Chapter 119: Epilogue (2)
Continuing his modifications to the cultivation system, Zenith Heaven Emperor introduced two additional stages beyond the stage of Eternal Life Being. These new stages, known as World King and Empyrean, represented unprecedented heights of power and mastery. World King is a stage related to the creation of an inner world, while Empyrean is a stage that puts one on the same heights as the heavens.
However, Zenith Heaven Emperor's vision extended even further, as he forged a path to unparalleled transcendence, akin to his own state. This newfound realm, aptly named Heaven Trampling, beckoned cultivators to trample upon the heavens themselves, becoming a boundless existence. It represented a direct method that allowed cultivators to reach the Transcendent state that he achieved. Nonetheless, he ensured that this is as hard as possible. He considered what he made hard enough to even let the Holy Man a run for his life.
Zenith Heaven Emperor divided the World King stage into four distinct realms: Divine Sea, Divine Transformation, and Divine Lord, with the final culmination being Holy Lord.
Upon reaching the Divine Sea minor realm, cultivators would undergo a significant change within their Spirit Lake. As their body became completely saturated with Immortal Energy, there would be no more space to store additional energy. In response, cultivators would need to form a minor dimension, utilizing the Spirit Lake as its foundation. This process would initiate a surge of energy, continuously nourishing and developing their inner world seed. Over time, the minor dimension would expand, ultimately evolving into a fully-fledged 'inner world'.
Advancing to the Divine Transformation realm, cultivators would witness a profound transformation within their inner world. The breakthrough would be accompanied by an origin rain, enriching the inner world with even greater energy. The raindrops would give rise to plant life, originating from heaven and earth origin energy. These plants, depending on one's potential, would manifest as spiritual medicines and heavenly treasures. Remarkably, these plants would thrive within the cultivator's inner world, growing and flourishing as if they were in the physical realm. Moreover, if animals were to enter this realm, they would be able to breathe and thrive within the cultivator's inner world.
The Divine Lord realm represented the next stage of cultivation, where the cultivator's inner world would evolve into a microcosm filled with life. Within this minor realm, the inner world would transform into a small dimension capable of supporting intelligent life forms. The inner world of a Divine Lord cultivator resembled a continent suspended high in the skies, adorned with twisting rivers, towering mountains, and an abundance of diverse flora and fauna.
Finally, upon entering the Holy Lord realm, the vast expanse of earth within the cultivator's inner world would transform into a fully-fledged planet, while the inner world expanded to become a universe. This awe-inspiring world within would support a rich biodiversity, with stars illuminating the night sky. Furthermore, the potential for the creation of intelligent creatures within this realm offered the prospect of future nations and civilizations coming into existence.
Despite being an inner world, this world is however still bound by the laws of heaven. It is akin to another lower world from All Heavens and Myriad Realms.
Now to the Empyrean stage, Zenith Heaven Emperor divided it into three distinct realms: Half-Empyrean, Empyrean, and True Divinity. Each stage marked a significant advancement in the cultivator's journey.
After a cultivator accumulated enough power and reached the point of evolution, an immense and boundless strength would converge and condense within the center of their inner universe. Gradually, this concentrated energy would take the form of a colossal phantom figure known as the Supreme Divine Shadow. This supreme shadow is a manifestation of the cultivator's comprehensions and strengths acquired throughout their cultivation journey. It serves as preparation for the impending Heavenly Tribulation, where the Supreme Divine Shadow would merge with the cultivator's inner world, paving the way for their ascension into a true Empyrean.
This crucial step required the cultivator to attain the status of a Dao Lord, representing the highest comprehension of a single concept within their chosen Path. It was important to note that each concept could have only one Dao Lord, ensuring the uniqueness and exclusivity of their realm. For example the fire concept can have one and the water concept can have one, but the fire concept can never have two.
The appearance of the Supreme Divine Shadow marked the imminent breakthrough into the Empyrean Realm. At this pivotal moment, Heavenly Tribulation clouds would gather and ferment above the cultivator, waiting for their potential to rise to the point where it could arouse the strength of the world itself. Once the breakthrough was achieved, the cultivator would merge their Supreme Divine Shadow with their inner world, symbolizing their equal footing with the Heavenly Way within their own realm. They essentially are the Heavenly Way inside their own inner world, capable of implementing new rules on the level of the Laws of Heaven, as long as they do not contradict those laws.
The Heavenly Tribulation that accompanied this transition involved a battle against a projection of the last individual who had entered this minor realm. This projection possessed the same strength as the person during their breakthrough. This method ensured that every new Empyrean would surpass their predecessor, making the ascension to this realm progressively more challenging. However, every trillion years, a cycle reset occurred, and no tribulation took place for the first one to ascend after the reset. This reset happens at the same time as a person is granted an Imperishable Body.
Upon reaching the pinnacle of the Empyrean minor realm, cultivators embark on the extraordinary journey towards True Divinity. The breakthrough to True Divinity entails the merging of the Supreme Divine Shadow into every aspect of one's being, or to be specific into body and soul.
Unlike the Heavenly Tribulation experienced during previous breakthroughs, the transition to True Divinity is accompanied by a unique phenomenon. The Heavenly Way itself manifests divine chains, which serve to restrain the cultivator's progress and hinder the fusion with their divine shadow. These chains act as a test of resolve and determination, challenging the cultivator to overcome the shackles of the Heavenly Way and ascend to the realm of True Divinity.
Should the cultivator successfully merge with their divine shadow, a profound transformation occurs. The shattered divine chains formed by the Heavenly Way Laws initiate a baptism-like process, purifying and perfecting the cultivator. Through this divine baptism, the subordinating concepts of the Heavenly Way, such as Fire Laws and Wind Laws, reach their utmost boundaries, even without the cultivator's direct cultivation of these concepts. The boundary of a True Divinity Realm cultivator possesses the power to influence and mold the laws that surround them. Every movement, every action taken by a True Divinity cultivator inspires the principles inherent in the Heavenly Way, often even giving rise to a domain filled with the Laws of the Heavenly Way. In essence, the presence of a True Divinity cultivator becomes as immeasurable as the vastness of the universe itself.