Chapter 602: Each Their Own Path

"The third path," Meng Chuan stated his decision.

"The third one?" Fu Sui, Meng Hu, and Old Demon Heifeng were all somewhat startled.

Fu Sui couldn't help but advise, "Brother Dongning, this third path greatly affects one's mind and consciousness. If you take it, you won't be able to focus on cultivation. I think it would be better not to choose anything at all and just cultivate within the mountain; the cultivation environment here is quite beneficial for practice."

"Staying within the mountain also has its dangers," Meng Hu said. "You can't indefinitely enjoy the benefits, so you still have to choose a path."

"Even so, you shouldn't choose the third one," Fu Sui shook his head.

Old Demon Heifeng nodded and said, "Brother Dongning, the first two paths offer various benefits as soon as you step on them. We might have to pay a price, but at least... we'd gain the benefits. The third path, however, suppresses one's mind and consciousness, with the suppression growing stronger the further you go. It seems like a test, and passing it might bring great rewards. But ultimately, we are only Five-Tribulation cultivators; we might not pass the test and gain nothing."

"Brother Heifeng, you have a point," Meng Chuan nodded. "This path indeed greatly affects the mind and consciousness, and it's true that I might not pass the test or reach the end. But I still want to take the third path."

Tests? Benefits? Meng Chuan paid no attention.

For Meng Chuan, the third path's effect on 'mind and consciousness' was a rare opportunity to cultivate 'mental fortitude'. At his current level, it was extremely difficult to shake his mental fortitude. Discovering the unique nature of the third path, he felt a surge of excitement.

The 'Six-Tribulation realm rules' were not far from his grasp; even in an ordinary cultivation environment in the outer void, he would certainly master them within a hundred years. What concerned him most now was his 'mental fortitude': could his Primordial Spirit world withstand the Six-Tribulation realm rules? Could he pass the Sixth Heavenly Tribulation? For cultivators of the Primordial Spirit Tribulation realm lineage, stronger mental fortitude was always better!

"Since you've made your decision, we won't try to dissuade you further," Fu Sui nodded. "Everyone chooses their own path, and everyone must bear their own consequences."

"Brother Dongning," Meng Hu looked at Meng Chuan, "The path you've chosen is filled with hardships, and while it might offer the greatest rewards at the end, it's highly unlikely that the rest of us would reach that far." With that, Meng Hu was the first to walk towards the second path.

"Brother Dongning, good luck," Old Demon Heifeng also walked towards the second path.

"Haha... perhaps Brother Dongning will be the one to gain the most in the end," Fu Sui said with a laugh, then walked towards the first path.

"Good luck to all of you."

Meng Chuan smiled slightly and walked towards the third path.

The four Five-Tribulation cultivators who had arrived in the relic world each made their choice.

"This path," Meng Chuan stepped onto the third path, which was paved with crystal jade. At the same time, he began to hear sounds. The sounds could not be blocked; though intermittent, they still penetrated his Primordial Spirit, echoing within the Primordial Spirit world in his sea of consciousness. Not a single word was discernible; they were vague, yet they subjected Meng Chuan's mind and consciousness to immense pressure.

"Keep going."

After all, Meng Chuan was a Primordial Spirit Five-Tribulation cultivator, and even he wasn't entirely sure of the true extent of his mental cultivation. At the very least, he could relatively easily withstand the initial pressure of the third path. After standing in place and sensing for ten breaths, Meng Chuan took another step. Although he could easily endure it, Meng Chuan stopped for ten breaths after each step, carefully discerning the differences in the 'sounds' at various positions and how they affected his mind and consciousness.

One step every ten breaths was extremely slow, but Meng Chuan was very patient. Sometimes, if he gained some insight, he would stay even longer. "Om... Ha... Yu..." Although the sounds were indistinct, Meng Chuan discovered some patterns. Each 'character' in these sounds affected his mental fortitude differently. The various sounds were like countless hammers striking his Primordial Spirit from different angles. These 'hammer' sounds could even coalesce, but Meng Chuan was still at the beginning of the path, so what he could perceive was too little and too vague.

On the first day, Meng Chuan walked two li along the path. He continued to walk step by step with great devotion, cherishing this place for honing his mental fortitude.

On the second path, Meng Hu and Old Demon Heifeng had also been walking for a day. They repeatedly possessed different 'Six-Tribulation realm mighty figures', experiencing the various profound mysteries naturally embedded in their combat, cultivation, or even their movements.

"I've gained a lot, but..." Meng Hu frowned slightly. "But my consciousness has possessed so many times, trying to comprehend the methods of various Six-Tribulation realm mighty figures. Comprehending too much has already made me a bit confused." Those they possessed were all Six-Tribulation realm mighty figures, each mastering rules superior to Meng Hu's.

Initially, Meng Hu was very excited and thrilled, feeling as if a grand door had opened before him. He clearly perceived how Six-Tribulation realm cultivators unleashed their techniques, and even by experiencing only a portion, he could see the path ahead. However, he saw too many 'paths ahead'! On the first day, even with occasional breaks, he observed the paths of hundreds of Six-Tribulation realm mighty figures. Some paths were even diametrically opposed! The clash of numerous paths left him bewildered. What was right? What was wrong? Where should he go?

"I understand the danger of this path now," Meng Hu realized. "Walking too much on this path, one will be completely lost if they don't have enough conviction." After pondering for a moment, his gaze became firm. With such an opportunity before him, how could he give up?

"I will follow the path of 'Heavenly Dream God General'. I will carefully comprehend what suits me and directly delete any memories of what doesn't," Meng Hu grit his teeth and continued walking.

Just over ten zhang behind Meng Hu, Old Demon Heifeng also discovered the problem with this path. "What should I do? If I try to comprehend every single Six-Tribulation realm mighty figure, I'll definitely get lost within a month," Old Demon Heifeng looked at Meng Hu ahead. "I can't compare to Meng Hu. Meng Hu's other true body is in the Heavenly Dream Realm, so he has a way to mitigate the negative effects. I can only rely on myself; I need to be more cautious."

Having ascended step by step from a lower world, Old Demon Heifeng had endured countless hardships and had become incredibly cautious ever since. When he decided to act, he would strike like a venomous snake, biting his target precisely. Normally, he kept his claws and fangs hidden, cautiously waiting for an opportunity.

"I need to slow down my pace. The Six-Tribulation realm mighty figures I possess are overlapping more and more; the further I go, the higher the overlap will likely be," Old Demon Heifeng mused. "I should focus on comprehending only a few of them and abandon all others. And... I also need to slow down and carefully experience and comprehend."

Consequently, Old Demon Heifeng moved even slower on the second path.

On the first path, Fu Sui walked step by step, maintaining a state of continuous enlightenment without pause. The feeling of constant enlightenment was truly wonderful. Various insights flooded his mind. A bottleneck that might have held him back for a hundred years in the past was now easily overcome in an instant.

On the very first day he embarked on the first path, he covered a full ten li, making him the fastest of them all. Just half a year later, Fu Sui had traveled nearly two thousand li and comprehended a third Five-Tribulation realm rule. With his original aptitude, he might never have comprehended a third Five-Tribulation realm rule in his lifetime, yet now he had done so in six months.

"There might be a price to pay, but sometimes you just have to take a chance. With these three rules, I now have hope of combining them to reach the Six-Tribulation realm," Fu Sui suppressed his excitement and continued walking on the crystal path.