I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Lin Qing'er lowered her head. She was unwilling to accept it, but she didn't know what to do.

The wall of light began to move. It slowly pressed down on the two of them, like an unstoppable giant wall. There was no sound, no wind, only an invisible sense of oppression. Qin Yuan swung his sword at the wall of light, and the golden sword energy struck the wall, then was absorbed—not deflected, not neutralized, but completely swallowed up, like a pebble thrown into a deep pool.

"It's useless," said the Shadow of the Dao. "Your attacks are all within the Dao. I am the Dao, and the Dao is me. You cannot sever your own shadow."

The wall of light drew ever closer. Qin Yuan and Lin Qing'er were squeezed into the cramped space, back to back, with nowhere to retreat.

Qin Yuan suddenly smiled.

"I see."

The Shadow of the Dao: "Understand what?"

"The Way is not for answering, it is for walking," Qin Yuan said. "You ask me what to do if the person I'm protecting dies—then don't let her die."

He concentrated the power to protect the Heavenly Dao within his entire body. Golden light surged from within, illuminating the wall of light. The wall of light ceased its movement.

"My path is not about protecting a particular outcome, but about protecting every single moment," Qin Yuan said. "When she is here, I protect her; when she is gone, I protect the memories of her. The path does not disappear because of the outcome."

Lin Qing'er watched Qin Yuan's retreating figure. His back wasn't particularly broad, but at that moment it resembled an unshakeable mountain.

She suddenly said, "I've figured it out."

Dao's Shadow: "What?"

"My path is trust," Lin Qing'er said. "I trust him. No matter how far he goes, no matter how strong his enemies are, I will trust him. That is my path."

A pale blue light emanated from her body, intertwining with Qin Yuan's golden light. The gold and blue intertwined, like two rivers flowing into the sea.

Qin Yuan raised the Xingtian Sword. The sword flashed with both golden and cyan light.

"This sword strike is not within the Dao," he said. "This sword strike is the Dao itself."

He swung his sword. The sword energy struck the wall of light. The wall of light cracked. Not shattered, but deliberately parted—because this sword strike represented not an attack, but "becoming." Qin Yuan did not seek to break the Dao, but to become a part of the Dao.

The form of the Shadow of the Path began to distort. The shadow on the wall of light trembled violently, like the surface of water ruffled by the wind.

"You...you have transcended the Dao..." The voice of the Shadow of the Dao carried a complex emotion, not fear, not anger, but a sense of relief.

"It's not about transcending," Qin Yuan said, "it's about becoming. I am the Dao, and the Dao is me."

The wall of light shattered completely. The fragments transformed into countless white specks of light, falling like snowflakes. The form of the Shadow of the Dao dissipated within the specks of light, leaving no trace.

The ninth heaven collapsed.

[Ding! The ninth gatekeeper of the myriad realms—Shadow of the Dao—has been defeated. Reward: Unlimited Energy Points.]

[Cultivation Breakthrough: Origin Saint Emperor Level 1 → Origin Saint Emperor Level 5]

[Lin Qing'er's advancement: From the ninth level of Origin Saint Venerable to the first level of Origin Saint Emperor.]

[Obtain a special item: Fragment of the Dao (temporarily transforms into the will of the Dao, immune to all attacks, lasting five breaths).]

[Obtained: Ninth Heaven Pass.]

The final curtain of light appeared. It was transparent, like a frameless pane of glass. Through it, one could see an endless starry sky.

At the pinnacle of all realms.

At the pinnacle of all realms lies an endless starry sky.

Each star is a complete world. Qin Yuan can see everything in those worlds—mountains and rivers, cities and villages, cultivators and mortals, birds and beasts. Some stars are dazzlingly bright, representing powerful worlds; others are so dim they are almost invisible, representing weak worlds. They are densely packed, like diamonds scattered on a black velvet cloth, some large, some small, some bright, some dim.

There were no continents, no palaces, no buildings in the starry sky. Only a huge white star floated in the center. It was larger and brighter than all the other stars, but its light was not dazzling, but gentle, like moonlight, like candlelight.

The white star cracked open. An old man emerged from within.

He wore a white Taoist robe, with white hair and beard, and a kind face. His eyes were white, without pupils, but Qin Yuan could feel him looking at him—not scrutinizing, not appraising, but a gentle, accepting gaze. His aura was ethereal, as if he existed, yet also as if he didn't.

"Guardians of the pinnacle of all realms, Lords of all realms," the old man spoke, his voice as soft and gentle as the wind rustling through a bamboo forest, "You have finally arrived."

Qin Yuan asked, "Are you going to stop us?"

"No," said the Lord of All Realms, "I will not fight you. Because your strength has surpassed that of all the gatekeepers of the Nine Heavens. I cannot defeat you."

Qin Yuan: "Then what are you going to do?"

I have a question for you.

The Lord of All Realms looked at Qin Yuan. "Why did you come here?"

Qin Yuan said, "To become stronger."

"And then what?"

"Protect those you want to protect."

"If you're already strong enough, why do you want to climb even higher?"

Qin Yuan fell silent. He had never considered this question before. He had always strived upwards because there were stronger enemies, higher realms, and scenery he had never seen before. But the Lord of All Realms was right—if he was strong enough, why should he continue upwards?

He couldn't answer.

The Lord of All Realms turned to Lin Qing'er. "And you? Why did you come here?"

Lin Qing'er glanced at Qin Yuan. "Because he wants to move up in the ranks."

"And what about you?"

"I'll go with him."

"What if one day he reaches a place you can never catch up with?"

Lin Qing'er didn't hesitate. "Then I'll stand here and wait for him. He'll come back."

The Lord of All Realms smiled. His smile was faint, but genuine.

"You've passed," he said.

Qin Yuan was stunned. "It's that simple?"

"It's that simple," said the Lord of All Realms. "I asked this question not to get an answer, but to make you ask yourselves. You've already asked, and you have the answer. So you've passed."

Qin Yuan: "So what's the answer?"

The Lord of All Realms looked at him. "Going upwards isn't about becoming stronger, but about seeing more distant scenery. Every world you've seen since you came from the Xuan Yuan Sect is scenery. But the most beautiful scenery isn't what you see, but the person who accompanies you to see it."

He raised his hand, and a beam of white light shot into Qin Yuan's brow. It wasn't an attack, nor a test, but an inheritance. The complete inheritance of the Lord of Myriad Realms—the Laws of Myriad Realms, the Creation of Stars, and the Governance of Worlds. Countless pieces of information flooded into Qin Yuan's mind, like a rushing river pouring into a dried-up lake.

Qin Yuan's cultivation began to break through. Origin Saint Emperor Level 5 - Origin Saint Emperor Level 7 - Origin Saint Emperor Level 9 - Void Sovereign Level 1.

He opened his eyes, and a profound light shone within them. It wasn't power, but understanding. He understood the rules governing all realms, the birth and death of stars, and the essence of the world.

The Lord of All Realms raised his hand again, and a beam of azure light shot into Lin Qing'er's brow. "This is your complete memory of your past life. You no longer need to run away."