The taste of death is not the darkness that envelops, consciousness sinking, and everything returning to emptiness.

Qin Shi opened his eyes, his soul like a mirror shattered by a heavy hammer, becoming scattered.

He rarely experienced an unprecedented sense of emptiness.

This was the aftermath of life's intense release.

"Sacrificing about half a year's lifespan, the punishment for failure is indeed severe.

Old Qi lived from the era of the first Ten Heroes to the present day, how thick is his health bar?"

Qin Shi barely managed to reassemble his spiritual body, the light slightly dimmer than before.

He couldn't help but marvel at Qi Wuxiang's long health bar.

"The Sole Path Through the Ages", no matter how it is seen, is a short-lived rhythm.

Old Qi managed to outlive He Lanchan and the other Ten Heroes, becoming the most resilient "old elder".

Simply incredible!

"Conquer yourself, break through limits... easier said than done."

Qin Shi operated the Void Meditation Technique, capturing energy factors through the Inner Realm to nourish his damaged spiritual consciousness.

He closed his eyes to recall the process and details of the battle.

Then utilized powerful spirit for review and deduction.

"I underestimated myself, shouldn't have tried to attack quickly and kill someone... They are flesh split, vitality condensed, possessing all my inheritance, including combat habits."

Qin Shi pondered, his spiritual telekinesis seemed to have undergone a transformation.

Beams of spiritual light were refined into dazzling brilliance, like stellar rays.

The Holy Embryo that always lacked form revealed its true appearance this time.

Like a divine halo encircled, platinum Scorching Sun illuminated the original darkness.

The Sea of Consciousness expanded outward, like a widened swimming pool with a constant flow of water pouring in.

"Next is the promotion to Sitting and Forgetting, creating a spiritual world."

Refining the Holy Embryo to perfection, Qin Shi was satisfied.

The Spiritual Ability Path has reached this point, almost hitting the ceiling.

As for the subsequent Sitting and Forgetting, Manifestation.

These two levels aren't reached by mere effort.

More dependent on a specific talent.

If the Martial Arts Path can be rewarding through sweat and hard work.

Then the Spiritual Ability Path purely depends on talent and luck.

Any academy of the Four National Universities offers very few admissions for the Spiritual Ability System annually.

Many times not even finding students meeting the criteria.

Yet the pride and standards of the Four National Universities will not allow them to lower the bar.

"Old Qi's path pursues infinite growth, tapping the utmost potential of the mortal body.

Flesh split, vitality condensed, becoming self to challenge."

Qin Shi mulling over various insights at the consciousness level when he was "killed".

The mortal body fell into silence for a moment, like a vegetable, even the heartbeat stopped.

Then the Life Force was stimulated, boiling and raging, waking it up.

"This means, if my Life Force wasn't abundant enough, I might truly die?"

Qin Shi clicked his tongue, no wonder Old Qi could lead the first Ten Heroes and become the Four-Time Champion at the peak of stars.

This is far from developing Life Force, practically gambling with life on a tightrope.

Slight carelessness could result in total destruction!

"Old Qi lived so long, the more I think about it, the more incredible it is."

Qin Shi did not blindly follow Qi Wuxiang's pace, he remembered Old He mentioning that the opponent hailed from a noble family in Hai Province, and received a twin treasure tree as a birthday gift at ten.

The foundation is undoubtedly top-ranked.

Qin Shi plunged into deep contemplation, Old Qi posed a difficult problem for him as a test.

As a Numerical Monster, the strongest opponent is no other than himself!

How to successfully challenge, continuously evolve, continuously progress, until reaching the endpoint of the path?

"Each time you kill an 'self', you can extract a slice of 'growth', closer to the 'ultimate'."

Qin Shi's thinking sparked a flash, re-entering the Inner Realm.

The super Little He absorbing the essence of the Void Meditation Technique seemed to have fattened a few rounds, becoming round and chubby.

The image of the originally stern white-haired youth gradually developed into a pudgy one.

"Whoa!"

Qin Shi was startled.

"Qi Wuxiang's path cannot be assisted by others. His 'Sole Path Through the Ages' is known as 'Dongxia's highest mortality rate inheritance'."

Super Little He seemed to understand Qin Shi's intention:

"This path doesn't consider comprehension, nor qualifications, just whether you dare to die.

The stronger the mortal body is honed, the greater the challenge difficulty, and possibly the more times facing death.

I can't help you."

Due to absorbing too much of the Void Meditation Technique essence, the already couch potatoed super Little He shook his head.

"In that case, I'll sacrifice ten years of lifespan."

Confirming no shortcut available, Qin Shi seriously pondered how to 'break the problem'.

His contact with the "Sole Path Through the Ages" was too late, the foundation of the mortal body breaking the five limits was excessively strong.

Flesh split, vitality condensed, the 'self', each possessed explosive combat power, difficult to deal with.

"Accomplishing the feat of defeating ten is quite challenging indeed."

In the midst of thought, Qin Shi died twice more, "burning" around a year of life before struggling out of the dark sinking feeling of death.

"Is my limit just here?"

Qin Shi refused to admit defeat, though losing to Old Qi wasn't disgraceful, burning several years of lifespan still without passing was unacceptable.

From debuting on Old Factory Street, stepping onto the Old Martial, opening the path.

He has always taken the fast track route.

How can he be stumped by Old Qi's test, halted?

Being called "Scorching Sun", Qin Shi naturally carried pride.

He gritted his teeth, akin to a net-addicted teenager unable to control the urge to spend, staking another five years of life.

The vast boundless Sea of Consciousness, thunder roared, divine light surged, killing moves intertwined!

"Why is the health bar so thick! Why so resilient to hits! A punch to the head doesn't kill..."

Qin Shi battled fiercely while grumbling.

He felt for the first time how disgusting the "Numerical Monster" really was.

He also finally understood how desperate his opponents, like Zhou Yuanchen and Ji Yuqi, must have felt.

Boom!

Qin Shi punched out, the imagery of Hundred Forms Refining Stance burst forth, the wind, forest, fire, and mountain subtly merged, transforming into a small world of creation and destruction.

Facing a formidable enemy, various inheritances quickly fused into his being, insights erupting like a gusher.

The "self" that clashed with Qin Shi was shattered, but his formidable physique allowed it to rapidly recover, delivering a strike in return.

Under the pressure of "Warfare Strategy," Life Force sliced through the air, shredding the wild torrents!

Qin Shi was pierced through, from his right shoulder to his chest, nearly split in two.

Dense blood surged like a waterfall and condensed into crimson particles.

This was the manifestation of Life Force purified to the extreme.

Both sides were grievously injured!

"It's already deteriorated to the point of exchanging injuries, lowering my health bar and using attrition to win.

Would I really resort to such despicable combat tactics?"

Qin Shi was very doubtful.

He gasped for air, gradually adjusting to the sensation of drowning deep in the sea, then waking from the suffocating trance.

"How can I clear the level?"

After suffering multiple defeats and burning through eight years of lifespan, Qin Shi returned to the Inner Realm to continue his analysis and reflection.

All optimizable details had already been perfected.

Whether in grasping timing, releasing killing moves, or executing inheritance rotations.

"Where is the shortcoming?"

Qin Shi sat cross-legged in the Inner Realm. Just from the challenge difficulty, the most he could fight was five, but not ten.

Moreover, it's possible he couldn't achieve it.

Engaging ten powerful opponents with equal numerical stats.

Even if replaced with someone legendary like Qi Wuxiang chasing the Martial God, Qin Shi felt certain the other could not succeed.

Thus, he believed there existed some "solution path" he had yet to comprehend.

"Is it some trait? But even if I boost 'enhancement' to thirty, even fifty times, my strength would increase accordingly. Still can't beat them!"

After fruitless pondering, Qin Shi looked at the chubby little He, the latter was overwhelmed, unable to help.

"How about asking the original Master He?"

He left the Inner Realm, finding the white-haired figure sitting with his back to the void.

"You're thinking too complexly; the answer is actually on the surface.

Void Meditation focuses on using 'Void' for 'Meditation,' thereby encompassing the myriad imageries of the cosmos, refining them for personal use.

The same problem, uniquely eternal, what should be the core?"

The white-haired figure's questioning was like lightning piercing through the fog, suddenly cleaving Qin Shi's spirit.

"Unique? To unceasingly kill oneself, metamorphose, and evolve, seizing 'their' growth to aid my summit!"

The white-haired figure nodded slightly, then asked:

"Then how to become this 'unique'? Think deeply."

Qin Shi, like a student called upon in class, sank his spirit to intently ponder, replaying frames of his repeated death scenes.

Like shattered marbles, the asteroid surface filled with crack patterns.

He and Qin Shi were minuscule as a speck of dust.

He hung his head, and after a long silence, suddenly spoke:

"Surpass! 'I' must surpass 'myself' to become the unique me!"

The gaze of the white-haired figure revealed a look of relief, this talent indeed rivaled his own.

"Exactly. You must embrace 'self.' The flesh vitality contained in the mortal body is mobilized, condensed, forming existences identical to you.

Qi Dog lacks much brains, yet is indeed resolute enough.

The 'Path of Unique Eternity' he created was a road he walked after summarizing observations of various schools and true inheritances.

Because he's too arrogant, too proud, believing in the vast universe, apart from himself, it's hard to find a worthy 'opponent.'

As Qi Dog said, this is an invincible path.

Thus it requires an invincible momentum, an invincible faith.

Without these, you can't surpass everything."

The white-haired figure's words enlightened Qin Shi, suddenly realizing.

"But you obviously aren't the type to be insanely arrogant and unbearably proud in nature. Thus, you can't learn it."

Just as Qin Shi joyfully believed he had grasped something, the white-haired figure added.

His mouth twitched immediately, feeling like being drenched in cold water amid excitement, a burst of wanting to curse.

Old He's character is truly horrid!

No wonder becoming Old Zhang's lifelong psychological shadow!

"Master He, is there anything I can learn?"

Qin Shi suppressed the words at his throat, sincerely asking.

"I can help you."

This time, the white-haired figure straightforwardly responded.

"How does Master He intend to help?"

Yet Qin Shi felt a sense of caution.

He had already understood He Lanchan's temperament, unlike well-mannered Old Zhang and Old Liang, Old He tended to set traps.

A slight carelessness would be easily entrapping oneself.

"I straddle Martial Arts and Spiritual Ability, my spirit already at the manifestation realm."

The white-haired figure said.

Hmm?

What next?

Qin Shi was puzzled.

"The spirit reaching deep meditation, forming the Holy Embryo, can hypnotize others' spirits."

The white-haired figure smiled, his stern countenance transforming like spring rain, eliciting a mesmerizing feeling in Qin Shi.

No doubt, Old He truly is handsome; no wonder in his youth he was popular everywhere he went.

"Hypnosis? Master He, you want to..."

Qin Shi instinctively raised his head to meet the white-haired figure.

Before the words fell, his head "buzzed," exploding as if struck by a bell, deep sound waves endlessly rolling, echoing in the Sea of Consciousness.

"You are Qin Wuxiang."

The white-haired figure quietly uttered five words.

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