Throughout the entire Blade Emperor City, countless cultivators were focused on the Star Conference. As one of the guiding masters of the event, Dongbo Xueying was quite busy. Although only a handful of Chaos Realm giants came to visit, the number of “genius cultivators” was overwhelming.
“Senior Dongbo, I humbly request your guidance,” a black-robed elder said respectfully, the remnants of a fierce aura still lingering around him.
Dongbo Xueying sat there, setting down his wine cup. A maid beside him silently refilled it, the fragrance of the wine spreading through the air.
“While weaknesses are often decisive in life-and-death battles,” Dongbo Xueying said with a smile, “it’s understandable that you wish to address yours. However, you’re currently only at the second level of the Star Tower—still relatively weak. You should invest more effort in honing your strengths, making what you excel at even more formidable.”
“When you possess an overwhelming advantage in one aspect, you can effortlessly crush your opponents,” Dongbo Xueying added.
“Yes, I understand, Senior,” the black-robed elder replied quickly.
A cultivator’s age couldn’t be judged by appearance. Some progressed slowly in the early stages, appearing aged, yet later achieved great success—ascending to godhood, then to World God status, and rising steadily from there. This was quite common.
This elder before him was indeed one of the genius cultivators of the conference, having trained for just over two hundred billion years—still considered quite young among his peers.
“Senior, do I have a chance to be chosen by you?” the black-robed elder couldn’t help but ask.
“Your training time is relatively short, and as a rogue cultivator, you’ve lacked proper guidance,” Dongbo Xueying replied. “Your only drawback is your current ranking—three thousandth. If you can break into the top thousand, your chances will improve significantly. Focus on your cultivation, make breakthroughs within this millennium. Even if I don’t choose you, others might. Now, go.”
“Yes.”
The black-robed elder bowed respectfully and left without daring to show the slightest disrespect.
“Elder, these cultivators often come seeking an audience. You don’t have to see them immediately,” the maid remarked. “Making them wait half a day wouldn’t hurt. I’ve heard that other guiding masters often have visitors waiting outside for days.”
“These thousand years are crucial for them. Most have decent talent but lack guidance. With proper direction, they could make significant progress within this time. If their strength improves noticeably, they might be selected,” Dongbo Xueying said. “No need to waste their time.”
Without sufficient insight, it was difficult to discern a cultivator’s true potential, let alone provide meaningful guidance.
Dongbo Xueying’s understanding of the Unity Realm surpassed even that of figures like General Tianguang, the Five Marsh Serpent Ancestor, and the Lord of Purple Slaughter Island.
—
Years passed.
Initially, many of these genius cultivators harbored some resentment toward Dongbo Xueying: “We’re also in the Unity Realm. Though he’s stronger, he’s still just a Unity Realm cultivator like us. How does he qualify as a guiding master?”
But after seeking his guidance, most found his attitude far more welcoming, earning their goodwill. Still, some muttered under their breath: “Hmph, he’s still just a Unity Realm cultivator. The other four guiding masters are all Chaos Realm giants—their status is different. Of course, he’d be more approachable.”
Cultivators varied in temperament.
Some were inherently violent, twisted, or utterly selfish.
—
Three hundred years flew by. Dongbo Xueying had gained a detailed understanding of this batch of genius cultivators’ potential. However, his final selections wouldn’t be made until the last moment. The five guiding masters would submit their lists sequentially, and if there were overlaps, adjustments would be necessary.
One evening, as the sun set.
Dongbo Xueying sat alone by the lake in his cave abode, deep in meditation. In his mind, he visualized techniques merging the Path of the Void and the Path of Slaughter. With his pride, he aimed to reach the seventh-tier strength while still in the Unity Realm. Challenging the ultimate limits at each stage greatly enriched his foundation. Talent wasn’t fixed at birth—it evolved over time. Achieving the seventh tier in the Unity Realm would make advancing to the eighth tier in the Chaos Realm effortless, and the ninth tier wouldn’t be out of reach.
This was the essence of honing one’s talent.
Take the Swordmaster, for instance. His unparalleled prowess stemmed from lacking guidance in his home universe, forcing him to rely solely on his own insights. This grueling self-discipline built an immense foundation, allowing him to break through to the Cosmic God realm effortlessly after joining the Taixu Temple and studying its vast archives.
Dongbo Xueying, blessed with guidance, supreme techniques, and treasures like the Stone Mirror, naturally held himself to higher standards.
Settling for mediocrity would only render him ordinary.
“Elder, Xunhuo Xunyi requests an audience,” a guard announced respectfully.
“Let him in,” Dongbo Xueying instructed.
Soon, a golden-robed youth entered, brimming with confidence—a stark contrast to their first meeting.
“Greetings, Elder,” Xunhuo Xunyi bowed sincerely, his heart filled with reverence and gratitude.
“I thought you’d return soon after our last meeting for guidance. Yet, three hundred years passed,” Dongbo Xueying remarked with a smile.
“My father once said that if a disciple constantly seeks a master’s advice, they’ll struggle when the master can no longer guide them. True breakthroughs come from self-reliance. So, even when faced with doubts, I strive to resolve them myself,” Xunhuo Xunyi explained.
Dongbo Xueying smiled.
The Taixu Temple’s teaching philosophy mirrored this—seniors compiled their insights into texts stored in the Myriad Phenomena Hall for disciples to study independently. The path one forged was entirely their own. Those who sought answers for every minor hurdle rarely achieved greatness.
“Elder, I’ve made progress in the Path of the Void and seek your guidance,” Xunhuo Xunyi said, lightly tapping the air.
A phantom world materialized beside him, then solidified into reality, stirring the surrounding energy before shrinking into a sphere.
Dongbo Xueying’s eyes widened. “World’s Prison? You’ve mastered it? Have you reached the Nascent Realm in the Path of the Void?” he asked, astonished.
So soon!
Only three hundred years had passed.
Xunhuo Xunyi smiled and nodded. “After our last meeting, I delved into the Path of the Void within the Rule-Oriented Mystic System. With the supreme techniques you provided, my deep foundation in illusions from my ancient cultivation, and my father’s resources, I progressed this far.”
“But three hundred years…” Dongbo Xueying still found it hard to believe.
“Ah, I trained in the Time Tower within Blade Emperor City. In truth, I’ve spent three million years,” Xunhuo Xunyi clarified.
Dongbo Xueying finally understood.
That made sense.
For someone entirely new to the Path of the Void, even with an ancient cultivator’s illusion expertise, mastering the Nascent Realm in just three hundred years was inconceivable. Three million years, however, was plausible.
—
Dongbo Xueying’s acceptance of this progress would still shock countless cultivators. While transitioning from the Path of the Void to ancient illusion cultivation was straightforward, the reverse—leveraging ancient illusions to excel in the Path of the Void—was immensely difficult.
Three million years seemed reasonable to Dongbo Xueying only because of his own rapid advancement. Compared to him, Xunhuo Xunyi, aided by resources and his ancient foundation, achieving this in three million years was acceptable.
But to the outside world, it was astounding.
In just a few million years…
His strength had leaped from the second tier of the Star Tower to the third!
“Mastering World’s Prison at the Nascent Realm of the Path of the Void is exceptionally difficult,” Xunhuo Xunyi admitted. “I barely managed it due to my prior studies of the Boundary Stone’s illusory constructs. But the second technique, Bubble’s End, requires the Unity Realm in the Path of the Void. I’ve hit many roadblocks and can’t seem to break through.”
Dongbo Xueying chuckled.
So, you haven’t reached the Unity Realm in the Path of the Void yet, despite your ancient foundation!
“Go on,” Dongbo Xueying encouraged.
Xunhuo Xunyi demonstrated while posing questions, conjuring phantom worlds around them.
Dongbo Xueying provided effortless guidance, cutting straight to the core. For areas outside his expertise, he drew from experience and the Myriad Phenomena Hall’s archives. But in his specialties—the Path of the Void, the Path of Slaughter, the Path of Oscillation, and spatial arts—he spoke with effortless mastery.
Xunhuo Xunyi listened with gleaming eyes, even becoming animated at times as long-standing puzzles were unraveled. Dongbo Xueying’s insights not only clarified but also opened new avenues.
This session lasted ten full days.
By the lake, as dawn broke.
“Thank you for your guidance these past days, Elder,” Xunhuo Xunyi said gratefully.
“Your comprehension is impressive,” Dongbo Xueying praised. No wonder Xunhuo Xunyi had advanced so swiftly in ancient illusions—his talent was exceptional, arguably the highest among all the genius cultivators Dongbo Xueying had mentored.
“Elder, may I formally become your disciple now?” Xunhuo Xunyi ventured.
“Too soon. We’ll discuss it after the Star Conference concludes,” Dongbo Xueying replied.
Xunhuo Xunyi was slightly disappointed but bowed respectfully. “I’ll return to my training. Your guidance these ten days has given me much to ponder.”
“Go ahead,” Dongbo Xueying said.
As Xunhuo Xunyi departed, Dongbo Xueying watched his retreating figure thoughtfully. “With his current third-tier strength and potential for further growth, his talent is among the very best. I’ll reserve a spot for him on my list.”
He had grown fond of Xunhuo Xunyi, whose strengths aligned perfectly with his own pride—the Path of the Void.
Finding a worthy successor for one’s legacy was no easy feat.
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