234: Chapter 234 Small World, [Heavenly Fire Meteor Subduing Heavenly Mulberry], the foundation of the Bronze Human Race.

At the very center of this world stood a mulberry tree that blanketed the firmament and propped up the sky. Its height connected heaven and earth, and its breadth spanned countless tens of thousands of miles.

Just by observing it from afar, Wang An could feel the surging mysteries of the Laws related to Fire and Wood.

He could not help but blurt out.

"This spirit tree looks somewhat like the [Fu Wood] that True King Qingshang wields. It must be extremely close to the high-rank."

Shennong Yinmu, hearing him say this, felt a tinge of envy and continued her explanation.

"Daoist Tianhe has actually seen True King Qingshang's [Fu Wood]? It is said that it was refined from the branch of a high-rank spirit tree he obtained while traveling through deep space. The mulberry tree you see before you is its second generation."

"This mulberry tree is called [Sky Fire Meteor Futian Mulberry]. It was named for the way its mulberry fruits stretch across the high sky, resembling meteors of heavenly fire."

"It has been growing for over ten thousand years and is now on the verge of condensing its third Law mystery. It is indeed not far from reaching the high-rank, though the time required is beyond what we can witness. Spirit trees usually cultivate slowly and possess long lifespans—several, or even dozens of times, that of beings at our rank."

Wang An sighed inwardly at her words. The civilizational foundation of a high-rank civilization race was truly profound.

His Tianhe Dojo had been established for over a decade. In all these years, he had only cultivated eight types of primary-rank level-3 spirit trees and spirit plants, none of which had the potential to challenge the intermediate-rank level.

Perhaps, with long-term cultivation and nourishment, some might once again break through their racial limitations and evolve to a higher level, but that would be at least a hundred years from now.

Of course, for some races, that would be fast enough.

Within the Tianhe Dao lineage alone, there were now twelve primary-rank extraordinary Heavenly Talisman Dao Foundation Cultivators: his three direct disciples, four grand-disciples, their own disciples, and one deacon elder of the lineage.

After Wang An established his Five Elements Dao Foundation and passed down the [Tianhe Five Elements Profound True Qi Refining Art], they no longer needed to start their cultivation from the Water Element as he once did. Only his disciple Tianxin, who was at the intermediate-rank level 2 of the Great Dao, and two others who had built their Dao Foundations using [Willow Wood] and [Flatland Wood], possessed Wood-element minor supernatural powers.

It was only with the help of these minor supernatural powers that they could cultivate such a diverse array of spirit plants so rapidly.

This was the advantage of his system: as long as one's Dao Foundation was properly aligned and complemented by these numerous minor supernatural powers, there were basically very few flaws.

Afterward, the two flew away from the teleportation array. Instead of approaching the [Sky Fire Meteor Futian Mulberry], they headed away from it toward a large island near the eastern ocean.

As they flew, they noticed that while the energy in this small world was extremely rich, there were not many cultivators capable of flight or earth-escaping. Instead, there were numerous mortal cities and dynasties; they encountered quite a few on their way from the central teleportation station to the East Sea.

"This place is extremely orderly; there is almost no warfare."

In Wang An's previous experience, the borders of most dynasties were relatively tense. Furthermore, under the scan of his Yin Spirit, he could see that this place was still in the feudal dynasty stage.

The higher-ups of these dynasties were not intermediate-rank powerhouses, but rather primary-rank extraordinary beings. Moreover, their cultivation methods were vastly different from the academic research on tangible spirit plants, spirit beasts, and bronze found in the outside world; instead, they leaned toward the codification of civilizational laws and etiquette.

Naturally, where there were dynasties, there were emperors, leaders, various officials, royal nobles, and commoners of all trades. Everyone was constrained by the different laws and etiquette established for their specific identities; different classes corresponded to different standards, and everyone adhered to them collectively.

Shennong Yinmu's voice rang out at this moment.

"The civilization ritual vessel of my Bronze Human Race, the [taiyi yutian green spirit cauldron], carries the Law of [Etiquette] upon reaching the high-rank. It is a power of Law that pursues order and structures civilization races. Under this Law, those who obey live in peace and contentment, while those who do not are met with various punishments."

"The human races and dynasties within the small world of Taiyi Yutian have each been selected to evolve and elucidate one branch of this Law. Some meritorious individuals from the outside world apply to enter; participating in the evolution of the Dao here helps them comprehend the relevant branches of the Law of [Etiquette], making it easier to break through to the intermediate-rank."

Hearing this, Wang An began to understand.

It was a place to perform the evolution of the Dao, while simultaneously cultivating talent under this Law. As this continued year after year, the Law of the civilization ritual vessel would grow stronger and stronger.

That True King Qingshang must have been a high-rank existence cultivated from this place.

However, upon closer thought, he had some questions and asked her.

"Daoist Yinmu, why have I never seen any intermediate-rank experts among you who cultivate the branches of the Law of [Etiquette] in the outside world?"

Shennong Yinmu understood his confusion and explained.

"Daoist, you are unaware that research-oriented cultivators in our Bronze Academy are actually the minority. The Academy planetary system is merely an academic research center."

"Beyond this, our Bronze Human Race possesses twelve main civilization planetary systems and over a hundred secondary planetary systems. That is where many experts who follow the various branches of the Law of [Etiquette] congregate. They either evolve the various political systems of civilization races that have appeared in the Milky Way Galaxy, or promote laws and etiquette with different styles and functions, or focus on customs, myths, legends, and events related to human society, and so on."

"In that case, that must be the essence of your entire civilization. I wonder if I might be fortunate enough to go and observe it."

Shennong Yinmu thought carefully for a moment, then said apologetically.

"It seems I must disappoint you, Daoist Tianhe. Because those places involve important projects and powerhouses of our Bronze Human Race, they are generally not open to the public. One can only visit for a limited time upon receiving an invitation. Our Bronze Academy bears a portion of the responsibility for civilizational diplomacy; when other civilizations visit, they typically come to us first."

Wang An understood.

"No wonder I had only heard that the Bronze Human Race possessed over a hundred habitable planetary systems, but lacked any further information. Only the Bronze Academy had detailed introductions; so that is the reason."

Before long, the two arrived at an island several tens of thousands of square kilometers in size—hardly worth mentioning compared to the nearly 300,000-kilometer length of the entire small world.

They landed at a bronze hall in the center of the island, which bore the inscription: [Space Technology Research Center].

Upon entering the hall, Shennong Yinmu said,

"This is a research institution affiliated with our Bronze Academy, and there are various projects underway on similar islands across this East Sea. You may register your project here, and collect the corresponding resources and research facilities here as well. I have my own research project to complete, so I will not accompany you further."

After promptly explaining a few precautions, she departed, seemingly heading toward another island.

Watching her leave, Wang An proceeded with his own business.