I've Had Another Epiphany!

A Civilization Master confirming the Dao attaches rule power! Su Yu's gaze flickered rapidly, and he said quickly, "I've only heard talk of Dao Integration, but I don't know what it actually means. Teacher Liu, speculate a bit more—what does Dao Integration mean?" Liu Hong gave a dry laugh. "You should ask those Dao Integration experts about that. How could I possibly know?" Su Yu smiled. "You're being too modest, Teacher! You were able to make such associations; how could a clever man like you not know? You said establishing rules is like attaching your own strand to a massive web... For now, let's call rules the Dao as well! In that case, is Dao Integration also a process of establishing a Dao? Or perhaps a halfway point between Eternity and the true Great Dao? And as for formulating rules, what would you think if I called that the Great Dao Realm?" Su Yu's eyes gleamed as he continued, "So, when Civilization Masters outline and temper divine characters, it's actually the process of establishing a Dao. It's fundamentally identical to warriors strengthening their physical bodies and comprehending rules! That means... Civilization Masters might not even have an Eternal Realm, but instead step straight into the Great Dao Realm? No, maybe it does exist, since a Civilization Master's comprehension of rules lies in divine characters... Does that mean divine characters can keep being strengthened indefinitely, until one day they reign supreme over the rules themselves? If so, why does progress grind to a halt once one reaches the Sun Moon Realm?" Su Yu then added briskly, "Setting that aside for now, let's talk about the Three Incarnations Method—past, present, and future... The Three Incarnations Method is essentially based on comprehending rules. Does the manifestation of the three incarnations represent the comprehension of the three rules of past, present, and future, which ultimately merge into one to achieve the Great Dao Realm? That would mean that if the Great Dao Realm truly exists, the three incarnations don't actually matter, regardless of whether one cultivated the Three Incarnations Method or not!" To the side, Wan Tiansheng said in a deep voice, "Liu Hong's claim that divine characters are the embryonic form of rules resonated with me. If this so-called Great Dao Realm you mentioned truly exists, then once a Divine Character Master truly confirms the Dao... they might truly transcend everything and become a powerhouse of the Great Dao!" "However, if divine characters are embryonic rules, yet progress stalls at Sun Moon Stage Nine... it might be because we have made contact with too few Great Daos..." Wan Tiansheng hesitated before adding, "In that case, we might need to come into contact with more rules!" Su Yu nodded. "Exactly! Whether through violating rules or receiving rule rewards, we need to capture more rule power to contemplate and comprehend! I think I understand a bit now... Why is Dao confirmation so difficult for Divine Character Masters? Because they lack the punishments and rewards of rules... I get it!" Su Yu stroked his chin. "We just need to commit more outrageous, treasonous acts to incur punishments from the rules, or even comprehend divine characters directly from the rules! If divine characters are rules, and rules are divine characters... this is getting interesting!" As the two conversed, Old Wang listened nearby. He counted as a Civilization Master too, though a bit half-baked, but he could still follow some of it. As for Old Bai... he understood the broad strokes, but grasped only one key point: Su Yu was looking to court death! He wanted to rely on tribulation lightning or rewards to comprehend divine characters and advance his Civilization Master cultivation! What a madman! Not far off, Liu Hong sighed, his heart filled with dread. *These two lunatics... I was just talking off the cuff, don't get the wrong idea!* "You two, please don't do anything reckless! I was truly just speaking off the cuff!" Liu Hong looked utterly earnest. Su Yu nodded. "We know, we understand! This has nothing to do with you anymore; these are our own deductions now. I think these deductions make a lot of sense. Actually, I was careless before. Back when I absorbed rule power, my progress was rapid. Thinking about it now, that makes perfect sense—it wasn't just fast progress, but rather becoming more attuned to the rules!" Su Yu sighed with emotion. "It's been so long since I've done research. Mansion Master, I suggest we establish a research institute to capture rules and study them! Naturally, it wouldn't be convenient for me to show my face, but my teachers and the others are experts in this field... Ideally, we could figure out which punishment corresponds to which rule, which rule corresponds to which divine character, and which divine character aligns with which Great Dao..." Su Yu added, "Also, I have another thought. Mansion Master, it would be best if you gathered some intelligence. I want to know whether the myriad realms over all these years have seen more reward rules than punishment rules, or more punishment rules than reward rules!" "Surely reward rules are more numerous?" Wan Tiansheng hesitated. "Do we even need to investigate that? Slaying enemies on the All-Heavens Battlefield yields rewards. There must be more reward rules!" "Then were these rules established by the Council, or by the Human Sovereign?" Su Yu smiled. "People say the Human Sovereign only rewards and never punishes, while the Council only punishes and never rewards! But that might not be the case. The rewards on the All-Heavens Battlefield aren't just for humans; all races receive them. Wasn't that established by the Council? Could it have been set by the Human Sovereign?" "You mean..." Su Yu smiled and said, "I've been wondering: could the reason why the human race has never produced an Eternal divine character be that human rules appear too infrequently, while the rules of other races appear far more often? As a result, other races can produce Eternal divine characters, while humans cannot!" "It might be the subtle, imperceptible influence of the rules!" "..." Liu Hong stared at them again, sighing inwardly. *Bravo, you people are truly something else with your wild leaps of logic!* Su Yu paid him no mind. It was enough that Liu Hong had provided the spark. Civilization Masters loved nothing more than research and exploration; a Civilization Master who didn't seek answers wasn't a true Civilization Master. Su Yu continued, "Right now, I'm only curious about one thing: Dao Integration... how does one actually integrate with the Dao? Do you merge yourself with the Great Dao? Or do you start from scratch and open an entirely new path? Do you build upon the foundations of predecessors, or blaze your own trail?" "Also, regarding the Nine-Leaf Celestial Lotus, I think I roughly understand its function now. It attaches rules. But what kind of Dao Integration is it when someone is forcibly elevated to Dao Integration through the attachment of rules?" "There must be disparities in strength among those in Dao Integration!" Su Yu rubbed his chin and mused, "I don't know much about Dao Integration, but to use a simple analogy: rules are like strands on a web. Countless strands represent countless rules. Dao Integration means aligning your own strand with an existing one! If someone's strand overlaps fifty percent with a strand on the web, then I think they can draw upon fifty percent of that strand's rule power. If it overlaps thirty percent, they can only use thirty percent. And if someone starts from scratch, they weave their own strand through the empty gaps in the web..." Su Yu added, "The Human Kings... I think the Human Kings might have surpassed Dao Integration and reached the Great Dao Realm. They either fully overlapped with someone else's Great Dao, or they started from scratch, weaving an independent strand that detached from the massive web we currently inhabit!" "As for the Human Sovereign and King Wen, who were incomparably formidable, I think they probably wove multiple strands, yet remained in the same overall realm on this web! For instance, if the Human Sovereign wove eight strands, his power would naturally far outstrip someone with only one strand, but they still existed on the same plane!" "Meanwhile, the rest of us... are beneath the web!" Su Yu grinned widely. "Fascinating. Yes, we are all beneath the web, which is why the rules can punish us! If you step out of line, the great web descends, and that rule power turns its strands into whips to lash you repeatedly! If you behave, the strand turns into a backscratcher to give you a pleasant scratch!" "..." Crude! Wan Tiansheng was speechless. That final analogy was simply too crude! In the end, Su Yu concluded, "So, this world can be simply divided into two layers: inside the web and outside the web! Certain ancient figures jumped out of the web or became part of the web itself. For us today, transcending this web is extraordinarily difficult!" Wan Tiansheng asked pensively, "Then do you think there are even stronger beings beyond that web?" "How would I know?" Su Yu chuckled. "It's all speculation!" Wan Tiansheng nodded slightly. "Hearing you put it this way gives me even more food for thought! I need to come into contact with this web, understand it better, strengthen my own strand, and strive to secure a strand of my own upon it!" Su Yu nodded, then grinned wryly. "I think I know Senior Lan Tian's path. He's the type who casts a wide net!" "Oh?" Su Yu chuckled. "He's integrating myriad Daos. He casts a massive net everywhere to see which strand he can snag! If he's lucky and catches one, he might unleash terrifying power. If he's unlucky and his clones fail to snag a strand, he remains just a quasi-Invincible!" At this point, Su Yu's gaze flickered. "Teacher Lan Tian's strength might fluctuate at times. If his clones capture well and latch onto a Great Dao, he'll be incredibly strong! If his luck is poor, his clones die, or they fail to snag that Great Dao... then he won't be as formidable!" "As for carriers..." Su Yu pondered for a moment and said, "They are used to bear rule power. Generally, they require ancient artifacts or items taken from powerhouses, such as hair or scales, because those things were likely washed by rule power! Therefore, the choice of carrier likely determines which rule and Great Dao you align with!" Giving an example, Su Yu said, "For instance, I saw a member of the Dragon race use an inverted dragon scale as a carrier before. The owner of that scale must have touched the Great Dao. When that dragon confirmed the Dao with it, the process was simpler because it aligned better with the Dao of an ancient dragon powerhouse!" "Another example: with some of the carriers I obtained from the Star Residence Mansion, if I used them as carriers, I might align more closely with Old Zhou's Dao..." "Old Zhou?" Liu Hong asked in confusion. "Who's Old Zhou?" "The Martial Emperor?" Su Yu laughed casually. "Who knows? I just made up a name! So, if anyone over the years used Coiling Dragon Wood as a carrier, I suspect they aligned more with Old Zhou's Dao. Those who confirmed the Dao with Coiling Dragon Wood could reach Eternity, but I doubt they could ever transcend and become powerhouses of the Great Dao Realm! If there are historical records, I think we should check. The Star Residence Mansion existed in ancient times; I'm willing to bet that anyone who used materials native to the mansion has been unable to become a Great Dao–level powerhouse!" Wan Tiansheng frowned. "In ancient times, they didn't use the Three Incarnations Method and didn't need carriers..." "Wrong!" Su Yu shook his head. "I think they needed them too! But they probably only needed one—a single carrier belonging entirely to themselves! One to receive rule power... For example..." Su Yu pointed at the ancient city beneath their feet. "This is a carrier—Lord Xinghong's carrier!" At that exact moment, a figure materialized. Xinghong had appeared! He looked at Su Yu with a complex expression. After a long pause, he said softly, "Yes, this is my carrier! This was a relatively common, yet undeniably formidable method of Dao confirmation in ancient times! The moment I take up my weapon, my strength increases drastically because I am wielding my Dao... Su Yu, you truly are a genius..." Su Yu smiled. "I wouldn't dare claim that. I merely expanded on what Teacher Liu said!" Now that an ancient powerhouse had arrived, Su Yu didn't hold back. "Lord Xinghong, in ancient times you may not have cultivated the three incarnations, but I imagine forging a weapon like this came at an even greater cost than the three incarnations, didn't it?" "Yes!" Xinghong nodded slightly. "Though the Three Incarnations Method is garbage, to be honest... we can't say too much about the ancient rules, but the Three Incarnations Method should be considered a relatively economical way to cultivate! Su Yu, I've seen you forge your civilization chronicle... Your path is very similar to ours—using the civilization chronicle to bear rule power. But you know just how massive the expenditure is!" It was massive indeed! Frighteningly massive! Su Yu nodded. "I understand! The emergence of the Three Incarnations Method wasn't necessarily meant to restrict anyone; it was likely born out of sheer necessity because walking other paths consumed far too many resources! The Three Incarnations Method is so convenient—it only requires two somewhat shoddy carriers. But walking a path like Xinghong's... this ancient city of his is undoubtedly worth more than five ordinary carriers combined!" Xinghong gave a bitter smile. "Far more! Double that at least!" Wan Tiansheng and the others drew in sharp breaths. That kind of consumption was truly beyond the reach of ordinary people! Xinghong added, "However, it is indeed vastly stronger than the Three Incarnations Method. Leaving everything else aside, we are currently sealed and haven't even drawn our weapons, but as you've seen, whenever peers at the same stage who used the Three Incarnations Method fight us, we almost completely suppress them! I am at Eternity Stage Eight, but because I am petrified, my strength has declined, and I haven't used my weapon—equivalent to fighting without two incarnations under the Three Incarnations Method—yet I can still beat peers at my stage into submission!" Such was the difference between methods of Dao confirmation! Su Yu asked, "What is this method called?" "The weapon-integration method!" Xinghong explained. "Forging a formidable weapon, uniting person and weapon into one—the method of integrating weapons!" Su Yu's eyes flickered. "A certain person comes to mind!" "Zhao Li!" Wan Tiansheng nodded. "Is it Zhao Li?" "Yes!" Su Yu smiled. "Him!" Xinghong had met Zhao Li previously. After a moment's thought, he nodded. "That man does show signs of the weapon-integration method. It is, in fact, an orthodox path of cultivation! Aside from this, ancient times had several other orthodox paths." Su Yu pressed on, "Lord, when you cultivate in the Eternal Realm, are you currently trying to draw closer to a specific rule power?" Xinghong hesitated. "That's hard to say; I haven't reached that level yet. However, what you said is likely correct in broad strokes! Dao Integration is most likely about becoming more attuned to a specific Dao. You can ask the Boss about this; he should know!" He glanced at the people gathered here, his feelings complicated. Watching a group of people who hadn't even reached Eternity discuss how to achieve Dao Integration, and how to surpass Dao Integration to step onto the Great Dao, left him feeling disoriented and oddly adrift. Was this how cultivation was supposed to be done? Wasn't cultivation supposed to be about minding the affairs of whatever realm you currently occupied? Why was a group of people who weren't even in the Eternal Realm deducing how to achieve Dao Integration and surpass it? Was this the human race? Had the human race produced so many powerhouses precisely because of this conviction and spirit? He didn't quite understand! At this moment, he felt somewhat lost! Su Yu, being a man of action, didn't hesitate. "Then please escort me, Lord. I want to see Lord Hongmeng. If I can verify my conjectures, then I'll know how to cultivate my divine characters moving forward!" Rules! Yes, rules! First, he had to confirm whether his theory was correct. Once verified, Su Yu would have uncovered the optimal method to cultivate the path of divine characters—though naturally, it was only suitable for the strong and the talented! The weak weren't worthy! Unless the weak had no fear of being obliterated by the rules, they were welcome to try! Xinghong was deeply moved and nodded. "Very well, I'll escort you there!" Without another word, he quickly departed with Su Yu. Once they were gone, Wan Tiansheng looked at Liu Hong with a meaningful gaze. "Researcher Liu, you truly are knowledgeable!" Liu Hong said dryly, "Mansion Master, surely you aren't suspecting something too? There's really nothing! I was just making normal deductions. Believe me, if Bai Feng were here, he could have deduced it too. How could we researchers lack even this much deductive ability?" "Heh!" Wan Tiansheng chuckled. "Whatever you say! You're a clever man. That King Wen Token of yours helped Su Yu weather a crisis, so he probably won't trouble you in earnest. That kid holds grudges, but he also remembers kindness. Even if he hasn't said it aloud, it's just because he doesn't want to speak of it. He likely won't move against you, so rest easy!" Liu Hong said dejectedly, "Fine, fine. I genuinely didn't do anything. Ah, forget it, think whatever you want, Mansion Master. How wronged I am!" Wan Tiansheng didn't bother saying more. If you say so, then so be it. ... Meanwhile. Su Yu quickly arrived at Hongmeng Ancient City. The figure of the Old Turtle soon materialized. With a smile, just as he was about to speak, Su Yu cut in, "Lord, let me ask you a question. After Dao Integration, does one enter the Great Dao Realm? Naturally, that's just a name I coined, but the concept is roughly the same..." The Old Turtle shuddered slightly. "What... are you trying to say?" Not wasting a second, Su Yu said swiftly, "It's like this: I've been wondering if Dao Integration simply means becoming attuned to a specific rule power. Did you establish your own rule, Lord, or did you follow the rules of predecessors?" Pausing, Su Yu answered his own question: "Right, you must have walked your own rule, because you are ancient enough that rules might not have even existed back then!" "..." The Old Turtle looked toward Xinghong. Xinghong looked up at the sky. *Don't look at me; I didn't say anything, and I don't know either!* *Even if you asked me to explain, I wouldn't know what to say!* Su Yu continued talking to himself: "So, there are disparities in strength among those in Dao Integration... Or perhaps my guess was wrong, and the Eternal Realm is actually the beginning of Dao Integration! The entire realm constitutes Dao Integration, including Eternity! But only when one integrates the Dao to a certain point in Eternity does it count as true Dao Integration, right?" "..." The Old Turtle was speechless! Su Yu's eyes gleamed. "I understand a bit now. Yes, confirming the Dao marks the beginning of Dao Integration! I get it—rules! Yes, Eternals can already utilize rules! Stages One through Nine... I understand how the divisions work now! Take a Great Dao: at Stage One, you might have ten percent attunement; at Stage Two, within twenty percent; at Stage Three, within thirty percent..." Su Yu suddenly gasped, shocked. "I understand why those who confirm the Dao in minor realms are the weakest! Those who confirm the Dao in minor realms end up at Eternity Stage One because they have the least attunement to the rules—they might be at the very bottom of the rule hierarchy! Meanwhile, those from major realms are generally around Stage Two because major realms are more attuned to the rules!" "As for the All-Heavens Battlefield... I get it! Because there is more rule power here and greater attunement, confirming the Dao on the All-Heavens Battlefield grants greater strength, as one achieves higher attunement the moment of confirmation!" "And if powerhouses from minor realms never step out, I suspect they will remain stuck at Eternity Stage One their entire lives. But once they come out, over time, I reckon their strength can progress too—there isn't actually that much of a fundamental difference!" "..." The Old Turtle stared in dumbfounded disbelief. *You've been doing all the talking; I haven't uttered a single word!* *I haven't said a thing!* *One moment you understand this principle, the next moment you understand that one. What did you even come to ask me for?* *You figured it all out yourself from start to finish. Did you just come here to play with me?* *Are you kidding me?!* Su Yu muttered, "Then Eternity Stage Nine probably means reaching just under ninety percent attunement on the path of rules! And Dao Integration... means an attunement of ninety-one percent or higher? So strictly speaking, Dao Integration should also have multiple tiers! In reality, Dao Integration must be a contest of rule power strength—whoever controls stronger rule power is more formidable! Of course, it's also related to the nature of their Dao..." Su Yu murmured, "Right, it's also related to other factors. For example, if three Dao Integrators share a single rule, splitting the rule power three ways, those three will definitely be weaker than a powerhouse who monopolizes an entire rule's Dao!" "Therefore, to become stronger, those in the Dao Integration Realm should ideally blaze their own Dao to enjoy it exclusively! No, that's not right—they should start from Eternity!" "From the moment of Dao confirmation, one should begin seeking their own Dao... rather than piggybacking on someone else's!" "..." The Old Turtle felt utterly exhausted. A tea table sat before him; he poured a cup of tea, but didn't drink it himself. *Su Yu is probably thirsty. Drink some tea!* He pushed the cup toward Su Yu. Su Yu drained it in one gulp without paying it much attention, then said rapidly, "Therefore, the harder a Dao is to cultivate, the stronger it is once achieved! Because you might be the sole person monopolizing that Dao! Under overly simplistic rules, the beings born are weak, even if they reach Dao Integration!" "Furthermore, almost every race currently has only one Dao Integrator. Is that because having more would dilute the strength of other Dao Integrators? That's why the Immortal race has a pile of old fossils, yet no new Dao Integrators—because they haven't found suitable Daos to integrate with?" As Su Yu spoke, he rubbed his chin. "That's entirely possible! Perhaps Dao Integration even has a limit! For example, if a Dao can accommodate at most ten people, and nine hidden Dao Integrators already occupy it, no one else might be able to integrate because there is already one present here—unless they find a different Dao!" Su Yu continued, "As for the human race, King Daqin and the others have been unable to achieve Dao Integration..." Su Yu muttered, "Two possibilities. First, too many humans walked the same path, filling all the quotas. Old fossils occupied the spots, leaving King Daqin and the others with no opening! That's the first possibility!" "Second, the human race's Dao is damaged. Because too many people integrated with that common Dao, and too many died, each death caused fractures in the Great Dao. Perhaps that Dao developed flaws and can no longer be integrated with! To achieve Dao Integration, one must either forge a new Dao or find an alternative one to integrate with!" Su Yu pondered, then added, "No, no, no, there's another possibility! For example, King Baizhan of the ninth tide was so formidable that he might have truly been on the verge of transcendence. But he didn't make it. That old fellow might not be dead. He was so powerful that he monopolized the entire share, squeezing everyone else out of Dao Integration!" "Right, right, right! Last time, they said the human race staked everything on a single throw during the ninth tide, pouring all their resources into King Baizhan... I think I understand now. Could it be that some old fossils voluntarily relinquished their Dao Integration status, ceding that rule to King Baizhan, which gave him the power to rival a Human King?" "..." The Old Turtle was stunned. He poured himself a cup of tea to steady his nerves, and after a long while, said with a trace of horror, "Su Yu, you... well... during the last tide, quite a few Dao Integration experts of the human race did indeed perish! Some of them almost seemed to be seeking death!" Su Yu's face beamed with excitement. "I knew it! My conjectures are grounded and reasonable after all!" Su Yu looked excitedly at the Old Turtle. "Lord, members of your race might walk the same Dao as you. If you wiped out all your clansmen, you might become a peak expert with ninety-nine percent Dao Integration!" "Close to the level of an ancient Human King—assuming your natural aptitude is high enough, of course!" The Old Turtle's mouth fell open as he stared at him. "I didn't kill my clansmen!" "..." Su Yu froze and looked at the Old Turtle. The Old Turtle said somewhat gloomily, "Why are you looking at me? I truly didn't kill them. Some died of old age, others died during the ancient upheaval. I didn't kill my own people!" Su Yu said dryly, "No... that's not what I meant. I was saying... when I suggested you could become a peak expert with ninety-nine percent Dao Integration, you came back with that line. What did you mean by that? Have you truly reached that level?" The Old Turtle froze, instantly denying it: "How could that be possible! If we go by what you said, I'm among the worst of the Dao Integration experts!" Su Yu fell into deep thought! The Old Turtle's reaction... wasn't normal! To the side, Xinghong couldn't help chiming in, "Boss, this kid didn't hit the mark, did he? Surely not! He's just guessing wildly. Are you really an expert approaching the level of an ancient Human King? Even I find that hard to believe!" The Old Turtle was speechless. Only after a long while did he say, "Cut the nonsense! Su Yu... to be frank, some of your conjectures exceed even our understanding. In our cultivation, we emphasize letting nature take its course. We rarely get to the bottom of everything like this; doing so strips all the joy out of cultivation!" He didn't confirm whether Su Yu's conjectures were right or wrong, merely stating that cultivation should follow nature! Su Yu was deeply dissatisfied with this passive attitude. "Lord, cultivation is a rigorous matter! It isn't something where you just let nature take its course! If you truly let nature take its course, you wouldn't cultivate at all—that would be the most natural! Since you've chosen to cultivate, you must get to the bottom of things!" The Old Turtle had no comeback. *I'm being lectured by a twenty-year-old kid!* *I've lived... two hundred thousand years!* *Did I live ten thousand years for every single year of his?* At this moment, the Old Turtle sighed with immense emotion. Looking at Su Yu, he said helplessly, "When I cultivate, the thing I dread most is people analyzing this and that for me. Just cultivate properly—why must you always ask so many questions?" "No, I'm thinking about how to cultivate faster!" Su Yu explained, "Lord, let me ask you something: do certain existing rules sometimes resonate or align with the rules you command?" "Align?" The Old Turtle pondered. "What do you mean by align?" "For example, when tribulation lightning descends and you withstand it, only to find that it can't harm you—I would call that an alignment!" "Or when you deploy the abilities you command, it's equivalent to the descent of rules; that too is an alignment." The Old Turtle fell into thought and nodded slightly. "There should be such a feeling. Everyone in Dao Integration should experience it!" "Understood!" Su Yu had an epiphany! *Sure enough, I'm a genius! I know how to cultivate next, how to comprehend divine characters, and how to strengthen them!* All settled! Today was practically his lucky day. He felt as though he had grasped the true essence of the path of divine characters. A single remark from Liu Hong had opened a brand-new window for him! As the thought crossed his mind, Su Yu's face suddenly twitched. *Wait, I have ninety-nine divine characters. Don't tell me I have to align with ninety-nine Great Daos?!* *If so... my difficulty in achieving Dao Integration will be astronomical!* *However, if I truly succeed in Dao Integration and take that crucial step to become what I called a Great Dao expert, controlling ninety-nine rule powers... even if an ancient Human King were reborn, I'd beat him to death!* While he was lost in thought, the Old Turtle and Xinghong exchanged glances, both feeling utterly helpless. Xinghong didn't even want to think about it anymore! As for the Old Turtle, he felt completely deflated, like a turtle stripped of its shell, naked and exposed. And Su Yu was the culprit who had peeled off his shell! While Dao Integration remained mysterious and overwhelmingly powerful to others, someone was here stripping away their deepest secrets. It was a thoroughly uncomfortable feeling! Su Yu soon snapped back to reality and smiled. "Lord, last time you asked me to come to Hongmeng City, was there something you wanted to tell me?" The Old Turtle hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back! After a long pause, he fumbled for words and said dryly, "Nothing much... just telling you to be careful and not run around recklessly!" In truth, he had intended to tell Su Yu that it was nearly impossible for the human race to produce another Dao Integration expert. If Su Yu wanted to become a true powerhouse, he had to start establishing a path of his own from now on, and other matters of that sort... The Old Turtle had rehearsed countless times how to explain it clearly to Su Yu. He didn't fully understand the human Dao, but he knew that since no Dao Integrator had emerged among humans during this tide, it was either impossible now, or they had to walk a completely different path! Yet before he could say a word, Su Yu had arrived and bombarded him with a barrage of deductions! Su Yu nodded, speechless. *Just to say that?* *Good grief!* *Of course I know I need to be careful. Oh well, he's an elderly fellow; it's normal for him to be a bit naggy!* Soon, however, Su Yu remarked, "Lord, if my deductions are correct, doesn't that mean the human race cannot give birth to a Dao Integrator in this tide?" The Old Turtle said wearily, "Those are your deductions; figure it out yourself! I'm not entirely clear on the details either, but the physical body Dao will likely be exceedingly difficult! As for the divine character Dao, I have no idea." The divine character Dao wouldn't work either! Su Yu thought to himself, though one couldn't rule out the possibility of an extraordinary genius who merged their divine characters, comprehended their own divine character Dao, yet simply hadn't taken the final step to transcend and become a Great Dao powerhouse! *King Dazhou?* Su Yu suddenly thought of him. *Surely not?* *Probably impossible!* *Forget it, no need to dwell on that!* He offered another reminder: "Lord, if there are still members of your race in Dao Integration, I think you should either wipe them out or simply open a new Dao yourself. At your level, opening a new path might not be difficult. Otherwise, I doubt you'll ever be able to take that final step!" "..." *I'm so exhausted!* the Old Turtle thought, his tone faint. "I am in Dao Integration; you are in the Shanhai Realm." *I don't need you lecturing me!* *Brat, don't get too cocky!* "Just a friendly reminder!" Su Yu grinned, then added, "Now I understand why you said that once Lord Xinghong and the others are freed and receive their rewards, they'll be able to step into Dao Integration! Since their clansmen are almost entirely dead, the rewards they receive should correspond to their respective rule powers. Thus, they have a massive chance of entering Dao Integration!" The Old Turtle remained silent. *Don't talk to me!* *I don't know anything; I only judged based on experience!* With that in mind, the Old Turtle suddenly asked, "Then let me ask you: why are there differences even among those at the peak of Dao Integration? Differences in strength! For instance—I'm just saying for instance—suppose I am at the peak of Dao Integration, that ninety-nine percent stage you mentioned, and someone else is as well. Why would my control and strength be inferior to his?" Su Yu smiled. "There are too many possibilities! First, the Dao the other party attached themselves to is vastly stronger! For example, you might be attached to the Dao of the Hongmeng turtle race's progenitor, while he is attached to the Dao of the ancient Human Sovereign. There's no comparison! His Dao is thick and grand, while yours is far smaller—naturally you can't compare!" "Second, he might have a foot in two boats, perhaps having integrated a second Dao!" "Third, your Daos conflict, and his specifically counters yours!" "Fourth, the purpose of Dao Integration is to make it your own and ultimately claim that Dao entirely. Even if both are at ninety-nine percent, he might already be peeking through, nearly converting the Dao into his own, while you are still merely borrowing someone else's!" "Fifth..." "Enough!" the Old Turtle cut him off, sinking into deep contemplation. *So that's how it is!* *Is the gap between me and the Eastern Heavenly King due to this?* *Is it because he counters me, or because his Dao is thicker and grander?* The Old Turtle fell into deep thought, while Su Yu sent a voice transmission to Xinghong: "Lord, Lord Hongmeng is truly impressive!" "What?" "You don't even understand this, Lord? Usually, when people say 'for instance' or 'I have a friend,' they're talking about themselves! Lord Hongmeng is almost certainly at the peak of Dao Integration. Right now, he's encountered a rival who is also at the peak of Dao Integration, but that person suppresses him. He has no way around it, doesn't understand why, and doesn't know how to catch up. Since he's reached the end of this Dao, cultivating further is pointless, which is probably why he can't even be bothered to cultivate these days..." Su Yu continued, "So right now, Lord Hongmeng is fretting over how to resolve this. If I'm not mistaken, he's about to ask me..." Just as he said that, the Old Turtle cleared his throat lightly. "What are you two whispering about? Stop chatting for a moment. Su Yu, let me ask you: if—and I say if—my Dao were countered by his, or wasn't as thick and grand as his, how should I resolve such a problem?" He added, "Assuming this Dao has already been walked to its end, and transcending it is out of the question!" To the side, a sharp *crack* rang out as Xinghong bit his petrified tongue! The Old Turtle snapped, "What are you doing? How old are you, yet you lack even a shred of composure!" Xinghong nodded stiffly. After a long pause, his eyes widened as he stared at the Old Turtle. *My boss... might actually be at the peak of Dao Integration!* *More importantly, who could possibly beat my boss?* Xinghong blurted out, "Boss, who is this rival of yours?" "East... *cough, cough, cough!*" The Old Turtle suddenly coughed violently. "Throwing hands isn't appropriate! What rival? This old man has guarded this city for a hundred thousand years; my rivals died long ago!" Nearby, Su Yu glanced at Xinghong. Xinghong looked completely dazed and unsettled. *My boss really has a rival, and a terrifyingly strong one at that. East... Dong?* *What was it again?* *The boss's rival died... died?* He pondered it, racking his brains, until his mouth suddenly dropped open. "The Four Heavenly Kings of Dead Spirits..." "What?" Su Yu froze. Xinghong's expression changed abruptly, and he swiftly vanished into the void. "I'll go get you two something to eat!" Before his voice had fully faded, he was already gone! The Old Turtle looked thoroughly annoyed, but quickly smiled. "Pay him no mind. He's up there in years, yet always so jumpy. Su Yu, if one were to encounter such a situation, how do you think it should be handled?" Su Yu hesitated, then shook his head. "It's hard for me to say. I was only speaking off the cuff; if someone actually tried it recklessly, people would die! Cultivation is a rigorous matter, not a joke!" Inwardly, he thought: *If you die, old man, what happens to me?* *I wouldn't have anyone shielding me anymore!* *Things are great as they are now. I know that you, venerable elder... are incredible!* *Quite possibly the number-one powerhouse in the myriad realms!* At least for now, the Old Turtle might truly be the strongest being in the myriad realms. Of course, judging from Xinghong's reaction... the Old Turtle's rival might reside in the dead spirit realm! Whatever the case! Su Yu felt he couldn't spout nonsense. All of this was merely wild guesswork and deductions. If the Old Turtle truly believed him... while he wasn't stupid enough to follow blindly, what if he reached a dead end and took it seriously? If he played himself to death, Su Yu couldn't shoulder that responsibility! The Old Turtle nodded slightly. "Perhaps you're right! Su Yu, humans are humans after all—possessing the greatest spirituality and the highest wisdom. Originally, I was worried you might let this victory go to your head... But now, I feel that perhaps... the myriad realms, the all-heavens, will be magnificent in the future. With you around, it will truly be magnificent!" *With you around, it will truly be magnificent!* Su Yu put on an embarrassed look. "You flatter me, Lord! I just like rambling. In truth, these are all trivial matters. My master and my friends can easily make deductions like this anytime; it's far too simple!" "..." *Who are you insinuating about?* *Far too simple?* *If it's so simple, why did this old man feel as though he gained insights and had an epiphany today?!* The Old Turtle cursed inwardly! Across from him, Su Yu's heart thumped. He sensed that the Old Turtle was cursing him in his mind, because the "Tribulation" divine character had just twitched—looking terrified—before quickly settling back down! Did this interfere with the rules? How terrifying! Having concluded this discussion, the Old Turtle had no desire to say more. Finally, he said, "As for what you called the Great Dao Realm, it wasn't actually addressed that way. Of course, call it whatever pleases you; once one reaches that stage, nobody cares about such trivialities. Most powerhouses back then were indeed in that realm... One thing you said was correct: anyone who can formulate rules is an unmatched powerhouse. And I... have not reached that level!" He could not formulate rules! He could not make reality bend to his spoken command! "And right now, the All-Heavens Battlefield cannot accommodate such an existence! It would cause a conflict of rules. No matter how strong you are—or how powerful the one standing behind you is—the rule of one person cannot overcome the rules of a hundred!" Su Yu fell into thought and nodded, yet clarity dawned in his heart. Was the Old Turtle confirming that he truly stood at the peak of Dao Integration? Truly formidable!