Lin Yuan's return to the Great Zen Temple didn't cause much of a stir.
Aside from the abbot and a few hall leaders, no other monks knew about it.
Sitting cross-legged on the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion, Lin Yuan contemplated.
"Eight years left," he muttered, glancing at the flickering light below his view, aware that his time in this world was running short.
"It should be enough," he nodded slightly.
With his heaven-defying comprehension, he had already found a direction and method for surpassing the Mythical Realm, and eight years seemed more than adequate.
"The path of martial arts," Lin Yuan's eyes were profound.
In this world, the martial path relied on the body as a foundation, merging with the spirit, undergoing constant transformation.
Though slow to progress, it had no significant weaknesses, far surpassing the potential of the 'Genetic Warrior' evolution path of Universal Human Civilization.
Genetic Warriors focused solely on bodily evolution, but when encountering 'Psionic Warlocks' or 'Mental Masters,' they were usually overwhelmed without prior preparation.
The Genetic Warrior evolution path seemed like something devised by the top brass of human civilization for their descendants, relying entirely on genetic serums to continuously advance as long as one could procure high-grade serums.
"I wonder what category the martial path falls into according to the Goddess of Wisdom's evaluation," Lin Yuan mused.
The Universal Human Alliance encouraged its citizens to develop new evolutionary paths, with the Goddess of Wisdom offering significant rewards to entice more people to engage in such pursuits.
The value of an evolutionary path depended on its accessibility and potential.
Accessibility was straightforward—if only one person could practice it, it bore little value to human civilization as a whole.
Potential, however, represented the theoretical upper limit of the path.
For over a decade in this world, Lin Yuan utilized his heaven-defying comprehension to perfect martial skills and prepare for a level beyond the Mythical Realm, aiming to enhance the martial evolution path's potential and thus receive higher accolades from the Goddess of Wisdom and ample rewards.
Lin Yuan knew his priorities well—this world was merely a temporary stop.
Once his twenty-year stay concluded, he would return to the Universal Human Alliance.
"Let's continue comprehending," he decided, closing his eyes to once again delve into the state of enlightenment.
His trip to the capital of the Great Li Dynasty had proven incredibly beneficial.
The Martial Hall's myriad of martial arts and the intriguing techniques possessed by warriors around the world, under the influence of his remarkable comprehension, sparked endless revelations in Lin Yuan's mind, unwaveringly pushing him towards a realm beyond the Mythical.
Time passed swiftly, and eight years flew by.
The mysterious monk who had stormed the Great Li palace finally had his identity exposed—it was the Buddha Child Hui Zhen from the Great Zen Temple.
Lin Yuan had proclaimed himself as "this humble monk Hui Zhen" outside the palace, and many had heard it.
Moreover, the Great Zen Temple had long distributed the Buddha Child’s portrait to various temples across the land, and with Lin Yuan frequently appearing at martial arts conventions in the capital, it was not difficult to deduce the truth.
The revelation of the mysterious monk’s identity made the Great Zen Temple a hub of activity, with numerous warriors flocking to Mount Shaoshi each day, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lin Yuan.
Acknowledged as the supreme grandmaster, Lin Yuan was even hailed as the greatest grandmaster throughout history by other masters.
In martial arts, there's no top in literature, but no second in martial arts; to be accepted by all masters without any dispute, there’s only one possibility—Hui Zhen, truly unimaginably strong, had convinced all masters.
Even if unable to meet him, seeing him from afar was already a great fortune—what if the nameless monk noticed them by chance? Such an opportunity was thought to be even more advantageous than a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate.
As for being selected by the Buddha Child and potentially needing to renounce worldly ties, many would willingly do so for a chance to enter the grandmaster realm.
For them, even becoming a monk or severing emotional ties was worth achieving such a milestone.
On Mount Shaoshi’s narrow path, a burly man carrying a heavy sword walked slowly, followed by a young man in his twenties.
"Master, Master," the young man inquired curiously as they walked, "Are you here to challenge the Buddha Child again?"
The burly man, the South Sea Sword Saint, was already recognized as a grandmaster.
In previous times, the advent of any grandmaster would be a grand event, attracting celebrations from all directions.
However, the South Sea Sword Saint found it utterly uninspiring.
Since his spar with Lin Yuan eight years ago, he understood that there was always someone stronger, a realm beyond reach.
"I'm just here to have a look," he replied, shaking his head.
"And don’t compare your master with the Buddha Child. Eight years ago, he was already beyond the grandmaster stage."
Suddenly, the South Sea Sword Saint's expression changed dramatically.
He looked towards the peak of Mount Shaoshi, where the Great Zen Temple lay.
Buzz!!!
A formidable aura began to reverberate, instantly engulfing the entire mountain and swiftly radiating in all directions.
"What is that?" The South Sea Sword Saint turned pale.
He sensed an overwhelming presence rising from the depths of the Great Zen Temple, lighting up the world like a brilliant sun.
"It's finally... finally done," muttered Lin Yuan as he opened his eyes, stood up, and walked out of the Scripture Pavilion.
After nearly a decade, he had finally surpassed the Mythical Realm.
Outside the pavilion, Long-Browed Old Monk, the abbot, and various head monks awaited him.
The commotion from Lin Yuan's breakthrough had been so immense that even the South Sea Sword Saint halfway down the mountain felt it, let alone the numerous monks within the temple.
"Buddha Child," they greeted, bowing as Lin Yuan emerged.
"Hmm," he nodded, in good spirits.
"Buddha Child, your strength should have surpassed the grandmaster stage, yes?" the abbot Hui Yuan cautiously inquired, suspecting this for a long time.
Achieving something beyond grandmaster was, after all, the dream of martial artists throughout history.
Although sensing the overwhelming aura during Lin Yuan's breakthrough, which outmatched even hundreds of grandmasters, made it impossible for Hui Yuan not to realize something significant.
“Quite possibly,” Lin Yuan replied calmly, his gaze serene.
"Truly surpassed the grandmaster realm?" Despite anticipating such news, Hui Yuan and the other two monks felt as if a raging storm brewed inside them.
Their thoughts were particularly complicated, given that they had seen Lin Yuan progress step by step, and over a decade ago, even advised him as a master would.
“What is beyond the grandmaster realm?” Hui Yuan asked, voice trembling.
The others listened intently, though they knew they might never reach Lin Yuan’s heights or even the grandmaster stage, hearing about it was more than past iconic masters of their era had ever managed.
"Beyond grandmaster is called the Mythical Realm, where inner qi transforms into 'Primordial Force'," Lin Yuan patiently explained the intricacies of the Mythical Realm.
Pausing briefly, he continued, "As for what lies beyond the Mythical Realm, I haven’t decided a name, but it involves the merging of qi and spirit, allowing one to sense the world’s vital force."
"What?" Hui Yuan and the others were stunned, struggling to comprehend.
They had barely processed the astonishing abilities of the Mythical Realm when Lin Yuan mentioned surpassing it? Could this young Buddha Child already be beyond the Mythical Realm? How else could he understand its wonders?
After a brief explanation, Lin Yuan dismissed Hui Yuan and the others.
It wasn’t that he didn't wish to elaborate, but rather because without the corresponding cultivation, any amount of explanation would be fruitless, possibly even disruptive to their own paths.
“I’ve probably reached the limit,” Lin Yuan pondered, feeling the growing oppressive force of the world around him.
He realized he had reached the utmost level possible here.
While his heaven-defying comprehension could push further, the remaining time made it impractical.
“Almost time,” Lin Yuan thought aloud, gazing at the pile of books before him in the Scripture Pavilion.
They documented the evolution from the Postnatal Realm up to the Mythical Realm and beyond, though as martial knowledge advanced, it became increasingly cryptic to ordinary people.
It's why Lin Yuan avoided delving into details with Hui Yuan and the others.
However, should a prodigy with even a fraction of his talent emerge in the future, these texts might serve as guidance, albeit likely centuries or millennia from now.
After reaching a level beyond the Mythical Realm, Lin Yuan ceased intensive cultivation, opting instead to explore and enjoy the world.
Yet he continued to feel the encroaching pressure of the world, like a stranded whale, growing more uncomfortable.
Months later, Lin Yuan suddenly opened his eyes.
Within his mind, the Gate of Myriad Realms burst forth with enlightening light.
The first stage has concluded~ How's the fast-paced rhythm feeling?
[End of Chapter]