Chapter 122: Invader (1/2)

Hearing a new term had once again sparked Lin Mu's curiosity as he wondered what it meant. Lin Mu waited patiently for senior Xukong to explain it to him.

”In a simplified manner, an invader is basically a being that enters a world that it's not allowed to. It does so to gain control of that world or to obtain its resources.

You see, most worlds have an innate barrier present in them. There are created and operated by that world's will.” Xukong spoke.

”World's will? Senior, you mean each world is alive?” Lin Mu questioned while tilting his head.

”Not exactly. While it may or may not have had life on its surface, every world can have a certain level of sentience. Not all worlds have it, though. Some worlds are simply too young to have developed it, while others lose it due to dying or being destroyed.”

”Every world slowly gains its consciousness and also starts to generate spirit qi. You could even say that spirit qi is formed when a world gains sentience or a world becomes sentient when spirit qi comes into existence. It can be either of those reasons.” Xukong answered.

Lin Mu felt intrigued upon hearing this new information. It had actually solved an important question that he had, but had never asked. The question was about the existence of spirit qi and how it came into being. Xukong's words had answered a part of that question.

While Lin Mu now knew that spirit qi was created by a world, he didn't know how other energies or types of qi came into being. For example, he didn't know how spatial qi came into being or how it was created.

While he wanted to ask further about this, he knew that now was not the time for it as there were other things at hand.

”So about this 'Invader' if it's restricted by the barrier, how does it still enter the world?” Lin Mu questioned.

”An invader can use various methods to enter a world. The most common method is to find a flaw in the world's barrier and enter through there. Another is to find a gate from which it can enter, this can be in the form of a teleportation formation or a spatial portal.

From the way that the black smoke disappeared, I can tell that it came through the second manner. The creature, whatever it may be, is a powerful being and knows how to manipulate space. The Invader here is actually not its real body but perhaps an avatar.” Xukong answered.

Senior Xukong's mention of the avatar instantly reminded Lin Mu of his real body and how he had created a smaller avatar to accompany Lin Mu.

”Wait senior, does this mean that you are an invader too?” Lin Mu questioned with his brows raised.

”In a broader sense, you can say that, but in my case, I would be a traveler instead.

You see, the difference between an invader and a traveler is the permission of the world. Once a world reaches a high enough level and is well developed, its residents can leave it and travel to other worlds. Similarly, other beings can also travel to that world.” Xukong explained.

Lin Mu, while having understood the meaning of the words, still felt confused.

”How is it decided when a world is developed or not?” Lin Mu questioned again.

”It depends on multiple factors. A world may simply become a higher world by gaining a massive amount of spirit qi, or its residents can become high leveled cultivators. A world can be said to have developed when its residents can freely leave it without danger and also return back.” Xukong answered.

Lin Mu felt like he understood it a bit better, but had more questions appearing in his mind.

”What realm does a cultivator need to reach in order to increase the level of a world senior? Like, do they need to become an Immortal Ascension Realm cultivator?” Lin Mu questioned again.

”While an Immortal Ascension Realm cultivator can leave a world, it won't immediately elevate a world's status. Just a single cultivator won't be enough to increase its level. Instead, an entire group of cultivators over many generations need to reach that stage in order to elevate. And more than just that, there needs to be a countless amount of lower realm cultivators as well.

Eventually, there would come a time when the world would become a higher leveled world. A world can only be expected to increase in its level, but can never be made to.” Xukong explained.

Lin Mu felt enlightened after hearing senior Xukong's words and could feel the knots of doubt in his mind unraveling. The only thing that was left now was how they would proceed after this.

”What should we do now senior?” Lin Mu asked, feeling a little lost.