shén me ， lǐng yù ？
什么，领域？
What, a domain?
lín xuān què dìng zì jǐ méi yǒu tīng cuò ！
林轩确定自己没有听错！
Lin Xuan was certain he hadn't heard wrong!
shà shí jiān ， xīn zhōng de jīng yà wú fǎ yán shù ， jiù yǔ dà hǎi zhōng de jīng tāo hài làng chà bu duō 。
霎时间，心中的惊讶无法言述，就与大海中的惊涛骇浪差不多。
In an instant, the astonishment in his heart could not be described. It was akin to the tumultuous waves of the sea.
duì yú pǔ tōng de fēn shén qī xiū xiān zhě ， lǐng yù zhè ge cí ， huò xǔ hái shì bǐ jiào mò shēng de ， rán ér yǐ lín xuān jiàn wén zhī guǎng bó ， yòu zěn me kě néng bù zhī dào ne ？
对于普通的分神期修仙者，领域这个词，或许还是比较陌生的，然而以林轩见闻之广博，又怎么可能不知道呢？
For ordinary Spirit Cultivators at the Spirit Dividing stage, the term "domain" might still be unfamiliar. However, with Lin Xuan's extensive knowledge and experience, how could he possibly not know it?
lǐng yù qǐ yuán yú guī zé ！
领域起源于规则！
Domains originated from rules!
zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī ， xiū xiān zhě de mù dì ， běn bù guò shì cháng shēng ér yǐ 。
众所周知，修仙者的目的，本不过是长生而已。
It is well known that the goal of a cultivator was merely to achieve immortality.
rán ér xiǎng yào cháng shēng nǎ yǒu zhè me róng yì ， zài zhuī xún zhè ge mù biāo de tóng shí ， xiū xiān zhě yě huò dé le fān jiāng dǎo hǎi de néng lì 。
然而想要长生哪有这么容易，在追寻这个目标的同时，修仙者也获得了翻江倒海的能力。
However, achieving immortality wasn't so easy. While pursuing this goal, cultivators also gained the ability to overturn the heavens and shake the earth.
cóng xiū xí zuì jiǎn dān de wǔ xíng fǎ shù kāi shǐ ， dào yí bù yí bù de xué huì qū shǐ líng qì yǔ bǎo wù 。
从修习最简单的五行法术开始，到一步一步的学会驱使灵器与宝物。
Starting with the simplest Five Elements spells, they gradually learned to control spiritual artifacts and treasures.
xiū xiān bā gè jìng jiè ， cóng líng dòng dào dù jié ， měi yí gè jìng jiè de tí shēng ， dōu jiāng dài lái shí lì yǔ shòu yuán de fēi yuè 。
修仙八个境界，从灵动到渡劫，每一个境界的提升，都将带来实力与寿元的飞跃。
With eight stages in cultivation—flexible spirit, crossing tribulation—the leap in power and lifespan at each stage was immense.
màn màn de ， yě huì gǎn yìng dào tiān dì yuán qì yǔ guī zé 。
慢慢的，也会感应到天地元气与规则。
Slowly, they would begin to sense the primordial energy of heaven and earth and the rules governing it.
xiàng lín xuān zhè yàng de fēn shén qī xiū xiān zhě ， duì yú tiān dì fǎ zé ， jiù yǐ jīng yǒu yí dìng de lǐng wù ， dǒng de qù shùn yìng guī zé ， yú shì miàn duì bǐ zì jǐ jìng jiè dī de xiū xiān zhě ， cái xiǎn de qiáng dà le tài duō tài duō 。
像林轩这样的分神期修仙者，对于天地法则，就已经有一定的领悟，懂得去顺应规则，于是面对比自己境界低的修仙者，才显得强大了太多太多。
For a cultivator like Lin Xuan at the Spirit Dividing stage, he already had some understanding of the laws of nature, knowing how to顺应 them. Thus, facing cultivators below his own realm, he appeared overwhelmingly powerful.
suǒ yǐ ， cái yǒu fēn shén qī shì fēn shuǐ lǐng yī shuō ， yǐ lín xuān shí lì zhī qiáng ， bǎo wù zhī duō ， zài dòng xuán qī shí ， miàn duì tiān shī mén fēn shén chū qī de gǔ lǎo mó ， yě shì bù kān yī jī de 。
所以，才有分神期是分水岭一说，以林轩实力之强，宝物之多，在洞玄期时，面对天尸门分神初期的古老魔，也是不堪一击的。
Hence, the saying that the Spirit Dividing stage was a watershed. With Lin Xuan's formidable strength and abundant treasures, during the Dantian period, he could not withstand an attack from an ancient demon of the Heavenly Corpse Sect at the early Spirit Dividing stage.
bù dé bù shǐ jǐn hún shēn xiè shù ， yòu qiǎo jì yí huò jiāng dōng ， ràng tiān fēng chéng shǔ yǐ wàn jì de yāo huà zhě duì shàng gǔ lǎo mó ， suí hòu zì jǐ cái chū lái jiǎn pián yí 。
不得不使尽浑身解数，又巧计遗祸江东，让天风城数以万计的妖化者对上古老魔，随后自己才出来捡便宜。
He had to use all his wits and clever tricks, leaving behind a trap for the Wind City’s myriads of demonized beings to face the ancient demon. Only then did he emerge to reap the benefits.
lín xuān hái jì de ， nà shí hòu de gǔ lǎo mó ， yǐ shì fēi cháng xū ruò ， yín chì shī wáng bèi fèi diào ， tā zì jǐ zhòng shāng ， hún shēn de fǎ lì ， suǒ shèng wú jǐ ， kě jiù zài zhè yàng de qíng kuàng xià ， lín xuān shén tōng jǐn chū ， yī jiù ná tā mò nài hé ruò bú shì yù luó fēng zài guān jiàn shí kè ， shǐ chū le shí jiān zhī dú ， yě xǔ nà yī zhàn ， yǔn luò de jiù shì zì jǐ le 。
林轩还记得，那时候的古老魔，已是非常虚弱，银翅尸王被废掉，他自己重伤，浑身的法力，所剩无几，可就在这样的情况下，林轩神通尽出，依旧拿他没奈何若不是玉罗蜂在关键时刻，使出了时间之毒，也许那一战，陨落的就是自己了。
Lin Xuan remembered that the ancient demon was already very weak back then. The Silver Feather Corpse King had been crippled, and he himself was severely injured, with his spiritual energy nearly depleted. Yet, despite this, Lin Xuan still could not overpower him. If it weren't for the Time Poison of the Jade Lotus Bee at a critical moment, he might have fallen in that battle.
ér gǔ lǎo mó ， bù guò shì lǐng wù de yì diǎn diǎn guī zé zài rú jīn lín xuān de yǎn zhōng ， tā zhǐ néng gòu hěn bèn zhuō de jiā yǐ yùn yòng ， jiù yǒu rú sī wēi lì ， nà lǐng yù kě xiǎng ér zhī 。
而古老魔，不过是领悟的一点点规则在如今林轩的眼中，他只能够很笨拙的加以运用，就有如斯威力，那领域可想而知。
The ancient demon merely grasped some rules, which to Lin Xuan now appeared clumsy and yet had such power. Thus, one could only imagine the true nature of a domain.
bì jìng lǐng yù kě jiù bú shì lǐng wù guī zé ， ér shì chuàng zào 。
毕竟领域可就不是领悟规则，而是创造。
After all, a domain wasn't about understanding rules but creating them.
méi cuò ， jiù shì chuàng zào ！
没错，就是创造！
Indeed, it was creation!
yǒu yī jù huà ， jiù shì wǒ de lǐng yù wǒ zuò zhǔ lǐng yù nèi ， yī qiè guī zé jiē shì yóu nà wèi zhǎn kāi lǐng yù de dà néng cún zài zhì dìng de 。
有一句话，就是我的领域我做主领域内，一切规则皆是由那位展开领域的大能存在制定的。
There's a saying: "In my domain, I am the master." Within a domain, all rules are set by the powerful entity that opens it.
zài lǐng yù zhōng ， shèn zhì bù cún zài wǔ xíng xiāng shēng xiāng kè ， yī qiè guī zé ， yī qiè shǔ xìng dōu shì yǐ dà wèi dà néng cún zài de yì zhì ér gǎi biàn de 。
在领域中，甚至不存在五行相生相克，一切规则，一切属xìng都是以大为大能存在的意志而改变的。
Even in a domain, there is no五行相生相克. Everything follows the will of the one who created the domain.
tā rú guǒ yuàn yì ， kě yǐ ràng shuǐ huǒ jiāo róng ， tā rú guǒ yuàn yì kě yǐ ràng qīng yíng de fēng ， yě biàn dé chén zhòng 。
他如果愿意，可以让水火交融，他如果愿意可以让轻盈的风，也变得沉重。
If he wished, water and fire could merge; if he wished, light breezes could become heavy.
dāng rán ， bìng bú shì shuō ， fǎ bǎo yǔ wǔ xíng fǎ shù jiù méi yǒu le yòng chǔ ， dàn chú fēi ， nǐ yě shì yōng yǒu lǐng yù de qiáng zhě fǒu zé ， zài dí rén de lǐng yù zhōng zhǐ néng rèn rén bǎi bù 。
当然，并不是说，法宝与五行法术就没有了用处，但除非，你也是拥有领域的强者否则，在敌人的领域中只能任人摆布。
Of course, this doesn't mean that magical treasures or Five Elements spells are useless. But unless you're also a domain master, in an enemy's domain, you can only be manipulated.
lǐng yù ， lín xuān yuǎn bǐ yì bān de xiū shì liǎo jiě dé duō ， shèn zhì bù zhǐ yī cì de qīn yǎn mù dǔ 。
领域，林轩远比一般的修士了解得多，甚至不止一次的亲眼目睹。
Lin Xuan understood domains far better than most cultivators and had even witnessed them firsthand. Even a small ball of fur could manifest a flawed but still valid domain.
xiǎo máo qiú jiù néng shī zhǎn chū ， suī rán shì yǒu xiá cī de lǐng yù dàn bì jìng yě shì lǐng yù de yī zhǒng 。
小毛球就能施展出，虽然是有瑕疵的领域但毕竟也是领域的一种。
Facing shapeless monsters, their power was almost beyond comprehension, which explained why Lin Xuan was so shocked by the other's words.
miàn duì bù néng huà xíng de yāo zú ， kě yǐ shuō qiáng dà dào wú yǐ fù jiā de dì bù ， lín xuān shì shēn yǒu gǎn chù ， yú shì yě jiù nán guài tā tīng le duì fāng de huà nà me zhèn jīng le 。
面对不能化形的妖族，可以说强大到无以复加的地步，林轩是深有感触，于是也就难怪他听了对方的话那么震惊了。
Was this really a domain?
lǐng yù ， zhè jū rán shì lǐng yù me ？
领域，这居然是领域么？
"No."
“ bú duì 。”
“不对。”
Lin Xuan quickly shook his head. He couldn't be intimidated by what the other said; domains weren't easily attained.
lín xuān hěn kuài yáo le yáo tóu ， zì jǐ bù néng bèi duì fāng de yán yǔ gěi xià hǔ ， lǐng yù nǎ shì nà me róng yì dá dào de 。
林轩很快摇了摇头，自己不能被对方的言语给吓唬，领域哪是那么容易达到的。
Due to his extraordinary circumstances, Lin Xuan's understanding of domains far surpassed that of most cultivators at the same stage.
hái shì nà jù huà lín xuān yīn wèi jì yù fēi fán de yuán gù ， duì yú lǐng yù de lǐ jiě ， yuǎn yuǎn shèng guò tóng jiē xǐ shì xǔ duō 。
还是那句话林轩因为际遇非凡的缘故，对于领域的理解，远远胜过同阶喜事许多。
A domain wasn't about perceiving and grasping rules but breaking them within one’s own realm and creating new ones based on different situations for personal use.
lǐng yù de bú shì lǐng wù fǎ zé tā de jīng suǐ ， shì zì jǐ de lǐng yù zhī zhōng jiàng yuán běn de tiān dì fǎ zé dǎ pò ， gēn jù qíng kuàng de bù tóng ， chuàng lì xīn fǎ zé wèi zì jǐ suǒ yòng 。
领域的不是领悟法则它的精髓，是自己的领域之中将原本的天地法则打破，根据情况的不同，创立新法则为自己所用。
This was much more difficult compared to simply sensing and understanding rules.
zhè yǔ gǎn yìng lǐng wù fǎ zé xiāng bǐ ， nán dù dāng rán bú shì yì diǎn bàn diǎn de 。
这与感应领悟法则相比，难度当然不是一点半点的。
Who could achieve a domain?
shén me rén néng dá dào lǐng yù ne ？
什么人能达到领域呢？
Analyzing the situation over millions of years, the minimum standard was the Tribulation Crossing stage.
gēn jù shù bǎi wàn nián lái ， sān jiè de qíng kuàng lái fēn xī ， zuì dī biāo zhǔn yě shì dù jié qī 。
根据数百万年来，三界的情况来分析，最低标准也是渡劫期。
Note that this is merely the lowest standard. Cultivators below this stage couldn't even dream about it. Even those with exceptional talent who managed to enter the Tribulation Crossing stage were still far from achieving domains.
zhù yì ， dù jié ， jǐn jǐn shì zuì dī biāo zhǔn ér yǐ 。
注意，渡劫，仅仅是最低标准而已。
This analysis wasn't baseless; there was ample theoretical basis for it.
yǐ xià jìng jiè de xiū xiān zhě ， nà shì xiǎng yě bié xiǎng de ， jiù suàn shì nà xiē tiān zī cōng yǐng ， bìng qiě zǒu le gǒu shǐ yùn ， jìn rù dù jié qī de dà néng ， lǐng yù duì tā men lái shuō ， yī jiù shì kě wàng ér bù kě jí 。
以下境界的修仙者，那是想也别想的，就算是那些天资聪颖，并且走了狗屎运，进入渡劫期的大能，领域对他们来说，依旧是可望而不可及。
Due to the small ball of fur, Lin Xuan had read many related texts, detailing such cases.
zhè ge fēn xī ， jué fēi wú dì fàng shǐ ， ér shì yǒu chōng fèn de lǐ lùn yī jù 。
这个分析，绝非无的放矢，而是有充分的理论依据。
Tribulation crossing is merely a theoretical threshold for entering a domain. In reality, it's almost impossible.
yīn wèi xiǎo máo qiú de yuán gù ， lín xuān kě yǐ yuè dú le dà liàng yǔ cǐ yǒu guān de diǎn jí ， qí zhōng tí dào de qíng kuàng jiù bǐ jiào xiáng xì 。
因为小毛球的缘故，林轩可以阅读了大量与此有关的典籍，其中提到的情况就比较详细。
In both the Spirit Realm and the Demon Realm, no one below Tribulation Crossing has ever achieved a domain.
dù jié ， jǐn jǐn shì lǐ lùn shàng néng gòu jìn rù lǐng yù de mén kǎn ér yǐ ， dàn shí jì zhōng ， què jī hū shì bù kě néng dì 。
渡劫，仅仅是理论上能够进入领域的门槛而已，但实际中，却几乎是不可能地。
Moreover, the progress at the Tribulation Crossing stage was too slow, unrelated to effort. However, the lifespan of these cultivators was so long that many existed from ancient times.
bù guǎn shì líng jiè ， gǔ mó jiè ， hái shì yīn sī jiè dōu méi yǒu chū xiàn guò dù jié chū qī de lǐng yù qiáng zhě 。
不管是灵界，古魔界，还是yīn司界都没有出现过渡劫初期的领域强者。
Compared to other stages, Tribulation Crossers were already rare. And most of them were stuck in the early stages.
piān piān ， dù jié qī de jìn zhǎn ， yòu shí zài tài huǎn màn le ， nà yǔ nǔ lì jī hū shì sī háo guān xì yě wú ， hǎo zài zhè ge jìng jiè xiū shì de shòu mìng ， què shì màn cháng dào lìng rén yǎn hóng de dì bù ， hěn duō dù jié qī de dà néng shèn zhì shì cóng shàng gǔ de shí hòu jiù yì zhí cún zài zhe 。
偏偏，渡劫期的进展，又实在太缓慢了，那与努力几乎是丝毫关系也无，好在这个境界修士的寿命，却是漫长到令人眼红的地步，很多渡劫期的大能甚至是从上古的时候就一直存在着。
Actually, not just the early stages; even those who had advanced to the middle stage with great fortune and depth of blessings hadn't heard of any domain masters.
xiāng duì yú qí tā jìng jiè de xiū xiān zhě ， dù jié qī xiū shì yǐ shì fèng máo lín jiǎo le ， ér zhè ge jìng jiè de cún zài ， jiǔ chéng yǐ shàng de jiā huo ， qí shí dōu shì kùn yú chū qī de 。
相对于其他境界的修仙者，渡劫期修士已是凤毛麟角了，而这个境界的存在，九成以上的家伙，其实都是困于初期的。
If one counted carefully, there were only a few domains in all three realms.
qí shí ， bú yào shuō chū qī le ， jiù shuō nà me xiē fú zé shēn hòu ， xìng yùn de jìn jiē dào zhōng qī de lǎo guài wù ， yě méi tīng shuō shuí shì lǐng yù qiáng zhě 。
其实，不要说初期了，就说那么些福泽深厚，幸运的进阶到中期的老怪物，也没听说谁是领域强者。
In the Spirit Realm: Three Loose Immortals, Three Demon Kings.
zhēn yào rèn zhēn de suàn xià lái ， sān jiè zhōng de lǐng yù ， qí shí jiù nà me jǐ gè ér yǐ 。
真要认真的算下来，三界中的领域，其实就那么几个而已。
In the Demon Realm: The fallen Grand Commander wasn't mentioned. Following that, nine True Demons were also without exception domain masters.
líng jiè ， sān dà sàn xiān ， sān dà yāo wáng 。
灵界，三大散仙，三大妖王。
In the Yinsi Realm: The Arhats weren't counted; they were even more powerful than Loose Immortals. The other five kings were all domain masters.
mó jiè ， yǐ jīng yǔn luò de dà tǒng lǐng dāng rán bù shuō ， suí hòu jiǔ wèi zhēn mó shǐ zǔ yě dōu shì wú yī lì wài de lǐng yù qiáng zhě 。
魔界，已经陨落的大统领当然不说，随后九位真魔始祖也都是无一例外的领域强者。
Of course, there were others. Through textual analysis, aside from the two realms with unclear information, in the Spirit Realm alone:
yīn sī jiè ， ā xiū luó wáng bù tí ， nà kě shì bǐ zhēn xiān gèng qiáng dà dì ， qí tā wǔ wáng ， yě dōu shì lǐng yù qiáng zhě 。
yīn司界，阿修罗王不提，那可是比真仙更强大地，其他五王，也都是领域强者。
Apart from Loose Immortals and Demon Kings, six actual domain masters existed. Other cultivators who had achieved domains were a few late-stage Tribulation Crossers.
dāng rán ， hái bù zhǐ zhè xiē ， tōng guò diǎn jí fēn xī ， zàn qiě bù shuō lìng wài liǎng gè jiè miàn ， yīn wèi zī liào bǐ jiào mó hú ， guāng jiù líng jiè lái shuō 。
当然，还不止这些，通过典籍分析，暂且不说另外两个界面，因为资料比较模糊，光就灵界来说。
It wasn't that all late-stage Tribulation Crossers could achieve domains; but their chances were higher.
chú le sàn xiān yǔ yāo wáng ， liù wèi shí dǎ shí de lǐng yù qiáng zhě ， qí tā yōng yǒu lǐng yù de ， hái yǒu jí shǎo shù dù jié hòu qī dà chéng de lǎo guài wù 。
除了散仙与妖王，六位实打实的领域强者，其他拥有领域的，还有极少数渡劫后期大成的老怪物。
For example, the first flower of the Spirit Realm, Daoist Naelong, if he hadn't been a domain master, would have long perished at the hands of the Holy Ancestor of Ice Soul. Hence, Naelong was also undoubtedly a domain master.
dāng rán ， yě bú shì shuō ， dù jié hòu qī jiù yí dìng néng yōng yǒu lǐng yù ， dàn jī huì què shí yào dà yī xiē 。
当然，也不是说，渡劫后期就一定能拥有领域，但机会确实要大一些。
There were still some late-stage Tribulation Crossers.
bǐ rú ， hào chēng sān jiè dì yī huā huā gōng zi de nài lóng zhēn rén ， tā ruò méi yǒu lǐng yù ， kǒng pà zǎo jiù yǔn luò zài bīng pò shèng zǔ de shǒu lǐ ， suǒ yǐ ， nài lóng ， kěn dìng yě shì lǐng yù qiáng zhě 。
比如，号称三界第一花花公子的鼐龙真人，他若没有领域，恐怕早就陨落在冰魄圣祖的手里，所以，鼐龙，肯定也是领域强者。
In the Demon and Yinsi Realms, the situation was similar to that in the Spirit Realm: Apart from True Demons and Yinsi Six Kings, there were still some powerful domain masters.
qí tā dù jié hòu qī de cún zài ， yě hái yǒu yī xiē de 。
其他渡劫后期的存在，也还有一些的。
With these thoughts swirling in Lin Xuan's mind, he was certain the other was just babbling. He wanted to scare him, but he had picked the wrong person.
mó jiè ，yīn sī jiè de qíng kuàng yǔ líng jiè chà bu duō ， chú le zhēn mó shǐ zǔ yǔ yīn sī liù wáng wài ， dōu hái yǒu yī xiē yōng yǒu lǐng yù de dà néng qiáng zhě 。
魔界，yīn司界的情况与灵界差不多，除了真魔始祖与yīn司六王外，都还有一些拥有领域的大能强者。
In all three realms, no one below late-stage Tribulation Crossers could achieve a domain. What did he matter? Just an avatar. Even if it were the original of Elder Ancestor Xuan Bing, domains and him were incomparable; his possession of a domain would be laughable.
zhū bān niàn tou zài lín xuān nǎo hǎi zhōng niàn tou zhuǎn guò ， tā yǐ jīng kěn dìng duì fāng shì zài hú yán luàn yǔ le ， xiǎng yào jiāng zì jǐ xià zhù ， kě xī tā zhǎo cuò rén le 。
诸般念头在林轩脑海中念头转过，他已经肯定对方是在胡言乱语了，想要将自己吓住，可惜他找错人了。
A joke or mere bravado—Lin Xuan didn't care. However, the current situation was indeed strange.
fàng yǎn sān jiè ， dù jié chū qī yǔ zhōng qī ， yě méi yǒu lǐng yù qiáng zhě ， tā suàn shén me ， qū qū yī jù huà shēn bà le ， jiù suàn shì xuán bīng lǎo zǔ běn tǐ ， yǔ lǐng yù ， yě shì fēng mǎ niú bù xiāng jí ， tā yōng yǒu lǐng yù ， jiǎn zhí shì xiào diào rén de dà yá 。
放眼三界，渡劫初期与中期，也没有领域强者，他算什么，区区一具化身罢了，就算是玄冰老祖本体，与领域，也是风马牛不相及，他拥有领域，简直是笑掉人的大牙。
Even the Heavenly Wind Divine Eye couldn’t spot any issues, proving it wasn't an illusion. But where was the other hiding? How could he defeat such a formidable opponent and win this contest?!
What, a domain?
Lin Xuan was certain he hadn't heard wrong!
In an instant, the astonishment in his heart could not be described. It was akin to the tumultuous waves of the sea.
For ordinary Spirit Cultivators at the Spirit Dividing stage, the term "domain" might still be unfamiliar. However, with Lin Xuan's extensive knowledge and experience, how could he possibly not know it?
Domains originated from rules!
It is well known that the goal of a cultivator was merely to achieve immortality.
However, achieving immortality wasn't so easy. While pursuing this goal, cultivators also gained the ability to overturn the heavens and shake the earth.
Starting with the simplest Five Elements spells, they gradually learned to control spiritual artifacts and treasures.
With eight stages in cultivation—flexible spirit, crossing tribulation—the leap in power and lifespan at each stage was immense.
Slowly, they would begin to sense the primordial energy of heaven and earth and the rules governing it.
For a cultivator like Lin Xuan at the Spirit Dividing stage, he already had some understanding of the laws of nature, knowing how to顺应 them. Thus, facing cultivators below his own realm, he appeared overwhelmingly powerful.
Hence, the saying that the Spirit Dividing stage was a watershed. With Lin Xuan's formidable strength and abundant treasures, during the Dantian period, he could not withstand an attack from an ancient demon of the Heavenly Corpse Sect at the early Spirit Dividing stage.
He had to use all his wits and clever tricks, leaving behind a trap for the Wind City’s myriads of demonized beings to face the ancient demon. Only then did he emerge to reap the benefits.
Lin Xuan remembered that the ancient demon was already very weak back then. The Silver Feather Corpse King had been crippled, and he himself was severely injured, with his spiritual energy nearly depleted. Yet, despite this, Lin Xuan still could not overpower him. If it weren't for the Time Poison of the Jade Lotus Bee at a critical moment, he might have fallen in that battle.
The ancient demon merely grasped some rules, which to Lin Xuan now appeared clumsy and yet had such power. Thus, one could only imagine the true nature of a domain.
After all, a domain wasn't about understanding rules but creating them.
Indeed, it was creation!
There's a saying: "In my domain, I am the master." Within a domain, all rules are set by the powerful entity that opens it.
Even in a domain, there is no五行相生相克. Everything follows the will of the one who created the domain.
If he wished, water and fire could merge; if he wished, light breezes could become heavy.
Of course, this doesn't mean that magical treasures or Five Elements spells are useless. But unless you're also a domain master, in an enemy's domain, you can only be manipulated.
Lin Xuan understood domains far better than most cultivators and had even witnessed them firsthand. Even a small ball of fur could manifest a flawed but still valid domain.
Facing shapeless monsters, their power was almost beyond comprehension, which explained why Lin Xuan was so shocked by the other's words.
Was this really a domain?
"No."
Lin Xuan quickly shook his head. He couldn't be intimidated by what the other said; domains weren't easily attained.
Due to his extraordinary circumstances, Lin Xuan's understanding of domains far surpassed that of most cultivators at the same stage.
A domain wasn't about perceiving and grasping rules but breaking them within one’s own realm and creating new ones based on different situations for personal use.
This was much more difficult compared to simply sensing and understanding rules.
Who could achieve a domain?
Analyzing the situation over millions of years, the minimum standard was the Tribulation Crossing stage.
Note that this is merely the lowest standard. Cultivators below this stage couldn't even dream about it. Even those with exceptional talent who managed to enter the Tribulation Crossing stage were still far from achieving domains.
This analysis wasn't baseless; there was ample theoretical basis for it.
Due to the small ball of fur, Lin Xuan had read many related texts, detailing such cases.
Tribulation crossing is merely a theoretical threshold for entering a domain. In reality, it's almost impossible.
In both the Spirit Realm and the Demon Realm, no one below Tribulation Crossing has ever achieved a domain.
Moreover, the progress at the Tribulation Crossing stage was too slow, unrelated to effort. However, the lifespan of these cultivators was so long that many existed from ancient times.
Compared to other stages, Tribulation Crossers were already rare. And most of them were stuck in the early stages.
Actually, not just the early stages; even those who had advanced to the middle stage with great fortune and depth of blessings hadn't heard of any domain masters.
If one counted carefully, there were only a few domains in all three realms.
In the Spirit Realm: Three Loose Immortals, Three Demon Kings.
In the Demon Realm: The fallen Grand Commander wasn't mentioned. Following that, nine True Demons were also without exception domain masters.
In the Yinsi Realm: The Arhats weren't counted; they were even more powerful than Loose Immortals. The other five kings were all domain masters.
Of course, there were others. Through textual analysis, aside from the two realms with unclear information, in the Spirit Realm alone:
Apart from Loose Immortals and Demon Kings, six actual domain masters existed. Other cultivators who had achieved domains were a few late-stage Tribulation Crossers.
It wasn't that all late-stage Tribulation Crossers could achieve domains; but their chances were higher.
For example, the first flower of the Spirit Realm, Daoist Naelong, if he hadn't been a domain master, would have long perished at the hands of the Holy Ancestor of Ice Soul. Hence, Naelong was also undoubtedly a domain master.
There were still some late-stage Tribulation Crossers.
In the Demon and Yinsi Realms, the situation was similar to that in the Spirit Realm: Apart from True Demons and Yinsi Six Kings, there were still some powerful domain masters.
With these thoughts swirling in Lin Xuan's mind, he was certain the other was just babbling. He wanted to scare him, but he had picked the wrong person.
In all three realms, no one below late-stage Tribulation Crossers could achieve a domain. What did he matter? Just an avatar. Even if it were the original of Elder Ancestor Xuan Bing, domains and him were incomparable; his possession of a domain would be laughable.
A joke or mere bravado—Lin Xuan didn't care. However, the current situation was indeed strange.
Even the Heavenly Wind Divine Eye couldn’t spot any issues, proving it wasn't an illusion. But where was the other hiding? How could he defeat such a formidable opponent and win this contest?!