Azure mist descended, rendering the earth dreamlike and ethereal, with fleeting streaks of light flashing by from time to time.
Faint, powerful auras lurked hidden throughout the void.
Qi Yuan glanced up at the vault of heaven and lowered his brows in thought. *The mighty... are growing more and more numerous.*
He sensed another majestic presence descending.
Over the past several days, powerhouses had arrived at the Ultimate Principle Heavenly Realm one after another. Qi Yuan had kept an extremely low profile throughout.
He was no match for a single one of these titans.
Offending any of them would end terribly.
*I wonder if the one from Taihuang Palace has arrived yet,* Qi Yuan mused.
Just then, a boisterous voice called out.
"Are you really going to attend that Yin God Dao Discussion Conference or whatever?" Horned Sis walked over. The celestial, fluttering purple robe draped over her somehow gave off an unmistakable rustic, backwoods air.
"Yes," Qi Yuan nodded.
Today was the day the Yin God Dao Discussion Conference commenced.
"Don't tell me you actually have the spare time to lecture them on the Dao?" Horned Sis asked with an amused smirk.
"I'm going there to listen."
Qi Yuan answered earnestly.
Cultivators attending the Yin God Dao Discussion Conference were divided into speakers and listeners.
The listeners were naturally all in the Purple Mansion Realm, seated at the very back to listen to the Yin Gods preach the Dao.
The speakers were mostly Yin God talents invited by the Ultimate Principle Dao Discussion Conference to deliver lectures.
A genius like Horned Sis had received an invitation to the Ultimate Principle Dao Discussion Conference as well, but naturally, she hadn't gone to the Yin God session.
After all, she was attending the Yang God Dao Discussion Conference.
Why would a prodigy like her attend the Yin God assembly when she could participate in the Yang God one?
"You fellow... the Yin God and Yang God conferences run at the same time. If you go listen to the Yin Gods, you'll miss out," Horned Sis couldn't resist reminding him again.
Such a grand gathering was, after all, a rare sight in ten thousand years.
"Cultivation has to be taken step by step. As a puny Purple Mansion cultivator, why on earth would I run off to the Yang God Dao Discussion Conference instead of the Yin God one?"
Qi Yuan shrugged, unbothered.
Once he grasped his own path to the Yin God Realm, he could swap to his Heavenly Venerable Mochi persona and head to the Wall of Ultimate Principle to gain comprehension.
To comprehend an ultimate principle of his own.
Before that, however, he had to figure out where his Yin God path even lay.
It sounded contradictory, but Qi Yuan found it perfectly reasonable.
After all, there was no law stating that one couldn't comprehend ultimate principles before understanding the path of the Yin God.
"Suit yourself. With talent like yours, fool around however you want," Horned Sis remarked, swaying her hips as she took her leave.
Qi Yuan tidied himself up briefly, transformed into a streak of light, and vanished.
When he reappeared, he landed in front of a pavilion.
"Are you... Wan Dao?"
An enthusiastic voice called out.
"I'm Lin Daihu!"
Two men and a woman walked toward Qi Yuan. The fair-faced scholar leading them wore a bright smile.
Attending the Yin God Dao Discussion Conference required registration and joining a group.
Qi Yuan had registered under the alias Wan Dao, only to be pulled into a group by this Lin Daihu.
Lin Daihu was exceedingly gregarious and had assembled a small circle of Purple Mansion cultivators to attend the conference together.
Attending as a group meant they could look out for each other and discuss the Dao as peers.
"This is Feng Can, and this is Yu Jiao," Lin Daihu introduced warmly.
Qi Yuan gave the two a nonchalant glance. *Yep, perfectly ordinary Purple Mansion cultivators.*
Ordinary cultivation, ordinary looks, and by the looks of it, ordinary backgrounds.
That was just fine. Qi Yuan was used to his freedom and had no desire to deal with cultivators who looked down their noses at everyone.
Had Lin Daihu not been so overly friendly and Qi Yuan too socially anxious to refuse, he never would have come here in the first place.
"Fellow Daoist Lin, you know the Yin God Dao Discussion Conference best. Which senior's lecture do you think is the most peculiar and interesting?" Qi Yuan asked.
That was his real purpose in coming.
Lin Daihu had done plenty of homework for this conference.
Qi Yuan, being on the lazy side, had prepared next to nothing.
"If you want something peculiar, head to the Yellow-tier Area. However... the seniors lecturing there are a bit too wild and unconstrained with their ideas. Regular cultivators usually can't swallow it," Lin Daihu answered, adding a word of caution.
"Generally speaking, only cultivators who find it exceedingly difficult to step into the Yin God Realm go to the Yellow-tier Area. Why would you want to go there, Fellow Daoist Wan Dao? Could it be you're gathering insights for relatives or friends?" Yu Jiao asked inquisitively.
Typically, anyone able to reach the Ultimate Principle Heavenly Realm to attend this conference possessed a decent background. How could they lack the confidence to break through to the Yin God Realm?
Thus, Yu Jiao deduced that Qi Yuan was attending on behalf of kin or friends.
From that, she further inferred that Qi Yuan likely came from humble origins but possessed enough talent to join a great sect.
Yet he was held back by the baggage of his family.
"Nope, for myself," Qi Yuan replied honestly, his expression solemn. "Cultivation is just too hard. Every step is like treading on thin ice, riddled with far too many perils along the way."
"Fellow Daoist Wan Dao speaks the truth. We cultivators of ordinary talent and humble birth cannot compare to those prodigies.
"On the path of cultivation, we contend against the heavens and the earth. Not a single step allows for mistakes," Lin Daihu couldn't help sighing in resonance.
It was precisely because of this that he loved making friends everywhere.
He didn't even mind parting with a few resources to do so.
"Exactly, it's way too hard. If not for my good luck and quick wits, I'd have died long ago.
"With a cultivation journey like mine, even a Yang God would probably end up done for in my shoes," Qi Yuan said with a shrug.
The trio beside him froze at his words. Yu Jiao pursed her lips, saying nothing.
Lin Daihu chuckled. "It seems Fellow Daoist's cultivation path truly has been fraught with perils."
"I'm heading to the Yellow-tier Area. Where are you all going?" Qi Yuan asked.
"Why not go together? The Yin God Dao Discussion Conference will last quite a while anyway. Listening to some novel, whimsical ideas first isn't bad; we might even gain something from it," Lin Daihu suggested.
The other two nodded in agreement.
"Alright."
The party of four made their way toward the Yellow-tier Area of the conference.
The Ultimate Principle Heavenly Realm was an immense world.
The grounds hosting the Yin God Dao Discussion Conference were located within a minor realm.
The moment Qi Yuan stepped inside, he couldn't help clicking his tongue. "Nowadays, Purple Mansion cultivators really aren't even worth as much as dogs."
As far as the eye could see, a sea of Purple Mansion cultivators filled the area.
Feng Can chuckled softly. "Around here... dogs are a rare commodity."
Lin Daihu had truly done his homework. In short order, he guided the group to the Yellow-tier Area and even secured an immortal boat.
Now, the four sat aboard the vessel, gazing at the towering mountain peaks in the distance.
There was still some time before the conference officially began, so they chatted leisurely.
Qi Yuan turned his attention to his game jade slip.
By now, it was already two-thirds loaded.
The moment his consciousness dipped into the jade slip, the soundless voice rang out.
"You aren't eavesdropping on me, are you? Speaking the instant I show up?"
"I don't have time to chit-chat with you right now, and I'm not in the mood to tell you any more *Journey to the West: The Sequel*. I have to attend the Yin God Dao Discussion Conference.
"*Sigh*, the Yin God Realm is just so, so hard."
Qi Yuan lamented.
For some reason, Qi Yuan had discovered that communicating with the soundless voice accelerated the loading speed of new games.
Consequently, he often chatted with the voice whenever he had nothing better to do.
Still, being socially anxious, he found it easy for daily conversation to run dry.
After all, every so often he would fall back on clichés like *Have you eaten? What are you up to?*
The other party clearly lacked a mouth and was probably blind to boot, incapable of eating.
So Qi Yuan simply spun stories to pass the time.
And the owner of the soundless voice proved to be an avid listener.
"I'll tell you another snippet, then."
"Sun Wukong stood before Lord Buddha Wutian, just about to transform and slaughter him.
"Suddenly, a dazzling golden light erupted as the Calabash Diamond Brother manifested! He shouted toward Sun Wukong: *Dad! Lord Buddha Wutian is Grandpa!*
"Sun Wukong was utterly flabbergasted, feeling the world spin around him..."
When telling stories, the wilder, the better.
Besides, to avoid outright plagiarism, minor adaptations were a must.
Without tweaks, how could he show off his creative chops?
After all, Grandpa's true identity in *Calabash Brothers* had never been stated.
Claiming he was Lord Buddha Wutian wasn't too much of a stretch, right?
Qi Yuan rattled on with his nonsense.
After an unknown amount of time, Lin Daihu nudged him from the side.
"Wan Dao, the Yin God Dao Discussion Conference is starting! The lectures are about to begin!" Lin Daihu's voice called.
Qi Yuan withdrew his consciousness from the game jade slip.
Sitting aboard the immortal boat, he looked up into the firmament.
A dense cluster of peaks filled the sky.
Mountains stood in great numbers, suspended in the heavens, veiled in clouds and mist.
Upon each peak sat dozens of Yin Gods, wrapped in immortal qi, their celestial robes billowing.
"The path of the Yin God lies in the divine.
"The Purple Mansion is mortal; the Yin God is divine.
"To step into the Yin God Realm, one must transmute spiritual energy into immortal spiritual power..."
Numerous Yin Gods spoke, expounding their personal insights into the Dao of the Yin God.
As the deities spoke, their grand voices resonated, causing the very principles of heaven and earth to tremble continuously.
Lin Daihu watched the scene, thoroughly energized. "As expected of Yin Gods preaching the Dao. Hearing just a single phrase feels enlightening!"
Since all these Yin Gods were lecturing simultaneously, listeners could simply use the compass on their immortal boat to tune into whichever voice they wished to hear.
Qi Yuan listened to their discourses with closed eyes, quietly pondering the concepts.
To Qi Yuan, his path had already diverged from traditional cultivation.
He knew this well.
His path to the Yin God Realm was destined to differ from theirs.
He had to forge his own way.
Even so, gaining a deeper understanding of the traditional Yin God path beforehand remained worthwhile.
Roughly half a day passed.
Qi Yuan felt somewhat disappointed.
What these people preached differed very little from what he already knew.
"These people are pretty mediocre," Qi Yuan couldn't help muttering.
Beside him, Yu Jiao looked surprised. "You certainly have lofty standards, Fellow Daoist."
Feng Can also shot Qi Yuan a glance, secretly thinking him overly presumptuous.
Those lecturing here might not be the very pinnacle of geniuses, but they weren't far behind.
In major sects, they were considered cream of the crop.
Seeing the mood sour, Lin Daihu hastened to smooth things over. "As cultivators, we must neither be arrogant nor belittle ourselves."
Qi Yuan seemed oblivious to their subtext and instead asked, "What do you think is the greatest difference between the Purple Mansion and the Yin God?"
Lin Daihu blanked for a moment, answering reflexively, "Transmuting the spiritual power within one's body into immortal spiritual power?"
A Yin God could annihilate an entire mortal kingdom with a single blow; such was the terror of immortal spiritual power.
No matter how formidable a Purple Mansion cultivator's origin divine ability was, it couldn't hold a candle to immortal spiritual power. The two simply weren't on the same level.
"Then... why is it that the gods in my memory were omnipotent, yet these Yin Gods feel like I could swat them dead with a single slap?"
Qi Yuan pondered.
In his eyes, the gap between god and mortal should be immense.
A god was practically synonymous with omnipotence.
One ought to be capable of creating worlds.
If you can't even create living beings, can you really be called a god?
By contrast, the Yin Gods of the Sixth Heaven were formidable, yes.
Yet the gap between them and the gods of Qi Yuan's imagination was vast.
"*Ahem*, Fellow Daoist, it's best not to say such things aloud," Lin Daihu whispered hurriedly.
It would be disastrous if any senior overheard.
Qi Yuan, however, remained absorbed in his own contemplation.
Countless thoughts raced through his mind.
*These Yin Gods can't even beat a Purple Mansion cultivator like me.*
*Something's wrong here!*
*This means they aren't True Gods—they're pseudo-gods!*
*If a god can be slain by an extraordinary mortal crossing realms, can they still be called a god?*
In Qi Yuan's worldview, even if a god wasn't fully omnipotent and omniscient, they should at least possess grand divine powers.
For a mere extraordinary mortal at the Purple Mansion Realm to slaughter a god—that completely ruined the prestige of godhood.
*So, to become a god... one must hold at least one divine office... and create a world?*
Qi Yuan mused erratically.
The being on Arch Star aligned much closer to what Qi Yuan envisioned as a god.
After all, according to Zero-One, Arch Star's very existence stemmed from her thoughts.
A single thought giving birth to a world—that was a true god.
*In that case, my path to the Yin God must follow this standard.*
Qi Yuan contemplated earnestly.
It had been a long time since he had exerted his brain like this!
Once he started, he couldn't stop.
Simultaneously, he began using divine arts to further adapt the *Qi Yuan Scripture*.
After an indeterminate time, Qi Yuan paused.
*To create a world, one must first understand it.*
*I know the myriad Daos, but merely knowing them isn't enough. How do I create?*
He hit a roadblock.
*Could it be that I must first become all things before I can truly comprehend?*
Qi Yuan fell into deep thought.
He was sorely tempted to swallow the Blood-Refining Comprehension-Elevation Pill.
Yet he knew it had to be saved for where it mattered most.
It would be far more useful before the Wall of Ultimate Principle.
After some time, Qi Yuan opened his eyes, a glint flashing within them.
*Sure enough, staying in a place with a dense cultural atmosphere really gets the gears turning.*
He already had a faint outline of an idea for his Yin God path.
Lin Daihu looked at Qi Yuan. "Did you gain any insights, Fellow Daoist? Care to head to the Heaven-tier Area with us to keep listening?"
Feng Can and Yu Jiao looked over as well.
The Yin God Dao Discussion Conference would continue for a long time, and they had already reaped plenty in the Yellow-tier Area.
"No, listening any further would be pointless," Qi Yuan shook his head.
Hearing this, Feng Can couldn't help remarking, "Could it be that Fellow Daoist has already attained enlightenment?"
Naturally, there was a tinge of sarcasm in his tone.
From the very start, Qi Yuan's remarks had been utterly off the wall.
Having cultivated for so many years yet still failing to rein in his temperament, acting aloof and condescending at every turn—it rubbed Feng Can the wrong way, leaving him somewhat contemptuous.
"Not yet. I'm in a hurry to attend the Ultimate Principle Dao Discussion Conference. That'll be all for this Yin God conference," Qi Yuan stated lazily.
"The Ultimate Principle Dao Discussion Conference?" Lin Daihu froze, his eyes going wide.
Only Yang Gods had the qualification to participate in that conference.
Even among the geniuses of major powers, only the very cream of the crop were granted the privilege of observing.
Could it be... this Wan Dao had concealed his identity and was actually a peerless prodigy?
"Farewell, everyone." Qi Yuan paid them no further heed and walked away, his figure dissolving into thin air the next instant.
Faced with Qi Yuan's departure, none of the guards overseeing the Yin God Dao Discussion Conference dared step forward to stop him.
Yu Jiao watched with a complicated expression, an inexplicable pang of loss rising in her chest.
"What he said... couldn't be true, could it?"
Feng Can paused briefly. "Fellow Daoist Wan Dao has always spoken eccentrically. Anything coming out of his mouth... is plausible."
He spoke as if trying to convince himself.
Only Lin Daihu wore a delighted smile. "If it's true, that'd be wonderful!"
Connections like that were invaluable!
Chapter 443