“The further one advances on the path of cultivation, the more difficult it becomes. For others, the difficulty increases tenfold. But for you, it increases a hundredfold!” Chi Qiubai said. “It’s because your Dao and your heart are not in harmony! When it comes to refining your divine heart, there won’t be the slightest hope. Even the legendary gods… if their Dao and heart are not aligned, their divine heart might collapse, leading to madness and death.”
Situ Hong’s face turned pale.
He could tell—Chi Qiubai wasn’t lying to him.
“Unity of Dao and heart is essential for refining one’s divine heart,” said Sikong Yang, the Pavilion Master, shaking his head. “Situ Hong, don’t lose hope yet. You’re only at the stage of comprehending True Intent. You’ve already reached the third tier of the Myriad Things Realm—you’re only one step away.”
“Yes, just one step,” Situ Hong nodded eagerly. “I will succeed.”
“Hmph, how long did it take you to advance from the second tier to the third of the Myriad Things Realm?” Chi Qiubai snorted. “I dare say it will take you at least ten times longer to reach the stage of ‘True Intent Mastery’ from your current level.”
Situ Hong froze.
Ten times longer?
He had been stuck at the second tier for far too long—over two hundred years! Considering that even a Saint-level Transcendent only lived about fifteen hundred years, he simply didn’t have enough time left to grasp True Intent.
“You relied on the mysteries of Spatial Rifts when you first became a Transcendent,” Sikong Yang frowned. “You’ve been cultivating for over three hundred years. Why would you not grow fond of the Spatial Rifts’ mysteries?”
Half-gods choose their cultivation paths carefully.
They don’t pick randomly, but rather based on their strengths.
For example, Dongbo Xueying excelled in the mysteries of Water and Fire, so the Half-gods chose that path for him. It wouldn’t work to choose randomly. If he truly walked the path of ‘Water and Fire Intent,’ after one or two hundred years, he would gradually immerse himself in it. In fact, it was a kind of self-hypnosis—though not necessarily the one he loved most, with enough persistence, one could still become deeply immersed.
“I… I…” Situ Hong shook his head. “I just thought the Spatial Rift Intent was so powerful, and it might even lead to the ‘Great Annihilation Intent.’ That’s why I kept cultivating it.”
“You cultivated it just because you thought it was powerful?” Chi Qiubai couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
“What should I do now?” Situ Hong grew anxious. “What can I do now?”
Chi Qiubai, Gong Yu, Sikong Yang, and the Palace Master of Xinfuo Palace exchanged glances.
This kind of situation was quite rare.
Others like Yufeng, Zhang Peng, Puyang Bo, and others hadn’t encountered such a problem. It was uncommon among Transcendents.
As for Dongbo Xueying, his path was even more demanding—he pursued only the spear techniques he was most passionate about. No matter how others advised or scolded him, his resolve remained unshaken.
“There are two options now,” Chi Qiubai said.
Situ Hong’s eyes lit up.
“The first is to start over,” Chi Qiubai continued. “Choose a cultivation path you can persist in and genuinely enjoy.”
“No, no! I’ve been cultivating for over three hundred years. I can’t start all over again,” Situ Hong shook his head. “What’s the other option?”
“The second is to temper your heart,” Chi Qiubai replied. “Become a wandering ascetic, travel across the lands, and forge your inner self. As your heart broadens, your cultivation of the Spatial Rifts’ mysteries will become far more efficient.”
“A wandering ascetic?” Situ Hong’s eyes showed reluctance.
He looked down on ascetics.
Transcendents stood high above all, overlooking countless mortals like ants. Why should he become a wandering ascetic, walking among mortals like a beggar?
“Well then, my advice ends here,” Chi Qiubai said. “What I’ve said are only suggestions. The choice is yours to make.”
“Elder Changfeng, we haven’t received your guidance yet,” Wen Yong’an couldn’t help but say.
“Yes, Elder Changfeng,” Zhuo Yi smiled, her eyes alluring as she gazed at Chi Qiubai.
Wu Cang, Yuan Qing, and others all looked at Chi Qiubai expectantly.
“I don’t understand your cultivation paths, so I can’t offer careless advice,” Chi Qiubai smiled. “However, I will remain in this Chiyun Mountain world for the next six months. You’re all welcome to come spar with me anytime. Through battle, you’ll discover your weaknesses, which may help you. That’s all I can do.”
Dongbo Xueying sighed.
When it came to offering guidance, Chi Qiubai was the only Semi-Divine being in the human world who had mastered a third-tier True Intent. He was the most qualified.
Yet he had only guided Yufeng and the other four who cultivated spatial mysteries. He offered no advice to the others.
Indeed, cultivation was a deeply personal journey.
…
Soon, the four Semi-Divine beings departed.
Dongbo Xueying and the others stood halfway down the mountain, discussing what had happened. Only Situ Hong wore the darkest expression.
“I refuse to accept this! I don’t believe it!” Situ Hong growled. “Unity of Dao and heart? That’s something only gods need! I’m only trying to grasp True Intent! Even if my Dao and heart are not aligned, am I not still the most advanced among the eleven of us? You can barely reach the second tier of the Myriad Things Realm! What use is the unity of Dao and heart?”
“How can Situ Hong speak like this?” Yu Jingqiu was surprised.
In recent years, Situ Hong had always maintained a refined demeanor.
Yet now, in his moment of madness, he had spoken such words—offending everyone present.
“Brother Situ, your heart is in chaos,” Wen Yong’an frowned.
“Am I wrong? None of you have reached my level!” Situ Hong’s eyes burned with madness. “Just watch—I will surely grasp the Spatial Rift Intent. I will!”
Whoosh!
Situ Hong immediately shot into the sky and vanished.
…
As days passed, Dongbo Xueying and the others secretly sought out Chi Qiubai for sparring matches.
“Xueying, you truly haven’t disappointed me!” After one match, Chi Qiubai looked at Dongbo Xueying with delight. “Earlier, I had to use my Transcendent combat aura to directly overpower your illusions. In this Chiyun Mountain world, you’re undoubtedly the strongest! I don’t know what the Pavilion Master was thinking, ranking you last. If it were me, I’d have placed you first.”
“Brother Changfeng, you flatter me,” Dongbo Xueying shook his head. “My illusions are still weak. They shattered the moment you overwhelmed them.”
“How long have I cultivated, and how long have you?” Chi Qiubai shook his head. “You haven’t even mastered True Intent yet! Once you do, breaking through your illusions won’t be this easy. I estimate… your current strength can defeat a mid-Saint-level Transcendent, even threatening a peak-Saint-level one. Truly impressive! I suspect your True Intent might actually be second-tier!”
Second-tier True Intent.
Stronger than his own Spatial Rift Intent.
Most mysteries only displayed extraordinary phenomena after one mastered True Intent. Yet Dongbo Xueying, without even mastering it, had already manifested six arms and illusionary clones, with astonishing close combat abilities. His attacks even showed signs of tearing space itself.
Once he mastered True Intent, he would undergo a transformative leap. How terrifying would he become then?
Second-tier True Intent was known as a legendary level of Intent for a reason.
“The Pavilion Master even said my cultivation path might be a dead end,” Dongbo Xueying chuckled.
“Yes, indeed. You have no predecessors to follow,” Chi Qiubai smiled. “Mastering True Intent is a difficult path. But you know, even I had no predecessors to follow, yet I still succeeded. I believe you can do it too.”
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