Cultivation: Start From Simplifying Martial Arts Techniques

Mastering an entire rule system represented a qualitative leap, with a clear difference in combat power compared to those who only controlled parts of the rule system within the Sixth Stage Rule Integration Realm.

Thus, the peak of the Sixth Stage Rule Integration Realm was also honored with the title of “Emperor Realm.”

The Ice and Evil Clans’ recent aggressive assault on Sky Sea City was a result of their strategy to lure Dao Yuefeng and other Sixth Stage Emperor Realm practitioners into a perilous place called the Cliff Realm.

It was rumored that there was a slim chance of breaking through to the seventh-level Open Heaven Realm in the Cliff Realm, a significant opportunity that any human Emperor would have been compelled to pursue.

In the entire Return to Nothing Realm, humanity was a relatively insignificant presence, barely able to protect itself, and could easily have been wiped out by offending a powerful clan.

This was not an exaggeration but a reality that had persisted throughout the years in the Return to Nothing Realm.

Many races, like humanity, had suddenly vanished from the annals of history.

Some, living in remote regions, were only discovered to have been extinguished decades after their demise.

There were also cases where entire races were obliterated in full view of other races by a single powerful strike, leaving no trace of resistance.

Such events deeply impacted those who witnessed them.

Though not a direct member of the same race, when a race of comparable strength was suddenly wiped out, it inevitably led one to reflect on their own situation.

If a race like theirs had faced similar circumstances, the outcome would likely have been no different.

Some races, in an attempt to curry favor with powerful factions, even imprisoned and delivered ascendants from lower realms to these dominant clans.

It was a brutally cruel practice, yet it seemed perfectly rational—everything was done for survival!

This was the harsh reality of the Return to Nothing Realm: a true survival of the fittest, with no room for luck.

Human Emperors did not wish for humanity to suffer the same fate. Humanity could hope to avoid such a predicament only by producing even stronger individuals.

However, reaching the seventh level of the Open Heaven Realm was extremely difficult!

So challenging that human Emperors saw no hope of breaking through; it seemed humanity’s limit was inherently capped at the sixth level.

Controlling an entire rule system was an innate restriction for humanity—something that could not be broken or overturned.

The seventh level was the dividing line between powerful and ordinary races in the Return to Nothing Realm. The presence of a seventh-level powerhouse completely changed the dynamics of the situation.

In the Return to Nothing Realm, over ninety percent of races were confined below the seventh level, and no matter how they struggled, they could not change their fate.

Yet humanity did not accept this. Human Emperors aspired to alter this situation.

Humans determined their own destiny—why should humanity be confined to below the seventh level?

Therefore, when an opportunity for the seventh level arose, human Emperors were eager to pursue it. If they could achieve a breakthrough, it would have significantly improved humanity’s precarious situation.

The Return to Nothing Realm was vast, with distinct regions for ordinary and powerful races, though sometimes they intermixed.

At that time, humanity resided in a region primarily inhabited by ordinary races, a rather remote part of the Return to Nothing Realm.

Despite its remoteness, this area hosted numerous races, some of which had seventh-level powerhouses stationed within their ranks.

Some races with seventh-level powerhouses had reached this status due to specific opportunities, where a powerful individual within the race had broken through the limits and led their entire race to greater strength.

Others had been defeated in struggles against stronger races and had retreated to this region in defeat.

Yet, even in defeat, these races remained formidable. Despite their setbacks, they could easily dominate ordinary races without issue.

The Evil Clan’s ancestor, a seventh-level Open Heaven Realm powerhouse, had achieved their status through a fortunate opportunity that allowed them to surpass their race’s limitations.

It was precisely because of these ordinary races breaking through their limits that the human Emperors saw hope and realized that, given the right opportunity, humanity too could have its own seventh-level Open Heaven Realm powerhouses.

Once humanity had a seventh-level powerhouse, they would be able to firmly establish themselves in this region without the constant threat of annihilation by other races.

Given the opportunity in the Cliff Realm, it was no surprise that Yu Zhonggong and others thought Dao Yuefeng and his group would surely go there.

According to information from human spies who had been recruited by the Evil and Ice Clans, many human Emperors, including Dao Yuefeng from Sky Sea City, had indeed gone.

However, Dao Yuefeng and his group had turned the tables, using Sky Sea City as a trap to lure the Evil and Ice Clan powerhouses into it.

They had also summoned other human Emperors from different cities to encircle and eliminate the invaders.

Initially, the Ice and Evil Clans had planned to seize Sky Sea City and quickly kill the Governor of Sky Resonance Court to prevent humanity from growing stronger, but the situation had turned out quite differently.

The two Ice Clan Emperors had perished, and the Evil Clan’s Lan Lun now faced the threat of death.

The eight members of Dao Yuefeng’s group exchanged glances, their eyes showing struggle and reluctance.

For ordinary races in the Return to Nothing Realm, survival often meant becoming a vassal of other races, losing all autonomy.

They had to live entirely for their primary race and could only produce the strongest warriors at the early stage of the Sixth Stage Rule Integration Realm.

Humanity, with its own Emperors, could barely maintain its survival without such constraints.

Another crucial point was avoiding offending races with seventh-level powerhouses or above.

The disparity in strength between the sixth and seventh levels was immense. Many of the races that had been exterminated, whether intentionally or unintentionally, had been obliterated due to this disparity.

The Evil Clan had a seventh-level Open Heaven Realm ancestor. Though their current fate was unknown, the mere presence of such a figure was a formidable deterrent. If one did not wish to be destroyed by a seventh-level powerhouse, it was best not to provoke the Evil Clan too severely.

Seeing Dao Yuefeng and his group hesitate, Lan Lun couldn’t help but smile slightly. This was the confidence provided by having a seventh-level powerhouse in their midst.

Dao Yuefeng and his companions could have killed the Ice Clan’s Emperors without hesitation, even taking two at once, because the Ice Clan’s strongest were only Emperors, like humanity.

Killing more Ice Clan Emperors would have greatly weakened their strength, which was highly beneficial for humanity, hence there was no hesitation.

However, the Evil Clan was far more powerful than the Ice Clan, not only because of their seventh-level Open Heaven Realm ancestor but also due to having significantly more Emperors.

“Today’s events were merely a result of me being deceived by Yu Zhonggong, leading me to Sky Sea City. The rest of the Evil Clan is unaware of this matter,” Lan Lun said quietly to Dao Yuefeng and his group.

“Let me leave, and there will be no further disputes between humanity and the Evil Clan. I also guarantee that today’s events can be regarded as if they never happened. How about it?”

Several of the human Emperors were tempted by Lan Lun’s offer.

In matters of survival, it was crucial not to act impulsively. Sometimes, one had to be willing to swallow their pride for the greater good.

Otherwise, any misstep could lead to the extinction of the entire race, a lesson proven by numerous examples throughout the Return to Nothing Realm’s long history.

However, the Emperors remained silent and instead looked to Dao Yuefeng, awaiting his decision.

Dao Yuefeng held an exceptionally unique position within the human race. Although he was not the strongest in terms of combat power—ranking only in the middle among the seventeen human Emperors—every Emperor was willing to heed his advice. This was due to his mastery of the Karmic Laws.

The Karmic Laws were profound and vast. Dao Yuefeng had only mastered one rule within this principle, but this single rule had already helped humanity avoid numerous crises.

It was due to his repeated success in guiding humanity away from danger that Dao Yuefeng was held in such high regard.

For instance, in the current attack on Sky Sea City by the Ice and Evil Clans, although Yu Zhonggong believed he had used a treasure to conceal Dao Yuefeng’s calculations, the reality was that everything was still within Dao Yuefeng’s calculations.

No one could predict the future with certainty, but at least Dao Yuefeng could discern some patterns.

The other Emperors remained silent, and Lan Lun also turned his gaze to Dao Yuefeng, knowing that their fate rested on Dao Yuefeng’s decision.

Even with the support of a seventh-level Open Heaven Realm ancestor, Lan Lun could not help but feel nervous at this moment.

Death was something almost all beings instinctively recoiled from.

Especially for a powerhouse standing at the peak of the sixth level, with a long life ahead, they were equally unable to accept the prospect of death.

Dao Yuefeng remained silent, looking at the ravaged Sky Sea City below.

The attack by the Ice and Evil Clans was genuine, aimed at annihilating the entire human population in Sky Sea City. In just a few moments, the city had suffered devastating losses.

At least sixty percent of the Sun Moon Realm practitioners had been killed or wounded, and five Sixth Stage Rule Integration Realm experts had died.

Among the ordinary practitioners below the Sun Moon Realm, forty percent had perished. This was despite the fact that the Ice and Evil Clans had not specifically targeted them; the damage was mainly due to the residual attack and the corrosive black mist.

Of course, the strong forces of the Ice and Evil Clans that had attacked Sky Sea City had already been almost completely eliminated by another human Emperor.

Facing the power of the Emperors, ordinary Sixth Stage Rule Integration Realm experts could not resist, and the Sun Moon Realm practitioners were even less able to defend themselves.

“The lives of humanity are not for you to take as you please, nor can you simply pass over them based on a single deceitful whisper!” Dao Yuefeng declared, his gaze filled with cold light.

“Do you intend for humanity to disappear from the Return to Nothing Realm?”

Upon hearing Dao Yuefeng’s words, Lan Lun’s heart trembled slightly, and he shouted furiously, “Humanity will not be destroyed!”

Dao Yuefeng spoke each word with conviction, locking eyes with Lan Lun. “If the Evil Clan dares to continue encroaching upon our territory, humanity will fight to the end. Kill!”

As Dao Yuefeng’s voice fell, his sword burst forth with dazzling light and sliced directly towards Lan Lun.

Seeing Dao Yuefeng take action, the other human Emperors understood his intention. In an instant, overwhelming power engulfed Lan Lun.

“You Evil Clan will be the ones to perish at our hands. I’ll be waiting for you!” Lan Lun roared in madness, but his voice abruptly cut off.