Merin sits upon his throne with quiet authority, his presence blending seamlessly with the vast hall that seems to resonate with his very existence, when the three sisters, Lian Jingyi, Lian Ruein, and Lian Ziyou, appear before him, their figures calm yet their saintly auras already colliding in an invisible storm.
To the naked eye, nothing appears out of place, as the air remains still and the space between them undisturbed, yet for those capable of perceiving the deeper layers of existence through the Rule Network of the world, a fierce and intricate battle unfolds beyond ordinary perception.
A Saint is not considered equal to a world because of sheer destructive power or overwhelming strength, but because each Saint constructs a rule network through their Law, forming a structure around their body that mirrors the fundamental framework of a world itself.
At this moment, the three sisters are not attacking Merin physically. Still, they are instead directing their efforts toward his rule network, probing, testing, and attempting to break through the layered structure that surrounds and defines him.
There is no personal debt between them, as they once aided Merin in reaching the Saint stage more quickly, and in return, Merin revealed to them the path required to step into the Saint realm, thereby balancing the scales between them.
Beyond this stage, cultivation depends on faith gathered within the human realm, allowing one to ascend the Thirty-Six Dao Steps, each step representing a deeper understanding and control over one's Law and existence.
Although Merin's Virtual Dragon Dao stands at the same first step as theirs, the difference lies not in height, but in depth, as his mastery, application, and refinement of the rule network far surpass theirs in precision and maturity.
Furthermore, while the three sisters cultivate paths that include the essence of the Virtual Dragon Dao, they do not embody it completely, and thus remain within its influence, whether they acknowledge it or not.
Because of this, defeating Merin directly is impossible unless they can separate themselves entirely from the influence of his Dao, a feat far easier to imagine than to achieve.
Now that they have formed their own Dao, the process of stepping beyond another Dao's influence becomes even more difficult, as if trying to pull oneself free from a thick tar pit that clings to every movement and resists every escape attempt.
Merin does not interrupt them, allowing their assault to continue for several minutes as their rule networks press, twist, and attempt to unravel his structure.
Then, without warning, he responds.
His rule network shifts, not expanding, but refining inward before releasing a precise counterforce that redirects their attacks back toward them.
The reversal is immediate and unavoidable.
The three sisters groan softly as the backlash strikes them, their expressions tightening as they absorb the impact of their own power.
They steady themselves, lifting their gazes toward him once more, their eyes now filled with solemn recognition rather than challenge.
Merin looks at them calmly and asks, "Are you satisfied?"
The three sisters do not answer him, yet their silence carries more weight than any spoken word as they continue to stare at him without lowering their gaze, their expressions composed but their intent still sharp and unyielding beneath the surface.
Merin observes them for a brief moment, understanding the meaning behind their silence without needing further confirmation, before he speaks again in an even and unhurried tone, "If you are, shall I explain to you how to cultivate in the Saint Stage?"
This time, they respond, each of them giving a slight nod, their attention sharpening as the subject shifts from confrontation to advancement, yet the tension between them does not disappear, only settling into a quieter form.
Behind them, three thrones begin to form, each shaped by their respective Dao, emerging from the unseen layers of the rule network as if materialising from the very principles they embody, intricate and distinct in structure.
They sit upon their thrones without hesitation, their movements graceful and controlled, as the thrones themselves begin to rise slowly into the air.
The three seats ascend until they align with Merin's throne, matching his height and positioning themselves as equals within the space, an unspoken declaration of their standing.
Merin's lips curl slightly into a faint twist as he watches this, immediately understanding their intention.
They are not satisfied.
Even now, they seek to establish balance, or perhaps dominance, within their relationship.
He does not comment on it, nor does he react further, allowing the moment to pass as he begins to speak.
"You three can sense the Dao Ladder," he says calmly, his gaze moving between them.
After breaking through the Saint Stage in this world, every Saint naturally becomes aware of the Dao Ladder, an abstract yet undeniable existence that connects their Dao to something far greater than their own world.
It is not limited to a single plane, nor bound to one realm, but instead extends across the entire human domain, a vast network formed by countless small worlds like theirs, as well as greater middle worlds that exist beyond them.
The three sisters nod once more, confirming his words, their understanding aligning with their own experience.
Merin continues, his tone steady, "Cultivation in the Saint Stage is the act of climbing those steps."
"There are two primary ways to ascend."
"The first is to improve your Dao continuously, refining it until it reaches the boundary of the next step."
"And then is to use external energy as a push, allowing you to step onto the next level."
He pauses briefly before adding, "That external energy can take many forms, but the most commonly used is the power of faith."
After reaching the Saint Stage, Merin had realised that Ye Weiran had not revealed the complete truth regarding cultivation at this level.
There were gaps, omissions that only became clear through personal experience.
Lian Ziyou leans forward slightly and asks, "What is the next way?"
Merin looks at her and answers without hesitation, "Directly climb over with your Dao."
This method, unlike the others, does not rely on any external force, nor does it wait for the Dao to reach the perfect boundary.
Instead, it forces a breakthrough through sheer comprehension and the strength of Dao alone.
Merin discovered this path himself, realising that the steps could be crossed purely through one's own foundation, though at a far greater difficulty.
The three sisters nod again, a faint light appearing in their eyes as confidence stirs within them, their belief in their own comprehension growing stronger.
Yet they do not fully understand.
The difference between the Saint Stage and everything below it is not merely a gap.
It is the difference between heaven and earth, a divide so vast that even those who have stepped into the Saint Stage can barely comprehend its full depth without time and experience.
Lian Jingyi is the first to break the silence, her brows knitting slightly as she asks, "Then what is the Dao Space? It is sending us an invitation."
Merin looks at her, his expression steady as he answers without hesitation, "Dao Space is a realm that only Saints can enter, and it is created by the Supremes."
Lian Ruein frowns faintly at his words, her confusion evident as she asks, "Supreme, is that the next stage of cultivation after Saint?"
The three of them have been born and raised within this world, and their understanding of cultivation has always been limited by its boundaries, leaving everything beyond the Saint Stage unknown and distant.
Merin notices this clearly and decides not to limit his explanation to a single term, but to reveal a broader truth that they must understand if they are to step beyond this world without appearing ignorant.
He shifts slightly upon his throne before speaking again, his tone calm yet carrying a deeper weight.
"Let me tell you about the outside world."
"Our world is a small world, and it is only a part of the Human World."
The three sisters' eyes widen instantly, shock flashing across their faces as the scale of what he says begins to settle within them.
Merin does not pause, allowing the truth to unfold further.
"And the Human World itself is only a part of the Supreme World."
Their expressions change again, the shock deepening as their understanding is forced to expand beyond anything they had previously imagined.
Merin's gaze drifts slightly as he mutters, just loud enough for them to hear, "But it will not remain a part for long."
Lian Ziyou leans forward slightly, her voice sharper now as she asks, "What do you mean by that?"
Merin looks back at them and continues without avoiding the question, though he does not fully explain that part yet.
"Just like cultivation, worlds are also divided into stages."
"The lowest are Dust Worlds, places that cannot support cultivation at all, where there is no Way of Heaven and no path to transcendence."
He pauses briefly, letting the concept settle before continuing.
"Above that are Demi-Planes, or Half-Planes, which possess incomplete structures and limited potential."
"Our world belongs to the next level."
"It is a Small Plane, also called a Small World."
"Beyond this are Middle Planes, then Large Planes, and above them, even Higher Planes, though those are only things I have heard of and not seen."
The three sisters listen carefully, absorbing every word, their earlier confidence now replaced with a deeper awareness of their own limitations.
Lian Jingyi asks again, trying to piece everything together, "Then is the Human World a Middle Plane, and the Supreme World a Large Plane?"
Merin nods slightly before answering, "The Supreme World is indeed a Large Plane."
"As for the Human World, it stands between a Middle Plane and a Large Plane."
He pauses for a moment, then adds, "I have only heard of this, but I believe it is on the verge of advancing."
"And the reason I said it will leave is that once the Human World becomes a true Large Plane, it can no longer remain within the Supreme World."