Xuanhuang... Primordial Spirit...

"Two methods: [The Xuanhuang Dao Attainment Method], [The Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment Method]"

Qi Yun silently recited the mantra, and a faint light flickered deep within his azure-gold eyes.

After a long while, a thought struck him.

The Youquan Dharma Body, seated cross-legged on the Blood Sea Lotus Platform, was in harmony with him and had already sensed the confusion of the true body.

Youquan sat cross-legged, his blood-red eyes carrying a hint of languor, yet also a touch of knowing amusement. "Is this... pondering what will happen after I attain enlightenment?"

Qi Yun nodded slightly, his gaze calm: "You just mentioned the Fruition Status— "

He paused, a hint of seriousness appearing deep within his azure-gold eyes. "According to you, if someone attains the same Fruition Status as you, how do we determine who is the master and who is the assistant?"

Upon hearing Youquan, a hint of understanding flashed in Youquan's blood-red eyes.

He grinned, a smile both sinister and tinged with an air of self-righteous arrogance, "Of course, it's all about skill."

He raised his right hand, his five fingers spread wide, and in his palm, the Dao intent connected to the Blood Sea slowly flowed. "In fact, every advancement of True Lord's realm is, in essence, a process of refining one's Fruition Status."

"The more profound insights into the Dao that are infused into Fruition Status, the stronger one's control over that Fruition Status will be."

"Spread the teachings widely, gather the masses, give back to the Fruition Status of the Buddha, and unite the Way with the self."

He slowly closed his five fingers, and the wisp of Dao intent condensed in his palm into a miniature, dark red, flowing phantom of the Blood Sea Fruition Status: "At that time, the Fruition Status will be me, and I will be the Fruition Status."

Qi Yun listened quietly, a faint light flickering deep within his cyan-gold eyes.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, "So, in other words, if a later-established True Lord has a broader and deeper understanding of the Dao, they have a chance to turn the tables and seize that Fruition Status?"

Youquan paused for a moment, then nodded. "That is indeed a possibility."

He paused, then shook his head. "However, the chances are slim."

"With years of nurturing, the Dao Fruit will become increasingly aligned with the First True Lord."

He grinned, a smile tinged with a self-assured disdain, "Simply put, it has transformed into the form of the First True Lord."

"The True Lord of Post-Proof wants to turn the tables? Hah----"

He shook his head slightly. "Almost impossible."

Silence fell over the depths of the Blood Sea world.

Only the gentle, surging sound of the tide, like the whisper of the Long River of Time, slowly echoes in this world that belongs to the Youquan.

Qi Yun did not respond immediately.

He simply stood with his hands behind his back, his azure-gold eyes seeming to gaze the Unseen some higher, more distant being.

a long time.

He suddenly looked up.

A sharp, intense light suddenly flashed deep within those cyan-gold eyes: "What if—"

He paused slightly, then slowly uttered, word by word. "Is it simultaneous attainment of enlightenment?"

The smile on Youquan's face suddenly froze.

The languid playfulness in his bloodshot eyes vanished instantly, replaced by an indescribable solemnity.

He paused for a moment, then slowly spoke, "At the same time—or rather, not long apart."

He raised his eyes, gazing into Qi Yun's azure-gold eyes, the depths of his blood-red pupils flashing intensely. "What I mean is, two people cultivating the same lineage, attaining the True Lord at the same moment?"

Qi Yun nodded slightly.

Youquan frowned, and for the first time, a look of genuine contemplation appeared on his sinister face. "Simultaneous attainment of Fruition Status of attainment, not yet fully integrated with anyone else, the position is still uncertain—"

He slowly raised his head, his blood-red eyes flashing. "That's true, anyone could become that Primary-Position True Lord."

"And the other one----"

He paused, then lowered his voice even further. "We can only be relegated to a subordinate position, subject to its constraints, and contribute to its Dao Path."

77

As soon as he finished speaking, the Purple Mansion fell into a deathly silence.

Youquan remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, her voice hoarse as if two pieces of rotten wood were rubbing together. "But... could there really be such a person?"

He raised his eyes and looked at Qi Yun, his bloodshot eyes filled with doubt. "Suppressing your cultivation level, waiting for countless years, just to wait for a stranger who is also a fellow cultivator to become True Lord, and then advance at the same time as him?"

"Let's not even talk about whether he'll ever see that person again."

Even if he gets there, how can he guarantee that he will be able to defeat the other party?

"What if the other side takes the main seat? Wouldn't I be in trouble—"

He didn't continue because the consequences would be too terrible.

Even though a True Lord is True Lord, Secondary-Position True Lord is merely an appendage of the Primary-Position True Lord.

The Dao Path to enlightenment is severed the moment one attains it.

Qi Yun listened quietly, the light in the depths of his blue-gold eyes growing ever more profound.

He did not answer Youquan's question immediately.

a long time.

He spoke slowly, his voice low but carrying an all-knowing certainty. "In this vast world, anything is possible."

"You want to say—" Youquan's eyes narrowed slightly.

Qi Yun did not answer.

Outside the Purple Mansion, on the battlefield, the sounds of fighting, screams, and clashing Law Treasure weapons were still deafening.

But Qi Yun's mind was completely immersed in the profound and mysterious deductions that belonged to his own Dao Path.

a long time.

He slowly withdrew his gaze, and the insightful solemnity deep within his blue-gold eyes gradually settled, replaced by an unprecedented clarity.

He stood with his hands behind his back, silently reciting in his heart: "The Xuanhuang Dao Attainment Method— "

This method is a smooth path that countless sages have paved throughout the ages, treading on the bones of countless ancestors.

There are countless traditions and numerous paths to enlightenment, each with its own precedents to follow.

Once you embark on this path, it's like walking along a predetermined road that has been proven by countless people.

Though there are thorns and obstacles ahead, and though we must endure countless tribulations.

But there is always a path beneath your feet.

Moreover, once this path is successfully completed, with the protection of Fruition Status, one can open the Divine Court.

That Divine Court is the fundamental place of the True Lord, and it is the external manifestation of his own Great Dao.

Within the Divine Court, there are their own Principle, their own order, forming a world of its own.

Between heaven and earth, the sun and moon rise and set, grass and trees wither and flourish, and all living things multiply, all following the will of the True Lord.

Within that Divine Court, the True Lord is the sole ruler, the true god.

More importantly...

With Fruition Status attainment, even in the deepest slumber, True Lord can continuously absorb the energy of heaven and earth, the thoughts of all living beings, and fragments of the Great Dao to nourish his own Dao Path.

Furthermore, with the protection of those in Fruition Status, they can deduce cause and effect and interfere with destiny.

As long as it doesn't interfere with the cause and effect of beings at the True Lord level.

Even if one were to eliminate a Great True Person, the price would only be a slight loss of cultivation.

How domineering that is!

How magnificent that is!

The strength of this approach lies in its gradual accumulation of knowledge and experience, its solid foundation, and its ability to handle everything personally.

However, this path has its limitations.

Qi Yun lowered his eyes slightly, looking at the lingering, now dormant, bright yellow aura in his palm.

The problem lies in over-reliance on Fruition Status.

The Fruition Status is the foundation of True Lord, the abode of the true spirit, and proof of achievement on the Dao Path.

Similarly -

This is also the True Lord's biggest weakness.

If someone steals your Fruition Status, or if someone later strips you of your rightful place.

All of that will vanish like smoke.

Even after ten thousand years of arduous cultivation, even with overwhelming power over heaven and earth, even with the unity of the Tao and myself.

In the end, it's all just making wedding clothes for others.

Although that possibility is extremely slim.

Although it requires the right timing, location, and people—all three are indispensable.

Although there has never been a precedent in the Xuanhuang Home Realm!

But as long as it exists, it is a flaw.

Qi Yun remained silent for a moment, then his mind raced again: "The Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment Method— "

This method was a new path he forged through life and death in the Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm, amidst the discussions of the five hundred Arhat, under the watchful eyes of all the True Lord, and among the magical artifacts [above the True Lord].

It does not depend on the Fruition Status, nor does it seek the Golden Nature.

Using the Primordial Spirit as proof and the Dao heart as witness, one ascends to heaven through the Dao and establishes oneself as a ruler.

The beauty of this path lies in its complete liberation from dependence on Fruition Status.

After attaining enlightenment, there are no restrictions of Fruition Status; no one can seize or steal it.

The Tao resides within oneself; I am the Tao.

Carefree and unrestrained.

However, this path has its limitations.

Qi Yun closed his eyes slightly, sensing the aura of the Great Sun Purple Ultimate True Lord.

That aura, compared to the Xuanhuang True Lord who stood majestically in the sky before him, lacked something.

What's missing is that profound sense of connection with nature, of breathing with the heavens and earth, of flowing with the years.

What's missing is that majestic aura that can open up the Divine Court and create its own world.

What's missing is that domineering ability to arbitrarily deduce cause and effect and arbitrarily interfere with fate.

The Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment Method depends entirely on oneself.

Without the blessing of Fruition Status, without the nourishment of good fortune, and without the support of the thoughts of sentient beings.

Every step forward in one's cultivation requires gradual understanding and accumulation.

That speed was more than ten times slower than that of the Xuanhuang True Lord.

Moreover, without the protection of Fruition Status, the true spirit is like a rootless duckweed, easily washed away and worn down by the Long River of Time if one is not careful.

Although they are not subject to restrictions, their methods are mysterious and their lives are of great importance.

Ultimately, he was inferior to the Xuanhuang True Lord, who relied on his attainment of a Fruition Status.

Youquan listened quietly to the self-talk of the true body, the light in its blood-red eyes flickering uncertainly.

He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.

But the words stuck in his throat.

Because he also knew that both paths had their advantages and disadvantages.

The Xuanhuang Dao Attainment Method is like a prince who acts as regent, holding a high position and wielding great power, yet ultimately it has not been perfected.

The Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment Method is like a free-spirited Rogue Cultivator in the mountains, unrestrained and carefree, but ultimately its foundation is shallow.

Neither path is perfect.

Both paths have their shortcomings.

He gazed at the deep blue figure standing with his hands behind his back, at the light in the depths of those azure-gold eyes that was frantically calculating and weighing options, and a thought suddenly arose in his mind:

Which path will the true self choose?

Xuanhuang? Or the Primordial Spirit?

I don't know how much time passed.

It may be a fleeting moment, or it may be a long time.

The deep blue figure standing with his hands behind his back finally moved.

Qi Yun slowly opened his eyes.

The light of deduction in the depths of those blue-gold eyes slowly settled, and the solemnity of weighing the options gradually faded.

Instead, there is an unprecedented clarity.

A kind of clarity that comes after cutting through all doubts and seeing through all the fog.

Then he smiled.

The smile was faint, so faint that it was almost invisible.

Yet within that smile lay an indescribable rhythm, seemingly resonating with the heavens and earth.

Youquan gazed at that smile, his eyes flickering slightly. He knew that the true master had made a decision. "True master, you—"

Qi Yun did not look back.

He simply stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky, and then slowly spoke.

The voice wasn't loud, yet it boomed like thunder from the heavens: "Two paths—"

I won't choose any of them.

Youquan's pupils suddenly contracted.

He stared intently at the deep blue figure, his bloodshot eyes flashing wildly. "None of you choose? Then what do you want—"

Qi Yun did not answer immediately.

He merely raised his right hand slightly.

Spread your fingers wide.

Palms facing upwards.

Those long, slender, fair fingers gently clenched in the air.

It's just such a simple action.

But just as he clenched his fist, a tremendous tremor shook the depths of his Purple Mansion!

The Great Luo Heaven, which suppresses all laws and evolves all heavens, seemed to sense his decision at this moment and suddenly burst forth with unprecedentedly brilliant light!

The light was intense and vast, as if it were about to break through the Purple Mansion, tear apart the void, and shine directly into the highest, most fundamental existence in the the Unseen!

And within this Infinite Light...

The deep blue figure finally spoke slowly.

His voice was calm, yet it was like the first sound at the beginning of creation, like the first ripple of the rushing Long River of Time, echoing powerfully in this world that belonged to him: "I will make these two paths—"

He paused slightly.

A brilliant light, unlike anything seen before, suddenly shone deep within those cyan-gold eyes.

Within that light lay the profound and ancient wisdom of the Xuanhuang Dao Attainment Method, and the carefree and unrestrained freedom of the Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment Method.

It also possesses an unprecedented and supreme meaning that transcends both, encompassing the strengths of both!

"Unite as one!"

Every word, every phrase, was like a divine decree descending upon the world: "To forge a path—"

He slightly raised his head, gazing at that the Unseen, so mysterious and destined to be his own, a path he was meant to tread himself. "My own unique path."

"The Great Luo Dao Path!"