Chapter 351: Dao Lord Long Jiu

Within another cave dwelling inside the Large Hunyuan Hall.

This place was filled with the fragrance of birds and flowers. Across the endless grassland, a middle-aged man in a green robe was carefully painting. His brush painted directly upon the void, and the scenes he depicted naturally altered this patch of heaven and earth.

“Ah, the fifth Origin Path… even comprehending a single branch of it is this difficult.” The green-robed man set down his brush.

“Just this one path remains.”

He gently shook his head.

He was Dao Lord Long Jiu, a being who had mastered three Half-Primordial Level Paths without refining any Primordial Bloodline. Before Luo Feng, he had been the strongest cultivator in the Dark Sacred Realm.

“The Lord favors me and has given so much for my sake, yet I have disappointed him.” Dao Lord Long Jiu thought to himself.

“As long as five Paths all reach the Second Stage Divine King, and I can control more than half of the Origin Paths of the Source World’s origin, I can completely seize control of the Source World and become its master.” Hope filled his eyes.

He had walked this road for far too long.

It had already been over thirty cycles of Source World reincarnation! Far too long!

He had reached the Half-Primordial Level in the Paths of wind, fire, and lightning. However, in his home Source World, there had been no Lightning Path. It was only after leaving his homeland and encountering other opportunities that he cultivated the Path of lightning.

“The Lord valued me, helped me explore countless Source Worlds, and selected the one most suitable for me, allowing me to reincarnate into the new Source World — the Dragon Blood Source World. Among the nine Paths contained within it were the Paths of wind, fire, and lightning.”

“The fourth Path, the Path of water, I cultivated to the Second Stage Divine King within a single cycle of reincarnation.”

“But the fifth Path—I cannot even comprehend a single branch of it.”

Dao Lord Long Jiu felt deep pain.

Cultivators each had their own strengths.

In areas one was not adept at, even comprehending a branch of an Origin Path was no easy matter.

Luo Feng, for example, had focused entirely on life and death!

“The supreme path lies right before me—just one step away.” Dao Lord Long Jiu had tried every method. Even the Lord who favored him had devised many solutions.

Yet he was still lacking that final Path!

“The Lord once said that refining a Primordial Bloodline is the last resort—it carries endless hidden dangers.”

“To control the Source World’s origin and become a World-level Primordial Lifeform through it—that is the supreme path, the path without future troubles.” Dao Lord Long Jiu had other methods to escape the Cage.

But he had set his heart on this path, persevering through countless setbacks without wavering.

“The Lord is right. Cultivation requires great perseverance. I have only experienced a little over thirty cycles of Source World reincarnation—what does that amount to?” Dao Lord Long Jiu had faced temptations from other paths, yet he remained resolute.

Suddenly—

“My junior brother has arrived?” Dao Lord Long Jiu received a message.

Moments later, after Dao Lord Long Jiu personally opened the cave dwelling’s gate, City Lord Fengqiao was able to enter.

“Senior Brother.” City Lord Fengqiao was visibly excited.

“What has you so excited? This is not like your usual temperament,” Dao Lord Long Jiu said with a smile.

“Our Dark Sacred Realm has produced an invincible existence—Luo Feng!” City Lord Fengqiao said excitedly.

“Oh?”

Dao Lord Long Jiu was slightly surprised and smiled. “There have been invincible existences born in the history of the Dark Sacred Realm before. It is nothing surprising. Once such a being appears, they are always guided away.”

“He hasn’t been guided yet. He is currently living in the Large Hunyuan Hall and has even purchased a cave dwelling for cultivation,” City Lord Fengqiao said.

“Not guided?” Dao Lord Long Jiu frowned. “And he even purchased a cave dwelling in the Large Hunyuan Hall?”

As far as he knew—

The two High-Rank Primordial Lifeforms responsible for guarding the Dark Sacred Realm, Qiuge and Yifeiya, should guide any invincible existence once discovered. Even if the Lord had not descended, they would still provide basic information.

“Unless the Lord has given instructions, and only then would those two guardians not guide Luo Feng.” Dao Lord Long Jiu clearly understood these rules.

Because before reincarnating into the Dragon Blood Source World, he himself had already been an invincible existence!

Originally, he had been under the jurisdiction of Lord Xingmang and had been deeply favored by him.

After reincarnation, he came under the jurisdiction of Lord Yuan. Even so, Yuan did not interfere with his growth—he was still overseen by Xingmang.

A “seed of a Source World master” like Dao Lord Long Jiu received nurturing and resources far beyond those High-Rank Primordial Lifeforms like Qiuge and Yifeiya, who relied on Primordial Bloodlines.

Even at the level of World-level Primordial Lifeforms, those who became Source World masters without cultivating Primordial Bloodlines held higher status than those who did.

“Are you certain he possesses invincible strength?” Dao Lord Long Jiu asked.

“Certain.”

City Lord Fengqiao nodded. “Divine Emperor Mixu and fourteen others joined forces, yet they could not withstand even a single move from Divine Emperor Luo Feng.”

“Then he must indeed be invincible.” Dao Lord Long Jiu’s eyes lit up.

“An invincible existence who has not been guided—there must be a special reason.” Dao Lord Long Jiu grew curious.

He himself had not been guided despite being invincible because he was personally taught by Lord Xingmang—a seed to become a Source World master.

But this Luo Feng—why had he not been guided?

“I would like to pay a visit to this Divine Emperor Luo Feng.” Dao Lord Long Jiu smiled. “Can you help me contact him?”

City Lord Fengqiao replied helplessly, “When I set out from Chengfeng City, I already contacted Divine Emperor Boxiu and the others. The three of them follow Divine Emperor Luo Feng. According to them, after purchasing a cave dwelling in the Large Hunyuan Hall, he immediately entered seclusion. He is seeing no one. Only after he comes out will he grant an audience.”

“Then inform his followers that I, Long Jiu, wish to visit Divine Emperor Luo Feng. When he emerges from seclusion, please notify me immediately,” Long Jiu said with a smile.

“Understood.” City Lord Fengqiao nodded. “I will send the message now. I too am waiting for Divine Emperor Luo Feng’s summons. I hope he might give me some guidance.”

Dao Lord Long Jiu nodded. “His guidance may indeed be of use to you.”

Long Jiu carried a certain pride.

Ordinary invincible beings being guided away did not concern him.

But an invincible being who had not been guided—that was worth his attention.

……

Dark Sacred Realm, wilderness.

Above a vast expanse of black waters, a humanoid figure was battling multiple Limit-Breaking Class Low-Rank Primordial Lifeforms.

“Hahaha!!!”

Amid booming laughter—

The figure engaged in close combat and slaughtered all twelve of those Limit-Breaking Class Low-Rank Primordial Lifeforms.

With a wave of his hand, he stored their corpses, his face still filled with wild excitement.

His body was filthy, his hair disheveled, his eyes faintly bloodshot. His smile was twisted and strange. At times, the aura he emitted caused heaven and earth itself to tremble and distort.

He was Divine Emperor Jike!

One of the two strongest cultivators on the surface of the Dark Sacred Realm!

“The will within a World-level Primordial Bloodline is too strong. If I cannot suppress it, I must come out and kill.” Divine Emperor Jike was in pain as well. Exchanging for a World-level Primordial Bloodline required not only immense Battle Merits, but also passing the trials of the Large Hunyuan Hall to ensure one would not go mad upon integration.

He had passed the trials and had indeed not gone insane—he remained conscious.

Yet he was still tormented by the will within the bloodline!

That will affected his mental will. Normally, he appeared deranged. When suppressed for too long, he had to come out and slaughter.

However, he remained clear-minded. He never massacred other cultivators indiscriminately. Instead, he ventured into the wilderness to hunt these Low-Rank Primordial Lifeforms.

In the current era of the Dark Sacred Realm, the one who had killed the most Low-Rank Primordial Lifeforms was none other than Divine Emperor Jike.

“Hmm?” Divine Emperor Jike suddenly received a message.

“A new invincible existence has appeared in the Dark Sacred Realm and is currently in the Large Hunyuan Hall, cultivating in a cave dwelling?” Divine Emperor Jike grew excited. “Previously, invincible existences were always guided away. This Divine Emperor Luo Feng is quite unusual—not guided, yet still cultivating here?”

“Good, good! I can finally fight him. Since he is stronger than me, I can fully unleash my strength and enjoy a proper battle.” Divine Emperor Jike immediately rushed toward Hunyuan City.

……

News of an invincible existence—Divine Emperor Luo Feng—gradually spread throughout the Dark Sacred Realm.

Upon learning that he had not yet been guided away and was instead residing in the Large Hunyuan Hall, many cultivators became excited and rushed toward Hunyuan City, all hoping to receive guidance from this invincible existence.

After all, in the past, such beings were taken away immediately—meeting them even once was extremely difficult.

“An invincible existence, Divine Emperor Luo Feng?”

Within a very ordinary cave dwelling in a remote area of Hunyuan City, Flame Wind Ancestor and Thunder Ancestor resided.

“I have confirmed it—it is Luo Feng.” Thunder Ancestor said excitedly. “The entire Hunyuan City is talking about it. They say Divine Emperor Luo Feng has been in the Dark Sacred Realm for only a thousand eras, yet he already possesses invincible strength.”

“Not long ago, Emperor Qing mentioned that Luo Feng alone suppressed four Limit-Breaking Class opponents in Rainlan City,” Flame Wind Ancestor said. “And now, in the blink of an eye, he has become invincible?”

This rate of rise was terrifying.

They had watched Luo Feng rise from the Origin Continent and soar to the heavens!

“I also made inquiries on the Origin Continent,” Thunder Ancestor said. “Luo Feng has always been in seclusion. Unless there is a special reason, no one can meet him.”

“Whether in the Origin Continent or the Dark Sacred Realm, he remains in seclusion,” Flame Wind Ancestor said. “In that case, we should not disturb him. Let us ask Morosa to pass along a message—that when he comes out of seclusion, he may grant us an audience.”

“Agreed.” Thunder Ancestor nodded. “I never imagined that our homeland, the Origin Continent, would produce an invincible existence.”

“Once one becomes invincible, escaping the Cage is not far off,” Flame Wind Ancestor said.

Both of them were envious.

One was a Half-Primordial Bloodline Cultivator, for whom ultimate awakening was nearly impossible. The other was a Late-Stage God Emperor Seeker who had not even reached the Half-Primordial Seeker level.

“If we had known, we should have given him more benefits,” Thunder Ancestor said with regret.

“We knew he would come to the Dark Sacred Realm, but we never expected him to become this strong,” Flame Wind Ancestor shook his head.

Compared to them, the bond between Emperor Qing and Luo Feng far surpassed theirs.

……

Now, many wished to meet Luo Feng. Numerous powerful cultivators had rushed from other cities to Hunyuan City.

Yet Luo Feng remained in seclusion, seeing no one.

“Within this cave dwelling of the Large Hunyuan Hall, consuming Heavenly Treasures places far less burden on the soul.” Luo Feng sensed that treasures like Hundred Tribulations Heart Marrow, which normally imposed immense strain on the soul, were constantly nourished and restored by the origin power of this world, making the soul feel relaxed and comfortable.

While consuming such treasures, Luo Feng’s avatar in the Origin Continent used the Eye of Life and Death and the Book of Wisdom to study all collected Low-Rank Primordial Bloodlines.

This research alone took one thousand five hundred eras!

Each time, Luo Feng first studied corpse materials, deducing the mysteries of those Low-Rank Primordial Lifeforms from them. He then examined the bloodlines to verify his conclusions.

Over those fifteen hundred eras, with his thinking speed generally maintained at over five hundred times normal speed, Luo Feng’s understanding of life and death reached an extremely profound level.

After that—

He began researching the mental consciousness systems within High-Rank Primordial Bloodlines!

Among the life-type and destruction-type High-Rank Primordial Bloodlines he had newly purchased, he identified fifteen that possessed mental consciousness systems. This greatly enriched his understanding of the mental domain, and the completion speed of his own mental consciousness system increased dramatically.

Unknowingly, Luo Feng had been in seclusion within the Large Hunyuan Hall for four thousand three hundred eras!

An enormous number of cultivators had gathered in Hunyuan City awaiting his summons, yet none dared disturb him.

“Almost there.”

Inside the cave dwelling world, Luo Feng, who sat cross-legged upon the ground, suddenly opened his eyes.

With the accumulation in the life-and-death category and the mental consciousness system, along with all other aspects, the entire Life-and-Death Path had finally been deduced to its final step.

“Only one final step remains. Further seclusion is useless for this last step.” Luo Feng realized, “What is needed is a stimulus in the mental aspect. Once that is achieved, the mental consciousness system will be complete—and the Life-and-Death Path will naturally reach God Emperor Perfection.”

The Half-Primordial Level Life-and-Death Path was already clearly visible in Luo Feng’s mind—only a final trace of mental awakening was missing.