A figure drenched in its own blood emerged from the slaughter world. In its eyes, an unyielding belief to never concede radiated. As it appeared, the many observers were intrigued. They examined the figure with rapt attention.

“I...did...it…” A tender, feminine voice resounded. Those eyes filled with unyielding belief trembled, returning back to a gaze as soft as water. Ya Qinqan was the first to defeat the ninth level and emerge.

Her ninth level obstacle was thirty-three half step Origin Core cultivators. To overcome this struggle was beyond difficult for her. Her talent, foundation, nor cultivation was the highest possible, but she had one thing that kept her strong - her will.

An unyielding belief and desire to succeed. With this, her comprehension in both her arts and conceptual law jumped an entire level. She experienced a baptism of combat and refinement of her will that drew out her greatest potential.

“To think...she’s first.” Yan Zaizen was inwardly shocked. Ya Qinqan always had something special about her, not just her beauty, but this was the first time he personally saw it. As a spectator, he witnessed her entire struggle from start to finish.

It was reminiscent of a hero overcoming struggles and rising above all. Regardless of the obstacle, regardless of the trial, they’ll always overcome it.

“This girl has an exceptional will, natural battle instincts, and comprehension under pressure,” Pinaka commented, even she felt disbelief at Ya Qinqan’s success. “My former master once said that those with these characteristics are the worst to make an enemy of and the greatest to make a disciple of.”

“...” Yan Zaizen stayed silent. His emotions were rather complex.

After Ya Qinqan, another left the array. He was a burly man with no pupils in his eyes. He had a ferocity to him and his teeth were silver and sharp. He was a hybrid. His bloodline was mixed with a divine beast and human. If he was simply a divine beast, his cultivation would be at the True Essence Realm at the minimum. Only those hybrids can take human form without being Divine Beasts and typically traveled the Essence Path.

His name was Coorg, the son of Grimm.

“Hmph, coming out second.” Grimm seemed displeased as he coldly snorted but if one saw his eyes, they would see it filled with deep pride. Several others exited, including Shin Xuanji.

Unfortunately, Lin Feilin relied on external methods to protect her life and was taken out of the slaughter array. Others followed suit, leaving only six.

Ya Qinqan, Coorg, Shin Xuanji, Yan Qiu, Xiantu Na, and Wu Zen.

Xiantu Na was the third member of the top beauties in Xiantu Realm and the grandniece of the Xiantu Emperor. Wu Zen was the direct son of the Wu Clan’s Ancestor and next in line to take the chief position in the clan.

They were each bloodied from head to toe except Xiantu Na. She looked as if she wasn’t touched once in the array.

They were brought away by a mysterious force, cleaned up, and taken to the banquet. All of them were sent before the Xiantu Emperor and the others. The gazes of the top experts were honed on each of their bodies. They were analyzing their features and making considerations. Not as to who will claim the Xiantu Emperor’s dao, but who they personally favored. With Xiantu Yu’s fall, Xiantu Na was the only choice to them for dao bestowment.

The Xiantu Emperor had a profound gaze as he looked at each one of them, his gaze not lingering on any. “Congratulations for passing the Xiantu Dao Trials! Your success has determined your astonishing talent, will, and potential. You’ll be rewarded accordingly and given the opportunity to join the Xiantu Guard.”

When these words were said, the only one whose eyes lit up in excitement was Croog. As for the others, they add had varied expressions from solemnity to indifference. One could see that they hoped to be selected to possess the Xiantu Emperor’s dao. If they had one, they could take their first step towards the heavens.

“As for my selection…” His gaze swept them all once more. This time, he stopped on Shin Xuanji for a moment, his eyes flickering, but it shifted to another. “Ya Qinqan.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

Everyone was silent. Xiantu Na had a look of disbelief. Croog’s eyes widened to the size of eggs. Shin Xuanji glanced curiously over and saw Ya Qinqan’s intense reaction of stillness brought about by shock. Yan Qiu pouted her lips but she didn’t seem to care much, her gaze subtly looked around for Yan Zaizen’s figure. Wu Zen only closed his eyes, his thoughts kept hidden.

The attendants at the banquet and selection were just as silent with similar or even greater reactions.

“Haha. Makes sense.” Yan Zaizen wasn’t shocked at his choice after seeing the earlier events. He looked towards the Xiantu Emperor and felt this man truly was interesting.

“His dao is the Mortal Dao of Belief. Ya Qinqan’s determination, ruthlessness, and personal belief in herself led her to this moment. Typically, the belief in something or someone else, such as gods or idols, but to have the belief in yourself is definitely more suited.” Pinaka commented with a neutral tone, but she criticized, “It’s only a lower-tier Mortal Dao, not even a peak one.”

Yan Zaizen looked towards Shin Xuanji. From his posture and aura, he had severe indifference towards the selection. It seemed more like a means to an end, but not the end all, be all.

With a light chuckle, he walked over amidst all the surrounding gazes. He arrived next to Shin Xuanji and the others. The Xiantu Emperor’s eyes were calm as he looked towards Yan Zaizen obvious sign of disrespect and disruption. As for Yan Zaizen, he didn’t even consider the Xiantu Emperor’s gaze.

He had an instinctual feeling that this Xiantu Emperor and he would never be allies. They may not be enemies, but this man lived for himself and only himself. It’s not that Yan Zaizen disliked this mentality, but it was those eyes filled with endless schemes of benefits that shook his mind.

At first, he intended to travel with the Xiantu Emperor to explore some realm, but now that his cultivation had increased, his instincts were screaming fatal danger whenever he thought of it or looked at the Xiantu Emperor. It was as if he could hear the winds of time inform him that only danger and death awaited him.

He didn’t like this feeling. In the end, he decided to decline the Xiantu Emperor’s proposal and leave. When he consulted Pinaka about this matter, she informed him that cultivators cultivate the very heavens. The reason why he could feel profound danger in combat, deadly crisis or a draw of some unknown force was due to this. The whispers of heaven.

Acting on and measuring this feeling could lead to both misfortune and fortune, death or life. Yan Zaizen decided to act on this feeling.

“Congratulations, Eighth Brother.” When those words resounded, everyone turned to Shin Xuanji. Shin Xuanji turned around to see Yan Zaizen. His eyes were calm and he remembered the brief moments he had with this man.

The bath.

The forest.

The dungeon.

Now, here.

They may be short, but each had a profound effect and led to this very moment. If Han Genji never brought Yan Zaizen to the mountain at that time, he would’ve been killed by the Earthly Titan Sect. In truth, unbeknownst to him, he also wouldn’t have had his daughter or wife if Yan Zaizen never, unintentionally, slaughtered the elders of the Blood Fiend Sect.

Fate worked in odd ways.

Now, here he stood. Looking completely different, exuding an aura of exceptional power and profound status. The eyes of many looked at him with wariness, fear, respect, and desire. Yet, he only had a warm, calm smile on his face.

Shin Xuanji placed his hand on his mask. Slowly, he removed it. As his face was revealed, Yan Zaizen lightly chuckled. The young man he saw in that bath once more was before him with little difference.

“I feel we’re connected by fate, by a bond. What do you say, will you accept my Dao?” Yan Zaizen words shocked all who heard it.

“...” Shin Xuanji looked at Yan Zaizen with the most serious set of eyes imaginable. There was no excitement or any other emotion, but bone-crunching seriousness. “How does it compare?” In truth, Shin Xuanji didn’t know much about the dao, not many did. He only knew that it was needed to step towards the heavens.

Seeing this, Yan Zaizen carefreely chuckled once more. “In terms of the Dao, my Dao could be compared to the sun. His? A comet.” Yan Zaizen plainly said causing everyone to feel incredibly shocked. This was insulting one’s dao! To think he would do such a thing right next to the Xiantu Emperor!

When others expected the Xiantu Emperor to take action, he only stayed silent, observing it all indifferently. This immediately triggered all sorts of thoughts in their minds. The first and most prevalent: ‘he doesn’t dare to act!’

“...I accept.” Shin Xuanji answered calmly. With his intelligence, he felt that this ‘Ninth Brother’ of his had a strength that vastly exceeded the emperor. If that was the case, then he’ll accept.

Ya Qinqan bit her lips, her initial shock wearing off as she watched this exchange. To her, this was a grand moment. Her grand moment. Then, Yan Zaizen shows up and pretty much tells everyone that her success, the dao of the emperor, was trash.

In truth, it was in comparison. Yan Zaizen had a peak upper-tier dao. Mortal Daos were divided into three tiers, lower, middle, and upper. Yan Zaizen’s dao was formulated from multiple peak lower-tier and middle-tier daos in the most perfect and synergetic way possible, reaching the highest standard.

With it having multiple daos embedded within, it was easier to bestow it to others. As long as they held a compatibility to a single aspect of his dao, it was possible to obtain the entire thing. Not to mention, it was hundreds, if not thousands, of times more powerful than a lower-tier dao.

“I believe, in the future, you’ll structure your own dao.” As he said that, he placed his index finger on Shin Xuanji’s glabella. A light of dark-amber emerged on the point of contact, exuding an aura of peak sovereignty! All those who bore witness, including the Xiantu Emperor, had their souls tremble.

Dao Bestowment!

The action of bestowing a dao was easy if one trains in it. With Pinaka’s help, his application of Dao Bestowment was phenomenal. After all, he intended to bestow it to Tao.

Shin Xuanji felt something enter his soul but didn’t resist. If Yan Zaizen wanted to harm him, he could’ve killed him before or any second before now. A warmth filled his soul as a dark-amber diamond formed in his soul form, floating stationary at its center. It exuded an aura of unyielding confidence and tyrannical ferocity.

His eyes flickered with dark-amber light, but his expression remained calm. If Shin Xuanji had a dao that resonated within him, it was either Original Warmth or Somber Calmness. One is a characteristic of never losing the piece of yourself despite tragedy and the other was a calmness in one’s heart, even if you feel fear, hatred, or weakness. You’ll remain calm in the darkest of times.

It was this type of calmness that led Shin Xuanji to persist in leading the Earthly Titan Sect for three years in lies. As for his warmth, that was gained from his own family, something he lost before.

The action happened quickly and everyone was absolutely shocked. Typically, a bestowal required weeks of struggle and there’s a chance it may fail if the person is incompatible. Yet, this wasn’t the case. It took seconds and formulated perfectly.

“Thanks.” Shin Xuanji said, his tone filled with gratitude. This single word contained thanks for everything, including saving him before. Shin Xuanji felt that he owed Yan Zaizen too much.

“Mhm.” Yan Zaizen looked at the Xiantu Emperor. The Xiantu Emperor returned his gaze. As they clashed, Yan Zaizen had a feeling that this man was a walking calamity. However, this gaze pretty much informed the emperor that Shin Xuanji was now under his protection.

He turned away, he gave Eke’s group a warm smile of thanks. Taking a step forward, he left as if he entered an imaginary painting, vanishing from everyone’s gaze.

“He…” A guard was stunned. The hall had spatial arrays to prevent spatial void manipulation, but Yan Zaizen simply vanished. They didn’t know that he entered chaotic space and not the spatial void.

As Yan Zaizen reappeared, he was on the desk of the Heretical Lightning Skyship. His gaze flickered. “Eighth Brother…” He had a faint feeling that the myriad realms will need someone like him one day.

Bai Lufeng was at the helm looking outwards. He felt a familiar aura and turned to see Yan Zaizen. With a smile, he asked, “Where shall we go?”

Tao arrived on deck at about the same time, feeling a familiar aura arrive as well.

With a smile, he looked towards Tao, “The myriad realms awaits.”

A light shined in each of their eyes. A light of adventure.