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Chang Hao's Suppression Realm was pierced through with a single sword strike. Across realms and millions of miles, Qin Yi's single strike cleaved through the barrier, leaving the central defenses wide open.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A frigid gale swept outward, causing everything within the Suppression Realm to shatter inch by inch at breakneck speed.
"This humble Daoist is departing now. Having Abandoned the Dao and achieved my purpose, my heart holds no regrets!"
Chang Hao's smiling face materialized in the stream, then abruptly twisted and vanished.
Qin Yi's talent and aptitude far exceeded his expectations. The closer the youth approached the later stages of his Cultivation Realm, the faster his progress seemed to accelerate. With such extraordinary talent, combined with the path Chang Hao had paved for him, what could he possibly worry about?
Boom!
Space twisted as the Suppression Realm shattered completely, and An Yi emerged barefoot from the wreckage.
Her expression was impassive, a faint smile playing on her lips, yet her gaze was chillingly indifferent.
"Many thanks!"
Across the void, An Yi nodded her gratitude.
She stepped forward and quickly emerged from the Divine Demon Well, arriving in the Mortal Realm.
Qin Yi descended from the skies above Mount Shu, landing among the assembled Elders.
"From this day forward, Dugu Yuyun will inherit the position of Sect Lord of Mount Shu."
With these cold words, Qin Yi turned and departed without another word.
For the past five years, he had guarded Mount Shu, providing Dugu Yuyun with an optimal environment for growth. The latter's current Cultivation Realm was now unfathomably profound, likely soon surpassing Chang Hao's achievements.
"Senior Martial Uncle!" Dugu Yuyun's expression shifted dramatically as he called out urgently.
"Sect Lord!" The Mount Shu Elders also clamored, pleading for him to stay.
"I never truly belonged here," Qin Yi replied, "and besides..."
"I have my own matters to attend to!"
"The time has come!"
His footsteps halted, Qin Yi strode away.
The Mount Shu disciples exchanged puzzled glances, unable to grasp the meaning of his words.
Riding his sword, he soared toward the Kunlun Mountains. In the blink of an eye, Qin Yi transformed into a streak of sword light and vanished from their sight.
As his sword descended, landing atop the Kunlun Mountains, Qin Yi spotted a familiar figure already waiting there.
Dressed in a flowing pink gown, her bare feet floated above the ground. Her exquisite features and porcelain-white skin belonged to An Yi.
His eyes flickered as he slowly descended to face her.
"You've... Reached the Dao?"
Gazing into her eyes, Qin Yi understood at once.
For cultivators who strive relentlessly and cultivate tirelessly, this moment of choice inevitably arrives.
"Yes, I've Achieved the Dao! And I must thank you for it."
Though a smile played on An Yi's lips, the warmth and affection that once filled her gaze had vanished.
"Good!"
Qin Yi stared deeply into An Yi's eyes, then nodded and spoke softly.
When they had been a couple, they had both striven for the goal of becoming Dao Practitioners, Forgetting the Dao. Now that An Yi had achieved this state of perfect merit, their shared destiny had naturally come to an end.
"I'm going to Inner Mount Shu," An Yi said. "It's a gathering place for the Demon Clan."
"Very well," Qin Yi replied. "I'll escort you there."
His expression betrayed neither joy nor sorrow; his heart remained utterly serene.
"Thank you," An Yi said.
Few words passed between them, yet those few words conveyed everything they needed to understand each other's intentions.
An Yi had Forgotten the Dao, becoming detached and devoid of emotions. Qin Yi, on the other hand, lived freely and spontaneously, treating honor, shame, gain, and loss as mere fleeting clouds.
Neither elated by material possessions nor saddened by personal setbacks, Qin Yi's Cultivation Realm had reached profound depths.
Within the Immortal Sword, he had refined his being, his spirit had undergone a profound sublimation, reaching heights he could never have imagined before. This meant that his approach to future matters would be fundamentally different.
The entrance to Inner Mount Shu lay within Mount Shu itself. Qin Yi followed An Yi to the foot of the mountain but didn't climb further, remaining there to silently see her off.
An Yi didn't look back as she passed barefoot through Mount Shu, entered Inner Mount Shu, and ultimately vanished from Qin Yi's sight.
Huff!
Qin Yi exhaled deeply, his gaze gradually brightening.
At that moment, his Cultivation Realm began to soar. His cultivation, previously stuck at the Ninth Layer, surged forward in an instant.
"Tenth Layer, Abandoning the Dao Realm!"
"Eleventh Layer, Reaching the Dao Realm!"
"Twelfth Layer, Alchemy Dao Realm!"
Having reached the Twelfth Layer, every pore in Qin Yi's body was exhaling foul Qi, expelling impurities as his hair shed, washing away grime. Immediately afterward, a golden Golden Core materialized within his Dantian.
This was precisely the Golden Core spoken of in the Cultivation's Way, the condensation of all the True Essence in the body.
One Golden Core swallowed, my fate lies in my own hands, not in Heaven's! This was the first defiance against the Heavenly Dao from those who followed the Cultivation's Way, the first step toward seizing control of their own destiny.
The Immortal Cultivation civilization surpassed even the Hokage and Pirate Worlds he had experienced, precisely in this aspect.
It granted greater, more comprehensive power, along with far longer lifespans, and their personal strength never waned with age.
Perhaps the worlds he had previously known could develop terrifying offensive capabilities at their peak. But as time passed, that power would always plateau at a finite limit, incapable of further advancement. Even the mightiest warriors would eventually see their physical prowess and strength diminish with age, ultimately fading into the long river of time.
Immortal Cultivators, the more they cultivate, the more formidable their power becomes. While there may be an ultimate limit, it lies far beyond the reach of Hokage or Pirate levels.
"Alchemy Dao Realm, this is the pinnacle I can achieve in this realm!"
"But when it comes to offensive power..."
Qin Yi paused, a flicker of confidence igniting in his eyes.
"It rivals the thirteenth layer of the Human Dao Realm!"
Fueled by his mastery of ultimate Sword Intent, Qin Yi's attacks possessed unparalleled ferocity, allowing him to strike beyond his cultivation level.
With such power and cultivation, he could roam the Human Realm unchallenged. His journey in this world had finally begun in earnest.
An Yi's departure stirred his heart, yet he felt no regret.
Each person follows their own path; their well-being is all that matters. In his past life, when he discovered a serious illness, his girlfriend, with whom he shared a deep connection, left him without hesitation.
Seeking advantage and avoiding harm, the warmth and coldness of human relationships, these are the immutable realities of the world.
"Humans have the Human Dao, demons have the Demon Dao!"
Qin Yi muttered these eight words under his breath. With a knowing glance, he twisted his body and vanished from the foot of Mount Shu.
He returned to the Magnificent Qin Faction, seizing absolute control and ordering its vigorous development.
Qin Yi's return sent the Magnificent Qin's reputation soaring, its fame spreading across the world.
In just three short years, with Qin Yi at its helm, the Magnificent Qin Faction had grown into a major sect rivaling even Mount Shu in influence and prestige.
Everyone now knew: atop Kunlun Mountain stood the Magnificent Qin. Astonishingly, the Magnificent Qin was poised to rival Mount Shu in fame.
In the blink of an eye, three years had passed.
That year, Qin Yi stepped out of Magnificent Qin, vanishing from the sight of its disciples.
"With this task completed, I can finally arrange for the connection between the two realms!"
A glint flashed in Qin Yi's eyes, and a faint smile curled his lips.
After decades of hidden development and clandestine expansion, the moment of fruition was finally at hand.
Qin Yi's mind already raced ahead, picturing the astonished expressions of his old acquaintances from Qin's Nation when they witnessed the grandeur of this world.
Three days later, in the Kingdom of Nanzhao:
"Come forth! Water Demon Beast!"
A man with long hair cascading over his shoulders, clad in brocade robes, spread his arms wide and bellowed the command.
"Roar!"
In the next instant, a colossal demonic beast awakened, its massive form surging from the depths. It exuded overwhelming malevolence, its swirling demonic energy churning the lake into a tempestuous maelstrom.
The citizens of Nanzhao Kingdom were seized by terror and despair.
(End of Chapter)