Chapter 927: Becoming a Disciple?

After a dozen breaths, the black flower bud finally took complete form.

The temperature within the meditation chamber plummeted to an inconceivable level, yet that was all it did. The black flower bud hovered mid-air, exuding nothing but an icy chill—no other imposing aura. Yet, any Unity realm expert facing this black flower bud, even if they could withstand the cold, would inevitably tremble with fear. Fear of the threat it concealed!

“Finally, it’s done.” Dongbo Xueying stepped forward, gazing at the suspended black flower bud. The three leaves, the dew clinging to both leaves and bud, all struck him with the ‘beauty’ of the profound laws.

“Perfectly merging slaughter into the Void World, seamless as one,” Dongbo Xueying murmured.

“Bloom! Flower of Annihilation!”

His eyes brimmed with anticipation as he stared at the floating black flower bud.

At last.

The bud unfurled. The moment of blooming was the most breathtaking—three petals opened, and in that instant, the three leaves and three black petals began to collapse, dissolving into black mist that swirled violently toward the center. Each leaf and petal condensed into a strand of black mist. Three strands of black mist spun and slashed, obliterating everything in their path. Space itself disintegrated, annihilated.

It appeared unassuming, but that was merely the extreme restraint of its power. At the core of destruction, one would feel true terror.

“Grand Annihilation,” Dongbo Xueying whispered, entranced. Only those who truly comprehended it could appreciate its sublime beauty.

“I actually created such a technique.”

He marveled at his own creation, the more he pondered it, the more awestruck he became. It was too perfect! Both the Void World Dao and the Slaughter Dao had been pushed to their limits, their fusion flawless—neither excessive nor lacking. From conception to execution, from structure to the harmony of mysteries, it was perfection. Dongbo Xueying believed even a Cosmic God would find it difficult to devise such a technique.

Take *Thirteen Swords of the World’s End*—at the Unity realm, its pinnacle was the sixth level of the Star Tower. Of course, this was under the premise that Ancestor Tianyu employed only the Slaughter Dao’s mysteries. Even for Ancestor Tianyu, crafting a seventh-level Star Tower technique using only Unity realm laws would be immensely challenging. Clearly, the ancestor had little interest in expending too much effort here.

Unity realm cultivators, in terms of soul strength and deduction, were far inferior to Cosmic Gods. To create a seventh-level Star Tower technique, one might even need a stroke of luck.

Yes.

Luck. His own success owed partly to fortune.

The acquisition of the rare treasure ‘Stone Mirror’ had allowed it to naturally deduce and merge the Zhu Yan and Ba Long legacies, birthing the malevolent flower. This gave Dongbo Xueying direction, a guide. And the death of his master, Gu Qi, had stirred his heart, becoming the catalyst for this technique. Though compared to its creation, Dongbo Xueying would have much preferred his master alive—to one day reunite with him, share drinks, and converse.

“Only two in the history of the two great Sacred Worlds have ever reached the seventh level of the Star Tower at the Unity realm,” Dongbo Xueying mused.

Luck was a factor.

But accumulation was paramount.

One had to stand at the peak of the sixth level, with profound foundations, and under the right circumstances—be it fortune or epiphany—to ascend to this height.

Having achieved this, Dongbo Xueying felt an unprecedented sense of accomplishment and a heightened appreciation for the ‘beauty’ of the laws. Such was the nature of enlightenment—creating such a technique was a transformative experience. Henceforth, his techniques would naturally pursue this aesthetic. This ‘beauty’ was the hallmark of perfection.

Having tasted it, he would seek it with even greater clarity. Thus, those who reached the seventh level at the Unity realm would breeze into the Chaos realm, effortlessly attain the eighth level, and with time, reach its peak. With sufficient accumulation, the ninth level was within reach.

“This flower shall be named *Flower of Annihilation*,” Dongbo Xueying declared silently.

Of the two supreme techniques he had created, one was the pure Void World Dao art—*Void World*—and the other, the fusion of Void World and Slaughter Dao—*Flower of Annihilation*. He was confident that upon advancing to the Chaos realm, as both Daos progressed, *Flower of Annihilation* would easily ascend to the eighth level with minor refinements.

This was the difference.

Even the Demon Ancestor had only barely passed the eighth level after long years in the Chaos realm, aided by six avatars. The Heavenweep Sect Master, for instance, only reached the seventh level’s peak.

Dongbo Xueying, upon breaking through, would swiftly reach the eighth level, even its peak. This was precisely why he had strived to attain the seventh level while still in the Unity realm.

“Now, to spend some time deducing the fourth stance of *Void World*,” Dongbo Xueying thought. The fourth stance was a sixth-level Star Tower technique, akin to *Heaven’s Wrath Blade*, but with an added restraining effect—a feat difficult for other Daos, yet natural for the Void World, which was inherently a world of control.

The delay in its creation had been due to his focus on the fusion of Slaughter and Void World. Now, with *Flower of Annihilation* complete—which also incorporated restraint—deducing a pure Void World Dao technique at the sixth level would be far simpler.

—

Dongbo Xueying entered temporary seclusion.

The prodigious cultivators who sought his guidance found his doors shut.

“Who knew consulting Elder Dongbo would become so difficult,” they lamented inwardly.

Unlike the likes of the Axe Palace Master, Purple Slaughter Island Master, Sky Radiance General, or Five Marsh Serpent Ancestor—who could entertain or seclude themselves at will, offering advice only when inclined—Dongbo Xueying had once been exceedingly approachable. But after the incident with his master Gu Qi, he turned his focus inward. Strength was paramount; guidance, secondary.

At this moment, none knew that within the five great Sacred Worlds of the Chaos Void, this era had finally birthed a Unity realm cultivator who had reached the seventh level of the Star Tower.

—

Within the Bladereign City, at the residence of Emperor Xinghuo, Xinghuo Xunyi also dwelled.

“Greetings, Elder Heartimage, Elder Sky Radiance,” Xinghuo Xunyi bowed respectfully.

“No need for formalities,” Elder Heartimage smiled.

Xinghuo Xunyi retreated behind his father, standing quietly.

Emperor Xinghuo, Heartimage, and Sky Radiance seated themselves, each before a low table. The emperor waved his hand, summoning fine wines, while attendants laid out delicacies, many procured from renowned taverns within the city.

As they drank and conversed, topics ranged widely, even touching upon Gu Qi’s demise at the hands of the Sacred Master.

As the wine neared its end and dusk settled, Heartimage finally spoke. “Brother Xinghuo, Sky Radiance and I came today because Bladereign City recognizes your son’s exceptional talent. His rapid progress during the Star Conference makes him an ideal candidate for our sect.”

The top ten of the Star Conference could choose any of the six great Sacred Sects.

Yet, the sects were not passive. For the most dazzling talents, they extended personal invitations. In this conference, Xinghuo Xunyi was deemed the most promising—first in the finals, with meteoric improvement. ‘Azure Sky Cloud’, though equally skilled, had entered the conference at the fourth level of the Star Tower, his progress far slower.

Naturally, Sky Radiance would also approach Azure Sky Cloud—though Heartimage would not intervene.

Only for Xinghuo Xunyi did Heartimage personally appear.

“Xunyi, the choice is yours,” Emperor Xinghuo turned to his son.

“I have no intention of joining Bladereign City,” Xinghuo Xunyi stated bluntly.

The emperor chuckled wryly.

His son…

Had he been a rogue cultivator, even if refusing, he might have said, *I need time to consider*, not outright rejection. Heartimage and Sky Radiance’s presence demanded some tact.

But Xinghuo Xunyi, accustomed to his father’s stature, stood silent after his declaration.

“Haha,” Heartimage shook his head lightly. “Among the six Sacred Sects, Bladereign is the strongest in both power and heritage. If not us, where do you intend to go?”

“Palace of the Void!” Xinghuo Xunyi answered without hesitation.

Sky Radiance scoffed. “Palace of the Void? Lad, you’re too young. The Ancestral Island and Radiant Sanctuary both have second-tier Cosmic Gods. Bladereign’s heritage is the deepest, and the Bladereign himself is the strongest among the six. The Palace of the Void barely ranks fourth. If the City Lord of Star City were willing to teach and expand, they’d drop to fifth.”

The City Lord was a legend among Chaos realm experts, yet he seldom took disciples. Star City had the fewest experts among the sects. Without his personal guidance, joining another sect was preferable.

“I wish to study under Elder Dongbo of the Palace of the Void,” Xinghuo Xunyi said.

“Dongbo Xueying?” Heartimage understood. “Because of the Void World Dao?”

“Yes.”

Xinghuo Xunyi nodded. “I wish to delve into the Void World Dao and illusions.”

“Then there’s even less reason to join them,” Sky Radiance interjected. “The six sects share foundational texts. The Palace of the Void has yet to produce a single Chaos realm expert in the Void World Dao. Their texts are mediocre—we have them all! You could study freely here. You’re already at the fourth level of the Star Tower; with time, you’ll reach the fifth. The gap between you and Dongbo Xueying is negligible. Why take him as a master? By the time you reach the Chaos realm, he might still be stuck at the sixth level!”

“There’s no need to join the Palace of the Void just for Dongbo Xueying,” Heartimage added. “The path of cultivation relies on oneself! The gap between you two is small. Better to rely on your own insights—perhaps you’ll go further.”

“As for Dongbo Xueying… he is indeed brilliant now, but Sky Radiance speaks true. It’s common to stall at the sixth level. No need to take him as a master. If you wish, I could accept you as my disciple,” Heartimage offered.

Emperor Xinghuo was startled.

Heartimage?

This was a figure who had cleared the seventh level of the Star Tower in the Unity realm and now stood at the ninth. Though not a practitioner of the Void World Dao, his experience alone was invaluable.

“Well?” Heartimage gazed at Xinghuo Xunyi—this was why he had come personally.

“Thank you for your kindness, but I’ve decided to study under Elder Dongbo,” Xinghuo Xunyi refused, his gaze unwavering.

Heartimage was taken aback.