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

In the deepest part of the Chaos God Realm, the sky was gray and the earth was black. There was no wind, no sound, only a white light curtain descending from the void like an endless waterfall. Myriad laws flowed across the light curtain, each carrying a pressure powerful enough to crush a Chaos Heavenly Monarch. Qin Yuan stood before the light curtain, behind him were six women—Yan Lingji, Jian Wushuang, Bingji, Su Yao, Hongyue, and Yueyao. His cultivation had stabilized at the second level of the Chaos Heavenly Monarch realm, and the one hundred and fifty golden patterns on his bone blade shone faintly in the light curtain's glow.

Before the light screen stood a stone tablet inscribed with two lines: "The Source of All Paths, Only Heavenly Lords Can Enter." Yan Lingji was at the third level of Chaos Heavenly Lord, and Jian Wushuang was at the peak of the second level of Chaos Heavenly Lord; they barely met the requirement. Su Yao, Hongyue, Yueyao, and Bingji were only at the first level of Chaos Heavenly Lord, not qualified. Su Yao's expression was not good, Hongyue's lips were pressed into a thin line, Yueyao lowered her head, and Bingji was expressionless.

"We can't get in." Su Yao's voice was flat, devoid of emotion. "We'll wait for you outside."

Qin Yuan remained silent for a moment. He knew Su Yao was telling the truth. But he didn't want to leave them outside, not because he was worried about their safety, but because since they were here, he should take them inside with him.

"Let's figure something out together," he said.

Bing Ji spoke up: "The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion has a secret technique that can temporarily boost cultivation, but the cost is damage to the foundation, requiring several years to recover." Yan Ling Ji shook her head: "Too slow. The Burning Heaven Pavilion has Fire Source Pills, which can temporarily boost cultivation by one level, lasting for a month." She took out seven crimson pills from her storage ring, their fragrance rich and their heat wafting towards them. "One for each person, the effects last for a month. After a month, your cultivation will return to normal." Su Yao took the pills, glanced at them, and swallowed one. Hong Yue, Yue Yao, and Bing Ji also took them one after another. The medicinal effects dissolved in their bodies, and their cultivation rose from the first level of Chaos Heavenly Monarch to the second level. Yan Ling Ji herself also took one, and her cultivation rose from the third level to the fourth level. Jian Wushuang rose from the peak of the second level to the peak of the third level.

Qin Yuan didn't take his medicine. He said, "After we go in, stay close to me."

The seven stepped into the light curtain. A white light engulfed them, their vision went blank, the sound of the wind vanished, and even the ground beneath their feet disappeared. When the white light dissipated, they stood in an endless void. Beneath their feet was nothingness, above their heads was nothingness, only countless fragments of stars floated in the distance, each fragment bearing the remnants of architectural ruins. There was no spiritual energy; the air was filled with an indescribable "Daoist aura"—not power, not law, but the source of all laws in all realms.

Qin Yuan took a deep breath, his Daoist energy flowing into his body, and the patterns on his bone blade glowed for a moment. He sensed several powerful auras—from the fourth to the sixth level of the Chaos Heavenly Monarch realm—coming from all directions. There were no weaklings here.

An old man in black robes descended from the sky, landing before the seven. His face was gaunt, his eyes sunken, and his pupils gray. He was a fourth-level Chaos Heavenly Lord, exuding a chilling aura. He scanned the seven, his lips curling downwards.

"A mere first or second-level Chaos Heavenly Lord dares to come to the Source of Myriad Paths? He's courting death." His voice was like sandpaper rubbing against metal. Qin Yuan didn't back down. "Could also be courting death?" The black-robed elder snorted coldly, flicking his sleeves as he left. His black robes fluttered in the wind. Yan Lingji whispered, "He's the Supreme Elder of the Netherworld Abyss, the Netherworld Ancestor. He's not to be trifled with." Qin Yuan watched his retreating figure. "I know."

In the distance, a golden pillar of light rose from a massive fragment of a star, shooting straight into the void. That was a teleportation array, leading to the second level of the Source of Myriad Paths. The seven people headed towards the teleportation array, but hadn't gone far when a group of cultivators blocked their path. Leading them was a woman in red, with waist-length hair, a cold and beautiful face, and a cinnabar mole between her brows. She was a fourth-level Chaos Heavenly Monarch, her aura burning like flames. Behind her were seven or eight disciples, all around the third level of the Chaos Heavenly Monarch realm.

"Halt." The woman in red spoke, her voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable air of command. She stared at Qin Yuan, her gaze lingering on the bone blade at his waist. "Where did you get your knife?"

Qin Yuan said, "I refined it myself."

The woman in red didn't believe her. "You, a mere second-level Chaos Heavenly Lord, couldn't forge such a blade. You have a secret." She took a step forward, her aura pressing down. Yan Lingji stood in front of Qin Yuan, also releasing her aura, and the two faced off. "Mu Hongyi of the Heavenly Fire Holy Sect, I've heard of you. Don't cause trouble." Mu Hongyi glanced at Yan Lingji. "The Holy Maiden of the Burning Heaven Pavilion, you've come too." She withdrew her gaze and looked at Qin Yuan again. "Tell me the secret of your blade, and I won't make things difficult for you."

Qin Yuan turned and left. Mu Hongyi's face darkened, and she struck out with a palm, the wind from which carried flames. Qin Yuan blocked with his bone blade, but was forced back three steps, his arm numb. Yan Lingji then attacked, exchanging a palm strike with Mu Hongyi. The two were evenly matched, each taking a step back. Mu Hongyi withdrew her hand, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Interesting. You are not ordinary rogue cultivators. I'll remember you, Qin Yuan." She led her entourage away.

Qin Yuan watched her retreating figure and asked Yan Lingji, "Who is she?" Yan Lingji replied, "The Heavenly Fire Holy Sect is the strongest force in the first level of the Origin of Myriad Paths. Mu Hongyi is the sect leader's daughter; she's not someone to be trifled with." Qin Yuan nodded. "Let's go."

The teleportation array was controlled by the Heavenly Fire Holy Sect. To use it, one had to either pay 10,000 Divine Source Crystals or complete a sect mission. Qin Yuan didn't have 10,000 Divine Source Crystals, nor did he intend to pay. Mu Hongyi stood beside the teleportation array, arms crossed, looking at Qin Yuan with a meaningful smile. "Help me complete a mission, and I'll send you up for free." Qin Yuan asked what the mission was. "Exterminate a branch of the Void Demon Clan entrenched in the ruins and retrieve the head of their leader." She paused, "The Demon Clan leader is a Chaos Heavenly Monarch at the third level."

Qin Yuan agreed. Mu Hongyi sent a disciple to accompany them, named Zhao Huo, a third-level Chaos Heavenly Lord. Zhao Huo had a face full of scars, an arrogant attitude, and walked with his chin held high, his eyes only looking at the sky and not at the road. He looked Qin Yuan and the others up and down, and sneered. "A bunch of trash, do you think you're worthy of my company?" Hongyue gripped her spear tightly, but Qin Yuan stopped her.

The Void Demon Clan's lair lay atop a massive fragment of a star. The fragment's surface was covered in black mist, within which countless tiny demonic creatures swam like a school of fish. Qin Yuan led his men in, unleashing a flurry of bone blade strikes. The demonic creatures were like blades of grass, sliced ​​to pieces with a single blow. Zhao Huo stood at the rear, sword in hand, remaining silent throughout. Qin Yuan ignored him. Yan Lingji unleashed flames, Bing Ji froze, Su Yao's palm strikes were fierce, Hong Yue's spear thrust and kill, and Yue Yao's slender sword moved like a snake. The six of them worked together, carving a bloody path through the enemy lines.

The demon leader burst forth from the depths of its lair. A five-zhang-tall troll, covered in black scales, wielding a bone hammer, its eyes bloodshot. A third-level Chaos Heavenly Monarch. The troll slammed its hammer down, the ground shattering, debris flying everywhere. Qin Yuan parried with his bone blade, but was forced back several steps, his tiger's mouth split open. He burned a portion of his lifespan, causing one hundred and fifty patterns on his bone blade to light up, and engaged the troll in fierce combat. After a hundred moves, he severed the troll's right arm with a single strike. The troll screamed, swinging its hammer horizontally with its left hand; Qin Yuan ducked to dodge.