Chapter 697: Separation

Dongbo Xueying held the black gourd in one hand, remotely sensing the profound formations within. The formations completely enveloped the overwhelmingly powerful fireball. “The formations are the core of the black gourd. Can manipulating a single formation really allow one to control the Solar Star so effortlessly?” As he sensed deeper, the formations were vast and enigmatic, far more intricate than the workings of countless worlds in the material realm, and even more formidable than the hundred-million meteorite and star formations of the Lakeheart Island.

The level was simply too high.

Only by relying on the methods left behind by the Voidwalker was he barely able to summon a sliver of its power.

“Hummm~~~” Dongbo Xueying attempted to manipulate the power within the black gourd.

Instantly, terrifying fluctuations began to gather inside the gourd. The invisible pressure exerted by the ‘fireball’ on his True God Heart intensified drastically—like a massive boulder sitting there. Leaving it untouched was fine, but trying to move it with full force brought an unbearable weight.

“Stop, stop! Stop immediately!” The red-bibbed child sitting atop the black gourd sensed everything and hurriedly intervened in alarm.

“What’s wrong?” Dongbo Xueying halted at once, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

“You’re truly reckless,” the red-bibbed artifact spirit chided. “You’ve barely grasped the method and know almost nothing about the black gourd, yet you’re already trying to wield its power?”

“I was just testing it.”

Dongbo Xueying couldn’t help but feel an itch to try. After all, this was the most terrifying power he had ever attempted to wield. He even had a hunch that with this power, he could stand toe-to-toe against that ferocious and domineering ‘Ancient Demon’ he had encountered before! The sheer vastness of the power he had summoned—even if just a sliver—was awe-inspiring.

“Listen to me first,” the red-bibbed child said helplessly. “You’ve only passed the second trial. There’s still the final and most crucial third trial—refining the black gourd within a million years! You haven’t refined it yet, so you’re not even a true Voidwalker. Did you think that old man would let you wield the black gourd so comfortably?”

Dongbo Xueying froze.

It dawned on him that although the black gourd was in his hands, he hadn’t truly refined it! If he failed to refine it within a million years, the gourd would leave of its own accord.

“You haven’t refined it. You’re forcibly manipulating it through the method alone. You felt it, didn’t you? Just sensing it brings immense pressure, and attempting to wield it only increases the strain,” the red-bibbed child said.

“Mm,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

“You haven’t even truly unleashed it yet. Once you do, the fireball’s power is of such a high level that even a wisp of it will backlash against your True God Heart! Even with the method to control it, judging by the strength of your True God Heart… the injuries would take ten thousand years to heal,” the red-bibbed child explained. “One use, ten thousand years of recovery.”

“What kind of injury takes that long?” Dongbo Xueying was puzzled. He had guessed that forcing control might harm him, but even splitting his soul to cultivate a clone could recover in a short time. A mere soul injury requiring ten thousand years?

“If you want to leave this world, you’ll have to wield the black gourd. You’ll understand when you experience it firsthand,” the red-bibbed child said. “Thankfully, your mental cultivation is decent. If it were weaker, forcibly wielding it might cause your soul to collapse outright!”

Dongbo Xueying exhaled quietly in relief.

No wonder obtaining the black gourd required such immense soul pressure. Without the ability to withstand it, wielding the gourd would be impossible.

“Once I refine the black gourd in the future, there won’t be any backlash, right?” Dongbo Xueying asked.

“Once refined, you’ll be its master. It will be your guardian treasure and naturally won’t harm you,” the red-bibbed child replied.

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

That was a relief.

If he had to suffer ten thousand years of recovery every time he used it in the future, it would be miserable. But it was too early to worry about that now. Refining the black gourd within a million years was no easy feat! Without the proper method, even a Dominator couldn’t control it. The difficulty of refinement was self-evident.

“I still have a million years,” Dongbo Xueying wasn’t in a hurry.

“When do you plan to leave this world?” the red-bibbed child asked. “Just wield the black gourd, and you can depart.”

“I took a disciple in this world. I can’t just abandon him without a word,” Dongbo Xueying said.

“Once you leave, you can’t return unless you become a Voidwalker,” the red-bibbed child reminded him.

“True… I might never see that disciple of mine again,” Dongbo Xueying nodded. Little Qi had been by his side since the age of six. A thousand years had passed, and he had grown deeply attached to the boy.

—

**Chong Clan.**

The status of the Chong Clan had subtly shifted. The strongest existence in this world, ‘Flying Snow Realm God,’ had once been their family’s guest elder and was even the master of their Seventh Young Master, Chong Yan. Even the three great sacred lands now dared not oppress the Chong Clan in the slightest, fearing the wrath of that terrifyingly powerful Flying Snow Realm God.

“It’s been almost five years, and Master still hasn’t returned,” Chong Xiaoqi sat at his desk, holding a sword manual but unable to focus.

“Father said Master might leave this world forever,” Chong Xiaoqi felt a pang of sorrow. “He wouldn’t leave without even saying goodbye, would he?”

At six years old, naive and ignorant, he had cried and begged to become Dongbo Xueying’s disciple after witnessing his swordplay.

A thousand years had passed in the blink of an eye. He had spent more time with his master than with his own father. The thought of his master possibly never returning filled him with grief.

“Whoosh.”

A figure appeared in the study.

Dongbo Xueying looked at the white-robed youth sitting absentmindedly at the desk and smiled. “Xiaoqi.”

Chong Xiaoqi whipped his head around. The black-clad youth behind him looked slightly different—only about sixty to seventy percent similar to before—but the familiar aura and smile left no doubt in his mind. After all, a powerhouse’s appearance could change effortlessly. He quickly set the book aside and stood up joyfully. “Master!”

“Mm. Prepare yourself. Starting tomorrow, you’ll accompany me on a journey across this world,” Dongbo Xueying said.

Chong Xiaoqi’s eyes lit up. He had thought his master had come to bid farewell, but now he was taking him on a journey?

“Yes!” Chong Xiaoqi replied eagerly.

—

The next day, under the enthusiastic send-off from the Chong Clan’s patriarch, Dongbo Xueying set out with his disciple to explore the world. After so long in this realm, he had yet to truly observe its vastness. And Chong Xiaoqi, with his limited strength and short cultivation time, had seen even less.

Master and disciple traveled far and wide. Along the way, Dongbo Xueying subtly guided his disciple’s cultivation, even assigning him tasks deliberately.

Of course, mentoring his disciple took little time. Ninety-nine percent of his focus remained on refining the black gourd!

Time flowed like water. Thirteen thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

“Boom~~~”

A white-robed youth sat cross-legged by a lakeside, while an immense oceanic phantom—spanning hundreds of millions of miles—manifested in the sky above.

Beside him stood a black-clad youth: Dongbo Xueying.

“Finally, a Realm God,” Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly, relieved to see his disciple reach this stage.

After some time, Chong Xiaoqi stood up, his face alight with joy.

Dongbo Xueying pointed a finger, and a stream of light flew into Chong Xiaoqi’s forehead, flooding him with detailed insights into the other eight ‘First-Class Divine Hearts’—everything Dongbo Xueying had comprehended and mastered.

“Thank you, Master,” Chong Xiaoqi said upon regaining clarity.

“You’ve comprehended the Sky-Opening Divine Heart on your own. I’ve passed on my understanding of the other eight. From now on, your cultivation is in your own hands,” Dongbo Xueying said, handing him a storage bracelet. “This contains some resources to aid your cultivation. Of course, the Chong Clan’s foundations are deep, and your father will surely support you fully. These are just a token of my regard.”

“Yes,” Chong Xiaoqi accepted the bracelet, his eyes moist. He knew the moment of parting had come.

“You’re a Realm God now. If you become a mighty figure, your lifespan will be vast. Perhaps we’ll meet again someday,” Dongbo Xueying said. “There’s one more thing I must tell you before I leave.”

Chong Xiaoqi blinked.

“Your master originally came from an external universe,” Dongbo Xueying smiled. “My true name is Dongbo Xueying!”

“An external universe?” Chong Xiaoqi was stunned.

“Farewell,” Dongbo Xueying chuckled, then vanished in a teleportation flash.

“Master!”

Chong Xiaoqi called out involuntarily, scanning his surroundings. His master had truly left.

“Master… Dongbo Xueying?” he murmured softly.

—

High in the sky.

Dongbo Xueying held the black gourd, still attempting to refine it.

“Parted with your disciple? Ready to go?” The red-bibbed child appeared atop the gourd.

“One last thing to do,” Dongbo Xueying grinned. “This world has so many supreme techniques. Leaving without them would be a regret. The external universe’s techniques are far too scarce.”