Chapter 362: Cultivation in the Chaos Sea: Immortals and Those Below

But even such a "chain" had been worn down to a "gap," and this "gap" continued to grow larger.

Like avoiding a snake or scorpion, You immediately averted his gaze.

"Truly astonishing..."

These three "chains" were already absurd enough, but what truly sent a chill through him was the "Restoration" power hidden behind them.

That terrifying power, almost ruthlessly rejecting everything...

Sss~!

"If the Tai Xuan Realm also had a Divine Path, it would truly be catastrophic."

In that "jiejiejie" laughter, he had already read and dissected everything in this realm.

Naturally, he knew all about the Divine Path.

"The Divine Path has its limits; if the empowering force is of the level of 'Immortal' or 'Ancestor,' the one who ascends can only become a True Immortal." Xu Xing shook his head slightly.

The world itself, or what is called the "Heavenly Dao," has no subjective agency.

And the Tai Xuan Realm is even more so—its "Hun Tian Yi" has already been extracted and suppressed; it could never give rise to a seat of authority.

Moreover, Immortals and those below Immortals are entirely two different tiers, so it is impossible to ascend to the position of True Immortal without "attaining the Dao."

Speaking of it, cultivators' cultivation mostly relies on the world.

Even a Dongzhen cultivator cannot cultivate apart from the world.

After all, the Chaos Sea is born of the Great Dao—how vast and boundless is it?

Even the "Dao" captured by a world is but a portion of it, differing in strength and quantity only due to the world's varying power.

Cultivators below Immortal level cultivating within the Chaos Sea are like infants gazing at the stars and attempting to create the universe.

Aside from realizing their own insignificance, how could they possibly attain enlightenment?

Once, Xu Xing and several Dao companions had dissected the structures of many worlds, seeking to create a method simulating the process of world creation, so that cultivators below Immortal level could also cultivate within the Chaos Sea.

But in the end, they failed.

In countless simulations, cultivators either could not even enter the path, or their very selves were utterly erased by the Chaos Sea's boundless Great Dao.

Eventually, Xu Xing and the others realized this had surpassed the scope of "Supreme Art," so they temporarily set it aside.

"Indeed, that is true." You did not continue this topic, "So, Xu Xing, are you planning to enter seclusion directly now?"

"Mm."

"Fine then, I'll go wander around." The twisted shadow swayed constantly, "Jiejiejie! This world seems to have quite a few interesting things."

This time he's really acting like a world-ending Dafan Sect villain.

"Don't worry, I have my limits."

Amid a sinister laugh, You transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the void, disappearing completely.

Hong Zun: "..."

Sir, didn't you forget to say something?!

Hmm...

I might as well just ask Brother Dao—Little Sister and Master Jianzun are both here; he can't refuse to answer!

"Ahem! Just now, Senior You..."

But before he could finish speaking.

"You two chat, I'll go into seclusion first—we should return as soon as possible."

Xu Xing rose cleanly and vanished without a trace.

Bie Xuening said nothing, rose immediately, and vanished as well.

"Little Sister..."

Xiang Yuanjun: "..."

After all, he was her own elder brother, and she had just tricked him, so Xiang Yuanjun couldn't leave so easily—she asked with feigned concern:

"Where have you been these past days?"

Where?

I was watching dancers in the Heavenly Palace...

"Nowhere special. Little Sister, hurry and catch up with Brother Dao and Master Jianzun. I'll go check on the young disciple who received my method."

With that, Hong Zun vanished without a trace.

Huh?!

Xiang Yuanjun froze.

This guy is insane!

At the foot of the perilous peak, beneath the cloud sea.

A man with gray-white hair, his features handsome yet eerie, his eyes dark and wolfish, his entire body soaked in blood.

Across his interwoven wounds flowed threads of golden divine power radiating destruction.

It was none other than Cangyun Yaojun!

Having missed the initial opportunity, he had no choice but to risk hunting divine beings to seize their Divine Path origins.

Instead of attracting the Thunder Bureau's divine spirits, he was spotted by the "Protector Deity" of the Pingdaode Sect!

In this era of Divine Path turmoil, that "Protector Deity" of the Pingdaode Sect had remained utterly unaffected and nearly slapped him to death with two blows!

He had planned to hide and heal, but Pingdaode Sect disciples were everywhere, forcing him to avoid even moderately populated areas, leaving him no choice but to hide here to evade attention.

"Pingdaode Sect people..." Cangyun Yaojun gritted his teeth.

Who is this person!

In my previous life, he didn't exist at all—this should have been the era when Elder Xuanling Daoren stood alone at the top!

According to the original course of events, Elder Xuanling Daoren would later ascend to Fan Xu, and ultimately be burned to death by the Sun Star Lord using Solar Golden Flame, his soul and spirit utterly annihilated.

After that, the Sun Star Lord would be captured by a Cave Heaven Hehuan Laozu, and many reclusive Xian Sects would emerge into the world, thus ushering in the Golden Age of the Immortal Dao!

But everything has changed!

The suddenly appearing Tai Ping Daoren has thrown the situation into chaos beyond my comprehension!

Damn it!

If not for that damned Tai Ping Daoren, how could I have ended up in this state?

In his heart, his hatred for Tai Ping Daoren ranked second only to that of Qianyan Daozhu!

Dragging his severely wounded body, Cangyun Yaojun took a few more steps forward when suddenly a flash of seven-colored light appeared before him. Hm?

Just as he thought this was a hallucination caused by his injuries.

A sudden pain struck the top of his head, as if struck by something heavy, causing him to stagger.

Who the hell is throwing things around!

He cursed inwardly, reached up to touch—and felt a smooth, hard object, still slightly warm.

Looking ahead, a crystal-clear, seven-colored prismatic crystal lay quietly on the ground, palm-sized, its light causing slight distortions in the surrounding void.

This is…

"Void Spirit Crystal?"

Drawing on memories from his previous life, he immediately recognized what the prismatic crystal was.

This kind of void-natured spiritual energy crystal could only form under extremely rare conditions.

It could be used in forging storage artifacts, setting up spatial arrays, as a primary ingredient in certain special pills…

Of course, cultivators who practiced Void-attribute cultivation techniques could directly absorb the power contained within it—far more effective than any pill!

"Such high-purity Void Spirit Crystal…"

No mistake—every single one was perfect!

Cangyun Yaojun took off the piece from his head—and indeed, it was also a Void Spirit Crystal!

Looking up, colorful light rained down all around him—clearly, each was a Void Spirit Crystal glowing with seven hues.

For a moment, his grip on the Void Spirit Crystal tightened.

Had he finally endured hardship and now tasted sweetness?

Thinking of this, tears welled in his eyes—joy so great it brought tears.

There was no help for it: since his rebirth, aside from a brief initial ease, everything had been terribly unlucky!

Soon he calmed his emotions, absorbing the power within the crystals while gathering up the ones that had fallen nearby.

In the end, they piled into a small mountain of light, shimmering with colors, bringing a faint smile to Cangyun Yaojun's face as his strength partially returned.

"Hehehe! Puppy, nine out, thirteen back~"

From within his mind came a sinister laugh—and a twisted black shadow appeared behind the pile of Void Spirit Crystals.

Cangyun Yaojun froze, about to shout a curse.

But in an instant, he calmed down.

That laugh…

A terrifying thought surfaced in his mind, drenching him in cold sweat.

…………

After that day, Xu Xing went directly into seclusion.

Yuanjun and Bie Xuening also never left the small house beside the waterfall.

During this time, Ning Ruo came several times via the Ascension Platform, bringing them news from Tai Xuan Realm.

After all, You had only a sliver of power projected over, and he himself remained in the starry void, paying little attention to events on the Central Continent.

As for how that process went…

Let's just say he held the upper hand against two at once!

Of course, during this time, the world's winds and clouds continued to shift without pause.

Jiang Lin trod upon Jingcheng, defeated the Tianfu Sect with a single pill, and crushed the True Dragon with one hand, shattering the five-hundred-year fortune of the Datong Dynasty.

He then listed their crimes, judged and punished the high officials and nobles, beheading countless heads, staining the imperial streets with blood.

The imperial treasury's brocades were reduced to ashes!

The entire world trembled in terror!

Months later, all the regional kings gathered together, forming an alliance under the banner of "Punishing the Rebel," assembling three million elite troops and tens of thousands of extraordinary individuals.

Yet Tai Ping Daoren rode the wind and entered the army formation alone, manifesting the One Hundred and Eight Heavenly Spirits of Tai Ping.

Within a single day, all rebel kings were annihilated!

All survivors joined the Tai Ping Dao!

Because of this, the Tai Ping Dao reached the peak of its fame!

Thereafter, the Tai Ping Dao governed the world, smashing mountains and destroying temples, purging unworthy and evil deities; all virtuous deities beneath the Emperor were absorbed into the Tai Ping Dao, serving as "Protector Deities."

As time passed, chaos vanished from the world, and few still spoke of the Datong Dynasty.

One year later, Elder Xuanling Daoren challenged Tai Ping Daoren at the former capital of the Datong Dynasty.

The One Hundred and Eight Heavenly Spirits of Tai Ping once again displayed divine power—Elder Xuanling Daoren was utterly defeated, yet did not lose heart, laughing loudly throughout Jingcheng.

After the battle, the two discussed the Dao for a full day in a pavilion by a lake in Jingcheng, and Elder Xuanling Daoren finally departed with a wondrous method.

Various seeds of the Immortal Dao gradually rose to prominence.

One year later, the world was at peace, and most of the celestial Dao initiates joined the Peace Dao, taking office to govern their regions.

Then, the Sun Star Lord's seals were lifted.

Golden flames fell from the sky, illuminating all ten directions, melting and refining the one hundred and eight divine forms of the Peace Dao; the Peace Dao disciples were severely wounded, near death.

At the eleventh hour, a chilling "hehe" laugh rose again; the golden crow dimmed and fled, wounded.

……

……

In a quiet chamber of the Daoist temple on Chengming Mountain.

A gray-robed Daoist sat silently on a mat; beneath his withered, wrinkled skin, golden fire surged continuously.

His white hair was wild like tangled weeds; his eyes were clouded.

It was Jiang Lin.

The golden solar flame burned his lifespan and vitality at all times; he, whose realm was only Nascent Soul mid-stage, had little time left.

Suddenly, a Daoist clad in black-and-white robes appeared in the chamber and sat across from him, smiling.

"Good. You've done better than I imagined."

Jiang Lin slowly lifted his head; upon seeing the man across from him, his clouded eyes flickered with confusion.

"Elder?"

"How is it?" Hong Zun asked. "If you hadn't done this, with the four scriptures I gave you, your future would have been far greater than this."

The Dao brother is nearly done.

So, before leaving, he came once more to see this young disciple who had pleased him so much. (End of Chapter)