Chapter 223 Version Update
Night was fading.
A faint band of pale light appeared along the horizon, as if someone had brushed a nearly invisible stroke across the dark sky. It was so thin and so weak that one might doubt it was real, yet it existed, and it continued to spread.
Chen Chang'an slumped on the scorched earth, not from exhaustion of strength but from sheer weariness of heart.
This battle had dragged on too long, long enough to drain every shred of his will. Yet the warmth in his palm held him together—Ji Hongli's fingers were tightly interlocked with his, her fingertips still stained with half-dried blood, warm enough that neither wished to let go.
The two exchanged a smile, tasting this feeling for the first time in their lives—a mixture of post-disaster relief and emotions too complicated to name.
A crisp system chime suddenly cut through the silence.
[Detected that the host has crossed a boundary to defeat a powerful enemy, completing the legendary achievement—
Child of Destiny]
Child of Destiny: Thunder roars across the nine heavens and shakes the soul; dust from all realms scatters and terrifies demons. Do not speak of higher and lower paths in cultivation, for my fate is mine and not the heavens'.
[Reward: Break the limit of the current realm and unlock the Immortal Venerable Realm]
Chen Chang'an froze, unable to react before another chime followed.
[Detected remaining cultivation in the host's reserve pool: 8,774,424 years]
[Reserve pool emptied. Host cultivation elevated to early Immortal Venerable Realm]
In an instant, a vast power awakened within him.
Heaven and earth qi surged madly, forming a brilliant spiral of stars around him.
His previously depleted meridians felt newly nourished, and every inch of flesh underwent metamorphosis, as though breaking free from an invisible shackle.
The moment that barrier shattered, his consciousness exploded open.
It was not pain, nor ecstasy, but a near-absurd sense of emptiness.
It felt as if he had been separated from heaven and earth, yet also as if heaven and earth were collapsing inside him.
"So this is… the Immortal Venerable Realm?"
He lowered his head to look at his palm. His skin gleamed like jade, yet it was no longer mere flesh—it resembled something closer to the Dao itself. Every line etched on his hand looked like a manifestation of heavenly laws, and with each breath, qi no longer felt external but an extension of his being.
He was the rule itself.
Within his sea of consciousness, the once-vast spiritual power now seemed insignificant, replaced by something far more profound.
The power of laws.
A single thought stirred, and the wind and clouds within ten thousand miles shifted according to his will.
No gestures, no incantations—everything in existence seemed born to obey him.
"So that's how it is…"
He finally understood why the Immortal Venerable Realm was forbidden in the lower world.
Because this was not the end of cultivation—it was the beginning of transcendence.
He slowly closed his eyes, allowing his divine sense to surge outward like a tide, covering the entire continent in an instant.
Mountains, rivers, and all living beings became clear beneath a single thought. He could hear the faint sound of grass growing and sense the ripple of air stirred by a butterfly's wings thousands of miles away.
Omniscient, almost omnipotent.
Yet as he immersed himself in this power, an unsettling discord surfaced.
It was too quiet.
Not in the outside world, but within himself—his own sense of existence was thinning.
The more he merged with the heavenly Dao, the more the part that was "Chen Chang'an" seemed to fade.
"Tch… of course it wouldn't be that simple."
He snapped his eyes open, forcibly retracting his divine sense, the surging power of laws shrinking back into restraint.
Becoming an Immortal Venerable was not an end.
It was the beginning of another struggle—
A struggle against the heavenly Dao itself.
Before he could even adjust to this new power, the system chimed again.
[Detected host's compatibility with the Invincible Dao exceeds ninety percent]
[Do you choose the Invincible Dao as the host's Immortal Venerable Dao Law?]
[Yes]
[No?]
Chen Chang'an stared silently at the faint options projected before him.
The Invincible Dao—this law he once considered useless—had proven crucial in the previous battle, and now it was the Dao most compatible with him.
He turned toward Ji Hongli. She looked at him in confusion, her eyes filled with concern.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly.
Chen Chang'an smiled without answering. He simply lifted his hand and held his fingertip above the Yes option.
A crisp chime sounded again, cold and mechanical, snapping his mind into clarity.
[Detected: Immortal Venerable Realm is forbidden under current world laws]
[Please choose:]
[1. Ascend to the upper realm (the system will provide a safe passage)]
[2. Wait for the system to complete its update (slumber for 10 years)]
Chen Chang'an frowned. His gaze swept over the choices, and without the slightest hesitation, he selected option 2.
What a joke.
He had only just met Ji Hongli, only just felt his heart stir, only just managed to hold her hand—upper realm? Whoever wanted to go could go.
But the moment he made his choice, a wave of irresistible drowsiness surged over him, flooding his consciousness.
[System notice: System upgrade initiated. Estimated remaining time: 3,651 days 23 hours 59 minutes]
"Seriously… it starts immediately?!"
He bit down hard on his tongue, forcing himself to stay awake for a moment, then turned toward Ji Hongli beside him.
The girl supported him anxiously. Seeing the change in his expression, worry filled her eyes. "What's wrong?"
Chen Chang'an took a slow breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "Hongli… I might have to sleep for 10 years."
"Sleep?" Ji Hongli froze for a moment, then sighed in relief, assuming he had simply overexerted himself. She spoke gently, "Alright, I'll take you back to rest."
"No… not normal sleep…" Chen Chang'an shook his head. His eyelids grew unbearably heavy, as if weighted with a thousand catties. "It's… truly 10 years without waking…"
Ji Hongli's expression finally changed.
She tightened her grip on his hand, her voice trembling. "What do you mean? Are you injured? Or…"
"It's not an injury…" Chen Chang'an forced a bitter smile. He wanted to explain, yet did not know where to begin.
Was he supposed to tell her that a mysterious system existed within him, and because he broke through the realm, the world's laws forced him into a decade of slumber?
Or say that he could have chosen to ascend, but for her sake, he willingly chose to sleep?
In the end, he said none of it.
He only gripped her hand tightly and spoke softly, "In short… I will wake after 10 years. Make sure I'm placed in the small wooden hut where I live."
Ji Hongli stared at him. Emotions surged in her eyes until they settled into firm determination. "Alright. I understand."
Chen Chang'an smiled, but the spreading drowsiness devoured the last of his will. His vision blurred.
Just before his consciousness faded completely, he gathered the final trace of strength and shouted—
"Wait for me! In 10 years, I'll come marry you!"
Before the words finished echoing, his body went limp as he fell into deep slumber.
Dawn brightened.
The pale light spread, turning into a soft blue-gray glow.
Thin rays of gold pierced the clouds, cutting through the darkness like blades. Distant mountains revealed their layered silhouettes, while the ruins nearby gained a gentle sheen.
Ji Hongli blinked her sore eyes.
She stared at him dazedly, her cheeks faintly red, yet she could not stop the small smile forming on her lips.
"Idiot…"
…
…
…
Time flew swiftly, and the sun and moon cycled endlessly.
10 years passed—
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