Chapter 1572: Generous Rewards
On the shore, countless pairs of eyes were all fixed on the fifth sea region.
It was astonishing. Ninety-nine percent of the cultivators present could not even touch the threshold of the first sea region, yet Wang Xu had already crossed the fourth sea region.
This gap was like the difference between a mortal and a god.
Because, the further one went, the difficulty of crossing the sea multiplied exponentially.
Spirit Flame Demon Consort parted her crystal-clear red lips, her beautiful eyes revealing envy and admiration. "Both are Half-Saint Kings, how can the gap be so vast?"
As soon as the Truth Boat entered the fifth sea region, it shook violently, completely beyond Wang Xu's control.
"Plop."
The Truth Boat capsized, and Wang Xu plunged into the sea.
Clearly, entering the fifth sea region meant the difficulty of crossing had increased by a significant margin.
A strand of sacred light surged from the seawater, wrapping around Wang Xu's body, and he flew up from the sea, landing on the shore.
Instantly, thunderous cheers erupted from the shore. Countless cultivators cast admiring and envious glances at Wang Xu.
Han Shang, a second-class disciple of the Truth Divine Temple, immediately approached, his face brimming with excitement. "Congratulations, Divine Son! Congratulations, Divine Son! You have crossed the fourth sea region in one go, earning eight months of cultivation time. When you emerge from seclusion next time, you might even cross the fifth sea region."
Many cultivators crowded around Wang Xu, offering flattery, for everyone could see that Wang Xu was destined to become a top-tier figure.
To befriend such a person was a source of pride.
...
Zhang Ruochen watched quietly and asked Feng Yan, "What exactly does crossing the Truth Sea test in a cultivator?"
Feng Yan chuckled. "Only the gods could explain that clearly. However, based on data collected by some predecessors, seventeen factors can influence a cultivator's crossing of the Truth Sea."
"The most important factors are cultivation level, the Way of Truth, physical constitution, spiritual power, potential, comprehension, combat experience, and Sacred Dao rules."
"Less critical factors include mindset, battle weapons, and so on."
Zhang Ruochen said, "A cultivator's cultivation level and mastery of the Way of Truth should be the most crucial, right?"
"Exactly."
Feng Yan nodded. "The reason Wang Xu could cross the fourth sea region is that this is his seventh time cultivating at the Truth Divine Temple."
"I calculated earlier: he obtained seven cultivation slots, meaning seven months of cultivation time. Adding the seven months from crossing the first three sea regions in the past, that totals fourteen months."
"In other words, Wang Xu has cultivated at the Truth Divine Temple fourteen times longer than an average cultivator. And that doesn't include the cultivation time earned from Truth Divine Temple missions or the time spent studying Truth Dao diagrams in the training grounds."
"All told, Wang Xu has likely spent dozens of times more effort on the Way of Truth than others."
"Plus, as a Divine Son, he has access to cultivation resources far beyond ordinary imagination. So, his achievement is fairly normal."
Zhang Ruochen then asked, "So, after Wang Xu's first cultivation session at the Truth Divine Temple, how many sea regions did he cross?"
"He reached the threshold of the first sea region but didn't make it through," Feng Yan said.
Hearing this, the people around breathed a sigh of relief, feeling more balanced. So even a prodigy like Wang Xu couldn't cross the first sea region on his first try.
Feng Yan added, "But back then, Wang Xu was only a high-level Saint. You should know that cultivation level also affects crossing the Truth Sea. Generally, a Saint's limit is the fourth sea region, a Saint King's limit is the seventh, and a Great Saint's limit is the tenth."
"What do you mean?" Spirit Flame Demon Consort asked.
Feng Yan explained, "It means that no matter how high a Saint's mastery of the Way of Truth, how strong their physique, how monstrous their talent, or how vast their potential, they can at most reach the fourth sea region."
"But Wang Xu crossed the fourth sea region and reached the fifth?"
Feng Yan smiled. "That's an exception. Anyone with the potential to become a god has a slim chance of breaking the limit. Without a doubt, Wang Xu is such a person."
Even reaching Great Saint was no easy feat.
Becoming a god was an ethereal dream for these proud children of heaven, distant and unattainable.
Feng Yan said, "Brother Zhang, there's another thing I must tell you. In the first year of crossing the Truth Sea, if you cross the first sea region, you not only get one month of cultivation time but also three additional cultivation slots as a bonus."
"What about crossing the second sea region?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Feng Yan thought carefully. "That's rare. As far as I know, you'd get six cultivation slots, but the difficulty is immense—almost impossible for a Saint."
Ling Feiyu asked, "What about a Saint King? If a Saint King crosses the first sea region in the first year, do they also get three extra slots?"
Feng Yan shook his head. "It's easier for a Saint King to cross the Truth Sea. They must cross the second sea region in the first year to earn three extra slots."
Ling Feiyu nodded and asked no more.
She had come close to crossing the first sea region herself. With just ten more days of cultivation at the Truth Divine Temple, she would surely make it. But crossing the second sea region within a year—she had no confidence in that.
Feng Yan's gaze fixed on the distant tenth sea region, composed of golden seawater, like a golden border.
Beyond that golden border, past the tenth sea region, lay a black island—or rather, a sacred mountain standing in the Truth Sea.
Zhang Ruochen also noticed that mountain. "Is that the legendary Truth Mountain?"
Feng Yan nodded. "The Truth Divine Temple has an ancient divine decree: any being below the Great Saint realm who can cross all ten sea regions and ascend Truth Mountain will receive a reward that even gods would envy. Moreover, their home world will gain one cultivation slot at the Truth Divine Temple every day."
Zhang Ruochen couldn't imagine what "a reward that even gods would envy" might be, but the second reward shocked him deeply.
One cultivation slot every day—just this reward alone would excite and delight even some gods.
"That's terrifying... Guanghan Realm only gets three slots every ten years," Su Qingling said, her eyes wide with shock.
"If I could cross the tenth sea region and ascend Truth Mountain, I could renegotiate terms with the Moon God."
This thought flashed through Zhang Ruochen's mind, but then he smiled bitterly. "A Saint King's limit is the seventh sea region. Crossing the tenth is simply impossible."
Feng Yan said, "Since the birth of the Heavenly Court Realm, only thirteen Great Saints have crossed the tenth sea region. Every one of them has become a monumental figure."
Just then, Wang Xu spotted Zhang Ruochen. A strange light flickered in his eyes, and he walked over. "You've finally come to the Truth Sea. I'm quite looking forward to your performance."
Zhang Ruochen met Wang Xu's gaze head-on. "I will cross further than you."
Han Shang, standing beside Wang Xu, sneered. "What gives you the courage to say such arrogant words? Don't you know that Divine Son Wang Xu crossed the fourth sea region, breaking the Saint's limit?"
Han Shang recognized them as cultivators from Guanghan Realm and looked down on them.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Han Shang, but before he could speak, Feng Yan beside him snorted coldly. "Han Shang, what gives you the courage to speak so arrogantly to Zhang Ruochen?"
Seeing Feng Yan, Han Shang was like a ground squirrel meeting a true dragon—fear filled his eyes. He quickly stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Senior Brother Feng."
Han Shang was trembling with fear. This cultivator from Guanghan Realm could actually have the elusive Senior Brother Feng accompanying him? What kind of identity was this?
Zhang Ruochen...
Why did that name sound so familiar?
Suddenly, Han Shang remembered something. His face turned pale again, and he stammered, "Could it be... the Zhang Ruochen ranked first on the Sacred Merit Ranking? He's from Guanghan Realm?"
Feng Yan's eyes turned stern, and a vast sacred might erupted. "What have you been busy with lately? Did you only find out today that Zhang Ruochen is from Guanghan Realm?"
Han Shang's back was drenched in sweat. His legs trembled, and he dropped to one knee, his words slurred. "I'm sorry... I... I'm sorry... I failed to recognize a true dragon... Senior Brother Feng, I didn't mean to offend... offend... Zhang Ruo... chen..."
Han Shang wasn't so much afraid of Zhang Ruochen as he was of Feng Yan.
He knew better than anyone how terrifying Feng Yan's background was. With just one word from Feng Yan, Han Shang would vanish from this world, and even his family would be implicated.
Since Zhang Ruochen had ties with Feng Yan, he was someone Han Shang absolutely could not afford to offend.
Zhang Ruochen ignored Han Shang, a petty bully, and walked straight toward the Truth Sea.
By the shore, ten Truth Boats were moored.
Each Truth Boat was only one zhang long and one chi wide. When a cultivator stood on one, it immediately wobbled unsteadily, requiring sacred power to stabilize it.
Zhang Ruochen boarded one of the empty Truth Boats. Meanwhile, nine other cultivators stepped onto the remaining nine boats.
"If I cross the first sea region, I'll get one month of cultivation time and three slots to enter the Truth Divine Temple for cultivation," Zhang Ruochen thought, full of anticipation.
...
(Sorry, everyone. I was determined to update on time, but I'm late again today. Sigh!)