Forging a path

Qin Ming was very rational; the progress on the path to New Life Path was slow, which was a harsh reality.

This is a difficult hurdle, one that has hindered the efforts of wise men throughout history.

Qin Ming frowned, deep in thought.

The Second Realm of the New Life Path requires even a genius ten years to overcome a small hurdle.

If one were to fully master this realm, even a young man of exceptional talent would likely already have graying temples.

Qin Ming possesses exceptional talent, allowing him to shorten the time required, but even he is still far from being comparable to someone in the First Realm.

The Third Realm of the road to New Life Path is even more difficult, the speed decreases further, and the time required will roughly double.

The difficulty continues to increase after reaching the Fourth Realm.

Qin Ming thought of the Overlord's Testament, which effectively increased cultivation speed starting from the Third Realm, but only relatively.

"The Third Realm the New Life Path, normally takes twenty years for each level for a genius. If the method recorded in the will is used, it can be shortened to seven or eight years, which greatly improves efficiency. The Overlord truly deserves his extraordinary talent."

However, after going through all the stages, it will still take more than twenty years.

Qin Ming felt that it was still too slow, because the time required for the later Major Realm was still accumulating, which was quite terrifying.

Then, he got up, called Little Wu, and prepared to go see Yu Gensheng and Zhao Ziyuan.

In the bamboo grove, in front of the thatched cottage, on the stone table, Camellia exude their fragrance.

The two elderly people sat there with smiles on their faces, and the results came after they consumed the Auspicious Beast Blood.

On their heads, near dozens of strands of hair, a small patch of hair roots slowly grew out and then fluttered there.

"That's it?" Little Wu didn't know how to comment.

"Seniors, how are you feeling?" Qin Ming asked.

"Not bad, it's effective." The two smiled broadly, touching the hundred or so extra strands of hair on their heads, quite pleased with themselves.

They have lived longer, albeit by a small margin, and for the next few years they will no longer have to worry about running out of energy.

This was not the Heart Blood of Auspicious Beast, and for people of their level, achieving such an effect was already quite extraordinary.

The two took out Spirit Crystal the size of human heads and returned them to Qin Ming and Little Wu respectively. They had each used only half of the Auspicious Beast Blood, so the effect was not significant.

Earlier, Little Wu had also rushed to provide a copy.

"Little Qin, you seem troubled. What's wrong?" Yu Gensheng asked.

Qin Ming put down his teacup and said, "I was lost in thought. I was thinking about the New Life Path. Starting from the Second Realm, it's been taking up way too much time."

Yu Gensheng sighed, "Sages throughout history have devoted themselves to this cause, but they still haven't been able to solve the problem at its root."

Qin Ming nodded. He didn't want to waste his time and hoped to make as vigorous and diligent progress as he had in the First Realm.

If in the end he stagnates and has to compete with the descendants of Cui Chonghe, Li Qingxu, and others, that would be truly tragic.

Zhao Ziyuan said, "We'll grant you access. Go to the top floor of the Library Tower and take a look at the insights and experiences of some 'celebrities' on the New Life Path."

Qin Ming's eyes lit up immediately. Although he had his own plans and methods, it would be even better if he could learn from the extensive experience of his predecessors.

"I want to go too, to perfect my path." Little Wu also became interested.

The ninth floor of the Library Tower at the Mountain River Academy is very quiet. It contains many rare "miscellaneous books," ranging from the Nine Questions of Longevity to Exploring the Black Night World and Godlike.

Qin Ming didn't have the energy to read everything, so he naturally chose to study books related to breaking through the barrier.

"Yes, many predecessors have also pondered the same questions I've thought of. Indeed, we need to stand on the shoulders of giants throughout history to see further."

For example, his approach of seeking Extraordinary Art within himself, which involves practicing extraordinary skills without fusing with other substances to enhance the power of the Heavenly Light Force, has been followed by predecessors.

However, an ancient person sighed, saying that continuing down this path would not be a problem, because without the need for purification rituals or other methods, the absorption of harmful substances would be reduced, and lifespan would actually increase.

However, the Heavenly Light Force cultivated in this way is ultimately somewhat lacking in power.

Qin Ming saw the signature and realized it was a handwritten note from a Grandmaster!

This startled him; it was a treasure trove, containing the insights of such a person.

Soon, he was once again greatly shocked, because there were also records about Sky-Pillar, Tathagata, Six Sovereigns, and others.

"How will they choose?" Qin Ming quickly flipped through the pages.

He observed very carefully that some people pursued the power of the Heavenly Light Force, but their lifespan was shortened, and in the end they had to spend time and energy to make up for the foundation of their life.

"The Ancestor all spoke of balance, refining evil spirits, integrating heterogeneous substances, and so on. They also diligently practiced Extraordinary Art to prolong life. In the process, some people eliminated some harmful substances, while others completely assimilated them."

Qin Ming read it repeatedly and studied it for a long time.

He has a clearer understanding of his own path.

He possesses the Starfire Essence, a legendary and extraordinary substance with terrifying power; it would be a waste not to utilize it.

He pondered for a long time and concluded that in the early stages, he could use evil spirits and other substances to hone his divine Heavenly Light, but not to fully absorb it. He should focus on introspection and, if anything seemed amiss, quickly "wash away the impurities."

"I don't lack Extraordinary Art, but I lack a kind of evil spirit that opposes the Starfire Essence." After all, his search for the Wither Bloom Scripture was partly due to this consideration.

Qin Ming flipped through one notebook after another, learning about various attempts made by predecessors to improve cultivation speed.

"Dragon Blood from the Dragon Sucking Water, Secret Medicine from the Earth Aperture... these extraordinary substances have miraculous effects even on those in the Third Realm!"

However, those "substances" are too rare to be found.

"There's also the Bone-Exchange Method, which fuses with the bones of gods, treating them as a superior heterogeneous substance, causing the physical body to mutate and rapidly enhance oneself. However, there's a risk of it getting out of control in the future."

A large stack of rare books was piled up in front of Qin Ming, recording various methods, mentioning their advantages and disadvantages, and none of them were perfect.

"Some have proposed that each realm experiences a near-death experience followed by a resurrection, thus fully embodying the true meaning of ' New Life,' believing this to be the hope for the New Life Path."

Qin Ming was surprised, as this did align with some of his own thoughts.

However, doing so is easier said than done. The key is the degree to which it is balanced; if not handled properly, it can lead to eternal oblivion and utter death.

Most importantly, this approach lacks universality; it relies entirely on exceptional talent, which is far too unfriendly to ordinary people.

Then, he saw a handwritten note left by a predecessor, which greatly moved him.

"The New Life Path, the First Realm allows for physical mutation, that's the fundamental reason. Why can't the Second Realm mutate? Why can't the Third Realm be sustained?"

This sage believed that the cultivation speed on the New Life Path slows down from the Second Realm onwards because the most crucial element—mutation—is missing.

He believes that for the later Major Realm, it is not necessary to New Life nine times in each realm, but maintaining it once is necessary to make up for the deficiencies in the New Life Path, thus accelerating the process.

"I've thought so too. Yes, geniuses throughout history are never lonely; they always have their own kind who recognize their talents."

Qin Ming smiled. This was one of the directions he had seriously considered, and he hadn't expected that someone before him had also tried it.

However, it's easier said than done; some ideas simply cannot be implemented.

Just like this sage, he was ultimately filled with frustration because, in the later Major Realm, he only experienced New Life once, thanks to "natural talent."

"To succeed once is already quite remarkable; it proves it wasn't just empty talk, and it's worth the effort to try."

Qin Ming devoured the books, some of which were clearly unique copies and carried the strong emotional turmoil of their authors.

He saw many new and wonderful things here. While others read a book simply, he sometimes browsed through a life or a piece of history.

The miscellaneous books here are of immense value, many of them involving "secrets."

Little Wu was also studying diligently on the side. He was like a sponge, constantly absorbing the wisdom and experience of his predecessors and comparing it with his own path to Rainbow Transformation, hoping to overcome the defect that he would eventually have to give up his physical body.

Lu Zizai arrived, found Qin Ming here, and secretly communicated with him telepathically.

"Go ahead and try different methods, follow your own ideas, don't be bound by the paths taken by predecessors. After all, every path has its flaws, and in this era, everyone can try to blaze new trails."

We are now in a special era, with the rise of the law, which is still being perfected. Whether it is the New Life, the old monsters, or people from the future, everyone has the opportunity to Truth Seeking, surpass the gods, and become ancestors. Everything is still in the process of pioneering.

Qin Ming inquired about the health of the Ancestor, asking how they were doing.

"Neither good nor bad. Some may be New Life and rise from the Nirvana, while for others it's hard to say. The Great Wilderness Expansion might be an opportunity for them, or it might bury them completely."

Overall, the future is shrouded in mystery, and no one can say for sure what will happen. The pressure on the New Life Path has not lessened, and newcomers still need to catch up and surpass them.

However, people from the Immortal Path and the Esoteric Sect are very wary because they cannot see through the true nature of the Ancestor, and now they have completely softened their stance.

"Once your cultivation level reaches a certain point, you can visit the major Ancestral Court temples on New Life Path," Lu Zizai said.

As for now, there's no need for that.

Lu Zizai tossed him several jade tokens, all tokens from several major Ancestral Court, and told him to keep them safe.

During this time, Qin Ming asked him some questions, such as the choice of the Second Realm, and shared his insights on practicing Silk Book Method.

"Is my success in practicing Silk Book Method related to my near-death experience back then?"

"New Life Path, the name itself encapsulates everything..."

After their conversation, Lu Zizai left in a hurry, seemingly very busy with many things to take care of.

Qin Ming and Little Wu left the Library Tower feeling they had gained a great deal and were gradually seeing their future more clearly.

"Uncle Meng."

When Qin Ming returned, he found Meng Xinghai there. It had been a long time since they had seen each other, and he felt incredibly warm and fuzzy with joy.

"Haha, it's not just me, Professor Li is here too, visiting friends at the Mountain River Academy," Meng Xinghai said with a smile.

Sure enough, Li Qingyun appeared quickly and said, "You brat, you went missing on your way to Kunling in a spaceship last time, which worried us terribly."

Li Qingyun had arrived long ago and had searched for him for some time without success.

Qin Ming was deeply moved. These two had gone to great lengths for him, protecting him and taking care of him on several occasions.

"You've caused quite a stir this time. Have you considered what to do next?" Meng Xinghai asked.

Qin Ming said, "I need to go into seclusion to cultivate and quickly improve my strength."

Meng Xinghai nodded and said, "Yes, keep a low profile for now. Everything else is secondary. Focus on improving your cultivation level first; that's the most important thing."

Li Qingyun said, "Why don't you come with me to the Hidden Family? It's very quiet and peaceful, a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the world."

"Uncle Li, are you looking for a grandson-in-law?" Meng Xinghai asked with a smile.

"This... is actually quite a good suggestion!" Li Qingyun nodded in agreement.

I'm using my weekend break today, but I'll update as usual this weekend.