The Path

Deep within the secret realm of Mount Sumeru, the resonance of the Dao gradually settled. Though Ming Xin's Three Bodies remained connected in aura, they had already developed a clear division of labor and emphasis.

With a subtle shift of thought, he turned his gaze toward the Future Self, whose aura was ethereal and who governed the possibilities of what was yet to come. His voice was deep as he spoke: "Fate is impermanent, karma unfathomable. This path values deduction and scheming above all—a single thread moves the whole. The changes of the future, I entrust to you."

As he finished, Ming Xin's Main Body raised a hand and pointed. From his comprehension of the two supreme Great Daos—"Fate" and "Karma"—gleaned from the fragments of the Jade Disk of Creation, countless profound mysteries and insights transformed into two streams of light, flickering with innumerable tiny runes and threads of destiny, slowly flowing into the Future Self's body.

The Future Self accepted them calmly. His form grew even more illusory and shifting, and deep within his eyes, it seemed as if billions of Rivers of Fate surged, converged, and branched apart. The illusory compass in his hand solidified somewhat, its needle turning on its own, deducing infinite variables. He nodded slightly, his voice carrying a hollow echo: "Fate is a weave, karma a net. I shall hold the piece and place it on the board."

Then, Ming Xin's gaze returned to himself. A resolute, fierce killing intent and a vast, majestic power of the Five Elements rose from within him. "To kill is to protect life; to sever karma is not to slay men. This True Meaning of Slaughter is not for destruction, but to purge karmic obstacles and uphold the righteous path. It shall be governed by the Main Self, as a thunderous measure. The Five Elements revolve, deriving all things—this is the foundation, the source of chaos. It too shall be borne by the Main Self, to stabilize the Dao Foundation."

He imprinted his comprehension of the "Great Dao of Killing" and the ultimate insights into the "Five Elements Great Dao" deeply into the Primordial Spirit of his Main Body. At this moment, Ming Xin's path grew ever clearer: Main Body—governing the present, foundation in the Five Elements Great Dao (evolving chaos), methods centered on the Great Dao of Killing (severing karma to protect life), supplemented by the power of the system's core, commanding the whole, strongest in combat. Past Self—governing the past, foundation in the Red Dust Great Dao, methods centered on the Great Dao of Reincarnation, tempering himself amidst the boundless mortal world and the reincarnation of all beings, drawing power and spreading the Western path. Future Self—governing the future, foundation in deduction and calculation, methods centered on the Great Dao of Fate and the Great Dao of Karma, placing pieces in silence, guiding the grand currents, and avoiding risks. The Three Bodies were both separate and unified under "Ming Xin," connected mysteriously through the system, sharing all information and insights—truly limitless in potential.

Having arranged everything, Ming Xin rose to his full height. The Past Self and Future Self transformed into two streams of light—one red, one white—and merged back into his body to nurture and cultivate in seclusion. He left the secret realm and arrived outside the cave where Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti were in closed-door meditation. With reverence, he transmitted his voice: "Masters, your disciple wishes to re-enter the Primordial World, to train amidst the mortal realm, consolidate what I have gained, and seek opportunities to spread the fate of our Western lands."

After a moment, Daoist Zhunti's voice came from within the cave, tinged with satisfaction: "Good. Your path lies in the mortal world, in the multitude of beings. On this journey, remember: caution above all, and do not force fate."

Daoist Jieyin's voice followed: "The mysteries of creation—you have only grasped the surface. But the subtlety of their application lies in a single mind. Go."

"Your disciple obeys."

Ming Xin bowed deeply, then with a flicker of his form, he was already outside the Mountain-Protecting Array of Mount Sumeru.

Stepping once more into the Primordial World, the heavens and earth remained as vast as ever, but the world in Ming Xin's eyes had changed drastically. Mountains and rivers appeared to him as manifestations of the Five Elements' power; the myriad forms of life were the flowing of mortal desires and emotions. He could even faintly see blurry Threads of Karma entangling all things, and occasionally, a flash of insight would reveal fragmented visions of the future. He did not employ divine abilities to fly swiftly but walked like a true ascetic, measuring the lands of the Primordial World step by step, experiencing this new perspective of the world.

One day, he came upon a barren mountain range. The spiritual veins here were thin, living beings scarce, yet an extremely faint Sha Qi and resentment seeped through. Ming Xin frowned slightly and followed that trace of sensation deep into the mountains. Finally, in a secluded valley, he found ruins. Broken walls and collapsed beams seemed to belong to an ancient village, long since destroyed by time and some force. At the center of the valley, the earth was a dark red, and a thick, unyielding mass of resentment and death energy hung in the air. Vague, agonized phantoms of countless souls could be seen wailing and struggling within. They seemed bound here by some power, unable to be reborn. Over the years, their resentment had accumulated, forming a natural dead zone that disrupted the surrounding earth veins.

"So this is an abandoned Ancient Battlefield—trapped souls, condensed resentment, blocking reincarnation." Ming Xin understood instantly. In the past, he might have used Buddhist methods to liberate them or directly cut down these resentful spirits with the path of slaughter. But now, he felt a resonance. The Past Self stepped out from behind him, the aura of the mortal world and the rhythm of reincarnation flowing naturally around him. "The Mortal World Sea of Suffering, no gate to reincarnation. How pitiful." The Past Self sighed softly. Instead of using powerful divine abilities, he slowly sat cross-legged at the edge of the resentment's core. He began to chant a strange scripture—not purely Buddhist, but a unique Dao Sound that blended the sounds of all mortal phenomena, the words of the seven emotions of all beings, and the meaning of Reincarnation Rebirth.

As he chanted, illusory scenes emerged: the joy, sorrow, anger, and love of living beings; the rise and fall of dynasties; the withering and flourishing of plants—as if a condensed panorama of the mortal world was displayed before these resentful souls. At the same time, a faint Power of Reincarnation, like a tiny door opening in endless darkness, revealed a glimmer of hope for liberation. The violent resentful souls first grew more agitated, then were drawn in by the scenes of the mortal world. They saw shadows of their own past lives within them and felt those complex, genuine emotions. The violent resentment gradually calmed, replaced by confusion, remembrance, and finally, deep exhaustion and a longing for release. They began to instinctively gather toward that door of reincarnation, their forms slowly fading as they merged into it, achieving rebirth.

This process was not instantaneous, but the Past Self was extremely patient, continuing to chant, using the path of the mortal world to dissolve mortal attachments, and the Power of Reincarnation to guide reincarnating souls. Ming Xin's Main Body stood guard nearby, witnessing this scene, deepening his understanding of "to kill is to protect life, to sever karma is not to slay men" and the path of mortal reincarnation. Pure liberation or slaughter might not be as fundamental as this kind of "understanding" and "guidance."

After a long time, most of the resentment and death energy in the valley dissipated. Though still desolate, it was no longer suffocating. Just then, at the very core of the resentment, a crystalline, blood-colored glimmer caught Ming Xin's attention. He reached out and summoned it. It flew into his hand—a naturally formed Blood Jade, cool to the touch, containing a pure essence of Sha Qi and remnant soul essence, along with a strange law that could calm the soul and settle the spirit. "A Myriad Souls Blood Rosary?" Ming Xin recognized the object. It was a rare treasure that could only form in places of extreme yin, combining the essence of countless souls and Sha Qi. It was highly effective for cultivating the Primordial Spirit and resisting Inner Demons, and could also serve as material for refining special spiritual treasures. "Resolving calamity and gaining a treasure in return—every bite and sip, is it not predestined?" Ming Xin put away the Blood Rosary, smiled faintly, and continued his journey through the Primordial World.

His steps crossed mountains and rivers, experiencing the myriad facets of the mortal world. At times, he used the Path of Slaughter to slay vicious beasts and demon lords that plagued a region, cleansing karmic hindrances;

at other times, he employed the Path of Five Elements to regulate earthly veins and nourish a land; more often than not, it was his Past Self that manifested.

Among the living beings, through the Path of Mortal World Reincarnation, he forged countless bonds—some deep, some shallow—quietly sowing the seeds of the Western Path.

As for the Future Self, though not directly manifested, it ceaselessly deduced heavenly secrets and causality, avoiding danger and guiding the Main Body toward those nodes that seemed coincidental yet were laden with opportunity.

Ming Xin's name did not thunder through the ears, but it began to spread quietly in certain corners of the Primordial World in a peculiar way.