Chapter 916 - 640: Command Platform
The Valley of Five Declines.
Chen Sheng stood within the valley, gazing at the surrounding annihilation aura, and quietly marveled at the exquisite nature of this Secret Realm.
"The Fifth Layer region almost perfectly replicates the Five Declines, from shallow to deep, making it convenient for cultivators to comprehend and trial."
This layout was specifically tailored for cultivators.
"It’s akin to a simulation before a formal examination; if you pass the simulated test, the formal assessment becomes a natural progression."
Even if you fail, it’s not without benefits.
"Even if the simulated assessment isn’t passed, you can make up for shortcomings and continue simulating; it’s a perfect place for comprehension."
Especially that trial of the most grinding Dao Heart Decline.
"The Dao Heart Decline, where myriad past tribulations converge, here grow profound from shallow, making up for deficiencies evident during comprehension."
"If, during repeated simulations, you still cannot break through, it shows an inadequacy of potential, leaving no shortcut to pursue."
"No wonder all Daoist Monarchs are driven here by the chance for enlightenment!!"
...
Time quietly flowed by amidst the silence of the Valley of Annihilation, with no trace of sun or moon’s cycle, only the Dao Rhyme in the air gently streaming.
Chen Sheng slowly sat down cross-legged, slightly closed his eyes, his aura gradually stabilized, and his Heart Spirit completely immersed in supreme comprehension, unaware of any external movements.
The tempering of body decline, grinding of Dharma Flower decline, tempering of will decline—these Third Layer regions were all broken through by him, each step steady and solid, without the slightest impatience.
When he regained awareness, his form had quietly stepped into the Fourth Layer region—aligning with the annihilation place of wisdom’s decline.
"Wisdom’s decline is most insidious; it doesn’t destroy the body or harm Dharma Flower but can distort a cultivator’s cognition, obscure the Great Dao’s outline, ultimately causing one to completely sink within endless confusion..."
Chen Sheng silently recited in his heart, his eyes flashing a hint of complexity.
In his previous life, he fell at this wisdom’s decline checkpoint, dying with regret.
Now reborn, his Dao cultivation greatly improved, he was already certain in his heart that he could break through this hurdle.
Yet, when he truly calmed his heart, immersed in this simulated wisdom’s decline, he discovered further mysteries that rewarded him greatly.
This day.
A sudden flash of insight appeared in his eyes, clarity dawning within:
"The so-called wisdom’s decline is to break through the limits of ’what is known,’ not trapped in one corner or obstinate in one method..."
With this sliver of realization quietly emerging, the chaotic Dao Rhyme in his mind instantly dissipated, and those obscure insights became remarkably clear.
The cultivation techniques learned in the past, comprehended Dao Principles interverified and fused, surprisingly evolving more indescribable mysteries.
He reflexively recalled his self-devised Crossing the Tribulation technique based on past life’s failure experiences.
At this moment, in the simulation of wisdom’s decline, those hidden problems instantly exposed themselves fully, seeming quite crude and superficial.
Chen Sheng silently warned himself:
"The technique I’ve devised for Crossing the Tribulation ultimately seeks skill, not the Dao."
"It’s like a problem-solving method specially prepared for examinations, focused on scoring points, knowing only the results, not the reasons behind them, ultimately having weak foundations."
"Likely, this technique might help me barely break through wisdom’s decline, but after the breakthrough, it will certainly sow hidden dangers."
"By the time it hits the Fifth Layer Dao Heart Decline, these hidden dangers will erupt all at once, then it might be even more perilous than the previous life."
Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes, showing clarity without any confusion, only insight into the essence.
He gazed at the overwhelming annihilation aura, unable to stop a heartfelt sigh:
"Indeed, it’s a treasure land for comprehending the transformations of the Five Declines! Directly addressing the essence of the decline tribulations, not playing any tricks!"
"Only in this way can the obstacles on the path forward be completely cleared, smoothing the Dao path of the Fifth Decline."
Through this enlightenment, he thoroughly comprehended the true meaning of wisdom’s decline, and his aura also changed accordingly, becoming more composed and restrained, less sharp, more with the Great Dao’s composure.
During his dedicated comprehension, his form inadvertently traversed the previous four decline regions unnoticed.
Every place’s tempering, every time’s correction and completion, transformed into nourishment for his Dao Heart grinding, the perfection of his Dao path, fortifying his foundation and strengthening his Dao Heart determination.
At this moment, he had already reached the core of the Valley of Five Declines—the region of Dao Heart Decline.
The surrounding annihilation aura grew more intense, faintly circulating with shadows of past tribulations, an invisible pressure enveloping him.
Chen Sheng remained calm, closing his eyes once more, and his Heart Spirit slowly sank into his own Dao Heart, starting a new round of comprehension.
...
Simultaneously.
At the core of the Immortal Mountain, on a verdant lawn, a white deer leisurely grazing suddenly halted, gently lifted its head, those glazed-clear eyes abruptly opened, flashing a hint of surprise.
"Oh? This little guy has already started comprehending the Fifth Decline!"
The white deer transformed into a handsome young man, his voice carrying a bit of laziness:
"This little guy’s insight is indeed not bad, perhaps he can rise quickly."
"Hope these little ones all put their efforts, ascending to True Immortal soon; then I can complete the task assigned by the master."
...
Vast Continent.
An endless land completely enveloped by dead silence and slaughter, battle intent permeating every inch of time and space.
This place is the core battleground of the Ten Thousand Races, an absolute domain spanning billions of time and space!!
At both ends of the battlefield, two grand Ancestral God armies had gathered, boundaries distinct.
Ancestral God’s imposing force colliding, transforming into skyrocketing thunder, pressing the surrounding time and space to tremble intensely, twist, as if the entire cosmos was about to fade into nothingness under this power.
The Human Race Ancestral God army, each with an aura deep as ancient Divine Mountains, flowing with golden light, merging into a boundless golden Cloud Sea, within the Cloud Sea, Ancestral God shadows floating, battle intent piercing the heavens.
On the opposite side, the Bull Demon Race Ancestral God army equally terrifying, each Bull Demon Ancestral God figure burly as towering Divine Mountains.
Fiendish energy skyrocketing, transforming into overwhelming black mist, inside the black mist, roaring booms incessant, as if a primeval Ancestral God descended.
Above the heavens, at the end of time and space, two figures confronted remotely.
The Emperor’s imposing force like a towering mountain, continuously pouring down, where it passes, time and space rippling circles, as if the entire realm were collapsing under these two Emperor’s momentum.
On the left, a Human Race Emperor standing in the clouds, his red eyebrows burning like fierce fire, his voice like a great bell, reverberating throughout the universe:
"Gentlemen, follow my command shortly, initiate the Northern Prison Divine Martial Grand Array!"
"Once the Grand Array is formed, sealing the heavens and locking the earth, deploy Heaven and Earth Net, not letting a single bull escape!!"
On the other side, a Bull Demon Emperor, covered with scales black like ink, the scales glimmering with cold light, each scale containing a destructive force.
He laughed aloud upon hearing this; his laughter coarse and violent:
"Fire Cloud, you’re not afraid of blowing the sky with bull boasts!"
He looked down at the Bull Demon army below, roaring out:
"Sons, kill for me!! Flatten the Human Race array, uphold our Bull Demon might!"