The contest lasted for the next four days. In the end, Saintess of Divine Dream Heavenly Palace won the whole competition. Elysia had ended in a much farther place as her lack of Cultivation proved too much to overcome.
Elysia came to me after that because she proposed to hold a party and she needed me to help her. Coming with her to a place where most people were already gathered, I went to the side to prepare meals.
-"Thank you for your help. Nobody believed me that food could be tasty enough to be the centerpiece of the party. They only think that rare treasures are worth eating."
~"You should know that those who Cultivate have much different customs than us. Eating is something that they don't do much."
-"But it's sad. I want to prove them wrong!"
~"I'll help you and cook. Just make sure nobody comes to me."
-"Don't worry!"
I prepared meals using cuisine from different worlds. At first, not many were interested in them, but after some tried, they became a phenomenon. Elysa was so happy to be proven right that her smile was beaming.
Even Divine Dream tried some food and found something that suited her taste. The party continued for a few days. From time to time, someone would play some instrument or challenge someone to a duel.
Because members of both forces were rather reserved, the party was closer to a literature convention, with people quoting poems and talking about Cultivation than patry some would think of.
After this continued for some time, Divine Dream proposed to me to undergo the next Life Destruction as my usage of Paths and Authorities could aid other people in understanding them.
~"I don't mind, but you sure?"
-"Yes, a person who I supported some time ago has a strong link to the Ancient Phoenix Clan, so we have a partial alliance."
~"Then let's do this. How long will it take for you to prepare?"
-"Give us a few hours."
Divine Dream organized Elders so that protection atay can be used again and gathered those who want to witness it. Soon, a crowd surrounded the plaza in the middle of which I was waiting.
When everything was prepared, I was given the go-ahead. Because this part of Life Destruction requires reconstructing your inner world, or Dantian as it is called here, I began by entering my Mental Space.
As my body is formed by Abundance, which Yin nature is innately passive and reactive, it is much easier to affect it with other powers. My spirit, that is Yang, will actively try to repel any foreign energy, making it harder to undergo Life Destruction in a controlled setting.
The body can be shattered without much care, as restoring it is not problematic. The spirit, on the other hand, can't be simply destroyed, as damaging it the wrong way can easily lead to loss of memory or even mental retardation.
This makes it impossible to simply swing my powers left and right. I had to be precise and prudent. I focused and drowned upon all Paths and authorities, focusing their power on one point. Mixing them, I tried to simulate the feeling of Chaos, especially the might I felt when facing tribulation after breaking the Taboo.
After some time, I was able to form a black spec in front of me. It was easily noticeable due to contrasts with white surroundings. I made it rise and expand slowly until a black sun was created in the sky.
My Mental Space instantly tried to counter the force that appeared, restraining it. The fight between white and black soon began, shaking my entire inner world.
Under careful control, I established a balance between two forces, changing the color of the sky in my Mental Space to black. At this moment, I suddenly made an orderly and unchanging world, and the chaotic force I created clash with each other.
That resulted in the intermixing of two forces, destroying the white plane and black sky. I quickly regained control over my Mental Space and started reconstructing it, but rather than an endless plane, I created two spheres, one black and one white. Nothing else existed here, only those two forces.
Waking up in reality, the whole plaza I was sitting on was influenced by my powers, becoming almost the same as Chaos outside the world. The protection array was holding on, but the strain on it was visible to the naked eye.
I and Divine Dream controlled the situation and slowly eliminated the Chaos that I created.
~"Sorry for the trouble."
-"No need. It's also helpful to my own Cultivation, as seeing how you use Laws is truly inspiring."
~"Good that I can be of assistance. If you want me to teach some things, you can organize a lecture."
-"That is a good idea. I'll discuss it with some elders later."
~"How are the spectators?"
-"You've managed to give some enlightenment. Some comprehended more about Laws, and even a breakthrough or two happened."
~"I believe this was a good end to the meeting between two forces then."
As some people were still in deep meditation, comprehending Laws, the Ancient Phoenix Clan left only a week later. They left one person who stayed to learn in Divine Dream Heavenly Palace, as she was a sister of the person Divine Dream met and helped before.
She becomes close friends with Elysia, two of them quickly become inseparable. Her name was Lin Xiaoge, and while she was not powerful, her talent was high enough to become one of the Saintesses of the Ancient Phoenix Clan.
Elysia also approached the saintess of Divine Dream Heavenly Palace, making her join her little group. Frost Dream is similar to Divine Dream, cold and indifferent, but even that can't stop Elysia's wish for friendship.
Peaceful days returned to the Sect. The following month was uneventful. Only Elysia would visit me from time to time, bringing her small group with her. I successfully passed the fifth Life Destruction and was getting ready for the sixth.
Divine Dream organized some lectures that I'm to teach. My lectures were popular and earned me respect in the Sect from both Elders and Disciples. I no longer received wary gazes but was finally accepted as part of the Sect.
Some even petitioned for rules placed on me to be relaxed, but I asked for them to remain unchanged. I spent most of my time Cultivating, as nothing important was happening.
-"Yue, I'm here!"
-"Sorry for the intrusion."
-"Greetings, Protector."
~"Hello, you three. Elysia, you've advanced to the Revolving Core stage. Congratulations."
-"Thanks. We plan to go out and travel a little before visiting a nearby country that is going to hold some ceremony."
-"Yes, Master Divine Dream asked me to represent the Sect."
~"I see. Do you want me to accompany you?"
-"You don't have to. I just wanted to inform you so you do not worry."
~"I'll stay then. Be careful out there. If something happens, be sure to call me."
-"Don't worry."
~"Frost Dream, Lin Xiaoge, please look after her."
-"We won't let her leave our sight."
The girls talked about their destination and left soon after. When they disappeared from the range of my perception, Divine Dream appeared near me.
-"I thought you'd follow them."
~"Even if I worry about Elysia, she is a free person. I'll help and support her, save when she is in need, but I never will control her."
-"She is lucky."
~"It is me who is lucky."
-"I'll send some Elder to protect them from the shadow."
~"Thank you. You want to sit and drink some tea?"
-"No, thank you."
~"Your loss then."
My life continued like that. In my free time, I would Cultivate in my courtyard. Every week, I would give a lecture for Disciples of the Sect. I even created a few techniques from my experience.
Only Half a year later, my peace was disturbed. By that time, I had already completed my eighth Life Destruction and was preparing for my ninth, but I got a message from Elysia that she ran into some trouble. I instantly turned into a false Aeon state and teleported to Elysia's side.
There, Elysia was in a larger party besieged by forces of hundreds of cultivators. My arrival stopped the fight, and before anyone could act, I raised my hand and restrained all but Elysia, Frost Dream, and Lin Xiaoge with my Authority of Binding.
~"What's going on?"
-"Yue!"
~"Just tell me who to kill."
-"Those surrounding us are bad guys. That one there is the leader!"
I looked at a man who looked around twenty and had red pupils. He was trying his best to escape my restraints, and while he was unable to make them budge, I felt a wisp of spirit on him start to move.
My power must have awakened the person who was his backing. Soon, an image of a large, middle-aged man appeared. By his aura, I gauged his strength to be Empyrean, comparable to Divine Dream, but as only his manifestation was present, he couldn't threaten me.
-"Hmm, to think those children would have such a powerful protector. How about we simply go our ways?"
~"You want to protect them?"
-"No, do what you want to these ants. I just want that girl."
~"Empyrean chasing women? You should try a better way to approach them."
-"Heh, few dare to speak like that to me. I want her to be a 'guest' for a certain period of time."
~"Sadly, It would seem impossible as she seems to be Elysia's friend."
-"Sigh. Then we can only fight."
~"In your current state, can't beat me."
-"I know, but I want to see your strength."
After saying that, he attacked me. Pure Darkness appeared. It tried to approach and consume me, but it was unable to move past a certain point as if an invisible wall was placed on its path.
-"Hou? Your understanding of Laws is not much worse than mine. How could I never hear about you?"
~"I'm just a humble Protector of Divine Dream Heavenly Palace."
-"You? Since when does that cold woman accept males into her Sect?"
~"You can say that I'm an exception."
After the sixth Life Destruction, I finished laying a foundation based on my spirit. Because it originated from Permanence, I used Light and Darkness, along with Time and Space, as the basis for my Dantian since those eternal forces existed even in Chaos.
Taking control over the Darkness that was before me, I created wolf shadows from it and ordered those to attack Cultivators that were hostile. Massacre ensued, after which only Empyrean and the person on whom his spirit was were left.
~"I'll let your person live. Is this fair in your eyes?"
-"Good. Tell me your name."
~"Yue."
-"I'll remember it."
The image disappeared after taking the person I left alive. I turned to Elysia and her group. I released them from my bindings. After regaining freedom, most of them were still on guard against me.
-"Yue, thank you for coming."
~"Can you explain what happened?"
-"It's a long story."
Elysia told me how they were planning on entering a secret realm nearby but were stopped by members of Skydark Holy Lands. She also introduced some people she was traveling with.
~"Be more careful in the future."
-"I will!"
-"Protector, are you returning?"
~"Yes, do you need something, Frost Dream?"
-"Yes, could you pass this to my master?"
~"Good. Anything else?"
-"No."
I returned to Sect after sending Elysia's group to the secret realm. Divine Dream was waiting in my courtyard, as my sudden disappearance alarmed her.
-"Did something happen?"
~"Elysia was besieged by some force, Empyrean appeared, a match of Laws ensued, and now he will remember my name."
-"Good that it ended well."
~"Indeed. Here, Frost Dream told me to pass it to you."
-"Thank you. What do you plan to do next?"
~"I intend to undergo the last Life Destruction tomorrow. Do you want to spectate?"
-"Yes, it would be much appreciated."
~"Would you mind teaching me some zither again?"
She nodded and took out her instrument.
For the last month, we would meet from time to time and talk about different matters concerning Cultivation, Laws, and Sect. On one such occasion, Divine Dream played some music she learned long ago, and I asked her to teach me how to play it.
I've come to know her well over the last half a year, and as such, I could see that something weighed on her lately. Knowing that she wouldn't speak about it, I focused on the instrument, relaxing before my breakthrough.
Terminus told me that after this step, I would no longer need to be here, meaning I would be able to return to Hold, which made me decide to undergo this breakthrough faster.
We spend the night talking, playing the zither, and drinking tea together. When morning arrived, I took Divine Dream outside the world into the Chaos. There, Terminus was already waiting, having prepared the place for me to undergo the ninth Life Destruction.
~"You are ready?"
~"Yes, what should I focus on?"
~"Try to combine Origin and Finality."
~"Let's get started then."
I took a designated place and started my breakthrough. Calming down, I entered the deepest place inside myself, the Soul Sea, where my soul resided.
My understanding of the soul was limited, but I knew that it consists of three parts: Karma, Fate, and Destiny. Karma represents the past of being, recording all connections between souls. Fate was the opposite, as it showed all possible paths one could take.
Karma was the Origin of the soul. Because of it, the future was possible, but it also restrained you, limiting the innate endlessness of the soul. Every soul is the same, it is Karma that differentiates them.
Fate led the soul to the Finality. Having a future is necessary to any being, but the Fate of all beings has one thing in common, it always comes to an end.
Destiny is most mysterious, as it represents the present of the soul. It connects every part of your existence together, and that's why it is considered most important, but on its own, it doesn't appear to possess any power.
Listening to Terminus' advice, I gathered my used Origin and Finality on my soul, making all three parts of it mix, creating a singular object. Soon, it took its final form, a Seed.
This Seed was the cumulation of everything I have done for more than half a year. It was the finished foundation for my future and my last rebirth.
Outside my Soul Sea, clouds of energy started appearing around me, but Divine Dream instantly noticed that this phenomenon was much different from the normal one. When one passes the ninth Life Destruction, clouds of origin energy would appear. The strength of a person can be measured by their size, from one to thirty-three layers, each representing three miles of its diameter.
But my clouds were not only too big to be measured, but they were also made of energy that Divine Dream had never seen before. There were two distinctive types of them, one below me and the other above. As they formed, a giant Tree appeared, rooted in one cloud and with the crown in the other. This Tree is my Seed. It's what my Destiny is.
The moment it materialized, the Seed started growing. It soon grew outside the Soul Sea into my Mental Space. There, it absorbed Time, Space, Light, and Darkness. It continued to expand, soon enveloping my entire spirit into itself.
My body was also absorbed by the Tree, and the Fire, Water, Earth, Metal, and Wood subsumed. The illusion of the Tree from before now become reality. Because we were near the Cultivation world, people inside it could see me towering over them, with branches higher than stars and havens.
The Tree was the union of my being. I was the Tree, and the Tree was me. I used clouds of energy to create a world around me, forcing it to contain me. Days later, I was no longer visible outside. Next, I turned the world into my new form, taking the appearance I had before.
If Cultivators created worlds inside their Dantians, then I became the world and turned it into myself. I no longer am being made of body and spirit but from manifesting my soul into the physical realm. If one had to define my race, they would consider me a World Spirit, or as the Cultivator would call it, the Heavenly Dao.
Of course, my strength was now low compared to other worlds. I not only lacked any kind of existence outside myself in my world, but even the Laws inside were incomplete.
Completing the breakthrough, I was about to finish meditation, but suddenly, the [Crown] on my head erupted with strength. In my world, the [Hearth of Hold] appeared, bringing more changes with it.