On the other side.
Among the innate Primordial beings, the ‘Progenitors’—more than one—watched intently as their subordinate warrior ‘Rock’ battled Dongbo Xueying. The outcome left them stunned.
“So quickly dead?”
“This ‘Flying Snow Divine Emperor’ unleashed power at the peak of World-level Primordial perfection in his final burst.”
“Is he a newly ascended Primordial lifeform?”
The Progenitors immediately began exchanging thoughts.
Rock’s death meant little to the vast horde of innate Primordial beings. Throughout history, even their own ‘Progenitors’ had fallen—each far more significant than any World-level Primordial being.
“This Flying Snow Divine Emperor, freshly ascended, can already unleash power at the peak of World-level Primordial perfection. His foundation is unfathomably deep—even compared to ‘Meta’ and the others from the past, I’ve never seen such profound accumulation. Though breaking through from World-level Primordial perfection to ‘Lord’ is immensely difficult, I believe this Flying Snow Divine Emperor has a high chance of succeeding!”
“Indeed, he may very well become the ninth Lord.”
The Progenitors took this seriously.
Among the cultivators, ‘Lords’ were exceedingly rare—only eight existed! Yet they were indisputably the strongest lifeforms in the vast, infinite Primordial Space. Since the war between them and the innate Primordial beings began, many Progenitors had fallen, but not a single cultivator ‘Lord’ had perished.
Across the infinite Primordial Space, all terrifying existences acknowledged one truth:
**Lords were the strongest individuals.**
A single Lord… was worth no less than ten Progenitors.
“We cannot allow him to grow. We must find an opportunity—spare no cost to destroy his Source World and eliminate him.”
“Agreed.”
“I concur.”
“It must be done swiftly!”
They quickly reached a consensus.
However, crafting a flawless plan was no easy task. They had to ensure the cultivator Lords remained unaware—if a Lord intervened to protect a Source World, destroying it would become nearly impossible.
—
In the boundless Primordial Space.
Redpeak Daoist flew to Dongbo Xueying’s side, exclaiming, “You’ve already reached the peak of World-level Primordial?”
“Barely,” Dongbo Xueying replied. His mind was flooded with new techniques—as he mastered more peak-level World-level Primordial arts, his weaknesses diminished, truly qualifying him as a perfected World-level Primordial. And with his soul techniques, he was even more formidable—his signature strength.
“Flying Snow Divine Emperor, you’ve just ascended today, yet you’ve already reached such heights—it’s unbelievable.” Redpeak Daoist’s gaze burned with admiration. “With your talent, becoming a Lord is within reach.”
Dongbo Xueying smiled.
In an hour, he would indeed become a Lord.
“Let’s return to the Cultivation Sanctuary first,” Dongbo Xueying suddenly said. He had just comprehended a body-refining technique capable of elevating his physique to the peak of World-level Primordial. But to advance further, he needed vast energy.
“Return to the Cultivation Sanctuary?” Redpeak Daoist was puzzled but followed obediently.
The two swiftly returned.
Dongbo Xueying plunged into the sanctuary and began voraciously absorbing World Energy, his body evolving rapidly. In mere breaths, his physique reached the peak of World-level Primordial. To progress further, he would need to ascend to Lord-level.
Whoosh.
Shortly after Dongbo Xueying’s breakthrough, another figure entered the sanctuary—a silver-haired, three-eyed man: ‘Skywolf Guest.’
“Greetings, Flying Snow Divine Emperor. Witnessing your slaying of ‘Rock’ was truly awe-inspiring.” Skywolf Guest landed, bowing respectfully. He studied the white-robed youth before him—his aura no weaker than his own.
“He was merely the first to attack. Stronger enemies will follow,” Dongbo Xueying remarked.
“Shall we wait here?” Skywolf Guest asked with a smile.
“Yes, we’ll wait.” Dongbo Xueying was confident.
“Understood. We follow your lead.”
Skywolf Guest, Dongbo Xueying, and Redpeak Daoist—three Primordial powerhouses—remained in the Cultivation Sanctuary, watching the distant void tunnel. New enemies could emerge from any direction.
Time passed.
Half an hour later.
Skywolf Guest glanced curiously at Dongbo Xueying, who had been observing but suddenly sat cross-legged, closing his eyes in deep meditation.
“Training?” Skywolf Guest was puzzled.
“Skywolf Guest, though Flying Snow Divine Emperor slew Rock, his techniques still had glaring flaws,” Redpeak Daoist transmitted mentally. “Only his offensive killing move reached perfection—the rest were lacking. Perhaps he’s now comprehending new techniques to refine his combat prowess.”
Skywolf Guest nodded, transmitting back, “For a newly ascended Primordial being to instantly reach the peak of World-level Primordial is extraordinary. The stronger he becomes, the better our chances against greater foes.”
“Why haven’t they arrived yet?” Skywolf Guest frowned. “The innate Primordial horde vastly outnumbers us. The second wave shouldn’t take this long.”
**Boom—**
Dongbo Xueying’s mind resonated with enlightenment. The deeper he delved into the laws, the more profound his understanding grew.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open—streams of light flickering within them.
“How… peculiar.”
To Dongbo Xueying, the boundless Primordial Space was no longer a chaotic sea of energy. Instead, he saw it as countless interwoven threads—the very essence of Primordial Energy. These threads were the laws themselves, condensed and manifesting as infinite Primordial power.
Yet, much of the Primordial Space still mystified him.
The towering Source Worlds, each a miraculous construct nurturing countless lives.
The innate Primordial beings, their bodies embodying laws beyond his current comprehension.
The strange phenomena birthed by the Primordial Space’s workings—bizarre spacetime, anomalous constructs…
“The enemy approaches,” Dongbo Xueying suddenly announced.
“What?” Redpeak Daoist and Skywolf Guest were startled.
As the regional inspector, Redpeak Daoist should have been the first to sense incoming threats—yet Dongbo Xueying stood and strode out, the sanctuary’s membrane parting for him.
Redpeak Daoist and Skywolf Guest hurried after him.
“Follow me.”
Dongbo Xueying led them through the Primordial Space with astonishing speed. To him, the once-chaotic energy now flowed with order—he navigated effortlessly, minimizing resistance.
“Incredible speed,” Skywolf Guest and Redpeak Daoist marveled silently.
Dongbo Xueying halted abruptly.
“There.” He pointed ahead. In his vision, tangled threads coiled around six Primordial beings, hurtling toward them. “Six enemies in total.”
“Six? So many?” Skywolf Guest and Redpeak Daoist exchanged uneasy glances.
Moments later.
From the churning dark Primordial Energy, six figures emerged.
Two were shifting masses of mist—one black, one white—constantly morphing between humanoid forms and grotesque shapes, their energies diametrically opposed.
Three identical serpentine beings—clearly of the same bloodline—slithered forward.
Lastly, a colossal avian creature, illusions swirling around it.
“Three Infinite Serpents? All at the peak of World-level Primordial?” Skywolf Guest’s face paled. “Phantomflame? And the Twin Mists? Flying Snow Divine Emperor—**run!**”
Without hesitation, Skywolf Guest fled.
Though losing a combat avatar wouldn’t kill him, losing its treasures was unacceptable. He had no intention of throwing his life away.
“Why flee?” Dongbo Xueying transmitted. “I see no need.”
“Flying Snow Divine Emperor, the Lords wield eternal ‘Daos,’ surpassing even the Progenitors. But we are different—we merely tap into our physical potential. Against these World-level Primordial beings, aside from our Source World’s defensive advantages, we hold no edge in direct combat.”
“These six are no ordinary foes. The Infinite Serpents—their bloodline is terrifying. Beings of the same bloodline can fuse, becoming two-headed, three-headed… up to nine-headed serpents. Fortunately, only five of their kind have reached World-level Primordial perfection. Yet three are here today! Combined, they surpass even me—specializing in entanglement and restraint. Once caught, escape is impossible.”
“That avian, ‘Phantomflame,’ excels in illusions. The Twin Mists are even deadlier—together, they rival the three serpents. These six could easily slay me. Even with your help, we wouldn’t last long. This is suicide!”
“**Flee now!**”
As Skywolf Guest fled, he urgently transmitted detailed intelligence on the six enemies to Dongbo Xueying.
Dongbo Xueying absorbed the information.
The six World-level Primordial beings ignored Skywolf Guest entirely—their focus locked onto the white-robed youth.
“Your companions fled. Why do you remain?” the colossal avian intoned, its illusions seeping unseen toward Dongbo Xueying.
All six scrutinized him.
Originally, the avian (‘Phantomflame’) and the Twin Mists were the second wave. But upon learning ‘Rock’ had been slain—and by this ‘Flying Snow Divine Emperor’ in mere three strikes—they hesitated. Killing Rock so swiftly was beyond their own capabilities. Thus, they delayed, awaiting the third wave: the three Infinite Serpents.
United, the six believed they could face any World-level threat.
“Hmph. These are illusions?” Dongbo Xueying chuckled, utterly unfazed. His mastery of dreamworld illusions far surpassed the avian’s.
“Attack.”
“Slay his combat avatar.”
“Let’s see what makes this newly ascended Primordial being so formidable.”
The six moved as one.
The three serpents fused into a single **three-headed serpent**.
The black and white mists merged—**hissing**, forming a gray, mist-wreathed woman. Only her upper half was visible, her lower body still swirling mist. She bore two faces—one smiling, one cruel—on opposite sides of her head.
Instantly, they surrounded Dongbo Xueying.
**Hum.**
Dongbo Xueying willed a vast dreamworld into reality, overlaying the battlefield.
Though the six could fuse physically, their souls endured the dreamworld’s pull individually. Staggered, each struggled—halving their combat effectiveness as they fought the mental assault.
“Such terrifying soul techniques!”
“Against this, who could match him one-on-one at the World-level? How does such a monster exist in the Primordial Space?”
“All World-level beings have limits—why is he the exception?”
They were baffled.
They didn’t know…
Dongbo Xueying was **destined** to become a Lord.
**Ssshhk!**
The gray mist-woman engaged Dongbo Xueying in close combat, each strike radiating annihilating force.
The Twin Mists’ clans specialized in annihilation—one in ‘corrosive erasure,’ the other in ‘purification.’ Though opposing, their fusion birthed a new tier of destructive power. They were among the deadliest close-combat fusion beings.
**Clang! Clang! Clang!**
Dongbo Xueying wielded his spear, space fracturing around him to deflect all attacks.
The three-headed serpent unleashed binding techniques—one head spewing countless tongues to ensnare, another plunging the surroundings into absolute darkness, blinding even Dongbo Xueying’s vision.
Yet Dongbo Xueying remained composed.
Though formidable, the six fought at half-strength under his dreamworld’s suppression. His own techniques, now perfected, defended flawlessly against their onslaught.
“The six of us joining forces still can’t gain the upper hand?” The six of them were utterly shocked.
“This… this…”
Even the Sky Wolf Guest and Redpeak Daoist, who had fled far away, came to a halt. The Sky Wolf Guest gazed into the distance at Dongbo Xueying, who was besieged by six World-Class Hunyuan lifeforms. The battle was evenly matched—Dongbo Xueying’s defenses were flawless, not a single wound marring his form.
The Sky Wolf Guest was both awed and ashamed. He had fled.
“I should go help him,” the Sky Wolf Guest said.
“Don’t,” Redpeak Daoist immediately transmitted, his voice sharp. “Flying Snow Divine Emperor is holding his ground perfectly, but he can’t threaten those six either. If you go, he won’t be able to protect you. You’ll only put yourself in danger.”
The Sky Wolf Guest hesitated.
“Hum.”
Suddenly, countless void chains appeared in the distance. Each chain was as fine as a mortal’s hair, intertwining and binding the vast surrounding region—including the six World-Class Hunyuan lifeforms.
“Such terrifying binding power. This is definitely at the World-Class Hunyuan Perfection level,” the six exclaimed in shock.
“Run!” The gray mist woman, who had been locked in combat with Dongbo Xueying, suddenly noticed an arcane pattern swirling in his eyes. Then, he closed them, completely ignoring the six World-Class Hunyuan lifeforms around him. Instinctively, she felt a soul-deep terror. A premonition struck her—
When Flying Snow Divine Emperor opened his eyes again, it would likely mean their deaths.
“Quick, run!” she frantically transmitted, turning to flee.
“What’s wrong? He’s only been defending. Why run now?”
“How will we explain this retreat to the Ancestors?”
“Let’s kill his main combat avatar first!”
The other four were unwilling to retreat.
“Run! If we don’t, we’ll die!” The gray mist woman struggled against the tightening chains, their power growing ever more profound. Her flight slowed drastically—50%, 30%, 10%…
Even the previously hesitant four now paled as the void chains’ binding force surged.
How was this possible?
If the earlier binding was at World-Class Hunyuan Perfection, this was five, ten times stronger…
“Kill him!”
“Run!”
Panic set in. The three-headed serpent attacked wildly, but Dongbo Xueying, eyes closed and unmoving, was shielded by increasingly intricate spatial barriers. Their strikes couldn’t even graze his robes.
The gray mist woman, now far away, finally froze as the chains became unbearable. They penetrated every inch of her body, splitting her into black and white mist—both solidified, motionless.
The three-headed serpent split into three infinite serpents, similarly bound and frozen. The avian creature, too, was immobilized.
Countless void chains spanned the battlefield, locking the six World-Class Hunyuan Perfection lifeforms in place.
Only Dongbo Xueying stood there, eyes closed.
The sight left the Sky Wolf Guest and Redpeak Daoist breathless. They dared not speak, sensing something monumental.
—
And it wasn’t just them.
Other Hunyuan experts, even the Lords, watched nervously. The Ancestors of the innate Hunyuan lifeforms tensed as word spread. More and more powerful beings turned their gaze here.
Soon, all eight Lords were watching.
—
“So beautiful.”
Though his eyes were closed, Dongbo Xueying’s mind beheld the complete “Hunyuan Void Path.” In this moment, he had fully grasped it.
As the saying goes: *Hearing the Dao in the morning, one could die content by evening.*
Why?
First, it was his lifelong pursuit, spanning endless ages.
Second—it was simply too beautiful.
It embodied the fundamental truths of the infinite Hunyuan space. Starting from the Void Path, absorbing countless mysteries, even integrating the Illusory Realm Dao after reaching the semi-Hunyuan level… Now, he had grasped the essence of “Hunyuan Void Force.” The workings of the infinite Hunyuan void, at least in terms of Hunyuan energy, held no more secrets for him.
“Hunyuan energy is the soil of source worlds and all other realms. It embraces all, the foundation of everything.”
Dongbo Xueying opened his eyes.
**BOOM!**
His body began ascending, his level skyrocketing.
He voraciously absorbed the boundless Hunyuan energy around him. A massive vortex formed as vast quantities of energy surged into him, transforming his body. Tiny Hunyuan worlds manifested on his skin, while his form grew as vast as the void itself—untouchable, impervious.
“A Lord?”
He felt his newfound might.
In the infinite Hunyuan space, the highest-tier powers were wielded only by Lords and Ancestors. The difference? Ancestors relied on their bloodline’s ultimate potential, while Lords mastered the Dao—the essence of power itself.
“Hunyuan energy is but the soil. Above it lie greater forces.” Dongbo Xueying grew humbler, aware of how much remained beyond his understanding.
—
Deep in the infinite Hunyuan space, a hidden world pulsed. No lifeform could detect it.
It observed the distant white-robed youth.
“Another Lord born from the source world’s creatures? Remarkable. These once-weak beings now stand at the pinnacle… even pressuring me.” A massive eye flickered on the world’s membrane before vanishing.
—
In a unique region of the Hunyuan space, time stood eternally still. The very soil here would crush high-level Hunyuan lifeforms; World-Class beings would be pulverized by its gravity.
Only Lords could stand here.
At a round table sat thirty-two thrones. Five were occupied by beings of varied forms.
“Hmm?”
All five turned, sensing the birth of a peer.
“Another Lord from the source world’s creatures. The Eternal Land gains a new seat,” said a white-armored being exuding boundless destruction.
“These cultivators, rising from weakness to Lordship, master the essence. I was born at the peak yet cannot grasp it,” mused a cube-shaped entity.
“Their numbers grow. They threaten us,” hissed an infinite serpent coiled around its throne.
“Your kind has over a hundred Ancestors. The cultivators? Only nine Lords,” the cube retorted.
“But only five of us Ancestors hold seats here,” the serpent grumbled.
To earn a place in the Eternal Land was no small feat.
—
In the first world of the Hunyuan space, clouds in the sky were source worlds, the ground endless black soil.
Snake-like creatures emerged, gazing at the distant surge of power—a new Lord’s birth.
“Another Lord. Eating source worlds grows harder,” one lamented.
“Remember the old days? No Lords, feasting freely…”
“Sleep, sleep.”
They retreated into the soil, leaving one to glide lazily through the air.
—
After his breakthrough, Dongbo Xueying sensed the other mighty beings.
First, the eight Lords—each radiating unique power, none inferior to him.
“Dongbo Xueying, congratulations.”
“Another comrade. A cause for celebration.”
“I hear you despise the Abyssal Demons? Well, I *am* one. Haha!”
Even the Abyss Lord’s taunts bore a strange warmth. To him, the weaker Abyss demons were mere pawns—but Dongbo Xueying had now ascended to stand as his equal.
Next, he observed the Eternal Land’s five seated figures. One serpent eyed him coldly; others were curious or friendly.
Across the infinite Hunyuan space, he sensed over two hundred terrifying beings—most innate Hunyuan Ancestors. Yet he suspected more lurked unseen.
His mastery of the Hunyuan Void Path hinted at uncharted realms, places even he couldn’t perceive from afar.
—
“Retreat!”
“All forces, withdraw!”
The innate Hunyuan lifeforms’ assault ceased. The Ancestors seethed.
They’d pinned hopes on Abyssal Sea Master Chenghao, only to watch helplessly as another cultivator Lord emerged.
Each Lord was a thorn in their side.
They’d planned to crush Dongbo Xueying’s source world and eradicate his avatars—but before they could act, he’d broken through.
“Flying Snow Divine Emperor became a World-Class Hunyuan and a Lord in the same day? How?”
“Rage changes nothing. The deed is done.”
Dongbo Xueying waved a hand, sealing the six immobilized World-Class Hunyuan lifeforms before departing.
Not far away, Daoist Chifeng and Tianlang Ke immediately bowed in respect. “Lord,” they said.
Tianlang Ke felt particularly ashamed… He had chosen to flee earlier. If only he had fought alongside the Lord, especially during the Lord’s breakthrough battle! Their relationship would have been entirely different now.
“Why did I run? At worst, I’d lose just one main combat avatar, just some weapons,” Tianlang Ke lamented inwardly.
“You two may return. There’s no danger here anymore,” Dongbo Xueying said.
“Yes,” Tianlang Ke and Daoist Chifeng replied respectfully before swiftly departing with their escape techniques.
Dongbo Xueying, meanwhile, returned to the Sacred Cultivation Realm.
This main combat avatar would remain here in seclusion for now. With so many avatars, there was no need for all of them to return.
—
**Homeworld, the Source World.**
The many Cosmic Gods of the homeworld had long been in turmoil. They had noticed the changes in the Chaos Void—for instance, the Chaos Void had drastically shrunk, and the distances between universes had also greatly diminished. Instead of expanding, everything was contracting. Did this mean the impending doom caused by the previous expansion had been averted?
Moreover, the Labyrinth Corridor had vanished! What of the great demon, the Sacred Master?
Additionally, the marks they had left on certain ‘Daos’ within the World Origin had all disappeared. They could no longer imprint them anew.
“What exactly has happened?”
“Has the doom of the Source World been lifted?”
Ancestor Tianyu, Blade Emperor, Witch Ancestor, Old Man Shi, Swordmaster, and others were all filled with confusion. They all considered one possibility—
A Hunyuan expert had been born in this Source World!
Only when a Source World had a master could the threat of the Great Doom be lifted. Swordmaster, who had an avatar in the Heart Realm Continent, knew that once a Source World had a master, it would forever remain in its most prosperous and peak state, never again facing destruction.
“Xueying, what happened?”
“Xueying, have you become a Hunyuan lifeform?”
“Xueying, will our Source World never face destruction again?”
They had all sent him messages one after another.
At the time, Dongbo Xueying had been fully immersed in his cultivation, striving to become a Lord as quickly as possible. Thus, he had only briefly responded: “The Great Doom has been averted. I will explain the details to everyone later tonight.”
Now, however…
“Finally, the breakthrough is complete.” Dongbo Xueying stood beneath the pavilion in his courtyard, in excellent spirits.
“Dongbo Xueying, I truly didn’t expect you to become a Lord so quickly,” Luo Chengzhu appeared on the nearby grass. “Just moments ago, I was congratulating you on reaching the World-Level Hunyuan stage. And now, barely two hours later, you’ve already ascended to Lord-level. The speed of your breakthrough is unprecedented—I doubt anyone will surpass it in the ages to come.”
Dongbo Xueying smiled. Indeed, two hours.
“By the way, Yuan is about to arrive. Come, let’s go meet him,” Luo Chengzhu urged.
“Yuan?” Dongbo Xueying turned immediately, gazing beyond the Source World into the vast Hunyuan Void. There, he saw an old man clad in colorful robes approaching leisurely.
“Let’s go.” Dongbo Xueying and Luo Chengzhu flew out of the Source World, swiftly meeting Yuan in the boundless void.
Yuan, dressed in flamboyant robes, wore slippers that exposed his toes, exuding an air of carefree ease.
“Dongbo Xueying pays his respects to Senior Yuan. Thank you for your guidance and assistance,” Dongbo Xueying bowed.
“Hahaha, no need for such formality, young man! Though I did help you quite a bit—painstakingly compiling the *Seven Strikes of Hunyuan*, forging the Heart Realm Token, even giving you a drop of the Ten Thousand-Touch Dragon Mother’s heartblood… But these are trivial matters. Your achievements today are entirely due to your own efforts. I’ve helped many, but how many have reached Hunyuan?” Yuan chuckled.
Dongbo Xueying was speechless.
So immodest! To list out all his contributions like that.
So *this* was Yuan’s personality.
“And don’t call me ‘Senior Yuan.’ You’re a Lord now. From now on, we’re brothers. I’m the eldest, so just call me ‘Old Brother Yuan,'” Yuan grinned mischievously.
“Old Brother Yuan,” Dongbo Xueying complied. He didn’t yet know that among the Lords, many referred to Yuan as “Old Thief Yuan.” Despite being the most ancient Lord, Yuan was utterly unbothered by such nicknames.
“That’s more like it,” Yuan nodded approvingly. “Ah, watching you grow step by step, and now becoming a Lord—truly delightful. They said my efforts in constructing the Heart Realm Continent were pointless. But look! Here’s a Lord emerging from it. The illustrious Lord Xueying, born of my Heart Realm Continent!”
“Old Brother Yuan, his homeworld is here, right?” Luo Chengzhu interjected. “This is still within my territory.”
“Same difference. We both contributed. Though my contribution was greater,” Yuan smirked smugly. “And Luo Feng, I helped you become a Lord too, didn’t I?”
“Indeed, indeed,” Luo Chengzhu conceded.
Dongbo Xueying blinked.
Luo Feng? Was that Luo Chengzhu’s true name?
Luo Chengzhu explained, “I hail from another Source World, rising from a humble mortal existence on a planet called Earth. Looking back, it’s almost nostalgic. Only by breaking through to Hunyuan via force could I control the past and future of all lives in my Source World’s history, even resurrecting the dead. For that, I must thank Old Brother Yuan. Without him, my path would have been far more arduous.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded. The moment he became the master of his Source World, his greatest joy had been reviving those he had lost, mending the regrets of his life.
To them, it was as if they had merely dozed off—waking up in the distant future.
But to him, it meant the redemption of countless sorrows.
“Speaking of which, young Xueying, your breakthrough puzzles me,” Yuan mused. “I’ve studied many Daos, yet before you even became a Hunyuan, you could manipulate the Sacred Cultivation Realm’s world energy, even reviving after death. Was it because you reached the ultimate stage in the Soul Dao?”
“Old Brother Yuan is astute,” Dongbo Xueying nodded. “You guessed correctly. At the time, I was inspired to break through, reaching the ultimate stage of the Illusory Dao of the Void. Once I did, my soul could merge effortlessly with the World Origin. Though not its master, I could wield a portion of its power, acting as its emissary.”
“Merge with the World Origin? So as long as the World Origin exists, your soul is indestructible?” Yuan asked.
“Correct,” Dongbo Xueying confirmed.
“Impressive.”
Both Yuan and Luo Chengzhu were visibly astonished. Such an ability would be coveted by many Hunyuan lifeforms.
“Afterward, I used the ultimate Illusory Dao to influence all living beings in the Source World. By swaying them, the World Origin willingly acknowledged me as its master,” Dongbo Xueying explained. “Thus, I became a World-Level Hunyuan lifeform.”
“So that’s how it was,” Yuan nodded. “Reaching the ultimate stage in the Soul Dao is indeed formidable. I suspect the same holds for other branches of the Soul Dao—affecting all life, effortlessly becoming the master of one’s homeworld. But your ascension to Lord—was that also tied to the ultimate Illusory Dao?”
It was simply too unusual.
From World-Level to Lord in just two hours?
“The union of body and soul is the Great Dao,” Dongbo Xueying said. “I was already a semi-Hunyuan lifeform, and with my soul reaching the ultimate stage, the two merged seamlessly. There were no bottlenecks, and cultivation proceeded effortlessly. A weaker soul might have taken billions of years to break through by force. But with my soul’s strength, it took only two hours to deduce the path and ascend to Lord.”
“Body and soul?”
Yuan and Luo Chengzhu exchanged glances, their doubts resolved.
In truth, not just Cosmic Gods, but even many Hunyuan experts who had transcended their shackles believed that the fusion of body and soul was the correct path. Many had sought to reach the ultimate stage in the Soul Dao—like Fan Zu of the Heart Realm Continent—but none had succeeded.
“If the body reaches the semi-Hunyuan stage and the soul attains the ultimate, their union allows one to break through by force,” Yuan mused. “A straightforward path, yet achieving the ultimate in the Soul Dao is exceedingly rare. Among all cultivators in history, you alone have accomplished this, young Xueying.”
“Just me?” Dongbo Xueying had suspected as much, but now it was confirmed.
“Just you!” Yuan affirmed.
“The Soul Dao is uniquely challenging,” Luo Chengzhu added. “Unlike other Daos—void, flame, lightning—which are external forces, the Soul Dao involves consciousness and thought, making cultivation far more difficult.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded.
Becoming a Lord was no easy feat.
His path had hinged on the Soul Dao’s ultimate stage—far harder than achieving a semi-Hunyuan body.
“Your ability to merge with an unclaimed World Origin and harness its energy explains how your weaker avatars could recover so swiftly,” Yuan observed, eyes gleaming. “Can your avatars restore their combat strength quickly?”
Luo Chengzhu’s eyes lit up. “Currently, we’re stretched thin guarding our territories. With only one main combat avatar each, responding to distant threats takes far too long—the Hunyuan Space is simply too vast. If your weaker avatars can rapidly regain combat strength, you could help defend multiple regions.”
“Our collective strength is lacking,” Yuan said. “We Lords must protect numerous domains.”
“Protecting these domains is only right,” Dongbo Xueying agreed. “However, restoring a weaker avatar to combat strength has two requirements. First, as a Lord, the energy needed far exceeds that of the World-Level stage. Second, the speed depends on the unclaimed World Origin’s strength. For instance, the Sacred Cultivation Realm’s origin could restore a Lord-level avatar in about half an hour.”
For a World-Level Hunyuan, restoration via the Sacred Cultivation Realm’s origin was swift—mere breaths for a perfected avatar.
But for a Lord, it took longer.
“Half an hour is acceptable,” Yuan nodded. Given the infinite expanse of Hunyuan Space, with only eight Lords previously, some regions took days to reach. Even now, the Yuan before them was merely a weaker avatar stationed nearby.
“We can construct worlds stronger than the Sacred Cultivation Realm,” Luo Chengzhu suggested. “With the combined efforts of the Lords, we can establish more powerful worlds at key locations. If danger arises, Xueying’s avatars can swiftly restore combat strength to respond. With this ability, he alone could match the eight of us in defense.”
“Each has their strengths,” Yuan smiled.
Dongbo Xueying’s ability was indeed a boon.
“The Soul Dao is truly miraculous,” Yuan and Luo Chengzhu mused privately. Despite their long years of study, their progress in the Soul Dao had been minimal.
—
As the three conversed in the Hunyuan Space, Dongbo Xueying learned of the cultivators’ precarious position. Though the eight Lords presented a united front, internal divisions existed. Some, like Yuan and Luo Chengzhu, cherished the weak, while others saw them as expendable—believing their deaths were justified if they honed future Hunyuan lifeforms.
“We’ll discuss this later. I know you’ll side with us—you’re even more righteous than Luo Feng and me,” Yuan chuckled. “Now, onto official matters! Your ascension calls for a grand celebration. Many Lord-level beings will attend, announcing to the infinite Hunyuan Space that our faction has gained a new Lord.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded. “No rush, I hope?”
“Preparations and invitations will take time. You decide the date—within a year, preferably,” Yuan said. “Also, the other Lords wish to meet you. We’ll gather, reassign territories, and designate your domain as Lord Xueying’s. From then on, its protection will be your duty!”
“Brother Yuan, you decide the location for the gathering. Three days from now would be best,” Dongbo Xueying said. “I still have some matters to attend to.”
“Hahaha… Very well, very well. Since you’ve just made a breakthrough, we won’t disturb you further,” Yuan replied with a laugh. “Go and handle your affairs.”
“Alright, Brother Yuan, City Lord Luo, I’ll take my leave first.”
With that, Dongbo Xueying transformed into a streak of light, soaring back toward his own Meta-World.
At this moment, he truly had no mind to attend any gathering of Domain Lords. Nor did he care to arrange a grand celebration or receive the various lord-level figures.
There was only one thought in his heart now—
To resurrect his father, mother, uncle Zong, uncle Tong, his younger brother, and all the others, as well as his master Gu Qi and the many friends who had fallen. As the master of a Meta-World, he could afford to be this willful!
He wanted to share his joy with the most important people in his life.
Flying into his Meta-World, Dongbo Xueying saw his wife and children. Through the annals of the world’s history, he also glimpsed his father, mother, uncle Tong, uncle Zong, and his younger brother Dongbo Qingshi—all of them in the past.
“It’s been so long… I’ve truly missed you all.”
…
(The End)
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