“Six Paths in a weakened state?” Meng Qi placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword, maintaining a posture between readiness and relaxation, his tone similarly ambiguous.
Xi stood within the blinding white expanse, bathed in intense sunlight, his voice seeming to drift from the distant horizon: “He is far stronger than you imagine. Even I cannot fathom His depth. In His prime, there would be no need for such games. Conversely, this also indicates one thing—He is currently in a weakened condition.”
Someone capable of casually sending people to different universes and realms, instantly healing any wound, nearly resurrecting the dead, crafting divine weapons as easily as reaching into a bag, never failing, capable of imparting any martial skill, manipulating the flow of time, even possibly reversing cause and effect—was still considered weakened as Six Paths? Meng Qi found it hard to imagine how terrifying Six Paths must be in His prime!
However, this might explain why He avoids those who haven’t entered reincarnation and why He strictly enforces secrecy among the reincarnated.
“Who exactly is He? What is the true purpose of the reincarnation missions?” Meng Qi’s voice grew deeper. Jiang Zhiwei listened intently, awaiting the answer.
Xi seemed to wear a cloak of sunlight, radiating brilliance: “I cannot speak further of Him. Even though I have recovered the Solar Needle, I still cannot block His perception under these circumstances.”
“You may ask another question, but only if you first tell me the whereabouts of the Infinite Seal.”
During our last battle in the Ninth Heaven, I did indeed employ the Yin-Yang Seal. It’s only natural for you to suspect my connection to the Primordial Celestial Venerable. Recognizing the Void Seal from that makes perfect sense… As for the Infinite Seal, it is not in my possession. With the Mother of Non-Birth’s imminent return, obtaining it now is virtually impossible. I might as well disclose this information—let the tiger consume the wolf and muddy the waters for my own advantage…
After a brief moment of contemplation, Meng Qi responded solemnly: “I did enter the Jade Void Palace in the Investiture of the Gods world and obtained the Reversal Heaven Seal, the Wu-Ji Seal, the Yin-Yang Seal, the Yuanxin Seal, and the Dao-Yi Seal. However, the other four seals had already been claimed by others. The Void Seal and the Infinite Seal fell into the hands of the Mother of Non-Birth, becoming the foundation of her Dao.”
“Later, during the battle at the Divine Capital, I happened to receive the true inheritance of the Void Seal from the Canon Envoy.”
The following text is translated into English:
This statement was a mix of truth and falsehood—the core information was accurate, while minor details were fabricated, effectively distancing himself from the divine traces of the “Primordial Celestial Venerable.”
Xi gave a barely perceptible nod: “Reflecting now, the Great Luo female demon indeed used derivative techniques of the Infinite Seal and the Void Seal.”
With prior combat experiences as evidence and the Mother of Non-Birth’s doctrine as support, he was convinced of the Infinite Seal’s whereabouts. As for the rest, it didn’t concern him and required no further thought.
“You may ask your question.” Xi kept his promise, not turning his back on the deal once the transaction was complete.
After all, it was just one question, not involving any major personal stakes.
Although he had come prepared, with a seventy to eighty percent chance of escaping unscathed alongside Jiang Zhiwei and Su Meng, there was no need to provoke a confrontation here and damage his reputation, eliminating any future basis for cooperation. After all, the world is unpredictable, and there might come a time when collaboration would be necessary again.
He who cannot plan for eternity cannot plan for the moment. He who has a narrow vision will inevitably face distant worries!
One question? Meng Qi’s mind was flooded with countless inquiries he longed to pose to this ancient powerhouse who had just returned—such as the connections between the Investiture of the Gods, Journey to the West, and the main world.
After careful consideration and a brief exchange with Jiang Zhiwei, Meng Qi decided to ask the question most directly related to himself—the one he had never received a clear answer to.
He took out a sheet of paper showing a plant with three solitary leaves and two green fruits: “That witch obtained these fruits from the secret passage of the Hall of Three Lives. Since you were hiding in the Hall of Past, you must know something about them, right?”
As he spoke, he projected the image into a stream of light toward Xi, conveying his perception of the fruits: they were naturally formed this way, appeared this way, and would remain this way forever.
Xi glanced at the drawing, grasped the stream of light, and after sensing it, he suddenly laughed—a rare occurrence for his usually solemn demeanor: “It seems the reincarnation of the Mother of Non-Birth has encountered complications. The Great Luo female demon now possesses independent will and thoughts.”
To deduce Gu Xiaosang’s condition directly from the fruits—indeed, their connection must involve reincarnation or soul possession… Meng Qi mused silently, concealing his eagerness and waiting patiently for Xi’s explanation.
Xi released his grip, watching the stream of light disperse into countless fireflies, his voice distant, as if recalling the past: “Eons ago, I followed the Celestial Emperor into the secret passage of the Present Life Hall and saw this immortal tree. Its fruits, named after the hall, are called ‘Present Life Fruits’—immortal fruits rivaling peaches of immortality, yet each representing different Daoist principles.”
Present Life Fruits? Not Three Lives Fruits? Meng Qi carefully controlled his expression, concealing his emotions.
Xi continued: “If one consumes both fruits and channels Daoist energy, one can sever all karmic ties from the past and future entanglements. In the present life, one becomes supreme, all others fading into oblivion, every reincarnation and return dissolving into nothingness.”
“The Great Luo female demon has already freed herself from the Mother of Non-Birth, becoming the sole master of her current existence—’I alone am supreme.'”
Karmic ties from the past and entanglements from the future? Meng Qi’s mind reeled with shock and confusion. Xi’s words echoed like celestial decrees, reverberating within his soul. Consuming both fruits could sever all connections, liberating one from the influence of powerful beings and achieving true selfhood!
No wonder Liuluo said that seeking this fruit would anger the great powers behind it.
At the time, Gu Xiaosang had a clear objective, having already schemed beforehand. She obtained both fruits but did not consume them together. Instead, she forced one upon me! She gave me one!
A whirlwind of emotions—doubt, shock, and turmoil—raged within Meng Qi. He activated the Yuanxin Seal, suppressing his feelings and feigning casual curiosity: “Must one consume both fruits for it to work? What if only one was eaten?”
“Someone else took the other fruit, and the Great Luo female demon only obtained one?” Xi, unaware of the actual circumstances and unable to divine further due to the collapse of that celestial realm, could only ask in return.
Meng Qi vaguely replied: “At that time, the celestial realm shattered, and the situation was chaotic. I only saw Gu Xiaosang obtain one fruit. The other’s whereabouts remain unknown, possibly in the hands of the Demon Sage, the Mad King, or the Dharma King of Salvation.”
“If only one fruit is consumed, it strengthens the present self, allowing one to resist the consciousness of reincarnation or return. But victory is not guaranteed. To succeed in breaking free, one must combine it with other methods—such as techniques to sever all karmic ties or possessing the strength to withstand a distant strike from a powerful being following the connection. Additionally, being from the same source, the two Present Life Fruits will form a unique bond based on the eater’s soul at the time of consumption. If they meet, there is a chance this connection may awaken the dormant or suppressed consciousness within each other. However, this opportunity is limited to three attempts.” True to his status as one of the ancient celestial court’s renowned experts, Xi explained in great detail.
Meng Qi’s mind buzzed with confusion and emotional turbulence. Why had Gu Xiaosang given him one of the fruits?
Could she really be that kind-hearted?
“What exactly is she trying to do?” Meng Qi murmured internally, filled with doubt and a hint of anger. If not for the Yuanxin Seal already in full operation, his emotional fluctuations would have been impossible to hide.
Xi took a step back: “Each gains what they seek. We shall meet again in the future.”
A burst of light erupted from his body, resembling a violet sun, with five-colored radiance swirling within, forming a phoenix. Then, the surrounding whiteness rushed inward, and the world returned to normal—blue skies, white clouds, serene and clear.
Meng Qi made no attempt to pursue, nor did Jiang Zhiwei. Xi vanished nearby, and soon, Ruan Yushu, Zhao Heng, and the Qin sisters gradually regained their vision and senses. The black mountain still loomed before them.
After briefly transmitting the details of what had transpired, Meng Qi turned to the Qin sisters and asked: “Was the Changning Gap always like this?”
Qin Shuanglian shook her head in bewilderment: “Many Grandmasters have explored this place and left records. They all mentioned the Nine Abyss Gap at the riverbed, but none ever spoke of a black mountain.”
Such a conspicuous object could not possibly have been overlooked.
Taking a deep breath, Meng Qi suppressed his inner turmoil and decided to temporarily set aside thoughts of the “Present Life Fruit.” Although with the help of the fruit, combined with learning the technique “Past Events Fade into Nothingness,” his chances of success might be significant, many questions still remained, especially regarding Gu Xiaosang’s true intentions. Moreover, one of Xi’s earlier remarks was particularly strange and deserved careful consideration!
What exactly was going through Gu Xiaosang’s mind? Meng Qi felt a complex mix of emotions.
At this moment, Qin Shuanghua carefully examined the black mountain and noticed it stood precisely atop the Nine Nether Gap, completely blocking it: “No wonder there hasn’t been a demonic tide near Changle yet—it’s been blocked by this strange mountain. Senior, if that’s the case, shall we seal the other gaps first?”
Hearing her words, Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei turned their gaze toward the mountain and saw a twisted, jagged fissure at its base. However, the mountain was slowly sinking, as if descending into the Nine Netherworld, and given its massive size, it would inevitably widen the gap!
“No.” Meng Qi firmly rejected Qin Shuanghua’s proposal, gesturing toward the fissure: “This bizarre mountain is widening the crack. Once it completely sinks into the Nine Nether, the fissure will expand to terrifying dimensions, and what emerges then could be truly world-destroying evil gods and demons.”
The evil god and demon of the Dharmakaya level!
“This… what should we do?” The Qin sisters paled, having thought they were witnessing hope, only to realize it was merely a fleeting illusion.
After examining the mountain and assessing his own capabilities—knowing he could neither lift it nor truly cleave it—Meng Qi said gravely: “We must venture inside and investigate.”
Jiang Zhiwei understood the situation inside—only those with legends could enter the true mountain, while others could only wander in “possibilities” that resonated with them. Thus, she caught the gravity in Meng Qi’s tone and, with a slight smile, transmitted her thoughts: “I have a fragment of the Mirror of Heaven, which is essentially superior to ordinary legends. Perhaps we can use it to enter the true mountain.”
Ah, the Mirror of Heaven! Meng Qi’s mood lightened, but he quickly furrowed his brow: “Be cautious. If anything goes wrong, retreat immediately.”
That place is connected to the Demon Emperor’s claw and the secret realm of generations of supreme demonic monarchs—there might be dangers beyond our capacity to withstand!
Although witnessing the state of this world had genuinely moved Meng Qi to want to save them, if the danger was insurmountable—even the Seven Kill Monument couldn’t eliminate it—then all that would remain was regret.
After finalizing their plans, Meng Qi turned to the Qin sisters: “Inside lies a true demonic realm, extremely dangerous. You two will wait outside.”
The two sisters did not try to show off their strength and nodded in unison: “Seniors, please be extremely careful as well.”
Turning to face Jiang Zhiwei and the others, Meng Qi chuckled: “To ensure we don’t scatter into different possibilities, I’m afraid I’ll have to inconvenience you all first.”
As his words faded, he raised his sleeve—and within, a vast world unfolded!
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