Chapter 1181: The Path to Commanding the Supreme Rules

The Sword Master laughed, “I had long reached the second level of Cosmic Deity and cultivated for countless ages. Only when I was absolutely confident that I could surpass the Sacred Master in the ‘Path of Destruction’ did I truly erupt to seize a portion of the origin power of the Source World. Even then, it was only under the best conditions and resources of the Xia Wind Ancient Nation, and finally within the Boundary Heart Divine Palace, that I obtained the supreme secret teachings. After much contemplation, I finally stepped into the Ultimate realm in one fell swoop.”

“Hmm,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

“Speaking of which, your Void Path and Illusory Dream Realm are unmatched in our Source World, aren’t they?” the Sword Master remarked. “Your Void Path is nearly Ultimate. Why haven’t you taken control of that portion of the origin power yet?”

“I’m worried about pushing him to desperate measures,” Dongbo Xueying replied. “I cultivate both the Void Path and the Illusory Dream Realm. Given my rapid progress, I fear provoking the Sacred Master. He might react like Emperor Jun and choose to end this era prematurely. After all, I haven’t reached the Ultimate realm yet! If the Chaos Void were to collapse, my true form here wouldn’t survive—I’d have to flee using the Great Void Transference Art. Even if I returned after the Source World’s rebirth, I’d be considered an outsider.”

The Sword Master understood. “You’re right. Given the Sacred Master’s temperament, it’s indeed possible to provoke him.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

Breaking free from the shackles and ascending as a Hunyuan Lifeform—this was the ultimate desire of every Cosmic Deity who had reached the Ultimate realm.

According to the known methods, there were two ways to break free:

First, to master the Supreme Rules.

Second, to shatter the laws through sheer strength, surpassing the constraints of the Supreme Rules. Once achieved, refining and controlling a Source World would become effortless.

As for mastering the Supreme Rules, most Ultimate cultivators followed the path of the Sacred Master—spreading their teachings and gaining the faith of all living beings. Sentient beings were the essence of the Source World’s vitality! The ‘soul’ was unique and mysterious; even for Cosmic Deities, the most fundamental power within the soul was beneficial.

If the majority of beings in a Source World worshipped a single powerhouse, the collective will of the masses would become the will of the Source World itself. Naturally, this would allow one to effortlessly master the Supreme Rules and become the ruler of the Source World. With the vast power of the Source World nourishing them, they could take that final step and ascend as a Hunyuan Lifeform.

However, this path was fraught with difficulties.

First, the Source World needed to be densely populated. In its early stages, when life was scarce, the collective will of beings had little influence. Only during its most prosperous era, when life flourished to the limits of the Source World’s capacity, could the will of countless beings truly sway the Source World’s will.

Second, the faith had to be genuine, rooted deep within the soul. Impure faith was useless. Hence, the Sacred Master and others directly imprinted their marks into the souls of their followers.

Undoubtedly, the Supreme Rules would resist this path, and other powerhouses would oppose it as well.

For instance, when the Sacred Master and others endured the Source World’s Great Collapse, they would fall into deep slumber during its rebirth. By the time they awoke, the Source World would already be teeming with life, including newly emerged Cosmic Deities. The Supreme Rules ensured balance—newly born beings would possess sufficient resistance, as equilibrium was a core principle of the Supreme Rules.

…

Beyond spreading faith to harness the collective will, there was another method—mastering the Origin.

The Source World had its Origin—a fusion of all ‘Ultimate Paths’ forming the Supreme Rules. Since every Origin was of the Ultimate level, mastery required at least the second level of Cosmic Deity.

If one could control more than half of the Origin, they could thereby master the Supreme Rules.

But what did controlling over half entail?

It meant achieving the second level of Cosmic Deity in numerous paths.

“My Void Path has long reached the second level, as has my Illusory Dream Realm Path. That’s why I must remain cautious and avoid provoking the Sacred Master,” Dongbo Xueying explained. There was no need to hide this from the Sword Master, who was an Ultimate powerhouse of the Xia Wind Ancient Nation and would soon learn many secrets.

“Your Illusory Dream Realm Path has also reached the second level?” the Sword Master exclaimed in surprise.

“I made a deal with the Xia Wind Ancient Nation—obtaining the Void Fire Lotus from them. That’s why the Xia Emperor and others already knew my identity as the Tianxin Daoist,” Dongbo Xueying revealed.

“Ah, no wonder,” the Sword Master chuckled. “The Sacred Master has cultivated across multiple eras, reaching the Ultimate realm in the Thunder Path. His second-level paths include ‘Destruction,’ ‘Darkness,’ and ‘Light.’ Previously, my mastery of the Destruction Path surpassed his, allowing me to forcibly seize control of it. His dominion shrank further. Given your far shorter cultivation time, seizing two Origins in succession would undoubtedly provoke him.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded. “Exactly. I intended to remain low-key until I reached the Ultimate realm before making my move.”

Without reaching the Ultimate, if the Sacred Master chose to “flip the table,” he wouldn’t survive the Great Collapse.

While having one or two more Ultimate cultivators could serve as a whetstone for growth, an opponent too formidable would bring disaster rather than tempering.

The Sacred Master had never feared the Sword Master, as the latter excelled only in the Destruction Path—a path unsuited for soul control or mastering multiple Origins. He even welcomed the Sword Master’s growth, for the Source World had only two Ultimates: himself and the Stone Elder, who remained in slumber. The loneliness was stifling.

But if Dongbo Xueying, with less than two trillion years of cultivation, seized two Origins in succession, it would surely provoke him.

Perhaps he would remain confident in facing Dongbo Xueying’s threat—or perhaps he would “flip the table” and hasten the world’s destruction.

“You haven’t reached the Ultimate?” the Sword Master studied Dongbo Xueying. “Did you also obtain the supreme secret teachings in the Boundary Heart Divine Palace?”

“Yes. I entered the palace in the same batch as you,” Dongbo Xueying admitted. “Even with the teachings, reaching the Ultimate remains arduous.”

The Sword Master nodded, a trace of melancholy in his eyes. “Indeed, it’s difficult.”

Only those who walked this path understood its trials.

Others only saw his rapid progress, unaware of the hardships he endured.

“Within the Cang Clan, internal competition was fierce. When I was weaker, I couldn’t even secure a spot to enter the Boundary Heart Divine Palace. Only after becoming a Sovereign did I earn that privilege,” the Sword Master recounted.

“Thankfully, you broke through. Otherwise, Emperor Jun’s rampage would have been catastrophic,” Dongbo Xueying remarked.

“And thanks to you. Alone, I couldn’t have stopped him,” the Sword Master smiled.

The two exchanged glances and laughed.

Indeed, fortune had favored them. Had either been weaker, they couldn’t have halted an Ultimate Abyssal Demon’s annihilation. Back then, Lord Luo City had merely taken pity on the countless beings, granting Dongbo Xueying and the Sword Master a sliver of opportunity—a faint hope, with no guarantee of success. Yet they had triumphed.

Together, they had saved the infinite masses.

“Now that you’ve broken through, I no longer need to hold back,” Dongbo Xueying declared. “Since we’ve driven Emperor Jun into hiding within the Labyrinth Corridor, there’s no reason to tolerate the Sacred Master any longer.”

“The Sacred Master?” The Sword Master’s eyes gleamed. “You mean…”

“The two of us forced Emperor Jun to retreat. We can do the same to the Sacred Master,” Dongbo Xueying’s gaze sharpened. “His method of spreading faith enslaves beings, controlling their souls directly. We must save those countless lives as soon as possible.”

The Sword Master studied him. “Are you confident in saving them?”

“Enslaving beings is merely a form of soul control,” Dongbo Xueying smiled. “In terms of soul manipulation, do you think the Sacred Master compares to me, a second-level Cosmic Deity of the Illusory Dream Realm? I’ve already examined the souls of those countless beings. I can free them—I simply didn’t act earlier for fear of alerting him.”

“Good.” The Sword Master’s voice brimmed with anticipation. “If you can save those enslaved lives, we can strike at any time.”

“This time, we’ll drive the Sacred Master out once and for all!” Dongbo Xueying’s eyes burned with resolve.

As for killing him?

Of course, he desired it—the Sacred Master’s sins were innumerable. But an Ultimate powerhouse, even an invincible existence, could not be slain so easily.