To be free of worries—how difficult it truly is to have no concerns at all! Even many Four Heavens Realm deities fret over their inability to transcend, desperately seeking ways to break free.
To be fearless—unshaken even in the face of beings like the Bloodblade Divine Emperor or the Island Master of Time and Space, unafraid of death, undaunted by the most terrifying dangers.
A mind serene and unburdened—such tranquility is transcendence in itself.
To press forward unwaveringly, undisturbed by any distraction, single-minded and driven by unyielding conviction—not like those withered bones resigned to death. If Mountain Master Mo Xue had simply awaited death, he would never have reached such heights. Even after shedding fear and worry, he still harbored a fierce desire—to gamble at the Heartlake Island ruins, for his daughter and for himself, seeking the chance to break through.
A mind singular and pure—untouched by stray thoughts!
Each of these alone is challenging; to achieve them all is an almost insurmountable task.
…
Within the Destruction Cave Heaven.
Dongbo Xueying sat at the edge of the combat platform, gazing at the rolling mountain ranges, lost in thought, repeatedly questioning his own heart.
“Kid Dongbo, breaking the seal on your will is no easy feat,” said the black-armored ape sitting beside him, chattering incessantly. “At your level, mere suffering and pain hold no meaning. What you need is enlightenment! The master of Heartlake Island once cultivated his mind here, and legend says that when he donned his sacred robes, his radiance illuminated the cosmos—every living being, even the mortals, glimpsed his boundless light. That was the moment he ascended to the pinnacle, becoming the supreme existence.”
Dongbo Xueying marveled at the tale.
For every being in the universe to witness such radiance—such power was beyond imagination.
“Even when the universe was destroyed and reborn in a new epoch, even now in your era, Heartlake Island remains untouched. Even in this cosmic epoch, none have truly penetrated its core. Such is the might of our master,” the ape sighed.
Dongbo Xueying nodded in admiration. “Truly remarkable.”
“The techniques of our Destruction Legion were created by our master. The skills taught to soldiers, captains, and commanders grow ever stronger. Even the soldiers’ techniques would drive countless True Gods to madness,” the ape said, shaking his head. “Kid Dongbo, focus on refining your mind. If you can achieve even a fraction of our master’s enlightenment, you’ll break the seal on your will.”
The ape had taken a liking to Dongbo Xueying, hence his lengthy advice.
“Understood. Here, try this.” Dongbo Xueying produced a gourd of wine and handed it to the ape, keeping another black gourd for himself.
“Fruit wine?” The ape immediately took a swig, smacking his lips as the liquor dripped from his mouth. “Hahaha! Though we are neither living nor dead, we still have senses. This wine tastes excellent.”
“Mm.” Dongbo Xueying stood. “Elder, am I free to roam this Destruction Cave Heaven?”
“Wander as you please. Some forbidden areas are warded by formations, and others will eject you if you trespass, but there’s no danger,” the ape replied.
“Good.”
With a light step, Dongbo Xueying shot into the sky like a streak of light, soaring above the endless mountains. Though he couldn’t wield Realm God power or Taihao energy, his formidable Realm God physique allowed him to employ many techniques.
“To press forward unwaveringly and maintain a singular focus—these two come easily to me,” Dongbo Xueying mused as he surveyed the undulating peaks below. Even as a mortal youth, he had spent years honing his spear skills with unyielding determination and single-minded focus—a natural talent that allowed him to shut out distractions and pursue his goals relentlessly.
“To be fearless—no matter how formidable the foe, one may hold reverence but never fear. Even death cannot frighten me, so why fear the strong or danger?”
“To be free of confusion and worry.”
These were the hardest two. Once resolved, the rest—fearlessness, unwavering resolve, and purity of mind—would naturally lead to a serene and transcendent state.
“But how can there be no confusion?”
“And how can there be no worries?”
“I care for the Xia Clan, I worry for my son and daughter, I fear for my wife Jingqiu’s safety, and I grieve for my friend Changfeng, still suffering in the Dark Abyss.” Dongbo Xueying sighed inwardly. There were too many concerns—he could never be free of them. “Even now, I worry—whether I can break the seal on my will within ten thousand years!”
“And confusion—the God Realm, the Abyss, the Material World—so much remains unknown to me. In my master’s eyes, I’m still naive. Many secrets, even about Heartlake Island’s ruins, have yet to be revealed to me.”
The Reddust Sacred Master was dead—how much could his artifact spirit, Redstone, truly know?
Yu Jingqiu, in her past life, had only been a Three Heavens Realm God.
Even Mountain Master Mo Xue was merely a Four Heavens Realm God, not a true powerhouse. Their knowledge of the cosmos’ secrets was limited.
“So many mysteries, even in cultivation. Perhaps my master doesn’t want my path to be too smooth, forcing me to overcome confusion on my own?” Dongbo Xueying sighed. “Confusion, worry—how can I be free of them?”
“Must I truly be like my father-in-law?”
“Only when his True Godheart was on the verge of collapse, nearing death, did he finally let go. No more confusion, no more worries?”
Dongbo Xueying tried to imagine himself on the brink of death, detached from all. But no matter how he envisioned it, it remained an illusion. Confusion and worry coiled around him like invisible chains, preventing his mind from achieving true serenity.
“Divine Emperor Tianyun—his will was so formidable, his mental cultivation likely surpassed even my father-in-law’s, perhaps even greater.” Dongbo Xueying pondered endlessly.
He flew through the Destruction Cave Heaven, even venturing into strange caverns on foot, exploring every peculiar sight. Occasionally, he encountered the eight soldiers or three captains of the Destruction Legion. As he wandered, he continuously questioned his own heart. Not just here—even his white-robed avatar in the Xia Clan World’s Redstone Mountain walked among mortals, seeking inspiration from their lives.
Years passed, one after another.
Five thousand years had slipped by since the sealing of his True Godheart.
“Ha ha ha…”
On the mountainside, Dongbo Xueying stood atop a boulder, clutching a peculiar tri-colored flower in his right hand, laughing uproariously. His laughter sent ripples through the air, shaking the entire mountain.
“No more confusion—ha, how foolish I’ve been!”
“The world is so vibrant, filled with endless unknowns waiting to be explored and discovered.” Dongbo Xueying gazed at the flower in his hand. “If I knew everything, if there were no more secrets, how dull this world would be!”
The moment he had found this tri-colored flower, he was struck by its beauty—vivid hues, intoxicating fragrance, brimming with vitality.
In that instant, Dongbo Xueying understood.
“All mysteries are gifts from the world to us living beings, meant to be explored and pondered. This is the journey of life!” His heart suddenly felt unburdened, lighter, as if the secrets of Heartlake Island no longer intimidated him. Instead, he was filled with curiosity.
Like a child seeing the world with fresh eyes, Dongbo Xueying now regarded Heartlake Island with wonder. He longed to explore every corner, though he knew his strength was still lacking.
“The road ahead is long—there’s no rush.” Dongbo Xueying smiled.
His heart was now free of confusion.
He could even feel his True Godheart flowing more smoothly, his will growing stronger.
“Kid, what’s so funny?!” A deep, angry roar erupted from the base of the mountain.
Dongbo Xueying blinked in surprise.
“Huh?”
In a flash, he darted toward the source of the voice, his path twisting like a streak of light until he arrived at a cavern at the mountain’s base. Thick chains bound a towering, crimson-skinned man with fiery red hair and brows. His eyes blazed with fury, his aura surging like a volcano suppressed for countless eons.
“You—you’re Fire Devil Venerable?” Dongbo Xueying gasped. A Venerable of the God Realm, a peer of the Three Ancestors, who had vanished for a hundred billion years—imprisoned here?
“Heh, kid, you know me?” The crimson giant grinned, his red beard bristling.
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