Heaven and earth remained in balance. Some succeeded, while others failed to break through and died in their lightning tribulations, their essence returning to heaven and earth.
Moreover, Dharma's Decline grew ever more merciless. Spiritual qi dried up, and the Great Dao receded beyond reach, further suppressing all cultivators.
Anyone whose Dao heart wavered even slightly could easily be knocked down from the clouds and fall into eternal damnation.
Time flowed on. It had been twenty-five hundred years since Dharma's Decline began.
During this period, even the Heavenly Horned Ant, Ning Fei, and the others who had long since attained the Dao discovered a serious problem.
After becoming Supremes, they remained unable to perfect the Five Great Qi Refining Realms. They were half a step short, unable to advance toward the pinnacle of the Extreme Dao.
The sensation was peculiar, as though the ten thousand Daos were suppressing them, holding them firmly in place. They could not break through, and they could not understand why.
Thus, some asked the Sage Emperor what was causing it.
"Do not rush. Wait patiently for the right moment. Heaven and earth are recovering, and the Great Dao is being made whole. A special opportunity will come in the days ahead," Lin Fan explained.
However, he also said that anyone who could break free of the ten thousand Daos' shackles naturally would not need to wait and could ascend directly to the Extreme Dao.
The Heavenly Horned Ant, Ning Fei, and the others were speechless. How difficult would it be to place their own Dao above the ten thousand Daos? That would be tantamount to pitting their strength alone against the entire Great Universe outside.
Who could possibly do that?
"You need only believe firmly in yourself!" Lin Fan said calmly.
Whoosh!
As he raised