Chapter 476 - 420: Refining the Dao into Oneself

"HAHAHAHA..."

A deep, vigorous burst of hearty laughter suddenly rang out from deep within the high-hanging sea of clouds, scattering the suffocating dead silence and the lingering aura of destruction between Heaven and Earth.

Amidst the laughter, that pair of giant eyes—originally cold, angry, and brimming with the apathy and brutality of "Heaven’s Will"—fluctuated and dissipated violently like popped bubbles. The talismans of the Heaven and Earth Laws flowing within them rapidly dimmed and crumbled.

In just a single breath, the daunting "Eyes of Heaven’s Will" lost all their luster, transforming into two clusters of slowly dissipating chaotic halos.

Immediately after, at the core where the halos faded, the void rippled like water. A burly, imposing figure stepped out, resembling a deity emerging from the primordial wilderness.

The muscles on his bare upper body were knotted like slumbering ancient dragon-pythons, containing explosive power. His resolute face seemed chiseled by axes and carved by knives, with thick eyebrows like halberds. As his eyes opened and closed, scenes of countless stars being born and destroyed, and the void shattering and reforming, seemed to flow within his gaze.

An ancient, savage, and tyrannical aura, which paradoxically carried a weathered Dao Rhyme of seeing through worldly affairs, naturally permeated the air, striking awe into the heart.

This was none other than the Desolate Halberd Splitting Sky True Monarch!

Seeing this familiar figure, the last trace of hesitation in Qi Yun’s eyes vanished. The heavy weight that had hung in his heart for so long finally dropped, and he bowed slightly in a formal greeting. "Disciple Qi Yun greets the Desolate Halberd True Monarch."

In truth, ever since he had personally "experienced" the blatantly emotional targeting and suppression from the "Heaven’s Will" of the Cangque Realm back then, a seed of doubt had been planted in Qi Yun’s heart.

Heaven’s Will was supposed to be the origin will of Heaven and Earth—supremely just and rational, devoid of emotion and desire, maintaining balance, and doling out rewards and punishments with perfect measure. However, the "Heaven’s Will" of both the Cangque and Spirit Yong Realms—their behavior, emotional expressions, and even "humanized" choices in certain details—were entirely inconsistent with their supposedly "supremely just" nature.

This was especially true of the Spirit Yong Realm’s Heaven’s Will and its final sequence of "recruitment" followed by "turning hostile." It behaved more like an "individual" with independent likes and dislikes, capable of calculating pros and cons, rather than a pure aggregate of rules.

Therefore, Qi Yun had long suspected that the so-called "Heaven’s Will" in these two realms was highly likely not naturally formed, but rather... artificially shaped.

With a single step, the Desolate Halberd True Monarch arrived in the void at the same level as Qi Yun. He did not immediately respond to Qi Yun’s greeting. Instead, he first swept his deep, universe-like gaze carefully over the younger man.

With this glance, even with the Desolate Halberd True Monarch’s vast experience and placid Dao Heart, a clear trace of astonishment flashed across his eyes.

He remembered clearly that when they parted ways back then, this youth had only been at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Although his foundation was solid and his disposition extraordinary, he hadn’t yet come into his own. Yet now, after only about a century, the person before him possessed a perfectly harmonized Dao Rhyme. His aura was as deep as the sea, and his divine light was restrained, hidden yet ever-present. Every movement he made faintly resonated with the Heaven and Earth Laws...

He was clearly standing firmly at the Great Master Peak!

From the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage to the Great Master Peak in just a hundred years? What a terrifying speed of progress! Looking through the ancient history of Profound Yellow, those with such cultivation speed were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Moreover, every single one of them was a figure burdened with heaven-shaking great karmic luck and massive karma.

"Good boy!" The Desolate Halberd True Monarch withdrew his gaze, his face showing undisguised appreciation as his voice rang out as loud as a bell. "To skyrocket from the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage to this level in a mere century... Your speed of cultivation progress truly startles even me!"

Qi Yun’s expression was modest as he bowed again. "It is entirely thanks to the True Monarch’s guidance and the opportunities you bestowed upon me back then. This disciple merely had the good fortune to make some small progress."

"Opportunities are available to everyone. Whether one can seize them, and how much they can seize, depends entirely on their own ability." The Desolate Halberd True Monarch waved his hand dismissively. His gaze lingered for a moment on Qi Yun’s calm yet sharply hidden eyes. "To have such high cultivation and such profound mental fortitude at your young age, having snatched so many Celestial Secret Creations—just don’t follow Wu Dao’s old path."

"Wu Dao’s old path?" Qi Yun’s gaze suddenly focused upon hearing this. Just as he was about to ask for the specific details, the Desolate Halberd True Monarch waved his hand again, clearly unwilling to discuss the topic further.

"It’s ancient history; best left unmentioned. The time has not yet come. Knowing too much will not benefit you; it will only throw your Dao Heart into chaos."

The Desolate Halberd True Monarch’s tone was flat but carried an unquestionable authority. He looked up, his gaze seeming to pierce through Spirit Yong’s Celestial Vault to stare into the deeper beyond, and changed the subject. "Compared to that, since you were able to see through the illusion of this realm’s ’Heaven’s Will,’ you must have made some guesses along the way, right?"

Hearing this, Qi Yun focused his Heart and Spirit, knowing that what they were about to discuss was the crux of today’s meeting. He nodded gently and mused, "In my humble opinion, it’s a presumptuous guess. The six outer realms linked by the Six Realms Heaven must all be your handiwork."

The Desolate Halberd True Monarch’s face was calm as he replied flatly, "Actually, only five. One was obtained by chance."

His gaze fell back onto Qi Yun, carrying a sense of scrutiny and evaluation. "Your cultivation has now reached the Great Master Peak, and your mental fortitude and resourcefulness have been clearly demonstrated through the events in this realm. You are now qualified to hear certain secrets of Heaven and Earth and cultivation bottlenecks that are only known at the True Monarch level."

Hearing this, Qi Yun’s heart trembled slightly, and his expression instantly grew solemn. He knew that the following words would touch upon the highest level of cultivation secrets in this Heaven and Earth—the very foundation of how True Monarchs could look down upon all living beings and remain aloof from worldly affairs. He said no more, simply sitting up slightly straighter and adopting an attitude of attentive listening.

The Desolate Halberd True Monarch did not keep him in suspense. With a casual wave of his hand, the surrounding chaotic void that had yet to completely settle, the lingering thunder and tribulation clouds, and even the towering Divine Palace below, instantly blurred and dissipated like a fading painting.

They were replaced by a familiar, tranquil, and peaceful valley scene, with blooming peach blossoms and colorful fallen petals—it was the very peach grove where the two had first met in the Wuji Holy Sect back then. The two were now seated across from each other at a quaint stone table in the woods. On the stone table, two cups of clear tea had miraculously appeared. The fragrance of the tea curled upward, naturally giving rise to Dao Rhyme.

The Desolate Halberd True Monarch picked up his teacup and took a light sip. His gaze was distant, as if piercing through endless time and space, as he slowly spoke. "To become a True Monarch, the primary task is not the accumulation of Magical Power, nor the comprehension of Divine Techniques. Rather, one must first attain a Fruit Position."

Qi Yun nodded silently. He already had the experience of Nether Spring proving his Dao as a True Monarch, so he naturally understood the intricacies involved.

"However, becoming a True Monarch and refining a Dao Fruit is merely the beginning of another, far longer and more arduous journey of cultivation." The Desolate Halberd True Monarch shifted the topic, his tone taking on a bit of gravity. "The core of the path after becoming a True Monarch lies in how to painstakingly and gradually separate and apply Refinement to this Dao Fruit—which is bestowed by Heaven and Earth and closely connected to the Great Dao—from the embrace of Heaven and Earth.

"Ultimately, it must be completely incorporated into one’s own path, making it entirely ’my Dao Fruit.’

"Rather than ’the Dao Fruit of Heaven and Earth resting upon my body.’

"This process is called Refining the Dao into Oneself!"

The Desolate Halberd True Monarch set down his teacup, his gaze like lightning as he looked at Qi Yun. "Do you know why this process is incomparably difficult?"

Qi Yun felt a faint realization dawn in his heart. Following the True Monarch’s words, he speculated, "Is it because... the Dao Fruit is formed by the Heaven and Earth Dao, and possesses the Status bestowed by Heaven and Earth? To forcefully refine and separate it is tantamount to usurping the authority of Heaven and Earth, weakening Heaven and Earth’s control over this Dao. Therefore, it inevitably draws... the rejection and disgust of the origin will of Heaven and Earth?"

"Exactly!" The Desolate Halberd True Monarch nodded, a flash of approval in his eyes. "You can be taught. The process of Dao Fruit Refinement is a continuous struggle, gamble, and contention between the True Monarch and the origin of Heaven and Earth.

"With every fraction of the Dao Fruit subjected to Refinement, one’s own control over the Great Dao deepens by a fraction.

"But the ’disgust’ and ’rejection’ from Heaven and Earth also accumulate by a fraction.

"This ’disgust’ is not an emotion, but a resistance at the level of the Celestial Dao.

"When it accumulates to a certain point, it will trigger a backlash from Heaven and Earth. In light cases, one’s cultivation stagnates; in severe cases, the Dao Fruit becomes turbulent.

"One might even be forcefully rejected and suppressed by the Heaven and Earth Laws, or even have their Fruit Position forcibly stripped away!"

Hearing this, a look of sudden realization flashed in Qi Yun’s eyes. So this was the greatest secret and peril on the cultivation path of True Monarchs! They were not aloof and living in total Freedom. Instead, they were constantly fighting the Heavens for the Dao. Every step forward could invite destruction!

"So..." The Desolate Halberd True Monarch’s tone carried the clarity of one who saw through to the essence of things. "Do you understand now why the various True Monarchs of the Profound Yellow Origin Realm—despite their Sect foundations and orthodox lineages being rooted here—are mostly elusive? Why they rarely reside in the origin realm long-term, often merely leaving behind an avatar or appointing an Acting Sect Leader to hold the fort, while they themselves spend years traveling, exploring, or even establishing Separate Mansions in the Outer Realm void and the myriad heavens?"

Qi Yun took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "It’s not that the True Monarchs are unwilling to stay in the Profound Yellow Origin Realm, which has the most abundant resources and complete orthodox lineages, to cultivate in peace.

"It’s because... in the Profound Yellow Origin Realm, the ’disgust of Heaven and Earth’ they accumulate during Dao Fruit Refinement cannot dissipate. It might even accumulate faster because their connection to the origin realm is too deep.

"Only by leaving Profound Yellow can they slowly cleanse and eliminate the ’disgust of Heaven and Earth’ accumulated from Dao Fruit Refinement. Once the ’disgust’ is cleared or drops below a safe threshold, they can return to Profound Yellow to continue the next stage of Refinement..."

"Exactly." The Desolate Halberd True Monarch confirmed Qi Yun’s speculation. His gaze turned outside the peach grove, as if looking at the vast, boundless myriad heavens. "For us, Profound Yellow is our ’home,’ our foundation, and the seat of our orthodox lineage. But it is also a ’cage’ and a ’source of pressure.’

"These realms scattered in the void—whether naturally formed or secretly guided and shaped like mine—serve as pressure valves, safe havens, and annexes for us True Monarchs to test new methods, accumulate external merit, and explore the path ahead."

"So that’s how it is..." Qi Yun muttered to himself, many of the mysteries in his heart suddenly clearing up.

Behind the "mysterious," "elusive," and "frequently absent" nature of the True Monarchs hid such a cruel and authentic truth of cultivation. Fighting the Heavens for the Dao, with every step fraught with peril.

What was called Freedom was nothing more than a reluctant necessity hidden beneath the surface.

...