It was not until dusk on this day.
Ye Qingyun stopped at a ruined wall and took out some dry rations to rest.
Just then.
A small figure quietly appeared, a girl no older than seven or eight.
She was dressed in rags, sallow and emaciated, her small face dirty, but she had a pair of eyes as clear as a stream.
The girl looked at him but did not approach, standing only a short distance away, and whispered, “Big brother, are you an Immortal?”
Ye Qingyun was slightly startled, then smiled, took out a piece of dry ration, and handed it over: “Big brother is not an Immortal, he is a Cultivator on a journey.”
The girl did not reach out, but looked up at him earnestly and said, “My mother said that Immortals can save people, Immortals won’t go hungry, won’t suffer, and won’t die... Are you really not an Immortal?”
The voice was tender and clear, yet it was like a dull knife, slowly cutting into Ye Qingyun’s heart.
He was silent for a long time, and finally said, “I... perhaps once wanted to become an Immortal, but later I realized that Cultivation does not mean one can have one’s wishes fulfilled.”
The girl didn’t quite understand and didn’t respond.
She carefully took the dry ration, held it in her hands, and softly said, “Thank you, big brother!”
“My mother and the others are all dead. I’ve walked alone for a long time and seen many, many people, good people and bad people... But they all said that Immortals only care about Cultivating the Dao and don’t care about us Mortals.”
“Is that true?”
“Big brother, if you become an Immortal in the future, will you also forget me?”
“Forget the people here?”
These words were like a flash of lightning, tearing through the haze in Ye Qingyun’s Sea of Consciousness.
His chest heaved violently, his throat was choked, and he was momentarily speechless.
He looked down at the tender yet stubborn small figure, his heart deeply moved.
In his mind, scenes from the past emerged: the village chief’s kindness, Grandpa Thin (Venerable)’s silence, Granny Yun’s tears... and even the time spent in Wangchen Village.
Those simple, real, yet warm scenes surged like a tide.
He had once been firm and believed.
But ever since Fire Lotus City was destroyed, and he was forced to accept Jiang Ye’s conditions, he had drifted and floundered in the Mortal World, his Dao Heart constantly covered in dust, lost in hatred, anger, and obsession.
Yet, these words before him were like a lamp, igniting a light in the darkest corner of his heart.
“Why exactly do I Cultivate the Dao?”
“What I pursue, is it the peak of the Immortal Dao, or a clear conscience?”
“If Cultivation can only make me cold and emotionless, then... how is such an Immortal different from the cruelty of the world?”
At this thought, it was as if shackles in Ye Qingyun’s heart collapsed with a crash.
He suddenly understood.
His Cultivation was never to ascend to the Nine Heavens to look down upon all living beings, nor to transcend Heaven and Earth, controlling life and death.
Nor was it for revenge.
It wasn’t even to save the suffering world!
Cultivating the Dao.
It was to preserve that original intention, even if one stepped through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, even if one experienced ten thousand tribulations and ups and downs.
To act with a clear conscience, to walk one’s own path, even if the road ahead was full of thorns, blocked by heavenly wrath and human obstruction, never to deviate by half a step.
A person who Cultivates the Dao should uphold a three-foot heart and stand between Heaven and Earth.
What does it matter how the world experiences joy and sorrow?
What does it matter how Heaven and Earth rise and fall?
What does it matter how Immortals and demons engage in bloody struggles?
He only asked his original heart, only Cultivated his own Dao.
“Walk your own path, follow your own heart, no matter the sorrow of life and death!”
“Only with a clear conscience can one forge one’s own Dao!”
At this moment, Ye Qingyun’s heart became completely still.
All thoughts converged into one, all distracting thoughts vanished.
In his Sea of Consciousness, an illusory lotus flower quietly bloomed, crystal clear throughout, seemingly born from the heart, reflecting his state of mind.
His entire being’s aura also quietly transformed, becoming gentle yet introverted, profound as an abyss.
A faint light subtly descended from the Void Realm, transforming into an invisible Spiritual Qi, enveloping him.
He did not circulate his magical power, nor did he deliberately sense it, but the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi actively drew near, merging with his Divine Soul.
That was the manifestation of a Major Achievement in his state of mind.
This was not only a Breakthrough but also a reinterpretation and sublimation of the “Dao.”
Ye Qingyun slowly looked up at the darkening sky, his gaze calm yet incredibly firm.
He looked at the little girl again and smiled softly.
“Don’t worry, I won’t forget.”
The girl smiled, her smile as clear as the first snow in the mountains, and though she was frail, it warmed the heart.
Night finally completely descended, the sky like ink, the starlight faint.
In the dilapidated ruins, Ye Qingyun found a sheltered corner for her, leaving a protective talisman.
He took out his only Spirit Pill and quietly placed it in her embrace.
Silently turning, he stepped into the night... In the Central Province of the Ancient Immortal Domain, high above the distant sky.
A carriage pulled by nine Dragons, adorned with divine gold and mysterious jade, traversed the sky, with misty divine light swirling all around.
Inside the carriage.
Jiang Ye sat cross-legged, leaning against the carriage couch, sipping tea and meditating.
【Ding! The Protagonist of Destiny Ye Qingyun has understood his original heart, and his state of mind has achieved the Dao... Luck value has increased by fifty thousand!】
Suddenly, the System’s notification sounded in his mind.
Jiang Ye’s eyebrows slightly raised, and a playful arc appeared at the corner of his lips: “This leek... is growing so vigorously?”
He gently shook his teacup, his expression slightly surprised.
However, under such suppression, Ye Qingyun could still bounce back from the bottom, and Jiang Ye couldn’t help but feel a hint of admiration.
Fairly speaking, Ye Qingyun was a good fellow.
But that didn’t stop him from wanting to eliminate Ye Qingyun; who told him to get involved with the Fire Lotus City remnants?
Jiang Ye would not be soft-hearted.
“Xuan’er.” Jiang Ye suddenly spoke.
“Here.”
Qing Xuan stood behind him, gently massaging his back, and upon hearing him, she leaned down and responded.
“What has that Ye Qingyun been doing lately? Is he taking the wrong medicine?”
Qing Xuan was slightly startled, then whispered, “Reporting to Young Master, that Ye Qingyun’s whereabouts have been strange lately. Not only does he seem indifferent to your instructions, but he often performs actions that are difficult to understand...”
“For example, helping the weak and aiding the poor, providing relief to disaster victims, and sometimes he sits alone among ruined walls for half a day, as if in meditation.”
After hearing this, Jiang Ye chuckled softly.
A Son of Destiny, after all; if his actions weren’t out of the ordinary, that would be truly strange.
His expression was calm, seemingly not taking it too much to heart.
As long as Ye Qingyun did as he was told and didn’t cause trouble, it was fine.
Just then.
A figure arrived abruptly; it was Heaven Guard Jiang Yi.
“Your Highness!”
Jiang Yi knelt on one knee, his expression solemn, and reported with cupped hands: “Just now, Ye Qingyun seemed to have an epiphany, and suddenly Heaven and Earth anomalies appeared around him. Although not earth-shattering scenes, they were quiet and silent, with the aura of the Great Dao descending from the sky, like nourishing rain, continuous and endless.”
“According to Jiang Er’s observation, his Dao rhyme was as ethereal as morning mist, seemingly resonating with Heaven and Earth, and he actually achieved a major Breakthrough in silence, breaking through in one fell swoop, from True King Fifth Stage, directly entering the God King Realm!”
His tone was steady, yet it couldn’t hide a hint of surprise and apprehension.
“If Jiang Er hadn’t kept Your Highness’s order in mind, he would have probably been unable to restrain himself and intervened to obstruct his enlightenment.”
Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow, secretly thinking, “Good fellow.”
He had no cheat, yet he was so rapid; truly worthy of being a favored child of Heaven and Earth.
Jiang Yi hesitated for a moment, then added: “Please forgive this subordinate for speaking frankly, that Ye Qingyun’s talent and aptitude are truly rare. Now that he has achieved enlightenment, his Dao Heart is as firm as gold and stone, and his mind is clear. I fear he will become a formidable enemy to the God King in the future...”
“Your Highness should make plans early, preferably to nip him in the bud now, completely eradicating him to leave no future trouble!”
Jiang Ye smiled faintly, waved his hand, and did not blame him.
“Don’t worry, Ye Qingyun won’t escape my grasp...”
“Tell Jiang Er to just keep a close eye on him. As long as he doesn’t run, don’t bother him.”
Jiang Yi’s expression tightened slightly, but he dared not disobey.