174: Martial Saint and Martial God, Entering the Dao and Merging with the Dao

"Of course there is!"

Old Ancestor Yan Hui nodded in response:

"Just as there are Realms within the Martial Saint level, Realms above Martial Saint, and even Realms above those, the Dao naturally also has its own Realms."

"Because the Dao is fundamentally the core of a Martial Saint's upward Breakthrough!"

"Only when a Martial Saint has grasped a sufficiently powerful Dao can they condense a stronger Martial Dao Sacred Body, thereby allowing their Martial Dao Realm to break through."

"In the Nine Provinces Continent, Martial Saints, like ordinary first to ninth-grade Martial Artists, also divide their own Realm into four levels: Early Stage, Middle Stage, Late Stage, and Peak."

"The corresponding Realm of the Dao is called the 'Dao Entry Realm,' which is also divided into Early Stage, Middle Stage, Late Stage, and Peak."

"In cultivation, a Martial Saint must first raise their Dao Realm to a certain level before they can mobilize Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to form a Martial Dao Sacred Body of the corresponding level, thus achieving a Breakthrough."

"Until one day, when a Martial Saint has broken through to the Peak in both their Martial Dao Sacred Body and their Dao Realm, then if they can take one more step further, elevate their Dao Realm to the 'Dao Union Realm,' and truly merge their personal Dao with the Dao of Heaven and Earth, then they can be considered to have broken through to the Martial God Realm above Martial Saint."

"Martial Saint? Martial God? Dao Entry? Dao Union? So that's how it is?"

Hearing Old Ancestor Yan Hui's explanation, Lin Yi understood in his heart, finally completely grasping the secret of Martial Saints and Martial Gods.

Afterwards, Lin Yi first fell silent for a moment, calming his excited mood, before continuing to ask:

"Old Ancestor, I now know the secret of Martial Saints and Martial Gods, so there's only one thing left I want to ask."

"That is, if my Saint-level Martial Art reaches Great Perfection, then without breaking through to Martial Saint and without condensing a Martial Dao Sacred Body, approximately what level of Dao Realm would I need to attain to rival a true Martial Saint?"

"What! Saint-level Martial Art at the Great Perfection level? You little rascal, you really dare to think big!"

Hearing Lin Yi's words, Old Ancestor Yan Hui couldn't help but exclaim:

"You must know, while mastering the basics and achieving Minor Achievement in a Saint-level Martial Art isn't difficult—even a talented Innate can do it—once it reaches Major Achievement, the difficulty skyrockets."

"And the Great Perfection level of a Saint-level Martial Art? Not even every Peak Martial Saint whose Dao Realm has reached the Peak of the Dao Entry Realm can achieve this."

"In the current Nine Provinces Continent, only the Yuan Emperor of the Great Yuan Dynasty and the Buddhist World-Honored One, the rulers of the three Holy Lands, have reached this level. As for the other two Peak Martial Saints, they haven't achieved it yet."

"And for a mere Innate like you to aspire to such a level? Even if you have a Combat-type Talent, it's impossible!"

After speaking, Old Ancestor Yan Hui shook his head repeatedly.

Although Combat-type Talents are miraculous, they can at most increase the power of a Saint-level Martial Art by one level—that is, reducing the difficulty of achieving Great Perfection in a Saint-level Martial Art to the difficulty of achieving Perfection.

But even Perfection is still incredibly difficult to achieve; many Martial Saints at the Middle Stage or even Late Stage haven't reached it.

Think about it, even he, Yan Hui, had to live for four hundred years and experience a fortuitous Epiphany to finally achieve it.

Otherwise, even he might have never reached such a Realm in his lifetime.

"Old Ancestor!"

Seeing Old Ancestor Yan Hui's reaction, Lin Yi wasn't annoyed and said with a smile:

"Let's not worry about whether I can achieve it or not for now. Just tell me directly: if my Martial Arts Techniques truly rival a Saint-level Martial Art at Great Perfection, what level of Dao Realm would I need to comprehend to rival a Martial Saint? The Middle Stage of the Dao Entry Realm? Or would a strong Early Stage of the Dao Entry Realm suffice?"

"Sigh!"

Seeing Lin Yi's persistence, Old Ancestor Yan Hui was utterly helpless and said:

"Lin Yi, you still don't fully understand the amplification effect a Saint-level Martial Art has on the Dao!"

"If your Martial Arts Techniques Realm can rival a Saint-level Martial Art at Perfection, then forget about the Middle Stage of the Dao Entry Realm or a strong Early Stage of the Dao Entry Realm."

"Even if you've just entered the Dao, your combat power would surpass more than half of the Early Stage Martial Saints."

"However, whether it's entering the Dao or achieving Great Perfection in a Saint-level Martial Art, both are extremely, extremely difficult."

"I don't know why you're so determined to rival a Martial Saint while at the Innate Golden Core Realm, but let me give you a piece of advice."

"If things truly become impossible—for example, if you're approaching one hundred and fifty years old and your combat power still can't rival a Martial Saint—then I suggest you break through to Martial Saint as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might fail to break through due to aging and physical decline, leading to lifelong regret."

"Yes! Old Ancestor, this Disciple understands!"

Lin Yi nodded heavily, but a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

So, as long as I comprehend a Dao and then Cultivate a Saint-level Martial Art to Perfection, I can rival a Martial Saint?

In that case, the third trial of the Martial Emperors Relic Palace, the Innate Golden Core Realm trial, isn't too difficult after all!

After all, my current Martial Arts Techniques are already close to Perfection. At this rate, and with the help of the spirit enlightenment leaf, I should be able to break through to Perfection in the 'Circulation of Stars Saber Canon' within four or five years at most.

If I encounter an Opportunity, the time could be much shorter.

As for the Dao?

With the help of 'microscopic will tempering my will' now, the time to achieve Will Manifestation and reach the Peak of Divine Soul Condensation shouldn't be too long either—I estimate about one or two years, which is actually earlier than comprehending Perfection in a Saint-level Martial Art.

And by then, with such a profound Martial Arts Techniques Realm, as long as my will is manifested and my Divine Soul reaches the Peak of condensation, comprehending a Dao should be quite easy.

So, considering all of the above, I might be able to re-enter the Martial Emperors Relic Palace and pass its Innate Golden Core Realm trial in just a few years!

"The reward for the Martial Emperors Relic Palace's Innate Golden Core Realm trial... I wonder what it actually is? It's really something to look forward to!"

With this thought, Lin Yi's eyes shone, filled with immense anticipation.

Afterwards, he bid farewell to the Old Ancestor and returned to the courtyard where he lived to continue practicing his saber.

And so, time slowly passed.

In the blink of an eye, another day had gone by.

On this day, in the small courtyard where Lin Yi lived on the mountainside of the Heavenly Mountain Sect.

"Whoosh!"

Lin Yi, not using any power, slashed out one dazzling saber light after another in the courtyard.

Countless saber lights formed various phenomena in the void: sometimes beautiful stars, sometimes brilliant star rivers, sometimes an immensely dark but beautiful starry sky. It was utterly miraculous, showcasing Lin Yi's terrifying Martial Arts Techniques.

Not far from him, Lin Haichuan and Ji Xuan, whose broken legs had long since completely recovered, watched with eyes full of pride, just like in the old days.

Warm, filled with a comforting aura.

But, right at that moment—

"Screech!"

From the distant sky, a clear, loud eagle cry was heard.

The next moment, a dazzling golden light shot over from the horizon like a meteor, reaching near the mountainside of Tianshan in just a few breaths.

Then, from within it, a loud voice echoed, shaking most of the Heavenly Mountain Sect:

"Lin Yi! Get out here!"

"Get out here!"

"Get out here!"