Wandering Pulse Realm ranking, ninety-seventh.

This was the final result of Jiang Wang’s matches in the Taixu Illusion Realm’s Wandering Pulse Realm. He had managed to claw his way into the top hundred.

The final few battles had been brutal, every victory a narrow escape from heavy injury. To repeat this feat would be nigh impossible. Jiang Wang understood; this was the apex of his current power.

Beneath this information lay a single line of small characters: Top 100 to 50, maintain one day, reward ten points of merit.

But this held no relevance for Jiang Wang now. His mind was set: today, he would break through to the Zhou Heaven Realm.

Indeed, there was still potential to be unearthed within the Wandering Pulse Realm. He could, for instance, leverage the Dao Proving Platform and his remaining 2800 points of merit to deduce more potent Dao techniques suited to his current stage. He could also wait for the Four Spirits Refining Body Art to reach mastery.

Yet, compared to the cultivation itself, these were merely auxiliary pursuits.

Zhen Wudi, a master of myriad Dao techniques, wasn’t boundless in energy, nor was he held back in the Wandering Pulse Realm. His mastery stemmed from his truly exceptional talent; most Dao techniques he encountered were understood upon learning and mastered upon understanding, requiring minimal effort.

However, even a genius of such caliber dedicated himself to refining his Minor Zhou Heaven, constantly contemplating the optimal structure for his Minor Three Talents. This was knowledge gleaned from their casual conversations.

But for Jiang Wang, his Minor Zhou Heaven formed as naturally as water finding its course.

Like the flame flower, the seed sprouted, the bloom unfurled, all in perfect, unforced harmony. He felt an ever-deepening appreciation for the grandeur of life itself.

…

Jiang Wang sat cross-legged, his consciousness sinking into his Tongtian Palace.

The frenzied battles in the Taixu Illusion Realm served to test his limits before the breakthrough. Now, with his Minor Zhou Heaven nearing completion, he chose to embrace the flow, not striving for invincibility within the Wandering Pulse Realm.

Jiang Wang had already constructed two Star River Dao Swirls, the Sun Swirl and the Moon Swirl.

Now, the third Dao Swirl naturally emerged as the Star, returning to the cosmic tapestry of the Star River.

The first Dao Swirl, the Sun, initiated the Zhou Heaven Star Fighting Array from the Sun Star. As the sun ascends, the world awakens in light.

The second Dao Swirl, the Moon, the Taiyin Star, resonated with almost every facet of his being. Only the bright moon could illuminate the true heart.

The third Dao Swirl, the Star, embraced the Sun and Moon within the embrace of the Star River.

Sun, Moon, and Star River – a celestial ballet, an infinite universe.

As the final Dao Origin embedded itself, the Zhou Heaven Star Fighting Array diagram illuminated once more, the Star Pivot settling into place.

Within the dome of his Tongtian Palace, the Sun, Moon, and Star, the Three Talents, rotated in a breathtaking display of cosmic beauty.

Thus, the Minor Zhou Heaven was complete.

The intermingling light of the Sun, Moon, and Stars bathed the Tongtian Palace in brilliance. Jiang Wang could distinctly perceive that his Tongtian Palace had “expanded.”

This was more than a spatial increase.

He could now engrave a single, thoroughly familiar Dao technique upon the dome, solidifying his first instant-cast Dao technique.

This technique, naturally, could only be Flame Flower.

On the twenty-fourth day of November, in the fourteenth year of Zhuang Li Yongtai, Jiang Wang established his third Dao Swirl, completed the cycle of his Minor Zhou Heaven, and formally stepped into the Zhou Heaven Realm.

He engraved Flame Flower as his instant-cast Dao technique.

From the Opening Pulse to the Foundation Establishment realm, he had spent four months. Yet, from the Wandering Pulse Realm to the Zhou Heaven Realm, he had taken only two. This accelerated pace was a direct consequence of the choices he had made before reaching Foundation Establishment.

Today’s fruition was a seed sown yesterday.

…

The courtyard gate creaked open.

Wang Changji sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “You’re back again? Is cultivation at the County Academy so relaxed?”

He turned his head from his lounge chair just as the old man stepped into the courtyard. All his expressions vanished, his lips tightening into a thin line.

The plump orange cat, curled on his belly, lazily licked its paw.

The old man appeared to be in good spirits, his steps firm and steady. He let out a huff from his nostrils. “What, you see your own father and can’t even manage a greeting?”

“Father,” Wang Changji responded, his tone utterly indifferent.

His attitude displeased the old man further. He huffed again. “All day you spend teasing stray cats, reading frivolous books, doing nothing of consequence!”

Wang Changji didn’t even bother to explain that the little orange was not a stray. He simply stroked its plump head, remaining silent.

The old man, hands clasped behind his back, took a few steps before instructing, “The accounts room is short a manager lately. You’ve at least read some books; go over there and get some experience.”

“No.”

“Why not?” The old man’s brows furrowed. “Are you, Wang Changji, somehow more noble than others, unable to touch such mundane matters?”

“Your son’s nature is cold and detached. I am not skilled at anything, nor do I have the heart for it. Please, Father, return.”

“Who are you driving away? Everything you eat, use, wear, and live in, none of it comes from this old man?”

“I’ll move out.” Wang Changji rose from the lounge chair, scooping up the orange cat and heading for the exit. He didn’t bother to gather anything, nor did he wish to take anything with him.

“Stop!” The old man’s beard and hair seemed to bristle with anger. He pointed a finger at Wang Changji’s forehead. “Are you trying to anger this old man to death?”

Wang Changji stepped back slightly, allowing the old man’s finger to drop from his forehead. He spoke softly. “I don’t understand. All I do is read a few books, tease a cat. Plant some vegetables, cook some meals. Who am I obstructing? Why are you so angry?”

“You are the son of Wang Lian Shan! You cannot be a drifting, aimless waste!”

“Waste? Ha, waste…” Wang Changji lowered his head, scratching the plump cat in his arms. “Look at this waste here.”

In truth, the father and son shared quite similar brows. Ignoring the content of their conversation, the scene of them alone in the small courtyard held an unexpected sense of harmony. It was only the anger in Wang Lian Shan’s eyes that starkly contrasted with the almost too-indifferent gaze of Wang Changji.

Wang Lian Shan controlled his temper, speaking somewhat stiffly. “Your younger brother has great talent; he is a seed for cultivation. Since you cannot cultivate, take on the mundane affairs. I am also getting old…”

Wang Changji interrupted his rare moment of warmth. “Don’t. You are a Zhou Heaven Realm cultivator. Barring accident, you will not die before I do.”

Within the clan, Wang Lian Shan was accustomed to having his word be law. He had only ever faced one significant challenge: investing substantial resources in his eldest son, only to end up with a waste. Fortunately, his younger son, Wang Chang Xiang, matured quickly, and his prestige was now unshakeable.

At this moment, he could no longer restrain his fury. “How many times do I need to tell you? In your current state, a mere waste, what good role can you play except causing your younger brother worry? He comes back to see you every few days! Do you know how fierce the competition is at the County Academy?”

“Ah, so that’s why you suddenly started caring about me…” Wang Changji even managed a slight smile. “So that’s it!”

“Otherwise, who would be willing to bother with you? You want to be a waste? I couldn’t care less. But if you affect Chang Xiang’s cultivation because of this, watch out, or I’ll break your leg!”

“You are not allowed to speak of my brother like that!”

It was Wang Chang Xiang’s voice.

He stood at the courtyard entrance, travel-worn. The setting sun, poised to dip below the horizon, cast its rays behind him. The face that was usually gentle was now filled with a rare anger.

“Impudent!” Wang Lian Shan spun around, his anger flaring. “Is that how you speak to your father?”

“Forgive me, Father.” Wang Chang Xiang instinctively lowered his head in apology, but quickly lifted it again. “But everything my brother eats, uses, wears, and lives in, I can provide for. Do not interfere with his life any longer.”

Wang Lian Shan fell silent for a moment. “If he wishes to be a waste, then let him be. But you remember your duty! The clan provides you with resources to cultivate, not for you to spend three days fishing and two days drying nets!”

“I will cultivate diligently,” Wang Chang Xiang said seriously. “And, do not call him a waste again.”

“One by one, your wings have hardened!” Wang Lian Shan flicked his sleeve and left. “I will not bother myself with this anymore. Do as you please!”

The two brothers watched his retreating figure step out of the courtyard.

“Why did you stop him?” Wang Changji said softly. “I was a waste to begin with.”

Wang Chang Xiang immediately turned to face him. “You are not!”

Seeing his younger brother’s stubborn expression, Wang Changji couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, alright, I’m not.”

He flicked the orange cat’s head. “It is.”

The little orange, utterly oblivious to the petty squabbles of these humans, simply squirmed in Wang Changji’s arms and let out a low meow.

This world, it seemed, finally held a flicker of life.