Chapter 446 - 402: Path of Returning to Simplicity, an Invisible Hand’s Scheme, Yang Lei’s Horror

On the path of Cultivation, its speed was swift beyond measure. Conventional methods of Cultivation simply couldn’t compare to those who walked this Path. It had always held the reputation of a fast-track Dao; reaching the Unity Realm in a few short years was no mere rumor!

Most importantly, the Path of Returning to Simplicity was exceptionally compatible with many other Dao Laws, possessing a high affinity. Its inherent combat power might be lower than other Daos of the same level, but the number of Daos it could resonate with was truly countless, as if all three thousand Great Daos had evolved from it.

The appearance of this Dao didn’t just shock Yang Lei; if word got out, the entire Primordial world cluster would erupt. The fervor would be little less than that for Tian Ming’s Void Dao. After all, it was renowned as the fast-track Dao!

Yang Lei said no more to his subordinate, choosing to investigate personally. With a single thought, he appeared near Shangguan Yue’s residence. He didn’t approach for a direct meeting, wanting to avoid any unnecessary offense. Instead, he observed from a distance, probing the state of her Dao.

For a supreme expert of the Unity Realm like him, observing a Cultivator of a lower Realm was typically effortless. Yet today, as he probed Shangguan Yue, he had an odd, inexplicable feeling. It was as if, while he was peering at her through the walls, she had turned her head and glanced right back at him.

That’s right. He, a magnificent expert at the Peak of the Unity Realm, had been discovered while probing a junior. Were it not for the Path of Returning to Simplicity, that would have been utterly impossible.

The Path of Returning to Simplicity is highly attuned to numerous Daos, and even to the will of the world itself. His probing would inevitably disturb the power of certain Laws. So even if Shangguan Yue didn’t know exactly what had just transpired, she would still sense that something had indeed happened.

"’It really is... the Path of Returning to Simplicity,’" he murmured. Yang Lei reined in his scattered thoughts, his mind suddenly flashing back to his previous contact with Celestial Star. "’And it seems a junior associated with Sir Jiang Qiu possesses the Void Dao...’"

An indescribable sense of fear washed over him. It felt as though he was in an era where monstrous talents ran rampant, and he was nothing more than a lone fisherman in a tiny boat, hoping only to stay afloat, surrounded on all sides by pitch-black water.

This fear was real and palpable. His subordinate could not have understood it, nor could most of the people around him. Only he, an existence at the Peak of the Unity Realm and a person of considerable fame and status within the Three-Life Race, had seen enough to truly comprehend it.

The more powerful one becomes, the more clearly one understands that they are not the strongest. The higher one stands, the more acutely one realizes what a tiny, insignificant corner they occupy, and how towering the walls are that lie beyond.

His life could be considered glorious. He had cultivated all the way to the Peak of the Unity Realm, slaying countless prodigies along the way. He had even killed other experts of the Unity Realm.

But he knew his own Talent was not truly supreme. It certainly couldn’t compare to a monstrous genius like Wu, who had dominated an entire era. There were also reincarnated masters lurking in the shadows, wielding Secret Techniques and Forbidden Techniques he could not possibly comprehend.

Beyond even them, outside the Primordial world cluster, there was the Exotic Realm. The splendor of the Exotic Realm was even more unimaginable, and of all the Unity Realm experts who had ventured forth to explore it, not a single one had ever returned.

And beyond the Exotic Realm, above all else, there was the twofold barrier of Transcendence, weighing down on countless beings. Only when one reached the absolute peak of the Peak of Unity Realm, when their path came to a dead end, would they truly understand the unyielding ceiling above their heads.

It’s like a person in a room. They can walk around, run, and jump, feeling that the space is wide and open. But then they set up a ladder, and their head touches the ceiling. No matter how hard they push, they cannot move up even a single inch. In that moment, having lost the freedom to ascend, they finally understand just how small they truly are.

And in that moment of touching the ceiling, standing so high, they can finally see clearly who else is in the same room. They might even be able to see who is in the room next door.

It’s normal for every room to have a few standouts. But when the standouts from several different rooms suddenly converge on a single room—and even gather around a single person—that becomes terrifying.

’Who opened the doors between the rooms, allowing them to gather? Who built these rooms in the first place? Who holds the keys...?’

At this thought, Yang Lei drew a sharp, cold breath, instantly severing his line of transgressive thinking. He was afraid that if he continued down that path, he would only feel more helpless, and see even less hope of ever escaping this cage.

But now, two of the most supreme Daos in history, Paths capable of dominating an entire era, had both appeared in connection with Jiang Qiu. He had seen it with his own eyes, and the realization made his heart sink.

"’Celestial Star’s attitude toward Jiang Qiu was also exceedingly respectful. What is his true identity? And what grand design is he laying out?’ Yang Lei’s brow furrowed deeply. ’Don’t tell me I’m also just a piece in his game...’"

A shiver of dread went down his spine when he remembered that he couldn’t probe Jiang Qiu’s specific Realm at all, and that even the Dragon Maiden beside him possessed an equally unknown aura.

Both of them wore masks, completely concealing their true appearances. Frighteningly, the style of the masks was a perfect match for those of the legendary Dragon Race.

The Void Dao and the Path of Returning to Simplicity, both appearing in the same era... If there wasn’t some unseen, colossal hand manipulating events from behind the scenes, such a thing would be absolutely impossible.

’But just how colossal must that hand be to control a chessboard as terrifyingly grand as this?’

Lost in thought, Yang Lei lifted his gaze to the ceiling. In a trance, his vision seemed to pierce through the Thunder Great Realm itself, stretching out into the boundless void. It was as if by looking up, he could peer past the world’s boundaries and glimpse the existences that dwelled beyond.

To exist at such a Realm... that was called Transcendence...

"Take care of Miss Shangguan Yue. Arrange the finest living conditions for her. As long as her requests don’t violate our core principles, grant her every wish. If she wants to return to her homeworld, inform me. I will authorize a fleet of Space-Time Travel Ships to escort her. The distance from the Thunder Great Realm to Blue Star is immense; it would take at least five years at full speed. We cannot allow any harm to befall her..."

Yang Lei immediately relayed these important instructions to his subordinate. In essence, the guiding principle was simple: attend to Miss Shangguan Yue’s every need and ensure Sir Jiang Qiu remained satisfied.

Hearing this, the Three-Life Race man at the Peak of the Fusion Realm drew in a sharp breath. He had never heard of such arrangements before. This was treatment beyond that of even the most honored guest. He recalled that the current leader of the great Thunder Clan hadn’t received such a reception during his visit.

However, when he remembered that Shangguan Yue walked the Path of Returning to Simplicity, it all made perfect sense.

He knew that the Path of Returning to Simplicity was renowned as the fast-track Dao. She could reach the Unity Realm in ten years, or she could do it in one. She was practically a Saintess before whom the three thousand Great Daos would bow; her status was exceptionally special.

If they didn’t get on her good side now, who knew what would happen? In a few years, she might return wielding supreme might to slaughter them all. By then, under the influence of ten thousand Daos, they’d all be toast.

Realizing this, the official at the Peak of the Fusion Realm hurried off to gather resources. He even decided to contribute his own private treasures to aid Shangguan Yue’s Cultivation.

Although the Cultivation method for the Path of Returning to Simplicity was different from conventional Paths, it still required Spirit Charm. They just had to supply her with an insane amount of it.

While Yang Lei’s orders were being carried out, he also helped Shangguan Yue complete her identity verification, registering her as an honored guest of the Three-Life Race in the Thunder Great Realm and getting her connected to the network. As a matter of course, she then added Jiang Qiu as a contact.

She contacted Jiang Qiu at once. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. Her wristband chimed for a while before the other end finally connected, projecting a video call. The person on the other end froze. "Shangguan... Mentor?"

When the image of Shangguan Yue in the form of a petite young girl appeared before Jiang Qiu, he was utterly stunned. He even began to wonder if she had suffered some unspeakably cruel torment aboard the Eight-direction Reversing Ship and had secretly given birth to a daughter.

After all, it was just a call; he couldn’t immediately use her aura to confirm if it was really Shangguan Yue on screen. The change was simply too drastic!