There were numerous worlds located on the Divine Mountain of Sumeru.
Layer upon layer interconnected, allowing traversal between them from the foot of the mountain all the way to the top without being cut off.
Gu Qing Shan and Xie Dao Ling simply flew up following the wind.
Various desolate worlds unfolded in front of them one after another.
Numerous demonic creatures of various shapes and sizes were attempting to destroy each one.
Gu Qing Shan kept the [True Crimson Demon Spear] by his side, whenever he found a target worthy of being killed, he would use the spear to do so.
As he had the duo dragon power, his strength had far surpassed any living beings on Mount Sumeru, even the wraith Cang Wu Zhang had to set up a trap to suppress his powers before confronting him.
How could any of these monsters even survive one hit from Gu Qing Shan?
Because of this, numerous monsters were easily dispatched by his spear, their powers converted into Mount Sumeru’s own power.
Finally, when they were about to reach the summit of Mount Sumeru, some resonance could be felt from the [True Crimson Demon Spear].
Gu Qing Shan and Xie Dao Ling stopped.
Observing this spear, Xie Dao Ling said: “The will of the Divine Mountain had descended upon this weapon, it seems to want to communicate with you”
Gu Qing Shan turned to the [True Crimson Demon Spear]: “My Mahesvara Thaumaturgy seems to be evolving, let me check what’s going on”
He closed his eyes and began to communicate with the consciousness on the [True Crimson Demon Spear].
At the same time, lines of glowing text appeared on the War God UI:
[You’ve eliminated a great number of wicked creatures, forcefully converting them into origin power for the Divine Mountain]
[You will soon complete your Tribulation]
[At this pivotal moment, the Divine Mountain had given you two choices]
[Firstly: If you leave after reaching the summit of the mountain, you will complete this Tribulation, your Mahesvara Thaumaturgy will also obtain two evolutions in a row]
[Secondly: The destruction of the Divine Mountain was a secret, you might have discovered that it was the Wraith realm who were behind it all, but was that really the truth? In reality, not even the will of the Divine Mountain is sure about the complete truth]
[If you are able to help the Divine Mountain discover the true source of destruction and thoroughly save the Divine Mountain from its destruction, the Divine Mountain will aid you in perfectly evolving your Mahesvara Thaumaturgy fitting to your actual state]
[…There is no need to quickly make your decision, you may decide at the very final moment]
Gu Qing Shan opened his eyes and was a bit undecided on what to do.
If he didn’t have so little time, he would naturally be inclined to stay behind and help the Divine Mountain of Sumeru find the source of its destruction.
But I need to be at the battlefield by noon.
That will be a decisive battle between Order and Chaos, the great battle that will decide the fate of the 900 million World Layers.
I must go, I can’t stay behind.
“How was it?” Xie Dao Ling asked.
Gu Qing Shan explained everything.
“So it turns out not even the will of the Divine Mountain understood what truly happened” Xie Dao Ling sighed emotionally.
“There is surely a reason for this, but I don’t think we are able to reach it right now” Gu Qing Shan replied.
Xie Dao Ling pondered for a bit and told him: “Qing Shan, truthfully, before arriving here, I’ve already had a faint premonition. After performing a few Divinations, they all pointed to the answer I need being at the summit of Mount Sumeru”
“I know, Shifu originally could have broken through without facing your Tribulation” Gu Qing Shan nodded.
Xie Dao Ling continued: “That is indeed the truth, and I felt that I must make a trip here in order to recall a few important matters—— let us go, perhaps I’ll recall something new once we reach the summit”
Gu Qing Shan sighed: “If not, we can only choose to finish this Tribulation and leave—— for some reason, I also feel like that is what I should do”
Xie Dao Ling nodded and smiled: “Let’s go, if it’s meant to be, we won’t be able to avoid it even if we wanted to”
There were countless secrets within the infinite worlds.
Each secret was associated with a danger or a corresponding heavy price that must be paid.
Although Gu Qing Shan sounded like he was dejected, Xie Dao Ling knew that he was only venting his emotions and reminded her to be careful.
In truth, if such things were to obstruct a cultivator’s path, they would surely face it head-on.
Because cultivation itself was the process of overcoming difficulties in order to advance.
The two of them continued flying up towards the summit of Mount Sumeru.
——they headed through more worlds.
——killed more demonic creatures.
Before Gu Qing Shan’s overwhelming power, all enemies were insignificant.
Until finally, the master and disciple pair reached the final world.
——the summit of Mount Sumeru.
This was the smallest world they had seen so far, the only thing present on it was a barren mountain top.
Other than that, it was the endless space vortex.
Is this the summit?
Gu Qing Shan tried looking further away but saw nothing.
He didn’t want to admit it and tried to use the [True Crimson Demon Spear] to poke the mountain top, causing a few rocks to break.
—–they were nothing but ordinary rocks.
“No need to look, Qing Shan, according to the records, this place was originally like this”
Xie Dao Ling had regained her child form, closed her eyes, informing him with her immature voice.
“Shifu, have you remembered something?” Gu Qing Shan asked.
“I can sense many memories pouring into me… Qing Shan, if I can’t actively respond to anything, use your words to guide my answers” Xie Dao Ling said.
“Yes”
A few moments later.
Xie Dao Ling opened her eyes, peering at the endless void of space as her eyes lost their clarity and focus.
She seemed to be observing some unseen images and scenes.
Her spirit energy fluctuation gradually became wild and chaotic, her body slowly hovered in the air.
She then started whispering: “During an era long ago, the Divine Mountain of Sumeru was actually a treasure tool of the Samsara, an artifact made for the sake of selecting cultivators”
Gu Qing Shan waited for a bit when she didn’t say anything else, he tried guiding her: “Why did the Divine Mountain of Sumeru have to select cultivators?”
Hearing these words, Xie Dao Ling’s expression became a bit more unfocused and hesitated for a while before slowly answering: “Select cultivators to… climb the Heaven Path…”
Gu Qing Shan’s heart jumped.
He suddenly recalled what he witnessed at the cultivation world’s semester examination: the broken path to Heaven.
The four cardinal platforms.
A series of tattered palaces.
A stairway that appeared out of nowhere that led up to the sky, but was cut off half-way.
——–perhaps this type of selection had already begun ever since a cultivator started their path, during an era long gone.
But then, what is this for?
Gu Qing Shan took a deep breath and faintly sensed something.
He tried to keep himself composed and asked in a low voice: “Why do cultivators have to climb the Heaven Path?”
Hearing this, Xie Dao Ling’s spirit energy started to become even more erratic. She began clutching her head with both of her hands, as if trying to recall something important.
“Cultivators!”
She suddenly cried out and hurriedly continued: “Only cultivators may go through the numerous trials of heaven and earth, thus becoming true heavenly beings and wield the authority of the Samsara in their hands!”
Gu Qing Shan was shaken.
There are as many cultivators who choose to face their Tribulation as there are stars in the sky, but under the countless layers of Tribulations, most of them regretfully lose their lives.
It turns out that cultivators can ultimately become heavenly beings and wield the Samsara!
Everything makes sense now!
No wonder other Professions are able to easily advance without issues, yet cultivators have to face a Heaven’s Tribulation whenever they want to break through.
No wonder——
No wonder the Wraith realm wanted to destroy the Yama Heavenly realm, and even Mount Sumeru itself!
If cultivators will ultimately become heavenly beings of the Heaven realm and wield the Samsara as their own, how could those wraiths accept it?
How could they not care about such a thing?
Xie Dao Ling suddenly regained consciousness, her body turned limp, almost fallen to the ground.
Gu Qing Shan quickly caught her.
Xie Dao Ling’s expression showed exhaustion, but her eyes were full of clarity, muttering: “Who would’ve thought… the reason we cultivators have to go through so many trials and tribulations, facing numerous deathly hardship, was because the Laws of the Samsara were using that to select heavenly beings”
Gu Qing Shan was also indescribably moved.
At this point, from above the barren mountain top, a heavenly aria resounded as numerous flowers danced in the air, countless projections of divine beasts and heavenly fairies manifested in the sky.
The Divine Mountain of Sumeru resonated with that power, manifesting even more supernatural phenomena that appeared in front of their eyes.
Gu Qing Shan could sense his spirit energy rising, immediately bypassing the previous bottleneck and speeding towards {Mahesvara King} realm.
He was breaking through!
Xie Dao Ling’s spirit energy fluctuation was also rising very slowly.
She was about to become the first new Sumeru Lord realm cultivator among countless cultivation worlds in several thousand years!
A moment later.
The divine beast Qilin appeared before them.
「 Congratulations, you have successfully broken through 」
It continued: 「 Not only that, but our new Sumeru Lord had also been enlightened with the secret of the past world, if this is to spread, it would surely encourage all cultivators in the future 」
「 You may now leave 」
Gu Qing Shan and Xie Dao Ling exchanged glances.
Xie Dao Ling spoke up first: “This is too important, I must quickly return and spread this news to all cultivation worlds”
Gu Qing Shan also replied: “Then Shifu should be on your way, I’m also in a hurry and must catch up with my friends soon”
The two of them stood up and were about to leave the summit of Mount Sumeru.
Just before they left, Xie Dao Ling suddenly clasped her hand at the Qilin and casually asked: “Thank you for following us closely throughout this Tribulation, are you perhaps the artifact spirit of this Divine Mountain of Sumeru?”
The divine beast Qilin curtly answered: 「 Indeed 」
Gu Qing Shan looked back at the divine beast Qilin and smiled: “The Divine Mountain was heading to its ruin due to the corrosion of the Wraith realm, but before that, there should have been no issues with the Divine Mountain at all”
The divine beast Qilin watched him closely and replied: 「 Of course, it was all the fault of the Wraith realm, how detestable 」
Gu Qing Shan and Xie Dao Ling slowly stopped and stood still.
They understood very clearly.
The destruction of the Divine Mountain was a secret, one that not even the will of the Divine Mountain felt clear about.
——–even the Divine Mountain itself didn’t know about this.
And yet the divine beast Qilin immediately said that it was due to the Wraith realm right after they probed it.
If it truly was the artifact spirit of Mount Sumeru, then it was lying.
If it wasn’t the artifact spirit of Mount Sumeru, then everything it had said up to now had been lies.
Gu Qing Shan took another step forward.
All of a sudden, everything around him vanished.
Xie Dao Ling, the Divine Mountain of Sumeru, the divine beast Qilin, the space vortex, everything vanished without a trace.
Iris Technique – [Time Recollection]
“Come, lying divine beast, show me what you are hiding in your memories”
Gu Qing Shan muttered.
