Lord Shenxiu
Chapter 284: Overview (Subscription Bonus)

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Overview (Subscription Bonus)

"If I flat-out refuse, I wonder if this girl will go crazy?" Zhong Shenxiu thought to himself as he looked at the self-assured Julie sitting opposite him, a hint of mockery flashing through his mind.

Fortunately, he wasn’t someone with such a malicious sense of humor. Considering how hard the other party had acted earlier, he decided to play along, "Of course, why not? I want to concoct even more complex and magical drinks... This is a temptation no mixologist could refuse."

"Excellent!"

Julie glanced outside the door to make sure there were no eavesdroppers and nodded her head with satisfaction, then raised her hand and chanted a few syllables.

Whoosh!

It seemed as if a breeze had swept by.

Zhong Shenxiu suddenly felt a layer of spiritual energy form a barrier around them. It wasn’t harmful, merely blocking out certain sounds.

"Now, I will tell you about concepts that are extraordinary and mystical..."

Julie adjusted her posture to something more comfortable, as if organizing her words, "Firstly... the foundation of the extraordinary lies in spirituality, and my sect— I won’t tell you the name of my sect—believes that everyone possesses spirituality, but there are differences in strength. This is the theory that all things have spirit... Those with sufficiently strong spirituality are qualified to contact the Spirit Realm!"

"Spirit Realm?!" Zhong Shenxiu interjected with a timely question, making Julie feel even better.

"The Spirit Realm, also known as the spiritual ocean, is considered by many mystical orders to be the source of all spiritual energy, the aggregation of all mystical concepts. It exists parallel to our material world, yet intersects with it in certain ways... To contact the Spirit Realm, one needs rigorous training and rituals.

However, some gifted individuals, in their sleep, on their deathbeds, or when drunk, may also come into contact with the Spirit Realm. They have not undergone systematic learning and are unaware of the dangers hidden behind some symbols and mystical signs, often leading to great chaos..."

Julie sighed.

"Drunk? So the federal ban on alcohol also has something to do with this?" Zhong Shenxiu thought of the gang leader who turned his den into a moth nest.

"Yes, everything great returns to the Spirit Realm, all mysteries return to the Spirit Realm. It is the root of everything! And in different sects, it has different names, such as the World’s Shadow, the Inner World, dreamland, the Field of Starlight, the Ocean of Origin, and so on..."

"All spells and mysteries stem from the Spirit Realm, and everything in the Spirit Realm comes from the deepest roots! Therefore, all extraordinary people, all mystical sects, follow a similar path. That path is to wander the Spirit Realm, constantly approaching the origin!"

"We believe that by reaching the Ocean of Origin, by reaching that root, one can instantly become an incredibly powerful entity, achieve immortality!"

Julie continued.

Zhong Shenxiu’s expression shifted, "I seem to have read similar accounts in some religious texts, where the deities dwell in the stars..."

Julie glanced at him, "The Star Realm is also another name for the Ocean of Origin. Some sects believe that beings such as Dao Mark, Seven Difficulties, Da Mo, Moth Lord, Master of Black Blood... these entities are the source of all mysticism, they collectively make up the concept of ’root.’ While other sects believe that they became so powerful because they reached the ’root’... The common understanding, however, is that these entities certainly reside at the origin! They possess might beyond our imagination, even the mere mention of their true names can draw forth power."

"But you just said..."

Zhong Shenxiu interrupted.

"Dao Mark, Seven Difficulties... are not the true names of those magnificent entities that reside at the origin. They are not even encompassed by the concept of deities... It is possible that our human physiology is incapable of pronouncing such formidable names... Any widely known title is merely a reverent name later ascribed to them, more akin to a nickname!"

Julie explained.

"So, it’s like how Scarface isn’t actually called Scarface; his real name is Mormon!" Zhong Shenxiu nodded.

"The true names of these great beings possess power, any recitation will meet with a response! And those texts that truly record the deities’ true names are undoubtedly the most powerful and terrifying tomes of Black Magic. If you ever come across one, be very careful..." Julie’s face showed a hint of fear.

"I understand..." Zhong Shenxiu said, wisely changing the subject, "All mysticism and spells stem from the Spirit Realm, and many great entities together form the root of the Spirit Realm. So the ascension of the mystical side is all about reaching the root?"

"You have a good understanding; it’s precisely so. Different factions have different methods and paths, but ultimately, their goal is to reach the root." Julie affirmed, "For instance, my sect believes that all things have spirit, and to become transcendent, one must ascend the Tree of Life in reverse, and become an Original Being!"

"While the ways of ascension vary, after long evolution and experimentation, most mystical sects have reached a consensus, or you could say mainstream... Mystics are marked by their roaming of the Spirit Realm, and it is common to use the six geographical Dao Marks in the Spirit Realm as distinguishing criteria..."

"Dao Marks in the Spirit Realm?" Zhong Shenxiu exclaimed in surprise.

Dao Marks are, roughly speaking, akin to signposts.

"What do you think the Spirit Realm is? It encompasses everything, bizarre and fantastic, you’ll never be able to imagine its splendor... Not to mention, there are projections and abstract concepts from the real world, evolving and updating, thus there are always human architectural remnants inside; a hundred years ago it might have been old castles, but now, it could have turned into a steam train platform..."

Julie rolled her eyes at Zhong Shenxiu, "Many scholars after long explorations, finally identified the only unchanging six landmarks, or signposts, natural wonders within the Spirit Realm... situated in different dimensional layers of the Spirit Realm, serving as markers for explorers. They are the Dark Gate, the White Wilderness, the Crimson River, the Golden Tower, the Sky Trial, and lastly, the Ascension Altar!"

"Most mystical enthusiasts can only explore the most peripheral edges of the Spirit Realm, just like those who stumble into the Spirit Realm through drunkenness or dreams; they cannot even reach the first Mark—the Dark Gate... Only by passing through the Dark Gate does one truly enter the Spirit Realm, and such individuals are called ’extraordinaries.’ Their hallmark is sensing their own spirituality and utilizing it..."

"So... the final door recorded in your notes?" Zhong Shenxiu asked thoughtfully.

"Exactly, it’s the Door of the Extraordinary, and it’s the Spirit Realm’s first Dao Mark, the Dark Gate!"

Julie explained reverently, "The ’Blood of Transformation’ doesn’t contain the methods for passing through the Dark Gate, but I do. I will teach you slowly how to find it, to pass through it... Of course, not using the theories of my sect."