He dared not delay, enduring the oppressive power of the demonic aura that was of the same origin but filled with a crazy and destructive will, as well as the faint interference of the ominous power of the red-haired man. His figure flashed, as if he had teleported to the location of the demonic body's dantian.
That place, which should have been Bitter Sea, was now shrouded in a layer of dense, impenetrable dark demonic energy that seemed capable of devouring all light and consciousness.
As the demonic energy surged, countless tormented souls and scenes of destruction faintly appeared.
Li Qingshan took a deep breath, fully circulated his profound energy, and drew upon the innate aura that originated from the same source as his demonic body. At the same time, he carefully separated a wisp of his divine sense, like the most nimble fingers, and slowly probed towards the dark demonic energy.
The process was not without its challenges.
The moment his divine sense came into contact with the demonic energy, it was as if he had been plunged into a raging sea of fury!
Fragments of the Primordial Great Demon's will, still remaining within the demonic energy, were violent, chaotic, and filled with a desire to devour and destroy.
Like countless cold, sharp blades, they frantically assaulted his mental defenses, unleashing various tempting, intimidating, and howling mental roars, attempting to assimilate and corrupt this wisp of his divine consciousness, and ultimately erode his physical awareness.
"Roll!"
Li Qingshan heart was as firm as a rock, and his battle spirit, tempered by countless tribulations, was as clear as crystal. How could these rootless, drifting remnants of will possibly shake him?
He snorted coldly, his divine sense acting like a stabilizing needle, steadily moving forward. The immortal divine light emanating from the Second-Turn Divine Embryo further dispersed and purified these spiritual shocks.
His divine sense finally penetrated the densest layer of demonic energy, as if breaking through an invisible barrier, and entered a strange, independent space—the very place where the demonic body's Bitter Sea resided!
However, this Bitter Sea has long been eroded and transformed by endless demonic energy and the laws of destruction, turning it into a forbidden sea that is desolate, dark, yet contains terrifying power.
Divine thoughts, like invisible tentacles, swept swiftly across this dark sea of the Bitter Sea.
The first thing I sensed was two powerful and familiar life forces that could not be completely concealed even in this desolate sea of demons!
One is fiery and vigorous, like Qilin treading on fire, with thousands of auspicious rays, containing the meaning of Nirvana;
One is warm and substantial, but it is severely damaged, with only a section of its body remaining!
Found it!
Sure enough, it's here!
Li Qingshan felt a surge of excitement. His divine sense immediately transformed into two invisible hands, carefully reaching out and gently guiding the life force.
The next moment, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun, a mysterious seed, burning with a faint five-colored flame and with a lively shape like Qilin walking on clouds, appeared.
And a blurry humanoid corpse, though broken and cracked, still exuding an intense, irresistible medicinal fragrance and an ancient, timeless Daoist aura.
As if summoned, they slowly flew out from the depths of the surging demonic energy, breaking free from the shackles of the sea of the Bitter Sea.
Li Qingshan dared not delay and immediately took out two jade boxes made of ancient warm jade that he had prepared beforehand.
With hand seals, he unleashed several beams of sealing divine light, carefully placing the Kirin Immortal Medicine Seed and the humanoid remains of the Immortal Medicine into the jade box respectively.
He then closed the lid of the box and applied a total of eighty-one profound restrictive runes to the outside to ensure that its aura did not leak out in the slightest before carefully and solemnly retrieving it into his internal space.
Immediately afterwards, a fierce and incomparable sword intent, seemingly capable of severing the galaxy and the universe, and a vast and boundless aura that resonated with the stars in the heavens, were also clearly captured by his divine sense.
He reached out again, his divine sense locking onto the location, and grabbed at the Void!
A longsword, entirely black in color, with an ancient design, featuring natural dragon patterns coiled around its blade, exuding a chilling killing intent and imperial aura.
And eighteen large black flags, their flags fluttering in the wind, neither made of cloth nor leather, embroidered with patterns of the celestial stars, exuding an aura of ancient times.
They broke through the viscous demonic energy, transforming into streams of light that fell into his palm.
The sword settled in his hand, and the flag unfurled, revealing the starry sky. It was the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Sword he had cut out in the Holy City before his transmigration, and the mysterious Zhoutian Star Battle Great Banners he had obtained in the Kunlun Saint's Cave!
The joy of finding what was lost fills my heart.
However, when he searched every corner of the Bitter Sea again carefully and repeatedly, he still could not find the Dao Bell or the slightest trace of the Saint's alchemy furnace that could refine all things.
They seemed to have never existed in this Bitter Sea, vanishing without a trace.
"Was it completely devoured by this demonic body after it went out of control, and turned into nourishment for its growth?"
Or were they destroyed along with parts of the demonic body during that fierce battle that ultimately annihilated it, or were they left behind in some unknown corner of the battlefield?
Li Qingshan frowned, a hint of regret rising in his heart.
That Dao Bell was crafted by him personally, and it had always been with him ever since it was forged in Kunlun, possessing endless wondrous uses;
The alchemy furnace is an unparalleled treasure for refining elixirs and crafting weapons.
The alchemy furnace is an unparalleled treasure for refining elixirs and crafting weapons.
The loss of both is indeed a significant loss.
Just as he was about to withdraw his divine sense, no longer linger, and try to leave this seal, another change occurred!
Through the ever-present Cause and Effect connection maintained by the Stone Gate, and the unbreakable shared aura between oneself and the demonic body.
He clearly felt that a strange connection had formed between himself and the Primordial Great Demon's body, which was heavily sealed and its consciousness dormant, a connection far stronger and clearer than ever before, and even resonating with some kind of rule-based principle!
It's not just an instinctive attraction stemming from a shared origin; it's more like a resonance and unity at the level of personality, transcending the concepts of duality and subjectivity.
It was as if this terrifying demonic body, once independent, possessing its own will, and capable of unleashing boundless catastrophe, had, inexplicably yet naturally, become an extension of him under the definition of some deeper, more fundamental cosmic rule?
Is it a projection of the " Present Self " existing on different trajectories?
" Myriad Selves as One, illuminating all the heavens,"
The image of him involuntarily resurfaced in his mind: when he was in seclusion in Yu Xin Valley, he had caused the Stone Gate to tremble and his mind to reflect upon the heavens.
The strange phenomenon was closely related to the Stone Gate, and at this moment, this peculiar connection with the demonic body subtly overlapped with the feeling of the strange phenomenon, as if there were countless intricate and inexplicable connections between them.
An absurd yet perfectly real thought, like the first lightning bolt cleaving through the darkness in the chaos, suddenly exploded in the deepest part of his mind!
" Other Selves?"
Yes!
It's " Other Selves "!
It is not the kind of clone, second primordial spirit, or external avatar that ordinary cultivators in this world understand.
Rather, they are "other selves" existing in different timelines, parallel universes, and even different historical fragments and possibilities!
They are beings that share the same life origin and beginnings, yet have taken completely different paths and developed independent consciousness and destiny due to different experiences, choices, and environments!
Logically speaking, although the Second Demonic Embryo originated from him and was formed from a separated part of his essence and will, it has now completely separated and taken shape independently.
It may even eventually spiral out of control and become antagonistic, turning into two completely different individuals from the original, and should no longer have such a profound connection rooted in the most fundamental rules of life and existence.
However, the existence of the Stone Gate, and the astonishing phenomenon of " Myriad Selves as One " that seems to be closely related to the Stone Gate, clearly breaks this common sense!
They touched upon some higher-dimensional rule!
"I see, Stone Gate, the surprises you've given me go far beyond the convenience of traveling the world,"
Li Qingshan felt a sudden sense of clarity, as if he had pushed open a door to infinite possibilities and saw scenery he had never imagined before.
He understood that this Primordial Great Demon, because it shared the same origin as him, inherited part of his essence and had experienced a complete and independent "existence" and "end" in this realm.
Under the immense power of the Stone Gate, which encompasses all realms, projects Other Selves Cause and Effect, and interferes with cause and effect, he was unknowingly "certified" or rather "shaped" into an extremely special and powerful " Other Selves " in this world!
A Other Selves embarked on a path of pure destruction and battle, and was ultimately suppressed!
Once the concept was grasped, it was like the sun breaking through the clouds. The mysteries and possibilities surrounding " Other Selves " emerged naturally and clearly in his mind, as if they had already been imprinted deep within his soul.
The effect of Other Selves is the unification of power, which is achieved through perception, resonance, and even, when conditions are ripe in the future, the unification of the power, laws, and accumulated Dao Fruit of different " Other Selves ".
This self can then continuously accumulate and draw upon the wisdom and power of "me" from all realms, perfecting the foundation of my own Great Dao. The ultimate goal is to transcend the constraints of a single universe and witness the reality of all heavens and myriad realms!
With the help of the Stone Gate, this supreme wonder, he is no longer limited to passively discovering things, but can take the initiative to attack!
Actively creating "other selves" across different timelines, different worlds, different historical fragments, and even possible branching paths.
These Other Selves could be clones formed by injecting a wisp of divine thought, projections caused by Cause and Effect relationships, or reincarnations of true spirits.
It could even be a conceptual entity derived from a significant event or concept!
This means that in the future, he may not need to be physically present to be able to directly enlighten, activate, or connect with the imprints of Other Selves through the Stone Gate, thus influencing, participating in, and even controlling the changing fortunes of the world in another form!
Each Other Selves possesses independent consciousness, emotions, and growth trajectory, and will develop distinctly different personalities and paths due to their environment and experiences in the world they inhabit.
At the same time, the deity can also use the Stone Gate as a bridge Other Selves create a deep resonance with those who recognize the deity or are under the deity's guidance.
Borrowing its power, sharing its memories and cultivation insights within certain limits is equivalent to having countless eyes observing all the heavens and myriad worlds, and countless "selves" exploring different paths.
Projecting into all realms, Other Selves Return to One —this is the ultimate vision!
When one cultivates to an incredibly profound level, one's divine sense is sufficient to cover endless dimensions, and one can actively project one's own imprint to all the heavens and myriad worlds, transforming into countless forms and spreading the concept of "I".
The ultimate goal of that path is the legendary " Other Selves Return to One "!
The countless imprints of Other Selves, their powers, and their Dao Fruit scattered throughout the multiverse and infinite dimensions will be reunited into one, with the original self as the core!
At that time, every gesture will no longer be powered by the strength of one's own arduous cultivation, but by the immense power of almost the entire multiverse and the superposition of countless "selves"!
What a magnificent sight that would be! It would probably be close to the legendary "Tao," omnipotent!
" The Primordial Great Demon has become my first ' Other Selves '."
Li Qingshan stared with an extremely complicated expression at the terrifying demonic body before him, which was pierced by countless chains of divine laws and was now lifeless and floating.
Although this " Other Selves " consciousness had long been dormant in the seal, or rather, its independent and violent will had been completely suppressed, only this body containing the characteristics of immortality and that ultimate path of destruction remained.
But the "fact" of its existence, and the "path" it represents—the path to destruction leading to its end.
The extraordinary connection established through the Stone Gate opened a window for him to glimpse another possibility.
He could vaguely sense that even though he couldn't directly invoke the power of this sealed demonic body, he was merely beginning to trigger and resonate with the concept of "destruction" represented by this " Other Selves ".
Their own killing power, affinity for and understanding of the laws of destruction will all receive a significant boost and refinement in a short period of time.
This was truly an unexpected and far greater gain than anticipated!
Not only did they successfully retrieve the crucial Kirin Immortal Medicine Seed and the humanoid remains of the Immortal Medicine, preserving the foundation and hope for their future path;
He unexpectedly gained a deeper understanding of the Stone Gate's extraordinary ability to "project Other Selves," paving a path to infinite possibilities for himself.
And this Primordial Great Demon, as the first " Other Selves " being, laid the initial foundation for him to practice this path in the future!
Just as he was filled with excitement, carefully experiencing the subtle changes and future reveries brought about by this newfound connection between " Other Selves ".
The spatial pull emanating from the Stone Gate within his body, which had remained dormant until then, suddenly became incredibly strong and clear!
It was as if a grand, resounding bell had been struck deep within his soul, carrying an undeniable authority:
[The return journey has begun, but the deadline is approaching. The passage is stable; we will guide you back in three days.]
The final deadline has arrived.
There can be no further delay.
Li Qingshan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, and gathered all the newly acquired Immortal Medicine, Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Sword, Zhoutian Star Battle Great Banners, and his initial understanding of the mysteries of " Other Selves " into his heart.
He took one last, deep look at the Yuanshi demonic body, pierced by countless chains of divine laws and Eternal silent in the chaotic Void— "he" was the first, and currently the most unique, " Other Selves " in this realm.
He could clearly sense that his Cause and Effect entanglement with this world was far from over; on the contrary, it had become more complex and profound because of his understanding of " Other Selves ".
Yu Xin is still meditating in the valley he personally sealed away, awaiting the unknown future;
The rest of the demon's body, including its head and limbs, remains scattered throughout the Three Realms, suppressed and unburied.
Furthermore, the main body of this demonic body, which has become " Other Selves," presents a complex problem that requires careful consideration: whether to try to completely integrate with its path, help it break free from its seal, or maintain the status quo for future reference.
This departure is by no means a final farewell, but merely a necessary temporary separation for a stronger future return.
He slowly closed his eyes, no longer using his own magic to resist the increasingly powerful and clearer guiding force.
He could sense that the illusory image of the Stone Gate seemed to glow faintly within his body, establishing a stable connection with a coordinate in a distant, unknown place.
His figure began to gradually become blurred and transparent in this sealed chaotic Void, like an ink painting being slowly washed away by clear water, with all colors and presence rapidly disappearing.
In the final moment before his consciousness was completely withdrawn from this world and his physical form completely dissipated in this absolutely isolated sealed space.
A mysterious yet undeniably certain premonition, like destiny, naturally welled up in his heart, imprinting itself clearly and definitively deep within his soul:
He will surely return to this land in the near future!
This ancient and mysterious world, which bears witness to his initial demonic power, the turning point and rebirth of his path, the footprints of his pursuit, and the seeds of " Other Selves " he planted!
The next moment, the pulling force reached its peak, and everything before them—the enormous cocoon of light, the chaotic Void, the dark gold demon body pierced by chains, and the ominous red hair fluttering—fluctuated and distorted violently like a mirage, eventually transforming into a pure light.
As the light faded, only the enormous and cold cocoon of law light remained in the Void, Eternal floating in absolute isolation and deathly silence.
It was as if everything that had just happened—the intrusion, the treasure hunt, the enlightenment, and the disappearance—was merely an illusory dream, leaving no trace whatsoever.
Li Qingshan's presence and existence have completely vanished from this world.