Start from a baby to become a Taoist

Chapter 478 You... actually did it!

486 chapters...you actually did it!

However, not all beings corrupted by the void can be easily transformed. In some remote corners of the universe, some "void aberrations," completely assimilated by the power of the void and even giving birth to self-awareness, were once vanguards under the command of the Lord of the Void. Now, illuminated by the torch, they are plunged into unprecedented chaos and suffering. Their essence is "nothingness," yet the torch has forcibly injected them with the laws of "existence." This contradiction causes their bodies to constantly disintegrate and reform, emitting silent wails.

Xu Qinghan's consciousness swept over these deformed beings, without pity or disgust, only a transcendent calm. She knew this was the inevitable price of the universe's transformation. Her torch was not an indiscriminate salvation, but rather followed the laws of the universe's great cycle. Those beings unable to withstand the transformation would ultimately return to "nothingness," becoming part of the chaotic origin, awaiting the next sprouting of "being."

"The flame burns eternally, yet it has its order." Her will echoed in the void, each word containing the supreme truth of the universe.

Deep within the primordial chaos, the "Ultimate Nothingness," which once bore the will of the void's origin, is now completely enveloped by the Seed of Eternity. Nourished by the flames, the Seed of Eternity is no longer the indistinct rune it once was; it shines like a brilliant star, containing within it a miniature universe. Within it, gold and black intertwine, life and death cycle, annihilation and vitality are no longer opposed, but rather mutually nourishing and fulfilling each other.

Xu Qinghan could sense that although the original consciousness of "My Lord," who had once uttered such a grand will, had dissipated, its ultimate interpretation of "nothingness" and profound understanding of "entropy" had been perfectly absorbed and transformed by the Seed of Eternity. It was no longer the terminator of the universe, but had become the perfect executor of the "Return to Nothingness" stage in the great cycle of the universe. It ensured that the end of "existence" was not a complete annihilation, but rather provided the purest nourishment and space for the next birth of "existence."

Where is the former "Lord of Nothingness," the being whom "My Lord" revered as a servant?

Xu Qinghan's consciousness pierced through layers of void and finally found his trace at the edge of the universe, in a desolate place that had not yet been fully touched by the River of Fire.

He was no longer the blurry figure shrouded in nothingness, but had transformed into a stone statue seated cross-legged in the void. Countless fine chains of nothingness were wrapped around the statue, each chain connecting to the remnants of a civilization utterly obliterated by nothingness. His breath was faint, as if he might dissipate with the wind at any moment, but deep within his tightly closed eyes, a trace of resentment and confusion still lingered.

The instant "My Lord" was transformed by the Flame and merged into the Origin of Chaos, the Lord of Nothingness suffered an unimaginable backlash. His connection with "My Lord" was forcibly severed, and the "Nothingness" law upon which he depended for existence was reversed by the Flame, plunging him into unprecedented weakness and chaos. He attempted to resist, trying to reassemble the power of nothingness, but the "eternal" aura emanating from the Origin of Chaos acted like an invisible net, completely imprisoning him.

Xu Qinghan's will descended, transforming into a golden-black stream of light that hovered in front of the stone statue.

"Lord of Nothingness." Her voice carried an inexplicable majesty, yet also contained a detached tranquility.

The stone statue trembled violently, and its tightly closed eyes slowly opened. The indifference and coldness of the past were gone, replaced by confusion and struggle. It saw Xu Qinghan, saw the chaotic light flowing around her, and felt the "eternal" aura that made it instinctively tremble, yet was irresistible.

"You...you actually did it..." The Lord of Nothingness's voice was hoarse and weak, as if billions of years had weighed on him. He had once believed that only "My Lord" could truly control "Nothingness," while "Existence" would eventually perish. But this being before him, this "Ignite of the Flame," had overturned all his understanding.

“Our Lord was not obliterated, but transformed and integrated into the great cycle of the universe,” Xu Qinghan said calmly. “The ‘nothingness’ you cling to is not the end, but the other side of ‘existence’. Birth and death, existence and non-existence, are all part of eternity.”

The Lord of Nothingness fell silent, the phantom of a golden-black tai chi vortex reflected in his deep eyes. He had once been the spokesperson for "nothingness," the executor of the universe's entropy increase, but now he felt that the "Tao" he had clung to had been completely overturned.

“I…I have nothing left to rely on…” he whispered, his voice filled with despair. His power was fading, and his existence was being redefined.

“You were once the executor of ‘nothingness,’ and now you can also become the guardian of ‘return to nothingness.’” Xu Qinghan’s voice resonated deep within his soul like the morning bell and evening drum. “The universe needs the vitality of ‘existence,’ and it also needs the return to nothingness. Only in balance can there be eternity.”

She stretched out her hand, and the golden-black chaotic fire in her palm flickered. From that flame, a faint yet incredibly resilient chain of laws extended out, touching the stone statue of the Lord of Nothingness.

"Would you be willing to use your existence to protect the 'Return to Nothingness' path of the universe? To ensure that all things, at the end, can return to the origin of chaos in their purest form, awaiting the next cycle of reincarnation?"

The statue of the Lord of Nothingness trembled violently. He could sense that the chain of laws was not a constraint, but a completely new "definition," a "rebirth" that freed him from the obsession with "destruction." He had once been the terminator of the universe, but now he had the opportunity to become the "gatekeeper" of the cosmic cycle.

After a long silence, the confusion in the eyes of the Lord of Nothingness gradually dissipated, replaced by a complex light. He saw the civilizations he had personally destroyed over countless eons of time, their cries of despair, and their faint glimmer of life rekindled under the glow of the torch.

“I…will…” His voice was low and hoarse, like an ancient vow.

The instant he uttered this vow, the ethereal chains binding him shattered, transforming into countless black specks of light that merged into his body. The stone statue began to crack, then reformed at an incredible speed.

He was no longer a cold stone statue, but had transformed into a man draped in a long black robe, yet surrounded by a faint golden light. His face was handsome yet pale, his eyes as deep as the endless void, yet flickering with a faint glow of embers. He was both "nothingness" and "existence," the intersection of "return to nothingness" and "rebirth."

"I, the Watcher of Nothingness, pay homage to the Lord of the Eternal Flame." He knelt on one knee, his voice filled with an unprecedented piety and reverence. Xu Qinghan nodded slightly. She knew this was not a simple submission, but a redefinition of the laws of the universe. The Watcher of Nothingness would become a crucial link in balancing birth and death within the great cycle of the universe.

"Get up." Her voice was gentle yet firm. "Your duty is to guard the 'Ruins' of the universe, ensuring that every end is for a better beginning."

The Void Watcher rose, feeling a new power within him—a power that encompassed both nothingness and life. He knew he was no longer the fanatical destroyer he once was, but had become a guardian of cosmic order.

Deeper into the universe, ancient beings, corrupted and even distorted by the power of nothingness, also sensed this earth-shattering change.

Some colossal cosmic beasts, slumbering for billions of years, were once chaotic beings at the dawn of the universe. They had fallen into slumber under the erosion of nothingness, even being corrupted by its power. Now, their massive bodies trembled, the void imprints within them forcibly stripped away by the power of the River of Fire, emitting roars of pain and liberation. Awakening from their slumber, they gazed blankly into the depths of the universe, sensing that new aura of "eternity."

Some ancient civilizations, once dazzling jewels in the universe, were utterly obliterated in the torrent of nothingness, leaving only fragmented remnants of their laws. Now, nourished by the flame, these fragments begin to coalesce again. Though they cannot fully restore their former glory, they do reveal traces of their existence, becoming historical imprints in the long river of flame.

In a mysterious dimension of the universe, an ancient deity, forgotten by the river of time, once the core of faith for a powerful civilization, was stripped of his divinity by the erosion of nothingness, reduced to a withered shell. Now, from his tightly closed eyes, two streams of golden tears flowed. He felt the call of the torch, the hope of his divinity returning. He knew that the era once shrouded in nothingness had finally passed.

However, the vastness and complexity of the universe far exceed the imagination of any living being. The eternal arrival of the flame, while bringing hope and new life, also disrupted the old balance and triggered a new upheaval.

In the desolate frontiers of the universe, far removed from the main currents of the cosmic river, in some hidden places untouched by the power of nothingness, dwell ancient and powerful beings—primordial beings that existed since the dawn of the universe. They indifferently watch the outcome of this epic battle. They did not participate, nor were they ever corrupted by nothingness, for their very existence is a chaos transcending both "being" and "non-being."

When the primordial chaos finally stabilized and the river of eternity flowed through the universe, the consciousness of these primordial beings fluctuated for the first time. They sensed the momentous change in the very origin of the universe and the birth of a new "Lord of the Eternal Flame."

"The flame...eternal?" An ancient and grand will echoed in the void, the voice carrying a hint of curiosity, a hint of scrutiny, and an indescribable transcendence.

This will was not directed at Xu Qinghan, but at the concept of "eternity" itself. In the eyes of these primordial beings, everything in the universe has its end, and even they themselves are merely a "stage" in a long period of time. The word "eternity" is so foreign to them, yet so... alluring.

Xu Qinghan's consciousness merged with the primordial chaos, and she naturally sensed the fluctuations of these primordial beings. She did not respond, but instead cast the light of the River of Fire even more firmly into every corner of the universe. She knew that true eternity was not achieved overnight, but required the sedimentation and evolution of countless years.

She could sense that, nourished by the long river of time, some ancient laws, obliterated by nothingness, were being re-formed in a completely new way. These laws were no longer singular or biased, but rather "eternal laws" encompassing birth and death, existence and non-existence. They were like the skeleton of the universe, supporting this new era.

At the core of the primordial chaos, the Seed of Eternity pulsed continuously, each pulse accompanied by the breath of the universe. Xu Qinghan's consciousness had now transcended the realm of an individual being; she had become the embodiment of the will of the universe, the source and the end of the river of fire.

She began to explore a deeper level of mastery over the transformation between "existence" and "non-existence." With a single thought, she could revive a withered star, or cause a blazing star to vanish in an instant, transforming into the purest energy to nourish the cosmos. This power was not destruction, but rather the ultimate control and recycling of cosmic energy.

She can even use the flame as a guide to sketch the phantoms of civilizations that have been extinguished in the void. These phantoms are not real, but they are proof that they once existed, the flame's remembrance of history. She can allow those lingering souls to briefly reappear in the phantoms, to utter their final cries, and then, with a trace of peace, to completely merge into the long river of flame. This is a respect for life, and also a compassion for the "return to nothingness."

"The flame burns eternally, remembering everything, embracing everything." Her voice, in the void, transformed into an invisible law, imprinted on every corner of the universe.

As time went by, the era of eternal torch relay truly arrived.

The universe is no longer the desolate wasteland shrouded in the shadow of nothingness. A long river of fire, like a dazzling galaxy, stretches across the endless void, illuminating the darkness and nourishing life. Countless new galaxies are born under the light of this fire, and new civilizations sprout under its guidance.

Those star systems once enslaved by the Lord of Nothingness are now, under the guidance of the Watchers of Nothingness, beginning an orderly cycle of "return to nothingness" and "rebirth." Some stars that are too large and too ancient, upon reaching the end of their lives, no longer collapse in chaos, but are transformed into the purest energy under the guidance of the Watchers of Nothingness, returning to the origin of chaos to provide nourishment for the birth of new stars.

This is a grand and orderly cycle, a cosmic dance that transcends the comprehension of living beings.

Although Xu Qinghan's figure had merged with the primordial chaos, her will transformed into countless incarnations of flames, appearing in every corner of the universe. She became a newborn star, illuminating a bewildered civilization; she became an ancient law, guiding the cultivation of living beings; she even became a mortal, lighting the first flame on a certain planet, teaching living beings how to pass on hope.

She is no longer a lofty deity, but an omnipresent "eternity".

(End of this chapter)