Even though the Void World didn't have the Open Heaven Realm, the Dao Field still contained some basic information about it.
Grades One through Three were Lower Open Heaven, Four through Six were Middle Open Heaven, and Seven through Nine were Upper Open Heaven.
Four and Seven were the thresholds — the difference in power between those on either side of those lines was vast.
The Small Universes of Lower and Middle Open Heaven cultivators, because their power wasn't condensed enough and their foundation wasn't deep enough, remained caught between the illusory and the real even after being established.
Only upon reaching Grade Seven would they transition from illusory to real.
Fang Tianci was currently a Grade Six Open Heaven cultivator. Logically, his Small Universe should have still been somewhere between illusory and real. But that wasn't the case — his Small Universe had already transitioned from illusory to real.
Moreover, he had clearly just successfully advanced to Grade Seven, yet somehow, right after succeeding, he had plummeted back down to Grade Six.
This left him utterly baffled.
His advancement to the Open Heaven Realm this time seemed to be rather different from the norm.
"Are you feeling any discomfort?" A gentle voice came from ahead.
Fang Tianci snapped back to his senses and quickly replied, "No, thank you, Dao Master."
Yang Kai gave a slight nod and withdrew his hand, standing still.
Fang Tianci hesitated for a moment, then cupped his fists and said, "Dao Master, there is something this disciple wishes to ask."
Yang Kai turned to look at him and nodded. "Go ahead."
Fang Tianci said, "This disciple's Small Universe seems to have already transitioned from illusory to real, but this disciple only advanced to Grade Six. How is that possible?"
His words drew surprised expressions from many people around them. A Grade Six Open Heaven cultivator's Small Universe transitioning from illusory to real went completely against common knowledge. Coupled with the sudden drop in Fang Tianci's grade, quite a few of his fellow disciples who were on good terms with him showed looks of concern.
Yang Kai looked him over and said calmly, "While it's rare for a Grade Six Open Heaven cultivator's Small Universe to transition from illusory to real, it's not without precedent."
Fang Tianci was startled. "This has happened before?"
Yang Kai said, "I was the same way. Your attainments in the Dao of Space must be fairly considerable, right?"
Fang Tianci replied respectfully, "I have some modest insights. Does Dao Master mean that the changes to this disciple's Small Universe are related to having cultivated the Laws of Space?"
I didn't say that. Yang Kai muttered internally, but he had no better explanation at the moment, so he could only say, "Back when I advanced to Open Heaven, I wasn't Upper Open Heaven either. But my Small Universe was the same as yours."
Fang Tianci looked thoughtful, though he let out a sigh of relief.
As long as there was precedent for this sort of thing — and it had happened to the Dao Master himself, no less — it probably wasn't a major problem.
He wanted to ask how his cultivation had dropped from Grade Seven to Grade Six, but Yang Kai had already waved over Hua Qingsi.
Hua Qingsi darted over. "Palace Master."
Yang Kai ordered, "Take them to the Star Realm. Once they've stabilized their cultivation, throw them all into the Xuan Ming Domain for training." Nowadays, there were plenty of Grade Three and Four Open Heaven cultivators on every battlefield. In the Xuan Ming Domain especially, there were even Grade One and Two cultivators. These Dao Field disciples were all at least Grade Five — they couldn't just be kept in a greenhouse.
However, the Xuan Ming Domain alone was starting to fall short of meeting the Human Race's training needs.
Over the past three hundred years, far too many people had gone to the Xuan Ming Domain.
This time, Yang Kai planned to develop several more such training grounds.
Only by having several more major domains for training could they satisfy the ever-growing needs of the Human Race.
With these plans in mind, Yang Kai cupped his fists toward Zhan Wuhen. "Lord Wuhen, I'll be taking my leave first."
Zhan Wuhen nodded.
The next moment, Yang Kai had already vanished.
Some Dao Field disciples who had cultivated the Laws of Space watched in silent awe. The Dao Master's attainments in the Dao of Space were truly transcendent — they, the disciples who had only begun cultivating the Laws of Space thanks to the Dao Master's guidance, couldn't even see how the Dao Master had disappeared.
Hua Qingsi gathered the numerous Dao Field disciples, introduced herself, then led them all toward the Star Realm.
Liu Jingshan sidled up to Fang Tianci and nudged him with his elbow, grinning. "Don't be discouraged, Junior Brother Fang. Grade Six Open Heaven isn't so bad. Didn't you hear what the Dao Master just said? He wasn't Upper Open Heaven when he advanced either. Given enough time, our achievements may not fall short of the Dao Master's."
He was worried that Fang Tianci might develop some negative feelings over the drop in grade during his advancement, so he had hurried over to offer comfort.
Fang Tianci nodded slightly. "Senior Brother is right. I just don't quite understand why I failed to advance to Grade Seven."
It wasn't exactly a failure — he had clearly felt himself succeed. But at the very instant of success, some force seemed to have suppressed his cultivation, driving him straight from Grade Seven down to Grade Six.
There was nothing to be disheartened about, nor any reason to be dissatisfied. Back when his talent had been dull and he'd only wanted to see the vast and beautiful landscapes of the Void World before growing too old, he had resolutely left the Fang Family Estate. That departure had lasted over two thousand years, and his cultivation had risen from the Shenyou Realm all the way to his current Grade Six Open Heaven. A bright future awaited him. He was already quite content.