Chapter 586: Chapter 576: That Path, the Path of Time Exile

In response to Elder Bai Mei’s question, Su Mu remained silent for a long time.

Then, he looked over the Long River and said solemnly, "I am merely a seeker of the path; essentially, I am a creature, a living person."

"A person possesses seven emotions and six desires, which is quite normal."

"In my view, whether I have vulnerabilities or not is unimportant to me; what matters is whether I can protect those I wish to protect, and that is enough."

"To seek the path, to seek the path, is it not to seek the way of the heart?"

"If one cannot even guard one’s true heart, then what is the meaning of cultivation?"

After hearing these words, Elder Bai Mei remained silent for a long time.

Some of Su Mu’s words he understood, while others he did not.

From these words, Elder Bai Mei felt that Su Mu gave him a different feeling altogether from the powerful beings he encountered before. Even though Su Mu stood so high, he always kept himself very low.

This was something Elder Bai Mei could not quite understand.

Yet, he did not express it, after all, he had neither the qualification nor the reason to interfere with Su Mu’s thoughts.

After thinking it through, Elder Bai Mei smiled, "Brother Su is right, simply adhering to one’s true heart is enough."

....

"Brother Su, if you really want to find something that can replace the Coordinate Bone."

"I know a place where there might be a slight possibility."

After much hesitation, Elder Bai Mei finally decided to speak out.

Upon hearing this, Su Mu raised an eyebrow and asked, "What place?"

"That path..." Elder Bai Mei gazed at the Long River and said slowly.

"That path?" Su Mu asked with a face full of confusion.

Seeing this, Elder Bai Mei also asked in return, "Does Brother Su not know?"

"Know what? What is that path?" Su Mu looked puzzled.

What path, what path, how would I know which path it is?

"It is here on this river; as for the specific location, I do not know either." Elder Bai Mei said slowly.

"Describe the characteristics," Su Mu asked.

.....

"As for characteristics...the water is black, and there are no living creatures within it, it’s very chaotic."

Elder Bai Mei replied.

"You haven’t been there?" Su Mu asked.

Elder Bai Mei shook his head, "I haven’t been there."

"That path" he once had the opportunity to go, but he did not.

Regarding what exactly "that path" is, and the meaning of its existence, he didn’t quite understand either.

However, he had heard a few speculations.

"That path" seems to have broken off as a "superfluous item" from the River of Time over the long years, meaning.... "that path" originally should have dissipated.

But for some unknown reason, it has been preserved.

Some people also say, "that path" was a "tail" or "broken remnant" snipped off from the River of Time, and it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the River of Time.

Because its existence was inherently erroneous, it is akin to the tail of a tadpole, which is meant to disappear once the tadpole matures into a frog.

And "that path" is the "tail" of the River of Time, which, after the River of Time evolved into its final form, was supposed to "vanish," yet mysteriously it remained and became what they referred to as "that path."

Because no one knows how to define that "tail," it can only be referred to as "that path."

If, in this world, there truly exists a second Coordinate Bone, or there is a substitute for the Coordinate Bone, it could only possibly exist within "that path."

......

After hearing Elder Bai Mei’s description, Su Mu pondered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Black water, devoid of life.

Could it be a polluted water body?

"Are there any other characteristics besides these?" Su Mu continued to ask.

Elder Bai Mei shook his head, "No, because I have never been there, I only know these features."

"However, on that path, while there are no living creatures, there exist ’dead’ creatures."

Upon hearing this, Su Mu’s pupils contracted slightly, a bit unable to comprehend Elder Bai Mei’s words.

"What do you mean by ’dead’ creatures?"

"Souls?"

Su Mu asked.

"No, although I don’t know how to define the creatures living on that path, what I am sure of is that they are definitely not souls."

"Those creatures exist in reality and are not soul bodies."

"In truth, I’m not sure how to explain it either."

Elder Bai Mei spread his hands helplessly.

Since "that path" should not exist, then the creatures living on "that path" also should not exist.

Therefore, Elder Bai Mei could not define the state of those creatures either.

Say they are living, but they are not acknowledged by the River of Time, they can only live on that path, once they enter the River of Time, they would instantly be annihilated by the rules of the River of Time.

Say they are dead, but as long as they live on "that path," they won’t be wiped out, they do indeed exist.

He dared not tread on "that path" lightly, for once he entered that road, after being tainted by the aura of "that path," if he returned to the River of Time, he might be deemed as a "nonexistent item" by the River of Time, likely to be erased on the spot.

"That path" has another name, "Path of Time Exile."

It means, exiled by the River of Time, once stepping on that path, you cannot return to the Ten Thousand Realms, cannot return to the River of Time anymore, and can only be eternally exiled outside.

Not being able to return to the Ten Thousand Realms is essentially akin to being dead, although still alive, living without a purpose anymore.

This results in some who, being hunted by enemies, unable to find refuge above or beneath, choose to flee into the "Path of Time Exile" to stay alive.

Only by escaping into the "Path of Time Exile" can one survive, but they can never return to the Ten Thousand Realms, though those involved do not care, as long as they remain alive, it is enough.

However, not everyone possesses the capability to find the "Path of Time Exile," requiring strength and fortune, where fortune is the most crucial.

Some powerful beings, when at their wits’ end, are blessed with fortune, stumble upon the "Path of Time Exile," their fate not sealed in demise.

So, many of the creatures living on "that path" are those who, being driven to desperation in the Ten Thousand Realms, fled there, sharing the common trait of possessing formidable strength.

There was once a time Elder Bai Mei was trapped in a deathtrap, and the Path of Time Exile appeared right before him, he almost fled into it.

Ultimately, he chose to face it head-on.

In his view, he would rather die with dignity than cling to life on that path.

The meaning of being alive is more important than life itself.

.....

Yet even so, within the All Heavens and Myriad Realms, countless powerful beings desire to find that path.

For that path has an even more resounding name.