Chapter 1465: Great God Descends Technique Forces to a Dead End, No Way to Heaven or Earth

Can a person with secrets endure others' scrutiny of themselves?

Everyone fully understands why Tian Ren Wu Shui chose to self-destruct on the spot under the oppression of Da Shen Jiang Shu, without even struggling for a moment longer. As the bearer of the three supreme bodies, his secrets were numerous. For someone like that, if there was even the slightest chance of revealing their hand, and they still possessed means of rebirth, self-destruction was the option with the highest cost-effectiveness.

So, the question arises... Does Jin Ren have many secrets?

— Oh, far too many!

He shares a deep mental connection with his true self. Not to mention anything else, just the aspects of crossing over and passive skills alone were things he dared not let Dao Qiong Cang know about. Da Shen Jiang Shu appeared to be a technique that used the human body to descend to another location, but what if this was merely one of its many abilities? What if the flashy old Daoist could choose, after descending, not to destroy the host body, but instead to possess it, read its memories, or even intervene in the true self's will?

"Self-explode!"

Jin Ren acted without hesitation, resorting to this final act of self-resistance. He was deep underground in the Ran Ming Site, and as soon as he saw the handshake patterns emerging all over his body, he dared not delay any further. He only managed to send a faint message through his lingering thoughts:

"Si Ren Mister, quickly destroy the array disk!"

Then...

His Qi Hai exploded!

His Ling Yuan exploded!

His physical body, soul, and will followed suit in explosion!

As if he had rehearsed it multiple times, he ignited everything with practiced familiarity, completing the self-destruction in an instant. This time, he was so rushed that he didn't even have a moment to leave behind any profound parting words, showing no attachment whatsoever to the world.

"Boom!"

Somewhere in the Ran Ming Site, the ground shook violently. A terrifying wave of light erupted like a volcano, blasting through the deep underground rock layers and shooting skyward.

"Ah?"

The surging air currents flung the passing Zhou Tian Can backward, sending him crashing to the ground with a thud.

"Clang..."

A golden overlord blade fell to the ground.

Rolling out alongside it was a head-sized, dazzling multi-faceted crystal stone, shimmering with vibrant, multicolored light.

"What happened?"

Zhou Tian Can was stunned for a moment, quickly getting up to retrieve his overlord blade, then picking up the Divine Fate Star.

He had gone to great lengths for this thing, now targeted for pursuit and killing by many, almost losing his life in the process. Still, he could hold on!

"I need to wait for Xu Xiao Shou to come in..."

Zhou Tian Can didn't even know the exact function of the crystal stone he held. He had already left Tian Sang Ling Gong, establishing his own sect—a place dedicated to mastering the Overlord Blade Style and blade intent, which he called the "Pi Shou Sect."

One day during his cultivation, he received guidance, feeling as though his destiny had arrived, so he uttered the words "Ran Ming." He thought that would grant him the inheritance.

Little did he expect that everyone from the Five Domains would be competing for this inheritance!

Although being the chosen of destiny wasn't exclusive to him, which was disappointing, Zhou Tian Can still had good luck. After entering the Ran Ming Site, he spotted this crystal stone at his feet and casually picked it up.

Thus, he became the top of the Ancestral God List...

And was subjected to frenzied pursuits!

"Xu Xiao Shou, where are you?"

Zhou Tian Can felt a bit bitter. As a sect master, even if he had kicked open that final door, he was only at the Wang Zuo Dao Realm. Yet, those chasing him were either Tai Xu or Ban Sheng experts. Without the protection of the Ran Ming Site's power, he would have been done for long ago.

So...

Zhou Tian Can was panicking!

He knew the Divine Fate Star in his hands was a valuable treasure. Better to give it to someone else than let it fall into the wrong hands—if Xu Xiao Shou entered the site, he could pass it to him.

But he had waited for so long.

That explosion maniac seemed to pop up wherever trouble was.

This time, with the unprecedented events at the Ran Ming Site, Xu Xiao Shou's name wasn't even on the Ancestral God List.

"I guess I have to use his real name, and since I'm already in here, he can't steal my name anymore..."

"Or is even 'Xu Xiao Shou' a fake name? Did he start deceiving me back at Tian Sang Ling Gong?"

Zhou Tian Can didn't understand.

As the explosion subsided and the air currents calmed, he couldn't help but think that this massive blast was something Xu Xiao Shou could pull off. But he quickly dismissed the ridiculous idea.

Maybe it was just another rare treasure emerging from the Ran Ming Site, but it had nothing to do with him. Guarding one Divine Fate Star was already troublesome enough.

Zhou Tian Can didn't dare get involved in more contests. Seizing the moment before the treasure appeared, he turned and ran, afraid of being caught by those behind him.

"Xu Xiao Shou, you need to hurry up!"

"Si Ren Mister, quickly destroy the array disk!"

In the dimness, when the array disk in his hand emitted this hysterical roar, Mei Si Ren, though clueless, didn't hesitate at all. Sword energy burst from his palm, and he crushed it fiercely.

"Chaos!"

Dao Qiong Cang seemed to anticipate it, smiling calmly as he uttered the single word. Instantly, the infinite gravity in Chaos Spirit Heaven converged entirely onto the array disk's head.

With a hiss, the sword energy at Mei Si Ren's fingertips shattered completely, and even his palm was pierced, sending blood and flesh flying.

The array disk's head, accelerating in its fall, slipped from his grasp and was pulled toward Dao Qiong Cang by the shifted gravity.

"Flow of the Nonexistent Sword!"

Mei Si Ren manipulated the intangible into the tangible, conjuring a massive sword suspended in the air and channeling immense power to slash at the array disk's head.

What Xu Xiao Shou wanted, Dao Qiong Cang opposed... There must be a reason!

If destroying the array disk's head could give his student a chance at survival, how could he let Dao Qiong Cang succeed?

"Good sword technique!"

Dao Qiong Cang was even more decisive. With his hand gripping the Tian Ji Spirit Xiao Qi, and unable to complete Da Shen Jiang Shu, he realized Xu Xiao Shou's avatar had taken a desperate measure.

Everything was under his control!

Immediately, Dao Qiong Cang switched from gripping to grabbing, yanking the Tian Ji Spirit and hurling it toward the suspended sword Mei Si Ren had summoned.

"Zzz..."

Xiao Qi traced purple electric traces in the air, swelling suddenly just before reaching the sword.

"Boom!"

The Tian Ji Spirit self-destructed as well. The sudden blast of infinite shockwaves briefly halted the sword's world-cleaving momentum.

In that critical split second, the array disk's head fell into Dao Qiong Cang's hand.

"Spirit Protection Heaven!"

Starlight descended. Dao Qiong Cang seemed deeply afraid that the spiritual thoughts in the array disk's head would die from Xu Xiao Shou's avatar's self-destruction, so he first protected it from the effects of Spirit Absorption Heaven.

Then, he flicked his fingertip, overlaying a Tian Ji technique on Xu Xiao Shou's lingering thoughts.

"Great Protection Technique!"

In an instant, all the life force drawn out by Spirit Absorption Heaven was channeled into the array disk's head. Dao Qiong Cang poured his full Saint power into it, as if doing everything for Xu Xiao Shou's benefit, to keep him alive.

The inevitable collapse of Jin Ren's spiritual thoughts, due to his true body's self-destruction, was thus delayed by these two techniques.

Dao Qiong Cang preserved this spiritual thought!

Yet, even the Great Protection Technique, renowned for sustaining life with life and keeping the dying alive, could only slow the ongoing disintegration of Jin Ren's spiritual thoughts—it couldn't stop it entirely.

"I'm... still alive?"

After self-destruction, retaining consciousness, Jin Ren felt a brief joy, thinking he had transcended. But the next second, upon realizing his true body was dead and all he could see was the chaotic scene around Qing Yuan Mountain...

He nearly broke down. This was more terrifying than death!

His spiritual thoughts were under Dao Qiong Cang's control?

"Young one, how dare you?!"

Mei Si Ren's eyes were bloodshot with rage.

He didn't know what had happened, but he sensed the increasingly faint, rootless lingering thoughts of Xu Xiao Shou in the array disk's head. Clearly, their owner was already dead!

Xu Xiao Shou was gone...

"Gone?!"

Mei Si Ren's mind exploded like something had shattered. No longer caring about the effects of Spirit Absorption Heaven, he charged out of the starlight, bit his tongue, and spat out a mouthful of essence blood.

"Si Ren Mister, wait!"

Dao Qiong Cang was startled, waving his hands quickly. "I'm just keeping him to say a few words. Xu Xiao Shou's true self isn't dead yet—don't act rashly."

Mei Si Ren ignored him completely. A sword image protected him as he rushed toward Dao Qiong Cang. Under the chaotic gravity of Chaos Spirit Heaven, red plum blossoms drifted slowly, some upward, some to the sides.

"Smack!"

Dao Qiong Cang, panicking, slapped the array disk's head hard. "Say something!"

Jin Ren realized his lingering thoughts were fundamentally different from those of Wang Ze Sheng Di captured by the Divine Prison Azure Stone. First, his true body was dead, while Wang Ze's wasn't. Second, the collapse of his own lingering thoughts was unstoppable, even for Dao Qiong Cang.

At this point, for Si Ren Mister to risk his life was pointless. He hurriedly spoke up: "Teacher, stop! Spare this old Daoist's dog life—I want to hear what else he has to bark about!"

Dao Qiong Cang's mouth twitched.

Mei Si Ren furrowed his brows and halted.

Dao Qiong Cang quickly shifted the Spirit Protection Heaven's starlight to cover Si Ren Mister, continuing the protection.

Good, he couldn't afford another scare... He didn't want to trade lives...

"Speak!"

Jin Ren knew his time was short. Perhaps by the time his true self was reborn, even the name "Jin Ren" would be stripped away. His memories were already scattering, fading...

Dao Qiong Cang took a deep breath, regaining his composed demeanor, and glanced at the array disk in his hand, his lips curving slightly as he teased:

"Xu Xiao Shou, were you scared?"

Jin Ren found he couldn't even transmit his thoughts anymore. Dao Qiong Cang had extended his life, but he was still doomed. Mei Si Ren couldn't stand the mockery and glared coldly.

Dao Qiong Cang's heart raced, and he waved to signal calm before turning back to the array disk:

"Xu Xiao Shou, you have so many secrets..."

With a sigh, knowing the array disk's head couldn't respond, he continued on his own: "Still, as I said, I'm keeping you so you can die with clarity."

Mei Si Ren's fingertip twitched.

Dao Qiong Cang immediately corrected himself: "...So your avatar can die with clarity."

What Jin Ren's spiritual thoughts could perceive grew even more blurred. Even Dao Qiong Cang's face didn't seem as detestable as before. Only Si Ren Mister's sorrow and heartache came through the murky world, crystal clear.

He felt a slight peace. Dying like this was worthwhile.

Si Ren Mister was far more humane than his true self, cherishing even an avatar so deeply...

"You have a technique, similar to the Saint Emperor's power of forgetting, that can even shield my perception—is that right?"

Dao Qiong Cang's words hit like a final blow before death.

Jin Ren's lingering thoughts briefly rallied, regaining some thoughts.

He was talking about... Seclusion from the World?

Yes, when he obtained the "Excuses Compendium," he had used Seclusion from the World...

But Seclusion from the World's effect was absolute forgetting. How could Dao Qiong Cang remember it afterward? Was this guy even human?

"I could have taken you down long ago. In the Si Xiang Secret Realm, if I had just coordinated with Bei Huai, you wouldn't have escaped."

"But that forgetting technique was truly surprising."

"I almost closed the net then, but I knew doing so might let you slip away again."

"Because even if you die, your true self lives on, and given time, you'd become a great threat."

"Now..."

Dao Qiong Cang stroked the array disk's head, his expression tinged with regret. Stubborn as Xu Xiao Shou was, times change, and here he was, reduced to just an array disk's head. He clicked his tongue:

"That forgetting technique—I really like it."

"If possible, I have a proposal: Teach it to me, and I'll spare your life. How about that?"

Knowing the array disk's head couldn't speak, Dao Qiong Cang added: "This is a suggestion, valid anytime, anywhere."

"When you can answer this question, the next time we meet, you can use it to exchange for your life. Got it?"

Jin Ren heard it, but he couldn't teach Seclusion from the World. Even if he could turn it into a spiritual skill to pass on, he wouldn't give it to this flashy old Daoist.

What a pipe dream!

Those words couldn't escape his lips.

"No problem, it doesn't matter—as long as you heard it..."

Dao Qiong Cang stroked the array disk's head one last time before tossing it away to prevent Mei Si Ren from suddenly attacking.

He had achieved most of his goals. No need to say more while holding onto Xu Xiao Shou.

Mei Si Ren retrieved the array disk, his eyes moist, his killing intent fading slightly. He treated it like a precious treasure, gently wiping away the dirt and repeatedly apologizing:

"Sorry, sorry..."

For not protecting the array disk.

For not smashing it in time.

And in its final moments, for being unable to save the lingering thoughts inside.

Mei Si Ren was filled with guilt. He knew it was all his fault. Xu Xiao Shou shouldn't have faced Dao Qiong Cang at this age—he had arrived too late...

And been too arrogant!

Jin Ren wanted to say something comforting but couldn't. The chaos and noise of Chaos Spirit Heaven suddenly turned orderly and quiet, leaving only the distant, out-of-place voice of Cao Er Zhu:

"Dad, have some tea. You've had too much to drink..."

Dao Qiong Cang withdrew.

The battlefield here was over; he had other steps to take. Though the teacher-student bond before him was touching, the struggle for the great Dao demanded blood—that was what Xu Xiao Shou had said.

And it would be the harshest lesson of his life.

If he couldn't even pass this test...

How could he face the Saint Emperor's gate?

"Pop!"

The void shadow shattered. Chaos Spirit Heaven's gravity returned, Spirit Protection Heaven's starlight vanished, and the ancient bronze gate in the sky faded away...

The mountain reverted to being just a mountain.

Cao Er Zhu snapped back to sobriety, with Mei Si Ren still holding the array disk's head. Everything before seemed like it never happened, except for a solemn voice drifting from the nine heavens:

"Xu Xiao Shou, listen!"

"In the Void Island battle, I already deduced that your avatar could only be one..."

"The Excuses Compendium given to you locked onto that avatar."

"The existence of the forgetting technique made me hold back, planning further to cut off all your vitality!"

"If your avatar chose self-destruction, then only your true self's will remains—killing it would leave no revival."

"If your avatar didn't dare self-destruct, all your secrets would be mine to control."

"What you can think of, I have anticipated; what I hide, you know nothing about."

"From your forgetting technique in the Si Xiang Secret Realm, to your weakness after facing the Saint Emperor Qilin, from your avatar to your true self... Everything can be calculated."

"I can do it—others can too!"

Cao Er Zhu looked up tearfully, gazing at the sky, his ears filled with those ethereal, incomprehensible voices. He finally realized his dad was gone, and what he had just experienced was merely a grand dream.

In the dream, he had touched on flaws too many times but refused to wake, out of fear.

And now...

As the dream ended, Xiao Shou's spiritual thoughts were so weak. Had that flashy old Daoist won?

"I was wrong..."

Cao Er Zhu lowered his head, clenching his fists, his eyes showing regret and determination.

The ethereal voice from the sky continued:

"You left too many flaws, and I can easily see through them."

"If your plan is to ascend the Saint Mountain in this state, my suggestion is..."

"Pack up and go back to your Heaven's First Tower for a long sleep!"

Jin Ren's lingering thoughts, deprived of Qing Yuan Mountain's array life supply, began to disintegrate rapidly. In his mind, the last echoes were Dao Qiong Cang's mockery:

"Qing Yuan Mountain's value isn't in its great array—it's in its feng shui."

"To deal with you, I didn't even need the array. It was just the best burial ground I could find, and the ideal viewing spot for Si Ren Mister—nothing more."

"And now, whether you can return to your Heaven's First Tower and dream of 'terminating errors and rewriting eternity' depends on whether you can wake up!"

With a rumble, Qing Yuan Mountain's great array restrictions lifted. Sunlight poured down, the day reaching its peak, and in the high sky, a backlit black shadow held his Tian Ji Compass in one hand, while the other pinched a jade talisman.

The Apricot Realm Jade Talisman!

Dao Qiong Cang looked down, taking in the full splendor of Qing Yuan, like a prime feng shui treasure land. He sighed, his eyes turning resolute, and murmured softly:

"I won't hold back..."

"If I show mercy, how will those people spare you on the day of the end?"

Dao Qiong Cang crushed the jade talisman leading to the Apricot Realm without hesitation.

Thanks to Yiran Xiaoguan for the 10,000 reward for Mei Si Ren!

(End of chapter)