Chapter 886 - 614: The End of the Sixth Life

In the Panwu World, the Mother River rolled on boundlessly.

Chen Sheng stood quietly in the void, his gaze heavy with thought:

"In this life, the three Decline Tribulations are, with high probability, my peak."

Strictly speaking, the fact that he could step into the Daoist Monarch Realm, and even smoothly pass through the three Declines, was already great fortune!

Within the South Pole Lineage, Daoist Monarchs such as Kong Fang, Cang Yuan, and Wan Huan were the best examples.

Before the Celestial Brilliance Immortal Mountain descended, they had already cultivated to Daoist Monarch; their aptitude was, with high probability, even above Chen Sheng’s, yet most of them fell in the second Decline Tribulation.

The Kong Fang Daoist Monarch, whose cultivation was the highest, ultimately still fell under the third Decline, body perishing, Dao extinguished.

"The fourth Decline, the Decline of Wisdom... there is almost not the slightest hope."

Chen Sheng lightly shook his head:

"Unless I can obtain a heaven-defying opportunity and reignite my potential."

However, he held no expectations for such a heaven-defying opportunity.

Though the Celestial Brilliance Immortal Mountain had descended, hiding within it endless opportunities, and even supreme treasures that could help one become an Immortal.

Yet his heart was like a clear mirror—he, a Daoist Monarch San Shuai whose potential was exhausted and path growing narrow, had long since fallen out of the Immortal Mountain Spirit’s consideration, much less could he receive its wholehearted ’investment.’

Thus, for the years to come, Chen Sheng had already made a decision in his heart.

He decided to devote more of his efforts to another matter—Control of Tier Eight Array Dao.

In this way, even if he made no further breakthroughs in this life, he could gain one more Achievement and add another layer of deep foundation for the next cycle of reincarnation.

"My Array Dao Talent is limited, merely that of an Array Dao Heaven’s Chosen."

"But in terms of Cultivation Realm, I have already reached Daoist Monarch San Shuai. I can overlook the mysteries of Array Dao from a high vantage, and I also have the guidance of Loose Immortal inheritances; it is not necessarily hopeless to take this step."

...

Time flowed silently.

The long river of years surged without sound; as Dao Rhyme rose and fell, nearly a hundred more Primordial Assemblies passed.

During these times, Chen Sheng poured all his effort into the research of Array Dao.

Deep within the Panwu World.

He sat cross-legged, array banners circling around him, innumerable Array Dao Runes flowing at his fingertips.

He drew upon the chaotic qi, transforming it into the origin of Array Dao, bit by bit refining and deducing the mysteries of Tier Eight Arrays.

On this day.

Boom——

The Spirit Light around Chen Sheng soared; his Array Dao aura shot into the heavens. He suddenly opened his eyes, unable to hide the wild joy in them:

"I did it! I did it!"

"The Array... has reached Tier Eight!"

He flicked his finger, and dozens of ancient array banners shot forth, Dao Patterns densely covering them, Spirit Light dazzling, rapidly arranging themselves in mid-air.

Buzz——

The void trembled, and a vast Array instantly took shape, Array Light coiling, encompassing heaven and earth, countless Laws flowing within.

Within the Array, a Middle Thousand World abruptly evolved!

Mountains, rivers, stars, living beings—everything was present, Dao Rhyme flourishing.

"Array-derives-Middle-Thousand!"

Chen Sheng laughed aloud, the fanaticism in his eyes burning brighter:

"This is the hallmark of Innate Array Dao! I’ve done it!"

He was still immersed in the joy of breakthrough, unaware that the Dao Rhyme around him had already begun to go chaotic.

Crack——

With a crisp sound, that Middle Thousand World evolved by Array Dao suddenly shattered, the Array Dao aura collapsing in an instant.

Chen Sheng’s whole body shuddered; he violently spat out a mouthful of blood mist, his vision went black, and his consciousness plunged into an abyss, completely losing awareness.

...

Antarctic Immortal Mansion, Clear Profundity Hall.

Qin Jihai, who had already become a Daoist Monarch, sat cross-legged, Yin Yang Dao Rhyme flowing around him as he focused on Enlightenment.

Suddenly, his body stiffened, his brows knitted tightly as he sensed the vast sorrow spreading through heaven and earth.

It was the aura of a Daoist Monarch’s fall, the Great Dao’s mournful wail!

He slowly opened his eyes, filled with grief, and sighed softly:

"Ancestor, go well!"

As his words fell, he rose to his feet and walked slowly to the bell and cauldron outside the hall, raising his hand for a gentle strike.

Dong—— Dong—— Dong——

Nine peals of the bell, deep and far-reaching, echoed throughout the Antarctic Immortal Mansion.

Afterward, beams of Spirit Light shot from his fingertips, transmitting messages to all quarters, as he prepared to hold a grand send-off for the Ancestor.

...

At the same time, in the Southwest of the Spirit Realm.

The Blood Sea surged to the heavens, turbid waves roared, blood-colored mist filled the skies, Evil Qi soared; even the sun and moon were stained scarlet.

One after another, Asura Kings woke from the Blood Sea, their Evil Qi soaring as they sensed the Annihilation of the Father God. They all let out heart-rending wails, their cries shaking realms in every direction.

"Father God!"

Amid these wails, several Asura leaders (Dharma Master Level) rose, stirring the origin of the Blood Sea and sweeping with endless killing intent across many a Small Thousand World.

Wherever they passed, entire worlds were dragged into the Blood Sea, becoming part of it, using this most solemn method to send off their Father God.

...

No one knew how much time had passed.

Chen Sheng’s consciousness slowly awakened from chaos.

Before his eyes, a gentle light appeared, within which a simple, ancient book slowly emerged. Its cover was unadorned, yet it exuded the weight of endless years.

Rustle——

The book opened of its own accord, its pages turning slowly, the sound of paper flipping crisp yet faraway.

One page, two pages, three pages...

In the end, the pages stopped at one marked "Sixth Life."

On the page, golden characters flowed like living things.

[Hundred Generations Book: Sixth Life]

[Host: Chen Sheng]

[End of Lifespan: 512 Assemblies]

[Spiritual Root: Celestial Spirit Root]

[Talent: Sword Dao Heaven’s Chosen, Martial Arts Heaven’s Chosen, Array Dao Heaven’s Chosen, Blood Dao Heaven’s Chosen, Immortal True Spirit...]

[Cultivation: Crossing the Tribulation Third Decline (Tier Eight)]

[Cultivation Technique: "Xuanpin Tongtian Sword Register," "Jiuxiao Inference Array Golden Chapter," "Two Modes Transforming Dao Scripture"...]

[Skills: Tier Seven Array...]

[New Achievement: Tier Eight Cultivator, Tier Seven Sub-profession]

The next moment, countless scenes emerged within the sea of light, flashing past like a revolving lantern, bearing the joys and sorrows of that life.

The hardship of his Cultivation, the joy of breakthroughs, the regret over his disciples’ deaths, his stubborn dedication to the study of Array Dao...

In the end, all images froze on that instant when he was dancing and gesticulating wildly, eyes blazing with madness, laughing like a madman, and then body and spirit both annihilating.

Seeing this scene, Chen Sheng’s whole body trembled as if struck by lightning, and he instantly understood.

He had never truly comprehended Tier Eight Array Dao.

That so-called breakthrough was nothing but the Decline of Wisdom quietly descending, laying a test for him!

And he, unsurprisingly, had failed.

"So that’s how it is..."

He murmured softly, a hint of realization flashing in his eyes:

"Because in that final period, I was obsessed with Array Dao, my obsession too deep, I thus encountered this sort of test."

"If, in my final years, I had been obsessed with breaking through my Realm, I might have faced a false trial of breaking through the fourth Decline..."

"If I had gone out in search of opportunities, I would have encountered illusions of obtaining a heaven-defying opportunity..."

He furrowed his brows slightly, his tone tinged with gravity:

"This Decline of Wisdom is far too sinister; it directly blurred my sense of time, confusing reality and illusion."

"It practically just makes people stupid outright."

"Otherwise, as a Daoist Monarch San Shuai, it would be absolutely impossible for me to have no concept of time and fail to sense the arrival of the Decline!"

However, after this sigh, Chen Sheng merely shook his head lightly:

"In the end, my Realm was still not enough."

A moment later, the page marked "Sixth Life" slowly closed.

Rustle——

A brand-new page gently unfolded, a few lines of golden characters lighting up like stars, clear and distinct:

[Sixth Life concluded]

[In this life, you have accumulated two new Achievements and may unlock two new Talents!]

Before Chen Sheng could respond, these lines of golden text suddenly transformed into countless tiny streams of light, flowing and converging within the sea of light.

Gradually, the streams of light condensed into two luminous orbs of different colors.

Whoosh—— Whoosh——

The two light orbs shot straight into the blank page. As their radiance flickered, five lines of new golden script slowly surfaced upon the page.

[Talent obtained——Dimension Demon God]

[Talent obtained——Taiyin Dao Seed]