More and more people gathered beneath the Starlight Path, all wanting to see just how far Gu Qing, who had ascended from the lower realm, could go.
Some people left.
But they had their servants keep watch, ready to report on Gu Qing's situation at any moment.
"One thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine."
You Kui looked at Gu Qing, his heart surging with emotion: "That's right, this is the disciple I've been searching for."
To defeat enemies of higher realms as easily as slaughtering chickens and dogs, and to comprehend the Dao as simply as eating and drinking.
Gu Qing was far stronger than he had been at his age.
Their Three Thousand Lower Realms needed talents like Gu Qing.
Only a monster like Gu Qing could shoulder such a great responsibility.
After all, their Three Thousand Lower Realms had been suppressed. Any hint of resistance would be met with immediate destruction.
Even though he claimed to be the number one person below the Immortal King Realm, he was helpless and powerless against the greater trend.
The emergence of Gu Qing and the peerless duo gave him hope for the rise of the Three Thousand Realms.
"Gu Qing has the bearing of an Immortal King."
The more You Kui thought about it, the more excited he became, and his gaze drifted toward Zhimeng's cave dwelling.
"You primarily cultivate the Great Yin, Great Yang, Chaos, and Thunder Daos, which are completely unsuitable for guiding Gu Qing. You'd better leave him to me."
If Zhimeng disagreed, he would have no choice but to demonstrate the power of the Zhoutian Star God Physique.
Indeed, Zhimeng was very strong, but he, You Kui, was not someone whose reputation was undeserved.
Boom!
Gu Qing stepped onto the two thousandth step, and even more profound laws and Dao rhythms surged into his mind. The Heavenly Pearl descended with divine brilliance of the Great Dao, helping him comprehend quickly.
Absorbing endless Immortal Origin Qi, Gu Qing's cultivation rapidly climbed.
With almost every step he took, Gu Qing's Daoist cultivation improved.
When he reached the final nine steps, Gu Qing halted, and countless illusions appeared in his mind.
There was joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, and desires that burned his very being.
Gu Qing put away the Heavenly Pearl and forbade the Nine-Colored Soul Lotus from assisting.
Such an opportunity to temper his state of mind was rare and could not be missed.
Gu Qing sank into the boundless illusions, as if experiencing a hundred lifetimes of ups and downs, ultimately washing away all impurities until his spirit was clear and pure.
The boundless illusions could no longer affect him in the slightest, and only then did Gu Qing step forward.
Boom!
As soon as he stepped onto the step, boundless might descended to suppress him, as if he were carrying a divine mountain, causing Gu Qing's legs to tremble and his straight spine to bend slightly.
Sweat rolled down Gu Qing's forehead, his body trembled uncontrollably, and with another step, he felt his physical body would be crushed.
But if he didn't move forward, the suppressing force would only grow stronger, and sooner or later, he would be crushed to the ground.
Gu Qing gritted his teeth and pressed forward, carrying boundless might as he walked step by step.
Various voices appeared in his mind, telling him to stop, to rest for a while, like a magical incantation trying to hypnotize him.
Fortunately, Gu Qing had experienced a hundred lifetimes of ups and downs, his spirit was clear and pure, and his Dao heart was firm, unmoved by external things; otherwise, he would have been confused and bewitched on the spot.
And so, Gu Qing expressionlessly walked for a year, ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years...
The steps ahead seemed endless, like a mountain that runs a horse to death, never reaching the end.
Gu Qing was very clear that he had entered a time illusion.
This test was one of perseverance.
If his mind showed any slack, he would be immediately brushed aside.
Time flew, and the years passed like a shuttle.
Gu Qing didn't know how long he had been walking when he suddenly felt a release, and his spirit, physical body, and soul were all elevated at the same time.
Countless insights surged into his mind, and his realm naturally broke through to the fourth level of the Celestial God Realm.
Gu Qing stepped forward onto the next step.
"He moved."
"His realm broke through."
Gu Qing had stood in the hundred-lifetime illusion for nine days and in the time illusion for nine days, not being brushed aside, and his realm had instead broken through.
This caused all the watching disciples to be shocked, unable to help but recall that woman who had stunned the Immortal Realm when she first ascended the Starlight Path.
Could it be that Gu Qing also has the bearing of an Immortal Emperor?
Thinking of this, the crowd became restless, and they all sent messages to their masters.
"This... am I really qualified to be Gu Qing's master?"
Looking at Gu Qing, You Kui couldn't help but ask himself this in his heart.
After eighty-one days, Gu Qing finally reached the summit, standing at the peak of the Starlight Path, transcendent Dao rhythms permeating the air.
Looking out, what met his eyes was a vast chaotic cosmic sea, with various universes like dust particles floating in the boundless chaos.
Gu Qing was stunned in his heart, opened his Dao pupils to scan, and wanted to know why the dust-like universes were so real.
Was this a real universe or a reflection of the Dao?
His gaze pierced through the dust-like universes, infinitely magnifying, continuing to magnify without end, with ancient living stars and myriad races standing tall.
"This... this is actually a real universe?!"
Upon getting this answer, Gu Qing's heart was once again shocked.
He couldn't imagine how the Star Holy Mother had contained the boundless universe around the Starlight Path.
What kind of divine ability would that require?
Could it be that Primordial Great Gods were truly so powerful, unfathomable, able to play with the boundless universe in the palm of their hands?
Shaking his head, such an existence was too far from him; for now, improving his cultivation was the most important thing.
Gu Qing sat cross-legged, using the Heavenly Pearl and the Nine-Colored Soul Lotus to comprehend the transcendent Dao rhythms left by the Star Holy Mother and to comprehend the vast chaotic cosmic sea around him.
Buzz!
The boundless chaotic cosmic sea erupted with hundreds of millions of divine Dao patterns, pouring into Gu Qing's body.
Endless Immortal Origin Qi, like seawater flowing backward, surged forward.
"Chaos Star Sutra."
"The Star Holy Mother really does have something to offer."
Jiang Yu's eyes shone with divine light, commenting as such.
Looking at Gu Qing, she felt a pang of heartache; the final nine steps were not easy to climb, and Gu Qing didn't know how many hardships he had endured to reach the summit.
"A-Qing has grown up, finally becoming a true cultivator."
Ascending the Starlight Path, Gu Qing had completely transformed, with no more weaknesses.
Jiang Yu thought about it and decided to give him a reward when he returned.
Boom.
On the Starlight Path, indestructible chaotic Dao rhythms permeated the air, and Gu Qing's cultivation rose level by level.
Celestial God Realm fourth level, middle stage, late stage, peak stage. He paused for three days, then broke through to the fifth level, initial stage, middle stage, late stage, peak stage.
Nine days passed in a flash, and Gu Qing was brushed off the Starlight Path.
Gu Qing looked at the Starlight Path, his emotions surging.
Transcendent Dao rhythms permeated the Starlight Path, converging the Three Thousand Great Dao Laws, truly a treasure land of the Great Dao.
In just nine days, he had broken through from the fourth level to the peak of the fifth level. If he had been given a few more months, he might have been able to prove himself a Profound God.
After all, his Chaos Indestructible Dao Fruit was heaven-defying; as long as he comprehended it, breakthroughs would happen naturally without any restrictions.
If he couldn't comprehend it, he might not break through even after沉淀ting for a million years, at most accumulating vast amounts of Immortal Origin Qi.
This was the norm for cultivators in the God Realm.
"What a pity."
Gu Qing was extremely regretful; such a treasure land of the Great Dao could only be comprehended for nine days.
Moreover, regardless of cultivation age or realm, everyone only had one chance to climb the Starlight Path in their lifetime.
Anyone who tried to climb it forcefully would be killed by the divine technique left by the Star Holy Mother.
"But it wasn't a loss either."
Thinking of the gains from this journey, Gu Qing's mood instantly improved.
He had broken through three levels consecutively and obtained the Chaos Star Sutra left by the Star Holy Mother.
This was an unparalleled cultivation method that directly pointed toward the Chaos Great Dao, mysterious and unfathomable, with infinite power, and it was not passed down in the Star Dao Sect.
Only those who reached the summit had a chance to obtain it.
Thinking of this, Gu Qing thought to himself: 'I am the Star Holy Mother's favorite child; the inheritance should be mine.'
Gu Qing decided not to leave.
If anyone was to leave, it should be the local despicable ones.
The legacy left by the Star Holy Mother should be inherited by him.
Thinking of this, a ruthless glint appeared in Gu Qing's eyes.
His Calamity Black Dragon hadn't been promoted in a long time; if he devoured all the disciples and elders of the Star Dao Sect, the Calamity Black Dragon would definitely be able to evolve to the peak of the Profound God Realm.
Moreover, these people primarily cultivated the Star Dao, which could help him comprehend the Chaos Sutra.
The more Gu Qing thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
"Gu Qing, you..."
Li Wencai walked over, looking at Gu Qing with a shocked expression, along with a hint of fear.
"What's wrong?" Seeing his unusual expression, Gu Qing couldn't help but frown and ask.
Li Wencai shook his head repeatedly, looking as if he wanted to say something but didn't dare, which made Gu Qing frown even more.
His gaze swept through the sky, where many proud sons of heaven showed expressions of jealousy and resentment.
Some wore looks of ridicule and schadenfreude as they looked at Gu Qing.
"What on earth is going on?"
Gu Qing was even more puzzled in his heart.
"Never mind, I can't be bothered to figure it out. I'll just ask the Mistress and I'll know everything."
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