Death... and me

Huban was taken aback for a moment. "Could it be that was the reason you have been looking for the Essence Race?"

Zandolf didn't deny it. "Yes. Everyone wants to surpass the Divinity Realm. During my research, I found you almost succeeded, so I wanted to know how you did it. Even if you didn't exactly enter the next realm, your methods might have some clues. That was the sole reason for me to spend so much time on it."

However, Huban's answer wasn't exactly what Zandolf expected. "To be honest, even I don't know exactly. I'll go even further. The other experts at my level aren't very sure of why they got to this point either. It was a kind of feeling... a feeling that that door to the next realm had finally appeared."

Huban continued. "Even up to this day, I remember how that felt. Unfortunately, I've never been able to achieve that feeling again. I've tried countless times, repeating every step as perfectly as possible. But, as I mentioned, it was a sudden occurrence. It wasn't like I did anything special. I wasn't even cultivating at that time since I was already at the Peak Stage of the Divinity Realm."

Rean pondered a bit and asked. "Senior Huban, do you think senior Hyeoumu is someone who succeeded?"

Huban immediately answered. "If he did succeed or not, I'm not sure, but he is definitely many times stronger than any of us. Perhaps he truly did reach that next realm, or perhaps he just got a lot closer to that than I or the other did. He never told us about that, regardless of how many times we asked."

Zandolf couldn't help but feel disappointed. "So... there was no secret? Is it a chance event? Then isn't it pretty much impossible?"

"Hehe!" Huban laughed a little. "How many life forms exist in this Universe? Of these, how many have even reached the level I am at the moment? Yes, it is pretty much impossible! Just getting where I am is already pretty much impossible, too. The only reason I don't say it is 100% impossible is because Hyeoumu exists. Yet, as I mentioned, perhaps even he hasn't reached that level."

Huban then decided to share his experience. "Listen, and that is valid for everyone in this room. You will never know when that moment will arrive. Me and the other guys believe that that feeling only happens once. We have reached the conclusion that we simply lost our chance to achieve the breakthrough. However, you guys are different. Continue cultivation, reach the Peak of the Divinity Realm, and perhaps, one day, this moment will arrive."

"None of the others got to feel it again either?" Roan asked curiously.

Huban confirmed his words. "Yes. Or, at the very least, none of them told me that they succeeded in feeling that moment again. However, that doesn't mean we gave up. Cultivation is infinite, and all paths lead to the ultimate Dao. Even to this day, we are still trying to reach that next realm."

Joju couldn't help but ask. "Master, is it really okay to tell them about it?" As a Peak Divinity Realm Essence Race member, he was obviously told about it in the past and considers himself very lucky to have Huban to watch over him. Yet, Huban was also sharing his experience with these newcomers.

Huban didn't seem to mind, though. "It is meaningless to hide it, Joju. Just because you know it exists doesn't mean you will get there. Aren't you, Trulo, and Landeau stuck in the Peak Stage of the Divinity Realm all this time? Besides, take Zandolf, for example. He is in the Middle Stage of the Divinity Realm. As long as he doesn't get himself killed, he will eventually reach the Peak of the Divinity Realm. Once that happens, you can be sure his humanoid race will tell him about what I just said."

"I understand..." Joju nodded, having complete trust in Huban.

Zandolf felt somewhat disappointed, but he still took the chance to ask. "You say that we might have a one-time chance. It might not be true, but it might be. What kind of preparations can I make if my time truly comes?"

"Preparations, uh?" Huban pondered a bit. "I guess it depends on the person. I'm an Essence Race being, so I would do things good for our Essence Race, like accumulating as much as possible of Essence Energy and storing it. Yet, even to this point, I'm not sure if the secret to reaching the next realm is related to more energy or not. As for your humanoid races... I have no idea. Why not try to save as many high-level Divine Stones as possible? It might be good."

Zandolf shook his head, feeling even more disappointed now. There wasn't really a need for Huban to tell him that since he would do that much, at least. 'Well... it was already good to know about this sudden moment in the future,' he thought.

He also wondered why no one in the Humanoid Races told him about it. However, after thinking a little, he understood. Most likely, it was because knowing it might hinder him more than help. In that case, perhaps it was better for him to only know about this sudden chance after he reached the Peak Stage of the Divinity Realm. 'Once I go back home, I'll definitely ask Fosleve about these other experts similar to Huban.'

"It seems like we ended up straying away from the initial topic..." Huban then returned to the previous conversation. "Simply put, I will have Zandolf and Essefy stay in this hidden city until the war is over. You can cultivate or do whatever you want; just don't try to flee on your own. This place is special, and I'm connected to it. You will never be able to escape my watch as long as you are here. Understood?"

Zaldolf and Essefy could only nod. Yet, they noticed something different. "But... what about Rean and Roan?"