Chapter 468: Revealing the Secrets of the Dou Di
"Senior Demon Saint, in your prime, you reached the pinnacle of cultivation. Do you know why you were never able to break through to the Dou Di realm?" Xiao Ze suddenly asked, catching the Yellow Springs Demon Saint off guard.
The Demon Saint gazed deeply at Xiao Ze. It made sense that someone as talented as Xiao Ze, who had achieved such a high level of cultivation at a young age, would be curious and ambitious about reaching the legendary Dou Di realm.
"I cultivated for over a thousand years, reaching the legendary Emperor level in soul strength. But that final step always eluded me," the Yellow Springs Demon Saint said, standing with his hands behind his back. For the first time, a trace of regret appeared in his eyes. This was unusual for someone of his immense power and stature. Even a peak-level powerhouse like him couldn't suppress a feeling of frustration when it came to the elusive Dou Di realm.
"Xiao Ze, your talent is extraordinary. Had you been born in ancient times, you could have become a Dou Di, shaking the very foundations of history. But in this era, it is no longer possible to achieve the Dou Di level," the Demon Saint said, looking into the distance before turning his gaze back to Xiao Ze with a serious expression. "The Dou Qi Continent seems to have undergone a great change. A crucial element needed to become a Dou Di has vanished. When you reach my level and find the path to the Dou Di realm blocked, don't become too obsessed with it."
What surprised the Yellow Springs Demon Saint was Xiao Ze's lack of reaction to his words. Normally, anyone would find it hard to stay calm after hearing that their path was blocked. They would either be incredibly confident, believing they could succeed where others had failed, or they would already know about the situation and thus remain unperturbed.
From his earlier interactions with Xiao Ze, the Demon Saint knew that Xiao Ze was not overly confident. Despite his young age and significant power, Xiao Ze was humble and polite. Therefore, the only other explanation was that Xiao Ze already knew about this issue.
"Do you already know the secrets about the Dou Di?" the Yellow Springs Demon Saint asked, his eyebrows raised.
"To be honest, Senior Demon Saint, I do know a bit about the Dou Di," Xiao Ze replied. Seeing the changing expressions on the Demon Saint's face, Xiao Ze decided to clarify. "The reason I brought this up was to provide some clarity. The reason you couldn't break through to the Dou Di wasn't due to your own abilities but because this world no longer has...source energy."
The Demon Saint's lips curled into a slight smile at Xiao Ze's initial words, thinking Xiao Ze was trying to console him. But as Xiao Ze continued, his expression turned serious.
"Source energy?!" the Demon Saint repeated, clearly affected. It dawned on him that this source energy was likely the key element needed to reach the Dou Di realm.
"Explain quickly! My inability to become a Dou Di is one of my greatest regrets. If you can clarify this, I will give you not only the Yellow Springs Fury and my essence blood but also another great opportunity!" The Yellow Springs Demon Saint was visibly eager. Ever since Xiao Ze mentioned source energy, his demeanor shifted to one of urgency.
"I warn you, though. I may favor you, but if you lie about this, I will not forgive you. Even if I can't harm you, I will destroy the Yellow Springs Fury and my essence blood before giving them to you."
"Of course," Xiao Ze replied, bowing respectfully. He wasn't overly concerned about the Demon Saint's so-called great opportunity since it wasn't mentioned in the original story. "I am from the Xiao clan, one of the ancient clans with Dou Di bloodlines."
The Yellow Springs Demon Saint's eyebrows rose slightly but then relaxed. It made sense that Xiao Ze, with his ancient bloodline, would have access to more knowledge.
"Regarding the secret of breaking through to the Dou Di, our ancestors left only hints."
"Only hints?" the Demon Saint asked, feeling a bit disappointed.
"But my knowledge of the Dou Di comes mainly from the last Dou Di of the Dou Qi Continent, the ancient Emperor Tuoshe. His rise was sudden, and his disappearance was just as abrupt. Records of him are scarce. Until some years ago, the key to his mansion, the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Jade, surfaced."
The Demon Saint's face turned serious. He realized this was the crucial part.
"By chance, I came across an unusual book that contained records about the ancient Emperor Tuoshe."
"Ancient Emperor Tuoshe," the Demon Saint murmured, recalling his own admiration and unfulfilled desire to emulate the Emperor. "What does the book say? Why did no one hear of him before he became a Dou Di? And why was there no powerful clan rising after him?"
The Yellow Springs Demon Saint was intrigued. The ancient Emperor Tuoshe's sudden emergence had always been a mystery, and understanding it was key to the Dou Di secret.
"Senior, the ancient Emperor Tuoshe was not human, nor a magical beast. He was a unique fire born of heaven and earth," Xiao Ze revealed.
(Chapter ends)
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