Chapter 322: Cutting Away the Past of One

Because it entered along with the world's inhalation and exhalation, or whether it deliberately restrained its own scale and condition.

So the sensation was slightly different from when he previously entered the Beast God Realm.

Chaotic qi surged, continuously forward, drawn in by the world's own pulse.

After entering one layer of the world, the interwoven laws resembled countless filters, layer by layer "filtering" it into various types of celestial and terrestrial qi.

In truth, this process was extremely complex, far beyond what the words "filtering" could summarize.

Xu Xing blended into the surging chaotic qi, like a wisp of pure energy, utterly unremarkable.

At the end of countless interwoven laws stood numerous divine officials clad in rosy veils, slender and light-bodied, graceful in posture, surrounded by seven-colored auroras—the "Divine Spirit Officials."

They belonged to the Spirit Division of the Tiangong, tasked with dispersing the various types of celestial and terrestrial qi, after the laws had "filtered" them, into the world.

Such divine officials had to be beings born from the transformation of natural phenomena—wind and rain, clouds and mist, auroras, morning dew, moonlight—whose primordial essence was pure and unblemished.

"Seventy-two units of superior Xu Earth Qi, inscribed with nine million three hundred thirty-one thousand two hundred divine seals, each seal precise to the minutest degree, the Heavenly Sovereign observes."

"Thirty-six units of superior Ding Fire Qi, inscribed with four million six hundred sixty-five thousand six hundred divine seals, each seal precise to the minutest degree, the Heavenly Sovereign observes."

"Thirty-six units of superior Yi Wood Qi, inscribed with…"

"Thirty-six units of superior Gui Water Qi…"

"Superior…"

Delicate fingers, with a flick and a stroke, carved each strange divine seal into the respective celestial and terrestrial qi.

Beyond the most common Five Elements, yin-yang, and four-season qi, there were also Gang Sha, Xuan Huang, and Creation qi.

Yet every Divine Spirit Official bore a trace of weariness in their brows and eyes.

Clearly, carving divine seals was no light task.

In truth, their original duty was merely to classify the various celestial and terrestrial qi and allocate them according to the world's conditions.

This act of carving divine seals was the Heavenly Sovereign's demand.

Though they held high status within the Spirit Division, they were still vastly inferior before the Heavenly Sovereign.

Xu Xing watched silently as they carved each divine seal into place.

As these Divine Spirit Officials had said, each unit of celestial and terrestrial qi bore precisely one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred divine seals, every infinitesimal space marked.

"The final attempt…?"

The rise of Immortal Dao was a great tide.

The will of this world, Hun Tian Yi, had not sought to break free from the Heavenly Dao's restraint, as in Tai Xuan Realm or the Beast God Realm, but had wholeheartedly guided the world toward a better path.

Just as now, the transition from Divine Dao to Immortal Dao was Hun Tian Yi's method of regulating the world.

Using Immortal Dao to strengthen the foundation, then using Divine Dao to rest, recover, and digest the gains.

As for those who, in past great eras, had comprehended profound truths and ascended to Tong Xuan, this world had not hindered them, but granted them a share of its primordial essence to help them open their own cavern heavens.

Whether they wished to explore beyond the realm, cultivate in seclusion within it, or even participate in the coming succession of great eras, the world imposed no restrictions.

But the risks were theirs alone to bear.

The current Heavenly Sovereign of the Tiangong was the sole being from the previous epoch to have attained Tong Xuan, seeking to advance further in this age.

But the outcome was clearly unsatisfactory.

At the time of the great era's transition, he remained stuck at the initial stage of Tong Xuan, making negligible progress.

Thus he sought to prolong the Divine Dao era, to gain more time for cultivation.

After observing for a while, Xu Xing did not interfere, silently departing for where his sister and Xiang Yuanjun were.

emm…

Hong Zun's side was also hastening toward this place.

Good, then let's discuss it together.

……

……

Clouds rolled endlessly, without end.

Amidst the boundless sea of clouds, a towering mountain stood in silent stillness.

Jagged stone peaks shimmered with silver-white light under the sun, the mountain's body wrapped in thick mist like white silk gently unfurled, sometimes hazy, sometimes revealed, like a fairyland.

Yet despite this precipitous mountain, its peak held a vast, open platform.

Seated quietly on a stone bench beside a simple stone table was Bie Xuening, before her lay fruits and tea.

Xiang Yuanjun sat as before upon her shoulder, her form seemingly restored slightly.

Though the sunlight was bright, the mountain wind was sharp, so the warmth it brought was extremely limited.

But as a True Immortal, she was unafraid of cold or heat.

"You've come."

Bie Xuening looked up toward the horizon.

Two wisps of qi drifted in, landing before them: a sword-bearing man and a Daoist clad in black-and-white robes.

It was Xu Xing and Hong Zun.

"Apologies for the wait, sister, Yuanjun," Xu Xing spoke first.

He glanced twice at Xiang Yuanjun perched on his sister's shoulder.

After all, hearing about it and seeing it firsthand were two different things.

"Not too long," Bie Xuening said softly.

Xiang Yuanjun gave a slight nod.

"Then let's talk about this matter," Xu Xing said directly.

Hong Zun nodded gently: "After arriving near this world, Brother Dao, did you sense your homeland?"

"Not yet." Xu Xing sighed. "My homeland is still far from here."

Is that so… Hong Zun frowned.

He had thought that if it were close enough, they could simply let the Tai Xuan Realm's repulsive force send them over directly.

Perhaps the Tai Xuan Realm's repulsive force would vanish as a result, and they could take the opportunity to see Brother Dao's homeland.

But if the distance is great, that won't work.

The farther the distance, the more variables there are, and no one knows the current state of the Tai Xuan Realm. What if, even after arriving at Brother Dao's homeland, the repulsive force still doesn't vanish? That would be a major problem.

"Xuan seized part of the 'Hun Tian Yi' guarded by the Tai Shang Dao Sect and the Sword Sect." Yuanjun leapt off Bie Xuening's shoulder and floated midair. "What do you think Brother Dao believes He will do with that 'Hun Tian Yi'?"

"..." Xu Xing pondered for a moment. "First, there is one point: He absolutely cannot use the 'Hun Tian Yi' he seized to bring back 'Heaven.'"

The Cang Clan is now walking on thin ice; one misstep could bring total collapse.

Humanity cannot afford to gamble; the Cang Clan can't even less so.

Especially now that Xuan has 'died' once, his abilities have plummeted. If He truly awakens from slumber, Gu cannot suppress Him.

'Heaven' has absolutely no morals.

!. Read

"Could it possibly be related to the next step of the Dao-Attainment Realm?" Hong Zun asked.

Bie Xuening and Yuanjun also turned to look at Xu Xing.

He was the one with the most authority on this.

"It shouldn't be that." Xu Xing shook his head slightly.

The next step isn't so easily taken. Xuan is even less capable than I am.

"Good." Hong Zun poured himself a cup of tea. "For now, we must still resolve the issue of the Tai Xuan Realm's repulsive force. We must return as soon as possible."

Xu Xing took the teapot and poured tea for himself, his senior sister, and Yuanjun.

But now, with Yuanjun's miniature size, the teacup was nearly as large as she was.

The tea's fragrance rose in delicate spirals. Xu Xing set down the teapot: "I do have an idea about this."

Hm?

"Although the connection the Tai Xuan Realm established between me and you remains strong, now that we've stopped moving, cutting it several more times could wear it down and sever it."

Yuanjun quickly spotted the flaw: "But if the 'anchor' feedback is lost, the remaining people will be pushed farther away."

"Then we cut Hong Zun's connection first, then Yuanjun's, and leave mine and Brother's last."

Hong Zun: "..."

What do you mean 'cut me first'? It's severing the connection, not cutting me!

Yuanjun glanced at Bie Xuening, waved her hand, and the teacup shrank into her palm: "But even then, Brother Dao himself remains bound and unable to return to the Tai Xuan Realm."

"..."

Bie Xuening fell silent.

That is a problem. But if no other solution presents itself, we may still have to let a few return first to fill the gaps.

"Indeed. Xuan's schemes remain unknown. I must return to the Tai Xuan Realm." Xu Xing lifted his teacup and smiled. "Moreover, even if we use the method Sister mentioned, it should be Hong Zun who stays with me until the end."

Hong Zun: "?"

The other two also looked at Xu Xing in confusion.

"After all, the 'anchor' feedback he provides is the strongest."

"..."

Well, that's a thoroughly convincing reason—impossible to refute.

Hong Zun took a sip of tea to calm his nerves.

"But it needn't be so drastic," Xu Xing continued. "The reason the Tai Xuan Realm can send me back is because I still carry ties and memories of my homeland."

His voice was calm, yet seemed to pierce through clouds and mist.

"Then I will sever all connections. I will cut away my past."

The mountaintop fell silent. Then a firm, decisive voice rang out.

"No!"

It was Bie Xuening.

They were fellow disciples, having walked together through long ages to reach this day. She knew better than anyone how desperately Xu Xing longed to return home.

To cut away even his past—to lose all ties—would make finding his homeland in this vast, chaotic sea nearly impossible.

"Brother Dao need not go so far. There must be another way..." Yuanjun whispered.

Hong Zun said nothing.

Since ancient times, Brother Dao has always made choices at such moments that earned his admiration.

That is why, even though he knew his little sister and him—

He still called him 'Brother Dao.'

"Don't worry. I made this decision after careful thought." Xu Xing smiled. "Isn't there still Yuan? We can follow his connection to find our way home."

Yuan?

All three paused.

Right—Yuan is also from Brother Dao's (Dao Xing's) homeland.

This was what Bie Xuening and Yuanjun thought.

Indeed, Yuan is also from beyond the realms, like Brother Dao!

This was what Hong Zun thought.

"In any case, this matter is settled." Xu Xing cut off any further protest. "My past must be severed along with the three connections. That will take considerable time."

"So for now, let's rest well in this world."

The situation in the Xuan Realm is unknown; this is also a way to conserve strength and energy.

None of the three spoke.

If... if Yuan weren't here, would younger brother (Venerable) still choose this method?

He probably would still choose it. (End of chapter)