Xiao Hua's eyes slowly opened, settling upon the blurry silhouette with a deep, searching gaze. Yet the figure made no move, as though its earlier stirrings had been nothing more than an illusion.
But that was not why his expression grew so heavy.
"Strange… Just now, I thought I saw myself," Xiao Hua murmured, his brows furrowing as he stared harder, trying to probe the indistinct shape before him.
He remembered—at the brink of losing consciousness—catching a fleeting glimpse of a figure identical to himself. Yet now, standing here, that figure had become indistinct, its features shrouded beyond recognition. He had initially thought it to be one of his own reincarnations.
Lifting his arm, he reached out to touch it—only for his hand to pass straight through, as though the figure before him was nothing but a ghost.
Xiao Hua's eyes narrowed, probing deeper, yet he could only release a faint sigh. No matter how he tried, he could feel nothing from it. Perhaps it was indeed nothing more than an illusion, a figment his weary mind had conjured.
He scratched his head lightly, then shifted his focus to the formation hovering above the altar—the seal guarding the second level of the Chaos Mantra, the so-called Heavenly Chaos Cultivation Spiritual Art.
However, just as he was about to probe it, a sudden and immense suction erupted from the formation. It seized him at once and began pulling him in.
No matter how he struggled—flailing like a duck on land or swimming clumsily through air—he could not resist. In the end, he was swallowed whole.
The instant he vanished, the vast staircase began to crumble, countless cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.
As for the silhouette, it remained still—unmoved, unbothered by the collapse around it.
Then—without warning—a faintly glowing, blue transparent screen appeared before it.
And at that moment, the figure Xiao Hua had dismissed as a mere shadow or ghost slowly lifted its head… and smiled.
That smile was faint yet laden with sorrow, yet within that sorrow smoldered an unyielding defiance—like a dying ember refusing to be snuffed out by the winds of fate.
With a voice hoarse, ancient, and heavy with countless buried years, it spoke:
"We chose this path knowing full well its repercussions. We sealed our reincarnations and veiled them within truths and falsehoods, knowing that karma itself might rise to erase our very existence. If we had not taken this path, that one would have continued to hunt us—seeking our destruction without rest or mercy, until our existence was utterly erased… for we have glimpsed its secret."
"This… was the only path left for us. To endure endless agony, to bear the torment of forgetting ourselves… all so that we might sever its grasp… and one day… return to end it."
If Xiao Hua had been present, he would have been struck speechless.
That voice… was unmistakably his own.
And the blue transparent screen—was none other than the System itself.
The blue transparent screen flickered faintly, rippling as if burdened with sorrow and regret—almost like it was offering an unspoken apology.
The silhouette simply smiled and said gently,
"You need not feel guilt. Merely regard this as the path of a fool… a stubborn man who refused to bow, even before an unstoppable existence."
The blue translucent screen remained silent, then stirred once more, releasing a faint pulse of contrition—before quietly fading from sight.
Once it vanished, the silhouette turned its back. The smile on its face slowly dissolved, and when it finally spoke again, its tone was heavy… laced with sorrow, almost like a quiet plea.
"We have glimpsed the deepest secrets of this universe… and we have witnessed the future that will occur. Countless worlds laid to ruin. Endless lives slaughtered. Our companions… our families… all perished simply because they stood by us."
"Fear slowly etched itself into our hearts. Before that fear could fully consume us, we forcefully cast ourselves into reincarnation—sealing away each life before the next could awaken. This has been repeated countless times… yet never have we seen the end of that darkness."
"You are the last of us… the final reincarnation. There will be no others. The seal cannot endure another cycle. Once it breaks, death will claim you. And even if it does not… the seal will fade on its own, and all the karmic weight we escaped will descend upon us in full."
"So you must become unshakable… unwavering… unyielding. Do not let fear root itself in your heart, for you will suffer more than all of us combined. Please… end this obsession of ours. End it with the radiance of light, not the devouring darkness that has haunted us across lifetimes."
As his final words fell silent, the staircase beneath him crumbled away, shattering into dust. The silhouette unraveled, scattering into nothing but a faint wisp.
…
Boom!
After being swallowed by the formation, Xiao Hua was hurled from the heavens and crashed heavily into a vast body of water.
He rose to his feet with a groan, dripping wet, and muttering in discontent, "There had to be a better way to send me into the sealing array…"
Knowing no one would answer, he released a long, disgruntled sigh, then slowly swept his gaze around.
All he saw was an endless stretch of tranquil water, drifting mists curling across its surface, and not a single scrap of land in sight.
He found not a single word that spoke of the method for the second level. The absence left him momentarily dazed, as if the path ahead had been cut off, leaving only silence.
Yet just as he was lost in thought, the tranquil waters beneath him suddenly bloomed with dazzling golden light. In an instant, the still surface erupted into a raging tempest, wild waves crashing outward as if to shake both his soul and the heavens themselves.
Then, as swiftly as the fury had risen, it transformed. Countless pillars of light surged from the waters, piercing skyward, parting the drifting mists like curtains drawn open by unseen hands. The roaring sea gradually softened, the chaos fading into serene ripples as the heavens above cleared. Sunlight poured down gently, warm and golden, like the tender caress of the world itself.
Lowering his gaze, Xiao Hua found himself breathless. Beneath the crystal-clear surface, countless blossoms swayed in the water's embrace, each of a different hue and shape, weaving a silent tapestry of life.
As he gazed longer, the blossoms began to stir, as though answering his presence. Silken threads of golden light unfurled from their hearts, weaving gracefully through the water like strands of fate. They twined together in intricate patterns, forming runes and sigils of ancient origin—revealing, ever so slowly, the profound cultivation method of the Heavenly Chaos.
In that moment, it no longer felt as if he was merely watching. It felt as though the universe itself was breathing around him—gentle, warm, and quietly yearning—as if urging him to inherit its hidden truth.
Even more astonishing was what came next. The waters shifted, revealing the very square where he had stood before entering the second level. As he focused on it, he realized that the square itself contained hidden methods—techniques to merge the twenty-two Primordial Heavenly Flames into the Heavenly Genesis Flame, to fuse the nine Heavenly Lightnings into the Primordial Heaven Lightning, and even the refinement method of the Celestial Ancient Frost.
This revelation left him deeply shaken—he had never imagined that the square held such hidden secrets.
His heart raced with quiet wonder, yet as his eyes continued along the flowing golden script, his smile gradually froze.
"Saint Lightning…?" Xiao Hua murmured softly, tilting his head as a faint frown crossed his lips. He had never once heard of such a thing—but perhaps his two elder sisters might know.
For now, he only let the glowing scripture sink into the depths of his soul, engraving it upon his very being… for this would become the cornerstone of his future path.
He sat down and slowly closed his eyes, steadying his breath as he gathered his mind. With quiet resolve, he began absorbing the profound scripture before him.
Threads of golden light drifted forth like flowing silk, weaving their way into his soul. Each strand carved the ancient knowledge deep into his spirit, engraving every detail as though etching destiny upon his very essence.
Time slipped by in silence. When he finally opened his eyes again, a subtle gleam of clarity shone within them—alongside a faint excitement he could not entirely conceal. At last, he had grasped the refinement methods for the Heavenly Genesis Flame, the Primordial Heaven Lightning, and the Celestial Ancient Frost.
Only after fully absorbing and comprehending the method did he let his consciousness drift back toward the physical world.
…
Lying still within the quiet realm, now dark and cold after the departure of the nine suns and nine lightning dragons, Xiao Hua's tightly closed eyes gradually opened.
He rose slowly, his body stiff from stillness. A few stretches and soft cracking sounds later, he exhaled in relief, then called gently to Lady Azure and Xue Yue to open the way out.
Almost at once, the two responded, parting the void to form a spatial tunnel. Without hesitation, Xiao Hua stepped forward and left the fading silence of that strange realm behind.
Upon seeing the two of them waiting outside, Xiao Hua smiled and asked softly,
"How long have I been gone?"
"Congratulations—you've just turned twenty-four!" Lady Azure announced with a flourish. Her sleeves swept gracefully as countless flames blossomed from her fingertips, bursting like festive fireworks in midair while she clapped her hands in delight.
Xiao Hua let out a dry chuckle at his sister's playful display. Still, her words told him that a considerable amount of time had passed during his cultivation.
"Anyway… Sister Azure, Sister Xue Yue."
Choosing to ignore Lady Azure's antics, Xiao Hua shifted to the matter weighing on his mind. "Do you two know of something called Saint Lightning? Is it a form of Heavenly Lightning?"
Both Lady Azure and Xue Yue paused, exchanging startled glances. Their gazes turned solemn as they faced him once more, and Lady Azure slowly spoke.
"Calling it Heavenly Lightning is… not wrong, yet not entirely right either. If the Lightning Beasts are the manifestation of our sister's will, then the Saint Lightning is her very consciousness—her soul, to be exact."
"Her… soul?!"
Xiao Hua's heart quivered, eyes widening in disbelief. He had never imagined that something so vital—her very soul—would be the key he needed to fully merge the nine Heavenly Lightnings…
"Rest assured. What you require is only the strength of the Saint Lightning, not its core. You will not be absorbing or refining our sister's soul," Xue Yue said softly, understanding his concern. Her cold voice carried a faint warmth, seeking to ease his unease. "Even if you attempt the refinement, it will not harm her."
Xiao Hua let out a long sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. Raising his head, he asked,
"Then… how do we make it appear?"
"Through the Lightning Beasts," replied Lady Azure with calm composure. "They will summon the Saint Lightning to this place. All you need to do is call to them and tell them that the time for merging has come. They will then call forth its descent. Naturally, we will assist them as well."
However, her tone turned solemn as she added,
"Before that… how many Life-Substitution Dolls do you still have in your storage ring?"
"Life-Substitution Dolls? How many…?" Xiao Hua blinked in surprise at the unexpected question. It was an item he had not thought of in a long time. He had first received one from the System as a gift, and later obtained a few more through the Gacha Events.
The Life-Substitution Doll could intercept a fatal strike, sacrificing itself in his place. Yet such situations had rarely occurred, especially after he unlocked the third technique of the Four Mysterious Body and gained an immortal-like physique.
There had been attacks strong enough to nearly kill him—but none that struck directly at his life itself. Thus, the dolls had never been used.
But for Lady Azure to bring them up now…
"I have… twenty of them, at most. Is that enough?" Xiao Hua asked gravely.
Lady Azure did not answer immediately. Instead, she turned toward Xue Yue and quietly asked,
"What do you think, Sister Xue Yue?"
Xue Yue closed her eyes in silence, pondering for a long breath. When she opened them again, her gaze was calm yet heavy.
"Barely," she admitted. "But considering his immortal-like physique, boundless vitality, and nearly indestructible body… I believe it will be enough to see him through."
Xiao Hua and Lady Azure exchanged grave glances before nodding. They both understood—having more Life-Substitution Dolls would be safer, but Xiao Hua had no way to obtain more.
Even the System's shop no longer listed them, so waiting in hope of purchasing more was futile. Besides, Xiao Hua knew that to reach the Dou Di class, he must first complete the refinement of the Heavenly Genesis Flame, Primordial Heaven Lightning, and Celestial Ancient Frost.
"Should I call Flame and Thunder as well?" Xiao Hua asked.
"There is no need," Lady Azure said firmly, shaking her head. "This trial is yours alone. Only you can merge the nine Heavenly Lightnings into the Primordial Heaven Lightning. Even if the others possess nine Heavenly Lightnings, their merging will not be Primordial Heaven Lightning."
Xiao Hua let out a dry chuckle. He knew she was right. Even if the others cultivated their Qi Methods by referencing the Chaos Mantra, their results would never be identical to his. This was something none could help him with.
He could only place his hopes on the mysterious transformation of his blood during that strange trial—hoping it would grant him the strength to endure what was coming.
"Then… let us begin," Xue Yue said softly.
Lady Azure nodded, her expression solemn as she declared, "We begin now."
Xiao Hua immediately summoned the nine Lightning Beasts and informed them of what must be done. Though concern flickered in their eyes, Xiao Hua assured them he would be fine.
Seeing that he would not waver, they could only accept his decision. With heavy hearts, they took their positions within the formation to call forth the descent of the Saint Lightning.
Even Lady Azure and Xue Yue silently stepped into the formation, their gazes unwavering as the air grew heavy with power.
"Child, you must sit at the heart of the formation. When the Saint Lightning descends, it will strike you directly. In that instant, use the nine Heavenly Lightnings to merge them along the path laid out by the Heavenly Chaos Cultivation Arts," Lady Azure instructed solemnly as she turned to Xiao Hua.
Xiao Hua gave a firm nod. His figure flashed as he shot toward the formation's center, settling cross-legged upon the marked point. He steadied his breathing, gathering his will, while Lady Azure and Xue Yue positioned themselves slightly behind him, yet still close to the core.
Ao—!
A majestic roar tore through the silence. The nine Lightning Beasts blazed with radiance so dazzling it was as if nine newborn suns had ignited in the vast void. Their bodies connected through arcs of sacred lightning, forming a grand array with Xiao Hua at its heart.
Lady Azure and Xue Yue stood near him within the inner ring of the formation.
As the array stabilized, the two women began weaving intricate hand seals. Their voices rose in an ancient, mysterious chant:
"Yi po xiu, sa mo he, guang ling ji, fo re na. Bo li tan, wu si kong, he po ye, shen mo an."
With each completed seal, divine aura blossomed from their forms, and each verse carried a soft, ethereal resonance—as if the heavens themselves were listening. It was like a song older than the stars, both beautiful and solemn.
High above, the void began to churn. Silvery-gold lightning writhed and coiled like celestial serpents, releasing waves of terrifying might. The nine Lightning Beasts shone even brighter, their forms almost dissolving into pure brilliance.
"Zhou po li, jiang wu xi, chan ling guang, dao re yuan. Su mo he, mi tuo sha, jing wu jie, fo po yan."
Wave after wave of divine light rippled outward from their forms, feeding the formation's power and making the churning void above grow increasingly violent, as if heralding the arrival of a supreme being.
As the final seal fell into place, the void itself trembled. The nine Lightning Beasts let out an earth-shaking roar in unison, their forms expanding until they seemed like ancient divine beasts standing at the dawn of creation. Dazzling arcs of light ran through their bodies, merging into a single current that wove through the starry void like threads of fate.
High above, the churning void abruptly tore open—
ZRAAAM!
A colossal bolt of silvery-gold lightning, purer and more radiant than any mortal thunder, pierced through the rift like a spear from the heavens. Its brilliance was so intense that even the surrounding stars dimmed, paling before its might.
The Saint Lightning descended.
The instant it appeared, the nine Lightning Beasts roared as one. Their forms dissolved into streams of divine lightning, spiraling upward as they fused with the churning void—merging into the heart of the Saint Lightning itself.
At that moment, Xiao Hua unleashed the entirety of his strength. Not even Hun Tiandi nor Gu Yuan had ever compelled him to such an extent. Yet before the descending Saint Lightning, he sensed only the looming shadow of absolute death.
Twenty-two Primordial Heavenly Flames surged from within him, blooming into a blazing lotus that encased his body like a divine barrier. At the same time, nine Heavenly Lightnings coiled around him like celestial dragons, their radiant arcs intertwining as they merged into the Saint Lightning that crashed down upon him.
An earth-shattering explosion of light erupted at the center of the formation.
In that blinding instant, Xiao Hua felt his soul freeze. The Saint Lightning tore through his flesh and bones, shattering his meridians and dantian. Even more chilling, he sensed the shattering of a Life-Substitution Doll. It meant that, in that moment, he had truly died… and only the doll had taken his place.
Yet amidst the unbearable pain, he could feel the nine heavenly strands of lightning being drawn together, guided by the pathways of the Heavenly Chaos Cultivation Arts carved into his body.
Xiao Hua gritted hs teeth as his body became a vessel of thunder, the nine Heavenly Lightnings converging into a single raging storm within him.
But even as he endured, another three Life-Substitution Dolls shattered within his storage ring. And as he pressed on, yet five more followed.
"At this pace, my Life-Substitution Dolls will be consumed before I can merge them… How can I lessen their strength…?"
His thoughts spun like a tempest, racing against the inevitability of death. If this continued, he would exhaust every safeguard and perish.
Then—amidst the agony—he felt it: the twenty-two Primordial Heavenly Flames and the Celestial Ancient Frost stirring, rising in defiance against the invading lightning.
A spark of realization flashed in his eyes. Resolve hardened within him as his hands blurred into motion, simultaneously merging the twenty-two Primordial Heavenly Flames and refining the Celestial Ancient Frost to suppress the Saint Lightning's ferocity.
Lady Azure and Xue Yue, still immersed in their chanting, sensed Xiao Hua's intentions—and faint smiles curved their lips. They clearly understood what he sought to do: suppress the overwhelming power of the Saint Lightning by merging the twenty-two Primordial Heavenly Flames and refining the Celestial Ancient Frost.
Though the Heavenly Genesis Flame had been divided into twenty-two parts, once they merged back into their original form, they would unleash a terrifying force capable of resisting even the Saint Lightning's might during its merging process.
Even more so with the Celestial Ancient Frost. Though whole and undivided, refining it was perilous—something that could freeze even a Heavenly Sovereign into an ice-bound husk, let alone a mere Dou Di, two entire realms beneath it.
Yet this was precisely Xiao Hua's plan. By igniting the twenty-two flames and provoking the Celestial Ancient Frost to resist them, they would clash with the Saint Lightning in a struggle for dominance. Once their focus shifted to each other, their resistance against Xiao Hua would weaken. Their power would be split, allowing him to merge the flames, combine the lightnings, and refine the frost without being crushed outright.
However, this path carried a razor's edge. If his pace faltered for even an instant, he would fall. Even now, the Life-Substitution Dolls were still shattering—leaving only eleven remaining in his storage ring. If he hesitated, they would all be consumed before he succeeded.
Time and death pursued him like twin predators, forcing him to hasten his steps—refining the Celestial Ancient Frost, merging the twenty-two flames back into the Heavenly Genesis Flame, and fusing the nine Heavenly Lightnings with the Saint Lightning to forge the Primordial Heaven Lightning.
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