Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Four Seasons City, Dao Arena.

Looking at the white-haired Qin Yu who had a weak aura around him and seemed to be in a despondent daze, Solitary Westgate didn't feel any contempt or confusion at all. Rather, he was filled with understanding and sympathy.

This was because he was also a person who deeply valued emotions and sentiment. Because his wife and child died in the past, it formed a knot in his heart, leaving his mind unable to reach perfection and take that one final step.

Perhaps in the eyes of others, someone with his level of cultivation should be able to stand above the world and not be trapped by his own feelings. But, there were always some 'stupid' people in the world. Even if he knew it was wrong, it wasn't something he could reason through.

However, whether it was because he appreciated and approved of Qin Yu or whether it was because he needed Qin Yu to revive his wife and child, Solitary Westgate couldn't watch on helplessly as this depression continued.

After a brief hesitation, Solitary Westgate looked at Qin Yu and said, "Are you disappointed after confronting the Buddhist Nation Sovereign and Nether Domain Master today? Do you think that the so-called supremes of the world are merely mediocre?"

Before there was a response he continued to say, "Qin Yu, the truth is that what you saw was just a representation. The reason I was able to bring you out of that trap so easily is that the Buddhist Nation Sovereign and Nether Domain Master you saw, and me too, aren't our true bodies.

"Supremes of this world are said to have surpassed the great terror of life and death and are able to live at the same heights as the sun, moon, and stars. We all wish to take another step, rise beyond the Calamity Immoral level, and understand the essence of the Great Dao. Thus, all supremes of the world, except for the past emperors of Great Chu, have merged their bodies with the world to try and understand the source of the Great Dao.

"It is extremely difficult to cultivate an avatar. Once injured, it will even impact one's main body, causing their cultivation to pause or even fall backwards…this is one of the reasons that the Buddhist Nation Sovereign and Nether Domain Master gave up so easily."

Lying on the bed, Qin Yu had turned his eyes. Even in his current condition he still had some interest in hearing these highest level secrets of the world.

Solitary Westgate lifted a hand. "But, there is also another reason, and it is also the most important one. It is that the Nineheaven Mirrormoon Palace Master, Shen Yuanyin, didn't want to kill you."

Qin Yu turned his head, waiting for the ensuing explanation.

"Reincarnating through samsara does exist, but I have never heard of any inheritance of Nineheaven Mirrormoon Palace that involves this. Moreover, I cultivate a supernatural art that can sense one's soul aura. When the Nineheaven Mirrormoon Palace Master injured you, she wasn't unaffected as her appearance would suggest.

Qin Yu's eyes lit up. "You are saying that…"

Solitary Westgate shook his head. "I cannot determine or guarantee anything. But, I have some information that may help you.

"The highest inheritance art of Nineheaven Mirrormoon Palace is called the Sublime Lost Emotion Code. It is a cultivation method with extremely high requirements for one's talent. But after successfully cultivating it, it is terrifyingly powerful. Still, there are enormous drawbacks. Those that cultivate the Sublime Lost Emotion Code will gradually lose their connection to the seven emotions and six desires, becoming cold and indifferent. Moreover, when one reaches large success, they cannot give rise to feelings once more, or they will suffer a backlash through their cultivation and their soul will wither and perish."

Qin Yu almost instantly thought of the most likely possibility. Shen Yuanyin was Ning Ling but because she had reached large success in the Sublime Lost Emotion Code, she didn't dare to acknowledge him.

But when she stabbed through his chest with a sword…he looked up puzzled. Ning Ling's ice sword strike had been ruthless at the time and he had felt the deep killing intent there.

Solitary Westgate slowly said, "In the rumors it is said that when one reaches large success of the Sublime Lost Emotion Code, a second consciousness will appear within their body. Once they suffer a backlash of their cultivation method, that second consciousness will begin to condense into reality and it will try to take control of that user's mortal body."

Qin Yu closed his eyes. He could almost determine that this was the truth. Once Ning Ling's ice sword had shattered and injured him, she had even more chances to cause even greater harm to him that she could have taken advantage of, but didn't.

As he thought about the immense suffering she might be experiencing right now, Qin Yu wished he could appear by her side. His breathing began to quicken.

Solitary Westgate could guess his thoughts. "Qin Yu, it would be best if you didn't try to approach Shen Yuanyin again. If you meet up with her, there won't be any benefits for either of you."

Qin Yu's excited thoughts stalled and began to retreat like a falling tide. He opened his eyes and said, "Thank you Arena Master Westgate for the reminder. I understand now."

Solitary Westgate smiled. "Since you understand then do your best to recover from your wounds. We'll talk more once you are healed."

…

Outside Thistle Capital, the Demonic Path's Holy Monarch had been besieged from all sides. The three heads of the Immortal Sect had gathered together to face him!

It was simply impossible to conceal this sort of explosive news. In the shortest period of time possible it spread through the entire Land of Divinity and Demons.

But any cultivator who heard of this, no matter what their status or background was, their complexions all changed.

Countless influences began to enter states of emergency. They quickly recalled all of their subordinate cultivators throughout the night, trying their best to seem as meek and harmless as possible.

For something so significant, it was impossible to be ignored. The fragile peace that existed between the Immortal and Demonic sides would inevitably be broken.

These were the two influences within the Land of Divinity and Demons who were said to dominate all others. Their confrontation would surely have a profound influence over the entire world.

On the next day, the Demonic Path officially announced it was going to war with the Immortal Sect.

Two hours after this news was released, an immortal sect in the Great Han Empire was completely exterminated. All 3000 of its cultivators perished.

Six hours later, 27 spies placed on the border of the Qin Empire were dug out and exterminated. Over 10,000 people were implicated and either died or were injured.

12 hours later, 63 mines that were directly or indirectly operated by the Immortal Sect were easily destroyed by the Demonic Path.

The Immortal Sect showed no weakness. By the time a sect that was attached to their influence was destroyed, they had already begun to wildly retaliate against the Demonic Path.

For a time, both sides recklessly attacked each other. Each decision they made was accompanied by countless heads rolling across the floors and blood dyeing the earth red.

The advent of war arrived without warning. It was like a thick black cloud, enveloping everyone present.

…

Four Seasons City, Dao Arena.

After Qin Yu was able to move freely, he immediately found Solitary Westgate. His first sentence was, "Fellow daoist Westgate, do you have any methods that can counterbalance the backlash of the Sublime Lost Emotion Code?"

Solitary West gestured a hand. Once Qin Yu took a seat he said, "Qin Yu, I have been looking through the ancient texts these past days and have found some harvests."

He poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Qin Yu. Then, Solitary Westgate continued to say, "The Sublime Lost Emotion Code walks down an extreme path. They sever their feelings and emotions in exchange for a strong mind and will. Through this, they can obtain a formidable strength. But in the end, when cultivating to this step, what they cultivate is still the path of rules.

"To be more straightforward, the strength of the Sublime Lost Emotion Code's backlash is a backlash of the rules. If there is sufficient external force, one can counterbalance the backlash of the rules and guarantee Shen Yuanyin's safety."

Qin Yu quickly found the key point. "What is sufficient external force?"

Solitary Westgate said, "Above Calamity Immortal, going straight to the source of the Great Dao…this level should be called the Great Dao realm. If you can reach the Great Dao, you can help Shen Yuanyin unravel the imprisonment of the Sublime Lost Emotion Code on her body!"

At that time, his wife and child could also be truly returned from death.

There was no giving without reason in this world. If Solitary Westgate went to such lengths to help Qin Yu, he naturally had something to ask for in return. This was something both sides acknowledged.

"Great Dao realm…Great Dao realm…" Qin Yu's eyes grew increasingly bright.

But at this time his complexion shivered and all the blood drained from his face. His consciousness immediately fell into darkness.

It was like he had fallen into a long, long nightmare. When he had restored his consciousness, he could still feel the terror and coldness of that nightmare.

He tried to stand up. But just when he moved he coughed and almost fainted once more.

Solitary Westgate's voice sounded out. At first he sounded illusionary and distant, but he slowly became clearer over time.

"…Your soul's Netherworld Lotus is already beginning to bloom. I'm beginning to suspect that my earlier judgment was wrong." The Dao Arena Master had a complex look in his eyes. "She really did want to kill you."

Qin Yu's lips moved, "It wasn't her!"

Solitary Westgate shook his head, "Qin Yu, please listen to me speak. I have already informed the Demonic Path to come and pick you up. After you return to the Demonic Path's Holy Land small world, you must mobilize the strength of the Holy Palace to remove the Netherworld Lotus. Otherwise, you really will die!"

The Demonic Path cultivators came faster than Qin Yu had imagined. Six Elders from the Holy Palace, Blue Skies Yellow Springs, and Dark Night Demon Region didn't hesitate to utilize an ultra-distance transmission array to arrive directly at Four Seasons City!

With six great Elders here, even if they faced a supreme of this world they could still fight.

The Dao Arena Master didn't appear. Only when the Demonic Path troops left did his worried face slowly emerge from the darkness.

Netherworld Lotus…that was the most terrifying supernatural art of Nineheaven Mirrormoon Palace. Once contaminated by it, death was almost assured. Even he didn't dare to touch it…Qin Yu, you cannot die!