Time had lost all meaning.
Days passed as if they were mere instants, dissolving into the absolute silence that enveloped that small clearing. The wind continued to blow through the bamboos, making the stalks bend slightly and produce that continuous, almost meditative sound... but to Ren Zu, all of this seemed distant and irrelevant.
His body remained completely motionless throughout this entire period.
Sitting with his legs crossed, his spine perfectly straight and his eyes closed, he looked like a statue carved by nature itself. Not even his breathing was perceptible. However, within him, profound and violent changes were taking place.
The two esoteric pills slowly dissolved inside his body, releasing an inexplicable power that attacked and opened the last two Internal Gates. The Gate of Life, located in the heart, and the Gate of Death, situated in the Sea of Consciousness, resisted tenaciously but gradually yielded under the relentless pressure of his will and constant refinement.
The bamboo forest around him remained utterly calm and silent the entire time.
And then, after an unknown period, the morning sun began to rise...
The first golden rays pierced through the dense canopy of the bamboo grove, cutting the low-hanging mist into long, slanted beams. The light touched the green leaves, making them sparkle like wet emeralds, and reflected on the surface of the lake in tones of liquid gold. Droplets of dew still clung to the stalks, falling with delicate little sounds that echoed like tiny bells. The air was fresh, filled with the clean scent of wet bamboo mixed with the subtle aroma of damp earth and wildflowers awakening with the dawn.
The mist covering the lake began to dissipate slowly, revealing the crystal-clear water that reflected the pale blue sky and the thin clouds dissolving on the horizon.
Ren Zu slowly opened his eyes. His eyelids lifted calmly, revealing those deep, limpid black eyes, now even deeper, as if they had absorbed part of eternity during the process. A faint smile adorned his perfect lips—subtle, yet genuine—carrying a tranquil satisfaction that needed no words.
He had succeeded!
The Gate of Life and the Gate of Death were now completely open.
But that was not all. During this process, he had also advanced directly to the twelfth level of the [Great Buddha Path], leaping over two entire stages and thereby successfully completing this Forbidden Divine Art. The result was the attainment of the "Saint's Body" in its most perfect state—a flawless physical form, refined to the utmost limit of what that technique could offer.
Upon reaching the "Wrathful God" form, his body had attained a level comparable to that of a True God, traditionally considered the pinnacle of the physical path. However, with the opening of the Eight Internal Gates, he had surpassed that established limit, breaking through a barrier that had until then been regarded as unreachable. His body was no longer merely powerful; it had become something unprecedented, an existence that transcended eras. Whether in the Primordial Era or the present one, there was no record of anything equivalent...
The reason he had managed to surpass the last two levels with such ease was directly linked to his comprehension—the true core of the [Great Buddha Path]. After refining the two pills and opening the final two Internal Gates, he had focused all his attention on this aspect, diving deeply into the essence of the technique that depended, above all else, on understanding. And it was precisely at this point that he had advanced with incomparable fluidity. Since he was the greatest genius of the Primordial Chaos, he reached the eleventh and twelfth levels without encountering major obstacles.
A crucial part of this process came from the very nature of the pill used to open the Gate of Death. It was a substance laden with lethal properties, capable of placing the practitioner in a borderline state, something close to actual death, which was necessary to make contact with the last of the eight gates. By going through this experience, he not only completed the opening but also gained a deeper perception of the fundamental principles of life. This direct contact with the threshold between life and death provided him with valuable insights, allowing him to understand aspects that had previously remained obscure... and, with that, to surpass the final two levels of the [Great Buddha Path]...
Although he was satisfied with the advancement of his own body—to the point where he felt confident enough to move freely through any region of the God Realm—this was not the true reason for his satisfaction. What truly mattered was what he had comprehended by facing death so profoundly. By crossing that threshold, he had not only survived... he had understood. Life and death ceased to be opposing concepts and became parts of the same cycle, and it was this perception that allowed him to break through a barrier that had until then been insurmountable.
Long before, even when he was planning his journey to the Divine Phoenix Empire, he had already nurtured the idea of creating a trump card based purely on comprehension. At first, it was only a rudimentary concept, something incomplete. But over two years of continuous refinement, he had managed to transform that idea into the [Indestructible Dao Heart], an achievement that did not depend on brute force but on absolute understanding.
The inspiration had come from an ancient memory: the true meaning behind the "Primal World Liquid" he had absorbed at the beginning of his journey—"Emperor's Domination"—which showed how important that concept was. But unlike Li Qiye, who had attained an indestructible Dao Heart after millions of years of experiencing everything the world had to offer, he had walked a different path. He had not accumulated eras of experience; instead, he had condensed his comprehension to the extreme... and yet, he had reached the same result. Fortunately, he possessed the [Ten Extreme Daos], which made it possible...
The Dao Heart represents the essence of a cultivator's path—not merely his pursuit of power, but his perseverance in the search for truth and knowledge. It is the strength of will that sustains every step forward, even in the face of failures, limits, or seemingly insurmountable adversities. More than any technique or external resource, it is the mental aspect of cultivation, the one that defines how far someone can go when everything else fails.
A truly unshakeable heart can even compensate for a lack of talent. While natural abilities and resources accelerate progress, it is the heart that ensures that progress does not break along the way. Even so, most cultivators only understand its importance once they have reached the peak of their respective worlds, when they possess enough power to shape the reality around them, only to realize—too late—that they had prioritized laws, techniques, treasures, and external creations at the expense of their own inner foundation.
In the end, the heart is the true foundation of a cultivator. Everything else can be acquired, lost, or replaced. But without a strong heart, no power is stable and no peak is lasting.
Yet through his own comprehension and the experiences accumulated over the past year—especially after ridding himself of his "inner demon," which was Yun Che—he had advanced on this path at an astonishing speed, consolidating something few even dared to imagine: a truly indestructible Dao Heart, a real state of existence that granted him profound and far-reaching benefits, especially on the mental level.
Among these benefits, mental immunity stood out as one of the most evident. His mind had become firm as a mountain, unshakable in the face of external influences, illusions, or temptations. Not even extreme stimuli would be capable of disturbing his inner balance. He himself recognized this clearly: even if he stood before the most beautiful woman in the entire Primordial Chaos, completely exposed before him, it would not be enough to shake his heart. At most, he could recognize and appreciate her beauty as a heterosexual man... but he would never lose control or be dominated by impulses. His Dao Heart remained absolute, above any interference.
But that was merely the natural culmination of the path, not his true trump card. An indestructible Dao Heart was essential for anyone who wished to tread the path of immortality, providing the foundation for an absolute and unbreakable will. He was undoubtedly satisfied with having reached this state. Still, he knew it was only the first step toward his ultimate goal. What truly elevated the [Indestructible Dao Heart] to something beyond a simple foundation was what he had built upon it: his "transformations."
These transformations were the materialization of a simple yet profound principle: one single thought could lead someone to become a Buddha, another to become a demon... so why not an emperor? Based on this, he had developed distinct paths, each supported by its own nature and power. When assuming the form of the [Evil Buddha], an idea born from his practice of the [Great Buddha Path], his body and mind aligned with the Deep Element of Light, manifesting arts that prioritized purity, balance, and absolute self-mastery. In the [Demon God] form, he plunged into the Deep Element of Darkness, amplified by the [Devil Origin Orb] he had studied recently, releasing an oppressive, chaotic, and overwhelming power. Each of these forms, by itself, already pushed him to the limit of his capabilities.
However, his true ace in the hole lay beyond that. The [Celestial Emperor] transformation represented the perfect fusion between these two extremes, coexisting in a single absolute state. It was not merely the sum of powers, but a qualitative elevation, something that transcended both individual forms. It was there that his [Indestructible Dao Heart] showed its true value, sustaining this impossible union without collapsing. And in that state, he had no doubts: he possessed absolute confidence that he could defeat any opponent who appeared before him.
He stretched.
His arms rose above his head in a slow, lazy motion, his back arching with a soft and satisfying crack that echoed like music among the bamboos. The dark purple robes slid over his perfect skin, briefly revealing the defined lines of his chest and shoulder muscles before settling back into place. He tilted his neck from side to side, letting out a long, deep sigh, like someone finally waking from a very long sleep.
And then... he began to hum.
A simple melody without words, just a low, relaxed buzz coming from his throat. It was a nameless song, something he was improvising in the moment, light as the wind swaying the bamboo stalks. There was no hurry, no grandeur—just a tranquil, almost happy note that echoed softly through the small natural amphitheater.
Ren Zu stood up slowly, stretching his legs and rolling his shoulders one last time. His entire body responded with a sensation of absolute lightness, as if every cell had been forged anew into something superior. His eyes then scanned the simple white barrier that Jasmine had raised around him. The curtain of light remained motionless, emitting no sound or perceptible fluctuation of energy to the outside world. Yet he could subtly feel that the process inside it was almost coming to an end.
Once she finished, he would return to meet his wives, and then they would depart together for the God Realm. Just thinking about it already filled a part of his heart with anticipation—not impulsive anxiety, but a calm, almost inevitable expectation of everything that was to come.
Exploring that vast universe, filled with mysteries, powers, and ancient secrets... would undoubtedly be something interesting. All of it fed not only his curiosity but also his silent ambition.
And in the end, there was one thought that remained firm, constant, and impossible to ignore: becoming the absolute emperor of it all would be even more fun!
.
.
.
.
.
Profound Sky Continent, Blue Wind Empire, Floating Cloud City.
On one of the streets of the small city, under the hot midday sun, Fen Juechen was helping an elderly lady carry two heavy baskets of fresh vegetables to her small house on the outskirts of the city.
He was smiling.
It was not a forced smile, nor the cold, dead smile he had once displayed. It was a genuine smile, although it still carried a subtle shadow of melancholy in the corners of his eyes. His black hair was tied in a simple ponytail, and he wore ordinary traveler's clothes—nothing that would draw attention.
"Here you go, granny. Let me carry them to the door..." he said in a gentle voice, helping the old woman up the few steps of the entrance.
The lady smiled, her wrinkled eyes shining with gratitude.
"Thank you, young man. You are so kind... may the heavens bless you."
Fen Juechen simply nodded, carefully placing the baskets inside the house. After making sure she was all right, he bid her farewell with a polite wave and left.
As soon as he turned the corner, away from curious eyes, his smile slowly faded.
He let out a long, deep sigh, looking up at the blue sky above the city.
"The last two years... passed in the blink of an eye."
Ever since the day he had finally taken revenge on Yun Che—or rather, since the day he believed he had taken revenge—Fen Juechen had followed his master's final teaching: to abandon the path of vengeance and seek a new meaning for his life.
In the beginning, it had been difficult.
Extremely difficult.
He had wandered aimlessly, carrying the weight of guilt for having left Xiao Lingxi behind. He knew that, back when he had been consumed by hatred, she would never have accepted him. That was why he had left without saying goodbye, his heart tight, but determined not to drag her into his darkness.
He had traveled across the entire Profound Sky Continent.
He helped wherever he could: repairing roofs in poor villages, carrying goods for elderly merchants, protecting caravans from bandits without revealing his true strength. He learned to cook, to plant, to listen to strangers' stories in taverns. He discovered that the world was much larger and more complex than the narrow hatred that had once consumed him.
And little by little, he found a purpose.
It was not grand. It involved neither absolute power nor revenge.
It was simple: to help those in need. To protect the weak. To enjoy the small joys the world still had to offer—a beautiful sunset, a warm shared meal, the laughter of children running in the street...
Two years later, he had returned to Floating Cloud City because he simply could not abandon his feelings; he wanted to see Xiao Lingxi.
He wanted to know if she still remembered him... and if, perhaps, she would accept accompanying him on this new journey.
But he did not find her.
Neither her nor her father.
He was told that the two had disappeared almost one year and nine months ago.
Fen Juechen stood still in the middle of the busy street.
He clenched his fists.
"Then... my new goal will be to find her."
He looked at the sky, his red eyes shining with tranquil determination.
"As I travel the world, I will search for her. And if fate allows... perhaps I can finally tell her how much I have changed."
With one last sigh, Fen Juechen adjusted the simple cloak over his shoulders and continued walking, on a journey that would lead him to a simple and happy life, where his only regret would be never having reunited with his beloved...
_________________
(A/N: Hey everyone! With that, we've reached the end of Volume Two!
I'll admit, it feels a bit bittersweet to close this part of the story, but it's also exciting to think about what's coming next. In the next chapter, Volume Three officially begins—the final volume—and it will also be the longest one so far. It will fully cover the Realm of the Gods arc and the Abyss of Nothingness, so you can expect a lot to unfold.
I also want to apologize if the last few chapters felt a bit slow-paced. Honestly, I feel like I could have handled it differently, maybe with a two-year time skip while showing the changes as the story progressed. Still, I chose a more detailed approach to better explore each moment.
In any case, I truly hope you've enjoyed the journey so far. Thank you for following along!
Want to read ahead of everyone else? Then come join Patreon!
This story already has over 10 advanced chapters.
If you enjoy following the story ahead of time, with higher quality and exclusive content, this is your chance.
Don't miss this opportunity — join Patreon and dive in before everyone else!
My Patreon: patreon.com/Adam_Kadmon
Thank you so much for your support — you make all of this worthwhile.)