The difference lies in how spiritual energy circulates within the spiritual meridians!
In World One, spells are cast directly from the body without passing through spiritual meridians, negating the need for them as a medium.
In this world, however, mortal-tier profound arts require the use of spiritual meridians, employing various ingenious methods to enhance their power.
As for spirit-tier profound arts, Fang Ming surmised they would undoubtedly utilize the "Dao Foundation"!
This, he realized, was the fundamental distinction between this world's cultivation system and World One's!
"Opening spiritual meridians… so this is how they are used…"
As Fang Ming mused, a ferocious wolf's roar suddenly echoed, accompanied by a powerful surge of energy that caused the entire cave to tremble, threatening to collapse.
"The cave is collapsing?"
Fang Ming's expression flickered.
While a cave-in might not necessarily be fatal to him, it certainly posed a degree of danger.
A wise person does not stand beneath a crumbling wall.
Fang Ming, naturally, had no desire to linger in such a perilous place.
Thus, he quickly channeled his spiritual energy, pushed off the ground with his toes, and swiftly exited the cave.
Thanks to his spiritual energy, Fang Ming moved with incredible speed.
Less than a moment after his departure, the cave imploded with a thunderous roar.
The dwelling carved out by the Hidden Moon Rat was no more.
Fang Ming's gaze, however, was not fixed on the collapsed cave but fixed on the distant horizon.
In the distance, a terrifying tide of energy was sweeping over everything.
This energy surge was so immense, so formidable, that anything in its proximity was reduced to dust.
Even Fang Ming, who was far away, had his cave affected and brought down.
Fang Ming's expression grew solemn as he sensed this aura far surpassed the realm of the Dao Foundation.
"It's a Golden Core realm existence… a Golden Core realm demon king!" Fang Ming muttered to himself.
"I didn't expect a Golden Core realm beast to riot. This is quite unbelievable. Such a powerful beast, why the unrest… Wait, I know why. It's fighting… Who is it fighting? Such a massive disturbance?"
His gaze fell upon a colossal wolf, nearly a hundred zhang in size. This was one of the overlords of the Taihang Mountains, the Ancestral Desolation Wolf King!
It roared incessantly, appearing consumed by rage, its fury reaching the heavens as it vented its anger.
Opposite it, there seemed to be the figure of a woman.
The more Fang Ming looked, the more familiar this woman's figure felt.
"Who is it?"
Puzzled, Fang Ming activated a technique to enhance his vision, peering intently. He discovered that the one battling the demon beast was actually someone he knew.
"It's that True Person Dao Xuan…" Fang Ming was slightly bewildered. Why would he encounter her here in the Taihang Mountains?
Shouldn't she be presiding over the grand competition?
How did she end up in the Taihang Mountains?
Wait, he had noticed her seeming impatience earlier. Otherwise, she wouldn't have initiated such a chaotic free-for-all arena battle. That was clearly a decision made to expedite the selection process.
Considering the current situation, perhaps coming to the Taihang Mountains was another objective of her journey?
Fang Ming pondered.
Meanwhile, high in the sky.
Dao Xuan, appearing as a girl of eighteen or nineteen, held her long sword aloft, pointing it directly at the Ancestral Desolation Wolf King.
"A human Golden Core realm cultivator…" the Ancestral Desolation Wolf King boomed from its massive maw. Its terrifying, nearly hundred-zhang frame was so large that a single bite could swallow the tallest building in Liangchen County, making it appear exceptionally ferocious.
"You trespass on my territory. Are you seeking war with me?"
Demon beasts at the Dao Foundation realm had gained sentience, their intelligence comparable to ordinary cultivators. Golden Core realm demon kings could even speak human languages, so Fang Ming was not surprised by the Ancestral Desolation Wolf King's words.
Great demons of the Nascent Soul realm could even transform into human form and walk among humans undetected.
It was perfectly normal for Golden Core realm demon kings to achieve such feats.
"I do not trespass upon the Wolf King's territory," True Person Dao Xuan stated calmly.
She first denied trespassing, but she did not explicitly say she did not wish to fight the Wolf King or resolve the misunderstanding.
Her intentions ran deeper, and provoking the Wolf King further was her aim. Therefore, she saw no need to adopt a conciliatory attitude.
"I merely wish to take the Wolf King's demon core for my use," True Person Dao Xuan said, her tone casual, yet her words were incredibly domineering. She demanded the Ancestral Desolation Wolf King's demon core.
A demon beast's demon core, much like a human Golden Core cultivator's Golden Core, meant permanent regression from the Golden Core realm if lost, and absolutely no chance of ever reaching the Golden Core realm again.
Therefore, to the Ancestral Desolation Wolf King, the young girl's request was no different from a direct death sentence.
It could never agree to such a demand.
Even with the closest of friendships, such a fatal request could not be granted.
Moreover, the Ancestral Desolation Wolf King and the girl before him were meeting for the first time, with no prior acquaintance whatsoever.
Thus, its reaction could only be one thing!
"Good! Very good! Are all human cultivators this arrogant now?"
"To speak with such an attitude… do you consider us demon beasts a weak race for you humans to slaughter at will? Taking our demon cores is a given?"
"If you want my demon core, come and take it yourself! Let's see if you have the ability!"
"Human, I believe you are destined to die in the Taihang Mountains!"
The Ancestral Desolation Wolf King, enraged, unleashed a fifty-zhang long beam of light from its massive maw. This was a spirit-tier high-grade profound art mastered by the Ancestral Desolation Wolf King!
Just as human cultivators could cultivate profound arts, demon beasts also possessed innate profound arts!
Upon awakening its bloodline, the Ancestral Desolation Wolf King's innate profound art could now rival spirit-tier high-grade profound arts!
"Hmph! It is only natural for humans to take demon cores to advance their cultivation," Dao Xuan replied, her tone still calm but exceedingly overbearing. She formed a hand seal, and vast waves, hundreds and thousands of zhang high, surged forth, carrying a fierce might and a colossal torrent of energy, crashing towards the Ancestral Desolation Wolf King.
This profound art was incredibly powerful!
The effect of the profound art was such that the mountainous terrain of the Taihang Mountains was transformed, creating vast amounts of flowing water!
The forests were devastated, and numerous demon beasts fled in panic. This was clearly no ordinary water, or the demon beasts would not have been so terrified.
This water possessed immense destructive power; once touched, the consequences were unimaginable! The demon beasts fled in fear!
As a Golden Core realm cultivator and a Golden Core realm demon king clashed, energy erupted wildly. Mountains were leveled, water surged for hundreds of miles, and the wind howled, its sound echoing throughout the Taihang Mountains.
This was the might of a Golden Core cultivator, capable of shaking mountains and rivers with every movement, Fang Ming marveled inwardly.
He was merely at the early stage of the Dao Foundation realm, far inferior to a Golden Core cultivator.
Hence his awe.