The Heart Realm of Origin was the sixth important step on the path of cultivation. It was the sixth stop. It is also an important power. Those in the Sage Realm have caught a glimpse of the Tao, which many people never see in their lifetime. Reaching the Sage Realm is not considered a sign of genius among nobles. However, if a commoner reaches the Sage Realm, he is definitely a genius. Without resources, it was very difficult to break through the Core Realm and advance in the field of the Tao, which was unfamiliar territory.
However, the Origin Heart Realm was equal for both. Nobles who had gained insights into the Tao from scrolls about past masters should meditate and philosophize to reach the Sage Realm. Then, they can transcend their limitations and see the trace of the Tao. They can then connect one of the ten cores they acquired in the Core Realm to their understanding of the Tao Trace. Of course, their understanding of how to use origin energy for this purpose must exceed that of ordinary Core Realm experts. Nevertheless, it is 100 times easier for nobles to reach the Sage Realm than for commoners.
Thus, while there are 100 sages among the nobles, there is only one sage among the commoners. This Sage is often weaker than 100 Sages combined.
However, the Origin Heart Realm is different. Those who reach this realm live for 750 years. They differ from Sages, whose lifespan is 500 years, in that they have an additional 250 years before reaching the next stage. Nevertheless, it is much easier to reach the Origin Heart Realm from the Sage Realm than to reach the Ascension Realm from the Origin Heart Realm.
In the tenth stage, sages who wish to become Origin Heart specialists transform their core with the power of the Tao and Origin Energy. This makes their core a beating heart. This heart extends the body's life and pumps its own origin energy. As long as you don't starve for too long, your Origin Heart will be at its peak. However, an Origin Heart specialist who has starved will definitely be much weaker than normal. Since they are too weak to generate their own energy, they must use energy from the outside world, such as the Origin Energy Realm. Of course, he is still an Origin Heart specialist and much more powerful than a sage. Nevertheless, it should be emphasized that he would be in a very bad situation. In any case...
To advance in the Origin Heart Realm, you must create ten origin hearts in ten different areas of the body. The difficulty level is the same for each heart created in each region. The problem is usually age.
The other problem is the Ascension Realm. It's the realm where people step into the skies and begin to fly. Mais once thought it was impossible to reach the skies with his gift. Perhaps it isn't so impossible after all.
Although he still had a long way to go to reach the Ascension Realm, Mais now knew that he could reach it. With the ring on his finger and his family's heritage, he could reach for the sky.
Life in the Ascension Realm lasts 1,100 years, but 1,000 years is a significant limit for a human being. Typically, only wealthy individuals survive those hundred years by consulting proper doctors or alchemists. The general population cannot complete 100 years.
One of the priorities for entering the Ascension Realm is for people to understand the Tao during the stepping stage. While it is possible to manifest a Tao in the body through the Feeling stage alone, controlling a Tao at the Feeling stage is often insufficient. How many people can ascend with this level of control? Many have tried, but only a few have succeeded.
Although other factors influence the attainment of the Ascension Realm, this information is now irrelevant. Mais is not in the Origin Heart Realm, but in the Core Realm.
He knew very well how difficult it was to reach the Ascension Realm.
The man in front of him, the nobleman and 17th Caesar, should have reached the Origin Heart Realm sixteen years ago. He did so at 18. I wonder if he—
"Do you think it would be easy to skip stages that quickly? I stepped into the Origin Heart Realm, but that was the first time I had ever formed an origin heart. Much of the enlightenment that the Tao gave me was wasted, only allowing me to progress as far as my limits permitted. If I had moved on to the Feeling stage with a solid foundation in Stage 1 of the Origin Heart Realm, I could have reached the Ascension Realm. After all, we're talking about the Feeling stage of the Transcendent Tao!"
According to my ability, I climbed to the upper stages of the Origin Heart Realm, but I wasn't the only one there. My understanding of my own Tao was incredible, as you can see. But it took me a whole year to comprehend and develop the Tao Trace. That guy! That guy! Damn it! He wasted all my efforts in just one night! Fortunately, I reached the feeling stage. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to go home because I would have been too ashamed."
Mais interrupted Caesar here. This fiery man was really engrossed in the conversation, but Mais actually had no problem with that.
"Did that person also see the Tao Trace? And what about you? If you had reached the Ascension Realm and hadn't been eliminated from the tournament, where would you have placed?"
Caesar liked Mais' curiosity. He answered all of his questions sincerely. He raised his head to think for a moment and took a drag of his cigarette.
"Yes, he has seen the Tao Trace and has even progressed within the Ascension Realm. The result is as you know. He fought the First Prince in the final round and lost. And what about my result? If I had reached the Ascension Realm, I think I would have been in the top 100."
Mais inhaled the cold air. The Ascension Realm only opened the door to the top 100. He turned his head and frowned at Caesar before letting his thoughts run free.
"You said that 17 years ago, you were already at an advanced level in the Origin Heart Realm. That doesn't make sense. Shouldn't a genius like you have broken through the Ascension Realm by now?"
"What makes you think I didn't?"
Caesar laughed, stood up, and put out his cigarette. He stretched and lifted the barrier around him. He was obviously preparing to leave and didn't want the little boy to ask any more questions. Nevertheless, he bowed his head and gave him one last piece of advice before leaving.
"I wouldn't advise you to go the way I did, but I know you will. Looking into your eyes, I can see quite clearly why you will, but don't make the same mistakes I did. Make sure you are well prepared, and don't give up before you lose your youth. Not everyone is as lucky as I am, or as brilliant as the man in my story. You have to know your limits."
Caesar disappeared. Mais realized he was gone when the wind blew in his face and the smell of cigarette smoke disappeared with it. Mais found it hard to control his thoughts. He had never thought he would have the opportunity to participate in the Star Path Tournament. But just how big was this tournament really?! The statistics they were talking about were horrifying. Crossing over to the Ascension Realm would only put him in the top 100—and that was uncertain! On top of that, this guy had the fighting strength of a Transcendent Tao. What about now? Would those barely in the top 100 be able to break through to the Ascension Realm in 15 years? Even if they couldn't break through, they would be ranked quite high in this realm. Mais would have been 23 years old when he entered the tournament, but even a 50-year-old could have entered. How low were his chances of winning in this situation? On top of that, his first older brother would have been 50 years old at the time of the tournament. Was he not allowed to compete? He had already won once, and he had now stepped into realms that no one could have imagined. Trying to compete with him was ridiculous. No one needed to enter the tournament.
Yet his brother's rival was going to enter. He was the right age, had crossed the Ascension Realm, and was going to participate in the tournament. What if he crosses the boundaries in 15 years?
What if he reaches the Stepping Up stage of the Tao of Energy?
That would be absurd.
If that day came, his fighting skills and cultivation would certainly be at a terrifying level. Mais clearly understood that this man had a special ability to grasp the Tao of Energy.
What about his second brother? If he were alive, wouldn't he compete against him? Mais could see that this tournament, which he had only glimpsed from afar in the past, was no longer so far away. He felt a sense of hope for his cultivation now. If his second brother had crossed the Ascension Realm after 13 years, then Mais would too!
Mais would break through his limits and compete with them.
"Mais, are you okay?"
Mais heard that gentle voice in the darkness once more. It belonged to Maria. Mais nodded in agreement. At that moment, he realized that Caesar's words revealed some truths about him, but he didn't care.
As a child, Mais had thought that because he was not talented, he never had a chance to get better.
Who knew he had been wrong?
Now he had a chance. A chance to prove himself to Reter, his father, and countless others in the empire. Not by being nice to them. He could prove himself by showing his power. He had a chance to prove that he could be an emperor.
He remembered Caesar's last words: "Transcendent Tao?" Mais laughed. He liked that idea. He was happy today.
'You must know your limits?'
"The Emperor has no limits!"