After experiencing one billion regressions, Mingyin no longer dreamed of becoming a hero.
He wanted immortality.
He wanted freedom—to rule, to stand above all existence, and to do whatever he desired.
Wasn't he supposed to be the chosen one?
The half-spirit of Nezha, one of the Nine Great Rulers of Existence, had once promised him glory. He was destined to become the future hero of this cruel world… the main character of destiny itself.
But Mingyin would never accept the fate of a reckless hero.
No.
He had seen too many paths.
Some became heroes. Some became villains. Some walked alone. Others became so-called true cultivators—
yet none of them truly understood what it meant to cultivate.
Seeing the scroll before him, Mingyin reached out and grabbed it carefully.
The floating sphere circled around his body as he lowered his gaze toward the ancient parchment.
A profound smile appeared on his face.
He chuckled quietly beneath his breath.
But suddenly—
a hand touched his shoulder.
Mingyin turned around instinctively.
Only to see a massive fist stained with blood rushing toward him.
BAM!
The punch struck him directly in the chest, sending him flying several meters away.
He crashed into the black water beneath him.
Cold bubbles escaped his mouth as his body sank deeper into the darkness.
His eyes turned icy.
Pushing his legs forward, he forced himself upward until his head finally rose above the surface.
Fresh air entered his lungs.
As he controlled his breathing, water dripped from his eyelashes.
Then—
he froze.
An old man stood before him.
His beard stretched down to his neck, swaying slightly in the wind.
He stood atop the water itself.
Behind him floated the Sovereign Path Scroll and the mysterious sphere.
The old man stared forward coldly.
"How dare you try to steal my Sovereign Path?"
"I will curse your death so terribly that even your skin will become mine!"
Mingyin stared blankly for a moment.
"Wait…"
"When did I end up in black water?"
He looked around.
A massive wall of glass surrounded him.
His reflection stared back from every direction.
He was inside a giant glass tunnel.
"Wait… isn't this the spirit of the Sovereign Path?"
Suddenly—
purple flames ignited around the old man's hand.
The fire intensified violently, distorting the air itself.
Then the old man threw his fist forward.
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
Mingyin coughed blood as it spilled from his mouth.
He grabbed his throat painfully.
His vision blurred.
Sleepiness overwhelmed him.
No…
Mingyin, don't fall asleep.
You'll die like a pig.
A vast mountain region stretched endlessly beneath the heavens.
Grass swayed across the land like green waves.
Towering bamboo trees cast dancing shadows as sunlight pierced through the leaves.
In the distance, smoke drifted from seven holes scattered across a nearby mountain.
Below that mountain sat a group of teenagers dressed in yellow robes.
Each held a handkerchief in their hands.
And atop every handkerchief rested a tiny kraken.
This was the Supreme Elder Academy—
the greatest academy across the entire Empire Continent.
The students sat silently as an old man appeared before them holding a scroll.
He began calling names aloud.
"Xūwú Zhī Rén?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Tongguo Daijia?"
"I am here!"
"Moqu Zhi Wu?"
"Present!"
"Huangyan Yu Cuowu?"
"I am here, sir!"
"Wǒmen Shì Shéi?"
"Present!"
"Céngjīng De Mǒu Gèrén?"
"I am here!"
"Wǒ Míngbái Le?"
"I am here, sir!"
The old man paused.
"Oh… Mingyin… whatever."
"Uh, I am her—"
"Alright, let us begin the lesson."
The old man looked across the students.
"All of you will soon begin true cultivation training. Before that, I will ask questions regarding Daoism and the books I ordered you to read from the mortal library."
"If any of you fail…"
"You will sleep outside tonight and search for your own food."
"Hmph!"
The students nodded obediently.
Except for one young man.
He looked extremely prideful.
"Old man, how does this help our cultivation journey?" the boy asked arrogantly. "Isn't strength everything? Shouldn't power matter more than wisdom?"
The bald elder stared at him tiredly.
Foolish idiot.
The elder knew this child came from a powerful clan. If he offended him too deeply, trouble would follow.
Though he wanted to discipline the boy harshly, he restrained himself.
He sighed.
"Junior… if you truly wish to become strong, then wisdom is necessary."
"Every legend you admire today is not only powerful…"
"They are intelligent."
"But cultivators are supposed to fight and become stronger!" the boy interrupted. "Why waste time studying?"
A nearby girl shook her head in disappointment.
"Foolish idiot," she whispered.
Nearby, Mingyin smiled faintly.
Secretly—
this was already his tenth regression.
His desire for cultivation had reached insanity.
His knowledge was vast enough to rival high-grade teachers.
Yet even he struggled to understand this old man completely.
The elder's expression darkened.
"Xūwú Zhī Rén!"
"If you interrupt me again and dare challenge my authority, I will report your behavior immediately!"
The boy froze.
If Mother and Father become angry again, I'll be grounded for two months…
He lowered his head bitterly.
"Stupid bald old man…"
"Just wait…"
The elder sighed in relief before continuing the lesson.
"Apologies for the disturbance caused by this student."
The boy snorted.
Mingyin clenched his fist.
"It is fine, elder. You need not worry—"
"MINGYIN!"
The old man's eye twitched violently.
"How dare you interrupt as well?!"
"Even when helping, you still speak without permission!"
Mingyin immediately acted shocked and bowed respectfully with cupped fists.
He remained silent afterward.
Moments later—
"Now then, class, I shall ask a question."
"And do not behave like that idiot Mingyin!"
The students gave the elder strange looks.
This strange conflict between Mingyin and the old man had continued for several days already.
Nothing had changed.
It almost seemed as though the elder genuinely hated Mingyin to his core.
Yet even Mingyin himself felt confused.
Why did this old man hate him so much?
He truly did not know.
As the students regrouped together, Mingyin remained behind them silently, staring upward.
Something isn't right…
Suddenly—
laughter echoed through the darkness.
"Ahahahahaha!"
"Mingyin… you are going to die!"
Inside the black water, the old man lunged forward with killing intent.
"I placed him into sleep…"
"He can only awaken if he remembers who he truly is."
"But that dream blocks all his memories."
"I even gave him a new life…"
"Let us see what happens."
Inside the illusion, Mingyin narrowed his eyes in confusion.
Suddenly he launch his hand forward , with a passive punch
Bam
Whole reality crack
In confusion, the old man staggered backward.
"What…?"
His pupils trembled violently.
"How did you escape my Mind Hex?"
The illusionary world continued collapsing around them as countless cracks spread across the sky like shattered mirrors.
Mingyin slowly lifted his head.
His expression was cold.
Too cold.
It carried none of the confusion or weakness from before.
Water-like ripples distorted the space around him as fragments of the false world floated through the air.
The old man suddenly felt danger.
A terrifying danger.
Mingyin looked at his own hands silently.
"So this was an illusion…"
"Interesting."
The old man's face darkened.
"This should have been impossible. Even immortals become trapped inside my illusions for centuries."
"You are only a mortal."
Mingyin laughed softly.
"Mortal?"
His voice echoed strangely throughout the broken world.
"Do you know how many times I have died?"
The old man froze.
Mingyin took a single step forward.
CRACK!
The ground beneath him split apart.
"I have drowned."
"I have burned."
"I have had my soul ripped apart."
"I have watched entire heavens collapse before my eyes."
"And you think a simple illusion can trap me?"
The old man instinctively stepped backward.
For the first time in many years—
fear appeared in his heart.
Mingyin slowly raised his hand.
The surrounding illusion began twisting violently.
"No…"
The old man widened his eyes.
"You are reversing control of the illusion itself?!"
Mingyin ignored him.
His eyes stared into the endless cracks spreading across the fake world.
Then he whispered softly—
"Break."
BOOM!
The sky exploded.
Darkness swallowed everything.
The old man coughed violently as the illusion shattered completely.
Back in reality, waves crashed across the black river.
Mingyin opened his eyes abruptly.
Cold water dripped from his face.
The old man stood several meters away, staring at him in disbelief.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then the old man suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Incredible!"
"Truly incredible!"
Mingyin narrowed his eyes.
The old man stroked his beard with excitement.
"So the rumors were true…"
"You really are the monster who survived endless regressions."
Mingyin's gaze turned dangerous.
"How do you know that?"
The old man smiled mysteriously.
"The Dao remembers everything."
"The river remembers everything."
"And unfortunately for you…"
His smile widened.
"So do I."
The black water beneath them suddenly began shaking.
The floating sphere emitted a deep humming sound.
Then—
the Sovereign Path Scroll slowly opened by itself.
Ancient golden symbols illuminated the darkness.
Mingyin's breathing slowed.
An overwhelming pressure descended upon the river.
Even the old man's expression became serious.
"The Sovereign Path…"
"It has acknowledged you."
Mingiyn gave him a cold snort
Old man speak what do you truly want !