Chapter 281: The Imperial Son's Alternative Severing

(This chapter is quite important; if you can, give it a read.) Yang Chu was completely submerged in the Immortal Pool, with only his shoulders and above visible; the pool gathered the essence of the myriad Dragon Mountains, a magnificence that even the words 'grand and splendid' cannot fully capture.

Those pure vital essences have accumulated and settled over countless half‑years; they exist to foster the hope of attaining immortality, and even a single thread is priceless.

Even those rare spiritual herbs cannot compare to it.

The rich dragon‑qi essence flowed along Yang Chu's skin, being swiftly absorbed and refined; soon his entire body was submerged in countless strands of immortal radiance, making him indistinct.

Even his skin was suffused with a layer of purple‑gold light, a manifestation of his overly vigorous blood and qi spilling outward.

In the Immortal Pool, amidst a hazy mist, Yang Chu immersed himself, sensing the Dao's rhythm of this place and comprehending the so‑called opportunity for immortality.

The Heavenly Court's grand plan, spanning millions of years, though unsuccessful, still offers many lessons to be learned.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed; when Yang Chu opened his eyes again, a thread of supreme Dao pressure throbbed within him.

"Hum!"

The Slaughter‑Immortal formation diagram and the Emperor's Sword appeared, swirling around Yang Chu; strands of imperial might filled the air, the lethal force capable of cleaving Dao and reason revived, and slowly descended.

"What are you trying to do?"

The Yaochi Holy Maiden, who had been contemplating the Dao patterns on the bronze cauldron, was startled. "Didn't you say you were going into seclusion? Why have you summoned the supreme Dao imperial weapon?" "Do you know why most imperial sons are sealed away? Because…"

Yang Chu looked at her and patiently began to explain.

An imperial son, from birth, is accompanied by both splendor and sorrow.

Why the sorrow? Because their father is a reigning emperor, which destined them—regardless of talent or bloodline—to be unable to break the suppression of Heaven's Dao and their own imperial Dao laws, thus they are fated never to attain the Dao.

Thus their only recourse is to be sealed away, to avoid this world alongside their father; as time passes, they must endure a long period of desolation and torment.

When they finally break the seal and emerge into the world, everything has already changed; moreover, it is destined that their once‑invincible father, revered throughout heaven and earth and the cosmos, has already passed away.

"Being sealed for tens of thousands of years—this torment can only be understood by those who have endured it."

Not only must they bear the pain of losing everything, but because their blood carries the imperial Dao imprint, attaining the Dao becomes even harder for them than for others.

Almost upon reaching the quasi‑emperor stage, an imperial son will stall, unable to break through that unshakable fetter.

Moreover, the stronger their father becomes, the harder that fetter is to break—like a curse that prevents a sacred body from cultivating, it is immovable!

This is also why, no matter how glorious the past, present, or future emperors and ancient sovereigns were in life, none of their offspring can attain the Dao.

Of course, the Beginningless Emperor is an exception, simply because he was extraordinarily monstrous.

Does this mean that no imperial son can ever attain the Dao? Yes—by cutting off their cultivation, starting anew, and before achieving sainthood, severing the imperial Dao imprint in their blood. "I see; the Beginningless Emperor used this very method to succeed in attaining the Dao, so you too must now sever the imperial Dao imprint within your body."

The Yaochi Holy Maiden understood: while everyone knows imperial sons enjoy boundless glory, few realize they are also bound by this destiny.

"Not bad; this process requires a long time and is quite complex."

Just as in Yang Chu's case, his father the Beginningless is overwhelmingly invincible and dominant, making his imprint especially hard to sever.

"I believe in you."

Without many words, the Yaochi Holy Maiden lifted a strand of green silk with her jade‑like finger, smiled faintly, and said, "I will wait for you outside until you succeed."

Having spoken, she gazed deeply at Yang Chu, then turned and left.

After only a brief moment, Yang Chu readjusted his mindset; his eyes soon became resolutely determined, and he prepared to embark on an alternative 'Dao‑severing' path.

For ordinary cultivators, the Three‑Immortal Dao‑severing trial is a watershed; only those with extraordinary talent can succeed, while most cultivators remain stuck at that threshold their whole lives.

But for Yang Chu, an imperial son, the Three‑Immortal Dao‑severing trial is not particularly difficult; the true Dao‑severing lies in cutting away his own imperial Dao imprint.

"Boom!"

Purple‑gold blood and qi surged; in an instant, the all‑encompassing imperial Dao laws were slowly forced out of his body by Yang Chu.

In that moment, the imperial Dao laws illuminated the heavens and earth, dense and endless, filling every corner.

"Boom!"

Heaven and earth rumbled; at that moment the myriad Dragon Mountains were shaken, their dragon heads seeming to come alive as they spewed divine waterfalls that flowed upward, re‑absorbing into their mouths.

Immediately afterward, the terrain was stirred, the Great Emperor's killing formation binding it, emitting a power to slay immortals, and the myriad Dragon Mountains trembled in unison.

"Rumble..."

Above the firmament, myriad‑zhang killing intent descended; before it, even a mere touch of the emitted aura caused the void to shatter into nothingness.

The world‑destroying might surged and swept wildly, beginning to wear away those imperial Dao laws.

"Crack… crack‑crack… crack…"

Even a grand formation laid by the Source Heavenly Master and the ancient emperors together could not instantly erase those imprints; it could only crush them bit by bit.

Yang Chu knew there was no hope of becoming immortal here, yet he still pressed on—first to obtain the supreme treasure, and more importantly, to use this place's terrain to sever his own Dao.

This place is now shrouded in a power capable of slaying immortals, rumbling loudly, making the nine heavens and ten earths tremble; even a great sage who inadvertently brushes against a thread of it would instantly be turned to ash! The myriad Dragon Mountains, a site that could be called divine craftsmanship for immortality, are submerged in countless strands of immortal radiance—before the eyes lies only auspiciousness, yet the killing intent is boundless.

A stone disc engraved with the Beginningless Killing Formation hovers above Yang Chu's head, four Emperor's Swords positioned at the four cardinal points, and the formation diagram now unfurls, encircling him.

Otherwise, if he were to taint himself with even a thread of that external killing intent, he too would turn to ash! Yang Chu employed a special method, and more and more imperial Dao imprints were forced out of his blood.

Each strand, each imprint carries a faint imperial might, brilliantly radiant, emitting a divine glow as if eternal through myriad tribulations—a primordial Dao trace.

This is an extremely draining process; fortunately, the Immortal Pool beneath him provides an endless supply of replenishment, so he does not feel overly taxed.

In the Kunlun Mountains, the world‑destroying killing intent persisted without cease, lasting a full two years before gradually subsiding.

"Finally, it's done."

After two years, he finally reached this place and completely severed the imperial Dao imprints in his blood.

At this moment, his blood remains purplish‑gold and radiant, possessing a strong vital aura, pure and crystal‑clear, largely unchanged from before, except that the binding of the imperial Dao imprint is gone.

"It's time."

After his condition returned to its peak, Yang Chu's gaze sharpened; the Slaughter‑Immortal Sword Array revived and slashed toward his flesh.

Having cut the imprint from his blood, the next step was to sever the imprint within his flesh and blood.

Besides his physical body, his bitter sea and immortal platform were not spared…

This is an extremely painful process, equivalent to using supreme Dao imperial might to carve out the imprints from his flesh inch by inch.

That pain penetrates to the marrow, comparable to having one's bones picked and tendons pulled…

But Yang Zhu had no way out; he needed to prove the Dao, revive his kin, suppress this great age, suppress all calamities!

Therefore, he could only press forward resolutely; he believed that as long as he had an unwavering conviction, there would be no shackle he could not break!

The Zhu Xian Sword Formation is said to be able to slay immortals; even among myriad extreme Dao imperial weapons, it ranks among the foremost. Now that immortal-slaying might, transformed into the power to sever the Dao, peels away and annihilates the imprints within Yang Zhu's flesh bit by bit—such pain can be imagined.

In less than half a day, Yang Zhu's forehead was drenched in cold sweat, yet he never uttered a sound, silently enduring everything.

After half a year, the shackles of his limbs and bones were finally worn away completely; next came the need to sever the imprints on the immortal platform.

The resplendent immortal platform stood amidst a stretch of chaos; as the power to sever the Dao hacked at it, the whole platform trembled, a piercing pain that nearly caused his primordial spirit to burst.

"Pfft..."

After being struck down dozens of times, a trickle of fresh blood welled from Yang Zhu's brow, yet he seemed unfazed, his motions undiminished.

As the imperial Dao imprints on the immortal platform were worn away, his cultivation began to fluctuate, actually showing a gradual tendency to decline.

Fatherly love had told him this was an inevitable result, so he paid it no heed; instead, his assault grew ever fiercer……

Half a year slipped by quietly; when the last trace of imperial Dao imprint was worn away, Yang Zhu's cultivation fell to the first tier of the third immortal level.

"I succeeded..."

Only now did he finally exhale as if a burden had been lifted; it took three years, aided by the ancient heavenly court's ground for immortality and the Zhu Xian Sword Formation, to finally sever all bonds.

Now, in his cultivation and future Dao-proving, he no longer suffers his father's suppression; he can proceed unobstructed!

He did not rush to leave; instead, he calmed his mind, re-forged his Dao imprint, a Dao uniquely his own.

The path he will walk is a special one, capable of tracing and evolving the cosmic origin, of traveling through past and future, with nothing to obstruct it.

As for why it is not an invincible path? Because an invincible conviction is merely standard equipment for every Dao-prover; which great emperor lacks such conviction?

Tens of thousands of mountain peaks stood side by side, forming a valley; each dragon-head peak opened its maw, pouring down a colorful waterfall, immortal light shining, converging toward the central immortal pool.

Within the valley, ribbon-like immortal qi twined, divine rosy clouds shone, auspicious light sparkled, various immortal flowers flowed, forming a splendid terrestrial immortal vista.

Yang Zhu bathed in the immortal pool, his body and mind grew tranquil, tranquil even into his own Dao.

Time flowed like sand between the fingertips, slipping away quietly.

Two years later, Yang Zhu finally opened his eyes again; at that moment, heaven and earth rumbled, the Great Dao trembled, echoing throughout the entire valley.

Yang Zhu's body was crystalline, as if bathed in a layer of immortal radiance; his whole being seemed to have ascended through feathering, his demeanor becoming even more transcendent and unworldly.

In these two years, he not only condensed his own Dao, but his cultivation also leapt to the pinnacle of Dao-severing, already stepping into half-sainthood, his strength unfathomable; to become a true sage, he needs only an opportunity.

Dense source Dao patterns emerged, each entwined with chaos, radiating endless immortal light, with temporal power flowing through, like a long river surging past.

He extended his crystalline fingertip, which instantly turned illusory, actually sinking into the void; soon he withdrew it.

After half a quarter-hour, an inexplicable sensation arose on his back, as if someone had poked him with a finger……

"Reversing the river of time, it may not be impossible to achieve."

At this moment, he finally succeeded in his transformation, walking out upon his own Dao.

Of course, given his current strength, these can at most be applied to relatively ordinary events—like the ruthless ones wanting to go back to the past to find the wilderness, which is still far beyond reach.

Nothing else, simply because the karmic ties are too great.

"Five years have passed; I wonder how Yue'er and the others are doing."

Earth, a mysterious Gu Xing, given the nature of the Big Black Dog and company, these past years they have surely not done little 'excavating'.

"Whoosh!"

Yang Zhu produced the Hun Dun Chi, pouring half of the immortal water from the immortal pool into it; these fluids, a bowlful, equal a minor panacea, possessing many marvelous uses.

"The hope of nurturing immortality..."

After glancing once at the green cauldron, Yang Zhu sank it to the bottom of the immortal pool and then left without looking back.

Having left Kunlun, he immediately calculated the Big Black Dog's position; just as he was about to depart, an aged voice called out to him.

"Immortal!"

Yang Zhu turned back, and it was indeed the old man he had met upon first entering ancient Kunlun; he still guarded that place, that room.

"Immortal, truly… truly it is you…"

The old man remained as before with white hair, yet his complexion had gained considerable luster, his spirit and vigor much improved.

He looked at Yang Zhu, discovering that five years had passed, yet the latter's appearance had not changed at all; on the contrary, he had become even more ethereal, and he instantly understood.

"How are you, old man?" Yang Zhu inquired.

"Not long after you all left, your divine beast found me again, giving me many treasures; your kindness leaves this old man deeply grateful."

The old man was quite excited, about to kneel to Yang Zhu while speaking, but a gentle force lifted him up.

After the Big Black Dog left the immortal pool, he found the old man again and presented him with some spirit herbs that aid cultivation and increase lifespan.

This increased his lifespan by a thousand years, and his cultivation, within five years, successfully broke through to the Divine Bridge.

For today's cultivators on Earth, this is nothing short of a tremendous opportunity, for which they are deeply grateful.

"No need for courtesy; I am about to depart, here I bid farewell."

Having said that, Yang Zhu transformed into a divine light and departed, heading toward the Big Black Dog and company.

"Immortal, this old man wishes to erect a stele for you, to be offered to generation after generation."

The old man's cloudy eyes brightened at this moment, and he bowed deeply in the direction of Yang Zhu's departure.

At this moment, the Big Black Dog and the Twelve Saints were wandering in an ancient relic; as the void trembled, Yang Zhu walked out from within.

"Woof! Prince!"

The instant he saw Yang Zhu, the Big Black Dog excitedly shouted aloud.

Earlier, he had learned from the Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool the true purpose of Yang Zhu's this secluded cultivation; although he trusted Yang Zhu greatly, he could not help but break into a sweat.

Such a feat, aside from the Wushi Great Emperor, no one has ever accomplished it like this.

"Not bad, they have already severed the Dao."

Yang Zhu nodded approvingly while stroking the Big Black Dog's fur; it seems that over these five years, this fellow's gains have not been small either.

"That's natural, over the past five years we've explored various ruins, discovering that this Gu Xing holds many astonishing secret fortunes……"

"The big black dog immediately launched into an endless recounting of their experiences over the years."

"Exploring ruins, sweeping across the West, suppressing religions, wandering through Heavenly Bamboo... it was incredibly exciting."

"(End of chapter)"