Chapter 385 The Price of Becoming Stronger 1
The reason why the "slag" has become only the size of a head is not because the quantity has decreased, but because I have compressed it into this volume.
Normally, the "slag" and my flame are combined, and it only separates from the flame when I need it (that is to say, since I haven't needed it before). My flame can be freely compressed into a single point, and the "slag" combined with it can also be compressed along with the flame.
Actually, I could compress it to this size even without flames. Although my superpower is ultimately about manipulating flames, not "slag," I've only recently discovered another property of "slag."
The "slag" is likely the failed residue generated because I couldn't successfully manipulate the power of forging. However, from another perspective, even if it's a failed attempt, the "slag" might still be seen as a "weapon" I forged. Once I realized this, I gradually discovered that I could directly manipulate the "slag" itself. Although not very fast or flexible, I could make real-time adjustments to its shape and size.
This "slag" the size of a head may appear small, but it is only small on a physical level. If you perceive it on a spiritual level, you will find that it is an enormous behemoth on the scale of the Great Impermanence.
More importantly, this thing can do something that even the most advanced magical artifacts cannot do: it can contain my flames.
A little thought will make it clear that this is something that remains even after my flames have burned away the enemy's soul with murderous intent. In other words, it's something that even I, at full power, cannot destroy.
While it's difficult to use it directly as a weapon, it might have great potential as a material for manufacturing weapons.
I recently gave a small portion of it to Mr. Zhu, asking him to try to find professionals who could study the uses of "slag". We'll have to wait for further feedback on the results.
At the same time, I also tried to consult the Divination Master, hoping to find out from him how to further strengthen myself after becoming a Great Impermanence. The Divination Master is the oldest known Great Impermanence in Luoshan. Even though the Great Impermanence is like a god on earth, in his eyes, there have been generation after generation. It should be the right thing to do to seek his answers to any questions related to the Great Impermanence.
Now that I'm a Grand Impermanence supporting the principles of governance, it doesn't seem appropriate for me to frequently visit the residence of the Grand Impermanence of the transcendentalism, but I don't care about my reputation in that regard. That noon, I went directly to visit the Divination Master. The Divination Master seemed to be free of other matters recently, so I easily met him.
Under that same pavilion, the fortune teller casually gestured, and steaming hot tea appeared out of thin air on the tea table. He listened to my questions while sipping his tea.
After a moment, he gave his opinion.
"The way for the Great Impermanence to become stronger, apart from a very few external things, is nothing more than to make breakthroughs in strength and skills," the Divination Master said. "Now you have exhausted your spiritual potential, so logically you can only pursue skills, which I don't need to elaborate on."
"On this basis, if you are still pursuing a breakthrough in strength, then you should not think in the direction of 'possibility,' but in the direction of 'impossibility.'"
This statement sounded familiar, so I asked, "What is an 'impossible' direction?"
"First of all, the birth of each Great Impermanence is an unrepeatable miracle, an existence that turns the impossible into the possible. You should have heard this saying many times before," said the Divination Master.
"Yes." I nodded.
"So, do you think this statement applies to you?" the fortune teller asked.
Upon hearing this, I thought about it very seriously and then gave my reply: "...It does not apply."
In my process of ascending to the state of impermanence, there was no stage of turning the impossible into the possible.
Rather, it would be strange if I hadn't become the Great Impermanence. Because my soul inherently possesses the power of the Great Impermanence, becoming the Great Impermanence is less a "breakthrough" and more a "return to one's rightful place."
Although there are elements on this path that require external life-or-death crises to stimulate me, even without these crises, if I were simply placed in an everyday environment, I would eventually be able to unleash the power of the Great Impermanence, it's just that it would probably take several years to slowly develop.
It is virtually impossible for a weak creature to hone itself to the point of being able to contend with a ferocious beast. Even if there were a way to turn the impossible into the possible, it is unknown how much opportunity and effort would be required to realize it. On the other hand, a ferocious beast is born as a ferocious beast. If it wants to obtain the power that a ferocious beast should have, it only needs to eat well, sleep well, and wait for time to pass and grow. There is no such thing as turning the impossible into the possible in this case.
"Most of the Great Impermanence are actually just like you, born with the qualifications to become Great Impermanence. They are not on the same level as those mortals who have to study theories and practice spells to barely master the power."
The Diviner Master clearly included even those demon hunters who followed the hierarchy of formation, existence, decay, and emptiness within the realm of mortals. He continued unhurriedly, "The idea that the Great Impermanence is the one who turns the impossible into the possible originated from them. They believed that becoming the Great Impermanence was impossible for them, and in reality, it truly was impossible."
"However, even if one does not have the qualifications of the Great Impermanence, one still becomes a figure of the Great Impermanence. This is a real historical fact, and you may have even met him recently."
"You mean the old boxing god?" I asked.
“Old Fist God, Willow Shadow, and Zhu Yi, the ancestor of the Zhu family… none of them were qualified to be the Great Impermanence, yet they still inexplicably became the Great Impermanence. Do you know what this means?” the Divination Master said. “The path they walked can actually be explained in one sentence—they broke through the shackles of their own souls.”
Hearing this, I roughly understood what he was implying, and at the same time, the words that Old Fist God had left behind a week ago echoed in my mind.
"To break through my own limits and reach a level that can kill me, I must first have the determination to kill myself."
"Without the awareness to make great sacrifices, one is destined to never reap great rewards."
If Yu Chi wants to obtain power sufficient to rival the Old Fist God, he must first take the step of breaking through the limits of his own soul. Limits, in other words, are the boundaries of things. For the soul, they are both confinement and protection. Breaking through the limits means destroying one's own soul and reshaping a new existence.
"What you can't accomplish yourself, you should leave to a newer and better version of yourself... Is that what you mean?" I asked.
For a caterpillar to transform into a butterfly, it must first go through the pupa stage. It is said that in the pupa, the caterpillar secretes an enzyme, which then dissolves it like being digested in a stomach, turning it into a thick liquid, and thus becoming nutrients for a new life that is completely different from its former self in terms of physiological form and structure.
To be reborn and transform into a butterfly, one must be prepared to be shattered to pieces and embrace death.
"For mortals to even approach the realm of gods, they must at least possess this level of awareness. And if you wish to make further breakthroughs in power, you also need to be mentally prepared to this extent," the Divination Master said.
"Did the old boxing god do the same thing?" I asked.
“I haven’t heard whether he’s done it or not. But based on my experience, he definitely has. It’s just that it might have happened a long time ago, perhaps during his youth before he entered the strange world, and maybe more than once. Perhaps that’s why he can seem to have reached this point on his cultivation path without any obstacles.” The Divination Master pondered, “But even he seems to have reached his limit now, and he is planning to break through it.”
"You mean... the fourth door?" I found it utterly unbelievable when I asked that question.
The Great Completion stage represents a powerful being who has opened the first gate, while the Great Impermanence stage represents someone who has opened the second gate. Based on rumors and my personal intuition, the Old Fist God may have already opened the third gate.
He has already created a dimensional gap between himself and the Great Impermanence, who is regarded as a god on earth, reaching a level of power that I cannot even imagine. Now he actually intends to create another dimensional gap?
"Perhaps." The Divination Master did not deny it. "Although examples of people opening the third door are far rarer than those of the Great Impermanence, I have witnessed only a handful of them throughout the long history. Apart from the Old Fist God, the only other person still active in this era is probably the Mountain Two Elements, whose reincarnation is unknown."
"And I have never witnessed a single instance of someone pushing open the fourth door. To cross that threshold, even the Old Fist God must make a huge sacrifice that even he could never accept."
I immediately made a connection: "For example... giving up his martial arts skills, or rather, his pursuit of martial arts?"
"I won't consider anything else," the fortune teller affirmed.
"Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?" I asked.
For the old martial arts master, martial arts skills were far more important than magical power. In his understanding, magical power was initially just an unexpected byproduct of his martial arts training. For his dream of mastering martial arts, he repeatedly risked his life, all for just a sliver of inspiration. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he sacrificed his entire life.
To ask him to abandon his pursuit of martial arts and physical strength for the sake of breakthroughs in magical power and soul, and to do this himself, would be to completely overturn his personality and dignity.
"This is the price you must pay for pursuing greater power in the future," the divination master said, gazing at me.
(End of this chapter)
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