77: Prophecy fulfilled
Zhang Sheng attempted to circulate the Primordial Chaos Heavenly Art once more.
"Detected learning of Cultivation Technique—Primordial Chaos Heavenly Art, progress: 24%."
Although he still hadn't successfully completed a full circulation, new understandings flooded into his mind.
The errors and omissions from his second attempt also surfaced in his mind, laying a solid foundation for his next success.
"Looking at it this way, my 'Once Certified, Forever Certified' Talent might be even stronger than the Devour Talent," Zhang Sheng thought to himself.
While the Devour Talent was powerful, allowing him to devour and absorb the Talents of others, it couldn't be applied to every aspect of cultivation.
A person's strength was ultimately reflected in their cultivation Realm; no matter how strong a Talent was, it was useless if the Realm lagged behind.
The third attempt at circulating the Primordial Chaos Heavenly Art failed.
The fourth attempt failed.
The fifth attempt failed.
Half a day passed unknowingly. On the sixth attempt, Zhang Sheng finally succeeded in completing one circulation.
The talent panel also underwent a change.
"Cultivation Technique: Primordial Chaos Heavenly Art (Beginner: 1/100)"
A miniature Golden Sun was born within his Dantian Qi Sea, its volume being only 1/999th the size of the other nine Golden Suns.
Qi Refining in the Divine Breath Realm was the process of refining Golden Suns of spiritual energy.
According to the records of the Primordial Chaos Heavenly Art, the Divine Breath Realm had no specific division of layers.
So, what counted as Perfection in the Qi Refining stage of the Divine Breath Realm?
It was when the Qi Sea Dantian was completely filled with spiritual energy Golden Suns.
Some cultivated Golden Suns that were like the majestic sun, while others' Golden Suns were like the light of fireflies.
Some had hundreds or thousands of Golden Suns, while others had only a few.
It could be said that even within the same Divine Breath Realm, the strength of Cultivators could be worlds apart.
It took Zhang Sheng two hours to complete a full circulation of spiritual energy, but this was Zhang Sheng, whose basic life level was ten times that of an ordinary person.
If it were an ordinary Cultivator, it would likely take a day or even longer.
According to the Primordial Chaos Heavenly Art, completing one full circulation would refine one spiritual energy Golden Sun.
But the Golden Sun he had refined now was only 1/999th the size of a normal one... containing a mere ten thousand units of spiritual energy. There was only one reason: the spiritual energy concentration on Earth was still too low.
For an ordinary Divine Breath Realm expert, a Golden Sun might only have 9,990 points of spiritual energy at the current concentration, which would be perfectly sufficient.
But for Zhang Sheng, it was far from enough. Perhaps currently, only being inside a Blue-level Secret Realm would be a good choice.
While Zhang Sheng was cultivating, it was an extremely important and special day for Earth.
Because today was August 14, 2030.
Exactly 49 days had passed since the first Blue-level Secret Realm appeared on Earth.
Almost all eyes across the globe were focused on Los Angeles, USA.
Outside a massive fifty-meter-tall blue light gate, reporters from various countries had gathered, their cameras aimed at the Secret Realm's entrance for a live broadcast.
These reporters were now all Cultivators as well, with many Divine Breath Realm experts among them who had mastered the Flight Technique.
Countless viewers worldwide were watching the live broadcast.
Some were panicked, but more were excited and tense.
If the Diviner's prophecy came true, it would mean that even more powerful Secret Realms would descend upon Earth in the future, bringing even more perilous crises.
However, under countless gazes and prayers, the massive blue light gate—fifty meters high and twenty meters wide—shattered and dissipated like a mirror.
Dozens of Foundation Establishment Realm Yao Beasts appeared where the light gate had vanished.
These beasts were weak ones intentionally left behind by the US to prevent the Secret Realm from dissipating early, using them to test the 49-day descent prophecy.
It came true!
The Diviner's prophecy had actually come true!
Countless people fell into deep despair. If the situation continued to develop, a Secret Realm that humanity could not conquer would eventually descend.
That moment would also be the beginning of humanity's extinction.
However, life was never that fragile; new challenges also meant new opportunities.
While the Secret Realms brought disaster, they also brought the civilization of cultivation.
The weak lamented and wallowed in self-pity, while the strong forged ahead... With one descending every day, a total of 50 Blue-level Realms had now appeared globally.
Every Blue-level Secret Realm was a Treasure Trove.
As the public's fear of the future deepened, no country was currently willing to open the Secret Realms that had descended within its borders to foreign Cultivators.
Even if they had to use human lives to pile up a victory against a Divine Breath Realm Beast, they would do it just to obtain Divine Breath Realm cultivation resources.
The fact that Divine Breath Realm Cultivation Techniques could not be copied or spread had led to the current chaotic and tragic situation.
Almost on the very day the Diviner's prophecy came true...
"What? India announced they've finished clearing the Blue-level Secret Realm within their borders?"
"Professor, are you serious?" Song Xian, who was currently rushing toward India, felt a bit frustrated.
Hou Wu said on the other end of the phone, "The area around the Indian Secret Realm has been heavily fortified. You should come back."
"Not only that, several other countries have made similar announcements."
"Those sticks from Korea also claimed to have finished clearing their Secret Realm and have banned foreign Cultivators from participating, or else it will be seen as a challenge to them."
"Pitiful frogs in a well, arrogant idiots who don't know the height of the heavens," Song Xian cursed into the phone.
"Captain, are we just going back like this?" Zhao Xue, who was traveling with him, asked.
"Xue'er, I already have the Primordial Chaos Heavenly Art. I'm sorry, this trip was originally meant to get a Blue-level Jade Slip for you!"
"Brother Xian, it's alright. The big picture comes first!"
Song Xian pulled Zhao Xue's slender waist into his arms.
A waist so slender it seemed boneless, like a lotus swaying in the moonlit breeze as the wind lifts its sleeves.
"Xue'er, it's been hard on you refining so many supreme-grade qi gathering pills for me. You didn't even want to eat them yourself. How can I ever repay you!"
Zhao Xue leaned close to Song Xian's ear and whispered, "I don't need Brother Xian to repay me. I just want Brother Xian to always remember my kindness!"
"With just that, Xue'er will be satisfied!"
*Ahem!* Old man Hou's coughing came from the other end of the phone.
Only then did the two realize that the call on the Smart Terminal hadn't been disconnected.
"You two come back first. The higher-ups are communicating with other countries. Once there's news, you can act again!"
...Egypt, Iran, France, and a host of other countries almost simultaneously declared they had completed the subjugation of the Blue-level Secret Realms within their territories.
Zhang Sheng, who had just come out of a Blue-level Secret Realm, also learned of this news.
The spiritual energy concentration inside the Secret Realm was indeed much higher than on Earth, but it was still far from enough.
The miniature Golden Sun in his Dantian had grown a bit, but the added volume was only 9/999ths of a normal Golden Sun.
To Cultivate one complete Golden Sun, he would need to complete 111 circulations. It would take forever at this rate.
The spiritual energy concentration was still far too low!
Zhang Sheng noticed that the timing of several countries announcing the completion of their Secret Realm clearances was a bit suspicious, as they were all at the same time.
Brazil, South Africa, and Syria—these three countries.
Setting aside whether they even had the ability to kill all the Divine Breath Realm Beasts in the Secret Realms...
Even if they did have that ability, these three countries were located on different continents and within different spheres of influence.
Yet they released their respective announcements at the exact same time.
The time was precise down to the minute.
The timing was far too coincidental!
There was absolutely no need for these three countries to cooperate; even if three chicks joined forces, they wouldn't be enough for a tiger to swallow in one bite.
The situation was becoming increasingly unclear.