Blazing a Path

Qin Ming was pragmatic. That progress on the Newborn path crawled at later stages was a harsh reality. It was a formidable barrier that had halted countless predecessors across the generations. Qin Ming furrowed his brow in deep thought. In the second realm of the Newborn path, breaking through even a single minor barrier took a decade, even for a genius. To see this realm through to total mastery, even an exceptionally gifted youth would likely find frost touching their temples by the time they finished. With his transcendent endowment, Qin Ming could shave off time, but the pace could never match that of the first realm. In the third realm of the Newborn path, the trail grew even steeper. Cultivation slowed further still, the required time likely doubling. Upon reaching the fourth realm, the difficulty continued to climb. ... Qin Ming thought of the Overlord's Testament. Starting from the third realm, it did effectively increase one's cultivation speed, yet that was only relative. "In the third realm of the Newborn path, an ordinary genius needs twenty years for each barrier. Drawing on the methods recorded in the testament, that can be cut down to seven or eight years. It truly provides a massive boost in efficiency; the Overlord truly was gifted by the heavens." Even so, clearing several hurdles still took over twenty years. Qin Ming felt that this was still too slow. Because the time required in subsequent major realms only kept compounding, the prospect was downright daunting. After a moment, he rose, called Xiao Wu, and set off to visit Yu Gensheng and Zhao Ziyuan. Amidst the bamboo grove, in front of the thatched cottage, the scent of camellia tea drifted from a stone table. The two elders sat there smiling. Consuming the auspicious beast blood had yielded results. Upon their heads, beside the dozens of straggling hairs they had possessed, a small patch of roots had sprouted, slowly growing out and swaying in the breeze. "That's it?" Xiao Wu did not even know what to say. "Seniors, how do you feel?" Qin Ming asked. "Not bad at all. It was effective." The two elders beamed, stroking the hundred-odd new strands of hair on their scalps with evident gratification. Their lifespans had been extended. Though modest, they would not have to worry about the flame of life burning out over the next few years. This was not the auspicious beast's heart blood, after all. For figures at their level, achieving such a result was already quite extraordinary. The two produced human-head-sized spiritual crystals and returned them to Qin Ming and Xiao Wu respectively. Each had used only half of their portion of auspicious beast blood before the effects began to diminish sharply. Earlier, Xiao Wu had eagerly contributed a portion as well. "Little Qin, you look weighed down by something. What is it?" Yu Gensheng asked. Qin Ming set down his teacup. "I drifted off. I was thinking about the Newborn path. Beginning from the second realm, it really takes too much time." Yu Gensheng sighed. "Predecessors of every generation have racked their brains over it, yet none have resolved the issue at its root." Qin Ming nodded. He did not wish to waste his years away, yearning instead to advance as fiercely and valiantly as he had in the first realm. If he ended up stagnating and had to compete against the descendants of Cui Chonghe, Li Qingxu, and their peers, that would be truly pathetic. Zhao Ziyuan said, "We'll grant you clearance. Head up to the top floor of the library tower and examine the insights and reflections left behind by some of the prominent figures of the Newborn path." Qin Ming's eyes instantly brightened. Though he had his own plans and methods, drawing upon the vast wealth of experience left by past sages would naturally be even better. "I want to go too, to refine my own path," Xiao Wu chimed in, interest piqued. Inside Shanhe Academy, the ninth floor of the library tower was exceptionally tranquil. Here rested a wealth of rare, eclectic tomes, ranging from the *Nine Inquiries on Longevity* to *Explorations of the Night World*, and on to *Miscellaneous Notes on God-Alikes*. Qin Ming lacked the energy to read through everything, so he naturally chose scrolls and texts related to breaking through barriers. "Indeed, many past sages have pondered the very questions I'm considering. Truly, one must stand on the shoulders of bygone greats to gaze further into the distance." For example, the path he had contemplated—seeking everything within oneself, practicing extraordinary arts exclusively without fusing heterogeneous substances, and thereby amplifying the might of his heavenly light force—had indeed been walked by predecessors. However, one ancient figure had lamented that while there was no issue walking this path—as eschewing the refinement of earth fiends cut down on the absorption of harmful matter and actually lengthened one's lifespan—the heavenly light force forged through such means was, in the end, somewhat lacking in sheer power. Qin Ming glanced at the signature at the end. It was actually the personal notes of a grandmaster! This gave him quite a jolt. This place was a true treasury to house the reflections of such a figure. Soon, he was profoundly shaken once more, finding records concerning Qingtian, Rulai, the Six Imperials, and others. "How did they choose?" Qin Ming quickly flipped through the pages. He read with great care. Some had pursued the utmost destructive might of heavenly light force, but their lifespans were cut short, forcing them to expend vast time and effort later on to mend their foundational life essence. "The patriarchs all stressed balance: refining fiends and assimilating heterogeneous substances while painstakingly cultivating extraordinary arts to prolong lifespan. In the process, some severed portions of the harmful substances, while others assimilated them entirely." Qin Ming read repeatedly, studying the texts for a long time. He gained a clearer understanding of his own path. He held Starfire Essence, a legendary heterogeneous substance of terrifying power. If he did not put it to use, it would truly be a waste. After pondering at length, he reasoned that in the early stages, he could use fiends and heterogeneous substances to temper his heavenly light, but without absorbing them completely. His core must remain rooted in seeking strength from within. If anything went awry, he could swiftly wash away the impurities. "I do not lack extraordinary arts; I only lack a fiend that stands opposite to the Starfire Essence." After all, his search for the *Withering and Thriving Classic* had been guided precisely by this consideration. Qin Ming leafed through one notebook after another. Previous generations had attempted all manner of methods to boost cultivation speed. "Dragon blood found in a 'dragon draws water' event, secret medicines from earth apertures... These extraordinary substances yield wondrous effects even for those in the third realm!" Yet such substances were excessively rare, almost impossible to track down. "There is also the bone-replacement method, fusing divine bones and treating them as high-grade heterogeneous substances to induce mutations in the physical body. This can swiftly elevate oneself, though it carries the risk of losing control down the line." A large stack of precious tomes piled up before Qin Ming. Every kind of method was recorded, with pros and cons noted for each; there was no perfect way. "Someone envisioned dying and reviving at every single realm, carrying the true essence of 'Newborn' through to the end, believing this might be where hope lies for the Newborn path." Qin Ming was startled. This resonated closely with some of his own thoughts. Yet how could that possibly be simple? The crux lay in moderation—how to gauge the precise limit. One misstep, and it meant eternal silence, true and absolute death. Crucially, it was not universally applicable. It relied entirely on brute-forcing one's way through on the back of an extraordinary, rule-defying constitution, making it terribly unforgiving for ordinary people. Next, he came upon the notes left by another predecessor, which moved him considerably. "On the Newborn path, the first realm allows the body to mutate, which is the foundational core. Why can the body not mutate in the second realm? Why can it not continue into the third?" This predecessor believed that cultivation on the Newborn path slowed starting from the second realm precisely because it lacked that most crucial link: mutation. He argued that subsequent major realms did not require nine newborn rebirths each, but sustaining a single rebirth was entirely appropriate. Doing so could mend the defect of the Newborn path and thereby accelerate progress. "I thought along these lines as well. Truly, geniuses past and present are never alone; there are always kindred spirits who see things the same way." Qin Ming smiled. This was one of the directions he had seriously considered, and he had not expected a predecessor to have already attempted it. Yet speaking of it was easy; putting it into practice was another matter entirely. Some theories simply could not be realized. Take this predecessor, for instance. He had ended up filled with frustration, having managed only a single rebirth across the later major realms with the aid of heavenly materials. "Succeeding even once is already quite remarkable. It proves this isn't empty fantasy—it's worth blazing this trail." Ravenous for knowledge, Qin Ming continually turned the pages of various tomes. Some were clearly unique surviving copies, imbued with the fierce emotional residue of those who had written them. Here, he caught glimpses of many wondrous worlds. Where others saw only words on a page, he felt at times as if he were observing an entire life, a full slice of history. The diverse books here held immense value, many touching upon closely guarded secrets. Beside him, Xiao Wu was also studying with intense concentration. Like a dry sponge absorbing water, he continually drew in the wisdom and experience of predecessors, comparing it against his own path of rainbow transformation in hopes of resolving the flaw that would ultimately force him to discard his physical body. Lu Zizai arrived, locating Qin Ming on this floor and speaking to him via secret mental transmission. "Go ahead and test your methods. Follow your own thoughts, and don't feel bound by the paths of predecessors. After all, all our ways have flaws. In this era, everyone is free to try blazing a new trail." They were currently living through an extraordinary age. Cultivation methods were on the rise and still awaiting refinement. Whether the new generation, the old monsters, or those yet to come, all had the chance to pursue the ultimate truth, surpass godhood, and become founding patriarchs. Trailblazing was still well underway. Qin Ming asked about the physical conditions of the patriarchs. How were they really faring? "Neither good nor bad. Some might achieve nirvana and return through rebirth, while for others, it's hard to say. The Great Reclamation might be an opportunity for them, or it might bury them entirely." On the whole, the future was shrouded in dense fog. No one could say with certainty what would happen. The pressure upon the Newborn path had not lessened in the slightest; it still required later generations to catch up and surpass them. Even so, those of the immortal path and the esoteric sects were deeply wary. Unable to discern the true state of the Newborn patriarchs, they had completely softened their stance. "Once your cultivation reaches a certain level, you can visit the various ancestral courts of the Newborn path as a guest," Lu Zizai said. As for right now, there was no need. Lu Zizai tossed him several jade tablets—tokens of authority originating from the major ancestral courts—and told him to keep them safe. During their conversation, Qin Ming sought his counsel on several matters, such as the choices available in the second realm, and shared his own realizations from practicing the silk book method. "Was my success in cultivating the silk book method related to the fact that I once stood on the brink of death back then?" "The Newborn path... Its name encompasses everything..." After their exchange, Lu Zizai departed in haste. He seemed very busy, with numerous affairs demanding his attention. Qin Ming and Xiao Wu left the library tower, both feeling they had gained immensely and were gradually discerning the road ahead. "Uncle Meng." Upon his return, Qin Ming discovered that Meng Xinghai had arrived. Having not seen him in a long time, the reunion felt exceptionally warm. "Haha, it's not just me. Old Li came as well; he's visiting friends here in Shanhe Academy," Meng Xinghai said with a laugh. Sure enough, Li Qingyun soon appeared. "You rascal! Last time, when you took the airship to Kunling and went missing en route, you scared us half to death." Li Qingyun had arrived long ago and had searched for him for some time to no avail. Qin Ming felt deeply moved. These two had run ragged on his behalf, offering protection and looking after him time and time again. "You stirred up quite a commotion this time. Have you considered your next step?" Meng Xinghai asked. Qin Ming replied, "I plan to enter secluded cultivation to rapidly build up my strength." Meng Xinghai nodded. "Mm. Keep a low profile for now. Everything else is secondary; raising your cultivation realm first is what truly matters." Li Qingyun said, "Why not come with me to the hidden clan? It's deeply tranquil and secluded, well away from the secular clamor and turmoil." "Uncle Li, aren't you just trying to recruit a grandson-in-law?" Meng Xinghai asked with a grin. "Well... that actually sounds like quite a fine proposal!" Li Qingyun nodded in earnest agreement.