514: Dilemma

Because Li Qi had mastered a vast number of the Three Thousand Great Daos, he was drawing closer and closer to the 'Dao', allowing him to catch a glimpse of its true form.

However, due to his limited capabilities, even though he could see the 'Dao'... he could not see it clearly.

Upon realizing that what he saw was the 'Dao', Li Qi often reflected on the difference between the Three Thousand Great Daos and the Sacred Thrones.

The two were very similar; both could enhance one's strength and narrow the distance between a Saint King and the Dao.

These were two different paths, but both led to the same place... which was the 'Dao'.

If one could master all of the Three Thousand Great Daos, they could approach the 'Dao' or even become the 'Dao'; Li Qi could already see the essence of the 'Dao' now.

Similarly, if one could gather all the Sacred Thrones, they could also reach the location of the 'Dao'.

In comparison, collecting all the Sacred Thrones was much easier.

The Three Thousand Great Daos were branches of the Great Dao. Not only were they numerous, but the difficulty of comprehending and mastering them was immense. Without Heaven-Defying Aptitude and Luck... it was absolutely impossible.

Gathering all the Sacred Thrones, however, was much simpler.

The number of Sacred Thrones was far fewer than the Three Thousand Great Daos, totaling only 333.

Furthermore, obtaining a Sacred Throne provided a very intuitive boost to a Saint King's strength, increasing the power of the Three Thousand Great Daos exponentially.

This easily led to a certain consequence...

That is, the strong get stronger... and the weak get weaker!

This can also be understood as the so-called Matthew Effect!

In the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible, there is a parable about a king who gave each of his three servants a silver coin before a long journey. When the king returned, he rewarded the servants who had earned money and took back the coin from the servant who had not.

This parable reflects the phenomenon: 'For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.'

It was the same within the circle of Saint Kings.

If you seized enough Sacred Thrones and your strength was boosted to a certain stage, forming an overwhelming advantage over all other Saint Kings, then the Sacred Thrones in the hands of others would certainly not be safe.

All Sacred Thrones were destined to flow toward the strongest Saint King!

That Saint King was also destined to reach the supreme peak and become the existence closest to the 'Dao'.

Therefore, collecting Sacred Thrones was much easier than comprehending all of the Three Thousand Great Daos because someone was destined to succeed.

Perhaps other Saint Kings had noticed this as well—that mastering all the Three Thousand Great Daos also allowed one to approach the 'Dao'—but surely no one would choose that path.

Because that path was simply too difficult to walk...

It was almost a dead end!

Collecting Sacred Thrones was much more pragmatic.

Currently, Li Qi possessed both Sacred Thrones and a large number of the Three Thousand Great Daos. He could perceive the similarities between the two... and he also noticed the differences.

In his view, the existence of the Sacred Thrones seemed somewhat unnatural compared to the Three Thousand Great Daos?!

Yes.

Unnatural.

The boost the Sacred Thrones gave a Saint King was far too crude and mindless. By seizing one Sacred Throne, one could increase the power of the Three Thousand Great Daos several times over?

Even Li Qi, using the System and consuming massive amounts of Potential Points to raise them to the realm of Major Achievement... could not compare?

Li Qi could never quite get over this point.

Throughout his journey, he had always relied on Major Achievement Cultivation Techniques and abilities to crush others; he had rarely been crushed by anyone else.

But after reaching the Saint King realm, the situation changed.

He could actually be crushed by a Saint King who had mastered multiple Sacred Thrones?!

And since one only needed to collect 333 Sacred Thrones to approach the 'Dao', wasn't this path a bit too easy?

Li Qi even felt that this path was not naturally occurring... but was instead carved out by someone!

Was someone clearing the way ahead?

Just to make it convenient for latecomers like them to approach the 'Dao'?

Thinking of this, Li Qi's scalp tingled, and for a moment, all sorts of conjectures flooded his mind.

If the promotion path of the Sacred Thrones was indeed carved out by someone... then who did it?

An existence capable of doing such a thing would be terrifying, completely beyond Li Qi's understanding!

Who exactly was this person?

Why would they do this?

Out of the kindness of their heart?

Thinking that comprehending all the Three Thousand Great Daos was too difficult, they opened such a shortcut to look after their juniors and newcomers?

The other party had no ill intent and acted purely out of benevolence?

Absolutely impossible!

It was precisely because of the existence of the Sacred Thrones that a situation was created where many Saint Kings schemed against each other and fought relentlessly.

Because of the Sacred Thrones, an unknown number of Saint Kings had already met violent deaths!

There had already been too many sacrifices!

Therefore, Li Qi would never believe that the existence who created the Sacred Thrones did so out of kindness; there must be some unspeakable reason behind it.

Li Qi felt a faint sense of alarm regarding the Sacred Thrones and secretly remained on guard.

This also made him feel uneasy about the Sacred Thrones already fused within his body.

Since he had already sensed that there might be a problem with the Sacred Thrones, would it be improper to continue borrowing power from them and keep them in his body?

Li Qi's first instinct was to strip the Sacred Thrones away and expel them from his body, but he stopped himself.

The means by which the Sacred Thrones significantly boosted strength were indispensable to him at the moment.

If he expelled the Sacred Thrones, and tomorrow a Saint King who had fused with a large number of Sacred Thrones came knocking on his door, Li Qi would find it difficult to withstand them.

Fusing with the Sacred Thrones might have hidden dangers, but if he didn't fuse with them, he wouldn't be able to defeat other Saint Kings. For a moment, Li Qi felt he was between a rock and a hard place.

After taking a deep breath, Li Qi spoke slowly.

"Forget it, I'll just take it one step at a time..."