The Deal

Zhou Wu's gaze focused sharply. "It's actually the Advertisement Society!" A tremor ran through his voice. Had it been before, he might not have known about this Advertisement Society, and even had he known their doctrines, he would have sneered at them. Yet recently, events unfolding within the Church of the True Creator had made him privy to certain closely guarded secrets. The awakening of the True Creator was deeply tied to the Advertisement Society. The elder whom He had punished had once moved against the Advertisement Society. The Advertisement Society was veiled in layers of mystery, completely unfathomable. Many major factions sought to establish contact with them, yet had no avenue to do so. Now, news had unexpectedly arrived from the Advertisement Society—and they were actively proposing cooperation. How could he not be astonished? However, as he read through the details of the proposed partnership, Zhou Wu's expression turned utterly baffled. "Product placement... Revive by watching ads?" "How does a dead person watch an ad?" He was at a total loss. The terms laid out were simply too abstract and absurd. In essence, the Advertisement Society wanted to partner with the Dawn Chamber of Commerce. The Dawn Chamber of Commerce would produce an advertisement, and members of the Advertisement Society would watch it upon dying. If someone was already dead, how could they watch anything? *A senior expert of this caliber must have profound reasons for his actions. What harm is there in agreeing?* Zhou Wu thought to himself. This was an opportunity for the Dawn Chamber of Commerce. *Still, this partnership... is rather bizarre.* *Once I meet this expert from the Advertisement Society, perhaps we can discuss the specifics in detail. Furthermore...* A sharp glint flashed in Zhou Wu's eyes. *This Advertisement Society... might be even more terrifying than the Church of the True Creator. This could very well be a great fortune.* At that thought, he hurriedly gave orders: "Someone, gather several of our clan's younger generation. Find those with solid talent and comprehension, who are tactful and worldly... and they must be handsome and attractive." ... In the Feiniao Realm, at the fortress. Zhou Wu arrived, followed by a young man and a young woman, both juniors of the Zhou clan. The man was handsome and the woman beautiful, dressed in robes and traditional skirts. They stood quietly behind Zhou Wu without uttering a sound, though their expressions betrayed a mix of anticipation and nervousness. At that moment, a figure appeared, and Zhou Wu and the two youths immediately looked over. When she caught sight of Qi Yuan's face, the beautiful young woman's eyes flickered, and a faint blush crept across her cheeks. Zhou Wu was also somewhat astonished, for Qi Yuan looked remarkably youthful and radiated a vibrant vitality, completely devoid of the decaying aura or overbearing haughtiness typical of ancient powerhouses. "I am Zhou Wu of the Dawn Chamber of Commerce. Greetings, Senior," Zhou Wu greeted him with a respectful bow, his posture humble to the utmost. "I heard that Senior wishes to establish a partnership with our Dawn Chamber of Commerce. May I inquire... what form would this cooperation take?" Zhou Wu asked, getting straight to the point. "It's very simple. I'll help you run advertisements, and you will allocate one-tenth of your chamber's manpower and material resources to help me locate someone," Qi Yuan replied. "Rest assured, our ads have plenty of viewers, and viewing is mandatory—no skipping, and even paying for a VIP membership won't let them bypass it. We won't let you come out on the losing end." Zhou Wu felt momentary confusion at the latter half of Qi Yuan's words, but recalling how the master of their branch had described Qi Yuan, he found it within himself to understand and accept it placidly. Focusing his attention on the first half of the statement, Zhou Wu asked, "Who are you looking for?" "People stranded far from home." A smile touched Qi Yuan's eyes. Naturally, he was looking for outsiders whom the Nan Ke Dao Lord had lured in through his 'fishing.' The Illusory Dream Primordial Physique that the Nan Ke Dao Lord possessed had been incomplete. Consequently, he had altered the Chongyuan Universe, casting lines to bait and attract more outsiders to plummet into it, all to perfect the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique. Unfortunately, before he could fully assemble it, he had met his demise. The Illusory Dream Primordial Physique that Qi Yuan had inherited amounted to seventy percent at best. A major reason for the Nan Ke Dao Lord's ultimate failure was likely that he had never attained the complete physique. At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at Zhou Wu, amusement lingering in his gaze. He had not expected his search to yield results by such sheer coincidence. He had already caught the faint scent of the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique lingering on Zhou Wu and the two youths behind him. Evidently, the three were likely descendants of someone who bore the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique, carrying a sliver of that bloodline. Zhou Wu paused, seemingly realizing something. Given his high standing within the Dawn Chamber of Commerce, he naturally knew that outsiders from beyond the Chongyuan Universe had indeed drifted into this universe. "As it happens, the three of you count among those I'm looking for," Qi Yuan said casually, making no attempt to conceal it. After all, he was lawful good. Besides, this was a transaction, not an extortion. Upon hearing this, Zhou Wu's expression shifted drastically, as though he had recalled something utterly terrifying. Then Qi Yuan spoke: "I'm quite curious about your constitution. How about selling it to me? Don't worry—keeping this constitution does you no good anyway, and taking it won't affect you in the least." He was speaking the truth. The Illusory Dream Primordial Physique within them was extraordinarily diluted, practically non-existent. It offered no benefit to their cultivation. Zhou Wu's expression fluctuated repeatedly before he finally gritted his teeth and said, "Junior does not understand what Senior is referring to." "I'm talking about... the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique," Qi Yuan stated calmly. Hearing those words, Zhou Wu seemed to resign himself to fate. "To think Senior is actually in league with the Yin Shan Society." At the mention of the Yin Shan Society, Zhou Wu gritted his teeth. The young man and woman behind him grew visibly fidgety and uneasy. "Don't talk nonsense. I don't know any Yin Shan Society," Qi Yuan said hastily. "Senior isn't from the Yin Shan Society?" Zhou Wu asked, surprised. On second thought, if the other party truly belonged to the Yin Shan Society and had discovered his and his clansmen's whereabouts, why would he be so polite? He would have struck immediately. With the other party's strength, he would have had no way to resist. The so-called Yin Shan Society was a terrifying cult organization. They specialized in hunting down Zhou Wu's clan. His main clan had once seen over a hundred thousand members captured by the Yin Shan Society, their physical bodies and divine souls refined. His own branch had narrowly escaped and branched out, numbering only a thousand or so today. The Zhou clan had constantly hidden and lived in fear of the Yin Shan Society, terrified of being discovered. Because discovery meant death. The Yin Shan Society would never show mercy to the Zhou clan. The Zhou clan also knew that what the Yin Shan Society sought was the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique. The clan was completely helpless regarding this constitution. To them, it was useless—a curse, even. They had tried every conceivable method to purge it from themselves, but all in vain. Hearing Qi Yuan bring it up just now, he had assumed Qi Yuan was an operative of the Yin Shan Society. "The Yin Shan Society?" Qi Yuan murmured in slight surprise. His spiritual sense instantly caught the informational factors drifting through the cosmos. He captured information regarding the Yin Shan Society straight from Zhou Wu's thoughts. In an instant, he understood what the Yin Shan Society was. Though Qi Yuan had not yet achieved the near-omniscience of a Dao Lord within a universe, any informational factors lingering in the air that were not bound by secret taboos were essentially open knowledge to him, ripe for the picking. For instance, he could discern that when Zhou Wu was born, he had been nursed by dozens of families across the neighborhood. "How about this? I'll destroy the Yin Shan Society for you, and in return, you give me your Illusory Dream Primordial Physique," Qi Yuan suggested. "Naturally, I'll also teach you a cultivation method." Qi Yuan knew that what Zhou Wu despised most was the Yin Shan Society, hating them to the marrow of his bones. Such a deal would likely be much easier for Zhou Wu to accept. Excitement rushed across Zhou Wu's face, his breath catching. "Senior... intends to destroy the Yin Shan Society?" The shock in his heart was monumental. The Yin Shan Society was unimaginably powerful. In the past, he had discreetly probed the founder of the Dawn Chamber of Commerce about them. Yet, when mentioning the Yin Shan Society, even that founder had displayed immense dread. One had to understand that the founder of the Dawn Chamber of Commerce was a true godlike entity. And the Dawn Chamber of Commerce was one of the ten great chambers of commerce in the Chongyuan Universe; if even they dreaded the Yin Shan Society, one could imagine how mysterious and mighty that organization was. Yet the man before him spoke of wiping them out as if it were nothing. How could he not be stunned? Most importantly, this man appeared to be merely an evangelist of the Advertisement Society. He wasn't even the sect leader, was he? "If Senior can... destroy the Yin Shan Society, what would it matter if we offer our constitutions to Senior!" Zhou Wu was shaken to the core, not daring to raise the slightest objection. Regardless of whether the man could actually annihilate the Yin Shan Society, the fact that he could utter such words demonstrated he had the confidence to rival them. In any case, this was not a person he could afford to offend. If the other party truly wanted the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique, there was no need to engage in so much discussion, nor any need for a transaction; he could simply slaughter and pillage just like the Yin Shan Society. Hearing Qi Yuan's proposal, Zhou Wu felt profound gratitude and relief that this senior was an upright person. "Very well, then... we have a deal." A smile played at the corner of Qi Yuan's mouth. He was in a good mood. At that moment, Zhou Wu glanced at the juniors behind him and whispered, "I have two juniors here who are quick-witted and clever. Why not let them remain by Senior's side to serve as a manservant and a maid?" Originally, he had hoped to have the clan juniors take Qi Yuan as their master. Now that he realized Qi Yuan's unfathomable strength, he felt that serving as servants to foster good ties would be far more appropriate. "As they say, all people are equal; I don't keep slaves," Qi Yuan refused flatly. "Besides, I'm not into that kink scene or whatever—I don't keep subs of any kind." Hearing this, Zhou Wu felt somewhat crestfallen. Behind him, the young man and woman wore conflicted expressions, unsure whether to feel relieved or disappointed. As scions of a prominent clan, becoming servants to wait upon someone was naturally humiliating to them. Yet having been rejected and thus missing such an opportunity, disappointment was inevitable. "All right, go inform your clansmen. I'll extract the constitution from your bodies shortly," Qi Yuan said casually. "Also, hurry up and film the advertisement. The Feiniao Realm is about to fall, and plenty of clients are in a rush to watch ads." Qi Yuan was speaking the truth. In reality, not only the Feiniao Realm, but many other worlds were on the brink of falling. By Qi Yuan's calculations, within a month, over ten billion people would perish. With so many people watching ads, imagine the sheer volume of traffic! Leaving ads aside, if this were on Blue Star helping to slash prices on Pinxixi, with this many people, there was no way it wouldn't hit the zero-dollar goal, right? "Understood." Zhou Wu nodded, feeling that everything was utterly bizarre. Today felt like a dream. ... "Seventy-five percent now?" Having obtained the consent of Zhou Wu and his clansmen, Qi Yuan extracted the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique factors from their bodies. With the newly acquired fragments, Qi Yuan felt that his Illusory Dream Primordial Physique had progressed a step further than that of the Nan Ke Dao Lord. "The improvement isn't particularly large. Perhaps... only upon reaching completion will the true state of the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique manifest." Qi Yuan looked forward to it immensely. The Nan Ke Dao Lord had attained seventy percent of the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique and was able to become a Dao Lord across multiple Daos, even stepping into the fourth tier of the Yang God realm over thirty times—a terrifying feat. If he were to attain the complete Illusory Dream Primordial Physique, what heights might he reach? He wondered if the Yin Shan Society would allow him to piece together the complete physique. "If it reaches completion, does that mean I'll possess both the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique and the Devouring Primordial Physique?" "I'll have as many primordial physiques as Holy Mother Wushi." Holy Mother Wushi also possessed two primordial physiques. However, those two were inherently in conflict. Qi Yuan was rather curious about the universe from which Holy Mother Wushi originated. That universe had no future either. Could it be that, just like the Immortal Realm and the Nan Ke Universe, its future had been severed by someone? "Well then, time to visit the Yin Shan Society." With a flash in his eyes, Qi Yuan's figure vanished once more. Meanwhile, in the Zhou clan. Zhou Wu gazed at the spot where Qi Yuan had disappeared, a complex look in his eyes. "Can Senior Qi Yuan... truly annihilate the Yin Shan Society?" Beside him, the young man muttered, "He didn't just take our stuff for free and run off, did he?" Zhou Wu's expression darkened, and he glared at the junior. "Mind your words! Go to the Nile Pagoda and keep your mouth shut for ten years!" The young man looked anguished and terrified. "Uncle, I..." He also realized he had spoken out of turn. After all, an entity like that could wipe out their clan with a single thought—an existence not to be crossed. Although Qi Yuan acted amiably, high-ranking cultivators were not to be insulted, nor their wrath provoked. ... The Yin Shan Society. As a mysterious organization, the Yin Shan Society was little known across the Chongyuan Universe, yet it was undeniably a colossal behemoth. "Have the remaining people still not been found?" An aged voice rang out, laced with a hint of fury. Every deacon and elder who heard it trembled in fear. "May the Venerable Lord appease his anger. The worlds are vast, and finding them is exceedingly difficult," a deacon answered. He spoke the truth. The universe was vast beyond measure; even a Realm Lord might spend a lifetime without traversing every corner or uncovering every secret. Except for Dao Lords, of course. For a few hundred people to hide, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. "The dream beast calamity is spreading rampantly. Perhaps... those people have already perished in the bellies of dream beasts," an elder voiced his concern. If so, finding them would be impossible. "Search!" The aged voice echoed once more, sounding particularly irate. At this, the elders on duty grew exceedingly anxious. The master of the Yin Shan Society, Old Man Yin Shan, was perpetually muddle-headed. Every day—yes, every single day—he interrogated the elders and deacons on duty. These elders and deacons suffered unspeakably, yet none dared show the slightest negligence. After all, Old Man Yin Shan's strength was terrifying beyond belief. Once the questioning concluded, the deacons and elders dispersed in small groups. "Sigh, when will these days ever end? We have clearly attained the rank of True Gods, yet like mortal court officials, we are interrogated and berated daily. It is truly agonizing," an elder couldn't help but complain. "Not unless the remaining people are found." "Hmph, finding them won't help either. The Society Master is muddle-headed, and summoning people for interrogation has become second nature to him. Even if every last person were found... I fear we would still have to report every day for the rest of our lives." Though each interrogation was brief, the relentless daily frequency was exhausting. These True Gods were thoroughly exasperated. "I only hope these days come to an end soon," an elder muttered. Right then, a calm voice chimed in. "You folks really ought to work on an assembly line screwing bolts at an electronics factory, or sort packages for Jingdong." A handsome figure appeared, looking over the assembled elders and deacons. Every single elder and deacon was struck with horror. "Who are you?" "What are you doing here?" "Naturally, granting your wish—so you'll never have to clock in and slack off at work ever again for the rest of your lives." As soon as the words fell, the elders and deacons witnessed the most terrifying spectacle of their lives. A towering Great Sun descended from the heavens. The aura radiating from this Great Sun was so terrifying that even those at the third tier of the Yang God realm trembled in horror. The might of the Great Sun was utterly unstoppable. In an instant. A bloodcurdling scream erupted. "Who is it—" Unfortunately, the scream lasted for less than half a breath before it abruptly ceased. The elders and deacons before him were instantly reduced to ashes. Qi Yuan clapped his hands. "Another day of doing good deeds. If I become a god, I'll definitely be an empathetic, considerate god." Chapter 592: Dao Lord Assembly The Yin Shan Society, which had cast a looming shadow over the Chongyuan Universe, was annihilated in the span of a single breath. Even that so-called Old Man Yin Shan—who had traversed extraordinarily far in the third tier of the Yang God realm and was vastly more powerful than the True Creator, possessing perhaps a one-percent chance of breaking through to the fourth tier of the Yang God realm and attaining true spirit obliteration—was nowhere near enough to contend with Qi Yuan. He had no power to resist whatsoever. The surrounding land was reduced entirely to ruins. As for the captives and slaves imprisoned by the Yin Shan Society, Qi Yuan had long since teleported them elsewhere. With a wave of Qi Yuan's hand, a drop of blood flew into his palm. "So this is the fruit of the Yin Shan Society's collections over so many years. To think it would end up benefiting me." A drop of dreamlike, crystalline blood hovered in his hand. This was Illusory Dream Primordial Blood, appearing as if it belonged not to reality, but only to dreams. In an instant, the drop of blood merged into Qi Yuan's body. A bizarre aura diffused outward. His body turned translucent, ethereal and dreamlike, as if suspended between reality and illusion. At this moment, throughout the Chongyuan Universe, every living being who was asleep seemed to dream of an illusory presence. "Is this the complete Illusory Dream Primordial Physique?" Qi Yuan was surprised. The Illusory Dream Primordial Physique was now at one hundred percent. He had attained the complete Illusory Dream Primordial Physique. "According to what the Nan Ke Dao Lord said, do I now... have a chance of transcending the fifth tier of the Yang God realm?" According to the memories left by the Nan Ke Dao Lord, only the Ten Primordial Physiques could enable one to break through beyond the fifth tier of the Yang God realm. "The question is... how does one break through?" Qi Yuan was still perplexed. Having obtained the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique, the Nan Ke Dao Lord had ultimately pursued multiple Great Daos, becoming a Dao Lord across ten Daos and even stepping into the fourth tier of the Yang God realm dozens of times, reaching an awe-inspiring realm vastly stronger than ordinary Dao Lords. Yet that seemed to have little bearing on breaking through the fifth tier of the Yang God realm. "The path ahead remains obscured in fog," Qi Yuan mused with a sigh. For now, he had yet to find the way forward. His gaze fell upon his game jade slip. "Is it still loading?" The new game was still loading, and there was no telling how long it would take to finish. Perhaps the opportunity to step into the Yang God realm lay within this new game. ... Three years drifted by. In a hidden corner of the Chongyuan Universe. Qi Yuan looked on with mixed feelings. "All illusory living beings have been revived through watching advertisements." Over these past years, in partnership with the Dawn Chamber of Commerce, he had manifested countless incarnations, tirelessly saving the living beings of the Chongyuan Universe under the banner of the Advertisement Society. The fame of the Advertisement Society grew greater by the day. Among everyone involved, the Dawn Chamber of Commerce reaped the greatest rewards. Reviving by watching advertisements was simply too abstract, absurd, and astonishing. And the ads being watched were those of the Dawn Chamber of Commerce. Naturally, these people held an indelible impression of the Dawn Chamber of Commerce. This encompassed nearly half the living beings of an entire universe—an astronomical number. "Of the universes created by the Nan Ke Dao Lord within his dreams, apart from the destroyed Nan Ke Universe, I have visited all three hundred and seventy-two... Is this the true might of the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique?" A Realm Lord of the Heaven-Opening Realm could create worlds, but could not create universes. Even for a Dao Lord, creating a universe was extraordinarily difficult. Yet the Nan Ke Dao Lord, having acquired the Illusory Dream Primordial Physique, had created three hundred and seventy-two dream universes—a truly staggering feat. "Alas, I am not a Dao Lord after all." "Those slain by the Yin Shan Society cannot be revived by me." He was referring to the origin of the Illusory Dream Primordial Blood: those whom the Yin Shan Society had slaughtered to extract it. In obtaining the Illusory Dream Primordial Blood, Qi Yuan owed them a debt of gratitude. Naturally, he wished to revive them. "Life is simply too difficult." "At present, the Chongyuan Universe has no Dao Lord, and thus no Cosmic Mother River. There is no way to resurrect those who passed away in the past." "Yet if I were to become a Dao Lord, while I could fish them out from the Cosmic Mother River, the universe would instantly enter into the Cycle once more." Over the past three years, Qi Yuan had not only remained in the Chongyuan Universe, but had also traveled through other universes. With his current strength and having inherited the Nan Ke Dao Lord's legacy, if he wished, he could immediately become a second Nan Ke Dao Lord, attaining the Dao in the universe where the Nan Ke Dao Lord had once attained it. Yet Qi Yuan had not done so. His strength was already formidable enough. Whether he attained the Dao or not was inconsequential. What mattered most was transcending the fifth tier of the Yang God realm. ... The Myriad Changes Society. "Senior Qi Yuan still hasn't appeared?" Vice Society Master Shenji sounded somewhat anxious. It would soon be time for the Wu Dao Dao Lord to preach the Dao. To miss it would be a colossal loss. At such a time, even the muddle-headed old fossils of the Myriad Changes Society would awaken, attaining brief clarity to observe the sermon. After all, the might of a Dao Lord was beyond imagination. If one had the fortune to be accepted as a disciple by a Dao Lord, the benefits would be even more unimaginable. "Not yet. Perhaps... Senior Qi Yuan's strength has reached such a terrifying realm that he has no need to listen to the Dao," an old fossil of the Myriad Changes Society commented. Qi Yuan had effortlessly slain Realm Lord Tiantang; such strength was nothing short of earth-shattering. One could say he was the undisputed number one beneath the Dao Lords, beneath the fourth tier of the Yang God realm. "No matter how strong, he is not at the fifth tier of the Yang God realm. If he misses this, he will have to wait until the next epoch," another old fossil sighed, seemingly lamenting on Qi Yuan's behalf. Although Qi Yuan possessed terrifying strength, those of the fifth tier of the Yang God realm could not truly enter the Universal Void Realm. Therefore, no one believed Qi Yuan possessed the realm or combat power of a Dao Lord. When a Dao Lord preached the Dao, they merely sent an avatar formed of a wisp of Dao charm into the Universal Void Realm. Though extraordinarily mysterious, it held no actual combat strength. Just then, an old fossil spoke up. "The Dao Lord's sermon has begun!" The old fossils present, including Vice Society Master Shenji, beamed with joy and transformed into streaks of light, eagerly flying toward the Dao Hall. A Dao Lord's sermon was a momentous event of each epoch. To miss it would be a grievous loss. ... A streak of light descended. A majestic entity arrived, its form ethereal, as though condensed from the Great Dao itself. "Wu Dao Dao Lord, you have arrived." A man approached whose appearance was rather peculiar, resembling a wooden sword. Gazing upon the character 'Wu' before him, his eyes were devoid of grief or joy. "Sword Dao Lord, after one hundred and twenty-one epochs, you remain unchanged," the Wu Dao Dao Lord replied calmly. "Are we all here?" At that moment, someone spoke, scanning the surroundings. Within this bizarre space stood sixteen distinct figures. Every one of them was a legendary Dao Lord. "That peculiar anomaly has yet to arrive," the Phoenix Dao Lord remarked, a strange look in his eyes. He had founded the Phoenix Dao, and the Palace Master of the White Xuan Palace was a being from his universe. "Wu Dao Dao Lord, your intentions are suspect. That person is not of our kind. For you to invite him here to discuss the Dao with us... I fear he cannot even reach this Ethereal Realm," a Dao Lord commented with a teasing chuckle. The so-called Ethereal Realm was an extraordinary realm. Its environment remained immutable through eternity; time here possessed neither beginning nor end. Not even a Dao Lord could destroy the slightest speck of this place. The Dao Lords of all universes could traverse the Void Sea to gather here. However, the Void Sea was extraordinarily perilous; without the combat power of a Dao Lord, crossing into this place was entirely impossible. Many Dao Lords had found it rather peculiar when they learned the Wu Dao Dao Lord had invited that Qi Yuan to this gathering. After all, he was not a Dao Lord. "Although he killed the Palace Master of the Black Xuan Palace and then Realm Lord Tiantang, and has ventured remarkably far in the third tier of the Yang God realm, he is not of our kind after all. Wu Dao Dao Lord, your invitation was somewhat abrupt," the Phoenix Dao Lord said. There were 3,621 universes connected to the Ethereal Realm. Yet nearly all the Dao Lords had gathered here, numbering sixteen in total. "To possess such combat strength while merely in the third tier of the Yang God realm... if he breaks through to the Dao Lord realm, who knows..." The Wu Dao Dao Lord paid no heed to the opinions of the other Dao Lords, speaking unconcernedly. "How difficult it is to become a Dao Lord! His astonishing combat power today does not mean he stands a chance of breaking through to the fifth tier of the Yang God realm. Furthermore, within our respective universes, we are each near-omniscient and near-omnipotent, invincible existences. Even if he were to achieve a fluke breakthrough, could he possibly harm us?" Dao Lords were the supreme beings of their respective Daos. Within their own universes, they were invincible. Combat power had lost all meaning. "Let us see if he can cross the Void Sea first," the Phoenix Dao Lord remarked with ill intent. Yet the moment his words fell, a crisp voice rang out. "Oh my, so many big shots... Huh, seventeen in total. Are you all Dao Lords?" Qi Yuan's figure materialized. Seeing Qi Yuan appear, the Phoenix Dao Lord's expression shifted slightly. The other Dao Lords all looked at Qi Yuan with varied expressions. Evidently, they were all astonished that Qi Yuan had managed to enter. "There are sixteen of us," the Phoenix Dao Lord stated. The other Dao Lords were also somewhat surprised. There were only sixteen Dao Lords present. "Isn't he one?" Qi Yuan pointed toward the right. In a corner sat a man, motionless and quiet, resembling a stone. The other Dao Lords looked at the man, their expressions tranquil. "So it is the Oblivion Dao Lord." "To think that even we forgot his presence." The Dao Lords were not astonished by the man himself; if anything surprised them, it was merely that Qi Yuan had been able to notice the Oblivion Dao Lord. "This Oblivion Dao Lord is the most peculiar. Ever since our very first gathering, he seems to have forgotten how to return and has remained in this Ethereal Realm ever since," a Dao Lord remarked. Reminded by Qi Yuan, they recalled this Oblivion Dao Lord. The Wu Dao Dao Lord looked at Qi Yuan, satisfaction showing in his eyes. Then he turned to the Phoenix Dao Lord: "Since he has crossed the Void Sea, he should be qualified to discuss the Dao with us." The Phoenix Dao Lord cast a glance at Qi Yuan, seemingly trying to see through him. The other Dao Lords also looked at Qi Yuan with peculiar gazes. After all, as Dao Lords, they had lived for an eternity. They had seen all manner of anomalies and variables, but someone like Qi Yuan was a first. "He is qualified," the Phoenix Dao Lord conceded, saying no more. "The reason for reconvening the Dao Lord Assembly is twofold. First, an anomaly has finally emerged among us in little friend Qi Yuan. Second, the usual matter: what lies beyond the Dao Lord realm," the Sword Dao Lord spoke. For these Dao Lords, who were near-omniscient and near-omnipotent within their own universes, nothing troubled them anymore. Their sole vexation was how to break through beyond the fifth tier of the Yang God realm. Or rather, whether there truly existed a sixth tier of the Yang God realm—or something beyond the Yang God realm altogether. "We are already at the pinnacle, immortal and indestructible, near-omnipotent. Where could there possibly be a higher realm?" the Phoenix Dao Lord said. He belonged to the faction that opposed change. To him, having attained Dao Lord status and seeing the universe enter the Cycle was already ideal. There was no need to seek change. "How are you omnipotent? Can you create a stone that you cannot lift?" Qi Yuan posed the classic question. "Hmph." The Phoenix Dao Lord sneered, not bothering to engage with Qi Yuan, considering him as foolish as a mortal. At their realm, they could remain eternally immutable, or exist in dual states simultaneously depending on the observer. Thus, creating a stone they could not lift was something they could indeed accomplish. "The sixth tier of the Yang God realm... is truly shrouded in heavy fog," a Dao Lord sighed. The Dao Lords began their discourse on the Dao. The topics they discussed were dry, tedious, and profoundly obscure. Listening to them made Qi Yuan drowsy, feeling only a vague sense of awe at something he couldn't grasp. It wasn't even as entertaining as watching old village women bicker at the village entrance. After an unknown passage of time, the Sword Dao Lord spoke: "If I cannot find a turning point in this epoch, I shall undergo True Spirit Reincarnation to seek a sliver of opportunity." Hearing this, the expressions of all the Dao Lords present shifted. "You are actually willing to abandon a lifetime of cultivation?" "True Spirit Reincarnation... might not reveal the path forward either." The Dao Lords voiced their thoughts one after another. The so-called True Spirit Reincarnation was precisely as its name implied: a Dao Lord casting aside everything to reincarnate. However, the destination of reincarnation would no longer be these known universes, but rather some 'Beyond.' Across so many epochs, these Dao Lords had conducted numerous experiments with True Spirit Reincarnation. Various Realm Lords had served as pawns reincarnating into unknown worlds. Some Dao Lords had even risked everything, relinquishing their Dao status in this life. "Sword Dao Lord, you must think this through. Among our kind, three have already chosen True Spirit Reincarnation. Two have vanished without a trace, while one... perished, causing his universe to collapse," the Wu Dao Dao Lord cautioned. He was the Wu Dao Dao Lord of Shamanhood, representing the Great Shaman. There had once been another Wu Dao Dao Lord representing sorcery. That Dao Lord had chosen True Spirit Reincarnation, ending up who knew where. In the end, that Dao Lord had fallen, and his universe had collapsed. This was terrifying in the extreme. After all, even through True Spirit Reincarnation, they were still Dao Lords. Even if that wisp of true spirit was obliterated, they should have been able to step forth anew from the Cosmic Mother River. Yet that Dao Lord of sorcery had died so abruptly. How could the other Dao Lords not be shaken? "I have lived long enough. Can I still not see through life and death?" The Sword Dao Lord's voice was cold and resolute. "If I can catch a glimpse of the scenery at the sixth tier of the Yang God realm, what does it matter even if I perish?" The other Dao Lords fell silent, each lost in thought. Qi Yuan listened quietly, his eyes calm. The so-called True Spirit Reincarnation was, in other words, the descent of a heavenly demon. The only difference was that before, it was confined to the same universe or great trichiliocosm. Whereas a Dao Lord-level True Spirit Reincarnation would certainly be directed toward a world beyond the known universes or great trichiliocosms. "Sword Dao Lord, if you choose True Spirit Reincarnation, count me in. I've lived long enough as well," the Gou Dao Dao Lord spoke up. He was the longest-living of all the Dao Lords present. One could even say the combined ages of all the other Dao Lords fell short of his. In this Ethereal Realm, he had seen too many Dao Lords choose True Spirit Reincarnation, only to meet futile ends. Having laid low and survived for countless years, he finally could sit still no longer and decided to take the gamble. "Haha, wonderful!" The Sword Dao Lord laughed heartily. After all, with a fellow traveler choosing the same path, he would not be alone. The remaining Dao Lords looked hesitant, seemingly contemplating True Spirit Reincarnation as well. Reincarnating the true spirit to an outside realm or another distant domain was immensely troublesome; neither clones, incarnations, nor illusory true spirits would suffice. If the true spirit remained here, it would only reincarnate into the known universes. As for Qi Yuan, he had nothing to hesitate about. He had no need for True Spirit Reincarnation. He had his game jade slip.