Chapter 382

Chapter 382: Another Path

Nine figures floated down from the sky.

All were Immortal Emperors.

"Daoist Friend Qing Xuan, you truly lack loyalty," said a man with prominent dragon horns, grinning insincerely. "To open an alien universe passage, such a grand affair, you didn’t inform us. If Daoist friend Li hadn’t come all this way to discuss the Dao with us for several days, we might still be left in the dark."

"Probably because he wanted to take it for himself?" sneered another Immortal Emperor.

Ancient God of Origin and Si Ming looked grave.

Counting the three Immortal Emperors from the Primordial Daoist Sect, there were at least twelve Immortal Emperor powerhouses from the Qing Xuan plane. This force already surpassed that of their native universe.

"Of course not," Daoist Qing Xuan laughed awkwardly.

"Dear friends, this is Pangu’s Daoist Temple."

"Pangu?"

The nine Immortal Emperors’ hearts stirred.

After discussing the Dao with the Heavenly Emperor, they knew a little about the Pangu universe and naturally understood Pangu’s deeds.

The Daoist temple of a creator of the heavens held extraordinary significance.

"So that’s why Daoist friend Heavenly Emperor rushed back so urgently," said the dragon-horned man, his lips curling slightly. He was a descendant of the Ancestral Dragon lineage of Lei Ze, revered as the Dragon Emperor of Lei Ze. His strength was exceptional, on par with Daoist Qing Xuan.

The Lei Ze clan’s power was comparable to that of the Primordial Daoist Sect.

"The human ancestor is gone. Nothing hinders us from entering Pangu’s Daoist Temple," Daoist Qing Xuan said with a smile. "Shall we agree to maintain our territories without encroachment? How about it?"

"You dear friends are amusing," Ancient God of Origin said coldly, his gaze icy. "Pangu’s Daoist Temple is a treasure Pangu left for us. As outsiders, what right have you to enter?"

"Haha, well said!"

Yuanzu descended from the sky.

"Pangu’s Daoist Temple is our ancestral land. How can outsiders be permitted to trespass?" The Celestial Demon Ancestor, with his crimson hair and violet eyes, approached with heavy steps. His eyes widened, exuding an incomparably domineering aura.

"Daoist friend Li, is that your opinion too?"

The Dragon Emperor of Lei Ze looked toward Li Ruoyu.

He understood Li Ruoyu’s strength perfectly. As long as Li Ruoyu stayed out of it, the forces of the Qing Xuan plane could easily overwhelm the individuals before them.

"Tens of millions of years ago, I personally suppressed them. Between them and me, there is only hatred," Li Ruoyu said lightly. "If you dear friends don’t mind, shall we join forces to eradicate them?"

"Heavenly Emperor!"

Ancient God of Origin felt a chill in his heart. "By betraying us, you defy your ancestors and disgrace your teacher."

Li Ruoyu showed no concern.

For the sake of transcendence, he could even personally bury his own Master. Would he care about a group of Innate Divine Beings, insignificant as maggots?

"Hahaha! As expected of the Heavenly Emperor, Daoist friend, such grand resolve!" Daoist Qing Xuan laughed heartily. "It seems Pangu’s Daoist Temple holds no destiny for you, dear friends."

Boom!

Daoist Qing Xuan summoned the Great Dao of creation formation map. Ninety-nine eighty-one imperial swords condensed, releasing a terrifying aura that locked onto the Ancient God of Origin, Si Ming, and others.

"You want to fight because you desire Pangu’s Daoist Temple," Yuanzu stated solemnly. "We may not stop you, but Pangu’s Daoist Temple also belongs to us."

"Otherwise, even if it means mutually assured destruction, you will never get what you desire."

"Agreed."

Dragon Emperor of Lei Ze accepted immediately.

The Immortal Emperors of the Qing Xuan plane raised no objections.

They only wished to explore the Pangu universe, having no mind nor energy to waste on slaying Yuanzu and his companions.

Li Ruoyu remained expressionless.

His previous words were merely a threat.

Rumble!

Li Ruoyu punched towards Pangu’s Daoist Temple. The power of the Heavenly Emperor’s World-Suppressing Fist shattered time and space. The Nine Towering Divine Pillars trembled as a massive gateway materialized from the void.

An aura of ancient wilderness seeped out.

Swoosh!

The Ancient God of Origin was the first to charge into Pangu’s Daoist Temple.

The twelve Immortal Emperors from the Qing Xuan plane also entered Pangu’s Daoist Temple together with the Ancient God of Origin and the others.

"Daoist brother."

Lin Qianmo, Xuanxin, and the Reincarnation Ancient God arrived together.

"Daoist friend."

Li Ruoyu’s gaze fell upon the Reincarnation Ancient God, his heart giving a slight jolt.

He could not discern the Reincarnation Ancient God’s foundation at all.

"I promised you protection," Li Ruoyu stated, looking at Lin Qianmo. "Now that Pangu’s Daoist Temple has opened, with Immortal Emperors gathered en masse, if you wish to enter with me, I will do my utmost to shield you."

"Naturally, we must make the trip."

Lin Qianmo said.

Her agreement with the Heavenly Emperor was merely a transaction, trading the secret of the creation of the Tianyuan for his protection.

She held no faith whatsoever in the Heavenly Emperor’s character.

"However, don’t cling to too much hope," Lin Qianmo said lightly. "Pangu’s Daoist Temple undoubtedly does not hold the secret of transcendence."

"Why?"

Li Ruoyu paused mid-step, turning to stare intently at Lin Qianmo.

"Enter the temple, and you will understand," Lin Qianmo replied calmly.

"Daoist friend, you hail from the Hongmeng Dao Realm and were once one of the transcendent," Li Ruoyu said. "Surely you must know the method of transcendence?"

Hearing Lin Qianmo’s words, Li Ruoyu’s interest in Pangu’s Daoist Temple diminished significantly.

He gazed at Lin Qianmo and asked, "Regarding the method of transcendence, I know of one path through Transcendence through Merit, and another through the creation of the Tianyuan. Surely, there are other paths as well."

"Of course there are."

The Reincarnation Ancient God suddenly spoke up.

Li Ruoyu looked astonished. "Daoist friend, you know of them too?"

The Reincarnation Ancient God nodded.

"Cut away the past. Cut away the present. Cut away the future!"

The Reincarnation Ancient God spoke slowly.

"Cut away the past, present, and future?" Li Ruoyu froze as if struck by lightning, rooted to the spot. He instantly understood what the Reincarnation Ancient God meant.

To cut away the past meant severing all former ties and experiences, tantamount to slashing away one’s own cultivation, plummeting back to the proof of the Second Primordial Spirit.

To cut away the present was to forsake all current cultivation.

But the hardest task was to cut away the future.

The future abounded with variables and unknowns.

A single misstep could lead to eternal damnation.

"This path is the most perilous," Lin Qianmo said lightly, "but the rewards are the greatest. Throughout the ages, few transcendents have ever achieved it."

"What about you?" Li Ruoyu’s gaze locked intently onto Lin Qianmo.

"I am one of them."

Her voice remained calm, yet brimmed with confidence.

Her ability to breach the rules of the Hongmeng Dao Realm and descend to the lower realms meant she was no ordinary existence.

Otherwise, just as there were countless transcendents in the Qing Xuan plane, not one could descend to the lower realms—simply because they weren’t strong enough.

"Each step in cultivation lays the foundation of the Dao," Lin Qianmo said. "The more profound the foundation, the greater the achievements. This principle still holds for transcendents."

"Heavenly Emperor, your foundation is immense. You are fully capable of attempting to sever your past, present, and future selves… and forge a Dao Body."

"And if I fail?"

A ripple of uncertainty flickered in Li Ruoyu’s eyes.

"Body perishes, Dao vanishes."

Lin Qianmo’s tone was detached.

"Hahaha…"

Li Ruoyu’s laughter rang out—part sob, part bitter triumph. If he walked this path, wouldn’t everything he had done become meaningless?

From the moment he first laid his plans, he had ceased to be the invincible Heavenly Emperor.

For the sake of transcendence, he had destroyed the Immortal Realm he built with his own hands and sacrificed his Master.

Now, someone told him that transcendence could be achieved through his own power instead!

Li Ruoyu couldn’t accept it.

To admit this truth was to reject all he had once been.

At this moment, Li Ruoyu couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Transcendence had become his obsession.

He had fallen into madness.