Chapter 1172 - The Grand Dao of Profound Ruin!

Ages rose and fell, and worldly affairs shifted within the current of the River of Destiny.

Yet that illusory figure stood atop it, an eternal, timeless existence!

All of this came as an enormous astonishment to Su Yi.

After all, if that illusory figure really was another of his past lives, that would be unquestionably far too unbelievable.

If he was already so unbelievably strong, why would he need to undergo reincarnation and rebirth?

“Grasping the edges of destiny has allowed us to meet across the gap between reincarnations. Truly interesting,” said that illusory figure in a clear voice like the ringing of a morning bell or the beating of an evening drum.

“Although you’ve only just touched the edges of destiny and cannot grasp the full extent of it, the unknown is full of exciting possibilities.

“And this gives me, the first to struggle within this cycle of reincarnation, an opportunity to assist you.”

Here, the illusory figure laughed. “Oh, but it’s also an opportunity to help myself.”

Su Yi’s heart shook.

Indeed, it’s just as I thought. This timeless, eternal figure standing atop the River of Destiny really is one of my past lives!

“Just... Who are you?” asked Su Yi, completely disregarding all talk of “assistance.”

He was far too curious about the illusory figure’s origins for that.

However, that illusory figure shook his head slightly. “Should the day come that your power surpasses mine, you’ll naturally understand everything.”

“....” Su Yi had nothing to say to that.

He then watched as that illusory figure stretched out his right hand and scooped a splash of water out of the River of Destiny.

The water instantly transformed into a bundle of the light of the Grand Dao.

“This Grand Dao... Hm.....” The illusory figure was just about to explain when he suddenly sank into silent contemplation.

After a while, he said, “For now, let’s call it ‘Profound Ruin.’ With it, you can sever karma, restrict destiny, and free yourself from heaven’s thrall. It isn’t all that strong, but when you step into the next major realm of cultivation, you’ll be able to establish an unhindered mental state, and you’ll no longer be subject to reincarnation’s karmic fetters.”

“???”

Severing Karma and restricting destiny? A Law of the Grand Dao like that ‘isn’t all that strong!?’

Even just thinking about it, it had an intense, forbidden air about it.

And it could even “free him from heaven’s thrall” and exempt him from reincarnation’s karmic fetters!?

A Grand Dao like that was simply unbelievable!

The awareness Su Yi had inherited from the Temple Master told him that the Laws that illusory figure called “Profound Ruin” surely contained unbelievable mysteries!

“Rest assured. I’m not so foolish as to think tugging on a seedling will accelerate its growth. Your path is yet unknown, and that’s what makes it interesting. If our destiny and paths were long since predetermined, why would I need to undergo reincarnation?” the figure standing atop the River of Destiny chuckled, indescribably natural and unaffected.

Su Yi sank into a lengthy silence and calmed himself down. “Why... is it me?”

It seemed the illusory figure instantly realized what Su Yi meant. In a tone rife with meaning, he said, “Nine represents the pinnacle. Back then, I was the first to use the cycle of reincarnation to achieve rebirth, beginning our journey toward a higher path. And you? You are the only one that actually found reincarnation. In doing so, we’ve returned to our starting point, creating an endless, self-perpetuating cycle of reincarnation.

“This wasn’t predestined, but rather, a meeting of destiny and karma. It’s for this reason that you had an opportunity to grasp the edges of destiny amidst reincarnation.

“Of course, if you die here...” the illusory figure trailed off. “Then, everything is over.”

His words sounded ordinary, but Su Yi detected an altogether different flavor. A chill coursed down his spine.

Everything would be over?

Did that mean that if he died, all of his past lives, and everything that illusory figure had attained, would go up in smoke?

“Your cultivation boundary is insufficient. Giving this further thought will do you no good. Just accept the Laws of Profound Ruin and focus on cultivating the sword.” The illusory figure standing atop the River of Destiny laughed. “Bear this in mind: we sword cultivators ought to temper our hearts until they’re as smooth as jade in times of tranquility, and as sharp as our swords’ edges in times of action!”

With that, he waved his sleeves, and that bundle of light crossed the River of Destiny and shot toward Su Yi.

Boom!

Mysterious Truths of the Grand Dao flooded into Su Yi’s soul, and the scene before him disappeared.

He sank completely into a wondrous state of enlightenment, forgetting himself completely.

Meanwhile, that illusory figure glanced at the seven divine chains on the Sword of the Nine Hells and murmured, “So many karmic fetters will be enough to forge a sword heart worthy of my anticipation amidst the unknown...”

As his voice echoed through the air, the River of Destiny gradually dissipated, and that illusory figure disappeared without a trace.

The Sword of the Nine Hells was still and silent, as were its seven divine chains.

As if nothing had ever happened.

An unknown amount of time passed before Su Yi suddenly awakened from that wondrous state of enlightenment, and he gradually regained his mental clarity.

A moment later, he suddenly seemed to realize something. He calmed his heart and examined his sea of consciousness, only to discover that everything was just as it had been before. There was no longer any trace of the River of Destiny or of that timeless figure standing above it.

“It seems that when I used the Apex of Genesis as a key, I unlocked some of the secrets hidden within the Sword of the Nine Hells. That’s what made the River of Destiny appear. The Temple Master experienced something similar, except he never saw that illusory figure. The reasons for this are connected to the mysteries of reincarnation...

“I grasped reincarnation, and that enabled me to brush upon the edges of destiny and meet that illusory figure across lifetimes!

“And that illusory figure was almost certainly my first lifetime, the one who first chose to undergo reincarnation!

“None of my other lifetimes grasped the secrets of reincarnation, so they couldn’t see that illusory figure standing on the River of Destiny, the first.... me!”

Upon this realization, Su Yi sank into silence.

Contemplating the Sword of the Nine Hells and learning these secrets had come as an enormous shock, and he’d inferred quite a bit from this.

But all of it seemed fleeting and far, far removed from his current self.

Su Yi cast aside his scattered thoughts and focused on his cultivation, only to discover that his power of the Apex of Genesis had transformed, replaced by a new and mysterious Grand Dao.

It was as dazzling as the first light of a new day, or the river of stars flowing through the nine heavens. It was as wild and chaotic as the beginning of the universe, with the blue luster of a new spring, clear and ethereal, without the slightest contaminants.

When Su Yi tried to sense it, he found mysteries piled upon mysteries; it seemed to seize fortune from the heavens themselves.

Everything regarding this Mysterious Truth of the Grand Dao surged into Su Yi’s mind.

Profundities upon profundities, the gateway to innumerable subtleties.

This Grand Dao was called Profound Ruin. It was like the source of all transformations, but simultaneously, the final destination of all mysteries and subtleties!

What surprised Su Yi most was that the Laws of Profound Ruin were even more inscrutable than the Mysterious Truths of Reincarnation!

Back in the Netherworld’s chaos source, he’d paid an enormous price and put in extensive effort just to grasp the barest thread of the mysteries of reincarnation. Even now, he’d just barely reached the level of peering over the threshold.

And his Mysterious Truths of Profound Ruin were still just an indistinct wisp, as frail as could be.

Yet their aura was even more difficult to fathom than that of reincarnation!

“And you seriously said this wasn’t all that strong?”

Su Yi was at a loss for words.

A moment later, he understood. That illusory figure had transmitted this Grand Dao to him with the end goal of letting him establish an unimpeded Dao Heart during his next major breakthrough. Then, he’d no longer be restricted by the karmic shackles.

If the Mysterious Truths of Profound Ruin weren’t strong enough, how could they possibly let him cast off karma’s fetters?

Clang!

Su Yi took out the Tiny Heart of the Cosmos and tried circulating the Mysterious Truths of Profound Ruin.

A shocking scene resulted. The Tiny Heart of the Cosmos shook violently and wailed. The blade quivered, as if unable to bear the pressure of this Grand Dao!

Su Yi stopped immediately and made no further attempts. If he carried on, he would surely destroy the Tiny Heart of the Cosmos!

“Indeed, the Mysteries Truths of Profound Ruin aren’t simple. They’re far beyond Celestial Laws like Heavenly Prayer and Cosmic Silence. They’re even stronger and more difficult to grasp than a Domain Law like the Light of the Universe.”

Su Yi was stunned. Now that he had the Temple Master’s knowledge and experience, he naturally could discern that the Laws of Profound Ruin were absolutely and unquestionably powerful beyond imagination.

“Unfortunately, they’re far too difficult to comprehend...” Su Yi couldn’t help but sigh.

The Mysterious Truths of Reincarnation were already inscrutable and difficult, but now, he had to worry about the Mysterious Truths of Profound Ruin, too. If he wanted to master both, he could already imagine how labor-intensive and time-consuming the path ahead of him would be.

“Even my cultivation has improved; I’m already in the mid-stage Profound Unity Realm. That’s an unexpected boon.” Su Yi quickly sensed the changes to his cultivation base, only to discover that he’d improved rapidly during that state of enlightenment, reaching a new level!

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

But now that he had the Temple Master’s perception, these changes to his cultivation weren’t all that exciting to him.

After all, he was still only in the mid-stage Profound Unity Realm!

The Three Realms of the Path of Heaven’s Ascension were still waiting for him!

“There’s no rush. With my current knowledge and horizons, there’s no need to worry about my cultivation of the Path of Heaven’s Ascension. No, I ought to focus on staying true to myself and tempering my swordsmanship until my heart is as smooth as jade and sharp as my sword!

“I just don’t know how long it’s been since I went into seclusion...”

As Su Yi pondered, he rose, then headed toward the cave’s exit.

A clear breeze blew past, swaying the bamboo.

Jing Xing sat cross-legged by the lakeshore, patiently instructing Yuan Heng, Ying Que, Ge Qian, and the others’ cultivation and resolving their doubts.

Jin Kui rode a lotus boat on the lake. She, Ning Sihua, and Cha Jin were boating on the lake’s sunlit surface. From time to time, they broke into peals of crisp laughter.

Wen Lingxue and Qing Wan were fishing by the lakeside and conversing amongst themselves.

Further in the distance, atop a cliffside plateau, Wang Que, Ye Luo, Bai Yi, and Xuan Ning were discussing the Wilds’ recent developments.

Everything seemed leisurely and tranquil.

“Master has already been in seclusion for half a year. It seems he won’t emerge any time soon.” Wang Que raised his teacup to his lips and took a sip.

Ye Luo suddenly chimed in, “It’s been three months since that suspicious woman showed up, but she’s still waiting outside the Grotto of Abstruse Force. She sure is patient. But Master’s been in seclusion this whole time. At this rate, no matter how long she waits, she won’t get the chance to see him.”

“I wonder who that woman is? I get the sense that she’s even stronger than the Wild’s ancient Imperial Apex Emperors,” Xuan Ning said gravely.

“Right? I get the same feeling.” Bai Yi nodded his agreement.

Suddenly, a calm voice rang out. “Who are you talking about?”

Master left seclusion?

Ye Luo and the others looked over. When they saw that familiar figure clearly, all of them were stunned. They almost dared not believe their eyes.