Nothing happened that night.
The following morning, Nian Lin was surprised to find himself walking beside Li Qing. He had originally thought that she was a cold and distant person. Her appearance certainly gave off that impression. However, after spending some time speaking with her, he discovered that she was actually quite warm and easy to talk to.
And just like that, the two of them walked together while chatting casually.
However, rather than a conversation, it would be more accurate to say that Nian Lin was the one asking questions while Li Qing was the one answering.
From her explanations, Nian Lin finally obtained some understanding of the world of cultivators and many of its fundamental truths.
According to Li Qing, the world was ruled by great cultivation families, powerful sects, and various empires. These forces controlled vast territories and possessed countless cultivators.
Cultivation itself was divided into three great realms: the Lower Realm, the Middle Realm, and the legendary Higher Realm.
The Lower Realm consisted of eight major stages. However, Li Qing only knew the first six stages clearly. As for the remaining two, they were considered legendary realms that only powerful elders and ancient records mentioned.
The six stages she knew were:
Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Soul Formation, and Deity Transformation.
As for the final two stages, Li Qing had only heard vague rumors about them.
The Middle Realm was even more mysterious.
Li Qing knew almost nothing about it. She had only heard stories from wandering cultivators and sect elders. To most people, the Middle Realm was already a legendary existence far beyond their reach.
Beyond the Middle Realm was the Higher Realm.
According to the legends, upon reaching the Higher Realm, one could truly be called an Immortal.
Cultivators of that level could traverse the starry skies, travel between worlds, and visit the legendary Immortal Realms. Their lifespans were said to rival heaven and earth itself.
However, such achievements were far easier to speak of than to accomplish.
Not to mention reaching the Higher Realm, even advancing through the Lower Realm was already unimaginably difficult. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Throughout the history of countless worlds, very few people had ever reached the peak of the Deity Transformation stage. Most cultivators would remain trapped at Nascent Soul or Soul Formation for the rest of their lives.
Even Soul Formation cultivators were exceedingly rare.
Only individuals blessed with immense fortune, extraordinary talent, and great karmic destiny possessed the qualifications to step into such a realm.
According to Li Qing, a cultivator's lifespan was directly connected to their cultivation level. Every major breakthrough would greatly increase the number of years they could live.
Ordinary mortals generally lived for less than one hundred years.
Upon reaching Foundation Establishment, a cultivator's lifespan would increase to approximately two hundred years.
Core Formation cultivators could live for four hundred to five hundred years.
As for Nascent Soul cultivators, their lifespan could exceed one thousand years.
To ordinary people, such figures were no different from immortals.
When Li Qing spoke of Nascent Soul experts, traces of admiration and envy unconsciously appeared in her eyes.
After all, one thousand years was ten times longer than the lifespan of a normal human.
Nian Lin listened silently beside her.
Although he had already guessed that cultivators possessed longer lifespans than ordinary mortals, he had never imagined the difference would be so absurd.
One thousand years.
Wouldn't that make those old monsters into thousand-year tortoises?
If merely reaching Nascent Soul could grant a thousand years of life, then what about Soul Formation?
What about the legendary Deity Transformation stage?
What about the mysterious Middle Realm and the legendary Higher Realm?
How long would those cultivators live?
Unable to contain his curiosity, Nian Lin finally asked,
"What about the cultivators above Nascent Soul? How long can they live?"
Li Qing blinked.
"Who knows?"
She laughed softly before continuing.
"Maybe they can live forever."
"Maybe they can remain youthful for eternity."
"Or perhaps they simply become beings beyond our understanding."
After a brief pause, she continued.
"Legends say that when a cultivator reaches the Great Perfection of a certain realm, they must leave this world and travel to a higher realm beyond space itself."
"As for where that place is, nobody knows."
"No one has ever returned."
Her voice gradually softened.
"At least, no one has ever returned to tell us about it."