Tai Yi's gaze pierced through endless space and landed on the Western Lands of the Prehistoric World.
There, the horrific wounds left by Demon Ancestor Luohu's self-destruction of Mount Sumeru still remained. The vast western land had shattered into countless fragmentary worlds floating within cracks in space.
Some of these fragmentary worlds could still bathe in the distant light of the Sun Star, preserving their fragile life opportunity.
But even more had fallen into eternal coldness and deathly silence, like forgotten graveyards slowly heading toward complete annihilation.
A thought flashed through Tai Yi's mind like lightning: Manifesting Billions of Suns!
If he could transform part of his origin radiance into billions of miniature "suns."
And project them, rooting them within those dying fragmentary worlds of the Western Lands.
They could dispel the darkness and bring light, heat, and life opportunity!
Then every small world illuminated and redeemed by him would become a "vessel" carrying his will!
As those small worlds revived and grew beneath the nourishment of his radiance, however slowly, his will and radiance would grow and spread with them!
In the end, when the radiance of billions of worlds converged and returned to one, achieving Unity of All Selves, what kind of scene would that be?
Would that be his opportunity to break through the shackles of the Quasi-Saint realm and glimpse a higher realm?
However, the greatest difficulty lay before him: how could he divide his own origin flawlessly and controllably into billions of portions, then accurately project them into those distant fragmentary worlds?
This required a Cloning Method beyond his current understanding!
Lu Jun's Star Planting Path had given him inspiration, but it could not be copied directly.
The Chaos Bell could suppress space and time, but it could not directly help him complete such meticulous division of his origin.
More importantly, if he took the path of Manifesting Billions of Suns, what would happen to his Nirvana Method?
I only have the Chaos Bell, one Innate Supreme Treasure. If I manifest billions of avatars, then after my Nirvana, will those sun avatars still be useful?
If they are useless, then wouldn't everything I did have been for nothing?
Or should I imitate that nephew Lu Jun?
First undergo Nirvana, then Herd the Stars of All Heavens?
With strength at least at the Quasi-Saint Peak after Nirvana, he might even attain the level of a Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal through his physical body.
With such powerful strength, would he not become even stronger when Herding the Stars of All Heavens?
If so, could he walk the Great Luo path of Manifesting Billions of Avatars and Unity of All Selves once again?
The more Tai Yi thought about it, the more uncertain the future seemed.
Every path appeared possible.
Yet the most fundamental issue remained how to complete the division of his origin.
Tai Yi fell silent. Divine light rapidly flickered within his Golden Eyes as he deduced a way to break the impasse.
Zhen Yuanzi's reaction was entirely different.
After a brief shock, the hand stroking his long beard paused slightly, while Pure Light burst forth from his eyes!
He suddenly turned his head, his gaze seeming to pierce endless space and return to the rear courtyard of Wuzhuang Temple on Mount Longevity.
There stood that lush and flourishing spiritual root of heaven and earth, exuding dense innate Yi Wood Essence—the Ginseng Fruit Tree!
"Ginseng Fruits... so that is how it is! So this is where my opportunity lies!"
Zhen Yuanzi suddenly understood, as though clouds had parted to reveal the sun!
He had transformed from the Ginseng Fruit Tree and attained the Dao, becoming the Ancestor of Earth Immortals.
Every nine thousand years, the tree bore thirty Ginseng Fruits shaped like infants, each containing the innate Yi Wood essence of his true body and Earth's Virtuous Qi.
In the past, he had regarded those Ginseng Fruits as spiritual treasures of heaven and earth, gifts for befriending great powers, and supplements for advancing cultivation.
Yet he had never considered... that they themselves were the finest "avatar embryos"!
He was the tree, and the Ginseng Fruits were condensed from the tree's essence!
Why did he need to tear himself apart in agony like Minghe?
Why did he need to seek external objects like Lu Jun?
He merely needed to... grant them spirituality and entrust his origin to them!
A clear path took shape in his mind: during the next nine-thousand-year cycle, before the Ginseng Fruits began to grow, he would return to the Ginseng Fruit Tree itself!
At that time, his origin would silently merge into the thirty fruits nearing maturity, like spring wind and rain!
During their gestation, they would naturally become imbued with and carry his "Dao" and his "self"!
Once they matured, they would become thirty Ginseng Fruit Incarnations naturally connected to his origin, each with limitless potential!
The only problem was that for the next nine thousand years, I would be unable to emerge into the world.
But I have the Three Corpses. What did it matter whether my true body emerged or not?
In this world, aside from Saints, did anyone dare attack Mount Longevity or Zhen Yuanzi?
Every nine thousand years, there would be thirty Ginseng Fruit Incarnations!
Their numbers might not be as terrifying as Ancestor Minghe's Four Hundred and Eighty Million Blood God Sons, but they naturally suited him, would not damage his origin, and possessed immense potential!
Moreover, the Ginseng Fruit Tree possessed Endless Vitality. Every nine thousand years, it could bear another thirty fruits... this was an unending path!
The problem that had troubled him for countless Eons—the expansion of his path through incarnations—had unexpectedly found such a perfect answer suited to him at this moment!
The knot in Zhen Yuanzi's heart completely dissolved, and a rare smile of heartfelt relief appeared on his face, one he had seldom shown since Hong Yun's death.
He turned toward Ancestor Minghe, whose expression remained grim and whose aura was still unstable. His tone was calm, carrying a trace of sincere emotion.
"Fellow Daoist Minghe, I have gained much from this discussion of the Dao, far beyond my expectations. Fellow Daoist has shared the secrets of the Blood Sea without reservation, and I am deeply grateful."
He paused, and his voice became even clearer.
"As for Fellow Daoist Hong Yun... the karmic entanglement cannot be explained in a few words. However, Fellow Daoist has been frank today, and I have gained insight as well. Let this matter... come to an end for now."
The words struck like thunder!
Ancestor Minghe abruptly raised his head, his blood-red eyes filled with disbelief!
The greatest enmity that had plagued him for countless years and left him unable to sleep or eat in peace... had simply... been set aside?
Zhen Yuanzi had actually taken the initiative to let it go?
Overwhelming delight instantly scattered the frustration and fury Lu Jun had caused him!
He almost thought he had misheard!
Even Tai Yi, immersed in deduction, was startled back to his senses by this sudden turn. His gaze toward Zhen Yuanzi was filled with shock and admiration.
The weight of a promise capable of making the Ancestor of Earth Immortals set aside the blood feud of a dear friend was impossible to measure!
"Hahaha! Good! Good! Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi possesses a broad heart and magnificent bearing! I admire you! Many thanks, fellow Daoist!"
Minghe came to his senses and was immediately overjoyed. He repeatedly cupped his hands, his laughter full of the exhilaration of a burden being lifted.
This deal was worth it!
More than worth it!
He had originally thought that gaining Tai Yi's favor from this visit would already be a reward.
Who would have thought that returning the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd would make Zhen Yuanzi relent over Hong Yun's matter?
By revealing his own secrets, he had actually caused Zhen Yuanzi to directly resolve the karma between himself and Hong Yun.
This was simply a tremendous blessing.
From this day onward, without Zhen Yuanzi guarding the way, where in the Great Desolation World could he not go?
I owe Zhen Yuanzi karma, but I do not owe karma to anyone else.
If anyone else dared imitate Zhen Yuanzi, then they could not blame me for acting directly.
Zhen Yuanzi nodded slightly, then looked toward Tai Yi and said solemnly, "Fellow Daoist Tai Yi, only because you hosted this discussion was I able to obtain this opportunity for enlightenment."
"Since I have said that the karma of Hong Yun's death will come to an end for now, I will not take my anger out on the Demon Race. However..."
His tone sank slightly, carrying an unquestionable chill. "As for Kun Peng, the karma between him and me remains unresolved."
Tai Yi understood, though he also felt somewhat helpless.
The matter between Kun Peng and Hong Yun was truly a tangled mess.
The key was that in the ambush against Hong Yun, he and Di Jun had indeed not been innocent.
Back then, the Demon Race's Demon Court had not yet fully stabilized, and Kun Peng, the Demon Master, had truly been a powerful force worth drawing in.
That was why he and Di Jun had secretly helped Kun Peng ambush Hong Yun.
Otherwise, Kun Peng alone would never have been capable of killing Hong Yun.
Zhen Yuanzi knew this, which was why he harbored resentment toward the Demon Race as well.
Yet today, Zhen Yuanzi had actually said he would no longer target the Demon Race. The unspoken meaning was that he was giving up his hatred toward Tai Yi and Di Jun.
What magnanimity!
"Great Immortal Zhen Yuan... regarding past matters, Tai Yi truly feels ashamed. To receive such a promise from Great Immortal Zhen Yuan, Tai Yi is deeply grateful."
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