Despair, Then Renewed Resolve

"That's one way to put it," Fang Hexuan said gravely. "The struggle for Dao Fruit, in essence, is a self-regulation within the Dao Realm —survival of the fittest, eliminating excess powerhouses, and nourishing itself."

"That's too cruel!" He Qingsong said in a low voice. "Isn't there any other way?"

No one answered.

If there had been a way, Biyuan Ancestor would not have chosen to sacrifice himself and seal his Dao Fruit.

Li Yunjing suddenly looked at Yuanchu: "Yuanchu, have you remembered something?"

Yuanchu stood before the mural, staring blankly at the image of a white-robed man transforming into a Daoist, his eyes vacant.

Upon hearing Li Yunjing's words, he slowly turned his head, his face somewhat pale.

"I remember some things now," he said softly. "Ten thousand years ago, I thought that obtaining the Dao Fruit would save the world. I thought the Dao Fruit could bring peace and allow everyone to live a good life."

"But later I found out that wasn't the case."

"The only things the Dao Fruit brings are war and death."

"The moment I obtained the Dao Fruit, I knew I would die, but I had no way out. If I didn't take it, and the demonic path got it, even more people would die."

His voice was soft, yet it carried a weariness and helplessness that seemed to have endured the passage of time.

Everyone felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this.

It turns out that this Origin Dao Physique has been sacrificing itself since 100,000 years ago.

Even knowing full well that the outcome would be assimilation, they still resolutely headed towards the Dao Fruit.

Just so that fewer people would die.

"And what about this time?" Liao Xingjian couldn't help but ask, "If the Dao Fruit reappears this time, will the same thing happen again? Will the righteous and demonic paths fight again, kill a lot of people, and then whoever gets the Dao Fruit will die?"

Silence fell over the stone chamber once more.

This is a problem that no one wants to face, yet everyone has to.

The Dao Fruit is located deep within the Burial Ground.

Large forces from both the righteous and demonic factions are heading this way.

A major battle is about to break out.

Are we just going to stand by and watch the tragedy of 100,000 years ago repeat itself?

"No."

Li Yunjing suddenly spoke, his voice firm.

This can't go on.

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his eyes clear and resolute.

"The cleansing mechanism of Dao Fruit is not insurmountable. The Biyuan Ancestor could think of sealing Dao Fruit shows that it's not without a solution. Now that we know the truth, we cannot stand by and watch countless people die in vain."

"Sect Leader Li, what do you intend to do?" Zhenyangzi asked him.

"First, find the Dao Fruit," Li Yunjing said in a deep voice. "Once we find the Dao Fruit, we'll figure out a way—either to completely seal it or to break this cycle of reincarnation. In short, we can't let the righteous path suffer any more heavy casualties because of it, and we can't let anyone else be assimilated by it."

"But..." a Rogue Cultivator hesitated, "That's Dao Fruit! Even if we wanted to interfere, we couldn't, could we? That's a rule of the Dao Realm!"

"Rules can be changed," Li Yunjing said calmly. "High Antiquity couldn't do it doesn't mean we can't."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a strange power that gradually calmed the restless crowd.

Li Yunjing is right!

Now that we know the truth, we can't pretend we don't know and let the tragedy continue.

How is this any different from a cowardly turtle hiding its head?

Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, you should still give it a try.

Even if you don't think about the well-being of all people, you should at least think about yourself.

Having already entered this game, it's probably impossible to stay out of it.

Fang Hexuan looked at Li Yunjing, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes. "Well said. Disciples of the Luozhen Sect should have this sense of responsibility. Whether it succeeds or not, we should at least try."

Zhenyangzi nodded, "I've lived for twenty thousand years, I've had enough. If I can break this damned cycle of reincarnation, then my life will not have been in vain."

Zhi Qianshu wiped his face, straightened up, and his eyes regained their firmness. "We'll finish what the First Ancestor didn't do! Sect Leader Li, we, the Biyuan People, will listen to you! We'll do whatever you say!"

Han Cang, carrying his giant axe, laughed heartily, "Me too! Although I don't quite understand what this reincarnation cleansing is all about, I know we can't let that old devil, the Demon Emperor, succeed! And we can't let our brothers die in vain!"

The Rogue Cultivator exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

"Sect Leader Li, we'll listen to you too!"

"Yes! Let's follow Sect Leader Li!"

"We can't have come all this way for nothing; we have to do something!"

"Rather than waiting to die, why not take a gamble? If you win, all will be well; if you lose, you can always try again in the next life!"

"..."

The crowd's emotions gradually shifted from initial shock and panic to a shared sense of righteous indignation.

Now that we know the truth, we can no longer sit idly by.

Looking at everyone, Li Yunjing felt a warmth in his heart.

He took a deep breath. "Alright, let's find a way to leave this secret room first, find the Dao Fruit, and then act according to the circumstances."

"Where's the exit?" Ouyang Se asked in a hoarse voice. "There are solid stone walls all around us. We can't just fight our way out, can we?"

Li Yunjing walked up to the murals and carefully observed the last painting.

In the painting, the First Ancestor sits cross-legged, pointing to a hidden compartment behind the coffin.

"There," Li Yunjing pointed to the corresponding spot on the stone wall below the mural, "The place the First Ancestor was pointing to should be the mechanism."

Upon hearing Liao Xingjian immediately stepped forward, gathered all his strength in his fist, and blasted towards that spot.

Bang"

The loud noise echoed in the stone chamber, but the stone walls remained completely still.

"No, it's too hard," Liao Xingjian said, frowning.

"Brute force won't work." Li Yunjing shook his head. "Since it was left behind by the First Ancestor, it must require a specific method to activate. Chief Zhi, try using the First Ancestor's blood Essence Blood."

Zhi Qianshu immediately nodded. "Okay!"

He pricked his fingertip again and pressed a drop of Essence Blood onto that spot.

The moment the Essence Blood touched the stone wall, the Black Bird totem on the mural suddenly lit up.

Click... click...

The stone wall slowly cracked open, revealing a hidden door that could only accommodate one person at a time.

Behind the door was a stone staircase leading downwards, its depths unfathomable.

An even richer, more primal aura surged forth from the depths of the passage.

"It's the path leading to the underground of the main hall." Yuanchu's eyes lit up. "The Dao Fruit is down there! We're even closer!"

Li Yunjing's spirits lifted.

"Walk."

He stepped forward first and entered through the hidden door.

The crowd followed closely behind, filing in one after another.

The stone steps meandered downwards, extending to an unknown depth.

The surroundings were pitch black, with only the luminous pearls in everyone's hands illuminating a small area ahead.

The primal scent in the air grew stronger and more familiar.

Li Yunjing walked while pondering to himself.

The truth about the Dao Fruit has been revealed, but what should we do next?

Seal it? Or break the cycle of reincarnation?

Biyuan the First Ancestor, who used his life to seal it, only sealed it for tens of thousands of years.

Eventually, the day will come when it begins.

This only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause.

But Dao Breaking realm is no easy task.

That is the fundamental rule of the Dao Realm.

"Let's take it one step at a time," Li Yunjing thought to himself.

At the very least, we must find the Dao Fruit, protect the Yuanchu, and prevent the tragedy from repeating itself.

As for the others...

The boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge.

At the end of the stone steps, a soft, seven-colored light gradually illuminated.

The Dao Fruit lies ahead.

Meanwhile, above the Burial Ground, the main forces of both the righteous and demonic paths were approaching the main hall.