Chapter Three: The Imperial Realm Power That Should Not Exist

The old man looked at Wan Yi and smiled gently, asking, "My obedient disciple, do you know the ranks of cultivators in this world?"

Though puzzled as to why his humble master would ask such a well-known question, Wan Yi obediently replied, "Cultivators in the world are divided into seven great realms, from lowest to highest: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Tribulation Crossing, and Great Emperor."

As soon as he finished, the old man burst into hearty laughter. "My dear disciple, you are mistaken!"

Wan Yi looked confused. "I’m not wrong. Aren’t these the known realms of cultivators? Even children by the roadside know this."

The old man sighed deeply. "Unbelievable, truly unbelievable. Nowadays, people have been deceived to such an extent!"

His gaze sharp and expression grave, he said to Wan Yi, "Child, you must understand, there was never an Emperor Realm in this world. Or rather, those who reach the Emperor Realm should not exist here at all."

Wan Yi was stunned by his master's words and instinctively asked, "What do you mean? Emperor Realm cultivators shouldn’t exist?"

The old man nodded solemnly. "Exactly."

"This matter goes back fifty thousand years. Back then, the cultivation world was abundant with spiritual energy, mountains full of spirit stones, and spirit herbs everywhere. There was no distinction between mortals and cultivators, for everyone could cultivate. Many crossed tribulations and ascended to higher realms like fish leaping upstream.

"At that time, cultivation peaked at the Tribulation Crossing stage. Crossing the heavenly tribulation meant ascending to the higher realms!

"But one day, darkness enveloped the entire world. The sun, moon, and stars vanished; the land was plunged into eternal night, pitch black and impenetrable. Without sunlight came bitter cold. Plants withered, crops failed, birds and beasts perished in droves; rivers, lakes, and seas froze. Everything was blanketed in ice and snow.

"With no food, populations plummeted. Lower-level cultivators, unable to withstand the cold and hunger, turned on each other. People began eating people!

"High-level cultivators struggled to survive with their cultivation and pills, but the endless darkness showed no signs of ending. Pills would eventually run out!

"In the end, chaos erupted. High-level cultivators began hunting lower-level ones, feeding on their flesh and cultivation essence!

"Some even developed ‘Human Pills’—ten low-level cultivators sacrificed to forge a single pill!"

At this, the old man’s face twisted with horror, as if reliving that dreadful era.

Wan Yi, curious, ventured, "Master, may I ask—were you there fifty thousand years ago? But your lifespan..."

The old man composed himself and smiled faintly. "My true form is an Ice Dragon, with a long lifespan and natural resistance to cold. Back then, my cultivation was low, so I hid beneath glaciers to barely survive."

Wan Yi gazed at his master with newfound curiosity but refrained from questioning whether he was truly human. Instead, he asked, "Master, what does this have to do with the Emperor Realm?"

The old man’s expression grew grave once more. "Everything. The endless darkness lasted four hundred years. When the sun rose again, the survivors slowly regained their senses.

"Sunlight illuminated the world, reviving all life. The surviving cultivators founded sects anew and passed on their teachings. But no one dared speak of those dark four hundred years, as if by silent agreement, striving to erase that shameful chapter.

"Anyone who dared spread the truth was hunted and killed by others. Books and jade slips recording that dark history were all burned.

"Within ten thousand years, that four-century darkness was wiped from history by these people’s concerted efforts.

"As a result, future generations knew nothing of it."

Wan Yi sighed deeply at the tale but couldn’t help interrupting, "Great Emperor, Master, why don’t you get to the point?!"

The old man chuckled, shaking his head. "Little one, be patient. What I’m about to say concerns the Emperor Realm.

"After ten thousand years of growth, the cultivation world regained its former glory. But what followed was unexpected.

"After the four centuries of darkness, it was as if the Immortal Realm had forsaken this world. The spatial barriers became impenetrable. Even cultivators at the Tribulation Crossing stage could not break through after their tribulation to ascend.

"The entire world was trapped beneath an invisible net!

"Over these ten thousand years, those survivors passed their tribulations but remained unable to ascend. Unable to ascend, their cultivation was stuck at Tribulation Crossing.

"You must understand, while Tribulation Crossing cultivators have long lifespans, they are not immortal. Trapped below, their lifespan will eventually run out, and they will perish utterly.

"After tens of thousands of years of cultivation, ending in total annihilation—no one could accept such a fate!

"So, some extraordinary individuals sought another path. Since ascending was impossible, they began to comprehend and merge with the heavenly Dao itself, stealing the essence of heaven and earth to break free from the Dao’s constraints.

"Thus, the Emperor Realm was born!

"Emperor Realm cultivators broke free from the Dao’s shackles, no longer bound by the world’s karmic laws. Naturally, they no longer feared lifespan exhaustion or annihilation. Unless killed by others, they could exist as long as this world itself!"

Wan Yi was dumbfounded, filled with admiration for those first Emperor Realm cultivators.

Unaware, his thoughts echoed aloud in his mind, reverberating around them.

The old man heard and shook his head with a bitter smile. "Foolish boy, do you think this is a good thing?"

Wan Yi frowned. "Master, isn’t it a good thing?"

"Good my foot!" The old man cursed before explaining, "I once thought so too, but when I reached Tribulation Crossing and had my own enlightenment, I realized how selfish they were!

"Do you know what it means for cultivators to enjoy this world’s spiritual energy without being bound by its heavenly Dao?"

Wan Yi shook his head. "Master, I’m just a Qi Refining stage servant. I don’t understand."

Seeing his confusion, the old man sighed. "It means they are overdrawing this world’s essence. The more who cross into the Emperor Realm, the more this world’s vitality is squandered.

"In the past, everyone could cultivate here. But now? I suspect there are more mortals than cultivators because of them. This is one of the consequences of their existence."

To be continued...