Injuries of the mind are harder to treat than the ones on the physical body. The effects of the eighth-grade Dao Pill pushed my physical aspect to its pristine state. It isn’t affected by the two huge battles I faced back-to-back. My mind is the one that has troubles. Controlling the pill’s effects was too excessive for it, bringing harm. Other than that, my Tao Heart remained the same, only requiring recovery after tearing apart the concept of nigh-infinity.
All I need to do is to take a break, let my mind recover on its own, and after it does so to a certain extent, consume pills that aid in its recovery. I am ready for the Dao Integration Realm breakthrough, save for my realm itself.
I already comprehended the Dao I am going to use for the breakthrough. All Creation held five Daos as of now—Five Elements, Yin-Yang, Extremity, Void, and Miracles. The first three came from my main cultivation techniques. The Dao of Void came later on with my exposure towards it as well as Kiana’s assistance. Finally, Miracles emerged from Elysia, a byproduct of her nature as a ‘unique’ existence originating from the Cocoon.
Miracles differed from the Brilliant Miracles recorded by the golden orb. Its nature did not lay on its ability to create something out of nothing; or to cause all events to end up in a favorable possibility. Miracles’ nature corresponded to my connections to others, hence it is more apt to view it as Causality. It is the very same Dao that led to the creation of Myriad Spontaneity.
With these five Daos—three major and two supporting—All Creation reached an astonishing level in my hands. This special situation of mine is undocumented throughout all sources written in the golden orb. I did not know whether Miracles would count as a ‘Dao’ at the Dao Integration Realm. That would mean I could skip an entire minor realm and head straight to the middle stage.
If that wouldn’t happen, it is fine too. All Creation was special because of the Daos it holds. For someone with a unique Dao, holding three other Daos is the threshold. After comprehending the other three needed to reach the pinnacle of the Dao Integration Realm, they would have six Daos in their arsenal.
Against other Dao Integration Realm cultivators, they would have a sharper edge.
The other situation working meant I would have eight Daos at the pinnacle of the Dao Integration Realm. I can’t be certain about everything else, but that would be insane.
I have a feeling something would happen at that time. This is, after all, the realm that separated from the golden orb’s generalized immortal cultivation. Having this kind of ‘hierarchy’ meant it could not be removed, nor could it be generalized at all. This change showed how ‘special’ Dao Integration Realm was.
Then there are the feats. While I hadn’t readied the resurrection of the Previous Era yet, Amphoreus is all set.
Other than that, there are only the realm requirements and the corresponding tribulations. The former is the easiest to fulfill. Cultivating to the pinnacle of Void Refinement Realm does the job. The latter is trickier. The tribulation faced at the Dao Integration Realm breakthrough aren’t the typical thunder, wind, or fire tribulations. The three of them are merely a byproduct of spiritual qi turning chaotic, hence removing the Two Phase Art removes them.
The tribulation is a unified Dao Tribulation. It is extremely identical to a heart demon tribulation, only that it is far more potent. We would no longer face illusions, but reality. Our consciousness would get thrown to other worlds, living under that ‘tribulation’ until we surpass it. Failure meant the abandonment of everything attained in immortal cultivation. One could no longer become a cultivator ever again, and when they die, their soul will dissipate thoroughly.
Unlike the previous heart demon tribulations, an eighth-level Tao Heart does not have absolute advantage to this Dao Tribulation. At best, it gives an advantage that increases success in their breakthrough.
Naturally, there are items that could help in this breakthrough, but they are extremely rare. Despite the daily draws, I hadn’t received a single one of them yet. It is reasonable, though. Their origins are extremely high, such as ‘Heart of a World’, ‘Dimensional Rupture Essence’, and so on. Those couldn’t be obtained without destroying a high-level ‘world’. Forget the world itself, its strong combatants alone pose huge risks. The destruction of a world would also kill countless lives.
I am not crazy enough to pull off something like that.
With a thought, I entered my residence at the peak of Mount Tai, the main mountain of the Wushi Dao Sect. Peak seventh-grade formations shielded it in every direction and dimension. The concentration of spiritual qi had long reached eighth-grade.
For lower-level cultivators, high-level spiritual qi is akin to poison. They would suffer from overdose, experiencing qi deviation and the likes. For them, spiritual qi has to be ‘filtered’. A very small portion of the eighth-grade spirit vein present supplied millions of disciples. As for the rest, they supplied higher-leveled cultivators, up until it reached my residence.
The modern-style, two-storey residence held a unique flair to it. The tall and thick enlightenment tree planted on its courtyard carried faint traces of the Enlightenment Dao. It is identical to the one I possessed. The increase of humanity’s strength turned into collective power, raising its level to that of a Dao. I planned on using it to the rest who hadn’t comprehended a Venerated Dao yet. Then, it is the turn of the Nascent Soul Dao Lords. It will continue going down until everyone benefitted from it.
That would be the final sprint before we get exposed to the vast cosmos.
My hand reached out for the indentation on the wooden door. I was about to enter my residence when a glaring thought arose in my mind. It is nothing but pure agitation—a bad premonition, so to speak.
Instinctively, I brought out the bronze coin used for divination. My right thumb flicked it mid-air, sending it spinning. After catching it, I looked at its reading:
Underlying conflict, spawning one’s troubled heart;
All one can do is to tear it apart;
The door opens to the unacknowledge;
Blinding light released from the cage;
A bird’s transformation is at edge.
It is the readings for six, twenty-eight, and thirty-six. These corresponded to conflict, critical mass, and darkening of light.
Conflict is very direct—a fight inwardly or outwardly.
Critical mass showed signs of imbalance, leading to collapse.
Darkening of light indicates a time of great adversity, a turning point in one’s life. It also doubles down as a ‘hidden threat’.
I couldn’t be any more familiar with it.
It is another heart demon bewitchment, much like Leylah's situation. The sole difference is its danger. There are no dangers present. It is deeply hidden, as if it is waiting for my arrival. I thought for a while before choosing not to notify others. It is different from Leylah’s, after all. I cannot risk changing this ‘no danger’ into ‘extreme danger’ because of others’ presence.
I hesitated no longer. Rest can wait. I can explain to others later too.
It is time for round three.