Everyone who participated in the Moon Battle nearly six hundred years ago were granted cultivation techniques that lead straight to a unique Dao. Compared to the normal Daos, they are superior. At their worst, they could negate one’s control over the Dao. At their best, they could hijack their Dao and have it turn against themselves!
The Dao Integration Realm is a benchmark that broke away from the golden orb’s uniform immortal cultivation. Foundation Establishment Realm didn’t have many intricacies as other cultivation systems that ranked the ‘Foundations’ from Yellow to Heaven; or ‘Golden Cores’ from one-turn to nine-turn; or the ‘Nascent Souls’ from Yellow to Heaven. When it comes to their immortal cultivation, everyone is equal. Only spirit root and Tao Bodies set others apart. It is made to be as compatible to everyone as it could. This simplification represented the pinnacle of immortal cultivation; the highest form it could ever take.
The sole reason behind this change was the importance of the Dao they would major in. A cultivator would comprehend the Dao at the Dao Integration Realm, making it the equivalent of oneself. At the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, it would face endless tribulations, which turns into opportunities for tempering. They must believe in the Dao they hold, and to themselves, to be able to pass through it.
In this regard, normal Daos are inflexible compared to the unique Daos. They lack the ‘adaptation’ of several Daos fused together. It does not have the capability to approach infinity, nor could it safely bear the weight of the tribulations thrown against them. Any attempt in doing so would result in their obliteration—of their complete death.
As such, normal Daos are said to be limited to the pinnacle of the Dao Integration Realm. They must take other paths—all of which are recorded on the golden orb—before they could step into the Tribulation Transcendence Realm.
Those methods are very troublesome compared to simply cultivating a unique Dao handed over in cultivation techniques.
‘One chance to influence the present… to avoid making a huge mistake like mine.’
The future Anna did not wear her military attire, but a semi-translucent white dress. Leaf-like patterns were embroidered around it with silver silk. Her thighs were left exposed, while a pair of white stockings wrapped around her legs. She wore a thick dark blue fur coat around her body, leaving most of it hidden. An intricate silver crown rested atop her head. She carried an air of mystic and elegance, contrasting the current Anna’s strict and dignified air.
The chilling cold directed towards Anna made the latter freeze momentarily; even time was affected. The moment Anna’s senses returned a cold hand was already pressed upon her left shoulder.
“Even when things become desperate, you mustn’t choose the immediate path.”
She paused momentarily. Her words carried stagnation, affecting Anna’s reaction time.
“Do not use the Dao of Ice to break through.”
After speaking those words, the future Anna disappeared.
‘Why would I do that..?’
She was comprehending the Dao of Heavenly Phase. It is a Dao made up of Time, Ice, and Causality. It has immense control over its three fields. Once combined, they could influence far more things. This Dao represents the ever-changing states of all things. It emphasizes adaptation of all things, bearing semblances to the Unfettered Wind.
Anna’s thoughts halted as she met her future self’s cold gaze. It was unknown when she stepped in front of Anna. It was as if she was trapped in a cage, unable to discern what was real and fake.
“Trapping oneself in a cage made by one’s doing. How fooling you… of us.”
“...”
Her words struck deep in Anna’s heart.
It started with her experience as a valkyrie. Instead of suffering from the Manila Eruption, her entire team was wiped out when they attempted to investigate World Serpent’s other experimental ground. Anna was the lone survivor.
Since then, she made no efforts to form a connection with others. She barely maintained surface-level formalities with others. Deep down, she was afraid the same thing would happen again. Although it wasn’t big enough to affect her Tao Heart—as evident from her eighth-level breakthrough—it has the potential to grow. A slip of mind is all it takes to create cracks on her Tao Heart.
The gust of cold wind became colder. Their surroundings flickered, showing phantoms fished out of time. All of them bore Anna’s image in certain crucial moments. One of them was a huge fight affecting the cosmos. Another was the collision of three worlds, with her utilizing her Dao’s full power to hold them together. Finally, there was an image of Anna attempting to freeze someone’s phantom, but to no avail. His silhouette flickered out of existence the moment Anna laid her eyes on it.
‘Who… No, he’s familiar.’
Crack-!
Shatter-!
The overwhelming power held by the future Anna pulled her back to reality. Her mind remained stuck on that foreign influence, however.
‘It erased someone’s existence...’ She thought. ‘The Sect Master’s existence was erased from reality?’
It was nothing but a mere memory. Yet, she was almost affected by it!
Swallowing her shock, Anna looked at her future self once more. The latter’s power ran more rampant as time went by. In turn, she looked straight at Anna’s eyes.
“When will you let go?”
*****
Rumble-!
The familiar sharp and grating sounds of thunder pierced Queen Mei’s ears. She looked at her familiar surroundings, her eyes carrying a trace of melancholy. She looked down on the Nagazora City beneath her. Beneath her was the towering building of ME Corporation. It marked the beginnings of her life… as well as the turning point she almost faced.
“I wonder, why did you bring me here?”
Queen Mei’s eyes turned sharp as she looked behind her. She wore the battlesuit belonging to the Herrscher of Thunder, having grown fond of it. Her tall and thin heels were easily managed by her god-like body coordination. The towering red horns on her forehead felt as light as a feather. Her gloved hands already went towards the sheathed sword on her waist.
When she saw the woman spitting identical looks as her, she paused.
‘This familiar power..!’
Queen Mei recalled the sensation given by the future Shi Tian. The woman opposite her gave out the same air, but without that heart-sinking tribulation energy. The future Queen Mei possessed a pair of eyes filled with clarity. It clashed with Queen Mei’s own, making her smile involuntarily.
“You are looking for a fight, aren’t you?”
*****
Art Sources:
Anna: https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/83257363
Mei HoT: https://www.deviantart.com/sculp2/art/Herrscher-of-Thunder-853205844
PS: Over the years, my mind still hasn’t gotten over Mei’s chopstick heels. I keep wondering who could pull off a cosplay like that. They would be a legend if they walked through a cosplay convention with that kind of torturous heels…