Chapter 155: Death and Nirvana

A destructive energy storm raged wildly above the Silent Soul Abyss, shattering space like fragile glass, revealing a deeper and darker void beyond. The chaotic light that carried all of Ye Li's strength, will, and even part of her life imprint was blasted by the combined blow of the three supreme beings, like dust thrown into the core of a star. It quickly dimmed, disintegrated, and dissipated, ultimately returning to nothingness.

Ye Li's breath completely disappeared from everyone's perception, without even a trace of residual soul left.

"Ari——!" Qin Yixuan's tearful cry was drowned out by the roar of the energy storm. She struggled to rush to the center of the explosion, but was pinned to the ground by the remaining terrifying shock wave. She could only watch at the emptiness, her heart shattered and she was in excruciating pain.

On the altar, Ling Hao, Xuan Cong, and Mo Shang all wore expressions of varying degrees of shock. They hadn't expected Ye Li to be so resolute, choosing this self-destructive attack that would obliterate her body and soul, leaving no trace. A flicker of regret flashed across Ling Hao's eyes. It wasn't regret for Ye Li's life, but for the fragments of the Samsara Mirror that would soon be scattered and difficult to find once again, following the complete demise of their host.

"What a shame... Such decisiveness saves us a lot of trouble." Ling Hao quickly calmed down and turned his gaze back to the energy pool in the center of the altar and the imprisoned Ye Feng Su Wan. "However, the ritual cannot stop! Use the 'key' as a guide, gather the power of the fragments, and forcibly break the seal!"

However, just as they were about to continue the ritual, Xuan Cong also believed that Ye Li had been completely annihilated and his soul had been scattered -

Something strange happened suddenly!

At the center of the explosion, where nothing had been seen before, even the energy storm had gradually subsided, a tiny, yet incredibly pure "origin" suddenly emerged! This "origin" was neither matter nor energy, but rather the ultimate condensation of a concept of "existence" that transcended the boundaries of life and death. It was an "existence" born from absolute "nothingness," imbued with infinite possibilities!

Immediately afterwards, a profound wave, as if emanating from the very beginning of the universe, quietly spread out from that "origin" point. This wave was not powerful, but it carried a fundamental Dao rhythm that healed all wounds and nurtured the vitality of all things. It formed a stark contrast with the eternal, annihilating stillness of the Soul Abyss, yet strangely blended with it, as if the stillness itself were part of life.

Buzz——

The void, originally convulsed by the energy explosion, began to calm down at a visible speed under the soothing influence of this wave. The shattered cracks in space, as if gently smoothed by an invisible hand, began to repair themselves, even becoming more stable. The pervasive aftermath of the destructive energy was also absorbed and transformed by this wave like a sponge soaking up water.

"This is...?!" Xuan Cong was the first to notice something was amiss. Mastering the principles of time, space, and reincarnation, he was particularly sensitive to this aura, born from the ultimate transformation between 'nothingness' and 'existence'. His expression changed drastically for the first time, his voice tinged with disbelief and horror. "Nirvana Seed?! Condensing a Seed in absolute annihilation?! She actually...she actually did it?!"

Ling Hao and Mo Shang also reacted instantly, their faces turning extremely grim. Nirvana is the crucial step for a cultivator to truly shed their mortal form, connect with the laws of heaven and earth, and condense their own "Dao Seed." Only by condensing the Dao Seed can one trigger the divine fire of Nirvana, reshape the body, and transcend life and death. Ordinary cultivators must seek a blessed cave and retreat to a sacred place, where they can achieve Nirvana naturally. Yet, Ye Li, in this desperate and mortal realm, under the combined attack of the three supreme beings, even from the ashes of his own annihilation, foresaw a glimpse of the escaping One. In absolute silence, he condensed the Nirvana Dao Seed, representing the essence of "reincarnation" and "birth and death"!

This completely overturned their understanding of spiritual practice!

That tiny "origin"—the Nirvana Dao Seed, seemingly containing a microcosm of the entire universe—began to spin slowly, like a nascent cosmic singularity. Within the Silent Soul Abyss, the eons-old, cold, and still energy of the Abyss, the chaotic remnants of the previous explosion (including the aftermath of the three Supreme Beings' power), and even the hint of the destructive aura of the "Void Devouring Beast" seeping from the deepest reaches of the Soul Abyss—all seemed drawn by some supreme law and began to converge on that Dao Seed like rivers flowing into the sea!

It’s not about devouring, but... tolerance, transformation, and reincarnation!

The Dao Seed was like an invisible and mysterious furnace, drawing in the energies of destruction and death. Guided by Ye Li's clear understanding of the true meaning of reincarnation, it underwent a fundamental tempering and reshaping! New life was nurtured in destruction, and vitality evolved in death! This was one of the most fundamental truths of reincarnation! In this annihilated soul abyss, where the boundary between life and death was most blurred, this transformation seemed particularly fitting and dramatic!

Rumble——

Above the Silent Soul Abyss, the once gray and silent sky began to gather with chaotic thunderclouds! That was no ordinary thunder of heavenly tribulation, but rather the Nirvana Divine Thunder, which embodied the most severe test and ultimate approval of the laws of heaven and earth! At the same time, from the void, wisps of chaotic flames, seemingly capable of scorching souls and reshaping the laws, emerged from thin air and began to burn fiercely around the Dao Seed - the Nirvana Divine Fire!

The calamity of Nirvana has come in this most unlikely place, in the most incredible way!

This Nirvana Tribulation, due to its extremely unique birthplace (the annihilation of the soul abyss), the supreme and extraordinary nature of the Dao Seed (reincarnation and death), and the terrifying complexity of the energies it unleashes (the power of the Supreme, the aura of the Returning Abyss, the aura of nothingness), is far more powerful than any recorded Nirvana Tribulation, ancient or modern! The electric snakes swirling within the chaotic thunderclouds carry the dual ultimate laws of annihilation and creation; the Nirvana Divine Fire not only burns matter and energy, but also time, space, cause and effect, and even concept itself!

"Stop her! We can't let her achieve Nirvana!" Ling Hao roared in frustration, even tinged with fear. If Ye Li succeeded in Nirvana, her strength would undoubtedly leap forward. More importantly, her control over the fragments of the Samsara Mirror and her understanding of the nature of reincarnation would reach new heights. She would become the biggest variable in their "Heaven Stealing Plan," potentially even their gravedigger!

He took the lead in attacking, and the demonic light of the eclipse world turned into a giant palm that covered the sky and the sun. It seemed as if countless worlds were wailing and being annihilated in the palm of his palm, grabbing the Dao Seed that was gathering energy and the descending thunder and fire!

Xuan Cong and Mo Shang did not hesitate either, and the supreme power erupted again. Xuan Cong tried to freeze the flow of laws around the Tao Seed with the confinement of time and space, while Mo Shang spewed out his own poison source, turning into a poisonous dragon that corroded everything, trying to pollute the Nirvana Divine Fire!

However, once the calamity of Nirvana is triggered, it will be protected by the mysterious laws of the origin of the universe. Forcible intervention by external forces will often lead to the most violent backlash of the laws!

Boom! Snap! Sizzle!

The Chaos Nirvana Divine Thunder seemed completely enraged, splitting into several terrifying, colorful lightning dragons as thick as mountains. Containing the power of the creation, they fiercely struck Ling Hao and the other two! At the same time, the Nirvana Divine Fire, as if possessing a will of its own, split into a raging sea of ​​fire that swept towards them. Wherever the flames passed, even the demonic energy and poisonous mist were directly burned into the most fundamental particles!

The three supreme beings were actually thrown into a panic by this sudden and extremely violent Nirvana Tribulation. Their attacks collapsed in the collision with the thunder and fire, and they themselves were even touched by a few strands of the aftermath of the thunder and the divine fire. Although they relied on their supreme cultivation to forcibly resist, they also looked quite embarrassed, with their blood boiling, and they had to retreat temporarily, looking at the "origin" that was floating in the thunder and fire in shock and anger, which not only did not dissipate but became more and more brilliant and solid.

Qin Yixuan's heart, originally filled with despair, was now filled with immense hope and excitement! She looked at the Dao Seed, born in destruction, tempered in thunder and fire, seemingly redefining life and death. Tears welled up again, but this time, they were tears of joy and shock.

"Ari... hold on... you can do this!" she muttered to herself, disregarding her own injuries. She channeled the remaining, purest, Mystic Woman's divine power, blended with her steadfast faith and blessings, transforming it into a warm and resilient bridge of light, which she cast towards the center of the thunder and fire. The vitality and the rhythm of creation imbued within Mystic Woman's power seemed to resonate subtly with and complement the Nirvana Seed, imbuing the chaotic light with a more stable and profound presence amidst the raging thunder and fire.

The thunderbolts fell like the spears of destruction, and the divine fire burned inch by inch like forged divine iron.

Under the intense tempering of the thunder and fire, that "origin" didn't dissipate. Instead, like a divine weapon that had undergone countless trials and tribulations, it grew increasingly solid and brilliant, its Dao patterns becoming increasingly complex and profound. Like a greedy and inclusive prototype of the universe, it frantically absorbed the stagnant aura of the Soul Abyss, the residual energy of the explosion, the aftermath of the Supreme's power, and even the dual destructive and creative forces of the Nirvana Thunder and Fire itself, transforming them into the most fundamental vitality and Dao principles, nourishing and perfecting itself.

Gradually, that "origin" began to expand and stretch... A vague humanoid outline, composed of pure energy, laws, and Ye Li's undying will, began to slowly condense and reshape within the endless thunder and fire... Bones, blood vessels, internal organs, sea of ​​consciousness... all absorbed everything around them in a way beyond common sense, undergoing the deepest reconstruction and sublimation...

Ye Li's consciousness drifted in endless darkness and chaos, on the border between life and death. Memories of past lives, experiences of this life, the faces of her parents, Qin Yixuan's tearful eyes, the mystery of reincarnation, the true meaning of life and death, fragments of the original, illusory threats... everything merged in this moment, unified and sublimated by her will, which had become purer and more resilient after enduring destruction.

She understood that Nirvana wasn't simply a boost in power or a continuation of life, but a complete leap forward in the realm of life itself, the ultimate affirmation, practice, and sublimation of one's own "Tao." Her Tao was samsara! Carrying all things, operating life and death, seeing rebirth in annihilation, realizing eternity in destruction, and maintaining a thin line of balance and order amidst the escapist treachery of heaven and the rebellion of the Way.

"Nirvana... is here!"

As her thought, condensed with all her understanding and will, exploded in the chaos, the humanoid silhouette within the thunder and fire suddenly erupted with a chaotic light that illuminated the ages! All the thunder tribulations, divine fire, and the tremendous energy converging from all directions were completely absorbed and integrated by the humanoid silhouette like a whale taking in water!

The light gradually faded away.

A brand new figure stepped out from the endless thunder, fire and chaos!

She still looked like Ye Li, her silver hair like snow, her face serene and serene, but her aura had undergone a profound, fundamental shift! No longer the sharp edge of her past, it had become profound, restrained, and vast, as if she herself were an evolving universe. As her eyes opened and closed, her left eye was like the dawn of life, reviving all things; her right eye was like the eternal night of extinction, reflecting the end of the epoch. Every gesture resonated and harmonized perfectly with the laws of the universe around her, as if she were a part of them.

Nirvana state, the peak of the initial stage!

Not only had she successfully survived this unprecedented and perilous Nirvana, but she had also leveraged the unique environment of the Silent Soul Abyss and the oppression of the Supreme Power to solidify her realm, reaching the peak of her initial stage! Reborn from the realm of death, she had truly entered the ranks of the spiritual world's top powerhouses, becoming the most unique and unpredictable among them!

Ye Li, rebirth from Nirvana!