Over several years, Henry Johnson finished reading nearly half of the books in this library, some thoroughly, some carefully, and thus gained a preliminary understanding of this world.

　　This world is centered around cultivation, vast and boundless, so immense that even if a mortal spent their entire life, they would barely glimpse a fraction of it.

　　One human empire after another stands tall upon the land, waging war against each other. Within each empire, there are various sects and factions. In four words: chaotic and disorderly.

　　The Great Zhou Empire, where the The Johnson Family resides, has stood for over eight thousand years, ruling over nearly a million miles of vast territory. Overall, it remains relatively stable and peaceful, with no large-scale wars breaking out.

　　“Legend has it that in distant lands, some empires and sects have histories spanning tens of thousands of years, with foundations so deep they defy imagination—jade towers and lofty pavilions, treasures shining with splendor, as if they were the palaces of heaven.” Henry Johnson thought, and couldn’t help but laugh: “I wonder, how do they compare to the royal halls of the underworld?”

　　Shaking his head, he put down the book in his hand.

　　“Hmm, yesterday I read ‘Annals of the Empire’, today I’ll take a look at ‘Legends of the Empire’s Saints’.” Henry Johnson picked up another book.

　　Most of the books in the library are historical and cultural records; true cultivation manuals are rare. However, there are some books on common knowledge for cultivators, which Henry Johnson would read to learn about many aspects of cultivation he didn’t previously understand.

　　“In martial cultivation, besides the three realms of Warrior, Martial Master, and Martial Lord, above them are Tianyuan, True Core, Divine Transformation, and Saint—four more realms.” Henry Johnson pondered.

　　In his previous life, he only knew of the first three realms, and that the pinnacle of martial cultivation was the Saint realm. As for the complexities in between, he didn’t know much.

　　“Postnatal, Prenatal, Saint?” Henry Johnson continued reading.

　　Of the seven major cultivation realms, Warrior, Martial Master, and Martial Lord are also called the Postnatal stage, dominating the battlefield with mortal strength.

　　For example, Henry Johnson’s father, Jack Johnson, is a Martial Lord who has undergone marrow cleansing and blood transformation, and achieved clarity of mind. Across the thousands of miles of Jiangbei, he stands at the very top.

　　Meanwhile, Tianyuan, True Core, and Divine Transformation are known as the Prenatal stage. Cultivators at this level far surpass the mortal martial artists of the Postnatal stage—one can stand against thousands, which is no myth.

　　“Above the Prenatal stage is the Saint realm.” Henry Johnson turned another page, his heart slightly burning with excitement.

　　Saints—only Saints.

　　Only after transcending the ordinary can one become a Saint. They are completely above mortals, possessing unimaginable power, the greatest beings in all the world. To deal with them, numbers are meaningless.

　　In ancient times, Saints destroyed the immortals in the heavens, slaughtered the gods from beyond the realms, and created endless glory for humanity on earth.

　　The Great Zhou Empire stands unshaken through the ages precisely because of such a group of Saints.

　　“To transcend and become a Saint—I must walk the path of sainthood and reach the absolute peak.” Henry Johnson put down the book.

　　Having spent time in hell, he understood even more just how terrifying the means of those Saints were—they could battle gods and immortals as equals.

　　“In a little while, it will be time for the grand sacrificial ceremony again.” Henry Johnson closed the book. “I’m already six years old.”

Chapter 7: The Bleeding Wound

　　As the sun set in the west, in the forests deep within the northern mountain range leading from the The Johnson Family manor—

　　Over a hundred tall, burly men in fitted armor emerged one after another from the dense woods, each wielding war blades and powerful crossbows, chatting and laughing freely among themselves.

　　On the manor’s high walls and watchtowers, patrolling warriors sounded the alarm bell, sending a message throughout the entire estate.

　　“The mountain patrol guards have returned!”

　　The manor’s guard troops had ventured deep into the northern mountains for the autumn hunt, gone for three full days, and now they were back.

　　On each of their shoulders, almost every one of them dragged or carried the corpse of a giant beast.

　　Very soon, the women and children who had been anxiously waiting at home rushed out from their houses to the training grounds at the manor gate. Seeing the returning team drawing closer, smiles broke out on everyone’s faces, because all had returned safely.

　　In this world, going out to hunt is always a gamble with one’s life.

　　The manor gates were opened, and many of the warriors who had stayed behind also went up to help.

　　“They hunted so many beasts this year—looks like we’ll be able to refine a lot of beast blood essence. The winter sacrificial ceremony should be especially effective, and most importantly, no one was injured.”

　　“This year’s beast blood essence can be refined in large quantities. Looks like the scale of the ceremony will be the largest in nearly a decade.” The deputy commander of the manor guard, Tom Johnson, laughed heartily.

　　Everyone laughed along.

　　Beasts are all incredibly powerful, and those called “great beasts” are all terrifying creatures, each able to rival a Martial Lord of the human race. This time, several top-tier great beasts were slain.

　　For example, the Iron Rhinoceros, with skin half a meter thick and a body like a small mountain, usually dominates a region of the forest, roaming freely and ruling supreme. Now, however, its belly had been slashed open with a massive wound.

　　There was also the giant python, nearly transformed into a flood dragon, which lived alone in the Longyan Marsh. If it advanced further and became a true flood dragon, it would be a true beast king, able to rival the Prenatal experts among humans.

　　These beasts were all absolute powerhouses among their kind. Ordinary manor warriors wouldn’t dare touch them; in the past, hunting them meant risking one’s life.