Post-Mythical Era: I don't want to die in the third reincarnation

Chapter 1244 - 1237: Withering of Heaven and Earth

"Indeed, he truly is the vast primordial spirit. The method he chose is somewhat similar to mine—he likewise needs someone like you, an individual rooted in the Source Principle, to assist him.

This method is termed as Sacrificial Dao. Although Sacrificial Dao and Dao Offering sound similar, they are in fact two entirely different paths to the Great Dao.

The ultimate aim of Dao Offering is the convergence of the nine paths, stepping into a vast expanse.

Unfortunately, his luck wasn't great. The ones he chose—you and another—both ended up having issues, and so his Great Dao was only half completed at best..."

Ding Huan questioned, perplexed, "How could it be nine paths? From what I've learned, it should be five, correct? And it couldn't be half completed—three or four of them failed, as far as I know..."

Jiqiong chuckled, "It is indeed the path of the ninefold convergence. One of the failures is in your case, and the other, I believe, is in the one you mentioned, Zuo Shanyi..."

"My friend also once received his Dao leather scroll, but he too was unsuccessful," Ding Huan interrupted Jiqiong.

Jiqiong was unbothered, "Your friend's leather scroll isn't his true entrusted Dao scroll; it contains merely one aspect of his consciousness.

These leather scrolls with a hint of his consciousness are infinite. It's merely his widespread method of casting a net; he seeks to find another being like yourself.

However, the leather scroll you obtained is the one that houses his Dao intent. That truly is his Dao Offering scroll. It's remarkable that you managed to break free from his Dao Offering intent.

The reason I mentioned the nine paths is because the vast primordial spirit is exceedingly arrogant. He believes he alone can evolve the four directions of the Great Dao.

So, when he distributed the Dao Offering leather scrolls, claiming only five would not be incorrect."

Ding Huan remained silent.

It turned out the leather scroll Qu Yi received was merely a duplicate.

"The vast primordial spirit still lives, though he long lost the opportunity to take the ninth step into the vastness. If you collaborate with me, I guarantee you can advance with me, stepping into the ninth step of the vast Great Dao..."

"What do you want me to do?" Ding Huan asked.

Jiqiong gestured to the vast Dao ruins behind Ding Huan, "This is the last piece of the vast Star Map, and it's the most critical piece of the vast Star Map.

When I perform Sacrificial Dao, I need the vast Star Map. Alas, my Great Dao originates from this vastness, making it impossible to separate the vast Star Map to perform Sacrificial Dao.

You and your friends possess the means to sever this piece of the vast Star Map from the very root of the vastness.

When the time comes and you hand over the vast Star Map for my Sacrificial Dao, once I complete Sacrificial Dao, the entire root, net, fortune, force, and origin will be extracted, perfecting our Great Dao.

I promise to share half, and this will assuredly allow us both to step into the ninth step of vastness..."

Upon hearing about the ninth step of vastness, Ding Huan's heart slightly stirred. That elusive aura would be utterly imperceptible unless closely observed.

But inside Ding Huan, he secretly cursed that scoundrel for achieving enlightenment in this vast expanse.

Strangely, instead of preserving this vastness, this fellow wished to skin it alive and consume it entirely.

In summary, for the sake of his Great Dao, Jiqiong had no qualms about annihilating this vastness.

Moreover, this villain planned to manipulate Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu.

Otherwise, how could the complete vast Star Map be obtained?

Ding Huan was certain that even if he did as this old fellow wished, ultimately, the old fellow would ensure he gained nothing and would also ensure he died without a trace.

Ding Huan couldn't claim his acting was superb, but he reckoned that Jiqiong likely sensed the wave in his heart just now.

In Jiqiong's eyes, anyone's pursuit of the Great Dao would justify any means—everything existed beneath one's own Great Dao. Concerning the ninth step of the vast Great Dao, no one could refuse.

Ding Huan still needed to make the other believe he genuinely harbored such thoughts.

"How do I trust you?" Ding Huan's tone remained calm and composed.

Jiqiong chuckled inwardly, naturally sensing Ding Huan's almost undetectable heart fluctuation.

This was only natural.

Any cultivator knowing they had the chance to step into the ninth step of vastness couldn't avoid an inner stir.

How many countless billions of years has he survived in this vastness, pursuing nothing different than stepping into the ninth step?

"You and I sever a sliver of our Dao souls, and we each lock the other's Dao soul with a Source Principle position.

Then, you and I face each other's Dao soul..."

Ding Huan interrupted Jiqiong, "Jiqiong, you seem to have misunderstood something."

"What is it?" Jiqiong asked in puzzlement.

"You are the one seeking my cooperation, not the other way around."

"And your point is?"

"My point is, since you are seeking my cooperation, you must earn my trust, rather than the other way around," Ding Huan mocked.

Asking him to sever his own Dao soul, even if it was guaranteed, he wouldn't strike a deal with this old schemer.

To Ding Huan's surprise, Jiqiong said without hesitation, "Very well, I agree. How long do you think it will take to sever this vast Star Map?"

Upon hearing this, Ding Huan realized this chap knew from the start he wouldn't sever his own Dao soul.

"As for time, I can't say. But this isn't something I can accomplish alone; I need to contact my friends. They'll take at least several hundred years to arrive here."

Jiqiong laughed heartily, "A mere few hundred years—who can tell the difference? I'll wait here, what's the harm?"

After voicing these words, Jiqiong unhesitatingly severed a sliver of his Dao soul and actively instructed Ding Huan:

"You can seal my Dao soul with the Source Principle position. If I go back on my word, you can do as you wish with this Dao soul."

Having one's Dao soul in another's hands equated to having one's Dao life in their grasp.

Even though Ding Huan knew this fellow must have alternative strategies, he wasn't even sure this Dao soul truly belonged to Jiqiong.

Nonetheless, he still sealed this Dao soul with the Source Principle position without hesitation.

Jiqiong's lingering presence signified a problem—until Ding Huan unraveled Jiqiong's motives, he could only bide his time alongside him here.

As Jiqiong noticed Ding Huan sealing his sliver of Dao soul, he instantaneously vanished from sight.

He knew clearly that Ding Huan would definitely not leave now.

Seeing Jiqiong disappear, Ding Huan's first reaction was to immediately send a message to Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu.

He had no idea what Jiqiong was planning.

In Ding Huan's mind, the first priority now was not to take down this Jiqiong practicing Sacrificial Dao before him, but the one in the Eightfold Expanse Canyon.

Although this Jiqiong in front of him didn't say anything, Ding Huan still trusted his own judgment.

The Jiqiong of Decline Dao must be in the Eightfold Expanse Canyon.

As long as he sent a message to Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu, the two of them would definitely be able to take down that Jiqiong of Decline Dao.

Once the Jiqiong of Decline Dao was taken down, no matter how strong this Jiqiong practicing Sacrificial Dao was, it couldn't possibly win against the three of them joining forces.

But Ding Huan quickly abandoned this idea.

His opponent was Jiqiong.

An existence coexisting with the vastness and also the one with the deepest understanding of the vast Source Principle.

He could send a message to ask Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu to come over, but he absolutely couldn't send a message telling them about another hidden Jiqiong's location.

Because his message had to be transmitted through the vast Source Principle, with Jiqiong hiding here, how could it not capture his message?

Facing others he could be careless, but facing Jiqiong, being careless was seeking death.

How could he send out his message?

Jiqiong guarded outside the Vast Dao Ruins, effectively blocking all his paths.

Ding Huan stared into the depths of the Vast Dao Ruins.

Suddenly a thought occurred to him: does truly separating the last piece of the Vast Star Map require bringing out all the other eight pieces?

If he alone could refine the last piece of the Vast Star Map and use it to transmit a message, then...

It was definitely possible.

As long as he used the Vast Star Map to send the information out, Jiqiong couldn't possibly capture it.

Ding Huan had seen the Path Opening Pearl before, to refine the Vast Star Map, he had to first perceive the Path Opening Pearl.

Before that, he also needed to seal the entrance of the Vast Dao Ruins with the Source Principle to prevent interference from Jiqiong halfway through.

And the Space Dao Principle and the Vast Pen on him before must be refined now.

They were all immediate battle power.

If used well, trapping Jiqiong wasn't impossible.

…

Deep in the Eightfold Expanse Canyon.

Jia Baihe was overwhelmed with emotion.

There were too many good things here.

She even found a slightly broken vast Primordial Vein.

This was vaster Primordial Energy than any Universe Dao Vein could offer.

Though the best treasures of the Eightfold Expanse Canyon were gone, she had not arrived too late.

In less than a thousand years, her power was completely different from before.

Now she was still on the eighth step of the Great Dao, and no longer clueless about the ninth step of the vast Great Dao.

"Mistress, doesn't that area over there seem somewhat unusual?"

Yi Jie's cultivation had also rapidly improved.

Currently, Yi Jie was equivalent to a True Saint of the sixth step of the Great Dao.

Jia Baihe, due to her recent breakthrough in cultivation, was too excited to notice at first.

Following Yi Jie's reminder, she subconsciously looked over.

Her face quickly turned pale.

In her sight, the world was wilting inch by inch...

Previously, if someone had told her about the wilting of the world, she wouldn't have understood at all.

With the reality in front of her, she finally understood what the wilting of the world was.

Eightfold Expanse Canyon didn't just have the Void; once it connected completely with the Void of the First Universe, it could be seen as a piece of Floating Star Land.

At this moment, this piece of Floating Star Land was wilting from the ground to the Void.

Jia Baihe saw the gray-brown ground gradually turning yellow, and then that yellow connected with the Void, which also turned yellow...

She then witnessed this yellowed space vanishing before her eyes.

From wilting to disappearing, it happened extremely quickly.

Like flames spreading, this wilting and disappearing gradually expanded and approached her.

Jia Baihe awoke from a dream, urgently shouting, "Hurry, run..."

She quickly turned and fled with Yi Jie.

If hit by this wilting, both she and Yi Jie would soon turn yellow and then disappear.

(Good night, fellow Daoist!)