"Are you kidding me? I've actually arrived in the world of Shrouding the Heavens?"
Chen Xiaoming wasn't sure whether to be ecstatic or terrified. In this world, even Sages (Saints) could obliterate stars with a mere flick of their fingers. There was absolutely no sense of security here.
What was even more terrifying were the forbidden zones and the cataclysmic darkness. Compared to this place, the dangers of the Douluo Continent paled in comparison—who knew how many times worse the odds of survival were here?
But of course, danger and opportunity always went hand in hand. The Shrouding the Heavens universe had a unique cultivation system—the Shrouding the Heavens Dao.
When it came to sheer combat prowess, few worlds of the same level could rival it.
"Sigh, but I should deal with my current predicament first."
Letting out a deep sigh, Chen Xiaoming glanced at his status panel. As a dignified First-Class God, he could barely utilize even half of his strength in this world. What was worse, once his divine power was depleted, there was no way to replenish it.
To have all this strength yet be so restricted—it was frustrating. If every world worked like this, then no matter how powerful the Shrouding the Heavens Dao was, it would be useless in other realms.
"Forget it, let's see what this 'Refinement' function actually does."
Understanding the workings of his system, Chen Xiaoming decided to give it a try. He reached out and tapped the 'Refinement' button.
Boom!
In an instant, an ethereal and profound aura spread out. His ears rang with the sound of morning bells and evening drums, a majestic hymn resonating through his soul. The echoes of the Dao filled the void, lotus blossoms rained from the sky, and golden lotuses bloomed from the earth.
The Dao is ever-present; through detachment, one perceives its wonders. Through desire, one perceives its boundaries. Both stem from the same source yet differ in name—this is the gateway to all mysteries.
The grand hymn abruptly ceased. Chen Xiaoming found himself standing in an endless expanse of chaos. Suspended before him was a mystical gateway, flickering between existence and illusion, releasing a wisp of unfathomable energy.
Suddenly, his divine power surged uncontrollably. Ten god-tier soul rings gleamed brightly, while his Azurewood Tree manifested above his head, its ten radiant rings pulsating in harmony.
A pillar of divine light erupted from his body, endlessly pouring into the Azurewood Tree. The divine power within him flowed like a tidal wave, merging with the ancient tree, its branches quivering with newfound vitality.
A brilliant green shoot emerged, tender and fresh, as though reborn anew. Beneath it, divine soul rings and divine power coalesced, forming a golden-red fruit. It radiated a unique brilliance, interwoven with six colors—white, yellow, purple, black, red, and gold.
Boom!
Reality twisted, the endless chaos vanished, and Chen Xiaoming found himself back on the boundless plains from before.
"What the hell was that?"
Taking a deep breath, his mind replayed the astonishing scene he had just witnessed. He focused inward, but to his horror, his spatial divine power was now completely drained. Not only that—his soul bones, now fused into his divine armor, and even his soul rings had vanished.
"Damn it! This system is rigged!"
Ten billion experience points down the drain, and all he got in return was a completely depleted divine core. Unable to hold back his frustration, he cursed aloud. Just what kind of 'feature' was this, wiping out his divine power entirely?
"Calm down. There's no way it would be this cruel."
Frowning in thought, Chen Xiaoming recalled the peculiar scene he had witnessed. His eyes flickered with determination as he activated his bloodline essence, connecting with his Azurewood Tree.
The moment he did, his expression shifted. Hanging from the branches of his Azurewood Tree was that same golden-red fruit, pulsating with faint traces of spatial divine power.
He could clearly feel that when he used his bloodline power in battle, there was now a distinct connection to his true body.
"Ha! I knew it. No way my cheat ability would fail me."
Realizing his strength had not diminished but had instead evolved, a grin spread across his face. His trust in the system had not been misplaced—it had merely refined his power into a new form.
This method of enhancement left him feeling completely reassured.
However, one question still nagged at him—the gateway within the chaotic void, the Gate of Myriad Wonders. Just what was that?
The wind swept across the plains as Chen Xiaoming pondered. But he knew that with his current strength, understanding such mysteries was far beyond his reach. For now, he could only suppress his curiosity.
"Never mind. Let's focus on leveling up."
With a sharp gleam in his eyes, he turned to his cultivation progress. His Divine Bridge Realm was waiting for an upgrade. Without hesitation, he tapped the upgrade button.
Cultivation: Wheel and Sea Realm (Divine Bridge) (+) 89.6 billion / 100 million
In an instant, another level up.
Above his Sea of Bitterness, a radiant rainbow bridge stretched across the sky, resplendent and magnificent.
The Divine Bridge crossed the void, arriving at the misty threshold of the unknown. A thick fog loomed ahead, concealing the path beyond.
The human body is a boundless mystery. Cultivators must cross the Sea of Bitterness to explore deeper realms within themselves. Only by forging ahead can they reach the other shore.
But where was the Other Shore (Paramita)? What defined it?
This was a trial for all cultivators—a test that could lead to enlightenment or eternal confusion.
Chen Xiaoming stared at the mist, his eyes flashing coldly.
"Break!"
A burst of dazzling silver light erupted from him, instantly tearing through the fog. Clarity returned to the heavens and the earth.
The Other Shore?
For someone like him, a true cheat character, every step of life was an Other Shore in itself.
With a casual tap, he initiated another upgrade.
His cultivation soared—from the Dao Palace Realm… to the Four Poles Realm… and finally, to the Dragon Transformation Realm.
A surge of overwhelming energy rippled through the land, splitting the ground into bottomless chasms. The dense forest behind him was reduced to nothingness by the sheer force of his aura.
His very blood now pulsed like a roaring furnace, exuding an intimidating power with every breath.
Cultivation: Dragon Transformation Realm (1) (+) 49.1 billion / 1 trillion
Glancing at the new experience requirement, Chen Xiaoming's brow furrowed.
The Wheel and Sea Realm needed 1 million per level. The Dao Palace Realm required 1 billion per level. The Four Poles Realm had a cap of 100 billion.
He had assumed the cost would plateau at 100 billion, like in Douluo Continent. But now, suddenly, the price had jumped to 1 trillion.
Would the Immortal Platform Realm require 10 trillion?
Considering his rate of experience gain, it seemed entirely possible.
Ding!
[You took a deep breath. Experience gained: +10,000,000.]
Hearing the notification, Chen Xiaoming let out a bitter laugh. Gaining ten million experience per breath—this grind was going to be brutal.
Just then, in the distant sky, two terrifying auras rapidly approached. Chen Xiaoming frowned and turned his gaze toward the horizon.
"Hmm? Someone's coming."
-------
Want to read ahead of schedule?
Join here for advance chapters: patreon.com / igotneonlight