The atmosphere in the great hall was still heated, but Styx walked out of the great hall alone.
Outside the hall, the Chaos Void was still vast and boundless.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing through layer upon layer of Chaos toward the unknown depths beyond.
Before long, faint footsteps sounded behind him.
"Brother."
It was Wood Spirit. Seeing Styx come out, she followed him outside as well.
Styx did not turn around, merely responding with a soft "Mm."
Wood Spirit walked to his side and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
She did not say anything else, simply standing there quietly and gazing with him into the endless Chaos.
After a long while, Styx spoke. "Ling'er, do you think there are other, even higher existences above Taiji?"
Wood Spirit thought for a moment before answering seriously, "There should be."
"Why?"
"Because you once said that the Dao has no end."
Styx was slightly startled, then burst into hearty laughter.
That was right. The Dao had no end.
From when he had first begun cultivating in the Great Wilderness as an Innate Divine Being to his current position as a guardian of Chaos, had he not been pursuing that endless Dao every step of the way?
Since that was the case, why should he care whether even higher existences existed above Taiji?
If they did, he would pursue them.
If they did not, he would open up the path himself.
That was all.
"You're right." Styx turned and looked at Wood Spirit, a smile in his eyes. "The Dao has no end, and neither do I."
Wood Spirit blinked, then smiled as well.
"Brother, where are we going next?"
Styx gazed toward the depths of Chaos and fell silent for a moment.
"Let's return to