Chapter 622: Shadow of the Beginning

“I can’t!”

Su Ye focused his senses inward, perceiving his Nascent Soul and the tripartite, nearly perfected Dao Source Prototype.

At his current realm, he could already sense a mysterious power from the void flowing into his Nascent Soul, accelerating the construction of his Dao Source Prototype.

And this power, according to Su Ye’s observations, was… ‘Providence?’

‘Uniting the Yaoguang Islands under a single rule and expanding frontiers by colonizing the Far South Continent. These two deeds have brought me immense providential support—or, in other words, the blessing of the World Primordial Force!’

That was how Su Ye had managed to polish his Dao Source Prototype to perfection in just twenty years.

But being blessed by the Primordial Force had both benefits and drawbacks. As Su Ye’s cultivation drew ever closer to the Divinity Transformation Realm, he could feel the hidden danger more and more clearly.

Daoization!

The Dao Source wielded by a Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarch was a power at the very foundation of the world.

An infusion of World Primordial Force on top of a Dao Source was equivalent to the manifestation of a certain aspect of this world’s laws!

Even with the mental fortitude of a Divinity Transformation cultivator, if one were to face this great power and absorb the Primordial Force without restraint, they would likely become a puppet with a diminished sense of self, dominated by the will of the Celestial Dao within a few hundred years!

‘The Divinity Transformation cultivator in the volcanic Grotto Heaven probably ended up like that…’ Su Ye mused.

As for the gods of the Far South Continent, who were also Tier 6 beings, why had they not suffered the same fate?

The rules of the world were different.

Or perhaps, the Celestial Dao of this realm did not want too many high-level cultivators.

This could be sensed from the advent of the Crystal Skill, the Celestial Dao’s addition of the Golden Core Tribulation, and the increased power of the Nascent Soul Tribulation.

Beings like Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarchs wielded foundational power, essentially carving out a portion of the Celestial Dao’s authority to form their own independent kingdoms. It was only natural for them to be targeted.

So…

How could one solve the problem of Daoization?

The answer, well, was also simple.

“I’ll just ascend, won’t I?”

Su Ye muttered to himself.

Ascending and breaking through the world’s boundary was the common choice among Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarchs.

To be precise, the term “ascension” wasn’t entirely accurate, as this world had no so-called “upper realm.”

This so-called ascension was merely the act of leaving this world to traverse the cosmic void and wander among many other worlds.

Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarchs could even return, taking the time every few hundred years to check on their old home.

This was why the Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarchs had vanished from the Yaoguang Islands, becoming as elusive as mythical dragons—they weren’t even in this world to begin with!

Of course.

For now, Su Ye was only at Nascent Soul Perfection.

Even if he broke through to the Divinity Transformation Realm, it would take the Celestial Dao a very long time—at least several hundred years—to dominate him.

If Su Ye were to disband the Nanyaoguang Corporation and cut himself off from the providence of the Yaoguang Islands, the time he could hold out would likely more than double. Lasting for around a thousand years would not be difficult.

‘This period of time is perfect for me to finish everything I need to do,’

Su Ye thought to himself.

…

「Ten years later.」

Su Ye ascended to the Divinity Transformation Realm without any trouble.

This was only to be expected. Beforehand, Su Ye had used his power to scour the entire Yaoguang Islands for high-tier resources and upgraded the Ghostly Flood Dragon to Tier 6.

Resisting the Divinity Transformation Tribulation was a piece of cake!

Now that he was a Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarch, not just the Yaoguang Islands, but even the world’s core, the Xuan Continent, could no longer offer him the slightest resistance.

To obtain resources and further strengthen himself and the Ghostly Flood Dragon before ascending, Su Ye declared war on the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty, the rulers of the Xuan Continent to the north of the Yaoguang Islands.

It had to be said, the Xuan Continent’s foundations were more than a cut above those of the Yaoguang Islands!

The imperial family of the Immortal Dynasty, the Three Daoist Sects, the six schools of the Demon Dao, the Buddhist Twin Temples, the Demon Race Ancestral Court… this slew of top powers on the Xuan Continent all possessed Divinity Transformation-level methods as their trump cards!

Dynastic dragon qi, True Spirit Daoist artifacts, Ancient Gods and Demons, Celestial Demon Relics…

Unfortunately for them.

How could Divinity Transformation-level methods compare to a true Divinity Transformation cultivator!

The war for the Xuan Continent lasted nine years and ended in Su Ye’s complete victory. The Great Jin submitted, ceding territory and paying reparations. Of the major powers—the Three Sects, Six Schools, Twin Temples, and one Court—the Demon Race Ancestral Court, which was also a non-human faction, resisted most fiercely and was utterly annihilated.

Three of the six Demon Dao schools were destroyed, while the other three suffered devastating losses and were left unable to recover.

The Daoist and Buddhist factions were smarter; they decisively surrendered, offering up treasures accumulated over millennia, as well as what Su Ye cared about most: the legacy texts of past Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarchs!

After that.

A hundred years passed in a flash. Su Ye advanced to the Mid-stage Divinity Transformation realm, and the Ghostly Flood Dragon was upgraded to mid-grade Tier 6!

As his strength soared, Su Ye could also feel the rate at which his Daoization Level was rising continue to accelerate!

‘So…’

‘After I finish these last two things, it’ll be time to leave this world… Yes, I’ll take Luo Qing’e and the others with me.’

The Ghostly Flood Dragon’s Divine Realm was already vast enough to be comparable to a large country from his past life. Not only was it immense, but it was also self-sufficient, so there were no concerns about supplies.

Su Ye’s friends and family could live comfortably within the Divine Kingdom Space.

Those with lower cultivation, upon reaching the end of their natural lifespans within the Divine Kingdom Space, could have them greatly extended… although the price was being transformed into petitioners, unable to ever leave the Divine Kingdom.

…

Mid-stage Divinity Transformation cultivation and a mid-grade Tier 6 spirit ship.

Once he reached this level, it became extremely difficult to advance further through ordinary means.

According to what Su Ye had learned, most of this world’s Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarchs chose to break through the world boundary and ascend at this stage.

‘However… I’m different from them.’

A smile appeared on Su Ye’s face as he gazed toward the south.

「Several months later.」

He steered the Ghostly Flood Dragon and charged into the Far South Continent, straight into the Boundless Celestial Realm where the deities resided.

Like cracking open a sea urchin, he smashed open the gates of the divine kingdoms and fed the slumbering Southern Deities, along with their realms, to the Ghostly Flood Dragon!

“Delicious!”

Jiaojiao was overjoyed.

From the Northern Territory to the southern territories, from Eternal Hunt to Blood Dragon, and finally… the Nether Mirror! Nearly twenty divine kingdoms were devoured by the Ghostly Flood Dragon!

The Ghostly Flood Dragon’s spirit ship rank ascended to supreme-grade Tier 6.

Furthermore.

By devouring the Nether Mirror, Su Ye gained something else!

‘My Netherworld Skill has improved drastically, and my Daoization Level has decreased!’

‘Do the foundational laws of another world have such a miraculous effect?’

‘No wonder nearly all Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarchs break through the world boundary and ascend, leaving this realm…’

Perhaps the cultivation path beyond Divinity Transformation was to wander through countless worlds, devouring and comprehending their foundational laws of a similar nature. This would refine and sublimate one’s own Dao Source, making it a universal principle across all realms, not just bound to a single one!

A flash of understanding lit up Su Ye’s mind.

…

Next.

He traveled to the Dongning Sea Region, to the Sea Successor Divine Kingdom.

As expected, a Tier 6 Old God was slumbering within.

“You have finally come, my child.”

The terrifying Tier-6 being, which resembled a mountain range covered in countless deep blue tentacles, manifested the phantom of a young girl atop her octopus-like cranium.

This Old God was quite friendly to Su Ye, gifting him an Old God Heart Core that contained the Erosion Flow Skill.

She also gave him a Deep Blue Bone Crown, which could serve as a class-changing item for a [Pastor of the Sea].

Finally, the Old God proposed to join with Su Ye to create a bloodline of Old God descendants, but after Su Ye refused, she let out a sigh of regret.

She then changed her request, asking Su Ye to provide a territory where some of the Sea Successors from her divine kingdom could migrate to the mortal world to live and multiply.

Su Ye agreed to this request.

In fact, he had already created quite a few Sea Successors himself.

Some of the Nanyaoguang Corporation’s high-level executives, as well as the relatives of his current physical body, had been transformed into Sea Successors by him… Of course, they were Sea Successors with shadow abilities, with Su Ye as their progenitor.

Su Ye named them the Yehai Divine Race!

Once the migrating Sea Successors from the divine kingdom formed their own faction, they would be natural allies for the Yehai Divine Race!

‘This way, after I ascend, I won’t have to worry too much about the family I leave behind in the Yaoguang Islands…’

…

「A hundred years later.」

Having advanced to the Late-stage Divinity Transformation realm, Su Ye’s Daoization Level reached a critical point.

He piloted the Ghostly Flood Dragon, broke through the world’s boundary, and ascended. He began exploring numerous worlds within the Boundless Realm Sea, comprehending the foundational laws of each one.

However.

Some worlds were highly exclusionary, rejecting Su Ye as an outsider. To enter them, he needed to entice a certain number of followers to perform sacrificial rituals to open the gateway to their world.

‘To attract followers, I’ll need a venerable name. Daoist Monarch Yehai?’

‘That doesn’t feel right. It could easily expose my home world and create unforeseen problems.’

‘How about…’

‘The [Shadow of the Beginning]?’

From that day forward, the many civilizations in the Boundless Realm Sea had a new evil god to fear: an entity known as the [Shadow of the Beginning].

…

(End of Book)