In the outside world, his strength would have been enough to enfeoff princes and nobles!
Yet, he was locked away here, unknown.
"Me..."
A trace of melancholy flickered across the old man's face. "I've been trapped here for too long, I've forgotten who I am..."
Bai Zihe was speechless.
He didn't know if the old man was telling the truth or not.
The old man's gaze fell on Bai Zihe, and he said with great interest, "But that's not important. It's you, young brother..."
"Barely over twenty, yet you've already reached the Yuan Dan realm..."
"Truly gifted, exceptionally brilliant."
"It's a pity... you're still too weak."
With that, the old man shook his head, a hint of sigh in his eyes.
"Yuan Dan realm?"
Bai Zihe's eyes narrowed slightly.
This was a realm he had never heard of. Was it above the Grandmaster realm?
"Yoho..."
Seeing his puzzled expression, the old man's interest was piqued.
"Kid, you haven't heard of the Yuan Dan realm?"
"It's alright, it's alright!"
"I'll tell you slowly, and I guarantee you'll understand it clearly, without a single doubt!"
The old man seemed to have had no one to talk to for too long.
Upon meeting Bai Zihe, who could converse, he became animated, like a child.
"How are the realms divided outside now?"
The old man asked first.
Bai Zihe replied truthfully, "Ancient Martial Artists, Houtian Masters, Xiantian Masters, Masters, Grandmasters..."
"Grandmasters can sever intent with a glance, their power immeasurable."
"Grandmaster..."
The old man pondered for a moment and said lightly, "I don't know what a Grandmaster is, but 'sever intent with a glance' should refer to 'Qi Condensation Realm' among the three condensations!"
Bai Zihe raised an eyebrow. "Qi Condensation Realm?"
"Yes!"
The old man chattered on, "The three condensations refer to Body Condensation Realm, Strength Condensation Realm, and Qi Condensation Realm!"
"They correspond to infinite body, peerless strength, and boundless qi!"
"However..."
The old man said with an air of pride, "The three condensation realms are merely the starting point for entering cultivation. They can't even be considered entry-level."
"Above the Qi Condensation Realm is the Yuan Dan realm. Only then can one truly step through the gate of cultivation!"
Bai Zihe silently noted this down.
According to the old man, he was currently in the Yuan Dan realm.
He then asked curiously, "Then, elder, what is your realm?"
"Me..."
The old man's lips curled. "Let me put it this way, above the Yuan Dan realm is the Yuan Ying realm, and above the Yuan Ying realm is the Hua Shen realm!"
"Each of these realms is further divided into early, middle, and late stages."
"And I, the old man..."
"Am in the middle stage of the Yuan Ying realm!"
Yuan Dan realm, Hua Shen realm...
Bai Zihe finally had some understanding of the realms beyond.
He then had another question.
And he immediately asked, "Elder, since the three condensation realms have already reached the limits of body, strength, and qi, then what do the Yuan Dan realm and the Hua Shen realm above it cultivate?"
Hearing this question, a look of appreciation flashed in the old man's eyes.
"Young brother, you truly live up to being a Yuan Dan realm expert in your early twenties, to be able to think of this so quickly."
"Then let me ask you."
"What is your winning chance if you fight against your so-called Grandmasters?"
Against Grandmasters...
Bai Zihe honestly replied, "Very easy."
The old man nodded again and asked, "Have you ever thought about why you can easily crush them?"
This indeed made Bai Zihe ponder.
Come to think of it.
So far, he had encountered quite a few experts at the Grandmaster level.
For example, Tang Qianqiu, Qian Yuanshan, Dongfang Tuo, these were all Grandmaster-level experts, some even high-level Grandmasters.
But he could still easily crush them.
Why was that?
Bai Zihe pondered carefully but could not find the answer.
The old man smiled and said with emotion, "Actually, starting from the Yuan Dan realm, one not only cultivates oneself but also connects with heaven and earth, incorporating more profound and miraculous powers for their own use."
"When you fight, you are actually using these unconsciously. You just don't know it yourself, so you are ignorant."
"This is also why I said you were very weak before."
"Within the Yuan Dan realm..."
"You can only be considered at the very early stage of the early stage of the Yuan Dan realm. Your comprehension and application of power are far from sufficient, and there is great room for improvement."
Bai Zihe felt as if he had been enlightened, nodding earnestly.
This trip to "Sheng Si Dao" was not in vain.
At least, Bai Zihe understood the direction he needed to strive towards for the foreseeable future.
"Elder, thank you!"
Bai Zihe bowed to the old man, then walked towards the exit.
"You little brat... you're not very honest!"
The old man began to puff up his beard and glare, his face full of displeasure. "I told you so much, can't you stay and chat with me a bit longer?"
As his words fell, he blocked Bai Zihe's path again.
Bai Zihe said in a deep voice, "Elder, I have important matters to attend to outside. I cannot stay here."
"I am very grateful for your guidance just now."
"But that is not a reason for me to stay."
With his words, Bai Zihe's determination was clearly displayed.
"Alas..."
The old man suddenly sighed. "I just want someone to keep me company. What wrong have I done?"
"Little brat..."
His gaze fell on Bai Zihe, and for the first time, his tone was filled with coldness. "If you choose to stay now, I can still give you a chance."
"When I'm happy someday, or... when your strength surpasses mine, you can leave, you can even kill me. It won't matter."
"But if you insist on going..."
"Then I will have no choice but to make you stay here with me forever!"