Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

The Cloud Top Grassland and the northern snow-capped mountains are covered by snow all year round, with snow-capped mountains one after another, the highest of which almost pierces the clouds.

But today, a snow-capped mountain that had been silent for countless years suddenly began to tremble violently.

boom!

The mountainside split open, and the accumulated snow collapsed to both sides like ocean waves.

A dark blue spatial rift slowly tore open from the depths of the rock wall.

Zhou Jingming was the first to rush out from the middle. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he immediately turned around and reached out to support the people behind him.

Su Xingmian and Chen Mo followed closely behind.

Between the two, there was an old Taoist priest with a full head of white hair, whose breath was extremely weak.

Compared to half a month ago, the Celestial Master of Xiayuan Prefecture seemed to have aged several decades in an instant.

His once straight back was now bent, his face was covered with wrinkles, his eyes were sunken, and even walking had become extremely difficult.

Zhou Jingming quickly stepped forward and supported his other arm.

"Old man, slow down. I already told you, I'll carry you out, okay?"

The Celestial Master of the Lower Yuan Prefecture glanced at him.

"Having just entered the realm of myriad forms, you already feel that this humble Taoist can no longer even walk?"

His voice remained firm, but after he finished speaking, he started coughing.

"Cough cough..."

Large amounts of blood fell on the snow, only to be covered by the wind and snow in the blink of an eye.

The smile on Zhou Jingming's face slowly disappeared. He stopped arguing and simply helped the old Taoist priest to a more stable position.

For half a month, they traveled a long way through the ancient secret realm left behind by the Heart-to-Heart Gate.

There are no powerful enemies there, but there are countless tests of the mind.

With each step forward, you have to confront the things you least want to remember.

Zhou Jingming saw his childhood self again.

At that time, he was still living with his maternal grandfather in a remote town.

No one has ever told him who his parents are, where they went, or whether they are still alive.

The town's children would surround him and call him a bastard, and they would deliberately ask him if his parents didn't want him because he was too annoying.

Zhou Jingming always laughed, louder than anyone else, as if he didn't care at all.

Later, he even joined in cursing himself.

If you act nonchalant enough, those words won't seem so hurtful.

But only he himself knew.

Every night, he would secretly hide under the covers, fantasizing that one day his parents would suddenly come back.

Tell him that it's not that you don't want him, but that you've encountered something that forces you to leave.

Later, he met Chen Mo and Su Xingmian.

Although these two guys complained, they never abandoned him when he was in danger.

Later, she met Gu Changjin.

That mysterious Brother Gu, despite being the Speaker of the Blue Star Federation, accompanied them to explore secret realms and eat fried rice.

Do not accept any of the cultivation methods, mental objects, or spiritual aids you find.

They only took the black stones that they considered useless, and even passed on a more powerful blood refining technique to them, and even gave him the authority to mobilize the federal army.

Once Zhou Jingming approves of someone, he will treat that person as the most precious person in his life.

Because he didn't get much in return, he was reluctant to let go of any relationship.

During these two weeks, the Celestial Master of Xiayuan Prefecture also became one of them.

The old man was fierce and spoke harshly, often scolding him for his shallow foundation and lack of discipline in his swordplay.

But every time danger arises, it is the Celestial Master of Xiayuan Prefecture who stands in front to protect them.

He would teach Zhou Jingming the secret techniques of the Nine Lineages of Taoism, tell him about the foolish things his maternal grandfather did when he was young, and even throw a pot of hot water at him with a cold face during breaks.

To put it simply, "I burned too much on a whim."

Zhou Jingming actually knew that the Celestial Master of Xiayuan Prefecture had seen him when he was young, and had even held him when he was a baby.

There were a few moments when Zhou Jingming felt that this always serious old Taoist priest was somewhat like the father he had never truly had.

But at the final stage of the secret realm, the Celestial Master of Xiayuan Prefecture poured all the knowledge he had gained from his life's cultivation into his body.

Using the ancient artifacts left behind by the Xinxiang Sect as a medium, he reached the pinnacle of Xinxiang cultivation, the realm of myriad forms.

Furthermore, the insights gained by the Celestial Master of the Lower Yuan Prefecture who had already come into contact with the power of the world were also passed on to Zhou Jingming without reservation.

However, all of this comes at a price: the current Celestial Master of the Lower Yuan Prefecture is left with only a wisp of his heart to sustain his life.

The wind and snow grew heavier. The four stood on the mountaintop. The Celestial Master of the Lower Yuan Palace looked up at the sky, which was covered by dark clouds.

"The source of the distortion within Xie Wuwang has arrived."

"Although it is only a fragmented source, it is already able to assist Xie Wuwang's physical activities."

"When the other twisted pillars fall at the same time, it won't just be this one that comes."

Zhou Jingming asked in a deep voice, "I am now a being of the Ten Thousand Forms."

"Still can't beat them?"

The Celestial Master of Xiayuan Prefecture shook his head.

"All phenomena are merely the ultimate manifestations of the mind."

"But the sources of those distortions have long since transcended the simple realm of the mind."

"They have devoured the world."

"It controls the power at the very source of the world."

Zhou Jingming frowned.

"Then how do we fight?"

The Celestial Master of Xiayuan Prefecture did not answer immediately.

He raised his hand, and a snowflake slowly fell into his palm.

The snowflakes did not melt; instead, they seemed to be held up by an invisible force, floating quietly.

"Above all phenomena, there are not eleven thousand or twenty thousand phenomena."

"Continuing to increase the number of mental images is meaningless."

"The real next step is to gain the approval of Heaven and Earth."

"Connect your inner self with this world."

"With one person's thoughts, one can bear the thoughts of heaven and earth."

The Celestial Master of the Lower Yuan Palace gently clenched his hands.

The surrounding wind and snow suddenly stopped for a moment.

The world was silent, and the distant, snow-capped mountains seemed to be in sync with his breath at this moment.

"You've reached that level."

"Your punch isn't just your own power."

"Your sword strike will be blessed by mountains, rivers, the sun and moon, and the entire world."

"Within the blue planet, you represent heaven and earth."

"External sources of pollution will be suppressed by the world."

Zhou Jingming's eyes flickered slightly; this seemed to have some similarities with the "Heart and Blood Refining Method" that Gu Changjin had given him.

We bear illusions with our physical bodies, and communicate with the world through our hearts.

A balance between the real and the illusory, and the blessings of heaven and earth upon oneself.

"This is not considered a realm in the cultivation of mental imagery."

The Heavenly Master of Xiayuan Prefecture looked at Zhou Jingming, his usually cold gaze becoming unusually complex for the first time.

There is guilt, relief, and anticipation for the future.

"In ancient texts, those who gain the approval of Heaven and Earth and are able to mobilize the power of an entire realm are called..."

"The Venerable One of Heaven and Earth!"

The snow started falling again.

Su Xingmian and Chen Mo both looked at Zhou Jingming.

The Celestial Master of the Lower Realm also placed all his last hopes on this young man.

Zhou Jingming imitated the Heavenly Master of Xiayuan Mansion by extending his hand.

A snowflake fell into my palm.

The cool, real touch touched my heart.

He looked at the snow in his palm and repeated it softly.

"The Venerable One of Heaven and Earth?"