Lastly, the Chaos Rune captured the essence of existence's true nature, with its inherent balance and distortion. It encapsulated the principle of yin and yang, which sustains the universe. It was the power of creation and destruction, order and chaos.
Liang had crafted two runes: Spirit Genesis and Thousand Derivation, each embodying a supre concept.
Spirit Genesis symbolizes the universe's infinite reservoir of power and spiritual energy. It is not only boundless but also regenerative, continuously renewing itself.
On the other hand, Thousand Derivation stands for the endless possibilities and opportunities that ripple through existence.
With these profound ideas in mind, Liang began rging the Universe Rune with his soul.
***
Ti flowed like a river, and the five-year period was on the brink of completion.
Today marked the final day, and at the gate's location, a crowd of individuals had already assembled.
Among the group stood Tian Shu, Dong Wan'er, and Dong Zi Long. Each of them emanated an aura vastly transford from the ti they first entered the gate. However, there was one exception: Tian Shu. His aura, now more natural and fluid, was markedly different, almost indistinguishable from that of a mortal.
"Impressive, Brother Tian Zi," Tian Shu chuckled, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Dong Tian Zi, who had just arrived. "You have reached the realm of divine experts."
Instantly, all eyes turned to Dong Tian Zi, and the atmosphere shifted. Whispers of astonishnt and envy rippled through the gathering.
For not all half-divine experts had managed to ascend to the divine level. The sight of a newly initiated half-divine like Tian Zi achieving such heights was a bitter pill for many to swallow, a stark reminder of their own shortcomings.
Dong Tian Zi responded with a serene smile, concealing the storm brewing within.
"Hmph, Tian Shu, you insufferable bastard," he thought, his eyes gleaming with a cold light "Just wait. It won't be long before this young master has you kneeling and begging for rcy."
Although on the surface, they appeared to be friends, but beneath the cordial facade, a deep-seated hatred festered within each heart, most notably in Tian Zi.
After roughly an hour, a figure descended gracefully near the main gate. The person moved with an effortless elegance, her robes billowing slightly in the breeze as she touched down. Her presence drew every eye.
Dong Rui scanned the assembled experts with keen eyes, her gaze finally settling on Tian Shu. A peculiar expression flickered across her face. Despite the significant advancents in her cultivation over the past few years, she still couldn't see through the depths of her brother's cultivation. His aura had grown more enigmatic, shrouded in a veil of mystery that she couldn't penetrate.
Without much hesitation, she walked towards Tian Shu.
"Congratulations, brother Tian Shu!" she said enthusiastically.
Tian Shu greeted her with a gentle smile, raising a hand in a dismissive gesture. "It's just a minor improvent, little sister. There's no need to ntion itm."
The expressions of the other experts turned grim upon hearing this, particularly Yuan Li.
Achieving the Divine Level is just a minor improvent?
Despite feeling provoked, none of them voiced their displeasure.
Even though they had also broken through to the Divine Level, they were acutely aware that Tian Shu operated on an entirely different plane.
Unlike Dong Rui, who secured the saintess position primarily through her father's influence.
Dong Tian Shu had towered over his entire generation, demonstrating his prowess by vanquishing all challengers in the competition for the saint position.
"Brother Yuan, what do you think has happened to the Heaven-Reaching Tree? Even now, I can't fully grasp it," soone asked, breaking the silence.
Instantly, all eyes turned to Yuan Li, anticipation etched on their faces.
This mystery had occupied their thoughts for months.
While they were imrsed in their cultivation, they had suddenly felt a disturbing shift in the air. When they looked, the Heaven-Reaching Tree had mysteriously vanished without a trace.
Yuan Li furrowed his brow, contemplating before he finally spoke. "I am not certain, but I suspect that it has been consud by the secret realm in so manner."
"Tsk, isn't that obvious? Is that truly all you have to offer, Senior Yuan?" Dong Wan'er interjected with disdain, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Dong Yuan Li's face clouded with anger upon hearing her words. "What does a newbie like you know?" He glared at her icily. "If my deduction doesn't satisfy you, feel free to present yours."
"Deduction?" Dong Wan'er couldn't stifle her laughter. "You're rely stating the obvious. Why not admit you don't know?"
"You...!" Yuan Li's eyes flared with killing intent, but he quickly masked it. Suddenly, a sinister smile twisted his lips. "Don't tell you're still holding a grudge on because of that trash?"
Dong Wan'er's eyes ignited with unrestrained fury. "Dong Yuan Li, you might have forgotten, but I haven't. This grudge will only end with either my death or yours."
Yuan Li's eyes flickered briefly in response. Waving his hand, he summoned a deadly orb of Life-Extinguishing Fire, which hovered nacingly in the air.
"Since you've said this, there's no need to prolong it," Yuan Li declared coldly as the Life-Extinguishing Fire surged towards Dong Wan'er.
Though her cultivation had advanced to the half-divine stage, Dong Wan'er felt a wave of helplessness facing such a formidable attack.
"Brother Yuan Li, it's not appropriate to bully juniors," a leisurely voice resonated just as Tian Shu appeared in a flash before Dong Wan'er.
Yuan Li snorted in irritation, and the Life-Extinguishing Fire instantaneously vanished.
Dong Wan'er's tense shoulders eased as she exhaled a sigh of relief, her eyes fixed on Tian Shu's protective stance.
Suddenly, the space around them began to distort. A golden gate materialized out of the ether, shimring with an otherworldly glow.
Dong Wan'er turned to express her gratitude to Tian Shu, but he had already vanished, likely having crossed the gate ahead of them.
Shaking her head, she cast Yuan Li one last cold, steely glance before stepping resolutely through the golden portal.
As the crowd flowed through the ancient gates, Dong Rui remained behind, glancing around with an air of uncertainty.
"Could what Father said be true? Did the elders really prevent Liang from entering?" Dong Rui pondered, her eyes darting through the shifting shadows of the surroundings.
After a few monts of contemplation, she shook her head decisively and stepped through the gate, her mind reluctantly calming.
An hour later, another figure approached. It was Dong Bao, his deanor radiating high spirits and his face illuminated with an infectious smile. Standing near the gate, he couldn't resist taking in the vast expanse of the secret realm once more.
During his exploration, Dong Bao had found many spiritual plants capable of extending life, Moreover managed to break through to the half-divine stage, and even fused his runes into a divine rune. He only lacked the final step: rging the rune with his essence to create a divine spark.
He took a deep breath, prepared to leave, but a sudden flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He turned and gazed intently in a specific direction.
"How can this be?" he murmured in disbelief. "Is soone breaking through to the Divine Level now? And they're already about to succeed!"
A slew of thoughts raced through Dong Bao's mind. "Who could this be? Could it be Tian Zi?"
His expression beca resolute. "It has to be him. He's the newest half-divine expert. If anyone would break through this late, it would be him!"
Dong Bao glanced at the gate, calculating. "There's still ti before the gate closes. I might as well stay to see if Tian Zi will succeed or not."
Another hour passed, and the intense aura that had filled the surroundings finally dissipated.
"He succeeded," Dong Bao said emotionally. A pang of envy twisted his insides, and he wondered aloud, "When will I reach this level? Will I ever be able to achieve it?"
He felt the familiar sting of unfairness. "How is this fair? Why wasn't I born as talented as him?"
Trying to quell the storm brewing within, he took another deep breath and steeled his resolve.
"Just wait. After I leave this secret realm, I will do whatever it takes to change my destiny."
The elders who had mocked him and called him shaless for seizing opportunities that weren't his—once he returns, he will ensure they beg for forgiveness.
With the remaining treasures in his possession, he could, with another stroke of luck, break through to the Divine Level.
"Divine Paragon Dong Bao," he mused to himself. That sounds like a fitting title.
As for the Dong Clan Head who humiliated him? Hmph, he's just a junior. There will co a ti when I will discipline him.
Suddenly, his gaze shifted to a certain direction, where the outline of a person beca discernible.
Dong Bao's lips curled into a smile as he cupped his hand. "Congratulations on becoming a Divine, junior brother Tian Zi."
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