Sikong Yan stared directly at Zhou Qing, his tone becoming serious: "Go and find out which of our Divinity Transformation cultivators achieved their breakthrough using the most basic Human Dao Foundation Establishment?"

"The vast majority started with Earth Vein Foundation Establishment, and a few lucky ones used various rare Heavenly Dao Qi."

Sikong Yan sighed lightly: "Of course, there’s no absolutes in this world. Perhaps there are cultivators with Human Dao Foundation Establishment who can break through Divinity Transformation through great perseverance. But generally, this is the principle."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing was silent, and the image of Yan Xiaohu, his third senior brother, appeared in his mind.

He used Earth Vein Qi to establish his foundation, and his probability of breaking through to Divinity Transformation in this life is only about forty percent. The remaining sixty percent likely means he will end at Nascent Soul Great Perfection for life.

"Therefore," Sikong Yan’s tone turned solemn, "whether it’s a Fifth-level or Sixth-level Cultivation Country, breaking through to Spirit Severing is never easy."

"Those who succeed often prepare from the beginning of their cultivation, an accumulation we can only aspire to."

His eyes flashed sharply: "But now, the Old Emperor has a secret recipe at hand that can greatly increase the breakthrough probability out of nowhere. From that moment, the Holy Martial Dynasty became the target of every arrow."

"How many Divinity Transformation Perfection cultivators are watching like tigers? How many Spirit Slash from foreign countries covet it in the dark?" Sikong Yan sneered, "Who doesn’t want to obtain such a heaven-defying item?"

"As long as the recipe is successfully refined, and as many as fifty to sixty Divinity Transformation Perfection cultivators take it, there’s a high possibility of producing a Spirit Severing. Just relying on sheer numbers can add several powers to one’s own side."

Zhou Qing remained silent.

In fact, this doubt had lingered in his heart for many years, but he had never thought it through.

Seeing this, Sikong Yan continued meaningfully: "But have you noticed? Even if it’s so tempting, no one dares to seize it by force. Do you know the reason behind it?"

Zhou Qing’s eyes flashed with insight, and he said in a deep voice: "Is it because of... the Dynasty Alliance?"

"Correct!" Sikong Yan looked surprised, evidently not expecting Zhou Qing to think of this.

His eyes flashed with longing: "Legend has it that the Dynasty Alliance was established by peerless experts from several Level 7 Cultivation Countries, and its members at minimum come from Level 6 Cultivation Countries."

"When the Old Emperor broke through to Spirit Severing, an envoy from the Dynasty Alliance descended."

"Not only did they incorporate surrounding Level 3 Cultivation Countries into the Holy Martial Dynasty, but they also declared that no nation may invade."

At this point, Sikong Yan sneered again: "This explains why the Holy Martial Dynasty, despite lacking strength, has never been swallowed by other established Level 4 Cultivation Countries or even Level 5 Cultivation Countries."

"Of course, on the other side..." he shifted his tone, "there is also the Cultivator Alliance."

"This equally old and powerful organization has the backing of all major hidden sects, and can be considered the pillar of sects worldwide."

Finally, Sikong Yan said meaningfully: "These two major alliances balance each other. If a sect wants to replace a dynasty, or a dynasty wants to swallow a sect, emissaries from both sides will inevitably appear to intervene."

"This is the true order of the Cultivation Realm."

Zhou Qing’s gaze slightly narrowed, and a sudden clarity filled his heart.

Sikong Yan’s words finally resolved his long-standing confusion.

"Unless one side is willing to submit, no one dares to act rashly." Sikong Yan further supplemented.

Now Zhou Qing finally understood why despite possessing Spirit Slash Great Power, the dynasty dared not openly target sects.

They can only use unsavory means, like provoking internal conflicts between various provinces and domains, making those weakened sects voluntarily cling to a particular prince, and then slowly plot against them.

At this moment, Sikong Yan chuckled: "However, there will always be people who ignore the bigger picture."

His eyes flashed with ridicule, "Those Spirit Severing Realm cultivators who watch helplessly as their dao companions and relatives’ lifespans run out, who cares about rules then?"

"In my memory," he recalled, "there’s often lone Spirit Slash Great Power who come to the Imperial City to plunder. Each time, the Old Emperor barely survived using the dynasty’s fortune."

"Interestingly, in these trials of life and death, Xuanyuan Chong’s cultivation instead climbed step by step."

At this point, Sikong Yan’s face became cold: "This instead made him discover the benefits. One, he can use the secret recipe to solidify the Xuanyuan family’s status, and two, he can lure other Spirit Severing Realm to send themselves to their death."

"With such a dual-purpose scheme, he’s even more unlikely to reveal the secret recipe publicly."

"Moreover, for so many years, the old bastard has never set foot outside the Holy Martial Dynasty, like a venomous spider lurking in its web, waiting quietly for prey to walk right in. The dynasty’s fortune is his greatest life-saving talisman."

"As for that secret recipe..." Sikong Yan sneered even more, "Even his closest kin don’t know."

"Current Emperor Xuanyuan Hao, and his younger brother Xuanyuan Shuo, are all kept in the dark. It’s precisely to prevent anyone from performing a Soul Search on them and divulging heaven’s secrets."

Zhou Qing was shaken upon hearing this.

The caution and far-reaching schemes of the Old Emperor indeed make one’s skin crawl.

"You’ve gone around in circles, but you haven’t explained clearly why he doesn’t carry the secret recipe with him?" Zhou Qing asked in a deep voice. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Sikong Yan suddenly let out a short chuckle, as if he had heard an enormous joke.

"Who can guarantee they’d never capsize?"

He lazily leaned against the vermilion corridor column, "What if one day...a being beyond Spirit Severing Realm, like crushing an ant, exterminates him?"

"Sometimes those who disregard rules can be beings beyond Spirit Severing Realm. Every time other Spirit Severing Realm come to plunder, guess what’s the first thing he does?"

Sikong Yan turned his head, looking at Zhou Qing with eyes full of anticipation.

Zhou Qing was silent for a moment, and then slowly said: "Erase the memory regarding the secret recipe?"