Becoming a god starts from planting a Bodhi tree.

Chapter 456 The ultimate purity of light pervades all, and silent illumination encompasses the void.
The swordsman sharpened his sword intently, while Cang and Ning silently stepped forward from either side. Their figures also appeared one after another from the mist, numbering more than three.

Despite being outnumbered, the three remained calm, not only because they had the World Honored One behind them, but also because they sensed a strong sense of "naivety" in the opposing camp, just like when they first encountered the World Honored One.

It's obvious that there are quite a few newbies here. Each family nurtured them to the peak of the Heavenly King level and then sent them in to explore. Dealing with them is roughly the same as how the World Honored One manipulated them.

The figures in the mist were closing in, and the three sword masters were also rushing forward to counter-encircle them; a great battle was about to break out.

Ji Jingqiu stood at the entrance of the stone bridge.

The figure that brushed past him in the communion of the Great Dao, with bloody footprints, looked as if he had been through a great battle, his body stained with blood that was hard to tell whether it was his own or that of the enemy.

After crossing the river, this person deliberately broke the stone bridge. Was it to prevent others from crossing?

The question then becomes: should we prevent those who come later from reaching the other side, or should we prevent those on the other side from stepping onto this side?
Ji Jingqiu gazed at the figure in the mist, while someone opposite him was also gazing at him.

Their eyes met.

Then, Ji Jingqiu took the initiative to step forward and walk towards the broken bridge.

The person in the mist who was confronting the three sword masters noticed Ji Jingqiu's actions and was startled.

"What does he want to do, force his way across the river?"

The reason they threw the divine weapon into the river as bait was to see if they could "trick" Ji Jingqiu and his group into coming into contact with the water.

Anyone who comes into contact with this river, even the most powerful among them, will instantly "melt" and become part of the river, making it one of the deadliest places in this land of returning to the truth.

The plan failed, but the other party is now actively approaching the river, attempting to force their way across!
A flash of light appeared, making everyone's eyelids twitch. The blade, as sharp as frost, slashed down amidst the rushing water, its trajectory mirroring the curve of the stone bridge. It swept across the sky, actually repairing the broken stone bridge, causing a sensation among the crowd!

"Who is this person who can repair the stone bridge?!"

"It's neither Wan Qianqiu nor Taixu, could it be the Lord of the Netherworld?"

Whispers came from the mist.

He said in a stern voice, "What kind of bridge is this? Gentlemen, we'll run into each other again someday. If you recognize me now, don't blame us for being ruthless later!"

In the mist, a figure coldly swept across the scene and said:
"You are Fellow Daoist Qingming? You are quite conspicuous. A few disputes will not affect our friendship. When we meet again in the future, we will still be the same as before, have a heart-to-heart talk, and open our hearts to each other."

"I've memorized your scent." Cang snorted coldly. The other party's words were chilling upon closer examination, as if he were an old friend of many years. But who knew if it wasn't a scheme to sow discord?

As for being recognized, it wasn't surprising; he didn't try to hide himself too much, and both enemies and old acquaintances could recognize him.

The heavens and earth roared, and the bluestone path along the river beneath everyone's feet trembled violently. The river water surged and splashed, causing people in the mist to dodge and avoid getting wet in the slightest.

Seeing this, the three sword masters also dodged and avoided danger.

Two incredibly powerful auras rose up not far away, as if two invisible great paths were colliding, causing the earth to shake!

Across the stone bridge, a hazy and indistinct figure exuded a terrifying aura.

A ray of immortal divine light pierced through the mist, and he opened his eyes. It was his gaze that instantly plunged everyone into a Dao illusion of mountains of corpses and seas of blood!
This sight shocked everyone present.

Even though some of them, whose true forms were high above the outside world, overlooking the birth and death of the Boundary Sea, still felt a long-lost sense of horror at this moment, as if a forbidden existence that had never been seen since ancient times had awakened in front of them.

In an instant, a blood-red hand emerged from the mist and grabbed at Ji Jingqiu. It was as if it held a universe within its palm, containing all the stars in the sky. With a flick of its wrist, it was about to suppress Ji Jingqiu within it!

Ji Jingqiu couldn't help but compare the other person to the Death Demon.

Aside from the fact that his power level is limited by this world, in terms of Daoist charm and killing intent alone, this person is actually "higher"!
boom!
A bright, dazzling blade of light erupted as Ji Jingqiu unleashed another slash. The blade light was brilliant and vast, pouring down without any restraint!
The blade swept across everything, shattering the stars in the heavens and turning them into dust on the spot. With a single strike, it shattered all laws and severed that bloody hand!
The figure on the other side of the bridge remained unmoved, merely glancing up at them.

Like a chain reaction, deep within the mist on the opposite bank, one ancient figure after another opened their eyes. Their gazes fell upon this place, causing those present to either gasp or become extremely solemn. This gaze alone proved the opponent's formidable strength and terror!
"There's more than one enemy..."

The sword master couldn't help but glance sideways, and upon hearing the figure in the mist whisper such words, his expression also turned solemn.

The other side of the bridge.

"You ants from the abandoned land dare to raise your swords against me?"

A cold, indifferent voice came from the other side of the river, devoid of any emotion.

The figure standing at the very front exuded an extremely terrifying aura, his eyes icy cold. Even through the mist, they shone like the cold light flowing from the tip of a knife. His posture was like that of a god looking down upon the world, even though he had lost a hand to the ants in his eyes.

"Who do you think you are, daring to spout nonsense and try to be mysterious in front of me?"

Ji Jingqiu rebuked, took a step forward, and crossed the sword light along the repaired stone bridge, taking the initiative to attack and making a direct move.

The sight caused the Sword Master and the others to shrink in shock. The Sword Master clearly heard someone in the mist gasp, obviously startled by the World Honored One's actions.

"Where did this madman come from?"

"He's either a madman or an ancient deity from the old court..."

The sword master's gaze swept over them; these guys knew quite a few secrets!
boom!
Ji Jingqiu's body shone like the sun, boundless light bursting forth from every pore, piercing through the mist, locking onto his opponent's true form, and then bringing his blade down in a downward strike—

【A Mustard Seed of Mount Sumeru】!
This strike was as heavy as countless stars stacked together, piled up like a mountain, or more like a condensed universe pressing down to suppress everything.

In the mist, a terrifying divine light shot from deathly gray eyes, like a condensed galaxy, but it was suppressed by the force of the blade. The long blade slashed down without mercy; if it struck, there would be only one outcome: a powerful cleavage.

Even a being shrouded in mist could not be complacent in the face of this strike. Unwilling to retreat, he flipped his hand and met the attack with another palm, but blood splattered on the spot, splashing into the river and dissolving into nothingness.

Two divine lights collided in the mist, and Ji Jingqiu revealed the blood-red sea of ​​suffering in the Real World, clashing blood-red with the other's blood-red holiness.

In an instant, the earth shook violently, and the entire area trembled as if it were about to collapse.

"Is this a clash between Heavenly Kings?"

"Their Dao power has reached the third level and is still rising. Even the late-stage Heavenly Venerable is no more than this!"

"Is there anyone in this world whose spiritual attainments are above mine?"

Hearing the incredulous whispers from within the mist, the sword master smirked, wanting to say that even he might not be able to beat a bunch of cowardly cowards.

Ji Jingqiu forcefully charged into the fog and finally saw the other party's true face.

It was a stitched-together corpse, several feet tall, with limbs, torso, and head belonging to different beings, resembling both human and beast. No wonder it hadn't reacted when a large hand was severed from it earlier.

Ji Jingqiu's expression was solemn. This body seemed to be pieced together from the dismemberment of multiple beings. This hybrid body, theoretically completely uncoordinated and unified, could actually unleash Dao power comparable to his own without collapsing first?

From the depths of the mist, a cold wind surged forth, carrying a vast and obscure Daoist aura, like the scent of something sealed away for many years and nearly decaying. There was also the sound of chains rattling, as if something was trying to break free from its suppression.

Ji Jingqiu focused on the immediate situation, fully deploying the [Real World] and simultaneously using his own Heaven-Opening Divine Power to suppress his opponent.

This supernatural power is based on the One True Dharma Realm and is very different from the supernatural power he first developed in the Dawn Realm.

Ji Jingqiu's power was so strong that he could forcefully open the heavens, but the heaven-opening supernatural power he used was naturally evolved from his true nature, which governed the harmony of all things and the unimpeded cause and effect.

Based on the One True Dharma Realm, it radiates supreme light, illuminating the chaos and opening up a new heaven.

—When the light is pure and all-pervading, the stillness illuminates the void.

As soon as he had a thought, the moon between his eyebrows shone brightly. With a single thought, a realm was formed, which was endless and boundless. The light of immeasurable wisdom illuminated the heavens and the earth, dispelling chaos and allowing the law to arise from his mind.

Boundless light transformed into the light of creation, and Ji Jingqiu raised his sword and slashed down, cleaving open the primordial chaos and separating yin and yang!
This divine power was not yet fully developed, nor had it reached the complete primordial stage, but when it was displayed in Ji Jingqiu's hands, it still unleashed a terrifying power.

With the blessing of the Heaven-Opening Divine Power, Ji Jingqiu's Dao power was amplified once again, rising to a new level!
The blade flashed like a torrent, severing the heavens and the earth, cutting off the invisible connection between the stitched-together corpse and something behind it, severing his other arm with a single stroke, and completely suppressing the latter to the point of immobility.

"Who are you?!"

The stitched-together monster finally showed a change in tone, and said in a deep voice...
"I sense more than one familiar aura about you. Who is this lost friend?"

Ji Jingqiu raised his knife and embedded it in the other's shoulder, increasing the force until the stitched monster was forced to kneel down, changing its gaze from looking up to looking down.

The stitched-up corpse said coldly, "Are you insulting me? The night is long, and no matter who you are, when the tribulation of returning to the true self arrives, we will meet again. Even if you are already dead, I will still pull your true spirit from the river and make you pay for what you did today!"

Ji Jingqiu originally wanted to say that they would meet again when he reached the peak in the future.

But then, thinking of the three patriarchs behind him, he changed his tone and said:
"You've been boasting from the start, but your abilities don't match it."

"Why seek me out? Once I return to the pinnacle and my cultivation is restored, I will come to you on my own initiative to engage in the final battle."

He looked up and saw terrifying figures deep in the mist, coldly watching him.

"Before that, I will first examine this fragment of the Return to Truth. You'd better leave on your own."

Ji Jingqiu looked back indifferently, showing no intention of backing down.

……

The leader in the mist looked grave and whispered, "Could it truly be an ancient god?"

He looked at the three sword masters: "Are you insane to associate with something that seems to be an ancient god?"

Cang said coldly, "Explain clearly what the Old Gods are."

"Are you newcomers, or beings from later generations?" The leader frowned deeply. "Or perhaps you are actually guides, bringing beings who have fallen to this shore to the Land of Return, hoping they will find your way home?"

The three hesitated to speak for a moment. The other party knew a lot. Even if it was just empty talk, they couldn't say anything carelessly. They had to proceed cautiously.

However, at that very moment, the battle on the stone bridge came to an end. The figure in the mist finally revealed its true form, with a long sword pressing down on its shoulder, forcing it to kneel on one knee.

This scene caused everyone's pupils to shrink in shock.

The three sword masters looked solemn; this forced kneeling posture was no different from an audience between a ruler and his subjects!
Is this a story of an old king returning to sweep away the rebels?

The three were truly knowledgeable and experienced, and at this moment, their minds were racing. Combining the Buddha's previous words, they made what they believed to be the closest to the truth!
The creatures within the mist were greatly shocked and retreated rapidly, their expressions changing drastically.

They had been drawn by the magnificent divine light and were prepared to offer Ji Jingqiu and others as sacrifices to the long river in exchange for a faster passage of time.

But at this moment, a powerful being, seemingly an ancient god, forcefully erected the broken stone bridge and even forced the bridge guardian on the other side to his knees!
This scene was so shocking that they dared not gamble that they could defeat the enemy by combining their strength, so they had no choice but to retreat.

Without a doubt, this must be an ancient monster, not to be trifled with!
"Fellow Daoist, it's probably too late to leave now."

Sword Master, Cang, and Ning surrounded them with cold smiles. With the three of them attacking, it didn't matter if they couldn't take him down for a while; as long as they could hold him off, that was enough.

The three of them locked onto two targets, immediately eliminating the little guy who still had a "naive" air about him.

In the opposing camp, apart from some greenhorns, only these two people seemed to be like them.

These two are their primary targets and are most likely to possess a wealth of intelligence.

……

Ji Jingqiu pressed down with the tip of his blade, beheading the stitched-up corpse. At the same time, he captured a wisp of the opponent's remaining thoughts within the stitched-up body, from which he extracted an important message.

"Take back this fragment of the Land of Return to Truth?"

Ji Jingqiu looked up at the gray-black sky and muttered to himself.

The other party seems to come from the true Land of Return to Truth. The reason for appearing here in this identity is to reclaim this lost fragment of the Land of Return to Truth.

Then, is it possible for me to also take this path of returning to truth into my inner world, transform it into a part of my inner world, or even use it as the foundation of the future inner universe to create heaven and earth?
"To contain the fragments of unity within the inner world, and then to draw upon the sea of ​​suffering within the inner world for nourishment, perhaps..."

Ji Jingqiu muttered to himself,
"This is the true [Real World]."

Ji Jingqiu had made up his mind and looked into the depths of the mist. The previous person's strength was not actually beyond the limit, after all, it was not even a true form, but it could vaguely borrow the power of this world to suppress its opponent.

In this person's eyes, the other side of the stone bridge is the so-called "fragment of the land of return to truth".

So what kind of scenery is on the other side of the river?
Is it linked to the true land of return to one's true self?
The answer to this question...

Ji Jingqiu turned around and looked behind him, his mind focused on those figures who came in a hurry, yet were also in a panic.

Under his aura lock, the beings in the mist frowned, and the leader shouted, "You all go first! We are just avatars! Your priority is to protect yourselves!"

"Hehe, what a harmonious scene of master and disciple." The sword master said with a smile, but he showed no mercy and beheaded a "young man" with a single sword stroke.

One of the leaders immediately flew into a rage, shouting, "Hidden Sword, do you really think I don't recognize you?!"

The sword master grinned, his smile chilling: "Good that you recognized me. If you've recognized me, you shouldn't have had any illusions. Old man, I don't care who you are, as long as you're not one of those people. If you don't confess honestly today, I'll slaughter your disciples!"

(End of this chapter)