Chapter 530 - 528: Breakthrough, the Star Sea’s Suppression

Chapter 530: Chapter 528: Breakthrough, the Star Sea’s Suppression

At this very moment.

Su Qing had already entered the Void Realm.

He was piloting his Little Flying Car, heading toward an even more remote and desolate Star Realm.

He was doing this to be on the safe side.

After all, Su Qing was preparing for a breakthrough.

The transition from the Dao Fruit Realm to Dao Transformation was a crucial stage.

The Dao Fruit stage was about cultivating these powers to their absolute limit.

Dao Transformation, on the other hand, was about making all these powers truly one’s own, becoming the sole proprietor of this formidable strength.

This required all of Su Qing’s Dao Fruits to fuse together, forging his own, unique path.

This was the essence of Dao Transformation.

It was different from the Star Sea’s Merging Dao. Merging Dao meant integrating with the authority of the Star Sea, becoming the sole entity in control of that authority.

However, not all paths were the same. For instance, many might walk the Devouring Dao Path. But when they broke through via Merging Dao, as long as they didn’t merge with the Devouring Dao Path alone, their uniqueness would remain.

However, their power would be diluted.

Merging Dao sought power externally, while Dao Transformation sought it from within.

They were fundamentally different.

After flying for some time, Su Qing brought the Little Flying Car to a halt.

He still felt the Void Realm was the best place for his breakthrough.

In the Void Realm, Su Qing was practically the only being in existence.

Moreover, due to its inherent Standardization, no other living creatures could appear in the Void Realm.

’I’ll achieve Dao Fruit Perfection right here.’

Su Qing still had many things to do.

The Void Realm was the perfect setting. Most importantly, even if some of his power were to leak out, the amount would be negligible.

Su Qing waited quietly as his Cultivation Technique, operating on its own, accumulated the final sliver of Skill Level he needed.

Host: Su Qing

Realm: Dao Fruit Realm [Great Dao Cultivation Method: Dao Fruit (Perfection)]

The moment his Great Dao Cultivation Method reached Perfection, Su Qing’s body, soul, and even the Dao Fruits on his Dao Tree all began to radiate a brilliant light.

Most critically, it felt as though something immense had been forcefully crammed into his mind, rendering him immobile.

Vast amounts of knowledge flooded into his soul.

He didn’t realize that at the very instant he achieved Dao Fruit Perfection, the space and time in the surrounding Star Sea had frozen completely.

Space congealed, the Power of Life erupted, and the Power of the Stars surged...

At this moment, the power of his Dao Paths was completely unrestrained.

Fortunately, because Su Qing had left the Star Sea Center and was currently in the Void Realm, none of this power escaped.

With his Dao Fruit at Perfection, Su Qing could now completely master the Power of Time.

...

「Several Taichu Eras passed.」

Everything within the Void Realm returned to tranquility.

The strange phenomena ceased.

Su Qing retracted all of his power.

’Time Pause... No, this Time Pause isn’t enough to cover the entire Star Sea.’

’It’s too localized. In the vastness of the Star Sea, my power is like a single drop of water falling into the ocean. It makes a splash, but it’s ultimately useless.’

’No wonder so many choose Merging Dao over Dao Transformation.’

Dao Transformation was still about seeking power internally and then growing stronger over time.

With Merging Dao, on the other hand, one could become incomparably powerful in an instant by truly fusing with the power of the Star Sea.

Of course, it had its limits. The power from Merging Dao was only effective within the Star Sea.

It was power borrowed from the Star Sea.

And naturally, one would also be bound by the Star Sea.

’It’s time for the breakthrough.’

’From now on, no living being will be able to restrain me!’ A smile touched Su Qing’s lips.

He had already rehearsed the method for breaking through to the Thirteenth Realm with his Great Dao Cultivation Method in his mind countless times.

’Success was the only option; failure was not a possibility.’

The aura around Su Qing began to stir once more.

All the power within him erupted at once.

The Dao Fruits on his Dao Tree, in particular, exploded in an instant under the guidance of his will.

The entire Dao Tree began to sublimate, emitting a boundless light. The tree, which had no physical substance, became even more ethereal, yet the mighty power it contained grew even stronger.

Su Qing was completely immersed in the process.

He had to break through.

He had to achieve Dao Transformation.

Only then could Su Qing stand without fear of any expert. He was already at the apex; why should he fear his contemporaries?

At first, the breakthrough proceeded with exceptional smoothness.

This was to be a protracted breakthrough.

It was a complete sublimation of his being, and thus, it would take a very long time.

Ten years?

Twenty years?

The process continued for nearly fifty years.

Su Qing’s aura suddenly surged, but in the next instant...

Su Qing’s body abruptly burst apart.

Only to reform once more.

Su Qing’s aura was in utter chaos.

Disbelief filled his eyes.

’What in the world is happening?’

’Why can’t I break through to the Dao Transformation realm?’

He was stuck.

He was even suffering from a backlash from the breakthrough’s power.

To put it simply, the breakthrough was only half-finished.

He hadn’t fully broken through.

But now, Su Qing was trapped in this state.

It was as if, within this space, the power of the Thirteenth Realm was completely out of reach.

Even someone like Su Qing was being brutally suppressed.

’The Star Sea... the Star Sea Tree!’

Su Qing’s thoughts immediately jumped to the Star Sea Tree. Could it be the one suppressing him?

’To break through to the Thirteenth Realm, you have to borrow its power.’

’But you’re also bound by it!’

Su Qing’s aura was unstable.

Anger raged unceasingly in his heart.

’To think I could be affected even in the Void Realm.’

Or perhaps... the Void Realm was a place completely cut off from all external power, and that’s why Su Qing had failed.

With this thought, Su Qing piloted his Little Flying Car toward the distant Star Sea Wilderness.

「A year later.」

The starry sky here was incredibly dim, and it teemed with negative energy.

But for Su Qing, this had no effect whatsoever.

He exited the Void Realm.

’Time to try again.’

’The Void Realm might not have allowed the breakthrough, but if you, Star Sea, still refuse to let me...’

A dangerous glint appeared in Su Qing’s eyes.

But he eventually managed to calm himself.

He would attempt the breakthrough once more.

This time, it wouldn’t take as long.

A mere ten years passed.

Su Qing’s aura surged once again.

But in the end...

Su Qing’s body suddenly detonated.

And once again, he reformed.

This time, Su Qing was even weaker than before.

’I knew it! The Star Sea is part of the problem, too!’

’No wonder so many Daoist Cultivators choose Merging Dao!’

Su Qing’s complexion was pale, and his foundation had become unstable.

It would be a miracle if he were unharmed after failing the breakthrough twice.

"Heh..."

A murderous glint appeared in Su Qing’s eyes. He was going to chop down the Star Sea Tree!

Su Qing was furious.

But in the next moment...

The Cosmic Immortal Transformation Map suddenly cleared his mind, and his thoughts grew much calmer.

’It’s just like with my Master of Mountains and Rivers... I also restrict it so that only Tier Ten Cultivators can appear.’

’I can’t blame the Star Sea Tree.’

Su Qing calmed himself, knowing that his emotions had just been dangerously swayed.

Still, the matter of his breakthrough had to be resolved.

’I have to resolve this.’

’If the Star Sea Tree is open to discussion, then all is well. If not... then don’t blame me for what happens next.’

Su Qing fell silent.

He took out his Little Flying Car and set a course for the Star Sea Center.

Su Qing was still seething inwardly.

Nevertheless, he suppressed his anger and took a Healing Elixir infused with Standardization.

He sat cross-legged to recover his aura.

’I was so close to achieving Dao Transformation.’

’Star Sea Tree!’

Frustration churned within Su Qing.

’But I’ll see how the negotiations go first.’

If the outcome of their discussion didn’t align with his goals—if it didn’t allow him to achieve Dao Transformation—then he couldn’t be blamed for destroying the Star Sea Tree.

’With the sword in my hand...’

’...the Star Sea Tree won’t be able to withstand the power of Standardization.’

「Over a year later.」

Su Qing once again returned to a familiar place.

He arrived at his Source Star. It had changed a great deal, yet much of it remained the same.

"Master."

The Immortal Enlightenment Tree King was still here.

Its power had already reached the Tenth Realm Daoist Initial Realm.

"I’ll be staying here for a while," Su Qing said, "to think some things over."

The power within Su Qing’s body was still unstable.

He needed to consolidate it.

He also needed time to think about how to deal with the Star Sea Tree.

If he truly damaged the Star Sea Tree just to break through to the Thirteenth Realm, Su Qing would be changing the fate of many things.

He had no idea what sort of changes such an act would bring to the Star Sea.

...