"I'd originally thought that being captured this time meant death is certain—that I would surely be refined and devoured by the main body, with all my power reclaimed. I never expected it to merely extract the Dao Fruit I had cultivated over the years, along with all my source Magic Power. After all, it still left behind this crippled shell, allowing me to cling to life for a few more days."
Speaking of this, Qi Tiandao could not help but laugh at himself.
As though he had thought of something,
a look of sudden realization appeared on his face.
"That's right. I myself am Qi Tiandao's past self—the collection of all the memories and emotions from my birth, through all my struggles and efforts, until I reached this day."
"To devour and refine me would mean reclaiming everything from the past, reclaiming the severed past self."
"In the Three-Aspect Secret Technique, both the past and the future are existences meant to be abandoned. Only the true self is the core of everything. The process of severing the past self and future self is itself a process of purifying the true self, thereby gaining a chance to glimpse the splendor of a higher realm."
"To the main body, the name Qi Tiandao itself is a burden obstructing the path. Why would it reclaim it? Thus, taking only the Dao Fruit cultivated over these nine thousand years is perfectly natural."
Qi Tiandao's face was utterly calm.
His gaze stretched toward the setting sun sinking into the dusk.
Light flickered in his eyes.
The familiar scene reminded him of a moment from the past. The corners of his lips rose unconsciously, revealing a faint smile.
"Youth really is wonderful!"
"Back then, what I loved most was standing atop the mountain with her, watching