The hallmark of entering the Giant Spirit Realm is the formation of one's own spiritual domain.
Upon reaching the mid-stage of the Giant Spirit Realm, one begins to shape the Giant Spirit True Body, though only a phantom image can be condensed at this point.
Only by reaching the late stage of the Giant Spirit Realm can the Giant Spirit True Body be further solidified and truly materialized.
Above the late stage of the Giant Spirit Realm lies the Great Accomplishment Giant Spirit Realm, which, as the name suggests, signifies the complete mastery of the Giant Spirit True Body.
Giant Spirit Realm kings who achieve this realm experience a seismic increase in power compared to those in the late stage.
The difference is so vast it feels like crossing an entire major realm.
Therefore, only sects possessing Great Accomplishment Kings can ascend to the ranks of the true behemoths of the Upper Azure Realm.
Wu Zhi continued his explanation: "Among the three major sects, the Heavenly Azure Sect is the strongest, undoubtedly. There are even rumors that the Heavenly Azure Sect still has a living Core Condensation Realm cultivator!"
Upon hearing this.
Ling Fan raised an eyebrow.
Wu Zhi said, "Of course, that's just a rumor. The last Core Condensation Realm cultivator of the Heavenly Azure Sect died almost five hundred years ago. And the lifespan of a Martial Venerable in the Core Condensation Realm is only five hundred years. Even the most powerful Core Condensation Realm cultivator would have turned to dust after so long."
"Below the Heavenly Azure Sect, the Crimson Dragon Hall, and the Snow King Palace, the strength of sects like the Blood Demon Sect, Silver Feather Sect, Evil Moon Palace, and Profound Frost Valley can be classified into another tier. These sects either have overlords close to Great Accomplishment Kings guarding them, or possess powerful spiritual weapons or other legacies left by Core Condensation Realm cultivators. In any case, their strength is also considerable."
Ling Fan inquired, "Where does your Four Symbols Sect's strength rank approximately?"
Wu Zhi gave an awkward smile and replied, "Our Four Symbols Sect is slightly weaker than the sects mentioned before, but not by much. We can be considered to be in the third tier."
Ling Fan nodded.
Wu Zhi, the strongest of the Four Symbols Sect, had not even entered the mid-stage of the Giant Spirit Realm yet and had not begun to condense the Giant Spirit True Body. His strength could only be described as very ordinary.
It was no wonder that when he first heard Mu Qin Xin was the Saintess of the Silver Feather Sect, he had been so polite and deferential to her.
"Give me a detailed introduction to the Snow King Palace."
Ling Fan requested.
Wu Zhi glanced at Ling Fan with surprise and said, "Hiss, the Snow King Palace! Senior Ling, do you perhaps have a grudge against this Snow King Palace, or are you planning to target it?"
Wu Zhi suddenly thought of something and said with a smile, "The Snow King Palace is mostly filled with pure and beautiful women who are as lovely as celestial beings. Senior Ling, perhaps you are looking for a companion? To be honest, I, young Wu, have also thought about it for many years, but my strength is insufficient. Otherwise, I would definitely go to the Snow King Palace and pick a few to bring back!"
Wu Zhi said with a hint of regret.
"You're meddling quite a bit, aren't you?"
Ling Fan said with a half-smile.
Wu Zhi quickly lowered his head and replied, "I dare not!"
"The current Palace Master of the Snow King Palace, Xue Wu Xia, is a person of great talent and perseverance renowned in the Upper Azure Realm. Shamefully, she is much younger than me, having only cultivated for forty years."
"However, her strength has already reached the Great Accomplishment King realm, making her one of the top experts in the Upper Azure Realm, revered as a supreme overlord, on par with the Sect Master of the Heavenly Azure Sect, Tian Cang Zi, and the Crimson Dragon King of the Crimson Dragon Hall."
Ling Fan listened and inwardly sneered.
A mere secret realm, as small as a puddle, dared to name itself the Upper Azure Realm!
And the few Great Accomplishment Giant Spirit Realm cultivators within it dared to call themselves supreme overlords.
Truly, they were like frogs in a well, ignorant of the vastness of the sky.
They had no idea of the immensity of heaven and earth.
In the vast expanse of the universe, across the various Heavenly Realms, even Saints in the Manifestation Realm or peerless figures in the Nine-Rank Great Emperor Realm would not dare to bestow such grand titles upon themselves.
A mere Giant Spirit Realm cultivator.
Was less than nothing.
Wu Zhi, however, was unaware of Ling Fan's thoughts at that moment.
He continued, "Besides the strongest, Xue Wu Xia, the Snow King Palace has three Grand Elders in the late stage of the Giant Spirit Realm openly acknowledged, and more than ten ordinary elders ranging from the early to mid-stage of the Giant Spirit Realm."
"Furthermore, among the Giant Spirit Realm cultivators in the Snow King Palace, apart from these Palace Masters and elders, there are also a few exceptionally outstanding disciples who have reached this realm. The current Saintess of the Snow King Palace, Xue Liu Sha, is one of the top prodigies in the Upper Azure Realm, having entered the Giant Spirit Realm several years ago."
Ling Fan suddenly asked, "Have you heard about a Snow King Palace elder descending to the lower realm not long ago to bring up a talented daughter from the Flowing Cloud Country?"
Wu Zhi was taken aback.
A thoughtful expression appeared in his eyes.
After a moment, he clapped his hands and said, "I remember that!"
"I know those two guardians of the Suspended Heaven Gate, and I only learned about it from them. They said that the woman from the Flowing Cloud Country was named Lan Xue Yi, and her talent was exceptionally strong, even captivating the Snow King Palace."
"They were so eager that they even opened the Suspended Heaven Gate ahead of schedule, at any cost, to bring that woman up."
"I also remember the Snow King Palace elder who went to escort her. It was Elder Jiang Xia of the Snow King Palace, who had a cultivation base in the mid-stage of the Giant Spirit Realm."
As Wu Zhi spoke, he suddenly realized that the young man before him had broken through from the lower realm and had killed those two Giant Spirit Realm cultivators guarding the Suspended Heaven Gate. He felt a chill run down his spine.
Ling Fan said with a half-smile, "What are you afraid of?"
Wu Zhi forced a smile and shook his head, "No, nothing! Senior Ling, please don't misunderstand. I merely knew those two guardians of the Suspended Heaven Gate. I'm not even friends with them; we were just occasional drinking buddies. I did see you kill them that day, but I thought they deserved it. Your killing them was like liberating them; it was their fortune to die at your hands!"
Ling Fan let out a cold laugh.
Wu Zhi quickly offered a fawning smile.
He suddenly added, "Senior Ling, you entering the Upper Azure Realm, could it be... could it be that you've come for that woman named Lan Xue Yi?"
Ling Fan remained silent, merely giving him a cold glance.
Wu Zhi shivered.
However, he was now certain of his guess.
That Lan Xue Yi must have a very close relationship with this Ling Fan.
This was going to be interesting.
The Snow King Palace must have forcibly brought that Lan Xue Yi up. Now that Ling Fan had personally come looking for her, given his character, he would absolutely not let this matter rest!
Wu Zhi's heart suddenly stirred.
It was as if he saw a golden opportunity.
A very bold idea suddenly popped into his mind.
If this Ling Fan were to truly turn the Upper Azure Realm upside down, and even reshuffle all the forces...
Wouldn't their Four Symbols Sect be able to seize this opportunity to make a brilliant comeback and rise to prominence?
"No, I must latch onto this person's coattails. This person is the key for me and the Four Symbols Sect to reach the pinnacle of the Upper Azure Realm... Of course, even if I have to latch onto his coattails, I must do so discreetly."
"Before the situation becomes clear, I must remain low-key. It's best to play both sides, otherwise, if he fails, wouldn't our Four Symbols Sect be implicated and perish with him?"
Wu Zhi felt incredibly clever.
His name truly lived up to his character.
He was truly brilliant.