Chapter 1672 - 229: Annihilation

Chapter 1672: Chapter 229: Annihilation

"Sixty years ago."

"Qing Deng traveled divinely to the River of Destiny and delivered the prophecy of an impending Great Tribulation."

Bai Ze smiled and said, "In the Southern World, the three schools were astir; in the Northern World, Demon Saints emerged together. Countless Great Divine Ability Users sought ways to break the tribulation... Some said to find the calamity and strangle it. Others suggested accumulating Qi Fortune of All Living Beings and selecting the strongest prodigies from both worlds to ascend Above Heavenly Human."

Faced with the Great Tribulation in the Green Lamp Prophecy.

All Holy Lands spared no effort.

As for the outcome, it goes without saying.

All methods ended in failure.

"In my view, these methods aren’t truly effective."

Bai Ze suddenly changed his tone and asked, "Do you know why?"

"I would like to hear more."

This time, it was Xie Xuanyi’s turn to look solemn.

If he remembers correctly.

Bai Ze should have been attempting to become a True Immortal.

The Primordial Swallowing Sacred Realm ultimately wasn’t completed, leading to failed attempts.

"Sss-llll."

Bai Ze slowly extended a finger, using it to draw in the void, and enormous amounts of Primordial Energy surged from his fingertip.

A pitch-black scroll unfurled.

"What’s this?"

Xie Xuanyi’s pupils contracted.

This pitch-black scroll exudes a strange aura.

A familiar sense of corruption emanates from within.

This is... Shadow!

"You’ve come from the end of the River of Destiny, you must have seen this ’thing.’"

Bai Ze calmly said, "With the power of this world, it cannot be eradicated. There are many of these ’things,’ making them hard to kill."

"Indeed."

Xie Xuanyi took a deep breath.

"Not sure where it’s originated from. They all call it ’Shadow.’

Bai Ze chuckled, "The name might seem odd, but it’s fitting enough. Without light, there is no shadow... Since there are Seekers yearning for immortality, there ought to be Evil Spirits pursuing corruption. This sort of thing feeds on Primordial Energy; no matter to what Realm a Cultivator ascends, if their inner strength stems from ’Primordial,’ they are destined to become nourishment for this thing."

"..."

Xie Xuanyi was silent.

Indeed.

To annihilate Shadows requires exceedingly stringent methods. Such as Harmonization Sword Qi or the Undying Spring.

But fundamentally, these two ultimate weapons transcend the realm of ’Primordial Energy.’

"Now... Do you understand what I mean?"

Bai Ze’s tone carried a hint of sadness, "As long as one cultivates Primordial Energy, everyone under heaven is a trapped Turtle."

Because of the Green Lamp Prophecy.

Everyone believed the Great Tribulation was the exhaustion of Primordial Energy incited by ’Tao One.’

But Bai Ze didn’t think so.

In his view, the true Great Tribulation...

Is the inevitable outcome of cultivating Primordial to its utmost.

This realm will be gnawed upon by Shadows.

The higher the Cultivator’s Realm, the more intense the despair they face.

"So... You’ve spent your life studying the ’Primordial Swallowing Divine Power’?"

Xie Xuanyi suddenly spoke.

The Primordial Swallowing Technique is not a combat technique.

Bai Ze’s initial intent in researching this Divine Power was to decipher the Great Tribulation, not to battle foes!

"Huh..."

Bai Ze paused for a moment.

Somewhat surprised, then he smiled, "Indeed. I have been researching this Divine Power."

Hiss!

He was quite open and directly manifested Daoist Techniques.

Primordial Energy spewing from his fingertip was compressed to the limit, becoming a drop of pure white vapor.

"What’s this..."

Xie Xuanyi gazed at the drop of vapor.

This vapor resembled the Undying Spring, but the Taoist Intent it contained was different.

"This is the thing I’m most proud of in my life."

Bai Ze raised his palm.

The faint pure white vapor coiled like a little snake around his hand.

He spoke with some regret, "By condensing Primordial Energy to the extreme, one can create a new substance... This was discovered accidentally during a recent dream-induced Divine Travel. In the dream, this energy was termed ’Divinity.’

"Divinity?"

Xie Xuanyi was taken aback.

"But in my view... Immortal Energy is a more suitable name."

Bai Ze smiled meaningfully, "Countless heroes under the heavens wish to ascend Above Heavenly Human and attain the True Immortal Fruit Position. But as long as one cultivates Primordial Energy, there’s no possibility of Certification... To ascend Immortal, one must annihilate Primordial."

This wisp of pure white Immortal Energy.

Is the confidence behind his aspiration to rise Above Heavenly Human.

Though Xie Xuanyi was somewhat bewildered, hearing this statement left him deeply shaken.

This world.

Truly is a gigantic cage.

As long as one cultivates Primordial Energy, no matter which Great Dao is pursued, the endpoint leads to death and the demise of the Way.

Longevity?

Impossible.

All are trapped Turtles.

If one’s Realm is lacking, they naturally meet their end; if they ascend to the utmost peak, they too face entrapment and demise.

The only solution...

Is to annihilate Primordial.

"Perhaps..."

Bai Ze laughed self-mockingly, "This much-feared Annihilation Tribulation isn’t necessarily a bad thing."

Natural selection for survival.

If this world lost its Primordial Energy, Great Divine Ability Users would have to cultivate Divinity...

"Though vast, this world is, in essence, only a cage."

Bai Ze patted the large stone beneath him and softly said, "Cage upon cage. Beyond worlds, there are worlds. Above rivers, there are rivers. Within three thousand great realms, countless flowers bloom and wither. All these flowers must face tribulations..."

Great winds, great rains, scorching heat, blizzards.

These are all tribulations.

The deceased naturally remain dead.

Only those who survive are noticed.

Xie Xuanyi sat in the sunlight, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

He truly never imagined that Bai Ze’s perspective on the "Great Tribulation" would be like this.

At this moment.

He recalled the figure atop the treetop starry sky, the black-clad Sword Holder he encountered.

"The Great Tribulation diminishes All Living Beings."

"The small tribulation annihilates Primordial Energy."

So... What all Great Divine Ability Users in this world feared was merely a small tribulation.

In this moment, Xie Xuanyi could be certain, that black-clad Sword Holder must come from a much stronger world.

In their eyes, this small tribulation is but a ripple in the River of Destiny...

Within the river, there are countless worlds, like petals, blooming and perishing incessantly.

This world is no exception.

If it cannot endure this trial, then only a fate of sinking awaits.

"Your name, please?"

Bai Ze’s voice drew Xie Xuanyi’s thoughts back to reality.

"My surname... Is Xie."

His voice hoarse as he spoke.

Under the suppression of Great Dao Rules, he could only say so much.

"Fellow Daoist Xie, sounds like you’re getting the better of me."

Bai Ze chuckled and spoke warmly, "Since you bear the Heavenly Destiny... this matter should be entrusted to you. You wouldn’t mind if I lend you a helping hand, would you?"

Xie Xuanyi was dumbfounded.

He watched as the man seated upon the Great Turtle reached into his sleeve and produced a golden ink brush.

"This item is called the [Daoist Brush]."

Bai Ze Great Saint smiled and said, "I wish to gift this treasure to you."