Chapter 544: Pang Yi

“The hope is slim.”

“Difficult.”

“Harder than passing the trial of the Fourth Heaven.” The black-armored soldiers, neither alive nor dead, sighed nearby.

The commander beside them spoke, “Dongbo Xueying, you only need to attune to this stone pillar to receive the first layer of the cultivation method. Once you master the first layer, you will be taught the second. Master the second, and the third will follow… This is the only pillar you can sense—the others are beyond your reach.”

“Understood,” Dongbo Xueying replied, inwardly surprised.

He hadn’t told the commander his name—how did the commander know?

Ah.

The commander was the highest-ranking figure in the current Destruction Corps, and within the Heartlake Island ruins, his status was likely equally exalted. He probably had means to gather intelligence. After all, the Heartlake Island ruins were a place even his own master could not fully explore.

“You have only ten thousand years,” the commander said before transforming into a streak of light and vanishing into the distance.

Dongbo Xueying immediately focused his mind, attuning to the golden characters inscribed on the stone pillar.

Strands of information flowed through the golden script into his consciousness.

It was an introduction to this supreme World God-level secret art, along with the contents of the first layer. Just this glimpse broadened Dongbo Xueying’s horizons, revealing what a truly supreme World God-level secret art entailed.

This art was called *Ten Directions Annihilation Flame*, divided into ten layers.

Layers one to three were typically cultivated by Deities.

Layers four to seven were for World Gods.

Layer eight was for True Gods.

Layer nine was for Paragons.

Layer ten, the pinnacle of perfection, was generally cultivated by Sovereigns.

The cultivation method involved nurturing a single *Annihilation Flame Lotus* within one’s inner world.

“Ten layers in total, and the flames are immensely powerful. But compared to my *Taihao* art, they fall short in transcending tiers,” Dongbo Xueying mused. Had he not obtained *Taihao*, he would have been awed—*Ten Directions Annihilation Flame* surpassed every other World God-level secret art he had encountered, extending even to the level of Bloodblade Divine Emperor.

Yet, when measured against a true supreme art, its weaknesses became apparent.

For instance, the seventh layer was normally mastered by Fourth Heaven World Gods, allowing them to dominate their peers, capable of burning many to agony. Its power was roughly comparable to the fourth revolution of *Taihao*’s third chapter.

“Mastering the seventh layer might be even harder than reaching the fourth revolution of *Taihao*, since it’s meant for Fourth Heaven World Gods,” Dongbo Xueying thought. Regardless, he would try.

—

Dongbo Xueying sat cross-legged before the stone pillar and began his cultivation. Nearby, the other eight soldiers and three golden-armored captains of the Destruction Corps chatted idly.

“I bet he’ll fail. A fledgling like him succeeding in ten thousand years?”

“He has his true body outside—he can probably accelerate time.”

“Even at a hundredfold acceleration, that’s only a million years. Still impossible.”

“It’s easier for a Fourth Heaven World God to cultivate a True God’s secret art than for a Third Heaven World God to master a Fourth Heaven World God’s art.”

“Difficult.”

“I also think his chances are slim.”

Their opinions were unanimous—none believed Dongbo Xueying could master the seventh layer within ten thousand years.

—

Within Dongbo Xueying’s inner world, spanning billions of miles, a colossal lotus took shape deep beneath the vast continent. Countless flames swirled within its core, while an aura of boundless cold radiated outward, freezing the surrounding earth and stone.

At the heart of the lotus, a tiny flicker of flame was being nurtured.

This flame was cyan at first, a mere wisp, yet its presence was already formidable.

“Fourth layer.”

“Fifth layer.” With his high comprehension, Dongbo Xueying progressed swiftly. The cyan flame gradually deepened into a rich, dark blue.

—

**Divine Realm, Bloodblade Divine Court’s territory.**

A massive landmass floated in the void, dotted with sprawling palaces and scattered cave dwellings. Uniquely, countless mortals also lived here.

“Master, this disciple takes his leave.” A white-robed youth bowed respectfully.

This youth was none other than the mighty *Zi Hao Palace Lord*, a disciple of Pang Yi. Though not a member of the Bloodblade Divine Court, he often visited his master.

Pang Yi had once taught many disciples diligently, nurturing several outstanding ones.

But now, he rarely instructed, wholly devoted to refining his self-created cultivation method.

“Zi Hao, you must still your heart. Your pride hinders you. To forge your own path and ascend to the Paragon level… it is difficult.” Pang Yi sat calmly, his expression serene yet warm.

This was astonishing—Pang Yi, the foremost of the Divine Realm’s Five Calamities, renowned as its most ferocious existence, now exuded such gentleness.

“This disciple understands. But understanding is easy; acting is hard.” The white-robed youth smiled. His reverence for his master only deepened with time. Even the lofty Bloodblade Divine Emperor held Pang Yi in the highest regard.

“Mm.” Pang Yi nodded lightly.

The youth departed, vanishing through space.

Pang Yi remained beneath a withered tree, his robes dust-strewn, his heart undisturbed as he watched his disciple leave.

Even as his disciple traversed the void, Pang Yi’s gaze followed effortlessly.

His power was now unfathomable.

With but a thought, he could perceive every mortal, cultivator, and even mighty figures within this trillion-mile land. To him, they were as insignificant as ants. Should he will it, a mere flicker of his intent could obliterate a mighty being. Even this seemingly ordinary body of his, if unleashed, could annihilate all surroundings.

This was the power Pang Yi wielded—a force that even the Divine Emperor regarded with caution.

Yet…

“Power is but a trivial branch,” Pang Yi murmured, long past caring for such things. He gazed upon all existence with joy, savoring its beauty. “My cultivation method… it nears completion.”

He was content.

His Dao was on the verge of success.

“Brother Pang Yi.” A message reached him.

“Commander?” Pang Yi turned, his vision piercing through space to the distant Heartlake Island.

The commander nominally outranked him, but he treated Pang Yi with deference. In the era of the Heartlake Island’s master, Pang Yi would have qualified as a commander outright. Moreover, the commander sensed something in Pang Yi—an aura reminiscent of his own master’s.

“There’s a young one here, Dongbo Xueying, preparing to join the Destruction Corps,” the commander transmitted.

“Dongbo Xueying? I know of him.” Pang Yi smiled. “Joining will benefit him. First, let him chase power, become ensnared by it… and then transcend it. That is the better path.”

“But if he fails to transcend?”

“Then he drowns.”

“Mediocre True Gods are of no consequence,” Pang Yi said.

The commander found Pang Yi increasingly inscrutable.

When they first met, Pang Yi had radiated terrifying ferocity. Later, he became the epitome of tranquility. Yet occasionally, the commander glimpsed a coldness within him that surpassed even his past self. This was an existence that had surpassed him utterly—in power, in mind, in realm.

—

**Within the Heartlake Island ruins, the Destruction Cave.**

Before the stone pillars, the black-robed Dongbo Xueying remained seated in meditation. A thousand years had passed, yet he had not yet succeeded.