Chapter 378: Group Photo, Ten Thousand Dao Martial God Realm

Chapter 378: Group Photo, Myriad Dao Martial God Realm

The atmosphere on the field was heavy and silent, so quiet that the sound of a needle dropping could be heard.

“Heh heh heh… Sorry, no, let me try again… Ahem.”

Qi Yuan let out an awkward laugh.

He was also speechless, wanting to crack open Old Thunder God’s skull to see what was inside his head.

What had he, Qi Yuan, done to deserve this—a mere weak and helpless Divine Infant cultivator, how could he be compared to the omniscient and omnipotent god?

“Everyone, this was an accident. Old Thunder God is my close friend and kin; I saved his life. It’s only natural that he trusts me.”

These Martial Lords stared at Qi Yuan, disbelief in their eyes.

Among them, the Black Deer Martial Lord’s gaze turned cold.

“I think he’s the one you’ve brainwashed, Heavenly Lord. If the omniscient and omnipotent god can’t do it, how can you?”

Many Martial Lords stepped forward to speak.

“Does saving a life mean you can ignore the truth?”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Hey, aren’t you being a bit hypocritical?

Why can Dongjun do what the omniscient and omnipotent god cannot, but I can’t?”

Qi Yuan was very displeased.

Though he was indeed inferior to the omniscient and omnipotent god,

this Dongjun didn’t seem to be that god either.

How was he worse than Dongjun?

Qi Yuan’s words left the Martial Lords somewhat bewildered.

But then, a female titled Martial Lord said, “Heavenly Lord, your strength is great, but Dongjun… is a special existence. Only by following his instructions can we save this world.”

The other Martial Lords chimed in agreement.

“Heavenly Lord, you may be strong enough to force us to bow, but you cannot change our minds!”

These people always stood on Dongjun’s side.

If it were anyone else, they might have panicked by now.

But Qi Yuan’s expression remained calm.

“What if I said that Dongjun’s actions are not meant to save the world? What would you do then?” Qi Yuan asked with interest.

He recalled the supreme truth spoken by the Great Wisdom True Lord.

Could it be that Dongjun’s linguistic charm was itself a kind of supreme truth?

“That’s absolutely impossible!”

“Dongjun never deceives. Even if he does this, it’s to better save the world.”

A group of Martial Lords kept talking, their emotions running high.

The Black Deer Martial Lord, who had once been respectful and gentle toward Qi Yuan, now seemed like a different person.

These people appeared to have been brainwashed,

even worse than the fanatical followers of a cult.

Reason was useless.

Only…

Qi Yuan shrugged and said lazily, “What Dongjun says has nothing to do with me.

But until I become a Myriad Dao Martial God, I won’t let the worlds merge.

Also, this world… I’m temporarily protecting it!”

The game quest was far more important than this Dongjun he had never met.

Besides, someone who could lie even to himself was clearly not a good person.

Luckily, his nose could grow long.

Whatever Dongjun was plotting, Qi Yuan didn’t care—if it affected his game quest, then sorry.

The dragon-slaying youth had been activated, ready to solo the boss.

“If Dongjun has a problem, tell him to come see me!” Qi Yuan finished, flicked his sleeve, and vanished in that instant.

He stepped onto the Emperors Shu and Hu and returned to the Terminus Land.

Only the tens of thousands of Martial Lords in the Eastern Alliance remained, exchanging bewildered glances.

“The Heavenly Lord… has fallen into error!”

“Or perhaps, he is a link in the great catastrophe!”

“We’ve followed Dongjun through so many resets—how could we be wrong?”

“If we don’t trust Dongjun, should we trust a newcomer?”

These Martial Lords had many complaints about Qi Yuan.

If not for his overwhelming strength, they might have already acted to imprison him and prevent him from interfering with Dongjun’s plans.

“This must be reported to Dongjun!”

“Yes, only Dongjun can resolve this!”

The Martial Lords discussed fervently, placing their hopes on Dongjun.

At that moment, in a corner, Mu Yan heard these conversations, his expression shifting repeatedly.

He looked at the newly promoted Martial Lords who had come with him; they looked back, their eyes deep with the same fear and shock as his.

“Mu Yan, I know you have deep feelings for that Heavenly Lord and will stand by him.

But… Dongjun cannot be wrong.

Once you meet Dongjun, you’ll understand why we trust him so much.” Mu Yan’s bloodline ancestor spoke, his voice carrying the affection of an elder for a younger.

“This…” Mu Yan hesitated.

Then he heard the ancestor say, “You don’t need to sever ties with the Heavenly Lord. After he meets Dongjun, he will be like us and believe in Dongjun.”

Hearing this, Mu Yan felt even more resistant.

Then the ancestor’s kindly face broke into a smile: “Sometimes, choosing to believe… isn’t that better than despair?

Of all the Martial Lords here, ninety percent have actively chosen to believe in Dongjun!”

Mu Yan was stunned.

Actively choosing to believe in Dongjun?

What did that mean?

"But... what if Lord Dongjun makes a mistake?" Mu Yan said with great difficulty.

"When a person's words are revered as truth by everyone, he cannot make mistakes!

Everything he says is right!" The Ancestor of the Bloodline spoke, a fanatical expression in his eyes. "At this time, actively believing and offering one's loyalty is a far more appropriate choice than passively believing!"

"But..." Mu Yan hesitated, "What if, just what if, Lord Dongjun really isn't saving the world?"

The Ancestor's expression remained genial.

"First, Lord Dongjun does not make mistakes; he is saving the world.

Second, all living beings in the world, whoever sees Lord Dongjun, shall become his followers. For a Lord Dongjun like this, whatever he does... is right.

It is impossible for any will contrary to Lord Dongjun to appear in this world."

However, along with his words, a surging, monstrous intent to kill emerged within his eyes.

"Those who dare to resist Lord Dongjun have long been buried by us into the Black Sea!

We are the direct line who first followed Lord Dongjun!

Within the Black Sea, withered bones are everywhere!" A ferocious look appeared on the Ancestor's otherwise amiable face.

"I..." Mu Yan felt a twinge of fear.

He felt as though the original Ancestor had become utterly unfamiliar.

"Are you afraid? Once you become one of us, you won't be afraid anymore.

You also share the credit for saving the world this time; Lord Dongjun will remember your merit."

...

Night fell.

Qi Yuan lay on the grass, looking aimlessly at the sky.

"At this rate, when will I ever comprehend the myriad grand paths?"

Qi Yuan still preferred monster-slaying games.

A direct, crushing sweep would do.

This kind of comprehension-based task was simply too time-consuming.

Moreover, it was exceptionally boring.

The current Qi Yuan was still a young lad, so it was only normal for him to be a bit restless.

Just then, Robot Zero-One appeared.

"Master, the blank marriage certificates have been brought here; there are two of them."

Robot Zero-One handed the blank marriage certificates to Qi Yuan.

Taking the marriage certificates, a look of joy surfaced on Qi Yuan's face.

"Not bad. Since I can't move the Civil Affairs Bureau away, it's not too much to take a marriage certificate back, right?

Even if they break, I can just replicate them again."

These two marriage certificates had been entered into the network, so, well, they were useful.

When the time came, upon seeing Jin Li and his beautiful master, he would hand over the marriage certificates.

Perfect.

Qi Yuan put away the marriage certificates, and with a passing glance, he caught a glimpse of red.

"Why do you have marriage certificates in your hand too? Don't tell me you're getting married as well?" Qi Yuan asked.

With a wave of Zero-One's hand, a row of marriage certificates appeared. When these marriage certificates flipped open, each page was pasted with a photo of Qi Yuan.

"Master might get married again in the future, so I had the Civil Affairs Bureau make a few extra to keep. It will be very convenient whenever Master needs them," Zero-One said considerately.

"You are... very meticulous. Truly a smart robot taught by me, much better than those artificially retarded ones," Qi Yuan praised approvingly. Robots were indeed considerate and thoughtful.

After all, his charm was just that strong.

However, thinking of something, he said, "Zero-One, you absolutely cannot smuggle my marriage certificates!

I am, after all, the champion of the Martial Arts Tournament, and I have many fans.

Among those fans, there is no shortage of 'delusional fangirls' and '0s and 1s'. If they were to buy my marriage certificates, I would suffer terribly."

Zero-One clutched the marriage certificates. "While the certificates live, I live; if the certificates perish, I perish."

"Don't say such unlucky things," Qi Yuan said. "As expected, once a person gets older, they become somewhat superstitious."

Meow, meow, meow!

Xie Xinsu meowed from the side.

You literally ate the sun, yet you talk about superstition!

Is this even funny!

"No more nonsense, I'm pressed for time to comprehend the myriad grand paths!"

As Qi Yuan spoke, he looked again at an ant hill on the ground, staring at the tunnels.

He watched intently, his expression deep in thought.

Standing to the side, Xie Xinsu's heart was filled with utter disdain.

Who on earth comprehends the grand path like this?

"I understand. This ant path was poured with molten iron."

Qi Yuan seemed to have gained some insight.

Hearing this, Xie Xinsu was left utterly speechless.

After comprehending for so long, this was all he came up with.

Meow, meow, meow!

It desperately wanted to cry out to slander its foolish master.

At that moment, a mechanical arm reached over and clamped onto its neck.

"Has-been internet celebrity, come over here quickly, it's time to film a video." Zero-One grabbed Xie Xinsu with a look of pure disdain. "Sigh, you only have dead followers now; you barely get a few likes a day."

Zero-One was speaking the truth.

In the beginning, Xie Xinsu indeed had many fans.

After all, a cat that could dance and stir-fry was still very popular in the modern metropolis.

But later on, cultivators arrived, and spiritual beasts emerged.

Weren't those spiritual beasts that could speak human tongue and fly around with spells far more appealing than Xie Xinsu?

Most importantly, time was merciless.

Those fans who had followed Xie Xinsu weren't fake dead accounts; they were genuinely dead fans.

Most of them had already died of old age.

Without new followers, the old ones are all dead, some even turned into zombie fans.

Now, the money Zero One makes from videos isn’t even enough to buy cat food for Xie Xinsu.

Qi Yuan comprehended the Dao, Xie Xinsu became an actress, Zero One became the photographer, and time flowed gently.

“Master, the three of us have never taken a photo together—shall we?” This time, Zero One, watching Qi Yuan at the tree hollow, spoke softly.

“Oh, a photo? No problem.” Qi Yuan pinched a leaf and covered the tree hollow.

He walked toward Zero One.

At that moment, Zero One hurriedly set up a camera she had fetched from somewhere, bustling about.

Clearly, this time she didn’t intend to use herself for the photo.

Soon, on the lawn, under the deep night sky, Qi Yuan in a blood-red robe wore a gentle smile, while Zero One held Xie Xinsu, also smiling.

Her program was about to control the camera’s lighting.

After all, the night was somewhat dark.

But then, suddenly, from the heavens above, a gentle and cool moonlight spilled down, falling upon Qi Yuan.

The moon’s radiance was pure, the Milky Way bright in the sky, no human voices around, only the sound in the camera.

Click.

A photo was frozen, capturing this scene.

Qi Yuan looked up, curiosity in his eyes.

“This moonlight came in haste and left in haste.”

Just now, a beam of moonlight rushed down, landed on Qi Yuan, then stopped abruptly, as if merely lighting him.

Now, the photo was taken, and the moonlight vanished.

Zero One also gazed at the sky, curiosity in her eyes: “Perhaps the moon has fallen in love with you, Master, introducing its own Dao to you.”

Qi Yuan smiled: “If I were such a heartthrob, why wouldn’t the Ten Thousand Daos open their mouths and introduce themselves? Let me see which one I might fancy.”

Zero One’s eyes lit up with joy: “Master, the Ten Thousand Daos… are about to speak.”

“Oh?” Qi Yuan glanced at Zero One, anticipation in his eyes: “Could it be…”

“Yes, Master is right. The Ten Thousand Daos have long turned into data, hidden within the ruins.

All this time, I have been absorbing and organizing them.

Now, at last, I can transfer all the Ten Thousand Daos to you.”

“Not bad, not bad—truly my clever and intelligent robot.” Qi Yuan couldn’t help praising.

At the same time, a contemplative expression emerged on his face.

But after a moment’s thought, he stopped thinking.

If he kept at it, his brain would grow.

“Ten Thousand Daos, why?”

Qi Yuan asked.

Then, Zero One extended her hand.

Qi Yuan also extended his hand, interlocking his fingers with hers.

“The Ten Thousand Daos… are 0 and 1,” Zero One replied.

Instantly, endless information flooded into Qi Yuan’s mind.

He seemed to see, in the Scroll of Mountains and Seas, the martial arts champion Luo Bufan kneeling, letting out a relieved smile.

He seemed to see, on a lone boat, the flower demon girl with a cold face, laughing maniacally.

He also seemed to see, ten thousand demons besieging a solitary city, a man eating human-flesh buns, guarding the city, and after the demons were annihilated, before a grave, he cut off all his own flesh.

…

Countless images, all the scenes from the Scroll of Mountains and Seas.

Human hearts, flames, schemes, obsessions…

Endless Daos surged in like mountains and seas.

“The Dao of Humanity is humanity!”

“The Dao of Spirits is spirit!”

“The Dao of Tracks has tracks!”

“The Dao of Heaven has no heaven!”

Countless great Daos, chaotic and disordered.

These Daos seemed both false and real.

In that moment, Qi Yuan understood completely.

These Ten Thousand Daos were prepared by Dongjun for his “Dao companion.”

Or rather, they were a contingency.

Accepting the Ten Thousand Daos would truly trap one in the mortal world, realizing oneself as Dongjun’s “Dao companion.”

At this point, many memories flooded Qi Yuan’s mind.

Those memories were just as described in the murals.

The fragments from the Scroll of Mountains and Seas kept filling Qi Yuan’s brain, as if telling him he was Dongjun’s Dao companion.

“How amusing—such a long nose, and you still say it’s true.”

“Dongjun, you’re too desperate—I am not your Dao companion!”

Endless images swept over, Qi Yuan stood still, his blood-red robe fluttering.

“Though the myriad Daos surge, I shall cut them down myself!”

“My Dao is… Forget!”

“My Dao, Kill!”

With one sword stroke, heaven and earth shook, and all the fragments turned to ashes in that instant.

On this day, the Ten Thousand Daos opened their mouths to introduce themselves, and Qi Yuan stepped into the realm of the Ten Thousand Daos Martial God from the ordinary.

Not far away, Zero One watched Qi Yuan, her smile radiant: “Congratulations, Master, for entering the Ten Thousand Daos Martial God realm. The game… is about to be cleared.”

Qi Yuan looked at Zero One, his gaze calm: “I must go meet Dongjun. I don’t know… if I’ll come back.

If I have a car parked in some lot, pay the parking fee for me, or if my phone number is still linked for payment, go settle it. Otherwise, if I don’t return, how much will I owe?”

“Master… you don’t have a car.”

“…That’s a bit sad. It seems in this world, there won’t be a Security Emperor waiting for me in the rolling red dust.”

(End of this chapter)