50: Chapter 50 Asking the Way in the Void

In the Chaos starfield, countless "nodes" emitted a faint light, connecting to one another to form innumerable intricate and winding paths of light, resembling a massive, precise, yet infinitely variable three-dimensional spiderweb that enveloped the entire starfield.

Every path radiated unique spatial fluctuations and an aura of destiny, as if corresponding to different choices, different possibilities, and different futures.

Void Realm Asking Dao Path.

No fixed pattern, only asking the original heart.

These eight characters, like ancient proverbs, echoed in everyone's Divine Soul.

There was no clear guidance, no fixed form of trial; everything had to be chosen, faced, and answered by oneself.

"What is the Void Realm? What is destiny? What is existence?"

"Where is your Dao?"

"What do you seek?"

In the darkness, it seemed as if an invisible will was questioning everyone's heart.

Everyone stood beneath the starfield, looking at the countless paths of light, their expressions varied.

Some were bewildered, some firm, some greedy, some fearful.

This second trial, seemingly calm, was more unpredictable and dangerous than the first, the "Five Elements Refining Heart."

Because its enemy might not be an external object, but one's own heart, one's own Dao path, and whether one's understanding of the "Dao" was sufficiently firm and pure.

"Amitabha."

Liao Chen pressed his palms together, Buddhist light flowing in his eyes, seemingly having attained some enlightenment.

"The Void Realm is not empty; it contains all existence.

Destiny is impermanent; only the heart is the master.

Whether existence is real or not is merely a thought.

My Dao is solely to seek the original heart and deliver all living beings.

This path must be walked."

As his voice fell, in the starfield, a light path that appeared pale gold, radiating an aura of integrity, peace, tolerance, and compassion, seemed to be triggered by his intention, suddenly brightening and extending to his feet.

Liao Chen nodded slightly to the crowd, stepped onto the path, his figure instantly becoming blurred, as if melting into the Void Realm, following that golden path, walking towards the depths of the starfield, getting further and further away, and finally disappearing from sight.

"Hmph, posing and posturing!"

Han Ming snorted coldly, cold light flickering in his eyes.

"My Dao is to control extreme cold, I alone am supreme!

Everything in heaven and earth can be frozen!

The Void Realm and destiny must also submit to my will!"

As his intention arose, a light path that was ice-blue throughout, radiating an aura of extreme cold, isolation, and dominance, appeared before him.

Han Ming stepped on it, his figure turning into an ice-blue stream of light, instantly moving away; wherever the path passed, even the surrounding starlight seemed to be frozen.

Yan Potian took a deep breath, suppressing his injuries, flames dancing in his eyes: "My Dao is to burn away all injustice and all obstacles in this world!

Wherever the flames point, that is the truth!

Whether it is the Void Realm or destiny, all must turn to ashes under my fire!"

A path as red as fire, violent and scorching, extended over.

Yan Potian stepped on it, turning into a fiery meteor, rushing towards the starfield.

Han Lingtian held his heavy sword, his gaze steady: "My Dao is the sword in my hand.

Where the sword points, that is the direction.

To cut through delusions, to cleave open the path ahead, to carve out a bright and smooth road that belongs to me and to the Qingyun Sect.

Both the Void Realm and destiny can be cut with one sword!"

A heavy, tough, and incomparably sharp blue-black path emerged.

Han Lingtian stepped onto it, his figure as straight as a sword, breaking through the Void Realm and speeding away.

Xu Feng, as well as the other two Loose Cultivator Golden Cores, also each clarified their minds, triggered paths that matched their own Dao paths, stepped in one after another, and their figures disappeared.

Finally, only Lin Wan remained, still standing in place, looking up at that vast "Web of Dao Paths" composed of countless paths of light.

What was his "Dao"?

Five Elements Returning to Ruins?

Yes, but not just that.

Controlling the Five Elements, evolving the Five Elements Returning to Ruins, pursuing transcendence?

Yes, but it seemed not enough.

The Void Dao Seed, the Star Derivation Legacy, the realizations of life and death along the way, the responsibility and affection for the Sect, for family, for fellow disciples, and even for this world...

Everything intertwined to form his unique "Dao."

It is protection, and it is also transcendence.

It is inheritance, and it is also creation.

It is returning to silence, and it is also nurturing new life.

It is "I," but it is also more than "I."

It is the flash of spiritual light that connects the past, present, and future, the variable that carries Karma and opens up the future.

It is... the embodiment of the "Dao" itself in the individual that is "me."

"My Dao..."

Lin Wan slowly closed his eyes, his mind sinking into his Dantian, into the five elements sword core, into the Void Dao Seed, into the guixu sword, and into the resonance with this "Five Elements Return to Void Realm."

"It is the Five Elements, it is the Five Elements Returning to Ruins, it is the Void Realm, it is the stars..."

"It is protecting everything I cherish, it is pursuing that supreme transcendence and freedom..."

"It is... using my Dao to mend the flaws of heaven and earth, and to open up eternal peace!"

The moment this thought arose in his heart, incomparably clear and firm—

"Hum—!!!"

The entire Chaos starfield shook violently!

Those countless intricate paths of light, as if guided by some supreme will, began to rotate, shrink, and merge violently!

In the end, all paths converged into one!

An unprecedented, Chaos-colored, containing five-colored brilliance, with nebulae flowing, Void Realm birth and destruction, seemingly containing the heavens and myriad worlds, and all possibilities—a unique Great Dao of light!

This Great Dao extended from under Lin Wan's feet, straight towards the deepest part of the Chaos starfield, to the Chaos light at the peak of the Five Elements Dao Platform!

No side paths, no choices.

Because his Dao had long been determined.

His path had long been paved.

He was the only traveler of this path!

Lin Wan opened his eyes, the Chaos Great Dao reflected in his pupils, as well as the light of the Legacy at the end of the Dao path.

A calm yet infinitely confident arc slowly curled at the corner of his mouth.

"So that's it... Void Realm Asking Dao Path, what it asks is not how to walk, but... who you are, and what your Dao is."

"My Dao is right under my feet."

He did not hesitate anymore, took a step out, and stepped onto this Chaos Great Dao that belonged solely to him.

The moment his foot landed, the scene around him changed suddenly.

He did not "walk" along the path like others, but seemed to... enter the inside of the path, entering a strange "passage" composed of pure Dao and principles, space and time, Karma and destiny.

On both sides of the passage, it was no longer the starfield, but countless flowing, blurred images, sounds, thoughts, and fragments of Laws...

That was the endless memories, realizations, and experiences belonging to the Five Elements Dao Venerable, the history of the glory and decline of the Five Elements Sect, and part of the truth and illusion of this world and even the heavens and myriad worlds.

He saw the Five Elements Dao Venerable rising from humble beginnings, observing the Five Elements, comprehending the Five Elements Returning to Ruins, founding the Sect, passing down the lineage, discussing the Dao and competing with strong figures of the heavens, and finally transcending away, but leaving behind this place of inheritance, waiting for latecomers.

He also saw the magnificent scroll of the Five Elements Sect during its prime, with ten thousand immortals coming to pay respects, educating the heavens, suppressing demons, and maintaining order.

He even saw the terrifying catastrophe that led to the decline of the Five Elements Sect, which affected the heavens and myriad worlds.

Unspeakable terrifying existences awakened from the depths of the "Five Elements Returning to Ruins," eroding the myriad worlds.

The Five Elements Sect used the strength of the entire Sect to fight to the death, countless sages fell, and this "Five Elements Return to Void Realm" left by the Dao Venerable was shattered, drifted, and finally combined with the "Guixu Sea" to form the current Secret Realm.

In the images, there was tragedy, sacrifice, unwillingness, and hope.

There was even the final sigh and instruction left by the Five Elements Dao Venerable:

"...Latecomers, having obtained my Legacy, you must understand the weight of the Five Elements and know the danger of the Five Elements Returning to Ruins.

The catastrophe... has not ended.

The existence that erodes the myriad worlds and triggers the Five Elements Returning to Ruins is called 'the end,' and it is the enemy of all 'existence.'

We fought to the death, but only delayed its pace.

The true decisive battle is in... the future.

I hope you will carry on my will, grasp the Five Elements, control the Five Elements Returning to Ruins, seek transcendence, protect this world, and even the heavens and myriad worlds... a glimmer of hope..."

the end?

The enemy of all "existence"?

Lin Wan's heart shook violently.

So, the decline of the Five Elements Sect actually hid such a terrifying secret!

That "the end" was actually an existence capable of triggering the "Five Elements Returning to Ruins" and eroding the myriad worlds?

It was a thing billions of times more terrifying than Ghost Hand Daoist, the Xuanming Sect, or even the so-called Demon Spirits and Remnant Souls!

And this was the true purpose of the Five Elements Dao Venerable leaving behind the Legacy?

Not only to pass down the lineage but also to... Cultivate someone capable of opposing "the end" and protecting "existence"?

Just as Lin Wan's mind was surging, digesting this shocking information, the images on both sides of the passage changed again.

This time, what appeared was himself.

From his Transmigration, ignorant Cultivate, to joining the Qingyun Sect, meeting Liu Ruyan and Chu Qingyao, giving birth to Jingyun, obtaining the "Great Five Elements Sword Art," forming the five elements sword core, participating in the grand competition, encountering the pursuit of Ghost Hand Daoist, drifting overseas, obtaining the void five elements token, breaking into Bishui Palace, entering the Tianhai Secret Realm, obtaining the Void Dao Seed, fighting the Ice Flood Dragon, killing Elder Hanyue, destroying Ghost Hand, collecting the four tokens, opening the hall door...

His life, like a revolving lantern, flashed rapidly in this passage.

Not only the known experiences, but also some... "possibilities" he had never experienced or even thought of!

He saw that if he had not chosen the "Great Five Elements Sword Art" at the beginning, but had Cultivate ordinary Cultivation Technique, he might have lived a mediocre life and died of old age in the Qingyun Sect.

Seeing that if he had been completely killed by Ghost Hand Daoist in the Tianqiong Secret Realm, his Soul would have been Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

Seeing that if he had not been able to kill the Ice Flood Dragon in the Abyss of the North Underworld, he would have been buried in the beast's mouth instead.

Seeing that if he had failed to mend the Dao deficiency when opening the Five Elements Hall, and died together with You Gu, or if the inheritance failed and he was backlashed by the hall door...

Countless kinds of "possibilities," countless "paths not taken," were clearly presented before him at this moment, like branched tree branches extending towards different futures.

This was the true test of the "Void Realm Asking Dao Path"!

It was not just reviewing the past and clarifying the mind, but also facing those "possibilities that never happened," facing inner fear, regret, greed, and... confusion about the "unknown."

"If only I had..." "What if I had chosen..." "If I could have..."

All kinds of thoughts emerged uncontrollably, trying to shake his Dao Heart that had just become firm.

Especially when seeing those images of "failure," "death," and "regret," even Lin Wan felt palpitations and lingering fear.

"No!"

He stopped abruptly, gave a low shout, silver-gray light flashed in his eyes, forcibly severing those chaotic thoughts.

"The past cannot be pursued, the future cannot be measured.

Only the present is real and graspable!"

"My Dao is determined by me!

My path is opened by me!"

"Those 'ifs,' those 'possibilities,' are nothing but illusions!

They are insignificant dust and phantoms on my Dao path!"

"The true me is the one who has experienced all of this, walked to this point, is about to obtain the Legacy, and shoulder the responsibility of resisting 'the end' and protecting 'existence' — Lin Wan!"

As his conviction strengthened once more, those chaotic images of "possibilities," like bubbles being pricked, rapidly dissipated and vanished.

On both sides of the passage, the flow of pure Dao and Law was restored.

His own aura, tempered by this state of mind, became more refined, pure, and indomitable.

His understanding of the "Void Realm," of "fate," and of "existence" also reached an unprecedented depth.

The Void Dao Seed also seemed to quietly grow and transform during this process, becoming more tightly integrated with his Divine Soul and Dao foundation.

He continued forward.

The passage seemed endless, but Lin Wan could feel that he was getting closer and closer to the destination.

The surrounding "Dao" and "Law" became increasingly clear and profound, as if within reach.

He no longer "looked" at those images but immersed himself in the comprehension of these Great Dao Laws.

Five Elements, Returning to Ruins, Void Realm, stars, and even faint traces of supreme Profound Truths regarding "time" and "Karma," like sweet spring water, nourished his Dao path.

He did not know how much more time had passed.

The passage ahead finally came to an end.

There, it was not an exit, but a mass of... Chaos.

It was not the light of the Legacy at the peak of the Five Elements Dao Platform, but something more primitive, more fundamental—the Chaos Qi, as if from before heaven and earth were created, before the Grandmist was separated.

This mass of Chaos Qi rotated slowly, seemingly containing all possibilities of creating heaven and earth and evolving all things, as well as the ultimate annihilation of ending everything and returning to nothingness.

It blocked the way forward.

Or rather, it was the final step of this "Void Realm Dao-Seeking Path," the ultimate test.

"Latecomer, your Dao Heart is firm, you have understood your own Dao, and seen through falsehoods. However, to obtain my 'Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed,' you must pass the final step—'Dao Seed Resonance.'"

The gentle voice of the Five Elements Dao Venerable sounded once more; this time, it was close at hand, as if coming from within that mass of Chaos Qi.

"Use your 'Void Dao Seed' as the lead, use your comprehension of Five Elements Returning to Ruins as the foundation, and merge into this 'Chaos Source Qi.' If you can trigger the resonance of the 'Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed' and gain its recognition, you will obtain the Legacy. If you cannot... then the Dao Seed will backlash, your Divine Soul will be scattered, and you will become nourishment for the Chaos."

The final step, Dao Seed Resonance!

Success or failure, it all depends on this one move!

Lin Wan stopped and stared at the slowly rotating Chaos Source Qi in front of him, which radiated supreme majesty.

He could feel that the light of the Legacy at the peak of the Five Elements Dao Platform was just behind this Chaos.

And if he wanted to pass, he had to make his own "Dao" resonate with the "Dao" left by the Five Elements Dao Venerable and gain recognition.

He took a deep breath, slowly sat down cross-legged, and laid the guixu sword across his knees.

He closed his eyes, his mind becoming completely calm.

Within his Dantian, the chaotic dark-silver five elements sword core rotated slowly, emitting pure Five Elements Returning to Ruins core energy.

At the center of his brow, the silver Void Dao Seed mark shone brightly, emitting vast spatial and stellar Dao rhymes.

In his hand, the guixu sword trembled slightly, conveying a sense of intimacy, firmness, and longing, as if saying: "Master, I am with you."

Inside his body, the Profound Truths of the "Five Elements Guixu Sword Scripture" and the "Celestial Star Derivation Technique" flowed slowly.

The insights on life and death gained along the way, his understanding of the history of the Five Elements Sect, his knowledge of the enemy of "the end," his persistence in protection and transcendence... everything condensed into a single point of the purest, most firm "Dao thought."

"My Dao is Five Elements Returning to Ruins, inclusive and accommodating, where protection and transcendence coexist."

"My heart has endured hardships, is unyielding, has seen my true nature, and follows only the Dao."

"My wish is to inherit the will of the sages, grasp supreme power, protect those I love, create eternal peace, and seek the path of transcendence."

"Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed... please, judge me!"

As his final Dao thought arose in his heart, the silver Void Dao Seed at the center of his brow suddenly detached from his body, turning into a brilliant silver stream of light that plunged into the slowly rotating mass of Chaos Source Qi ahead!

"Hum—!!!"

The Chaos Source Qi shook violently!

It was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, or a drop of water falling into a boiling pot of oil.

The moment the silver light entered, the Chaos Source Qi, which had been slowly rotating and peacefully contained, suddenly boiled and went berserk!

Countless "Dao" and "Laws" of different colors and attributes, like startled angry dragons, rushed out from the Chaos, crazily wrapping around, striking, squeezing, and fusing with that point of silver light!

That was the projection of the endless Great Dao insights, Law fragments, and even the life-long Dao fruits left behind by the Five Elements Dao Venerable!

Any single one of them would be enough for a Nascent Soul or Soul Transformation Cultivator to study for a lifetime.

Yet at this moment, they bombarded Lin Wan's newly upgraded and still immature Void Dao Seed like a rainstorm.

Excruciating pain! An indescribable, excruciating pain came from the center of his brow, instantly sweeping through Lin Wan's entire body and even his Divine Soul!

It felt as if countless red-hot chisels were simultaneously carving his Soul, forcibly branding and fusing those supreme Great Dao Laws that did not belong to him into his being.

His body trembled uncontrollably, blood seeped from his seven orifices again, and countless fine cracks, resembling Dao marks, appeared on the surface of his skin, from which five-colored light and the aura of Chaos leaked out.

The five elements sword core in his Dantian also rotated crazily, nearly shattering.

This was the process of Dao Seed Resonance, and also the process of the Dao Seed being "assimilated," "tested," and "reshaped"!

If successful, his Void Dao Seed would absorb and fuse with a portion of the Five Elements Dao Venerable's Dao fruit, transforming into a more powerful "Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed" and obtaining the supreme Legacy.

If it failed, the Dao Seed would collapse, his Divine Soul would be assimilated by the Chaos, and he would be doomed forever.

"Hold on... must hold on..."

Lin Wan clenched his teeth tightly, his gums bleeding.

He desperately operated his Cultivation Technique, guarding the last shred of clarity in his mind, guiding his own comprehension of Five Elements Returning to Ruins to resist, fuse, and resonate with the incoming Law fragments.

He felt as if he were at the center of a violent vortex composed of countless Great Dao Laws, with billions of impacts and Fusions occurring every instant.

Time lost its meaning here, and the pain also became numb.

Just at the moment he felt his consciousness was about to sink completely and his Dao Seed was about to collapse—

"Hum—!"

The guixu sword, which had been lying quietly across his knees, suddenly let out a clear and resonant sword cry, as if it could sever all restraints!

On the sword body, the chaotic dark-silver color suddenly faded away, revealing a more ancient, more fundamental color—the original color of Chaos, as if it were the first ray of light at the creation of heaven and earth!

The starlight points within the sword body also suddenly burst into light, connecting with each other, and surprisingly formed a Great Dao formation on the sword body that was of the same Origin as the Five Elements Dao Venerable's Legacy and this Chaos Source Qi!

At the same time, inside Lin Wan's body, the Legacy of the "Celestial Star Derivation Technique" from the "Star Derivation Palace" began to operate on its own, resonating with the star formation on the guixu sword.

A vast, pure power of the star Origin, carrying eternal loneliness and the hope of new life, surged from the depths of his Divine Soul and flowed into the Void Dao Seed that was enduring the violent bombardment.

The power of stars was inherently the best interpretation and carrier of "existence" and "nothingness," of "fate" and "variables."

At this moment, it became the best "bridge" and "buffer" between Lin Wan's Dao Seed and the Five Elements Dao Venerable's Dao fruit!

With the blessing of the star power and the response of the same-Origin Dao from the guixu sword (which seemed to have undergone some incredible transformation at this moment), Lin Wan's originally teetering Void Dao Seed suddenly stabilized!

The silver light, instead of being annihilated by the Chaos, began to slowly absorb and fuse with the incoming five-colored Law fragments and the aura of Chaos.

Into the silver light, five colors—gold, cyan, blue, red, and yellow—gradually merged, and in the end, it transformed into a brand-new Dao Seed, presenting a chaotic color, containing a five-colored nebula, and rotating slowly!

Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed! A prototype!

Although far from as complete and vast as the Dao fruit Origin left by the Five Elements Dao Venerable, its essence had already undergone a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering change!

It was no longer a simple Void Dao Seed, but his own unique Life Dao Seed, which had fused Lin Wan's own insights into Five Elements Returning to Ruins, the star power from the Star Derivation Legacy, and a trace of the essence of the Five Elements Dao Venerable's remaining Dao fruit!

"Hum—!"

The moment this brand-new Chaos Dao Seed was completely formed and stabilized, the violent and boiling Chaos Source Qi ahead suddenly calmed down.

No, not calm, but... "recognition."

The Chaos Source Qi rotated slowly and parted to both sides, like the most obedient subjects making way for a king.

A straight path, paved with pure Chaos light, extended from Lin Wan's feet, leading directly into the depths of the Chaos Source Qi, to the peak of the Five Elements Dao Platform, and before that supreme light of the Legacy.

Dao Seed Resonance, passed!

Void Realm Dao-Seeking Path, completed!

Lin Wan slowly opened his eyes.

In his eyes, a chaotic light flashed and vanished, then immediately returned to a deep calmness.

But his entire temperament had undergone a complete transformation.

It was no longer just powerful and deep, but carried an ancient, majestic, yet returning-to-basics aura, as if he were of the same Origin as the Great Dao and lived as long as heaven and earth.

He stood up, and the guixu sword flew into his hand automatically.

At this moment, the guixu sword's body presented the original color of Chaos, its brilliance restrained, yet it possessed a supreme sharpness capable of severing all Laws and opening up Chaos.

The intent from the sword spirit was clearer, stronger, and full of joy.

"Old friend, we... have succeeded in the first step." Lin Wan gently stroked the sword body and whispered.

He looked up at the end of the path of Chaos light, at that mass of light representing the final Legacy of the Five Elements Sect.

Then, he did not hesitate any longer, stepped onto the path of Chaos light, and walked step by step toward that place of Legacy.

His steps were steady, his Dao Heart firm.

He knew that when he reached the end and touched that light of the Legacy, he would truly inherit the will of the Five Elements Dao Venerable, obtain supreme power, and shoulder the heavy and glorious mission of resisting "the end" and protecting "existence."