Chapter 613: In the Utmost Antiquity, the Dao Was Born

But after observing these past days, the social structure of the Taixuan Realm today…

It cannot be said to be bad.

She had once calculated countless possibilities for the future of the Earth Immortal Realm, yet even the best of those possibilities still fell short of the current Taixuan Realm.

But this is only because of the existence of “True Immortals.”

They stand at a higher, more transcendent vantage point to determine the world’s direction.

Yet this state, fundamentally, is identical to the future she had calculated for the Earth Immortal Realm—a world governed by the will of absolute high-ranking individuals…

It is both reasonable and expected.

The current Taixuan Realm is already good enough; the True Immortals’ ability to correct errors far surpasses that of Return-to-Space cultivators. The best future she could imagine is no better than this.

But Xi Li still felt…

A feeling hard to describe.

She had assumed that after ascending to the “Immortal Realm,” she would see a world never appearing in her calculations, a path never envisioned.

Xu Xing fell silent for a long time upon hearing this question.

“The world I hope for…”

He paused, a hint of helplessness appearing on his face.

“You’ve truly asked me about the one field I’m least skilled in.”

What kind of world did he hope for?

Even he himself had only a vague answer in his heart.

“From my own perspective, I do not wish to impose my will upon the world or any individual,” Xu Xing sighed lightly.

“But it is impossible. Since I stand at this height, no matter what I do—or even if I make no choice at all—countless people will be affected.”

“Moreover, many times I am forced to make choices.”

He did not wish to impose his will upon all beings; he hoped each person could possess their own free will.

Yet doing nothing, for him, for the height he occupies, is no different from “neglect.”

Where there is desire, there must be action.

In the past, he resided long on the frontlines of the starry battlefield, while the Central Continent was ravaged by demonic cultivators, and even within the Sword Sect, many were wicked and cruel.

Could he truly ignore them?

Could he truly let their free will grow wild and unchecked?

Clearly, he could not.

So he picked up his sword and made many attempts.

Honestly, in that moment long ago, he truly considered drawing his sword to sever all evil thoughts from all beings, leaving only perfect humans in the world.

Fortunately, he eventually calmed down.

Born into this world, the seven emotions and six desires—greed, anger, delusion, love, hatred—are the most ordinary of human feelings.

If he truly erased all evil thoughts from all beings, how could humanity still be human?

How could they be called “perfect” then?

If even the self is incomplete, all beings become puppets beneath his sword.

“I know what you wish to ask,” Xu Xing sighed again. “But some answers, even I am still seeking. So I cannot answer you.”

He truly was not skilled in such matters.

Sometimes, Xu Xing even felt he was being overly sentimental.

As a transmigrator, he had already reached such a height; all he needed was to lower his standards slightly, and…

But if he truly did that, he would no longer be himself.

And it would betray his Master’s past…

Though his thoughts stirred, his expression showed no trace. Xu Xing continued.

“Perhaps when another person is recovered, you may receive a different answer from him.”

“Compared to me, he is far more adept at such things.”

“The various aspects of the Taixuan Realm you now see cannot be said to be entirely his doing, but he played the most crucial role in shaping them.”

“… ” Xi Li fell silent for a moment. “Are you referring to Holy Emperor Yuan?”

“Correct.”

Xi Li’s swift recognition of the person did not surprise Xu Xing.

Since she wished to understand these matters, she could not have avoided learning of the Great Transformation Era, and thus could not have been unaware of Yuan.

“I understand.”

Xi Li nodded slightly and did not press further on this topic.

The elder had said he himself was still seeking answers, and Holy Emperor Yuan had vanished over fifty years ago—by this tone, he had not yet been recovered.

To say more would be useless.

“By the way, elder, I have another question.”

“Speak.”

“These past days, while studying in the Dharma Transmission Tower, I tried to learn about the Taixuan Realm’s developmental history, but found its history seems strangely odd…”

The vast Dharma Transmission Tower contained not a single book fully recording the Taixuan Realm’s history from ancient times to the present.

Not even a brief summary existed.

Only the biographies of several True Immortal Ancestors and a few Cave-Realizers were relatively clear.

And the further back in time, the more obscure the details became.

It felt as if the entire history of the Taixuan Realm were shrouded in mist.

Even stranger, though every aspect of the Taixuan Realm far surpasses the Earth Immortal Realm, it lacks even a calendar system for dating…

“These matters are still too distant for you at this stage,” Xu Xing paused. “You need only know that, in this current phase, the Taixuan Realm’s ‘past’ does not belong to humanity.”

Past…

Not belonging to humanity?

Is this related to the “great enemy” the elder mentioned earlier?

Xi Li’s mind filled with speculation, yet she bowed once more, her emotions settling into calm:

“Thank you, elder, for your clarification. I have no further questions.”

“Mm.”

Xu Xing nodded slightly, and in his open palm appeared a pearl radiating five-colored light, yet within it was a chaotic, formless void.

“By the way, this is connected to the downfall of the Beast God long ago,” he mentioned casually. “Nurture it well—it will grant you a personal cavern realm, making travel across the realms convenient.”

“Thank you, elder.”

Xi Li did not refuse, accepting it reverently with both hands.

The instant the World Seed landed in her palm, a mysterious cultivation method flowed into her mind—

The Great Void Expanding Realm Observing Divine Method

The Earth Immortal Realm’s situation is unique: though a Cave-Realization-level world, it permits only Return-to-Space cultivators to arise, and having been suppressed by the Beast God Clan for a hundred thousand years, the methods for nurturing cavern realms had long been lost—thus, one must be given.

As for the Daoist of Xuanling, the moment he ascended and arrived in the Taixuan Realm, Hong Zun detected him and directly transmitted the four methods given to Jiang Lin through the Taixuan Immortal Network—

The Summoning Divine Method, the Controlling Divine Method, the Enslaving Divine Method, and the Devouring Divine Method—to him.

Unified, these four methods became the Totalizing the Ten Extremes to Sustain My True Scripture, a True Dharma transmission.

Among its myriad spiritual techniques, naturally, was included the method for nurturing cavern realms.

Overall, it was similar to the Great Void Expanding Realm Observing Divine Method, and better suited to him—he naturally had no need for redundancy.

Watching Xi Li put away the World Seed, Xu Xing asked: “What are your plans henceforth?”

Plans…

Previously, she intended to join the Sword Sect, but now…

“I plan to visit the Alliance of Righteous Paths.”

A choice entirely within expectation.

Xu Xing waved his hand, sending her to the outer gate of the Sword Sect.

Then, he turned to face the sun, now fully sunk below the horizon.

Long silence…

Xu Xing pressed his fingers to his brow.

“These days, the younger generation asks increasingly sharp questions…”

With those words, his figure vanished into thin air before the Sword Ancestor Hall.

…

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