Musa smiled faintly and explained, “Mr. Chen, the Thirty-Six Heavens of the Heavenly Realm aren’t simply stacked one above another. Broadly speaking, they’re divided into three tiers—lower, middle, and upper—based on how complete the laws of heaven and earth are, the quality of spiritual essence, and the overall stability of the world.
“The lower realm spans the First through the Twelfth Heavens. The Twelve Heavens you’re in now already sit at the peak of the lower realm. The laws there are relatively complete, and spiritual energy is abundant. Still, compared to the middle realm, there’s an essential difference. In the lower realm, it’s still possible to travel between heavens through void passages.
“The middle realm encompasses the Thirteenth through the Twenty-Fourth Heavens. Each heaven there is far vaster and deeper than those below. The spiritual energy is purer and more active, and the laws of heaven and earth are stricter and more powerful. Cultivators there often move faster and perceive more keenly—but that also means fiercer competition, more brutal struggles over resources, and a much higher average level of strength among living beings. My wife and I are currently staying in a hidden area within the Thirteenth Heaven.
“As for the upper realm, it ranges from the Twenty-Fifth Heaven to the legendary Thirty-Sixth. That place is already the stuff of myth—unreachable without immense fortune, unwavering resolve, and overwhelming destiny. It’s said that the laws there are nearly perfect, containing the origins of the Great Dao itself, and that it’s the closest realm to the ultimate limit of immortality. I can’t truly describe it.”
His words felt like a new door being pushed open before Chen Ping. He had always known the Thirty-Six Heavens were divided into upper, middle, and lower realms, but no one had ever explained the distinctions so clearly.
“Senior Musha,” Chen Ping asked, “if the laws of the upper and lower realms are so different, is it extremely difficult to go from the Twelfth Heaven to the Thirteenth? What are the requirements?”
Musa nodded. “Crossing boundaries is far harder than traveling between heavens within the same realm. Although the Twelfth and Thirteenth Heavens seem only one step apart, in reality, that step is the leap from the lower realm to the middle realm.
Unlock the full chapter with a membership! If you’re a member, log in using the header menu or the (☰) mobile menu.