He who gazes into the abyss becomes the abyss!"
This was famously said by Sun Tzu, the wisest tactical cultivator in the entire world.
In his time, he had created many poems that could warm a person's heart, and even Mingyin had taken a little inspiration from him.Right now, Mingyin found himself thinking about that poem
.He who gazes into the abyss becomes the abyss.Mingyin had once heard this quote back on Earth. However, his memories of Earth were rather vague and difficult to process. What could this poem truly mean right now?
It unsettled Mingyin because he was currently trapped in a deep, suffocating darkness, where the abyss loomed as absolute void. But the true meaning of the poem was that if you stare into the abyss, you become one with it. Sun Tzu was not speaking about a physical transformation.He was speaking about the mentality.
When Mingyin had entered the abyss earlier, he saw his own reflection in the air, meaning he would either have to face that abyss—or become it.But here was the truly unsettling part:
Had Sun Tzu entered this exact place? How could he have entered here? Was this Mingyin's own future soul realm?
What was happening?Mingyin looked up and sighed, briefly turning around.It was a big mistake. He could not have known what was coming.
Krieg!
Mingyin's eyes dilated as he heard the sharp sound of something cutting through the air.He ducked down, scrambling several steps away just in time.
A massive blade tore through the atmosphere, creating a loud sonic boom that sent Mingyin rolling across the ground.Whatever came here wants to kill me.
I need to run away… No, I have awakened, and my other future self uses Space Path… But is this the soul essence of my other future self?
Suddenly, he felt a huge wave of energy erupt inside him, and he finally understood it.Wait, I possess…
[Vision Path]?
What?Mingyin had never heard of the Vision Path in the mortal world across any of his regressions. Still, he didn't overthink it; he knew that compared to the Nine Heavens, the mortal world only possessed about thirty paths.
There was the Fire soul core formation, Metal soul core formation, Water soul core formation, Earth soul core formation, Wind soul core formation, and Shadow soul core formation. There was Strength, Sword, Liquid, Clouds, Qi, Blood, Gravity, Sovereignty, Shapeshifting, Light, Void, Lightning, Bone, Speed, Insect, and Animal soul core formations.
There was also the mysterious Fate soul core formation, and lastly, the Time soul core formation and the Dao soul core formation—the strongest of them all.There were various soul core formations in this world, but compared to the Nine Heavens, the mortal world's knowledge was like a small rock compared to two hundred Mount Everests.
Now, the [Vision Path] could prove to be interesting.Suddenly, he spotted a small, rounded cuboid bottle made of exquisite stone.
Carved onto it was a round, white dragon's head that shone brilliantly.He grabbed it and poured his soul energy inside.Instantly, his entire body pumped with power.
Bam!
The white dragon on the bottle glowed fiercely. A sudden dragon roar tore through the air, shattering the enemy's blade apart."Ahahaha! Just as expected from past Mingyin!""
Huh?"
Mingyin leaped seven steps back as the bottle flew into the air. The dragon carving on the bottle disappeared instantly, growing into a full-sized dragon the size of a car.
It had a long serpentine body, hands, feet, and a few white garments draping over its form. Its teeth were razor-sharp and deadly, and feather-like crests appeared on its forehead.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from it."What do you say, little man? May we have a fight?"Mingyin didn't reply. Instead, he immediately took several steps back. He wasn't arrogant for a single bit.
The art of war was to always stay ahead, even if your enemy was faster, stronger, and had it all.
Your mind was the ultimate weapon. If you stayed ahead, you would conquer everything.Mingyin turned his head slightly, speaking to himself.
Weird. I thought the Vision Path should allow me to see even the tiniest hidden spot, but it seems this object is a non-artifact.
What were non-artifacts? Non-artifacts were items that did not have a specific soul core formation path.
They were rare tools that appeared only once every hundred years, used primarily for utility.
For example, if you followed the Fire Path, you could use a non-artifact to improve a version of yourself—like hearing things that fire usually could not detect. If you cultivated the Water Path, you could use one to store your water.
It could enhance your traits, but it didn't truly elevate your path.As another example, the Future Overlord cultivated the Earth soul core formation.
He had a protective barrier to avoid being burned by a Fire Immortal. But if the user leveled up, that non-artifact could not level up with them.
It did not possess a proper life force and had a short lifespan. In contrast, normal artifacts could live as long as the Immortal lived, their hearts becoming one with the user if nurtured properly.
Now, Mingyin was confused about where to even start.
Bang!
Suddenly, Mingyin was struck hard in the neck.
He crashed to the ground and scrambled back a few steps.Shit, it seems I need to think faster.Acting on instinct, he poured his soul force energy directly into his eyes.
Expecting it only to enhance his vision slightly, he suddenly froze. The cracks around his left eye glowed with a crazed, brilliant blue light. For the first time, he could see perfectly through the pitch blackness.
Wait! Vision Path allows me to see through absolutely everything? This is an insane buff!
I can even see my hidden enemy!He immediately turned around and jumped forward.
This time, he spoke to himself with newfound confidence.
I have always relied solely on my brain, and that is why I am still standing.
Now, I can fight. I can truly fight. After two months of agonizing pain, can I finally wage war? Isn't this exactly what I wanted?
He brought his hand forward, holding the bottle. A stone seal blocked the entrance.
Looking up at the two dragons hovering above him, Mingyin commanded, "Take this!"
He ripped the stone seal out. Seeing a mysterious liquid inside the bottle, he threw the fluid high into the air.In the next instant, both dragons opened their maws wide.
Bam!
Their jaws unleashed a brilliant starlight, jamming out a razor-sharp, furious blade of light that tore through the air.The moment the light hit the liquid, the fluid ignited internally.
The flames spread in all directions, creating a network of small, long underground cell-like structures. It spread far away from Kael, sealing Kael and the dragons inside a perimeter of raging fire.Kael smiled.But then, Kael heard heavy footsteps closing in rapidly right behind him.
What?
Even that massive explosion didn't shake the attacker off?
Kael spun around and poured his soul force energy into his defense. He turned, then switched his stance back in a flash.
Bang!
He thrust his fist into the empty air, colliding with something solid.
The impact caused the atmosphere to warp, sending a powerful shockwave blowing past them.
Mingyin activated his soul force energy into his eyes again.
It seems my eyes themselves are the artifacts, huh?Mingyin wasn't too surprised.
Normally, when he poured soul force energy into any part of his body, it would improve his superhuman physique tenfold, allowing him to see better. But the fact that his eyes could completely pierce the darkness hinted that both of his eyes were genuine artifacts.
The moment his other future self had transformed him, everything around him had changed. He was only just beginning to realize the true nature of his new body structure.
Suddenly, through the flames, he caught sight of the attacker. Mingyin almost lost his mind.It was Loki Torn!
"Ahahaha! Long time no see, Mingyin!"
Bam!
Loki Torn sprinted forward with terrifying velocity. He moved so fast that the only thing Mingyin could register was the blur of the floor
.I was sent flying without even seeing the full trajectory of the attack? I could barely catch a glimpse of it!
Bam!
Mingyin rolled heavily across the floor, his expression filled with absolute shock. Both of his eyes darted backward, wide with a frantic, digital-like intensity."
Who the heck are you?!"