Staying in the sect, controlling beasts and cultivating immortals

The entrance to the ninth floor is a massive bronze door.

Similar to the door on the fifth floor, but even more ancient and imposing. There were no reliefs on the door, only a line of text written in the unique stellar runes of the Starry Sky Forger:

"Source of Calamity: Tracing back to the origin, proving one's own way."

Yu Changsheng pushed open the door and entered.

There was nothing behind the door.

There is no space, no time, no light or darkness, and not even the concept of "nothingness"—this is a "void" that transcends cognition, the "primordial state" before the birth of all things.

Yu Changsheng felt as if he had lost all his senses: he could not see, hear, or touch, and even the "inner vision" of his soul had disappeared. The Starry Night Dao Embryo, the six powers, and the Dao realm he had just comprehended all seemed to have become distant dreams.

The only thing that exists is his "consciousness".

"Who am I?" An instinctive question arises.

This isn't a philosophical inquiry, but an existential crisis. In this absolute emptiness, all identities, memories, powers, and emotions become meaningless. If even the "self" has no anchor, how can one prove their existence?
Yu Changsheng tried to recall:
He is Yu Changsheng, a disciple of the Xuantian Sword Sect. He obtained the Burial Abyss Black Sword, inherited the sword intent of Moyu, formed a Dao connection with Chen Xueqing, ventured into the Starfall Ancient Road, and forged the Star Silence Dao Embryo...

But these memories are like reflections in water, shattering at the slightest touch in absolute emptiness. This is because concepts like "Xuantian Sword Sect," "Burial Abyss Black Sword," and "Chen Xueqing" all require a framework of existence to be valid. And here, that framework does not exist.

Panic began to fester.

It's not the fear of death, but the fear of "non-existence"—if even existence itself cannot be proven, then wouldn't all the struggles, protections, and attempts to prove the Way in the past be in vain?

"No." A faint but firm voice echoed from the depths of her consciousness, "Existence needs no proof."

Yu Changsheng suddenly recalled his realization from the seventh layer of the River of Time: anchoring to this moment means anchoring to the truth of choosing to believe.

Therefore, the way to prove existence here is to choose to exist.

“I choose to exist.” Yu Changsheng’s consciousness uttered this thought, “not because I have power, memories, or emotions, but because I chose the definition of ‘I’.”

Absolute emptiness began to tremble.

Like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, ripples spread outwards from Yu Changsheng's consciousness. Wherever the ripples passed, "existence" was born from "non-existence":

The first ripple, the star base reappears—not a return of power, but a manifestation of the concept that "existence should have a foundation."

The second ripple, the mark of the sword of annihilation—is not a tool for killing, but an acknowledgment of the law that "all that exists must come to an end."

The third ripple, the burning of the star's embers—is not a source of energy, but a manifestation of the essence of "existence containing heat."

The fourth ripple, with the Devouring Void Rune flowing—is not the power of devouring, but an expression of the relationship that "existence relies on the void."

The fifth ripple, the surging of the Chaos Emperor's blood—not the inheritance of bloodline, but the tracing of the origin that "existence originates from chaos."

The sixth ripple, permeated with emerald and golden Daoist charm—was not a means of reconciliation, but a manifestation of the Daoist principle of "existence having its own balance."

Six ripples intertwined, creating a realm of "existence" in the absolute "emptiness".

The domain was small, only three zhang in diameter, but it was the "Origin Domain" that Yu Changsheng had created with his own will to exist. Within this domain, everything about him—his Dao Embryo, his power, his memories, and his emotions—became real and stable once again.

The Starry Night Dao Embryo not only recovered, but also underwent a fundamental transformation.

Originally, the six forces were "fusion," but now they are "returning to the source"—the six forces are no longer separate; they are different aspects born from the same origin. Just as light has seven colors, they are actually all one light.

Yu Changsheng's cultivation level began to surge.

Peak of early stage of Nascent Soul... Mid-stage of Nascent Soul... Peak of mid-stage of Nascent Soul... Late stage of Nascent Soul!
It wasn't an accumulation of energy, but a leap in the level of existence. Every wisp of his spiritual power contained the aura of origin, and every strand of his divine consciousness touched the essence of the Great Dao. If before he was "using" the power of the Great Dao, now he himself was the manifestation of the "Great Dao" at a certain level.

The ninth level of space finally revealed its true form.

No longer emptiness, but a vast starry sky—but unlike ordinary starry skies, each star here is not a physical entity, but a "seed of the Dao." There are Star Dao Seeds, Sword Dao Seeds, Fire Dao Seeds, Space Dao Seeds, Bloodline Dao Seeds, Balance Dao Seeds... tens of thousands of them, symbolizing the myriad Daos of the heavens.

In the center of the starry sky, a most dazzling star floats, its light gentle yet all-encompassing.

"This is the 'Origin Star'." The phantom of the Starry Sky Forger appeared beside the Origin Star—no longer a blurry aura, but a kind-faced, deep-eyed old man in white robes. "It is a wisp of 'original existence' that we extracted from the primordial void when we opened the ancient path. Those who can reach this level and prove their existence can gain the recognition of the Origin Star and inherit the Starry Sky lineage."

Yu Changsheng bowed respectfully: "Junior Yu Changsheng greets senior."

"No need for formalities." The illusory figure of the forger smiled. "I have witnessed all your experiences. The way of striving for balance, the enlightenment of all beings, and the proof of returning to the source all conform to the true meaning of my Dao. The ancient road of starfall has been broken for thirty thousand years, and finally a successor has been found."

He pointed to the Origin Star: "The Origin Star can help you complete the final step—transforming the Starry Night Dao Embryo into the 'Origin Dao Embryo.' After that, you can mobilize the power of the remaining formations of the ancient road to seal the Void Beasts, reconnect the broken points of the ancient road, and even... fight against the Void Overlord in the future."

Yu Changsheng did not step forward immediately, but asked, "May I ask, senior, if one inherits the Yuanxing, what responsibility will one bear?"

The forger's eyes were filled with even greater admiration: "Not greedy or impatient, good. There are three responsibilities: First, to maintain the balance of the ancient path and not let it become a battlefield for killing or a private property; second, to nurture those who come after, to guide the lost and to pave the way for those who seek the Way; third, to resist the calamity of the void, which is the original intention of the forgers of the starry sky—we opened the ancient path to connect all realms and jointly resist the erosion of the void, but unfortunately we have not yet completed the task."

Yu Changsheng pondered for a moment, then said loudly, "This junior is willing to shoulder these three responsibilities." As soon as Yu Changsheng finished speaking, the illusory figure of the forger nodded with a smile, its form slowly dissipating and transforming into specks of starlight that merged into the brilliant source star suspended in the center of the starry sky. The source star's radiance did not diminish as a result; instead, it became more solid and warm, as if waiting for his touch.

Yu Changsheng strode forward, each step a lotus blossom—not a manifestation of supernatural power, but a resonance between his own Daoist essence and this primordial starry sky. With each step, a star imprint containing a certain Dao principle would automatically condense in the void beneath his feet, disappearing quietly after he left.

He walked slowly but firmly over a distance of only a few dozen feet.

Countless images flashed through his mind: Elder Qingyi burning her own essence to support the Pure World Lotus when the Xuan Tian Sword Sect's mountain gate collapsed; Mo Yu's remnant soul unleashing the final, annihilating strike with the Burial Abyss Black Sword during the desperate battle at the Burial Star Sea; Chen Xueqing holding the Star Key fragment close to the rhombus-shaped crystal in the Chu Chen Inn, her eyes filled with unwavering determination; Elder Jian Chen leading the formation before the Shattered Star Corridor, everyone wounded yet no one retreating a single step...

There were also those Xuan Tian disciples whose names he couldn't recall. They might have been mediocre in talent, or they might have had selfish thoughts, but in the face of their sect's destruction and their path to the future, they used their flesh and blood to cover for their fellow disciples and poured their last spiritual power into the sword formation.

These are the "Tao" that he wants to protect.

When Yu Changsheng reached three feet in front of Yuanxing, he stopped.

The Origin Star is only the size of a fist, and its surface is not a smooth sphere, but rather covered with countless tiny, constantly changing stellar runes. Through the translucent star, one can see swirling galaxies and the birth and death of nebulae within, as if it contains a miniature universe. Deeper still, there is a faint aura, of the same origin as the primordial annihilation within the Dao Embryo of the Ruins of Desolation, yet even more ancient and pure—it originates from the Void Ruler, but was stripped, purified, and transformed by the Starry Sky Forger using supreme means to form the "Foundation of Balance."

“This is the origin…” Yu Changsheng reached out his hand, but just as his fingertips were about to touch the star, he suddenly stopped.

It wasn't hesitation, but rather sensing the intense fluctuations coming from outside the tower.

Although the ninth level of the Star Tower exists independently of time and space, it is connected to the origin of the End of the Hour Post Station. At this moment, he clearly sensed that the Void Beasts had breached the last two layers of defense, Elder Qingyi's Purifying Lotus had been completely extinguished, Elder Jianchen's Profound Heaven Burning Soul Sword Formation had collapsed by nearly half, and the remaining disciples were struggling to hold on under the corrosive influence of demonic energy. And Chen Xueqing…

Yu Changsheng's heart tightened. Chen Xueqing's aura was so weak that it was almost dissipating. She seemed to be trying to use her remaining emerald gold Daoist energy to forcefully trigger the resonance between the Star Key fragment and the core of the End of the Night Inn, in order to fight for the last bit of life for everyone.

We can't delay any longer.

Without further hesitation, Yu Changsheng spread his five fingers on his right hand and firmly grasped the Origin Star.

"Om-"

The source star felt cool to the touch, yet there was no chill in it; instead, it gave a feeling of returning to the womb. The next moment, an unimaginably vast flow of primordial information surged through his arm into his sea of ​​consciousness, divine soul, and Dao embryo!
This is not a transmission or initiation, but a sharing of the "Tao".

Yu Changsheng "saw" the entire process of the Starry Sky Forgers opening the ancient path: three powerful beings, whose cultivation was at least at the Integration Stage, used their own Dao Fruits as a guide to draw upon the power of the stars in the heavens, inscribing a "star path network" that connected all realms in the endless void. Every post station and every star tower was a key node on the network, serving as both a beacon guiding the way and a fortress against the erosion of the void.

He witnessed the ancient road at its peak, where cultivators of all races traveled back and forth, exchanging knowledge and jointly studying the Great Dao. There were demon race sages who tempered their bloodlines with the power of stars, human sword immortals who comprehended the Dao by using the sword marks on the ancient road, and spirit race powerhouses who cultivated rare flowers and herbs that could grow in the void... The Starfall Ancient Road was not only a passage, but also a magnificent platform for the convergence of civilizations and the collision of the Great Dao.

He also saw the truth behind the collapse of the ancient road: it wasn't simply an invasion by the Void Sovereign. Of the three forgers, one, having delved too deeply into the Void, had his Dao heart eroded by the Origin of Annihilation, secretly breaking the seals on several key nodes, causing the Void Sovereign's power to seep into the ancient road. The other two forgers realized this too late, and could only sacrifice themselves and the collapse of the ancient road to reseal the Sovereign, but this also led to the interruption of the inheritance and the abandonment of the post station.

This source star was the last trace of "pure Dao fruit" that the corrupted forger forcibly peeled off before completely falling into the void, containing the most fundamental true meaning of the Dao of the Starry Sky.

"So that's how it is..." Yu Changsheng realized.

The way of the Star Forgers is never about "exclusivity" or "conquest," but about "connection" and "balance." It is about connecting civilizations across realms, balancing conflicts among all paths, and creating a coexisting and prosperous starry home for all beings in the vast void.

And what he wants to inherit is this legacy.

The source star slowly melted in his palm, transforming into a pool of silvery-white starlight liquid that flowed along the meridians of his arm towards his dantian. Wherever it passed, Yu Changsheng's physical body, meridians, acupoints, and even the smallest cells underwent a transformative change.

Star patterns emerged from his flesh and bones, every drop of blood contained a miniature nebula, and every breath resonated with the stellar power of the outside world. This was not a simple "stellar body," but a "primordial stellar body"—his physical body had become a miniature starry universe that could evolve and grow on its own.

The starlight liquid eventually flowed into the dantian and merged with the Starry Night Dao Embryo.

The Dao Embryo trembled violently, and the six forces, under the harmonization of the Origin Star's source, completely broke through the final barrier, beginning the true "return to the source and unity".

The star-studded base transforms into a boundless starry sky backdrop. The sword patterns of annihilation are no longer independent but merge into the starry sky, becoming part of the cycle of birth and death of stars—the birth and fall of each star is a miniature "annihilation and rebirth".

The Star Ember Core is no longer an independent energy source, but rather the inner "power core" of the entire starry sky, like the singularity at the beginning of the Big Bang, burning eternally and providing light, heat, and evolutionary power for all things in the starry sky.

The Devouring Void Runes decompose and recombine, transforming into the "spatial skeleton" and "dimensional network" that support the stability of this starry sky. They can both devour external energy to nourish the starry sky and stabilize the internal spacetime structure to prevent collapse due to energy imbalance.

The surging blood of the Chaos Emperor is no longer confined to the bloodline, but has become a "river of life" in the starry sky - every drop of water in the river is a potential "seed of life", which may give birth to a brand new life form on a suitable star.

The emerald gold Daoist rhythm runs throughout, transforming into the "Heavenly Dao Law Network" that regulates everything, maintaining the balanced operation of all things in the starry sky.

When the six forces return to their source, the original Dao embryo is formed!

Yu Changsheng's cultivation level did not continue to rise, remaining at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm. However, his "quality" had undergone a tremendous change. If his spiritual power was "iron" before, it had now been forged into "steel"; if his Dao realm was "stream" before, it had now converged into "river and sea".

More importantly, his connection with the Ancient Path of Starfall has become closer than ever before.

With a slight thought, every detail of the entire Mochen Post Station—no, the ancient road region centered on Mochen Post Station and spanning tens of thousands of miles—was presented to his perception: every broken array pattern, every floating piece of star debris, every wisp of chaotic energy turbulence, and even the star debris remnants lurking in the shadows were clearly visible.

Of course, this also includes the fierce battle outside the post station.

Elder Qingyi had collapsed to the ground, her face ashen, her breath so faint as to be almost imperceptible, and the illusory image of the Pure World Lotus had completely dissipated. Elder Jianchen's left arm was severed at the shoulder; wielding a longsword in his right hand, he led the remaining less than a hundred Xuantian disciples, forming a fragmented sword formation, desperately blocking the entrance to the main hall of the post station. The disciples were all covered in blood, many burning their last bit of vital essence to stay afloat. (End of Chapter)