Premature Growth

Chen Xia's last enlightenment of the Way of Thunder left a Thunder Pool in the Small World, which has now become a holy cultivation site for many practitioners, with the Heavenly Voice calling all practitioners to the Thunder Pool.

At the highest point of Mount Nan, a Mahayana Peak cultivator opened his eyes in shock, trembling as he gazed up at the sky and cried out, "The ascension of the Thunder Pool, could it be the Heavenly Dao's summoning, or the manifestation of the Grand Celestial Venerable?!"

His mind was shaken dramatically, and even two thousand years of sediment could not steady his trembling mind. He had been stuck at the peak of Mahayana Peak for too long, searching the world yet unable to find any method to break through. In the end, he could only attribute it to the restrictions of heaven and earth, and the lack of opportunity brought by fate.

He had thought that in this lifetime he would only be able to die at the peak of Mahayana Peak, but the sudden arrival of the Heavenly Voice rekindled his hopes. The cultivator directly rode the clouds and crossed thousands of miles to arrive above the Thunder Pool, craning his head up to look at the sky and wait for the next guidance.

It was not only that cultivator who went to the Thunder Pool, as several other Mahayana Peak cultivators gradually arrived as well, waiting around the Thunder Pool.

These were the most powerful few great cultivators in the Small World, all familiar with each other. They sized each other up, and the first cultivator asked, "Friends, were you also summoned here by the Heavenly Voice?"

"Yes, I imagine everyone here is the same. The origin of this Heavenly Voice is somewhat suspicious. Does anyone have any guesses?"

"Since it is a Heavenly Voice, it must have come from beyond this world. Moreover, it mentioned ascension, so it is probably summoning us to ascend to the outside world."

Another tall Mahayana Peak cultivator chimed in, "Legend has it that in ancient times one could ascend to the Upper Realm. The Grand Celestial Venerable is the lord of this heaven and earth, and was also the last cultivator to ascend."

"So according to what you said, this ascension summoning is by the will of the Grand Celestial Venerable?" another cultivator asked.

The few cultivators were still discussing it.

Suddenly the sky split open with a huge crack, and morning light emerged from within, along with an enormous illusory palm that stretched over the entire Thunder Pool. A loud Heavenly Voice immediately rang out, saying solemnly,

"Those who wish to break through Mahayana Peak, follow me in ascension."

The number one cultivator in the Small World respectfully clasped his fists, bending his waist in an extremely low arc, and asked,

"Are you the Grand Celestial Venerable?!"

"Yes," came the plain reply from the sky.

At the same time, gray colors permeated the entire Small World. The flowers, trees, birds, beasts, clouds, and rivers all froze in place.

Only those few Mahayana Peak cultivators could still move.

Their minds were greatly shocked. Such a towering divine ability, even if it was not the Grand Celestial Venerable, it must be an extremely terrifying great cultivator!

"Ascension is entirely voluntary. Every five hundred years there will be an opportunity to ascend. All Mahayana Peak cultivators will be able to take advantage of this opportunity."

Chen Xia continued.

The few cultivators were still somewhat hesitant. The first cultivator stepped onto the large palm, an expression of longing on his face.

He was already number one in the Small World, and had no reason left to stay. Even if this was a sinister plot, he would take his chances.

In this life, he only sought the Great Dao.

Seeing that cultivator stand on the palm, a few other cultivators boldly followed. A few others were still hesitating.

The large palm suddenly lifted up and retracted into the crack in the sky. The gray colors quickly dissipated, and the entire heaven and earth returned to normal.

The few remaining Mahayana Peak cultivators were left in a daze, feeling something was not quite right, but they had already lost the chance to go back on their decision.

In the Great Death Realm,

Chen Xia had thrown all of the Mahayana Peak cultivators onto newly formed stars, allowing them to focus on their cultivation.

For the Great Death Realm, this was the first time living beings had been born.

Although it had shades of over-assisting their growth, the spiritual energy in the Great Death Realm began growing extremely quickly. Spiritual herbs and grasses emerged on the surfaces of the new stars. At this rate, the birth of the first true living beings was not far off.

The growth of the Great Death Realm directly benefitted Chen Xia the most.

Under the support of the Great Death Realm, his comprehension of the Dao increased extremely quickly. From his initial entry into quasi-Sagehood, to now being proficient, he was not far from completely mastering it.

He estimated that when the first Mahayana Peak cultivator broke through, his cultivation level would progress again.

The Mahayana Peak cultivators were also quite surprised when they arrived at the Great Death Realm. This was the first time they had experienced spiritual energy as rich as ten times that of the Small World. They could also deeply feel the heaven and earth opportunities and fortune here.

Is this the Upper Realm?!

The Mahayana Peak cultivators' minds were ecstatic, and they impatiently began absorbing the spiritual energy, wanting to immediately break through upon arriving in the Upper Realm.

Chen Xia paid them no mind, letting them slowly cultivate. He focused on accelerating the Great Death Realm's growth, and began actively mending it.

Thirty years later,

The first Transcendent cultivator appeared.

With this, the Great Death Realm gave birth to a moon to pair with the great sun, alternating with each other.

Chen Xia's comprehension of the Dao stepped up another level, from proficient to mastery. He could be considered a relatively seasoned quasi-Sage now.

Chen Xia even felt that he could now skirmish with a Sage.

This was no joke. An experienced quasi-Sage who had comprehended four Daos was really not afraid of Sages.

Mainly because this comprehension of four Daos was extremely profound. Even the most powerful Sages would have comprehended at most two Daos.

At the same time, Chen Xia mended many flaws in the Great Death Realm, suturing the interfaces, and dispelling the voids.

Stars continuously emerged in the interface, scattered about here and there.

Chen Xia still liked sitting on his own tiny stars, sometimes gazing up at the starry sky, feeling gratified that these stars were nurtured by him.

Fifty years later,

The second Transcendent cultivator appeared.

This time the Great Death Realm had no great upheavals, only symbolically granting him a bit of fortune, as encouragement.

Chen Xia's cultivation level also only progressed a tiny bit, negligible.

But it was enough. His cultivation progress over these decades was equivalent to thousands of years of closed-door comprehension for other quasi-Sages.

It could only be said that Chen Xia not only helped others grow, but also helped his own growth.

It was unknown which Sage in the future would skirmish with Chen Xia.

That would be quite miserable.