Chapter 4203: They All Walked the Wrong Path
Lin Moyu had used each gemstone alone before the Soul Gem could absorb souls, though only a limited number of times. For the Soul Gem, foreign souls weren't a true feast, just an occasional snack, dispensable.
The Element Gem claimed it could command all elements of heaven and earth, but what exactly constituted an "element" was hard to define. Now, it seemed that everything material whether visible or intangible, real or illusory counted as an element and could be governed by the Element Gem. Lin Moyu had used the Element Gem rarely, only a handful of times.
As for the Balance Gem, its role was to ensure balance, turning all beings within its range into equals. This gem distinguished neither friend nor foe, caring only for balance, so its practical use was limited.
The Scourge Staff's greatest advantage for Lin Moyu was simple: smashing! The Scourge Staff was hard and indestructible, able to shatter anything from souls to the Great Dao itself, and possibly even an entire realm if Lin Moyu tried.
This time, with four of the Staff's five gems assembled, the Scourge Staff displayed a new power. Working together, the four gems actually saved a realm on the brink of collapse. Not only did they save it, but rebuilt it, even giving the realm new vitality and laying the foundation for birthing new life. The shattered Myriad Marvels Monument transformed into many Daos, its secret techniques merged within these Daos and now reappeared in the world. In a way, the powerful sects' legacies of Lingmiao Realm had not been lost; when new life emerges, some may once again comprehend those secret arts, thus restoring the Dao lineages.
The ruins of those great sects still existed in the realm, and future generations may have the chance to enter them and learn of the realm's history.
As the master of the Scourge Staff, witnessing this process the destruction and rebirth of a realm brought Lin Moyu rare gains. Such an opportunity was extremely rare, and he watched with great interest, gaining new insights. He realized how the Soul Gem granted the realm vitality, making it able to once again nurture life exactly the goal he had pursued for so long.
Boom!
A thunderous sound rang out as a Soul Devourer Emperor burst forth in the Myriad Spirits Pavilion. It roared, trying to break free from the Pavilion's restraints. The Pavilion was an independent space, so the Soul Devourer Emperor couldn't escape at once. It rampaged inside, but the only one left was Laurel, who didn't dare show himself against the Emperor, he'd be killed immediately.
Now, as master of the Scourge Staff and the realm's gems, with Lingmiao Realm newly reborn, Lin Moyu had essentially become its master. By relying on the realm's gems, he could command Lingmiao Realm.
"I couldn't deal with you before, but that may not be the case this time," Lin Moyu said.
The realm's power responded to his will, transforming into a giant hand that grabbed the Soul Devourer Emperor. As one born of the Lingmiao Realm, captured as a test subject, it had survived until now. When war broke out, the Soul Devourers outside Lingmiao Realm all perished, including the local Emperor, but this one survived because of its captivity.
Watching the realm's rebuilding, Lin Moyu realized that Soul Devourers were not just a trial for transcenders within a realm they were also the first barrier against outsiders. Soul Devourers helped hide the realm, preventing it from being easily found amidst chaos.
Lin Moyu's understanding of realms reached a new level. He could view things from new perspectives, gaining more valuable information.
The realm formed giant hand grasped the Soul Devourer Emperor, who struggled in vain the Emperor, an outgrowth of realm power, had no resistance against the force that birthed it.
"You have to pay back after causing trouble. Go back to where you came from," Lin Moyu murmured, letting the realm's force absorb the Emperor. Now, as the realm was just reborn, the Emperor's power was a huge supplement, and wasting it would be a shame. Since it came from the realm, it should now return to it.
Realizing its end, the Soul Devourer Emperor struggled madly but it was futile. The realm's power completely restrained it, leaving no chance for escape. As the Emperor was gradually swallowed and broken down, Lin Moyu fell into reflection. He realized a key issue: those Eternals striving for the final step, breaking through the world's limits into the realm was that really the right answer?
Many Saint Spirit level cultivators in Lingmiao Realm had already transcended and could enter chaos, yet they stayed behind. Was it just out of cowardice?
The last obstacle to entering chaos after transcending was the Soul Devourer Emperor, formed from realm power. The stronger the realm, the stronger the Emperor, and the harder it was to break through something Lin Moyu knew well. The Emperor beyond the Five Realms nearly killed him without even facing him.
He'd thought brute force and a powerful Dao heart were the only ways to get past the Emperor, but now saw another path: become the master of the realm, use realm power to deal with the Emperor, and then breaking into chaos would be effortless.
"This is the right path!"
Lin Moyu suddenly understood rather than entering chaos alone, the true route was to become the realm master and bring the entire realm into chaos together.
A single person ascending, lifting the whole realm with them; this was the true way.
Unfortunately, most people never realized this and chose the wrong path. Cultivators, by nature, are selfish, and even Lin Moyu was no exception. They cared only for family, friends, and perhaps their race or world, but not the entire realm. Thus, the vast majority would never comprehend this.
The Myriad Marvels Supreme might have sensed this, which was why he stayed in Lingmiao Realm and tried to refine the realm's core, hoping to be the realm's master one day. But he failed, and at the last moment provoked a powerful enemy leading to his and the realm's demise.
"Perhaps this too is a tribulation; if you don't pass, you die.
Heaven, earth, and chaos all are cycles of karma; tribulation is everywhere, and those who cultivate against heaven must bear this. The stronger your power, the greater your responsibility there's no avoiding it."
With these thoughts, Lin Moyu's Dao heart grew even firmer and unbreakable.
The Soul Devourer Emperor shrieked, growing weaker and weaker, his power less than half of before.
Laurel, emboldened, revealed himself. "Daoist Lin, is that you?"
Lin Moyu smiled. "Laurel, long time no see."
"Long time indeed. I never imagined Daoist Lin would become so powerful the next time you visited."
Lin Moyu smiled. "You flatter me. Let me finish this, and then I have something to discuss with you."
Laurel quickly replied, "Alright, take your time."
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