Chapter 451: Behind the classification method

Grades are a very mysterious thing. The great being who initially invented the Nine-Grade Classification Method reviewed all the Daos of the Heavens and gathered an unknown number of cultivation methods before finally designing a classification system that could perfectly fit almost 'all Cultivators'.

Yes, almost 'all' Cultivators.

Whether you are from a crude Dao Orthodoxy in a remote, poor area of a miniature heaven and earth or a top-tier Legacy from the world, the Nine-Grade Classification Method can easily encompass you.

This difference in Grade is fundamental; it can even be said to be a leap in life level, much like multicellular organisms compared to single-celled organisms.

In their Early Stages, multicellular organisms may not be stronger than other single-celled organisms, but in terms of complexity, functionality, and future development, they possess unparalleled advantages. They only need a little development to completely overwhelm all single-celled organisms.

The idea of forcibly elevating the Grade of a creature and then using the creature's reproductive capacity to mass-produce corresponding Grade Materials is indeed very creative.

Although for Li Qi, this would be harmful to the Heavenly Dao, he would be unlikely to use this method on true life forms like pearl mussels. However, it is perfect for the Shamanic Silkworm Artifact.

It's just that… Li Qi couldn't help but fall into thought again.

He could understand the difference in Grade.

But where does this difference come from? The improvement in cultivation seems to bring about a more fundamental change. This is not just the appearance of a certain characteristic, but rather indicates that within the Grade, there is a universally applicable ladder standard.

Is it this standard that gave birth to the Nine-Grade Classification Method? If one can think and research in this direction, is it possible to find the commonalities of each Dao?

After all, since everyone can apply the same Grade promotion scheme, it must mean there are commonalities that can be accommodated together.

So, for Li Qi, with so many Dao Orthodoxys within him, mutually separated and incompatible, he can only rely on a 'conceived' Ultimate Great Dao to forcibly balance them.

But if one considers it from this perspective, is the Nine-Grade Classification Method one of the pieces of evidence for the existence of this 'Ultimate Great Dao'?

Since all Daos apply the same classification method, it means that at a deeper essence, they possess a certain degree of commonality. If this commonality can be found, will it have a positive impact on Dao compatibility?

It definitely will, this is a line of thought.

Just obtaining this Dragon Qi Grade promotion method gave Li Qi many new ideas. Perhaps it really is useful. Li Qi secretly noted it down, preparing to find an opportunity to thoroughly investigate what is contained behind the Nine-Grade Classification Method.

Indeed, nothing that can be promoted throughout the entire world is simple.

A standard that is universally applicable across all Dao Orthodoxys in the world must contain true mysteries behind it. If one can understand it, it will certainly be of great benefit to the Dao!

However, there is still one problem.

To date, the Nine-Grade Classification Method can very well encompass almost 'all' Cultivators.

Yes, almost.

Because Martial Dao is an exception.

After a Martial Artist condenses Martial Dao Divine Intent and enters the Eighth Grade, his Grade falls into a vague and Chaos state. It is very difficult to determine what Grade a Martial Artist is through a distinct 'characteristic'.

For example, after a Shaman reaches Seventh Grade, their Human Body miniature heaven and earth can 'create something out of nothing.' This is a very obvious sign; seeing this sign means the Shaman has reached at least Seventh Grade.

But Martial Dao is different. Martial Dao has extremely vague and Chaos standards. The Ninth Grade allows the body to reach its best state, and the Eighth Grade condenses Martial Dao Divine Intent. After that, Martial Dao has no other characteristics.

Martial Dao Inner Qi itself has no order whatsoever; it can even devour other Qi and assimilate them into the Inner Energy.

Just as it was said before, other Dao arts are like precise machines.

Martial Dao Inner Qi is like the machine directly melted into magma, no longer precise and orderly, but gaining pure destructive power instead.

What characteristics can a pile of Chaos magma have? Of course, none. You can only see this magma getting more and more abundant, its temperature getting higher and higher, capable of destroying more and more machines, but you won't see any essential improvement.

So, only 'strength' remains.

How can a Fifth Grade Martial Artist prove he is Fifth Grade?

Very simple: by killing or crippling other Fifth Grades, it proves you have reached Fifth Grade. You are strong enough to be called Fifth Grade.

A high-Grade Martial Artist once called a Martial God once said something similar.

At that time, he pointed to the sky towards the Heavenly Court, laughed loudly, and then his voice boomed like thunder: "What is a Martial God? It's not that boring thing of 'gaining a divine position.' The only reason I'm called a Martial God is—I'm so strong I can even blast down a damn god!"

There's nothing that can't be killed. Even if you encounter something truly unkillable, it's only because you're not strong enough yet!

The purest violence, the simplest classification, but also the most vague.

Except for this peculiar Dao, for all other Dao Orthodoxys, the Nine-Grade Classification Method handles the differences between different Grades very well.

"Is Martial Dao's essence already elevated, with only quantitative improvement remaining?" Li Qi speculated in his mind as he walked towards the East Isle sea surface.

Martial Dao Inner Qi has the characteristic of devouring all Qi and assimilating it. The Martial Artist's 'eating' is based on this characteristic.

Li Qi likes to use machines and magma to describe this difference.

So, does it mean that after Martial Dao Inner Qi condenses Martial Dao Divine Intent, it directly reaches the most supreme essence? That is... the end of all things?

According to Li Qi's understanding of the entropy increase theory, all things will eventually become a chaotic mess, losing order. So, is Martial Dao Inner Qi the embodiment of this Chaos disorder? And this Chaos disorder, its essence is quite supreme, representing a very high Grade.

If understood this way, then Martial Dao does not lack a Grade, but rather, after the Eighth Grade, it directly reaches a very, very high Grade, such as Third Grade? Perhaps even Second Grade!?

As for First Grade, Li Qi didn't even dare to think about it, subconsciously eliminating that answer from his mind.

It's just that, like the mother clam that was forcibly elevated to Eighth Grade, it hasn't yet reached the power and understanding of the Dao that this Grade should possess, and needs to be slowly supplemented through subsequent cultivation and training?

Therefore, Martial Artists so desperately need something like 'Martial Artist's Heart,' because they need an extremely resolute Dao Heart, resolute beyond what other Daos can imagine, to master this supreme essence at Eighth Grade?

Without such a resolute Dao Heart, without that spirit of 'my fist is higher than the will of Heaven,' a Martial Artist cannot master this essence!

This conjecture invigorated Li Qi!

It's definitely possible!

The conjecture is there; next, he needs to find evidence to prove it.

If he can find evidence and solve the problem of classifying Martial Dao within the Nine-Grade Classification Method, the Nine-Grade Classification Method itself can become one of the proofs of the Ultimate Great Dao, thereby stabilizing Li Qi's Dao Heart.

If he conducts in-depth research on the Nine-Grade Classification Method, he will certainly find useful things.

However... these are all in the conjecture stage.

He can't obtain the evidence yet; it's currently beyond Li Qi's capabilities. His current cultivation doesn't have the ability to gather evidence for this matter.

However, he will keep it in mind and verify it when he has the opportunity in the future.

Thinking of these things, Li Qi felt that this trip to the East Sea was truly worthwhile.

Although he broke through to Seventh Grade in Chang'an, the year or two after that was just spent accumulating groundwork, slowly building up his foundation.

But coming to the East Sea, seeing all sorts of things he couldn't see in Chang'an, instantly brought a huge amount of inspiration, which further propelled his cultivation and Dao.

Li Qi's mood improved even more, until he surfaced from the sea.

Hmm, next, it's time to find the people from the Dao of Reason.

Several days have passed; Wang Dun should have made some preparations by now, right?

The first bait he received upon arriving here was the Dao of Reason.

This is also why Li Qi was certain someone was fishing for him. The knowledge of the Dao of Reason and the Spirit Dao was almost impossible for Li Qi to refuse. For them to appear simultaneously, he wouldn't believe it if someone said it wasn't arranged.

It's just that the other party's methods were a bit clumsy, and they also mixed in the confusion of the Merfolk, which backfired and allowed him to discover the clues.

This also allowed him to continue the investigation.

Thinking these thoughts, Li Qi weighed the Dragon Scale in his hand.

This item, and the Dragon Blood on it, were Li Qi's biggest clues.

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Li Qi, riding on Old Horse's back, finally ascended to the upper level of East Isle.

Having Old Horse was very convenient; this way, Li Qi didn't have to navigate himself. He could meditate and think on horseback, leaving the navigation to Old Horse.

If the lower level of East Isle was the place for the ocean natives, responsible for maintaining the operation of East Isle, then the upper level of East Isle, those five large platforms, were exclusively for tourists.

Riding Old Horse through the streets, although ninety-five percent of his mind was deep in thought, Li Qi still allocated half a percent to observe his surroundings.

To say it was a dazzling array of lights and entertainment would be no exaggeration.

Li Qi didn't know if this disc he was on was like this, or if all the discs were, but the decor and architecture here were quite luxurious, many times better than the lower level.

The Merfolk and Snail people of the lower level still lived in reefs, toiling daily to cultivate pearls, but the high-rise buildings here had already begun to apply large Formations.

Although it couldn't compare to the Human Dao where even floor tiles were Spiritual Artifacts, at least Formations were used to maintain a certain level of automation.

Massive quantities of bright pearls served as the energy source here, and countless sea people could be seen engaged in service industries. Occasionally, sea women and many beautiful women transformed from fish demons could also be seen entertaining guests here.

It seemed... the entire lower level of East Isle served the cities on these five discs. Everything built below was not enjoyed by them but was instead all sent to the upper level.

The pearls cultivated by the Merfolk, the tools crafted by the Snail people, the fish raised by the sea people, and even they themselves, all served the tourists here.

"Sir, do you need to stable your horse? Professional stables, with Ninth Grade Spirit Beast trainers on duty, and free peach pills provided!"

"New clam girls, like oysters, plump and smooth!"

"The fleet bound for White Cloud Coral Reef, fair income distribution, urgently seeking Dao of Reason Cultivators skilled in repairing ships, Eighth Grade and above, ready to depart!"

"Deep Ocean Deep Sea exploration fleet, with a Seventh Grade expert in command, absolutely safe! Seventh Grade Spiritual Artifact ship, never sinks! Four hundred sixty tickets remaining, those who need to enter the deep sea hurry, expected to depart in four days!"

Someone was also shouting: "Ingredients! Fresh seafood, caught four days ago from the Deep Ocean area, Yu Fu, Qiu Wei, all available, thirty sticks of sea shrimp roe, each stick one foot long, about one inch wide and thick! Absolutely top grade!"

He even knew what those seafood items were, for example, Qiu Wei, a fish resembling a horned owl, which brings rain when it creates waves, hence its image is placed on rooftops.

Yu Fu, also known as Ji, is neither fish nor Dragon, as large as a boat, two or three zhang long, like a catfish, with two breasts under its belly, male and female Yin and Yang resembling humans. Its offspring, when placed on shore, cry like infants. It has a hole on its neck, connected to its head, from which air hisses out.

Li Qi's ears were constantly filled with such shouts. In addition, he could truly feel that he was in a 'port city'.

The smell of fish, which could also be called freshness, continuously wafted before his nose.

The sound of waves, the cries of seabirds, and subtle mechanical transmission sounds... these were the sounds of East Isle operating beneath his feet.

Hmm…

It seemed there was no need to rush to find the people from the Dao of Reason; they should come looking for him.

As for himself, having just arrived at East Isle, it was time to rest for a while. The past few days had been spent gathering intelligence and investigating Lord Tianhong's affairs. Now that Lord Tianhong had some clues and the Dragon Scale was in hand, it wouldn't be difficult to delve deeper.

He would rest for a few hours, and then… wait for someone to find him.

Thinking this, Li Qi cast those thoughts out of his mind.

Actually, all these reasons were just because… he was craving something.

Seafood.

Genuine East Sea seafood.

Having come all this way to the East Sea, of course, he had to try the local specialties.

It's embarrassing to say, but Li Qi has always been curious about local specialty foods. In Qingwu City, he also wandered the streets and ate. The first thing he did when he went to Tang Nation was to visit the market to see all sorts of food. He even wanted to try Liu Junyi's cooking, and when he went to Shangyuan to handle matters for the Lingxiao Flower Goddess, he also wanted to try the fine wines and delicacies of the Shangyuan Flower Goddesses. (See Local Delicacies)

Now that he had come to the East Sea, how could he not try it?

Li Qi had never spoken about this hobby to anyone else; only he knew about it, and he never showed it outwardly because he felt… it was a bit shameful.

With this thought, Li Qi decided he could rest for a few hours. Since there was just now some seafood, he might as well buy some of these fresh deep-sea items and take them to a local restaurant to be cooked.

Thinking this, Li Qi walked to the place where the ship had just been shouting.

"Oh, honored guest! What would you like to buy this time? Fresh sea shrimp roe, want a string?" The vendor, a crew member, saw Li Qi and immediately called out enthusiastically.