Chapter 650: Seeing Pan Gu

Rustling.

Countless chaotic currents converged, forming a magnificent and vast divine palace.

Fang Xing stepped inside and saw a giant towering to heaven and earth, every inch of his muscles and contours perfectly formed, as if embodying the Dao itself.

“No… this present Pan Wu is identical to the one on the former Panwu Dao Stele, yet it carries an ethereal quality.”

“Has he abandoned the Panwu Dao and thus changed? I wonder whether he has condensed the Transcendence Trait—if not… he may be weaker than a Dao Sovereign!”

Though the Dao Sovereigns of the True Immortal Realm failed to transcend, their ultimate leap still places them among the strongest of the Fifteen-Realm Eternal Beings.

“Disciple pays homage to Master!”

Fang Xing bowed, for he had once formally taken the other as his nominal master.

“No need for such formality.”

Pan Wu smiled, his facial features softening: “I merely passed on to you the Panwu Dian, which only reaches the Chaotic Realm. I never imagined you’d achieve it so swiftly—and even aided me in reducing to seek emptiness…”

For these Eternal Beings, mundane things no longer hold any allure.

All they seek is Transcendence!

“I left my legacy merely on a whim, imitating the ancients… until you took this step, I suddenly understood: to seek Transcendence, one must first reduce to seek emptiness, severing karmic ties…”

Pan Wu sighed: “The ancients knew this connection well—I merely stumbled upon it by accident in passing on my legacy…”

“Then, Master, do you know that after reducing to seek emptiness, one must still condense the ‘Transcendence Trait’?”

Fang Xing paused, then shared part of his Transcendence knowledge.

After all, it was only a broad direction: “The world is like water; we are like fish… to break through the river, not only must we leap beyond its surface, but if a thread could pull us, it would be even better.”

“Indeed, you are connected to a Transcendent.”

Pan Wu gazed deeply at Fang Xing.

The true transmission is but a single phrase—he had cultivated for countless years, fearing only that he’d lost his way.

Now that he had found direction, he could finally attempt it.

At least knowing his path was correct already surpassed many Eternal Beings.

“I owe you even more…”

Pan Wu pondered, then spoke: “The Panwu Dian only reaches the Dao Lord realm. Beyond that—further cultivation, forging a new Dao—you must walk alone. The paths of predecessors are merely references. Here, take this reference of mine.”

He flicked his hand, and a book-shaped formation of chaotic energy appeared before Fang Xing.

Fang Xing’s spiritual sense touched it, instantly receiving vast knowledge.

“If what I received before was the upper volume of the Panwu Dian, this is the lower volume… With this legacy, Pan Wu holds no more secrets from me—I can easily find flaws in his techniques and Dao. This is true trust.”

He sighed inwardly.

Yet Pan Wu was right about one thing: when reaching the peak of the Dao Lord realm, one must forge one’s own Dao!

But this lower volume at least gave him a path to follow until reaching the peak of Dao Lord.

Even without it, he’d merely take longer—still, this was excellent.

‘I will never integrate the Transcendence Bloodline into myself.’

‘Once I ascend to Eternity, if Pan Wu still hasn’t found how to condense the Transcendence Trait, I might consider trading it to him…’

Fang Xing’s mind stirred.

He always treated his own people well.

Especially since the Transcendence Bloodline is a low-tier Transcendence Trait, riddled with hidden dangers—he would never use it himself.

If Pan Wu still desired the Transcendence Bloodline after hearing all its drawbacks, trading it to him wouldn’t be unreasonable.

Indeed, since it would be a fair exchange, mutual benefit, and free of karmic debt, it would be ideal.

At the Eternal stage, all must strive to reduce and seek emptiness, resolving grievances and karmic ties.

Fang Xing split his awareness: one part entered the Panwu Dian’s Lower Volume, instantly gaining deep understanding of Dao Lord cultivation, power divisions, and various secret arts.

“The power of the Dao is boundless; though Dao Lords govern a single Dao, their strength varies greatly depending on the nature of the Dao!”

“At the initial stage of Dao Lord, one can only manifest Dao power. If the Dao is ordinary—like the Dao of Wind or the Dao of Frost—you’re among the weakest Dao Lords, possibly slain by a sixth-rank Law Lord.”

“Above that are ordinary Daos such as the Dao of Fire or the Dao of Metal.”

“Higher still are superior Daos: the Five Elements Dao, the Yin Dao, the Yang Dao, the Life Dao, the Death Dao…”

“Above superior Daos lie supreme Daos: the Life-Death Dao, the Space-Time Dao, the Panwu Dao, the Yin-Yang Dao, the Qian-Kun Dao…”

“Particularly note: if a high-tier Dao Lord who governs the Five Elements Dao encounters a lower-tier Dao Lord of Fire, Wood, Water, Metal, or Earth, his advantage is even greater…”

“This is like differing foundations—dividing initial Dao Lords into different tiers…”

“Such Daos not only determine strength, but also future advancement! For example, a lower-tier Dao Lord of Metal has almost no chance of reaching Dao Lord perfection—he needs at least a high-tier Dao, like the Five Elements Dao, to reach Dao Lord perfection, then retroactively transform it into a primordial Five Elements Dao…”

“To retroactively transform one’s Dao into primordial is to reach the peak of Dao Lord. The next step is to forge a new path and break into Eternity.”

Lower-tier Dao Lord, High-tier Dao Lord, Dao Lord Perfection, Primordial Dao!

According to Pan Wu’s classification, the Dao Lord realm could be roughly divided into these four tiers.

The gap between each tier might be greater than that between a mortal and a Celestial Immortal!

“A lower-tier Dao Lord has no hope of advancement… unless he engages in Dao contention or seizes another high-tier Dao. But if the Dao he needs is already occupied, only death remains.”

“Thus, the Space-Time Dao… perhaps one discovers too late that it leads to a trap.”

“Whereas the Panwu Dao, which actively fills the void, at least ensures no one else governs it?”

“I now govern the Panwu Dao—I’m a top-tier Dao Lord, far stronger than ordinary lower-tier Dao Lords. Add my spiritual attacks, and even a Dao Lord Perfection might not withstand me…”

“But a primordial Dao Lord who has reversed to primordial? That’s another matter…”

Unlike Law Lords, who have six ranks, Dao Lords have only four. Yet a fourth-rank primordial Dao Lord might deter even some Eternal Beings!

!

This is the same level of deterrence as a Soul Sovereign or a sixth-rank Law Lord!

“Master, do the Azure Emperor Palace and the Nüwa Palace have Eternal Beings—or fourth-rank Dao Lords—behind them?”

Fang Xing asked.

“Oh?”

Pan Wu glanced at Fang Xing, knowing his nominal disciple sought revenge: “The Azure Emperor of the Azure Emperor Palace is truly unfortunate. Though gifted, his bloodline limits him—he only comprehended the lower-tier Dao of Life: the Dao of Vitality. His cultivation has stagnated for years. The Azure Emperor Palace, which he founded, makes him its founding patriarch…”

“The Nüwa Palace once produced an Eternal Being, but he vanished mysteriously. The current ruler, Xuan Nüwa, comprehends the Dao of Earth—her strength is merely average…”

…

“So… the Azure Emperor Palace can be wiped out at will? The Nüwa Palace requires caution?”

Fang Xing nodded obediently.

When strength is insufficient, temporary concealment is no problem.

But his strength is now sufficient!

“Even if an Eternal Being intervenes, I fear nothing—I’ll merely destroy this Black Dragon body.”

“My only concern is lacking the means to utterly annihilate a Dao Lord!”

After all, Fang Xing’s consciousness had merely descended; his most crucial attribute—the Transcendent Bloodline—was not carried.

Thus, though he could still use spiritual attacks, he could not amplify them to instantly kill an Ancient God.

Dao Lords have too many survival techniques; one misstep and their avatar escapes.

Even if killed, they might still revive!

Yet Fang Xing had tested this: if slain by spiritual annihilation, revival is nearly impossible.

But human knowledge is limited—perhaps, after he transcends, he’ll discover even shattered spiritual essence can be reborn?

“You inherited the Panwu Dao—you should have been my heir. But I have nothing left to teach you.”

Pan Wu’s towering form dissolved into an Eternal Seal, gradually fading: “Then so be it… you’ve left Wu Jie Mountain. I entrust this Pan Gu Secret Realm to you as your secluded cultivation ground. I await the day you ascend to Eternity…”

No sooner had he spoken than the Eternal Seal vanished.

Wu Lao’s figure appeared, bowing to Pan Wu: “Farewell, Old Master…”

Then, smiling, he bowed to Fang Xing: “Greetings, New Master…”

“Hmm. Master has been thoughtful.”

Fang Xing nodded. Pan Wu was quite wealthy—he gifted a whole secret realm.

The Pan Gu Secret Realm was a treasure trove even a Fourteen-Realm Chaotic Dao Lord coveted; it contained numerous Emperor Weapons alone!

“How much wealth does the secret realm hold?”

Fang Xing asked casually.

“The Pan Gu Secret Realm holds thirty-six Heavenly Demon-level puppets, forty-nine Emperor Weapons. Most important are the Chaotic Furnace, Cang Xuan Pearl, Shanhai Pearl, and Xuan Water Lotus Throne… herb fields, Dao Steles…”

Wu Lao, as the spirit of the realm, was like a chief steward—he knew everything within.

He waved his hand, and scenes of light appeared: thirty-six terrifying puppets, each with cultivation above Heavenly Demon Seventh Layer.

Alongside them were Emperor Weapons radiating even greater power.

Among them, a colossal Chaotic Furnace continuously swallowed and exhaled chaotic energy, refining vast quantities of pills and artifacts…

“The chaotic vortex outside the Pan Gu Secret Realm… was supplying it with raw materials…”

Fang Xing stared at the Chaotic Furnace, understanding at once: “This must be the core reward of the realm—responsible for over half of all quest rewards…”

(End of Chapter)