It was only at that moment that Kai realised how much he had underestimated this old man. And in general, how casual he had been with the other Elders at the banquet. Although he just had that manner of speaking, if he understood the full extent of their power, he would have treated them with more caution.
'It's good that they reacted calmly to my character... Since they originally allowed me to behave like this, it's already possible to not change my manner of speaking.' - A little shocked, Kai thought.
At that moment, Elder Brood shouted to the guards at the door. He ordered them to go to the Array Alliance and call their representatives here. Especially Elder Caius, as he was also a party to their dispute. He had another guard go to the Shadow Palace and summon Elder Ovian.
Once he did so, he turned around to Caius again and continued speaking.
- In a nutshell....
- Warrior - preparing the body to absorb energy.
- Cultivator - absorbing energy and forming an Energy Vortex, as well as beginning to manifest your attribute.
- Cloud Sphere - metamorphosis of the Energy Vortex into the Cloud Sphere and the final formation of the attribute. Increasing the amount of energy and the level of energy control. The higher you ascend, the denser the clouds become, as well as increasing their speed.
- Sphere of Attraction - the clouds begin to produce dense droplets of energy that slowly pull towards the core of the Cloud Sphere. The amount of energy and control goes to a new level again. But the distinguishing feature is that it gains the ability to manifest its energy in physical form. The snake that crawled into the cauldron is a prime example of this. This is my physical manifestation of energy.
- The Star Sphere is a very dangerous sphere... It is extremely difficult to go into it. There's a good chance you could die if you break through. But if you do break through, you're in a new league... When all the clouds in the Attraction Sphere are processed into these droplets of energy and finally flock to the centre, there's a collapse. If you're too weak, there won't be enough energy to do that. In that case, you'll be stuck in a false Star Sphere forever. You'll be stronger than the masters of the Attraction Sphere, but much weaker than the masters of the true Star Sphere. - Elder Brood gave out the entire classification without stopping.
- At this stage, your power will truly seem divine to mortals... As I said earlier, if I wanted to, I could summon a wave of flame that would burn a small town to ashes. Also, breaking through the Star Sphere opens up the Spiritual Sea... It's a very mysterious but indispensable factor. Without it, trying to progress further in cultivation is simply pointless. - Elder Brood methodically explained.
At this moment, Kai was greedily absorbing every bit of information! What Brud had told him had opened his eyes to his future path. Now, he finally understood where he needed to go! And importantly, he understood the approximate gradation of martial artists. Previously, Kai didn't really understand the hierarchy of powers, as Old Man Mo had insisted that he had to find out on his own.
Kai knew that a Cloud Sphere master was stronger than a Cultivator. He also knew about the attribute that amplified energy. But he didn't have a clear understanding of what was next. Even when breaking through the Cloud Sphere, Kai didn't understand what was happening to his Energy Vortex. Finally, everything was falling into place.
It seemed that everything was strongly interconnected, and one had to qualitatively work through each stage of development. This was clearly understood from Elder Brood's words about the false Star Sphere. For energy to collapse, it required a great concentration of energy. If your Energy Vortex was bad, then the Cloud Sphere wouldn't be able to become dense enough either. As a result, it would be converted into too weak a concentration of energy. In turn, this would lead to it being unable to break through.
'Good thing I've always taken my training seriously...' - Kai thought with slight relief.
He also realised that some of his assumptions were true. As Elder Brood had said, on the Sphere of Attraction, physical strength stopped progressing and masters only focused on energy.
But Kai was well aware that there was this strange 'momentum' and the body could also be developed. It seems that no one knew of such methods and they were completely un-practised. Reasoning about the Astral Alchemy King, it also seemed to Kai that even he and his contemporaries didn't train their bodies....
But right now, these matters were too complicated for him. He decided that there was no point in creating false theories. If you confuse yourself, it would only hurt you. There were other interesting things in Elder Brood's words....
- Elder Brood, can you tell me about the Spiritual Sea? I've heard of it, but I can't imagine what it is... - Kai asked curiously.
- No problem, it's no secret. Basically you have to start with the fact that everyone is different. You should have noticed by now that all martial artists are unique. Everyone has their own attribute, their own physical manifestation of energy, their own star and their own Spiritual Sea... Although everyone is different, the functions are still the same. - Brood said and continued, -It will be difficult, but imagine that you can ascend to a completely different world. That's what the Spiritual Sea looks like. It is your unique world where everything is under your control. - The old man explained.
- I just don't quite understand what it gives a martial artist... - Kai replied without understanding.
- Eh... It's a very difficult question... - the old man replied a little sadly, - It doesn't directly affect your fighting power. But it allows you to increase your sensitivity to and understanding of energy. In the Star Sphere, it only increases your control and changes your perception of the energy itself... How to explain it...' Brood said thoughtfully, 'It's as if you start to feel that energy is not one and the same... You start to feel more clearly the energy that is right for you. - The old man explained vaguely. He seemed to have a hard time describing it himself....
When Kai heard this, his eyes lit up! It was very similar to what he was doing with his Essence Eyes! Except according to Brood, it seemed like the effects were simply incompatible. Kai was literally seeing the essence of the energy itself...
'Perhaps that's why I didn't notice the strong effects of the Spirit Sea, since I originally had a method that was many times better!' - Kai suddenly realised.
- But how does that help you? - Asked a leading question Kai asked.
- At the Star Sphere stage, it doesn't make much sense except for improved energy control. But further on...' the old man said thoughtfully, 'Kai, I said it's a difficult question for a reason. Next is the Core Sphere... A minuscule number of people in the entire world have entered it, and it is the peak of cultivation! Every master that has achieved the Core Sphere is a living legend... Such people never stop trying to cultivate further. Once upon a time, a previous Patriarch told me that simply absorbing energy doesn't work for him anymore. He said that he only felt a slight change when he tried to absorb the energy that suited his attribute and characteristics. Only then would he feel the changes... Although it was only his theory, but still, there was a grain of logic in it... And as I said earlier, it simply couldn't be realised without the Spiritual Sea. - With a complicated expression on his face, Elder Brood explained.
Kai now understood why the old man had reacted so strongly to the question about the Spiritual Sea. Even among the High Elders, which Brud was, there was no clear answer. The Spiritual Sea was not a secret, and everyone knew about its properties. But there were only theories about its methods of application and true purpose.
- Listen... You say that the masters of the Core Sphere are living legends... How are they different from the others? - Kai asked interestedly, shifting the topic.
Firstly, he was really interested in this question.
Secondly, he wanted to change the subject. It seemed that Spirit Sea's question was a bit frustrating to Elder Brood.
- You absorb energy, and you also focus on the one that suits you better. At one point, your star grows and begins to shrink rapidly, turning into a solid core... To be honest, I can only dryly describe this process, as I only know about it from the writings and words of the Patriarch... This core has its own attraction, which gives a martial artist the ability to break the sensible laws of the world... - Looking upwards, Brood spoke in a trance.
- Break the laws of the world? How? - Kai asked without understanding.
- If I can destroy a small city... A Core Sphere master can destroy a whole mountain with one blow! If they want to, they can be a real disaster for anyone! If our Patriarch wanted to, he could level all four empires in a matter of days! - With the utmost respect and undisguised delight, Elder Brood voiced out!
- I certainly don't doubt your words... But just to travel between Empires would take months... - Kai replied sceptically.
- Hehehe... - The old man laughed enigmatically, - You know the most obvious feature of the Core Sphere? - Brood asked with a smile.
- I haven't the slightest idea. - Shaking his head, Kai replied.
- They can fly! They literally break the laws of the world that apply to everyone else! That's why these masters are called living legends! If they want to, they can travel giant distances in just a few days! - The old man shouted seriously.
- No... It can't be like that... How can a person fly? - Kai was dumbfounded. He thought the old man was just playing a joke on him.
- Boy, if you're shocked... I'm sad! From the moment I first saw a man floating in the sky... - Brood paused, - I always dreamed of realising the same thing... But alas, I am not destined to ascend to the Core Sphere... - Sadly and frankly answered the old man.
When Kai looked at Elder Brood, he realised that he was not joking....