Chapter 187: Proving the Dao by Killing a Brother! (6k Thanks to the Grandmaster of the Supreme Primal Chaos)

Chapter 187: Proving the Dao by Killing a Brother! (6k Thanks to the Grandmaster of the Supreme Primal Chaos)

The calamity rose and fell, stirring the hearts of countless people.

Deep within the Boundary Sea, behind the levee, some felt regret while others rejoiced.

Everyone thought Shaohua had perished in that shocking calamity. The legend of breaking through to become an emperor had always been just that—a legend. No one had ever heard of anyone succeeding.

No emperors existed in this world, and the path ahead was blocked. The Immortal King was the ultimate limit.

This was a pessimistic thought, but it was also a reality.

No one knew that Shaohua had quietly entered the Primordial Ancient Realm.

"Indeed, my breakthrough lies elsewhere. This injury is severe, and I can't afford another major conflict."

Before she finished speaking, a gash appeared on her left hand, a touch of bright red blood contrasting sharply with her pale, smooth arm.

Shaohua remained expressionless as she pressed the wound. The blood that had fallen silently returned to her body, leaving no trace.

To this day, the Eternal Word Art continued to exert its influence.

She had withstood all the backlash that came at once, something that would have killed or expelled anyone else from this timeline.

She had intended to use this opportunity to trigger the calamity of all worlds, turning the backlash into pressure to force a breakthrough to the Quasi-Immortal Emperor level. As expected, it failed.

Indeed, copying someone else's path was unreliable.

Shi Hao could borrow power to force a breakthrough, but she couldn't, and she had only injured herself in the process.

"People are different; I can only walk my own path. Others' experiences can be referenced, but not replicated."

This was related to both the Dao and life experiences.

Shi Hao had created the Secret Realm Art, and his breakthrough to Quasi-Immortal Emperor involved integrating the sixth Secret Realm into his body, essentially merging his "divinity" with himself.

Shaohua initially thought this was similar to her current situation, which was why she had taken the risk.

Though she knew this "divinity" was not the same as hers, people often harbor a mentality of taking a chance or hoping for the best, and she was no exception, often letting optimism get the better of her.

What if it worked?

This wasn't her problem alone. Anyone who was stuck at the final step would try every possible opportunity if they had the choice.

Though she didn't succeed, it was within her expectations.

This failure had taught her a lot. She had briefly touched the realm of Quasi-Immortal Emperor and learned that she couldn't force a breakthrough, which was enough.

To be precise, someone like her, who established a new Dao, should be revered as a Dao Ancestor.

At this moment, the future Shaohua Dao Ancestor was traveling through the Primordial Ancient Realm, gradually delving deeper, witnessing endless desolation and loneliness.

What had already happened was in the past, and she could not change it.

This time, she only wanted to and could quietly be an observer.

Along the way, she discovered one scripture after another, carefully studying and experiencing their subtleties.

The once-dreamed-of immortal scriptures were easily found here.

Don't ask how she found them; it was the means of a Dao Ancestor.

She traversed the ancient realm, her figure and aura shrouded in mist, leaving no trace. One day, she encountered a Little Black Dog in a sacred land on a divine mountain.

"Look, there's a lone puppy ahead. I'm a bit hungry, so—"

The Little Black Dog, hearing someone openly plotting to eat it, bared its teeth and grew several times its size, transforming into a massive, muscular black dog.

"Arf arf~~"

Unfortunately, a True Immortal dog was no match for Shaohua. She extended a slender finger and struck it, instantly returning it to its original form.

The massive black dog couldn't control its body, which forcibly reverted to a puppy, and was then grabbed by the scruff of its neck.

"Arf, Master, save me!"

The Little Black Dog, realizing it had bitten off more than it could chew, quickly used its strongest ability—calling for help.

In the past, no matter what trouble it caused, as long as it could call on its powerful backer, it would always turn a crisis into safety.

This time, it wouldn't be so easy!

Shaohua, holding the struggling Little Black Dog by one hand, glanced to the side and said coolly, "You shouldn't have come here."

"Your life-saving grace, I can never repay—"

Wu Zhong appeared, a drop of crystal-clear blood hovering in his hand, left by Shaohua when she had sent him away.

"I know, you'll work as a horse or a cow in your next life to repay me. I remember that." Shaohua blinked, answering preemptively.

Wu Zhong: "."

At this moment, a towering figure far away in the River of Downstream of Time suddenly felt a strange sensation.

"How dare you lose focus during battle, die!"

Not far away, someone shouted, their blood surging as they launched a desperate attack on the man with a large bell on his head, who was facing away from the crowd.

However, even with a momentary lapse in concentration, the man still withstood the terrifying assault.

"Clang!"

The large bell resonated, emitting Chaos Qi, shaking the River of Time.

The man suppressed his inner turmoil, and time seemed to reverse around him. A long spear appeared in his hand, and he channeled the power of time, sweeping away all obstacles.

"Depart!" He had a sudden inspiration, not choosing to use his own technique but another secret art to defeat his enemy.

The same technique, when used by different people, produced different results.

The Voidborn Entity, which had been entangled with him, stumbled and collapsed, its body ripped apart by the spear, while its soul essence was shattered by the bell, causing it to hemorrhage its vital energy into the Boundary Sea.

"Is it you, Sister?"

"It's not me, I didn't, don't say nonsense!" Wu Zhong quickly shook his head.

Shaohua remained silent, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Whether it was or not, it wasn't up to you, little brother.

Wu Zhong couldn't help but feel his heart race. Could his guess be true?

"Master, save me!" The Little Black Dog cried out again.

Wu Zhong could only give his beloved pet a helpless look.

This time, there was no saving it.

But then again, he had heard that immortal maidens and goddesses loved cute creatures like Little Black. Why didn't it work here?

If he had known, he wouldn't have sent Little Black out to be a sacrificial offering.

The Little Black Dog, still unaware that it had been sold out by its master, gave up struggling.

Shaohua stroked the dog's head, and it felt surprisingly good.

"Since you're not here to repay me, what do you want? Just so you know, I'm in no position to help you."

Any further action would likely lead to something terrible, either a natural disaster or a human one.

"Would you like to have Little Black?" Wu Zhong pointed to the Little Black Dog in her hand, making one last attempt.

Shaohua shook her head.

"Is that a no? I see." Wu Zhong sighed deeply.

"Immortal King, you'll be fine. You survived the last calamity, there must be another way. If not, we can always run to the Boundary Sea!"

The Little Black Dog, now realizing the situation, struggled free and rushed to Wu Zhong, hugging his leg and crying.

"Born in this world, grown in this world, and should die in this world. I won't leave, and I can't." Wu Zhong bent down and patted Little Black Dog's head.

The Little Black Dog couldn't help but sob, suddenly remembering the conversation between its master and the woman. It turned and rushed towards Shaohua.

Unfortunately, it was blocked by the mist, unable to touch even the hem of her robe, and could only kneel and plead:

"You can save Immortal King, right? Please save him. I'll be your pet. If not, you can cook me in a pot if you want!"

"I'm sorry, I can't save him." Shaohua's gaze softened as she picked up the Little Black Dog.

Though the dog had many flaws, she didn't dislike it. Its loyalty was commendable, in both this life and the previous one.

"The only thing I can do is be there for his last moments." She said frankly.

"Arf arf..." The Little Black Dog fainted in Shaohua's arms.

Wu Zhong, hearing this, looked deeply at the mysterious woman, feeling a sense of melancholy. He had already heard his own funeral dirge in the flow of time, and knew he couldn't escape it. If someone could be there for his last moments, it would be enough.

He smiled and, instead of saying more disheartening words, invited her to a gathering.

Shaohua nodded lightly and followed Wu Zhong to a Purple Bamboo Grove.

It was a cave dwelling, filled with the aura of immortals, with auspicious mists rising, beautiful mountains and rivers, and immortal birds and beasts.

She saw a young girl holding a white kirin, playing with it lovingly.

She saw an immortal phoenix, transformed into a girl, wearing a five-colored robe, landing on a spiritual mountain, looking serene.

This was a grand gathering, where many young prodigies from various races had gathered. No one was arrogant, and all were humble, no one looked down on anyone, and the atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious, almost otherworldly.

Even in the distant future, such a pure atmosphere of exchange and competition was rare, something she had only seen in the Jade Pool Sacred Land.

"Immortal Ancient, sigh." Shaohua sighed, knowing this was probably the last grand gathering in this world.

The peaceful sound of a bell rang, making the young generation feel as if they were about to comprehend the Dao, gaining a mysterious insight into the great path.

"That great person has also arrived, how surprising."

"Heavens, it's Lord Wu Zhong. I heard he was injured, but he's here!"

A young man in the crowd was startled and looked up, seeing a mysterious woman stepping on a Golden Radiant Path, emerging from the mist.

Shi Hao was shocked. Could Wu Zhong, the Immortal King, be a woman?

Others quickly covered his mouth.

Though the great ones were very approachable, one shouldn't speak rashly.

"I'm not Wu Zhong."

Shaohua immediately spotted the person who stood out in the crowd, sensing a different aura. She was surprised that Wu Zhong and the Six Paths Immortal King had indeed brought people from the future.

And with a single pull, she pulled out the biggest one.

"Who are you?" someone couldn't help but ask.

"I'm his sister", Shaohua said, her eyes glinting as she shook the unconscious Little Black Dog in her hand. "See, his dog is with me."

Everyone was shocked.

They had never heard that the Great Lord had a sister.

But the bell had just rung, indicating that the Immortal King Wu Zhong was present. No one would dare to speak falsely, and no one came forward to clarify. Could it be true?

Shaohua didn't say much more, to avoid inviting more trouble.

If she were at her peak, it would be one thing, but in her current state, she shouldn't add more pressure to herself. She glanced at Shi Hao a few times before turning away.

On the other side, the remaining Immortal Kings of the Primordial Ancient Realm, whether in their true or avatar forms, gathered together. They all heard Shaohua's forced kinship claim and looked at Wu Zhong with strange expressions.

"I feel that my Dao is not yet complete. It lacks the beginning, the origin. It needs both the start and the end, Wu Zhong Wu Shi", Wu Zhong said expressionlessly.

"Ah, yes, yes", Shaohua appeared quietly, nodding in agreement.

"We didn't expect Wu Zhong to really bring you here. We thought you would be the one to bring about the downfall of the Immortal Ancient Realm, but..." the Six Paths Immortal King didn't finish his sentence.

But everyone understood the meaning behind his words.

If not for Shaohua's interference, injuring Kun Di, the invasion from the Otherworld would have come much earlier, and Wu Zhong might not have returned the last time.

"If you're seeking help, you've come to the wrong person. Please forgive me, but I am powerless", Shaohua said coolly.

"No, our fate is already sealed. We invited you here to thank you for your kindness", the only remaining True Dragon of the Ten Great Evils said, pushing forward a pile of cultivation techniques and scriptures from the Immortal Ancient Realm.

"We just want to leave something behind", the Six Paths Immortal King added. Whether it was giving her the scriptures or trying to bring back future generations, it was just an attempt.

Shaohua didn't feign modesty. With everything laid out before her, it would be foolish not to accept it. She could only observe and couldn't take anything away. Even if she only observed and didn't take anything, she might not retain the memories when she returned to the present world unless she broke through while staying in this era.

But that was incredibly difficult!

Thus, Shaohua immersed herself in the scriptures, studying intensively for several months.

The cultivation methods of the Immortal Ancient Realm required a divine seed, which had to be fused with one's body to open the path of cultivation. These legacies led directly to the Immortal King stage.

The key was to start with the most fundamental Dao, simple and direct, with strong control over the laws and great power, but lacking in versatility.

The scriptures sent by the Immortal Kings were the top-tier legacies of this realm and even the Immortal Domain, including those of the people present.

Shaohua imprinted all the scriptures in her heart, engraving them on her Life Soil, allowing her Soul Essence to evolve in the clear light of time.

Integrating these top-tier legacies with her millennia of experiences and comparing them with the methods she had learned in the Otherworld, she found the experience immensely beneficial.

"Snap!"

She put down the last legacy, stretching her slender and graceful waist. Her beautiful figure undulated, but this scene was destined to be unseen.

The mist obscured everything.

"What is to come will come."

Shaohua looked into the distant sky, where monstrous eyes opened in the void, colossal bone spines pierced the sky, and gray mist surged from the universe.

The Otherworld invaded, and darkness came!

In an instant, the once peaceful and serene immortal land was tainted, turning into a dead gray, with cries of battle shaking the heavens.

The Immortal Kings of the Primordial Ancient Realm were already engaged in fierce battles with the Immortal Kings of the Otherworld, but each of them faced multiple enemies.

Blood-scaled creatures fell from the sky, piercing through the heavens, easily crushing several young geniuses. No matter how they roared or how powerful their spells were, it was all in vain.

There was no denying that they could become towering figures in the future, but time was not on their side.

A grown genius is a strong person, but a genius who doesn't grow up, no matter how well-spoken, is just a weakling who can't control their fate.

"Crack!"

A black vine fell from the universe, collapsing mountains and valleys. The emerald sea boiled, and the Purple Bamboo Grove, once a paradise, began to crack. Several young geniuses struggled with all their might but were crushed.

"I regret coming here", Shaohua turned her head with difficulty, afraid that her soft heart would make her act impulsively.

She was always like that, soft-hearted.

"Ah, Shaohua, you can't be soft-hearted. This has already happened and is a reflection of ancient history. Even if you intervene, you can't change anything!"

Shaohua kept counseling herself, trying to be as ruthless as a cold-hearted person, no, as a ruthless wolf.

But she always had a soft heart.

Was Heng Ren truly cold-hearted? Not exactly. He was just cold on the outside but warm inside, not good at expressing emotions.

Shaohua couldn't change her true nature. If she became completely cold, she wouldn't be herself.

Without a heart, a person would become a cold puppet, no different from those who had fallen into darkness.

"Drip!"

A drop of blood fell, turning into a radiant rain of light that soaked into the bodies of the shattered geniuses. It seemed to reverse time, reshaping their bodies and reuniting their Soul Essences, bringing them back to life.

A mysterious mist spread, devoid of any darkness, incredibly sacred, and even the faint glow of fourteen colors could be seen, dispelling all fear and unease.

The dark, fallen, and invasive auras and powers were all swept away.

Is it a reason not to act because it's impossible to change?

"No, it's not like that!"

Shaohua's body was covered in countless wounds, blood streaming down, her aura constantly weakening, and her form becoming increasingly indistinct.

But she smiled, a radiant smile.

Is what has been deduced always true? Can predetermined events not be changed?

The only way to know is to try!

Practice is the only way to verify.

Even if she fails, at least she would have tried, and she could be without regret.

The path of cultivation is about sincerity and perseverance!

Shaohua finally recalled the words she had once said.

Sincerity in the heart leads to perseverance on the path.

Beneath the Life Soil, her fourteen-colored Soul Essence shone brilliantly, like an eternal sun, breaking through the Life Soil's cover, dispelling the enveloping mist, and illuminating the path ahead.

"Everything that has happened will happen again. Everything that has been done will be done again."

Shaohua looked up at the sky, her physical body and Soul Essence working together to protect the young geniuses of the Immortal Ancient Realm.

In her eyes, they were just children.

In another time, with another group, she would make the same choice.

"Ao!" A dragon's roar echoed through the heavens, high and stirring, shaking the universe. The True Dragon of the Ten Great Evils fell.

"Crack!" The Six Paths Disk exploded.

The Six Paths Immortal King did his last act, using his life as a stake to let the ancestor of the Gū clan lie dormant in the Otherworld, waiting for a perhaps nonexistent opportunity.

"Boom!"

In the desolate land, Immortal Kings kept falling, sacrificing their Dao Fruits and lives to forge the Heavenly Abyss, determined to block the invasion even if they died.

"Bang!" Wu Zhong's bell shattered.

"Only I'm left, but I don't want to die at the hands of you, the fallen ones", Wu Zhong smiled, injecting a drop of blood that didn't belong to him or this era into his Dao Fruit.

Two vastly different paths of time clashed intensely, causing the River of Time to surge, sweeping away part of the Otherworld army, including several Immortal Kings, who never returned.

Shaohua watched Wu Zhong fall. In a sense, it was her drop of blood that dealt the final blow, killing him.

She never expected it to end this way.

This era, because of her arrival, seemed to have changed a little, yet it seemed unchanged.

But Shaohua felt that it had changed.

This chaotic era was too cruel. The kings were wailing and bleeding, meeting tragic ends, tragic and lamentable.

The once glorious Primordial Ancient Realm had fallen into decline, the entire world shattered and cracking.

This was the twilight of the immortals, a blood-soaked apocalypse. Those once vibrant, radiant, and immortal beings, those ancient legacies, those legendary myths, were all crumbling.

The end of an era.

The end of a civilization.

The end of a cycle.

Bodies littered the ground, blood flowed like rivers. This was not an exaggeration but something Shaohua had witnessed with her own eyes.

Yet she was powerless to change it, how could she not be heartbroken, how could she not be left with regret?

And this was just the collision between two realms in ancient times. In the future, when the darkness invaded in full force, it would be even more devastating.

Then, Immortal Kings would be cannon fodder, and even Dao Ancestor-level and Final Path Ascenders would fall!

This battle, the stars reversed, ancient realms collapsed.

The blood of Immortal Kings dyed the sunset over the desolate land, and the dragon's roar turned into an eternal lament.

Time couldn't heal the scars, and the shattered mountains and rivers buried the former glory.

The distant bell sounded faintly, and the spirits' figures blurred in time.

Someone tried to hold onto the departing Shaohua, but even Shaohua herself was just a spectator in this epochal battle.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end