Chapter 579 - 572: Initiation
No one spoke. The entire hall was silent.
Having come this far, just as Yang Guhong had said, many had already settled their affairs, having cast aside all thoughts of life and death.
"Then, let us begin."
Zhou Yuanjue said.
"Close your eyes, gather your Spirit, let go of your subjective will, and follow my lead..."
Everyone did as Zhou Yuanjue instructed.
Their Spirits sank into a dark sea of consciousness.
HUMMM!!
The next moment, the Divine Soul Power within Zhou Yuanjue’s body began to spread, slowly enveloping everyone’s bodies.
The magnetic field’s frequency constantly fluctuated and adjusted, gradually creating a strong resonance with some vast, unseen magnetic field.
BOOM!!
Within the dark sea of consciousness of everyone present, a blazing flame appeared. It was like a roaring bonfire, or perhaps a torch held high, dispelling the gloom of darkness and bringing light and hope.
The path of the Martial Dao was dark, and that torch was the Zhou Yuanjue of today.
He had grown from a single lantern passing on the flame to a colossal, sacred fire capable of illuminating the way forward and guiding the entire path of the Martial Dao.
The eternal night of ages finally sees the light of dawn!
For a moment, a powerful shock coursed through the hearts of all the Martial Artists present.
The next moment.
SWOOSH!!
The burning flame suddenly twisted, connected with some unseen magnetic field, and transformed into a bright vortex.
’What is this?!’
Everyone clearly felt an irresistible, powerful pull emanating from the vortex. Everything about them was completely out of their control, instantly pulled and absorbed by it.
HUMMM!!
A powerful, high-frequency oscillation shook their Spirits. An intense light overwhelmed their senses, as if trying to drag them into some terrifying place.
However, just as that happened.
SWOOSH!!
The immense pull abruptly ceased, and their Spirits were suddenly thrown out of the light-filled tunnel.
Then, everyone witnessed the most unforgettable scene of their lives.
They had separated from their bodies, floating above them, able to clearly "see" everything around them.
Their own bodies, the auditorium’s environment, the cross-legged Zhou Yuanjue who seemed to radiate infinite light...
’So this is the state of the Spirit leaving the body?’
The body’s vital signs were fading. The brain’s instincts were shutting down due to this death-like state. It was only at this moment that the Spirit could truly take over the body, instantly breaking some restriction that had bound them for so long.
Just as Zhou Yuanjue had said, the moment their Spirits left their bodies and looked down upon themselves, they understood exactly what they had to do.
At this very moment, they had to return their Spirit to their body, use their own will to reboot their "powered-down" body, and successfully seize partial control!
Most of the Martial Artists had already begun to act, controlling their Spirits and approaching their nearby bodies.
However, only when they tried did they truly understand how arduous a task it was to make their Spirit cross that short distance.
The void was filled with turbulent magnetic fields. Anything caught within would be torn apart or even shredded by the turbulence.
And to move within that turbulence, even just an inch, required immense power.
These top-tier Martial Artists were, after all, still within the realm of ordinary people. Their Spirits had not yet sublimated, and they had not yet truly come into contact with the magnetic field. Simply returning their consciousness to their bodies was a tremendous challenge for them.
However, as the most supreme beings below Saint Awakening, their wills were not so easily crushed.
Determination, courage, faith...
Their powerful wills maintained the structure of their consciousness, preventing it from being dispersed by the Natural Magnetic Field as they moved, step by step, toward their own bodies.
HUMMM!!
The first Martial Artist whose Spirit returned to their body appeared. Instantly, the body’s limitations were unlocked by their will, and a powerful magnetic field erupted, spreading uncontrollably into the surroundings.
Back when Zhou Yuanjue had first ascended to Saint Awakening, he too had moments where he couldn’t control his magnetic field, let alone these Martial Artists present.
Zhou Yuanjue waved his arm, and his Divine Soul Power surged, instantly isolating the magnetic field around this person so it wouldn’t affect the others.
’Success.’
Watching the "souls" struggling one by one to return to their bodies, Zhou Yuanjue’s heart was calm.
Everyone was developing in the right direction. As top-tier Martial Artists, they were only one opportunity away from a true breakthrough, and once that opportunity appeared, most of them would be able to seize it.
But there were exceptions.
Zhou Yuanjue’s gaze fell upon a familiar figure. Above this person’s body, a soul was struggling in the turbulent magnetic field, its form in a dangerously loose state.
He Runlin...
Zhou Yuanjue looked at this familiar old friend, slightly surprised.
At the same time, He Runlin, in his soul state, also clearly felt Zhou Yuanjue’s gaze.
He finally understood what his hesitation was.
Once, he and Zhou Yuanjue had been rivals. But now, he needed his rival’s help to successfully break through that barrier.
’Help.’
’This was precisely his hesitation. A Saint Awakening achieved like this... was it a true Saint Awakening?’
’Is this the Martial Dao I have been pursuing?’
’Can I only break through to that realm by relying on someone else’s help?’
’What’s the point? What’s the point?!’
Every Martial Artist possessed a powerful sense of self. Under these circumstances, it wasn’t rare for some to feel such hesitation and doubt.
But He Runlin’s was the most intense, because he had once stood at Zhou Yuanjue’s side.
Zhou Yuanjue watched as the other’s Spirit grew thinner in the turbulent magnetic field, on the verge of disappearing completely. He seemed to understand his friend’s hesitation.
But he showed no intention of intervening to save him. Instead, he slowly lowered his eyes.
"I have only shown you the path. Whether you can truly break through your shackles is up to you."
"Life and death are fated. If you are not resolute enough, you cannot return from death and be reborn."
Zhou Yuanjue murmured to himself.
Watching Zhou Yuanjue slowly lower his head, hearing his murmurs, He Runlin’s Spirit was suddenly jolted.
’That’s right. He only pointed out the path for us. Whether or not we can return from the turbulent magnetic field depends entirely on our own resolute will.’
’If a clearer path is laid out before me, and I refuse to take it, wallowing in so-called pride and self-importance... that isn’t the Martial Dao. That’s just foolishness.’
’The times are advancing, the Martial Dao is advancing. Saint Awakening is not the end, nor is it the ultimate achievement. It is just a small checkpoint on the path of the Martial Dao; it doesn’t represent everything.’
’And here I was, so conflicted.’
"Thank you for your guidance."
He Runlin’s soul bowed slowly to Zhou Yuanjue, with utmost sincerity. He let go of everything, completely returning to the fearless state of mind he’d had when they first met—the mindset that would strike down any god or buddha in his way, pressing ever forward.
’I, too, will make my mark in this new, turbulent era! How can I stop here?!’
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!!
The next moment, his will seemed to transform into a vigorous White Dragon. The frenzied, turbulent magnetic fields around him were like a surging undercurrent in the great sea. But no matter how turbulent the waves, how could they ever stop a Divine Dragon?
White Dragon Divides Water!
The turbulent magnetic field was split apart. He Runlin’s will-infused magnetic field shuttled through it with the ease of a fish in water. He actually surpassed the others and plunged headfirst into his body.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!!
One by one, powerful wills returned to their bodies. One by one, they stepped into a new realm. Faces filled with joy and hope reflected in Zhou Yuanjue’s eyes, yet his own gaze was profound.
’They have seen their path forward... but where does my own path lie?’