A Thread of Life

Xi Yuan was still laughing, a weak yet triumphant laugh, like a dying man finally seeing a pitiful creature even more pathetic than himself.

Chen Lingxi squinted her eyes.

His increasingly handsome face revealed no emotion, except for his eyes, which were as calm as still water, like two bottomless, icy pools.

He raised his right hand, his index and middle fingers joined together like a sword.

Inside the Profound-Pointing Sword Furnace, the black bead on the ring face glowed slightly, and a Sword Qi silently shot out.

The Sword Qi was as thin as silk, its azure light flickering uncertainly, and it landed between Xi Yuan's eyebrows.

Xi Yuan's laughter stopped abruptly.

The Sword Qi pierced through his brow in an instant, leaving a hole about the thickness of a finger.

Fresh blood gushed from the hole, flowing down his nose and dripping onto the gravel beneath him.

His eyes were still open, and the gleam of pleasure in his pupils hadn't even completely faded...

Xi Yuan is dead.

Chen Lingxi withdrew her finger and exhaled a long breath.

He stood there, his mind still replaying Xi Yuan's words.

"True Lord Xi Family... The World-Refining Furnace..."

His eyes flickered incessantly.

He slowly raised his head and looked up at the sky.

The stars hung high in the night sky above Ancestral Mountain, their warm light falling on his shoulders and the scabbard of the Thunderlight Sword Longsword at his waist.

But the starlight seemed to change color in his eyes.

It was as if an unseen giant was coldly looking down at him through this starlight, waiting to throw him and the billions of living beings in this Cave Heaven into the World-Refining Furnace, to refine them into World Essence, and to forge the Dao for humankind!

"Is there truly no hope of survival?" he asked himself in a low voice, his eyes flashing with a cold light, yet also filled with a sense of despair.

A Golden Core True Lord is about to refine this world.

Such beings wield the Cauldron Vessel and command the Que Ten Stars!

The ability to refine Cave Heaven reveals the terrifying power of one's cultivation.

He was merely a minor Qi Circulation Realm cultivator, struggling to survive in this Qi-Less Grotto-Heaven, relying on a bit of fortuitous opportunity and a bit of scheming to get to where he is today.

Before such True Lord, he was like an ant, not even worthy of looking up to him, so how could he possibly contend with him?

The mountain breeze swirled, causing his black clothes to flutter.

He sat there cross-legged, neither breathing nor moving his body.

But countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

The Rebirth Pool, the Heavenward Third Floor, the World-Refining Furnace, the Cauldron Vessel...

Every thought was like a straw, which he desperately grasped and then let go of one by one, trying to find a crack in this desperate situation to break free.

A few breaths passed.

Chen Lingxi's eyes suddenly flickered.

He slowly lowered his head, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"If we're talking about this Qi-Less Grotto-Heaven, the most mysterious person I've ever encountered is actually that Credit Peddler!"

The man looked like an ordinary traveling merchant.

Yet, with a mere calculation, he could discern the secrets hidden in others' hearts; he could casually produce the treasures others craved most...

"The Credit Peddler's cultivation level is unknown, but he is proficient in calculation."

Chen Lingxi quickly recalled the various details of Total Perception Evolution in her mind, "When Total Perception Evolution, it was only the second time I had met him. He was able to see through my secret desire for the Six-Qi True Formula and the True Secret Technique at a glance, and he had even prepared the jade pendant that recorded the true secret technique beforehand."

The more he thought about it, the more alarmed he became.

Upon careful consideration, although I have now reached the Qi Circulation Eighth Floor, the Spirit Pool in my Qi Sea is as clear as jade, the three Treasure Qi Mystery Mechanism in parallel, and the mysteries of True Intention and Divine Might have begun to take shape, my cultivation level can be considered extraordinary.

However, he had no understanding of [calculus] at all, only feeling that it was profound and unfathomable.

The Six-Qi True Method also describe many profound mysteries of the Heavenward Third Floor and even the Mystery Mechanism Dao Foundation Divine Ability...

However, it was never mentioned that Dao Foundation Realm could predict the future!

He couldn't do it with the Dao Foundation Realm, nor with the Golden Grotto, and he had never seen or knew whether Golden Core True Lord could achieve it...

But that Credit Peddler could certainly do it!

Chen Lingxi's eyes shone even brighter!

"That Credit Peddler's Divine Ability must be extremely profound and mysterious... Such a person is definitely not an ordinary cultivator."

He took a deep breath, a glimmer of hope appearing in his eyes. "If I could consult him, perhaps I could find a glimmer of hope."

"With these two breakthroughs, I 'Total Perception my Essence Replenishment progress is already nearing completion. Once I seize the fortuitous opportunity to refine the Fated Star Stone, I'll surely achieve complete Essence Replenishment replenishment..."

"Then you can activate your Thorough Awakening Divine Ability and go find that Credit Peddler again to ask him something."

The Credit Peddler had said that Chen Lingxi could only do business with him once in this Cave Heaven.

"To be on the safe side, it would be much safer to meet the Credit Peddler during the Total Perception Evolution."

Chen Lingxi had an idea, and her mind calmed down considerably.

He sat upright beneath the mountain cliff, suppressing the surging thoughts in his Consciousness Sea one by one.

"Moreover..." He suddenly remembered something else, and his eyes shone even brighter. "There is still a true Cauldron Artifact Fortune Cauldron Artifact Fortune in the Cave Heaven. I wonder if there is any hope of survival within that opportunity."

If one can seize that Cauldron Vessel before the True Lord Xi Family refines this realm, refine it, and become its Cauldron Vessel, it is uncertain whether there will be any chance of survival.

Unbeknownst to her, Chen Lingxi's despair had completely subsided, and she began to seek hope again.

He had already died once in his previous life, and in this life he suffered another family tragedy. His parents were killed by Mirror Listening's words, and he himself was made a government slave, struggling in the Inverted Room of the Baosu Marquis Residence Consort Chun more than two years.

He survived those dark and hopeless years.

Even now, upon learning that this Cave Heaven is about to perish and that a billion living beings will be transformed into World Essence, his mindset has not become unbalanced.

On the path of cultivation, anything is possible!

"Two years ago, how could I have imagined that I would become that legendary immortal, soaring through the clouds and even killing my mortal enemies?"

Chen Lingxi the Dao gradually strengthened.

He was no longer the mortal who would wallow in self-pity in dire straits.

For him, desperate situations are like a whetstone, only sharpening his edge even further.

With this thought in mind, he stood up and looked at Xi Yuan's corpse. Not far away, Xi Mu had already dug two deep pits.

Because of Chen Lingxi's orders, he had already lain down in one of them.

"Since I promised, I will keep my word."

Chen Lingxi suddenly flicked his sleeve, and Xi Yuan's corpse was lifted up by his Divine Sense and fell into the second hole.

Two bodies lay on the cold yellow earth.

Chen Lingxi's Divine Sense flashed again.

The yellow dust fell in a flurry, burying Xi Yuan's robes, burying Xi Mu's handsome face, and burying the two bodies that had once fought for fortuitous opportunity in this Cave Heaven, only to be defeated by him in the end.

He filled in the earth and used it as a makeshift grave.

After doing all this, he turned around and never looked back.

Chen Lingxi looked into the distance and saw that the clouds and mist at the edge of the Ancestral Mountain were thinning out.

The layers of grayish-white mist slowly dissipated like the receding tide, revealing the hazy outline of the mountains and forests behind the mist.

It's as if passing through the thin mist of the Ancestral Mountain allows you to leave this mysterious little world and return to Yuan River Prefecture.

and...

Chen Lingxi was able to keenly sense that the spiritual energy of the Ancestral Mountain was gradually becoming thinner.

The once rich and almost tangible spiritual energy was slowly drawn away, the spiritual light flowing among the rocks dimmed, and the pure air exhaled from the grass and trees dissipated.

It seemed as if some invisible force was slowly withdrawing from this place.

He focused his attention on sensing for a moment, then his expression suddenly changed slightly.

There seems to be an invisible pressure in the surrounding world.

I began to sense it carefully.

He then felt an invisible pressure slowly gathering from all directions, pressing down on his shoulders and his Qi Sea.

The pressure wasn't directed at him alone, but permeated the entire Ancestral Mountain.

"I have refined the Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi, and now the Ancestral Mountain seems to be intentionally driving away cultivators from outside the mountain."

Chen Lingxi understood.

"If we stay on the Ancestral Mountain and this invisible pressure grows stronger, my body might be crushed."

"It's time to go out."

Chen Lingxi's trip to Ancestral Mountain was truly fruitful.

The first Mother Qi allowed him to enter the Qi Circulation Seventh Floor, opening his Consciousness Sea, cultivating Divine Sense, and initially forming his Spirit Aperture.

The second Mother Qi allowed him to cross the threshold of the Eighth Floor in one fell swoop, with both True Intention and Divine Might Mystery Mechanism accumulating within him.

Besides, the Sword-Edge Qi, Thunder Treasure Qi, the Heaven-Seizing Seal, the Cloud-Riding Technique, the Thunder-Hiding Sword Canon, the Longevity Bridge Divine Ability, and the many treasures obtained from Rong Chun, Xi Yuan, and others—each one was fortuitous opportunity.

He hadn't even used the Fated Star's fortuitous opportunity yet, but he had already ascended to the Qi Circulation Eighth Floor by relying on the Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi!

His eyes shone brightly.

"Once I leave, I will find a secluded place and then go into seclusion for over a month to refine the Fated Star- Cauldron Artifact Fortune. I wonder if I will be able to break through to the Ninth Floor of Qi Circulation."

Because of that mysterious Mother Qi, Chen Lingxi had already accumulated a very deep foundation as soon as she stepped into the Qi Circulation Eighth Floor.

The pool of spiritual liquid in his Qi Sea was extremely thick, and he was actually not far from reaching the Eighth Floor of perfection.

"Let's go outside first and talk about it later."

He didn't linger any longer and strode towards the thin layer of mist.

He soared into the air, about to pass through the thin clouds at the edge of the Ancestral Mountain's small world.

The clouds receded on their own within three feet of him, revealing a clear path, as if bidding him farewell.

But at that moment, Chen Lingxi suddenly frowned.

He stopped, slowly turned around, and looked through the churning mist in another direction.

He silently activated his Qi Observation technique, and spiritual Qi emerged from his Qi Sea, traveled upwards along his meridians, and flowed into his eyes.

In an instant, the world before him changed dramatically in his vision.

What was originally just slowly billowing mist transformed into traceable streams of air under the method of Qi Observation...

And in the distance... something seemed mysterious.

There was also a sea of clouds there, but it was completely different from the thinning clouds at the edges of the other areas.

It remained thick and dense, almost tangible, like a towering gray-white wall, with swirling mist that completely obscured everything behind it.

Chen Lingxi raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Hmm? That's the direction Xi Yuan fled in while we were chasing him." A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

It was initially thought that Xi Yuan had been forced to flee in panic by him and Lin Suri, and had only flown in that direction in a moment of desperation.

But now, looking at it again, the fog in many places around Ancestral Mountain is gradually thinning, but this particular sea of clouds remains thick and dense, like an unopened door, standing out conspicuously in this small Cave Heaven that is about to dissipate.

Chen Lingxi used the method of Qi Observation to focus on that spot. The spiritual Qi flowed endlessly in his eyes, magnifying every subtle change in that sea of clouds to the extreme.

Then, his expression changed again!

He saw a faint, luminous light within the thick, dense fog.

That spark of inspiration was faint and elusive, like a spark buried deep in the ashes, easily missed if one wasn't paying attention.

However, Chen Lingxi has now reached the Qi Circulation Eighth Floor, and his Spirit-Aperture Physique has been fully developed. His Qi Observation method has been enhanced by True Intention, and it is no longer the same as before. Although that spiritual light was faint, it did not escape his eyes!

He stared intently and saw that the spiritual light was not still, but rather slowly flowing and undulating in the depths of the sea of clouds.

With each shift, extremely subtle fluctuations of spiritual energy spread out from it. These fluctuations were very regular, like a heartbeat or a breath, like a living creature lurking deep in the sea of clouds!

After thinking for a Chen Lingxi, the small, white boat that he had obtained from Rong Chun flew out of his Hongdong Bag, grew longer in the wind, and in an instant transformed into a real Heavenly Boat about ten feet long.

The boat's hull was as white as jade, and a faint, soft light swirled around its bottom as it floated leisurely in mid-air.

He stepped onto the bow of the ship, and with a slight thought, the Heavenly Boat silently changed direction and flew towards that sea of clouds.

The closer Chen Lingxi got to the sea of clouds, the more she could see the increasingly profound spiritual light contained within it, thanks to her True Intention intention in Qi Observation.

The initial faint glimmer of light gradually transformed into a clearly visible halo.

The halo seemed to be filled with all sorts of mysteries!

Mysterious runes flowed within it, faint Daoist sounds emanated from it, and some indescribable energy slowly brewed deep within the halo.

"What exactly is in this sea of clouds?!"

Chen Lingxi arrived at the sea of clouds, feeling increasingly that something secret was hidden within it.

He stood atop the Heavenly Boat, his robes fluttering in the wind, his gaze piercing through the churning mist, trying to see more clearly.

But the sea of clouds was too thick; his eyesight could only penetrate the outermost layer of mist, a few feet deep. Beyond that, it was all chaos, and he couldn't see anything at all.

He remained silent for a moment, his mind in Celestial Person...

Should we turn and leave, or risk exploring?

Rushing in rashly might reveal hidden dangers.

Although he had already Qi Circulation Eighth Floor and possessed several hidden strengths, he had already experienced the strangeness of this Ancestral Mountain firsthand.

That Spirit-Mechanism Tidal Wave could completely obscure everyone's Divine Sense and perception in an instant, and that Myriad Mechanisms' Wondrous Vehicle Formation was so complex and exquisite that even now, when he thinks about it, he still finds it extremely mysterious!

He had no way of knowing what secrets or dangers might lurk within this Ancestral Mountain.

"Forget it, we shouldn't take too much risk."

After much deliberation, Chen Lingxi a deep breath and finally suppressed the curiosity and desire to explore that had been surging within her.

He was about to turn and leave.

But then, at this very moment!

The clouds above the sea of clouds seemed to possess a spirit, and they actually dispersed!

It was as if an invisible hand reached out from the depths of the sea of clouds, gently parting the layers of mist and clearing a path for him.

The passage was not wide, just enough for him and his boat to pass through. The mist on both sides of the passage was still churning, but it no longer closed, as if inviting him and waiting for him to step into it.

Chen Lingxi's pupils narrowed slightly!

He stood on the Heavenly Boat, gazing at the passage that had suddenly appeared before him, and remained silent for a few moments.

"This mysterious place seems to be inviting me?"

He thought for a moment, then sensed the surging spiritual energy filling that mysterious place, and suddenly shook his head.

"Such immense spiritual energy, if it were to harm me, it would only require a fraction of its dissipation, and I would be utterly powerless to resist... If it wanted to harm me, why go to such lengths?"

Without further hesitation, with a slight thought, the Heavenly Boat beneath his feet silently flew into the passage.

The mist flowed slowly around him. As the Heavenly Boat passed through the passage, the fog before his eyes gradually thinned, and then the view suddenly opened up.

Chen Lingxi followed the direction where the clouds dispersed and looked towards the sea of clouds.

Then, he saw...

He saw a long, ethereal Long River, appearing and disappearing in the distance!

The Long River didn't seem to exist in reality, but rather suspended in the Void deep within the sea of clouds, like an illusion projected onto this small world.

It's like a section of water that was cut from a real great river and sealed within this sea of clouds, flowing slowly for countless years.

The river surged and roared in the Void, each surge of the waves stirring up a cloud of mist. Under the starlight, the mist shimmered with a silvery-white luster, like countless tiny silver dragons dancing wildly in the Void.

The sound of the water was deafening, but not harsh. Instead, it carried a kind of indescribable rhythm, as if someone were beating a large drum in the far distance, or as if an immortal was playing an ancient zither in the clouds!

Mystery!

Mysterious!

Chen Lingxi felt that this Long River was too mysterious and profound!

"Is it this Long River that is inviting me?"

Such a vast Long River, yet it felt remarkably gentle to Chen Lingxi at this moment.

Within that Long River, specks of spiritual light appeared, like miniature stars rising from the depths of the river and hovering slowly on its surface.

Those spiritual lights seemed to rejoice when they sensed Chen Lingxi's arrival.

As the light flashed, extremely subtle and gentle ripples spread out from the river's surface, surging towards Chen Lingxi, as if calling out to Chen Lingxi and inviting him closer.

Therefore, Chen Lingxi no longer hesitated.

He stepped off the Heavenly Boat, silently activating the Cloud-Riding Technique beneath his feet, which carried him slowly to the bank of the Long River.

The riverbank was nothingness.

He walked into the sea of clouds, came to the riverbank, and looked down at the Long River!

But then I was suddenly surprised!

"Huh?"

Two whirlpools were slowly rotating in the depths of the river.

The two vortexes were about several feet apart, one to the left and one to the right, spinning extremely slowly!

But deep within those whirlpools, each whirlpool was like a mirror, its surface perfectly smooth, untouched by a single drop of water or a speck of dust.

And in those two swirling mirrors...

Chen Lingxi actually saw two images!

His surprise deepened. "Liu Changle!"

Both of these images showed... Liu Changle.

His close friend who shared life and death with him, his sworn brother who was also a slave in the Inverted Room of the Baosu Marquis Residence, the Xuan Huo Mystic Wonder Abbey disciple who had visited the Baosu Marquis Residence a few months ago and said that he wanted to avenge him together... Liu Changle!