Duobao Peak, with its secluded caves.
The spiritual energy, like mist, condensed into substance, transforming into strands of clear light that fell down, nourishing the golden figure sitting cross-legged in the center of the cave.
Daoist Duobao slowly opened his eyes.
His eyes shone with a light that seemed to hold a myriad of treasures, yet deep within them lay a trace of barely perceptible bewilderment.
He exhaled a long breath, the breath long and deep, yet slightly sluggish.
Late Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.
With this level of cultivation, one would be worthy of being called an ancestor and revered by all living beings anywhere in the Great Wilderness.
Among the Jie Sect Myriad Immortals, he was undoubtedly the eldest disciple, second only to his master, the Vice Sect Master, and the four Guardian.
But Duobao felt no pride whatsoever.
There was only a heavy, almost suffocating sense of oppression.
"Century..."
He muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the silent cave, tinged with bitterness.
" The Xuandu Vice Sect Master... Hundred Year Zenith Heaven."
"And what about me?"
Duobao slowly raised his hand, and in his palm, a Jade Purity Immortal Light quietly flowed, evolving into various illusory images of treasures, which then vanished in an instant.
He was born with good genes.
It was transformed from the most Duobao Rat in the world, and its origin is also top-tier Innate Pedigree.
After joining the Interception Sect, he received the Shangqing Immortal Method personally taught by Master Tongtian. Due to his own talent, he had a profound understanding of Artifact Refining and formations. Many of the magical treasures of the Interception Sect disciples were forged and perfected by him.
Among Myriad Immortals, he held extremely high prestige.
His cultivation path has been smooth sailing, progressing from True Immortal to Taiyi, and now to the Late Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, seemingly taking one step at a time, steadily and firmly.
But this "steadiness" pales in comparison to the soaring Martial Dao Light Xuandu and the Hunyuan grandeur of Hunyuan that withstands the Great Dao Tribulation...
It appeared so pale, so... ridiculous.
"Floating, I see the Azure Heaven..."
Duobao smiled wryly, withdrew his palm, and the wisp of Jade Purity Immortal Light completely dissipated.
He seemed to see an endless Azure Heaven, vast and boundless, where the laws of the Great Dao rotated like a galaxy—that was the realm of the Zenith Heaven.
And I am but a speck of dust under the Azure Heaven, a mayfly that lives only a day.
They flapped their wings with all their might, thinking they had flown over the mountains, but they hadn't even touched the edge of the sky.
What unsettled him even more was the road ahead.
Above the Daluo Golden Immortal lies the Quasi-Saint.
The path to becoming Quasi-Saint by Sever Three Corpses is now recognized in the Great Wilderness as the most reliable path.
The Taiqing Immortal Method of Laozi's Laozi master, the Yuqing Immortal Method of Martial Uncle Yuanshi, the Shangqing Immortal Method of the master... even the Western Two Sages all point to this path.
By severing the three corpses of good, evil, and self, and entrusting them with Innate Spiritual Treasure, the three corpses can be united, thus enabling one to attempt to attain sainthood.
Although difficult, there are ways to follow.
But the Xuandu Vice Sect Master took a different path...
Zenith Heaven!
It does not Sever Three Corpses, does not borrow the Primordial Violet Qi, and does not rely on the Heavenly Dao Authority.
Only have faith in yourself, only fight without defeat, Prove Dao With Strength, and confront the Great Dao head-on!
The strength of this route was clearly demonstrated in the battle on the East Sea Coast.
Upon first entering the Hunyuan, she was able to overpower Nuwa Fourth Heaven Heavenly Dao Sage, stripping her of her Holy Mother status and severing her Saint Dao Foundation.
But the danger of this road... is terrifying.
The Great Dao Nine Tribulations, the reckoning of Karma, and the judgment of one's own body... The slightest carelessness will result in death and the annihilation of True Spirit, leaving no chance for Reincarnation.
"How should I... choose?"
Duobao frowned, and deep within his Dao Heart, two thoughts clashed fiercely.
On one side is the safe but inevitably limited Sever Three Corpses Path; on the other is the perilous but potentially Transcendence Hunyuan Great Dao.
He was drawn to the latter.
As the Head Disciple of the Interception Sect, how could he be content to forever remain subservient to others? How could he be content to forever look up to the Azure Heaven?
But does he even have the qualifications?
Do they possess the foundation, the Dao Heart, to attempt that unprecedented Path of Transcendence?
"Well..."
Another long sigh echoed through the cave.
Duobao slowly closed his eyes, trying to immerse himself in cultivation again, but his mind was in turmoil and he could not find peace.
At that very moment.
"Buzz..."
The cave's protective barrier silently rippled outwards.
A calm, undisturbed yet vast aura, as boundless as a starry sea, quietly descended from outside the cave.
There was no forced entry, no coercion.
It simply seeps in naturally, like a spring breeze and gentle rain.
Duobao shuddered and suddenly opened his eyes!
This aura...
" Vice Sect Master?!"
He dared not delay. In a flash, he arrived at the entrance of the cave. With a wave of his hand, the restriction was completely dispelled.
Outside the cave, a figure in Green Clad Figure stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calm as he looked at the distant sea of clouds.
It was Xuandu.
" Disciple Duobao greets the Vice Sect Master!"
Duobao bowed respectfully, his voice trembling with emotion.
Why would the Vice Sect Master personally come to his cave?
Xuandu slowly turned around, his gaze falling on Duobao, looking him up and down.
Xuandu still has a high opinion of Duobao.
Originally, during the Investiture of the Gods, Duobao, at the Quasi-Saint Peak Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, Laozi his sword at Laozi, the Heavenly Dao Sage.
This alone is enough to make Xuandu look at him in a different light.
As for his eventual joining the Buddhist order, it was merely Zhunti the forced Jieyin by Zhunti and Jieyin, just like Kong Xuan.
As his thoughts settled, Xuandu nodded slightly.
"Solid foundation, inner radiance, Zenith Heaven Late Stage Peak... only a hair's breadth away from perfection."
Duobao felt a chill run down his spine.
The Vice Sect Master saw through his entire background at a glance.
" Vice Sect Master is too kind. This disciple... is ashamed."
Xuandu shook his head:
"This is not undeserved praise."
He paused, his voice calm:
"Your bottleneck is not due to a lack of foundation or insufficient power."
"But rather, his Dao Heart... has become hesitant."
Duobao's pupils contracted sharply, and he looked up abruptly into Xuandu's deep, unfathomable eyes.
It was as if all thoughts and feelings could not be hidden from those eyes.
" Vice Sect Master... I..."
Duobao opened his mouth, but didn't know how to start speaking.
Xuandu had already turned around and slowly walked into the cave.
Duobao quickly followed.
Inside the cave, the furnishings were simple, with only a jade platform and a few futons. On the walls, however, hung many Magic Treasure Embryo and Array Formations, their precious light flowing and their Daoist charm faintly discernible.
Xuandu walked to the jade platform, sat down cross-legged, and gestured for Duobao to sit as well.
Duobao sat down as instructed, his heart filled with trepidation.
"You're hesitating, whether to take the Sever Three Corpses Path, or... follow my example and take the Hunyuan Dao."
Xuandu spoke directly and bluntly, his voice not loud, yet it resounded like thunder deep within Duobao 'Dao Heart!
Duobao shuddered, his face revealing undisguised astonishment for the first time:
" Vice Sect Master... you..."
"Don't be surprised."
Xuandu slowly raised his hand, and in his palm, a Chaos Colored Martial Dao Rune quietly emerged, its light flowing and illuminating the entire cave.
"That is why I have come today."
Duobao stared intently at the rune, feeling that the Martial Dao True Meaning contained within it was as vast as the sea, and even more so, a Supreme Dao Charm that transcended all laws and Transcendence heaven and earth!
Is this... the foundation of the Zenith Heaven?
"May I ask, Vice Sect Master...?"
Duobao's voice was dry.
" The Hunyuan Dao... disciple... is there any chance?"
His heart pounded as he asked the question.
I felt both anticipation and fear.
I'm hoping for a positive answer.
Fear was met with a desperate response.