Seeking the Dao

"Without emotion, you lose the drive to cultivate. You've taken the wrong path." A somewhat youthful voice came from the plains, striking Xu Changqing's ears like a thunderclap.

Xu Changqing refuted without any hesitation: "No one has the right to judge my path. A path has no right or wrong—only forks. A fork may hold obstacles, but as long as you break through them, you can reach the end."

There was originally no path in the world, but when many walk it, a path naturally appears.

Can the Dao of an Ancient Emperor or Great Emperor be judged by others?

Perhaps his own Dao had flaws, but he had not taken the wrong path. Even if he had, he would pierce straight through to the very end!

Xu Changqing knew it was that shepherd boy speaking—the youth who was questioning, trying to challenge his path.

He was not afraid, for his Dao heart was firm. No one could disturb it.

"What you say has some truth. But since you've severed your emotions, what reason do you have left to cultivate?" The youth continued softly, his tone carrying a hint of interest.

He was curious how Xu Changqing could sever his feelings and thus survive the Heavenly Tribulation.

Because when a person has no emotions and only the Dao in their heart, they themselves can equal the Dao.

For the Dao has no feelings.

"To Become Emperor, to become an immortal, to attain eternal life." Xu Changqing's answer was simple.

"And after you Become Emperor, become an immortal, attain eternal life—what then?" The youth pressed on.

Throughout history, how many Ancient Emperors and Great Emperors had fallen on the road in pursuit of eternal life?

The only one said to have become an immortal in legend was the Desolate Heavenly Emperor.

But that was merely a figure recorded in scattered fragments of ancient history—whether he existed, no one knew.

And aside from Ancient Emperors and Great Emperors, few even knew of his existence.

If there were no emotions, then after Becoming Emperor, becoming an immortal, and achieving eternal life—what meaning would remain?

"I'll figure that out after I succeed." Xu Changqing did not turn to look at the youth, but kept walking forward, step by step upon the Vast Boundless Grassland.

Success or failure—he did not know. He only knew he would do his best.

Success or failure—these were the constants of life. No one never fails.

No one has a guaranteed outcome. If he failed, it meant he lacked the luck, lacked the talent.

The youth kept watching Xu Changqing's retreating figure—not particularly tall, appearing somewhat lonely, white hair fluttering, steps firm. He let out a soft sigh, then slowly faded from the spot.

Before vanishing, he left a few words behind.

"Step into the stars, and you can enter the Human Race Ancient Trial Path."

"I am curious about your final achievement—whether you will fade among the masses or rise above them."

"Let it be as it comes. Whether success or failure, I have no sorrow, no dejection. As long as I have tried, that is enough." Xu Changqing replied calmly.

He first looked up at the sky—bright sunlight, tender green grass swaying gently in the breeze.

He did not know who that youth was, but he must have been a powerful figure; otherwise, Xu Changqing would not have failed to sense even a trace of his might.

Xu Changqing wore a black robe, white hair draped over his shoulders, deep eyes like a secluded spring under the moon. He stepped into the sky step by step, stood beneath the vast heavens, and gazed down at the endless grassland below.

As far as the eye could see, there was only grassland—no buildings, no towering trees.

His vast Divine Sense swept outward, yet found the same.

"It seems this world was created by him," Xu Changqing murmured to himself. "Him" naturally referred to that youth.

He did not wish to know who the youth was, nor was he curious—these things had nothing to do with him.

Rather than investigating the youth's identity, it was better to improve his own strength.

When his strength was sufficient, everything would naturally be known.

"Since I have successfully Severed the Dao, it is time to march on the Emperor's Road!"

"Even if she and I are born in the same era—so what? I will still fight, still kill, until one of us Becomes Emperor."

Xu Changqing thought of that Woman in White. He was not afraid because of the achievements he knew she would attain in his mind; instead, his battle intent blazed high.

"She has likely already set foot on the Starry Sky Ancient Road as well." A faint, cold smile curled at the corner of Xu Changqing's mouth, his gaze icy.

Back in the Big Dipper Star Domain, he had dealt with many of the Younger Generation and been hunted by many forces. But those people now either had their Dao hearts shattered and fallen within the Big Dipper Star Domain, or had stepped onto the Starry Sky Ancient Road.

Even his own son had nearly been killed by him, and had now also set foot on the Starry Sky Ancient Road.

Xu Changqing silently adjusted his state in this world. Though his condition was good, having just successfully crossed the tribulation, he needed time to settle.

He began to realize that his Supreme Heartless Body was a Near-Dao Physique, equivalent to an Innate Dao Embryo, yet with traits the Innate Dao Embryo lacked.

That was an extreme sensitivity to specific emotions. For example, a well-disguised assassin—if even a ripple of intent appeared in their heart, he would catch it.

Or a hypocrite plotting an assassination or scheming against him—he could detect it.

Moreover, his Sea of Bitterness was as clear and transparent as a mirror, free of any turbid qi—unlike the Seas of Bitterness of all other cultivators.

Within his Dao Palace, he nurtured the root of his emotions, which could transform into a divine spirit and even form the prototype of a terrifying Secret Technique.

His Immortal Platform was like a staircase in the sky, golden and resplendent, its steps like mirrors of gold—as if stepping upon those stairs could lead to the immortal path and attain eternal life.

Above the bright, mirror-like Sea of Bitterness stretched a Vision of a Mountain of Corpses and Sea of Blood.

That was a cruel and desolate scene. The sky was dark red, the heavens and earth split open, countless magma jets erupting from fissures in the ground, billowing black smoke sweeping across, and a boundless sea of blood crashing with a roar.

Corpses lay like the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, with broken walls and collapsed ruins everywhere, snowy white bone mountains, and great peaks flowing with blood.

Atop the tallest corpse mountain, a figure with white hair knelt on one knee, a bone saber thrust into the mountain of dead. White hair soaked in blood covered half his face, the strands spilling down into the corpse mountain beneath his feet.

Before him lay a shattered Dragon Stele, and a Vague Figure collapsed behind it. Nearby, beside a broken bone club, a tall, stalwart man was split in two.

There were also fragments of a Purple-Gold Bell, a golden mace, a green Ancient Pagoda, a Five-Colored Stone, and other Ancient Emperor weapons—all fallen before Xu Changqing.

"This might be the most heaven-defying aspect of my constitution," Xu Changqing marveled as he gazed at this Vision. He hadn't expected to be able to absorb the Tribulation Imprint of the Ancient Emperors he had defeated.

He gave this Vision a forbidden name as well—Emperor's Fall.

Xu Changqing began his Secluded Cultivation. Ever since his severance, countless inspirations had surged within him, fueling the creation of Divine Abilities.

"Secret of Swiftness grants the ultimate speed in the world, yet my Heaven's Will Saber Art cannot be evaded no matter how one moves. Heaven's Will Saber Art—after I severed my emotions, I comprehended its true essence, further maturing this Secret Technique."

"Mind Reincarnation is a Secret Technique built from the Emotion Power within my Five Viscera and Six Bowels. It plunges an opponent into the most painful or sweetest worlds of their Memories, causing them brief lapses in focus. Against her, this is a sure victory."

She had obsessions, so if Xu Changqing ever faced her, it would be hard to decide the outcome. But as long as he stirred up her memories from those years, causing her to lose focus for an instant, he could win.

This move could only be used once, but it was the key to victory.

Being able to defeat the younger version of the Ruthless Great Emperor would also go down in Ancient History.

"Draw Saber Slash is a one-strike kill Secret Technique, tailored for the 'Even If' mystery. I nurture it above the Sea of Bitterness with Ruthless Blade Intent. After nurturing that blade intent for centuries, once it erupts, it unleashes a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering power of destruction. Even ten times the Combat Power couldn't withstand it."

In three hundred years of wandering, Xu Changqing had created countless Cultivation Techniques and Divine Abilities, but the three he was most satisfied with were these Secret Techniques and his own Vision.

He also had countless techniques—all kinds of strange and unusual ones—and was not lacking in offensive Divine Abilities.

Aside from Emperor's Scriptures and Secret Techniques, he possessed almost everything.

"Since I have already awakened to my true self, it's time to set foot on the Starry Sky Ancient Road."

"In the name of Ruthlessness, I shall campaign on the Emperor's Road!"

Xu Changqing's battle intent blazed high, erupting like a wild dance. His fighting spirit burst forth, directly piercing through the auspicious clouds. Like a drawn saber, he transformed into a streak of white light and charged into the starry sky.

The mere thought of contending with the Woman in White filled him with excitement and soaring battle intent.

He also fantasized about what expressions those enemies would wear when they heard the news of his invincibility across the starry sky.