Volcanic Age

By the time Zhou Xuchuan had finally spotted the Blood Demon's madness-infused smile as his view rapidly dyed in a crimson hue, the blood spears and blades had already impaled him, making it impossible for him to even lift a finger.

However, Nangong Weiwu, You Riwen, and the Blood Demon's words occupied Zhou Xuchuan's thoughts even before he could suffer from the intense pain.

"I don't know what you saw then. Even if you ask any of the other Ten Empyrean Overlords, their answer would be the same."

"People are all different, so how could enlightenments be the same?"

"But if we had to say something, it would be to be oneself. You should also let go of excessive greed and obsession. Remember not to let go of all of it. Otherwise, you'll lose yourself. After all, you and I aren't monks."

"It could be self-esteem or self-sufficiency. But what matters most is self-confidence."

"If the Harmony Realm is the pinnacle of one's comprehension of the Martial Path, then the Coruscant Realm is a leap toward the unknown. An adventure, and at the same time, creation."

"Show off to the world, let them know who you are, and let them see your brilliance. However, if you insist on doing so, you may never reach that point. If you become obsessed with it, you will never find the answer."

Three Empyrean Overlords had all provided a different take on the same topic.

Zhou Xuchuan was also warned that being too obsessed with it would only harm him psychologically.

"When they told me not to get too obsessed or greedy but still hold on to some things, they were warning me to keep my eyes peeled so that everything I've built up until now and the life I've lived so far will become one and manifest into reality!"

You Riwen had also spoken like a man chasing after clouds, just in case his advice ended up interfering with Zhou Xuchuan's enlightenment on his still nebulous and undefined unique Path. Thus, his advice focused on elevating one's dignity and self-esteem to allow one to be independent as well as one's self-sufficiency.

And he hinted at the existence of the Manifestation of One's Path…

The following was the reason You Riwen hadn't doubted Zhou Xuchuan's mastery of the Violet Haze Divine Art.

"The Plum Blossom Cultivation Art's secret is really similar to the Violet Haze Divine Art, and that's where I got my enlightenment from. And if that enlightenment… influenced my fledgling Path, it makes sense that he thought I could manifest it into reality."

Perhaps the foundational divine art passed down through the ages was created in this way by a cultivator in the Coruscant Realm who went through roughly the same experience.

Imagine a Coruscant Realm cultivator jotting down their enlightenment that led to a successful Manifestation of One's Path; it'd not be strange to see such a tome being handed down as a divine cultivation art.

Both the Martial Alliance Leader and the Sect Master had spoken vaguely because there are different strokes for different folks.

Even if they had told him, their teachings would only worsen Zhou Xuchuan's confusion, and there was a high chance that he wouldn't comprehend anything at all.

Since they were a part of the same sect, You Riwen and Zhou Xuchuan had grown up in a similar way in a similar environment. Even then, You Riwen could never fully understand or empathize with what Zhou Xuchuan had experienced throughout his life.

The best his advice could do was serve as a reference point. After all, life experiences belonged to each person, not to the people around them.

The truth was that You Riwen was worried about saying something too direct and negatively influencing Zhou Xuchuan as a result. He was worried about the possibility of scuppering the youngster's chances of breaking through the wall forever.

He could have taught Zhou Xuchuan, but he chose not to do so.Back then, Zhou Xuchuan was confused—he couldn't understand it at all. He kept replaying their advice several times, but it only led to more questions.

Although he had taken their advice, he had them tucked away in the corner of his mind, as understanding their meaning was still beyond him. However, the Blood Demon's ranting played a crucial role in completing the incomprehensible picture.

The concept still remained far too obtuse, and it was almost impossible to decipher the true meaning of it. Even now, the whole idea sounded like chasing after distant floating clouds.

Then again, reaching a realm only the most peerless geniuses—not only that, but ones blessed by heavenly luck—could reach would never be a child's play.

However, the Blood Demon had explained it as if he couldn't care less. He directly told Zhou Xuchuan, in some detail no less, the truth about the Coruscant Realm and the Manifestation of One's Path.

From his point of view, it didn't matter one jot whichever direction Zhou Xuchuan took with his explanation. However, his rants had a much more profound impact, perhaps a lot more than he had bargained for.

Zhou Xuchuan assimilated the demonic cultivator's ranting and overlapped it with the advice from Nangong Weiwu and You Riwen to ultimately be enlightened on the concept that he had never been able to understand until now!

It felt like a thunderclap had gone off inside Zhou Xuchuan's head. Actually, it felt more like a large hammer had slammed into the back of his head. Calling it a mere "shock" would be far too insufficient—an utter understatement.

The unscalable height between the two realms, the one that made him recall the boundary between the world of living and the afterlife, suddenly didn't look so insurmountable anymore.

The distance had miraculously shortened in an instant. And when he sobered up, all the thick fog obscuring his view had vanished without a trace.With that, he could finally take that first step forward into the next realm.

"Ah!" A gasp leaked out of his mouth just then. Had it actually happened, or was it all just in his mind? He couldn't tell. However, the sensation of something sweeping across him felt real, making him shudder powerfully.

The flow of energy starting from the Chengjiang acupoint just below the lower lip split into two. One strand of energy traveled around the lips to reach just below Zhou Xuchuan's nose before splitting yet again to travel to his eyes.

Meanwhile, the other strand traveled down the center of his body to reach the Shanzhong acupoint, the Jiuwei acupoint right below it, and the Shenque acupoint around the belly button. Not stopping there, it traveled lower to reach the Huiyin acupoint located between his anus and nether region.

While this was happening, another strand of qi set off from Zhou Xuchuan's Changqiang acupoint located behind his anus and traveled up via his spine.

Then, it brushed past the Yaoshu acupoint near his tailbone and the Fengfu acupoint by his cervical vertebrae to reach the Baihui acupoint on the crown of his skull.

Afterward, it circulated to the Yinjiao acupoint by his gums.

However, it wasn't over yet.

The strand of qi split off into a smaller branch when it reached his cervical vertebrae before splitting yet again, this time to his left and right. The energy strands encircled his shoulder bones before traveling past the collarbones and converging on the Taodao acupoint in the middle of his spine.

The meridian starting from a person's lower lip and reaching down to their Huiyin acupoint was called the Renmai—the Conception Vessel. And the meridian running from behind one's anus, up the spine, and past one's crown was the Dumai—the Governing Vessel.

The Lesser Cycle of Heaven and the Greater Cycle of Heaven, which were flows of qi, activated instantly as soon as both major vessels were awakened. Zhou Xuchuan couldn't tell how long it took and when it ended.

The flow of energy reminiscent of water cleansing through his meridians was as voluminous and faster as a massive waterfall. As a result, his qi's circulation speed and power increased exponentially.

In Daoism, the microcosm was the human body, which contained the universe itself, the macrocosm. Right now, Zhou Xuchuan could vaguely understand that concept.

A miniature "space" containing one's unique ideals, philosophies, and martial arts existed within someone. Manifesting that space into reality was the Manifestation of One's Path.

This process—the realm—was colloquially referred to as the Coruscant Realm.

"Whew…"

Zhou Xuchuan woke up from his thoughts. He quickly organized the "something" he had just acquired into a system and assimilated it before neatly arranging it in his head.His enlightenment was reflected in the light within his eyes, making them emit this gentle yet mysterious glow.

"Young Master… Zhou?"

Zhuge Xiuluan asked, blinking in sheer disbelief despite being what appeared to be the epitome of stoicism and expressionlessness. Even the main forces of the Martial Alliance stood there slack-jawed.

"I'm fine, everyone. Thank you for worrying about me," said Zhou Xuchuan. He briefly turned toward them to let them know he was really fine before focusing his attention on the monster before him.

By then, the Blood Demon had recovered from the punch and used his Death Yin Staff to prop his half-skeletal torso up while staggering back to his feet. He silently stared for a long while, only breaking his silence just as people's patience was about to run out.

"I cannot believe it,"he said, sounding genuinely impressed. Even the hints of disbelief and shock could be spied in his voice."Are you truly a man in his early twenties?"

He no longer called Zhou Xuchuan a brat. Although just a little, his tone even conveyed his genuine respect. However, suspicion soon blanketed all the other emotions in his voice next.

"No, it's utterly impossible to establish your Path at your age. Even if you have attained enlightenment, it is impossible for you to reach the Coruscant Realm just yet!"

Zhou Xuchuan responded calmly, "You were the one who told me to find something and create it. And something like this can happen, Blood Demon."

"Nonsense!"Unlike his usual self, the Blood Demon no longer sounded relaxed."To manifest your Manifestation of One's Path, you need more than just your martial arts.

"No, it also requires a lifetime, too! In that case, doesn't that mean you have experienced what life can offer? Even though you are only in your twenties?! How is that even physically possible?!"

The Blood Demon had mentioned a plain-and-simple truth about reality. Even if Zhou Xuchuan was an unprecedented peerless genius, there was no way he would have enough experience in life to talk so confidently and philosophically about it.

Besides, one had to exclude the years Zhou Xuchuan as a little baby when he was too young to know anything at all. In other words, he had less than two decades of life experience!

"A cultivator's life is supposed to be brief but brilliant, Blood Demon!"

Swoosh!

Zhou Xuchuan's figure coiled up like a bow before springing forward. He was unleashing the peak of lightness techniques—Flicking Bow Moving Shadows.His speed as he flew off the ground was almost god like.

"Heok!"The Blood Demon sucked in a deep breath while raising the Death Yin Staff before him. Just as Zhou Xuchuan's sword was about to behead him, he barely managed to defend himself.

BOOM!

The resulting noise from the impact had changed drastically. Rather than the usual clang, a loud explosion went off instead!The ground caved in, and the shockwave from the clash generated powerful gusts of winds, flying every rock nearby in all directions.

"But how?! How is this even real?!"The Blood Demon freaked upon sensing the goosebumps-inducing might behind the attack.

"I've been meaning to say this for a while, but… Blood Demon? You talk too much," said Zhou Xuchuan, his voice colder than ice.Starting from the speed of his brain's commands reaching his muscles to his reflexes, all of his physical abilities had improved drastically.

Obviously, his physical strength and movement speed had increased as well.

The source of his power, the Violet Haze Divine Art, had also reached the twelfth stage, also known as the Completion Stage. His attainment in all the other arts and techniques had reached the peak as well.

Zhou Xuchuan hadn't just acquired the power to manifest his Path. No, his athletic abilities had also transcended humanity.

"It's over. You won't run your t—You won't be able to ramble on again."

Zhou Xuchuan was about to say Blood Demon wouldn't get to run his trap again, but he recalled that the Blood Demon's body used to belong to the Sect Master, so he corrected himself at the last minute.

"Here I come, Blood Demon!"

Crack, shudder…!

The Death Yin Staff began shaking like a lone leaf against storm winds. All the metallic rings attached to the staff started making unpleasant noises.However, the source of all that shaking wasn't the Blood Demon. No, it was the invisible qi flowing out of Zhou Xuchuan's sword pressed against the Death Yin Staff!

Zhou Xuchuan's vajra qi had surpassed the stage of manifesting physically and had become invisible. It was vibrating gently against the staff. At a casual glance, there seemed to be hints of violet in the air, but even that hue soon vanished completely.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"The First Form!" Zhou Xuchuan loudly declaredas if he wanted his enemy to hear him.

The Blood Demon flinched before hurriedly retreating. However, a crimson screen was suddenly raised from below his feet to create a protective barrier all around him. And it wasn't just one layer, either, but four!

"Violet! Haze!"

RUMBLE!

A thunderous boom reverberated throughout the battlefield.

Whir! Whoosh!

The formless aura enveloped Zhou Xuchuan's blade before viciously spinning around.

"Dawn… breaker!"

He swung his sword down forcefully while unleashing a torrent of this formless vajra qi.

The attack was no longer flashy, unlike before. The power contained within had become leagues different as well. The attack had become far sturdier, more powerful, and much more terrifying overall!

The Violet Haze Dawnbreaker that the Exalted Sword Immortal had demonstrated before his passing was unleashed to the world once more, and it descended on the Blood Demon.

BOOM!

"Kuh-huh-huk!" A pained scream leaked out of the Blood Demon's mouth. The attack had mercilessly slammed down on him, and it easily tore through all four layers of the protective barrier around him.

This had been a long and arduous life-or-death battle. The Blood Demon was supposed to be strong enough to block the attack. However, the arduous battle against the Exalted Sword Immortal had exhausted him much more than he knew.

In addition, he still hadn't gotten used to his new body. With such a disadvantageous set-up, it'd be impossible for the Blood Demon to defend against an attack from an enemy who had broken through a lower realm to reach the same realm as him!

Crack!

The decisive factor in the Blood Cult's invasion of the Central Plains—the Death Yin Staff—cracked from the attack.

The crack was negligible at first, but the sword aura proved too powerful for it to withstand. Soon, the crack multiplied rapidly before the staff's shaft completely gave in, shattering into several pieces.

"Noooo!"

Shwik!

The sword aura falling through the shattered bits of the staff seemed to be heading toward Blood Demon's heart, only to change trajectory and pierce the latter's dantian instead.

"…!"