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"Heavenspan Sea and various rivers are somewhat like a tree. This is the essence of the world we live in." Zheng Yuandong looked at Yan Xiaobao, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

Yan Xiaobao took a deep breath. Zheng Yuandong's words crashed in his mind like thunder. Slowly, his old understanding of the world shattered and dispersed, replaced by the new version that Zheng Yuandong had just described.

"Secondly. Do you know why the four strongest sects in the eastern lower reaches have the word 'Stream' in their names? Spirit Stream Sect, Blood Stream Sect, Profound Stream Sect, Pill Stream Sect!" Zheng Yuandong recalled the first time he was told about the world and smiled faintly. He was as shaken as Yan Xiaobao now. "Four rivers flow from east, west, south, and north into the position of the sea called the upper river section. In the same place, there are four ancient and powerful sects that have existed for tens of thousands of years. Perhaps they are as ancient as the world itself. They are the four most powerful entities in the world.

"These four powerful ancient sects control the four main rivers and all subsequent branches of these rivers, all the way to the delta region.

"The ancient sect controlling the eastern cultivation world is called the Starry Sky Heavenly Polar Sect!

"The headquarters of this sect is far away. A Foundation Establishment Middle Cultivator might spend a lifetime flying towards it without reaching it.

"Starry Sky Dao Polarity Sect's affiliates include four powerful courts, each controlling one of the river branches. They are Starry River Court, Sky River Court, Dao River Court, and Polarity River Court!

"These four powerful courts each control four branches that separate from the great river. Spirit Stream Sect is located on the second stream controlled by Sky River Court. Blood Stream Sect is on the first stream, Pill Stream Sect on the third stream, and Profound Stream Sect on the fourth stream. Tianhe Garden is the guardian sect of all four sects, above it is the ancient Star Sky Heavenly Dao Polaris Sect." Zheng Yuandong's words struck Yan Xiaobao like lightning. This revelation about the world around him left him shocked and breathless.

"The Starry Sky Dao Polarity Sect..." he murmured, feeling a bit dizzy.

"Third. Do you know why all the sects in the world are built on the Heavenspan River? Even in the delta, they try to be as close to the river as possible." The third question made Yan Xiaobao feel as if a third bolt of lightning was about to strike him.

"The Heavenspan realm is vast. Immensely vast. While it is incorrect to say it has no end, the fact is that very few people can reach the remotest borders of our world. One peculiar thing about our world is that it lacks spiritual energy!"

"No spiritual energy? That's impossible!" Yan Xiaobao once again felt completely and utterly shaken.

"The entire world lacks spiritual energy. Well, perhaps it's more accurate to say that the heavens and earth have no inherent spiritual energy. Everything it produces is chaotic power, toxic to cultivators but nourishing to beasts. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Ever since recorded history, it has always been this way. The only reason cultivators can practice cultivation is because of the Heavenspan Sea!

"Heavenspan Sea is a startling place of spiritual energy. Apparently, every drop of seawater there contains infinite spiritual energy, and as the water flows into the four great rivers, into branches and streams, even into the delta region, it brings spiritual energy!

"Near Heavenspan Sea, the spiritual energy is the strongest. Of course, the closer you are to the river, the stronger the local spiritual energy. The upper reaches have the most potent spiritual energy, the middle region slightly weaker, and the lower region even weaker still. The delta region is the weakest.

"The farther you are from Heavenspan River, the weaker the spiritual energy. Eventually, you reach a point with no spiritual energy at all. Almost half of the world we live in consists of these areas. Indeed, the region between rivers is all like that, lacking spiritual energy.

"This actually serves as a safeguard. After all, if any two ancient sects wish to engage in war, it would be exceedingly difficult. Therefore, most wars occur along river branches rather than between the larger sects."

Zheng Yuandong looked at Yan Xiaobao's struggle and continued. "Fourth. Why did the Luochen Clan turn traitor!?

"Blood Stream Sect, Spirit Stream Sect, Profound Stream Sect, and Pill Stream Sect are all affiliates of Sky River Court. Naturally, each of our sects hopes to elevate its status to become the main sect controlling this river!

"This is the dream of our Clan Leader and the direction Spirit Stream Sect has been striving for in the past ten thousand years. This is also the whole purpose of the Legacy Echelon!

"A very rare opportunity arose a few years ago!

"Sky River Court did something to provoke the anger of the ancient Star Sky Heavenly Dao Polaris Sect. Punishment was administered, and the court almost completely vanished. The clan leader was killed, their power structure destroyed. They are unprecedentedly weak now, meaning they can be replaced!

"A position has opened to become the sect controlling the river's other branches, and the Starry Sky Dao Polarity Sect doesn't care who it is. Blood, Spirit, Profound, and Pill Stream Sects all have the opportunity. Naturally, all four sects began vying for that position. Any of us who manages to defeat the other three sects will rise to command everything downstream!

"At this point, who is supporting the Luochen Clan doesn't matter. Maybe it's Blood Stream Sect, maybe it's Profound Stream Sect, or even Pill Stream Sect. Then again, it doesn't matter. They are all our rivals and potential allies at the same time!