realm appearing on the list and will challenge them! Being on the list in the Qi Refining realm only represents great potential, not great strength. Even if you are strong, you can currently only deal with cultivators in the first level of Foundation Establishment (Innate). What about the second level? The third level? Or even stronger?" Bai Yidie looked at Yang Feilong and asked a series of rhetorical questions. "If they have powerful backing, they will break through to the Innate realm quickly. Those without the protection of a powerful force will perish!"
After listening to his master's words, Yang Feilong nodded, indicating he understood.
Yes, his current strength would be at the bottom in the spiritual world.
Fame wasn't always a good thing!
He couldn't possibly have his master follow him around to protect him, could he?
She was his master, not a nanny. Moreover, relying on his master all the time would hinder his growth. Just like in the past six months, his progress had been far more rapid than during his years of arduous cultivation on the mountain. Besides the deep accumulation he had before, the most important reason was that he was no longer in a state of ease, without his master's protection. Many times, he had to fight and contend for himself, which was the main reason for his rapid progress.
"Master, what do you mean by telling me all this?" Yang Feilong suddenly thought of something and asked.
"If you really want to go to the spiritual world, or when your cultivation speed significantly slows down, wait until your Qi Refining breaks through to the Foundation Establishment realm, or when one of your abilities, either psychic or ancient martial arts, breaks through to that realm, then go to the spiritual world," Bai Yidie said.
"Uh. I thought master was going to tell me her current cultivation level?" Yang Feilong said with a hint of helplessness.
Bai Yidie remained silent.
"By the way, master, you said there are also cultivators in the Core Formation realm on the Dragon-Phoenix Rankings, and the Heavenly Machine Human Ranking consists entirely of Core Formation cultivators. Are there any overlaps between these two rankings? In other words, is there a genius on the Dragon-Phoenix Rankings who possesses the strength of the Human Ranking?" Yang Feilong, seeing that his master didn't want to discuss her own realm, couldn't help but ask.
Bai Yidie was silent for a moment after hearing Yang Feilong's question, then replied, "There was once one."
"There really was?" Yang Feilong gasped, "A Golden Core realm cultivator under thirty-six years old? And not just any ordinary Golden Core, but a top-tier, powerful Golden Core cultivator?"
Bai Yidie's face flushed slightly, as if embarrassed.
Seeing Bai Yidie's expression, Yang Feilong seemed to realize something and asked with wide-eyed shock, "Master, that person wouldn't be you, would it?"
"It was me!" Bai Yidie glared at her disciple irritably. "What's with the fuss?"
"Master, are you in the late stage of Golden Core? Or the perfected Golden Core?" Yang Feilong asked with a smile and a blink.
"At that time, I was at the perfected Golden Core stage," Bai Yidie didn't hide it from Yang Feilong, as her disciple would likely find out her situation after entering the spiritual world anyway.
"At that time, you were at the perfected Golden Core stage? Wait, master, you just said there was one before? Then why isn't there anymore?" Yang Feilong felt a contradiction and couldn't help but ask.
"I didn't know about this ranking at first. After I got on the list, I felt it would be detrimental to some of my plans, so I used some means to sever the heavenly secrets. Then, the people of the Heavenly Machine Sect thought I had perished and removed me from the list," Bai Yidie explained.
"So that's how it is." Yang Feilong wasn't surprised that his master possessed the means to sever heavenly secrets.
In his heart, his master had always been omnipotent.
"Then when did you reach the perfected Golden Core stage, master?" Yang Feilong asked.
"Seven years ago," Bai Yidie replied.
"Perfected Golden Core seven years ago? Is master currently in the Nascent Soul realm? Or the Spirit Soul realm?" Yang Feilong blinked, looking at his master curiously.
"When you can reach the first rank on the Human Ranking, I will tell you my current cultivation level!" Bai Yidie said to Yang Feilong.
Although he didn't know Bai Yidie's current cultivation level, Yang Feilong had a rough idea. Ten years ago, his master was at the perfected Golden Core stage, and at that time, she was probably only around twenty-three or twenty-four years old, not much older than him now!
Regarding his master's age, Yang Feilong only had a general idea; she was likely in her early thirties now.
Given his master's talent and potential, she was probably at least in the Nascent Soul realm now, and it wouldn't be surprising if she had even broken through to the Spirit Soul realm!
However, it was most likely the Nascent Soul realm or the Spirit Soul realm, because the further one progressed in cultivation, the harder it became to break through. It was unlikely to be the Void Refining realm!
Yang Feilong originally thought his cultivation was getting closer and closer to his master's. Now, he realized that the gap between him and his master was like an insurmountable chasm.
Could he reach his master's level of perfected Golden Core stage at the age of twenty-three or twenty-four? It was difficult, very difficult, unless he had a miraculous encounter, unless the flaws of his Yin-Yang physique were completely mended.
From New Year's Eve to Spring Festival, the year quietly passed.