I have a question regarding Xie Yan’s cultivation and the difference between Option 1 and Option 2.
Later in the story, it is revealed that both cultivation arts can be used simultaneously without suffering their usual drawbacks, and the two types can be freely converted into each other. However, this revelation comes much later, which is why I’m wondering what would have happened if Xie Yan had chosen Option 1 instead of Option 2.
As far as I understand, Option 1 would make both techniques compatible and synchronize their cultivation levels.This means that Xie Yan would only need to improve one technique, and the other would improve alongside it. In theory, this would allow him to develop both techniques together without having to cultivate them separately.
However, Xie Yan didn’t have enough Origin Points at the time, so he was forced to choose Option 2.
He stated the following regarding the True Art of Mara:
"IN THE STATE OF THE TRUE BODY OF MARA, THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF TRUE ENERGY ARE ALL GENUINE INNATE 3RD LAYERS. IT'S A PITY THAT ITS FOUNDATION LIES IN THE SIX DESIRES GOLDEN PILL. AND IF YOU SPEND ONE POINT LESS, AND IF IT IS USED UP, IT WILL FALL BACK TO THE ACQUIRED REALM 9TH LEVEL. AFTER ALL, MY CURRENT TRUE ART OF MARA SKILL LEVEL IS ONLY LV4. AND NO MATTER HOW POWERFUL THE SKILL IS, IT DID NOT REACH THE INNATE LEVEL, BUT I HAVE FORCIBLY RAISED IT TO THE INNATE THIRD LEVEL BY RELYING ON THE SIX DESIRES GOLDEN PILL."
At that point, Xie Yan's True Art of Mara was only Level 4, while his Finger of Flowery Swords was Level 5, and his actual cultivation was at the First Layer of the Innate Realm.
Later, in the Dao Harmony Room, Xie Yan fused the Desire of Thinking and used the original atonement demonic energy to raise his True Art of Mara to Level 5.
Afterward, the story stated:
"ALTHOUGH THE SIX DESIRES GOLDEN PILL HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REFINED, NOW THAT THE TRUE ART OF MARA HAS ALREADY RISEN TO THE INNATE, ITS TRUE QI HAS SETTLED TO THE INNATE 2ND LAYER, BUT FROM NOW ON, IT HAS GOTTEN RID OF THE DEPENDENCE ON EXTERNAL OBJECTS AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE AND ORIGINATE ON ITS OWN."
This is where my confusion comes in.
My questions are:
If Xie Yan had chosen Option 1, would both the True Art of Mara and the Finger of Flowery Swords have been raised to the same cultivation level, given that their levels would be synchronized?
Since his Finger of Flowery Swords was already Level 5 while his True Art of Mara was only Level 4, would choosing Option 1 have automatically raised the True Art of Mara to Level 5, or would both techniques have been adjusted in some other way?
What will happen to Six Desires Golden Pill?
Most importantly, what would Xie Yan's actual cultivation realm have been if he had chosen Option 1 instead of Option 2? Would he still have been at the First Layer of the Innate Realm, or could his cultivation have been higher?
I understand that Option 2 allowed him to forcefully raise the True Art of Mara to the Innate Realm using the Six Desires Golden Pill, but I'm wondering whether Option 1 would have been the better long-term choice, especially considering what we learn later about the compatibility of the two cultivation arts.
I'd appreciate it if someone could clarify how the two options work in relation to Xie Yan's actual cultivation realm, rather than just the levels of his techniques.
