Chapter 570: Despair on the Cultivation Path

Chapter 570: The Despair of the Cultivation Path

The phantom was stunned.

The Unique Hall coming to see him?

What was he thinking?

The Unique Hall, devoid of self-awareness, sat upon the Seventh Heaven.

Ordinary beings fled from it, fearing they would be assimilated into aberrant spirits.

This man actually wanted the Unique Hall to come see him.

“This matter, I cannot accomplish either.” The phantom shook his head.

“Is there a deep connection between this Immortal Palace and the Unique Hall?” Qi Yuan asked. “If I were to destroy this Immortal Palace, would the Unique Hall be willing to see me?”

The Unique Hall was an existence at the fourth layer of the Yang God realm, without self-awareness, like the Black Heaven.

But since Taihuang Palace could establish a link with the Unique Hall and wield the Linya Slough,

this meant that perhaps within the Unique Hall, there existed beings akin to the Black Heaven and Black Earth.

The phantom fell silent, unsure how to answer.

After pondering for a long time, he said, “The Immortal Palace is a Realm Lord’s rare treasure… ordinary people cannot destroy it.”

“How would you know without trying?” Qi Yuan smiled mysteriously.

The Immortal Palace was a Realm Lord’s rare treasure, but an ordinary one, far inferior to the Renqi Guangming forged from the primordial rules of the universe.

He extended a finger and pointed at the sky.

“Give me… pregnancy!”

The aura of chaos spread.

The aura around Qi Yuan grew strange and uncanny.

The phantom’s eyes widened in bewilderment.

What was this Wanri Supreme doing?

And pregnancy?

What did that mean?

As a being attached to the spirit of the Immortal Palace, the phantom suddenly clutched his stomach.

“What have you done to me?”

He stared at Qi Yuan, a terrifying thought arising in his mind.

“I suddenly feel that destruction is inferior to creation, so… let me try to make the Immortal Palace pregnant.

If the Immortal Palace becomes pregnant, the Unique Hall, as its parent, will have to come out and see, won’t it?

After all, no betrothal gifts have been given, no wedding feast has been held.” Qi Yuan said earnestly.

The phantom was on the verge of tears: “Madman, you are a madman!”

He could not understand what his pregnancy had to do with whether the Unique Hall would see Qi Yuan.

Of course, it was normal that his way of thinking could not grasp Qi Yuan’s.

“Don’t do this—I’m a grown man… I don’t want to be pregnant!”

“What’s wrong with being pregnant? I have a friend who even lays eggs!

Are you discriminating against him? If so, be careful—he won’t let you eat his eggs!”

“No, it’s just that… why would the Unique Hall want to see you like this?” The phantom clutched his stomach, utterly perplexed.

At that moment, Qi Yuan suddenly looked up at the sky, a smile in his eyes: “It seems the Unique Hall does care about you. Here it comes, doesn’t it?”

As Qi Yuan’s voice fell, the phantom stiffened, and a peculiar aura descended upon him.

“Rules, all things, heaven-opening… such power is enough to awaken me and meet you.”

The phantom was not strong; he had not seen that Qi Yuan’s earlier move displayed the strength of the Heaven-Opening Realm.

But this technique awakened this person, who descended upon the phantom.

“I never thought that after so many years, in this Immortal Realm, someone could still break the boundary and reach the Heaven-Opening Realm.” The new phantom sighed.

Ever since the Sword Cut the Future, the limit of the Immortal Realm had been the second layer of the Yang God.

To step into a higher realm, one had to open the Seventh Heaven of the Immortal Realm.

But in this world, there were always anomalies.

He had seen many anomalies.

Yet he had never seen one who reached the Heaven-Opening Realm.

Moreover… this person seemed to be at the Heaven-Opening Realm, yet not quite.

To reach the Heaven-Opening Realm, one had to merge with the Immortal Dao Will and master all rules.

But this person’s Dao did not seem to be the Immortal Dao Will.

Only an outsider… could explain it.

A Heaven-Opening powerhouse from the outside, suddenly stepping into the cage of the Immortal Realm—this filled him with inexplicable emotion.

“Who are you?” Qi Yuan asked.

“Nameless, the Sword Guardian of the Unique Hall.” Nameless replied.

“Hey, what’s the deal with your Unique Hall?” Qi Yuan demanded directly. “Helping Taihuang Palace, targeting me, right?”

The Sword Guardian Nameless’s eyes grew confused; then a flood of information poured into his mind, and a smile appeared in his eyes.

“That one from Taihuang Palace was merely lucky, barely obtaining the Unique Token, and thus able to wield the Linya Slough.” Nameless answered.

He had been in slumber all along.

If not for sensing Qi Yuan’s aura, he would not have awakened.

After all, every being that broke the boundary was worth his recruitment.

Nameless added, “You and I are not enemies.”

“Can the Linya Slough be ended? After all, the cultivation world’s atmosphere is already bad enough; with a Linya Slough, killing and fighting—how unpleasant.” As a law-abiding good person bursting with righteousness, Qi Yuan had always been concerned about the cultivation world’s atmosphere.

“The Linya Slough… its beginning and end are not for me to decide; that is set by my master.” The Sword Guardian Nameless said.

“You have a master?”

“Mm… he is the Unique Hall.” The Sword Guardian Nameless spoke, his voice filled with reverence.

“Perhaps you know his other name.” The Sword Guardian Nameless looked at Qi Yuan and said slowly, “Mingzun.”

“Mingzun, who cut the future with his sword?” Qi Yuan was astonished.

During his time at the Supreme Principle Society, Qi Yuan had inquired about much information.

Among it, according to the Supreme Principle Society, the original Immortal Realm had nine heavens.

Yet at that time, a peerless cultivator of staggering brilliance appeared, known as Mingzun, who with a single strike of his sword, severed the future of the immortal realm.

Qi Yuan, back then, was quite astonished.

To be able to cut away the future with a single blade, what manner of terrifying strength was that.

Even for the current Qi Yuan, executing a sword strike to sever the future would be exceedingly difficult to achieve.

Mingzun severed the future with his blade, and from that moment on, the immortal realm ceased to possess the Nine Heavens.

"Why did Mingzun choose to sever the future with his sword?" Qi Yuan inquired.

This, too, remained a lingering question.

For most other universes did, in fact, possess a future.

As far as Qi Yuan knew, only the immortal realm, and the world where the Holy Mother of Non-Eating once resided, were devoid of a future.

"You already know the path of the fourth layer of the Yang God; but the path of the fifth layer of the Yang God... do you happen to know it?" the nameless sword-guardian asked.

"The fifth layer is the Dao Master, the sovereign of a single grand path," Qi Yuan replied.

The path of the fourth layer of the Yang God would cause one to lose their true spirit, dissolving into the incomprehensible and profound.

Even if there were a one-in-a-million chance of revival, the one who awakened would be a newly born entity.

Because, at the exact moment one stepped into the fourth layer of the Yang God, it signified the utter eradication of the true spirit.

This was a path Qi Yuan was entirely unwilling to walk.

Bypassing the fourth layer to step directly into the fifth layer was the very path Qi Yuan was currently exploring.

If it proved feasible, he would alter it slightly and draw inspiration from it for his own journey of the Yang God.

"The ultimate end of the Yang God realm is the fifth layer, the Dao Master."

Mentioning this, the nameless sword-guardian's face filled with profound reverence.

"Though the universe may perish, the Dao Master does not; within a single thought, the creation, destruction, and reincarnation of the universe are all held within their palm—such is the Dao Master."

Qi Yuan listened in silence.

He was well aware of how formidable a Dao Master was.

It could be said that a Dao Master already stood at the absolute zenith, the most powerful existence in the current world.

They could draw together timelines, and from the grand river of the universe's origin that had formed, they could pluck out the true spirit of anyone they wished to resurrect.

Wherever a single grand path existed, once a Dao Master emerged, a second Dao Master could never appear.

Within the domain of the Dao Master's lineage, the Dao Master was invincible and utterly insurmountable.

"A Dao Master is overwhelmingly powerful, but do you know that the day a Dao Master attains the Dao is also referred to as the Day of the Cycle?" the nameless sword-guardian's voice turned bleak and desolate.

Qi Yuan continued to listen in silence.

The Day of the Cycle?

This phrase easily evoked an array of grim associations.

"A Dao Master possesses boundless longevity, sufficient to control the life and death of a universe, or even the living beings of multiple universes.

Within their own lineage, They are an invincible existence.

But..."

The nameless sword-guardian paused for a moment, his eyes filled with a bleak and sorrowful light.

"Once a Dao Master attains the Dao, time within that lineage comes to a halt at that very moment, and subsequently... begins... an infinite cycle."

"The day of attaining the Dao is also the day the cycle begins, and everything in the world... becomes frozen in place!"

The expression of the nameless sword-guardian grew somewhat contorted.

This meant that in the world where a Dao Master attained the Dao, time had reached its ultimate end and would no longer move forward.

Time would initiate a cycle, looping continuously from the origin of the world to the day the Dao was attained.

Within this loop, perhaps due to the intervention of the Dao Master, certain differences or unexpected changes might arise.

But... everything had an absolute boundary.

When time once again marched to the day the Dao Master attained the Dao, yet another reincarnation would begin anew.

If there were people who agreed to meet before the day the Dao Master attained the Dao, perhaps in every single iteration they would intend to meet, yet they would never truly manage to do so.

"To think the end of the cultivation path is actually like this, it is truly laughable, utterly laughable!" The nameless sword-guardian's face was masked with resentment.

Such a Dao Master was indeed magnificent and matchless.

It could even be said that the life and death of all living creatures were held entirely within his grasp.

Perhaps many would be more than willing to become such a Dao Master.

Yet, there were also cultivators who refused to accept such a fate.

Qi Yuan also fell into a brief silence: "To think this is actually the end of the cultivation path."

He placed himself into the perspective of the time before a Dao Master had attained the Dao.

If one did not become a Dao Master, there would be no grand river of the universe's origin.

The cherished friends who had died in battle in days past, or the aging kin, could never be brought back to life.

One would even have to watch helplessly as the friends and family around them grew old, their divine minds collapsing as they perished.

Loneliness and desolation.

Yet if one became a Dao Master, everything seemed to become permanently frozen.

Children who would never grow up, trees that would never blossom, rivers that could never rush to the sea...

"Does it not feel utterly despairing?" the nameless sword-guardian asked, his voice filled with sighing lamentation.

"Indeed... it is fine for the Dao Master, but for everyone else... it is deeply despairing."

"The immortal realm... once had a Dao Master existing within it." At this moment, the nameless sword-guardian uttered another terrifying reality.

"The immortal realm had a Dao Master?" Even Qi Yuan felt a sudden jolt of shock in his heart.

The immortal realm possessed a Dao Master.

Did this not imply that one day, time would inevitably march to the day that Dao Master attained the Dao, and subsequently... enter an infinite cycle.

"You need not worry, that Dao Master... has long ceased to exist," the nameless sword-guardian said.

These words fell like a sudden bolt of thunder from a clear sky.

It was as if he were stating that a Dao Master, invincible in the current world, had actually fallen.

"Though the Dao Master is gone, the world still marches toward the future, subsequently initiating the next reincarnation cycle.

My master, Mingzun, wandered into the immortal realm by chance and could not bear to witness this.

Thus, he chose to step into the fourth layer of the Yang God, and at the very instant he entered the fourth layer, he sublimated his existence to the absolute limit, severing the future of the immortal realm."

As the nameless sword-guardian mentioned this, a look of profound reverence washed over his face.

"From then on, the immortal realm no longer possessed a future, nor could any future be seen, and all Yang Gods could no longer possess a future incarnation."

"The Bright Venerable is truly formidable." Qi Yuan was genuinely in awe. "He came from the outside world, yet willingly offered his own true spirit as a sacrifice to sever the future of the Immortal Realm."

It was evident that the Bright Venerable had reached the limit of the Heaven-Opening Realm.

He might even have had the chance to bypass the fourth layer of the Yang Spirit and directly enter the fifth.

But he chose to step into the fourth layer, and at the moment of his ascension, he achieved ultimate sublimation, cutting off the Immortal Realm's future.

"The Linya Cocoon... to rebuild the Nine Heavens of the Immortal Realm is to reshape its future," said the nameless Sword Guardian.

"Do you know of the Alien Dao Fruit?" the Sword Guardian asked again.

"I've heard of it, but never seen it."

The Ancestor Ziyuan was wounded by the Alien Dao Fruit.

"As the saying goes, when a whale falls, all things thrive. The Alien Dao Fruit is the embodiment of the rules comprehended by that Dao Lord."

"And this Dao Lord... how did he die?" Qi Yuan was deeply curious.

Logically, a Dao Lord was the endpoint of the path of cultivation.

No one could kill such an existence.

The nameless Sword Guardian shook his head. "I do not know either. Perhaps only the Master knows."

Qi Yuan pondered.

Generally, the lifespan of a Yang Spirit was nearly infinite, but infinite lifespan did not mean one could live forever.

Even if the world perished, the Yang Spirit would not be extinguished.

But if an era ended, with all things withering and the universe collapsing, perhaps only a Realm Lord could hide within the cosmic rules; other Yang Spirits would inevitably fall.

Yet even becoming a Realm Lord and transcending the universe, one might still die from living too long—say, after a trillion epochs, when the rules themselves collapsed.

"Cultivation is too hard. Even if I am now a Yin Spirit with endless lifespan, I might witness the destruction of the universe trillions of times before I die.

To become a fourth-layer Yang Spirit is to die instantly; the fifth layer is equally despairing.

This path of immortality is giving me depression."

Qi Yuan spoke the truth.

Thinking of the nameless Sword Guardian's words, he felt a kind of "groundless anxiety."

What would the future hold?

Immortal cultivation was so difficult!

The nameless Sword Guardian was silent for a moment.

Indeed, those who lived long enough all had troubled minds.

This Venerable Wanri might also be an ancient monster who had witnessed thousands of cosmic destructions, his mind unhinged.

But finally, he spoke slowly: "Since you possess the strength of a Realm Lord, I will give you this Bright Venerable Token."

The nameless Sword Guardian handed a Bright Venerable Token to Qi Yuan.

"The Master stepped into the fourth layer of the Yang Spirit and transformed into the Solemn Hall.

After endless ages and eons, the Solemn Hall is nearing the final stage of the fourth layer, becoming a divine artifact.

The Master once said that if he became an artifact, it would not be unacceptable for a future person to wield it.

But he hoped that the future one could take the Solemn Hall, ascend to the Nine Heavens of the Immortal Realm, and seal the Dao Fruit of the Immortal Realm's Dao Lord.

Otherwise, once the Dao Fruit fully leaks out, the path of immortality in this world might vanish forever.

The Bright Venerable Token—including this one—I have given out seven in total. I hope you will have the chance to wield the Solemn Hall in the future."

The nameless Sword Guardian spoke much more.

Qi Yuan took the Bright Venerable Token. "It just so happens that my home lacks a house. The Solemn Hall seems quite suitable to me."

The nameless Sword Guardian said nothing.

The other six who held Bright Venerable Tokens were all, to some extent, mentally troubled.

"By the way... I have one more question. Why does leaving the Immortal Realm mean death?"

Qi Yuan recalled the progenitor of the Black Demon Abyss and other rumors.

Any living being that left the Immortal Realm would instantly perish.

The nameless Sword Guardian shook his head. "I cannot answer that question either."

"It seems there is much about the Immortal Realm that I do not know. Alas, cultivation is too difficult," Qi Yuan sighed.

...

At Qishan Market.

Shen Wushen wore a puzzled expression.

"Strange. For several days now, no more flowing lights have emerged."

He had promised to help Lian Mei gather enough flowing lights to break into the late Zifu stage.

But during this time, no flowing lights had appeared.

How could he not be alarmed?

"Could it be related to the upheaval in the Immortal Palace?" Lian Mei speculated.

Some days ago, they had just parted ways with Shen Wushen's friend when suddenly an unknown powerful being appeared and opened the Immortal Palace.

Afterward, Yang Spirit experts flew out from within.

For a time, Qishan Market was bustling.

But those Yang Spirits did not linger; they all departed.

Only then did Qishan Market quiet down.

Yet now, after so many days, no flowing lights had flown out, and the Zifu cultivators among them were growing disappointed and anxious.

"Perhaps," Shen Wushen said.

Just then, a sorrowful voice reached them.

In the sorrow, there was also a hint of despair.

"Cultivation is so hard. Shen Wushen, join me for ten catties of wine. I want to drown my sorrows in drink!"

As the words fell, the handsome Qi Yuan appeared.

But now, his face was full of melancholy, and he did not seem very happy.

Shen Wushen said, "Brother Qi, haven't you never drunk alcohol?"

Qi Yuan paused. "Alas, I am so overcome with grief that I forgot. How about this: I'll use fruit juice as a substitute for wine and drink with you."

Saying this, a bottle of fruit juice appeared in his hand, and he downed it in one gulp.

Beside him, Shen Wushen also fed himself wine.

"Why are you so sorrowful, Daoist?" Lian Mei asked curiously.

The Qi Yuan of before had been somewhat whimsical, unlike the one before them now.

"The path of cultivation is too hard—despair lurks at every turn.

And even if I manage to reach the fifth layer of the Yang God, what awaits me is still despair.

If I don't step into the fifth layer, I might die; even if my loved ones, with my help, reach the third layer, they might one day perish when the rules collapse.

And those who don't strive in cultivation might die as early as the second layer.

Worry weighs heavy—hard, hard, hard!"

Qi Yuan spoke earnestly.

The more he talked with the Sword Guardian Wu Ming, the more he learned about the end of cultivation, the more despairing he became.

"Alas, look—I've worried myself to the point of growing white hair," Qi Yuan said, plucking out a single white strand.

Of course, that hair was one he had just dyed himself.

It was purely to match his current mood, to express his pain and anxiety.

Though he was deeply troubled, fretting over the future, his appetite remained excellent—he could devour several oxen in one sitting—and his hair was still black, so he had to dye one strand white.

Beside him, Lian Mei heard Qi Yuan's words, and the smile on her face froze.

What had she just heard?

The fifth layer of the Yang God?

And something about the third layer of the Yang God?

Were these words meant for humans?

This guy... was he insane?

Lian Mei was utterly speechless now.

It was like on Blue Star, suddenly hearing your yellow-skinned classmate worrying about becoming the president of the Beautiful Country and all its troubles.

If Lian Mei had been close to Qi Yuan, she would have slapped him across the face long ago.

Shen Wushen, however, remained calm, furrowing his brow to console him: "Brother Qi, there will always be a way."

He knew Qi Yuan's strength was formidable.

The things Qi Yuan worried about might involve certain secrets.

It was just that, because his own strength was too weak, he couldn't empathize.

"I hope so. Alas, the Yang God is so hard—how can I break through to it?

What kind of Yang God is the true Yang God?" Qi Yuan drank his slightly sweet juice, his face full of sorrow.

Beside him, Lian Mei rolled her eyes at Qi Yuan. Just a moment ago, he was talking about breaking through to the fifth layer of the Yang God, and now he was asking how to reach the Yang God at all—raving mad.

"The hardships of life are like the endless river, though it has the ambition to flow east to the sea..." Qi Yuan began to borrow and plagiarize again.

Given how heartbroken he was, the original author probably wouldn't blame him, right?

If they did blame him, then... when he's sad, killing someone to shut them up shouldn't be a problem, should it?

"Everyone in this world has their difficulties, more or less—it's normal," Lian Mei said then, though it was unclear if she was trying to comfort Qi Yuan.

"Alas, you're right. If I destroyed the world and killed everyone, would those troubles disappear?" Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

Lian Mei chuckled softly.

At that moment, Shen Wushen's expression tightened: "Brother Qi, don't think like that!"

He knew how terrifying Qi Yuan could be.

If he truly went down that path and overturned the Immortal Realm,

the Immortal Realm would face a real catastrophe.

Just then, an arrogant voice rang out.

"All your troubles come from having too few spirit stones and too weak a background." A young master, who looked every bit the spoiled brat, walked over, his demeanor lofty and haughty.

Lian Mei tensed at the sight of him.

It was Young Master Qi Tan!

In Qishan Market, the strongest force was the Qi family.

The Qi family had an ancestor who was a Yang God in the Azure Sky.

Young Master Qi Tan, backed by the Qi family, was arrogant, domineering, and known for his lecherous and base nature.

Every Purple Mansion cultivator who came to Qishan Market knew to stay far away from this spoiled brat.

Seeing Young Master Qi Tan, Lian Mei instinctively covered her chest, her face losing color.

Could it be that this Young Master Qi Tan had taken a liking to her?

But to her surprise, Qi Tan glanced at Lian Mei with disdain, a look of disgust on his face: "I've seen plenty of your kind—do you think I'd fancy you?"

He then walked toward Qi Yuan, his eyes lighting up: "Now this is a true beauty—a hint of sorrow between her brows, a touch of intoxication, so pitiable, so endearing.

Little beauty, you've got so many worries, why not follow Young Master Qi..."

As he spoke, Qi Tan reached out to touch Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan froze, a look of disgust spreading across his face.

"Damn it, what rank are you, and what rank am I? How dare you try to flirt with me?" Qi Yuan couldn't help but curse.

It had been years since he'd last encountered some petty thug picking a fight.

But as soon as he said it, he regretted it, sneaking a glance around—luckily, Sister Horn wasn't there.

Otherwise, she'd surely say, "Aren't you always preaching that everyone is equal? Why are you ranking people now?"

Beside him, Qi Tan was also stunned, not expecting such a strong reaction.

"Heh, I didn't think there'd be anyone in Qishan Market who'd dare speak to me like that!" Young Master Qi Tan exuded arrogance, brimming with confidence.

The Yin God guard beside him eyed Qi Yuan warily, as if ready to strike at the slightest move.

"Hmph, putting on airs? Who can't do that?" Qi Yuan said calmly. "From now on, this market will be renamed—let's call it 'The Market Where Spoiled Brat Qi Tan Was Slain by Qi Yuan!'

That way, you'll at least earn a place in history!"

Back on Blue Star, Qi Yuan had watched countless TV dramas, including some about dragon kings as live-in sons-in-law, security guard emperors, domineering CEOs falling for menopausal women, and so on.

When it came to putting on airs, he was a master.

Though showing off in front of a petty thug was a bit beneath him... well, everyone was equal.

Besides, he was just worrying about the fifth layer of the Yang God—killing a petty thug would help purify the atmosphere of the cultivation world.

"You've got some nerve!" Qi Tan was furious.

Beside him, Lian Mei's face was full of worry, desperately thinking of a way out.

The people around them also turned to watch, looking as if they were enjoying a show.

"I..."

"This..."

These onlookers were about to whisper among themselves, lamenting that Qi Yuan was about to meet his doom.

But suddenly, they found themselves unable to speak or transmit sound.

They were dumbfounded, not knowing what had happened.

Naturally, they didn't know that Qi Yuan, tired of hearing their mockery, had simply muted them.

Everyone looked bewildered—some terrified, others staring blankly at Qi Yuan.

"Look, who is this?" Qi Yuan casually reached into the air.

Suddenly, an old man tumbled down from the sky, his face filled with terror and confusion.

He had been in seclusion cultivating, when all at once a hand seized and dragged him away.

"This is..." Qi Tan's eyes widened in shock.

This was... the Ancestor!

He had seen the Ancestor's statue!

But the Ancestor was a Yang God—how could he appear so suddenly?

Yet the next moment, something even more horrifying occurred.

Slap!

The handsome man before him delivered a resounding blow to the Ancestor's face.

A crimson handprint instantly appeared on the Yang God Ancestor's cheek.

Qi Tan was utterly bewildered, terrified, and afraid.

Qi Yuan said calmly, "See? This is what you call showing off!"

Qi Tan seemed to understand something.

As the words fell, Qi Tan's body shattered instantly.

As for the Yang God Ancestor of the Qi family, he trembled, staring at Qi Yuan in terror, wanting to speak but unable to utter a word.

Beside them, Lian Mei's eyes were wide, her beautiful gaze filled with disbelief.

What just happened?

Who am I?

Where am I?

The surrounding onlookers remained muted, unable to speak, but their eyes revealed shock, punctuated by sharp intakes of breath.

Then Qi Yuan looked at the old man before him and said with a faint smile, "How about renaming Qishan Market to... 'Profligate Young Master Qi Tan Slain by Qi Yuan Market'? Any objections? You can speak up—I'm very reasonable."

Qi Yuan was always reasonable, just very fond of using his hands.

(Chapter End)