After leaving the cave, Ming Qi flew into the circular valley.
Over half a year had passed, and the valley had become completely settled. Houses and buildings had grown to considerable size, and the environment was constantly changing. This filled Ming Qi with a sense of profound emotion.
He had never imagined that a place with so many races, including humans, Celestials, and Demons, could be so peaceful. But then he realized: these people all came from Tianhuang. The world they once inhabited was facing destruction, and all their survival and goals had vanished. They had come here simply to survive.
To the Mingyue World, they were merely outsiders. Until they had fully become acquainted with and integrated into this world, they would remain quiet.
Ming Qi's return immediately alarmed the people of the circular valley, who flocked out to inquire about Tianhuang's situation. Although they had settled here, they were still native residents of Tianhuang and still cared about its well-being.
"If Tianhuang ever recovers, will you return?"
Ming Qi suddenly asked a seemingly irrelevant question.
"Of course I will, but I'm afraid we won't be able to see that day." While the Earth Sword Martial God didn't say anything overtly discouraging, it was clear that even if Tianhuang managed to survive, it would likely take thousands of years to recover. And how many people here would still be alive after thousands of years?
"I will do my best to protect Tianhuang."
Ming Qi understood what the Earth Sword Martial God meant, but he also saw the people's attachment to Tianhuang, a sentiment echoed in his own.
The destruction of a world isn't something that happens overnight; it takes ages. Like rebirth, destruction also requires time. Even if Ming Qi could contain Tianhuang's destruction, he couldn't accelerate its recovery.
This is a long process, and the average person simply can't afford to wait.
So, even though Ming Qi asked this question, he secretly hoped these people would settle down here and live a peaceful life. Though they came from different races and had diverse experiences, they found peace and tranquility here, forgetting everything.
People without a home yearn desperately for one, needing its warmth, and these were undoubtedly such people.
After a brief conversation, Ming Qi reached the summit of the circular valley alone and sat there quietly.
Now, he had become someone who could look down upon all living things. Once upon a time, he had often stood atop the mountain behind Yanzhuang, gazing down below. But he never imagined that one day he would stand at the pinnacle of the world, looking down not upon little wild rabbits and boars, but upon all living things under heaven.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but think of Bai Bing. Everything had come about because of that chance encounter with Bai Bing. If it weren't for Bai Bing, he might have died of old age by now, or perhaps even perished in the torrent of doomsday. Neither the future world nor the vast, orderly world of the future would have left any trace of him.
Thinking of Bai Bing, he suddenly felt a urge to meet this woman. He searched for Bai Bing's location and teleported her through the air.
Not long after, Bai Bing, dressed in white, appeared before him.
"You know what? If it weren't for that encounter with you, my life would have taken a completely different path."
Looking at the faint smile on Bai Bing's face, Ming Qi said with a smile.
"Indeed, you've reached the point where you can attain godhood with a single thought. Even I never imagined such a day would come." Bai Bing smiled.
"Godhood with a single thought, that's a fact. But now that I've reached this level, I'm wondering what I should do next?"
Ming Qi openly expressed his confusion. Logically, reaching this level would make it virtually impossible to be confused or unable to predict the future. However, Ming Qi's rise was so rapid, so rapid that even a veteran God Emperor like Bai Bing couldn't believe it.
"You're confused because you're not strong enough. The path of the Tao is far longer than you realize. Although I haven't experienced it, I know more than you do."
Bai Bing's answer left Ming Qi deeply puzzled. He was now powerful enough that ordinary Martial God-level cultivators were no match for him. And those gods no longer seemed like lofty beings to be looked up to.
"When you reach a state of being that transcends everything, these things will naturally cease to be confusing." Bai Bing had experienced much, after all. Although her realm was far beyond Ming Qi's, she still had some insight.
"Perhaps."
Ming Qi didn't immediately confirm Bai Bing's words, but used the word "perhaps."
His Tao was a different Tao. One led to destruction. The Tao of God-killing aimed to kill gods, but he was confused about the ultimate meaning of killing gods. The Tao of Immortality led to eternal life, a path of infinite vitality, but he was confused about how to proceed.
The two paths are completely different. Destruction and immortality are inherently opposites, and under normal circumstances, they should be completely impossible to achieve simultaneously. Yet, in his hands, they have now merged, a true miracle.
Destruction permeates with vitality, and beneath vitality lies destruction.
"So, what do you think I should do next?" Ming Qi asked.
"That's naturally for you to decide. Becoming a Martial God isn't the end of your cultivation; becoming a supremely powerful being, gliding and disappearing above the Nine Heavens, is your goal," Bai Bing said.
After a moment's silence, Ming Qi suddenly brightened. "Indeed, I have a long road ahead of me, and I still have much to accomplish. Now is not the time to be lost."
Seeing Ming Qi snap out of his dazed thoughts, Bai Bing smiled and said, "The only way to resolve your confusion is to accumulate and settle yourself over time. When the time is right, these problems will naturally resolve themselves."
"You've saved me once again," Ming Qi said with a smile.
"I'm just older than you. Saving you is out of the question."
Bai Bing didn't think a few words could completely bring Ming Qi back from his confusion. But regardless of whether he'd truly figured it out, the fact that he'd spoken these words at least meant he wasn't stuck in a vicious cycle of confusion.
"Come on, the best way to resolve confusion is to replace it with something you desperately want to do."
With that, Ming Qi stood up and embraced the beautiful woman, a figure as graceful as an iceberg and a snow lotus. Then, he raised his hand and cast a magical circle around them, completely isolating them from the surrounding space.
Bai Bing chuckled, but didn't dodge. Instead, he greeted her with grace.
Just as the moment was about to begin, Ming Qi suddenly felt something. He looked up at the sky, frowning.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Ming Qi suddenly stop what he was doing, Bai Bing asked curiously.
"A powerful being is approaching rapidly."
As he spoke, Ming Qi directly opened the divine map space and let Bai Bing in.
Having reached the Martial God realm, his perception could easily perceive an area of a thousand miles. Ming Qi could clearly sense a powerful force, unprecedented in strength, rapidly approaching from the sky above him.