C3 Spirit Convergence

The bath was originally intended for cleansing the body after intense cultivation sessions. Now, Chen Dutian was using it to dissolve the Awakening Pill.

If word got out that Chen Dutian was dissolving Awakening Pills in the water, there would be countless people wanting to kill him.

Each Awakening Pill was worth a fortune, yet Chen Dutian was squandering them so carelessly. Such a prodigal act.

Splash!

Chen Dutian stripped off his clothes and leaped into the bath.

"Great Dao Heaven Controlling Technique." A cultivation technique surfaced in Chen Dutian's mind.

This was the ultimate technique he had created after a million years of cultivation in his past life, a technique so perfect it transcended the heavens. He had planned to cultivate it after ascending to emperorship, but instead, he was killed by someone who used the universe as a kiln and the will of billions as fuel.

Inhale, exhale.

Chen Dutian took a deep breath, submerging even his head under the water, his pores opening wide in response.

The Awakening Pill had already dissolved into the water.

Bubbles swarmed around Chen Dutian's body, blurring his figure as if the water were boiling.

"All paths converge, the Dao is one, mastery over the heavens." The breath Chen Dutian had taken circulated within him, his pores fully dilated. The medicinal power of the dissolved Awakening Pill flowed with the water into his body.

The water's surface rippled as if it were breathing.

"Martial Palace, open!"

Chen Dutian bellowed underwater, and the power of the Awakening Pill converged in his head in an instant.

At the deepest part of his mind, a vital point was shattered by the formidable energy.

Chen Dutian felt a sudden lightness in his head, his soul seemingly ready to soar.

The grey expanse was the world within the Martial Palace, a realm of nothingness and chaos.

This was the Martial Palace Space.

Within the human body lies a chaotic universe, concealed within the Martial Palace.

Only by breaking through the Martial Palace can one cultivate and ascend to the pinnacle of the myriad realms.

Rumors say that the myriad realms were formed from the Martial Palaces of countless mighty beings.

Chen Dutian knew this was not mere speculation but a reality. Aside from the one true realm, all other vast worlds were manifested from the Martial Palaces of the departed strong.

"Awaken the Martial Nexus, gather the Martial Spirit!"

Cultivators who break through their Martial Nexus enter the first level of the Awakening Realm, which consists of nine levels in total.

These nine levels of the Awakening Realm can be achieved in just a handful of breaths.

Chen Dutian was previously unable to cultivate, but as the son of Lord Protector Chen Dou, he was among the elite in the entire Phethia Dynasty, surpassing even some princes and princesses in status.

Chen Dutian was raised on a diet of spiritual herbs and pills, consuming them as casually as one would weeds and sweets.

Although Chen Dutian himself was unable to cultivate or assimilate these substances, within the Lord Protector's estate, there were dedicated martial artists who would massage and diffuse the medicinal strength within him, fortifying his sinews and bones to a level that surpassed even those martial artists at the fifth or sixth level of the Awakening Realm.

A significant portion of this medicinal power remained stored within Chen Dutian's body. As long as he was unable to cultivate, some of this power would gradually seep into and fortify his physique, though much of it would eventually dissipate with time, going to waste.

With the cultivation experience from his past life and an inherently strong constitution, reaching the ninth level of the Awakening Realm was a matter of a few breaths for him.

"Supreme Dao commands the heavens."

Within the chaotic space of the Martial Nexus, a silhouette swiftly took shape, bearing the likeness of Chen Dutian.

Martial Spirits are the essence of martial artists, and only by forming a Martial Spirit can one make rapid strides in their martial path.

A martial artist who cannot form a Martial Spirit is fundamentally incomplete.

"Hmm?" A look of confusion crossed Chen Dutian's face.

Typically, a martial artist's Martial Spirit takes on their own likeness, although some unique Martial Spirits may manifest as plants, beasts, or weapons due to the influence of their bloodline and cultivation techniques.

At this moment, Chen Dutian's Martial Spirit appeared regal, donning a crown and a yellow robe adorned with embroidery of supreme mythical creatures like the True Dragon and the Qilin, along with a towering World Tree. The sleeves of the robe were embellished with a myriad of stars.

Chen Dutian recognized this attire all too well—it was the very crown and robe he wore when he ascended to the throne in his previous life.

Countless voices of adulation echoed around him.

Listening intently, one could discern that it was the name of the Sky God Emperor being chanted by innumerable souls.

The Sky God Emperor was the imperial title of Chen Dutian in his former life, a moniker that established him as the foremost being across all the myriad realms.

"This is the power of the collective will of billions from the Ten Thousand Worlds, reborn with me and manifesting as a phenomenon within my Martial Spirit," Chen Dutian mused, his expression a mix of awe and bewilderment. "Indeed, in my past life, I was slain—my assailants using the collective will of billions as fuel and the cosmos as their crucible. If I could be reborn, returning to the now of the past, then naturally, this collective will would accompany me."

A smile crept onto Chen Dutian's lips. Though he was uncertain of its purpose, he knew the collective will of billions had been exploited in his past life. Likely, all those souls had perished with him. Now transformed into a marvel within his Martial Spirit, it surely held profound secrets.

"Martial practitioners progress through realms: Awakening, Spirit Convergence, Astral Wandering, Skyflight, Divine Prowess, Apotheosis, Trial by Fire, Unbound, Revered, Emperor, and Supreme Ruler. Rumors speak of a Divine Sovereign realm beyond the Supreme Ruler, but even in my past life, I never reached such heights. Nonetheless, I sense there is indeed a level beyond the Supreme Ruler. Alas, had I not been betrayed, perhaps I could have glimpsed the Divine Sovereign realm with the aid of the collective will," Chen Dutian reflected inwardly.

"Yan Chen, Yan Nantian." A sharp glint of vengeance flashed in Chen Dutian's eyes. Yan Chen was the reigning Emperor of the Phethia Dynasty, and Yan Nantian, his son, the Crown Prince. In his previous life, this father-son duo, fearing Chen Dou's power and potential to usurp the throne, conspired with the Southern Barbarian Empire to trap Chen Dou and his legions within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, nearly resulting in his demise.

Simultaneously, within the Phethia capital, they sought to exterminate the entire Lord Protector's Mansion under fabricated charges of insurrection.

Qin Fan was merely a pawn of the Yan family, the one who crafted the counterfeit yellow jade seal and framed the Chen family for treason. At that time, within the Phethia Dynasty's court, no one dared to defend the Chen family. It wasn't necessarily a matter of courage but rather a lack of desire to do so. Chen Dou had risen meteorically in recent years, inciting jealousy and envy from many. Moreover, the interests he had offended and harmed were substantial.

This led to the tragic demise of Chen Dutian's mother, Zhao Danna, who, unable to bear the humiliation, took her own life by colliding with a pillar. In a desperate bid to save Chen Dutian, his betrothed, Song Mei Yue, reluctantly agreed to marry Qin Fan. On their wedding night, she chose death over dishonor.

Chen Dutian himself was hidden away by Song Mei Yue, where he began his journey in martial cultivation. Eventually, Chen Dou returned at the head of a mighty army, annihilating the Phethia royal family and the majority of the court's officials. He then claimed the throne, establishing the Zhao Dynasty in honor of his late wife.