A suffocating force descended upon Shen Yuan the moment Wu Daozhen and Xue Linghun activated their domains. He felt as though he had been thrust into an entirely new world—no, two worlds. One overflowing with boundless vitality, the other an abyss of endless decay.
Wu Daozhen's Domain of Life bathed him in an overwhelming surge of warmth and energy, as though every fiber of his being was being revitalized, his cells thriving, his soul expanding. If he let himself go, he felt he could dissolve into the boundless cycle of creation, lost within an eternal, peaceful sleep.
But then came Xue Linghun's Domain of Death—a chilling, all-consuming force that gnawed at his very essence. His flesh seemed to rot, his bones eroded, and his consciousness flickered on the edge of oblivion. It wasn't merely destruction. It was emptiness, the cold truth that everything must wither, that all things return to nothing.
Even though the two sect masters were clearly holding back, the sheer magnitude of their power was suffocating. Shen Yuan clenched his fists, forcing himself to endure. He was no fool—he knew that if they unleashed their full strength, he would disintegrate before he could even perceive the process of his own death.
"So this… is the power of a domain, a specific concept based power?"
Gritting his teeth, he took a deep breath and steeled his mind. He wasn't here to crumble under their might. He was here to understand.
And so, he closed his eyes and let himself drown in both domains.
Two weeks later—
Shen Yuan's eyes slowly opened. They gleamed with a newfound clarity, as if the universe itself had unfolded a portion of its mysteries before him.
Even though he remained at the 10th Stage of the Heaven Path Realm, his foundation had undergone a massive transformation. He could feel the traces of life and death within him, an awareness that transcended simple understanding. And yet… something nagged at him. A thought that refused to leave.
"I understand death now… but what exactly is life?"
"To live? To breathe? To possess a heartbeat?"
That definition felt… lacking.
He tried to think more, but the more he tried, the more questions built up.
Sensing his doubt, Wu Daozhen smiled knowingly while Xue Linghun let out a deep chuckle.
"Do not rush," Wu Daozhen said. "Comprehending death itself at your level is already extraordinary."
Xue Linghun stroked his beard and spoke in a cryptic tone,
"A wave crashes and is no more, yet the sea remains unchanged. A tree sheds its leaves, yet spring never falters. That which departs was never truly lost, And that which remains was never truly whole. You see the falling petal and name it with an end, Yet the root has never stopped drinking. Tell me, then—if the echo fades but the voice lingers,
Was there ever silence to begin with?"
Shen Yuan blinked.
Then blinked again.
"What the hell is this old man saying?"
His face remained expressionless, but inside, he was thoroughly confused.
Seeing his reaction, Wu Daozhen chuckled, while Xue Linghun shook his head with an amused sigh.
"Domain comprehension is not something achieved through logic alone," Wu Daozhen said. "It took us over a hundred years to fully comprehend ours. Do not just seek an answer—seek understanding."
Shen Yuan remained silent, then exhaled softly. He hated being told to wait for things to naturally happen, but he had to admit—they were right.
Rushing an understanding that wasn't fully formed would lead to an incomplete domain, and that was something he could not afford.
He stood up, brushing off his robes, and for the first time, he cupped his hands in genuine respect.
"…Thank you for your guidance."
Then, without another word, he turned and left the sect master's hall, his mind full of questions, his soul full of resolve.
When Shen Yuan finally stepped into the elite disciple training grounds again, the first thing he noticed wasn't the silence—it was the massive crowd gathered around a group of five.
His eyes narrowed.
They stood in perfect formation. Tang Jiyan, Xiang Xiaoli, Guo Bohai, Shi Meixiu, and Dong Chen.
Their Ghostly Sword Formation moved as if controlled by a single will—blades flashing, footwork flowing like a violent river, attacks merging and countering in seamless synchronization.
Shen Yuan felt a rare flicker of surprise.
They actually mastered it?
He knew they were talented, but to perfectly synchronize in just two weeks? That was beyond expectation.
Even more surprising was the feeling Shen Yuan couldn't quite describe—a slight unease, something foreign to him.
It took him a moment to identify it.
"…Envy?"
He almost scoffed at himself. How ridiculous. He had always preferred working alone, always found attachment to be a weakness.
Yet, watching them fight in unison, watching how their movements flowed with trust and instinct…
For the first time, he understood why people sought companionship in battle and what a trusty ally means.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Then opened them with a smirk.
"Enough," he said lazily.
At once, all five stopped and turned to him.
Tang Jiyan stepped forward, clapping a firm hand on his shoulder. "This formation of yours is insane. The way it's based on technique rather than raw power—it's brilliant."
The other four nodded in agreement.
Shen Yuan's smirk widened. "Of course it's brilliant. I thought of it."
A brief moment of laughter and chatter followed as they exchanged words, asking how his training had gone. But before the conversation could drift too far, Shen Yuan suddenly clapped his hands together.
"Enough talk," he said. "It's time for your final test."
The five of them sighed in unison.
They weren't surprised.
They knew Shen Yuan wouldn't let them move forward without a real trial.
Then, Shen Yuan's smirk turned sharp.
"I will personally oversee this test," he said.
The five nodded. Then, Shen Yuan raised a single hand and spoke words that made them freeze in place.
"I will be using my World Devourer's Mirage Eye on you."
Dead silence.
Tang Jiyan, Xiang Xiaoli, Guo Bohai, Shi Meixiu, and Dong Chen all swallowed hard.
They had expected a brutal challenge.
But they hadn't expected this.
Shen Yuan hadn't once used the World Devourer's Mirage Eye since obtaining it from the secret realm.
Not once!
And now, he planned to unleash it on them?
Shen Yuan's smirk deepened as he saw their reactions.
"Prepare yourselves," he said, his voice laced with amusement.
And with that, the final test began.
Shen Yuan spoke loudly as his eyes turned golden with red hue, his iris taking the shape of a star, his aura becoming more ancient and mysterious, "World Devourer's Mirage eye… 1st skill, Mirage!"