Alright, alright, so you're using all your clever tricks on me

The second evolutionary path is called the Emotional Weaving System.

At its core, it revolves around creating specific "Will Totems" to harvest the emotions of sentient beings as an energy source, weaving a network of emotions—the more intense the emotional fluctuations, the greater the power!

On the surface, this resembles a variant of the traditional Faith Path, but its essence is fundamentally different.

The primary medium of faith power is the Incense Fire Divine Path. As is widely known, incense fire carries toxicity—the fluctuations in the emotions and desires of the masses directly reflect upon the deities of faith. To bear the hearts of millions with one's own mind, if one fails to fully purify the toxicity of the incense fire, excessive absorption of negative emotions will plunge them into an endless abyss, plagued by misfortune and reduced to a mindless evil god...

But what about this Emotional Weaving System derived by the Flying Star Heavenly Dao?

This absurd method somehow eradicates the toxicity inherent in the myriad emotions of sentient beings, treating them purely as an energy source. By weaving an emotional network to empower oneself, it achieves an alternative form of immortality—even an infinite energy supply!

Joy, anger, sorrow, fear, shock, disgust, pride, envy, guilt, anxiety... even the slightest ripple of consciousness generates energy!

This is a form of idealistic power usage, unrestricted by thresholds. As long as one learns to harness emotions, even a lone individual can unleash tremendous strength!

To put it more plainly, it’s like a cultivator of the Emotional Weaving System shouting about friendship and bonds before charging at you...

"Hiss..."

The Calamity Warding Sovereign couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath once more, paying due respect to the absurd capabilities of the Flying Star Heavenly Dao.

"Celestial Master, you also find these two paths hard to choose between, don’t you? And as for such excellent systems, I have seven more!"

"The Memetic Resonance System, the Topological Folding System, the Paradox Engine System, the Final Pendulum System, the Mechanical Asceticism System, the Ecological Vesicle System, the Void Syntax System, the Quantum Observer, the Light-Year Echo, the Force Field Resonance..."

The Flying Star Cat prattled off the names like a proud collector, its fur bristling with excitement as it continued, "Some are complete, others still in development—each one is brilliant. But the Flying Star World’s origin is weak, its foundation too shallow. I can’t have them all, yet I can’t bear to discard any. Every single one was painstakingly derived by me..."

Chen Yi remained silent for a long while before finally sighing softly. "Flying Star, no world other than your own can accept or even comprehend your path—not even the Purple Micro Immortal Realm, which replicated the operational essence of your Heavenly Dao!"

"These cultivation systems that defy traditional grand paths are an immense challenge in themselves. On this road, you are the only one who can walk forward."

Hearing this, the Flying Star Cat sighed faintly. "Celestial Master, I know... I’ve always known. Ever since I chose this path, the Flying Star World became an anomaly among the myriad realms. No one can help me..."

Then, it suddenly stole a cautious glance at Chen Yi and tentatively ventured, "But Celestial Master, I have a bold idea—I wonder if I should mention it..."

Chen Yi arched an eyebrow. "Speak!"

The Flying Star Cat immediately replied, "If there were a powerhouse capable of withstanding the backlash of orthodox grand paths to personally experiment with these alternative evolutionary systems, experiencing their intricacies firsthand, identifying potential flaws for refinement, eliminating erroneous directions, and selecting the most perfect one for widespread adoption... then I wouldn’t be so conflicted!"

"After all, as you know, the Flying Star World’s origin is weak, its foundation too shallow to support the manifestation of more than one evolutionary path..."

Chen Yi couldn’t help but twitch his lips. "Well, well, Flying Star... you’ve really learned to direct all your cunning at me, haven’t you?"

A powerhouse who can withstand the backlash of orthodox grand paths?

Why beat around the bush? Just say my name outright!

The Flying Star Cat guiltily lowered its head. "You taught me well... I truly have no other options, Celestial Master..."

"Since you call me Celestial Master, then as a teacher, I must lead by example." Chen Yi waved a hand dismissively and asked calmly, "What do you want me to do?"

The Flying Star Cat answered without hesitation, "I ask the Celestial Master to descend into the mortal world and rekindle the power of the extraordinary!"

Chen Yi chuckled and pointed at it. "Flying Star, you... you’ve had this planned all along, haven’t you?"

The Flying Star Cat said nothing, merely keeping its head bowed.

Chen Yi didn’t press further. Turning around, he clasped his hands behind his back and gazed at the magnificent landscape of the Flying Star Continent, murmuring, "Very well. Let me see just how smooth this alternative evolutionary path really is!"

As soon as the words left his lips, he transformed into a streak of light and plunged into the mortal world.

The Post-Modern Era, Sacred Void Peak.

Once a flourishing sanctuary of cultivation, it had long since become a famous tourist attraction.

After all practitioners with extraordinary powers vanished, within just two decades, the concept of immortal cultivation had faded into legend across the Flying Star Continent.

Countless mortals yearning for longevity scoured the remnants of sacred sites, hoping to find the long-lost traces of immortality.

Alas, their efforts bore no fruit. Instead, the once-serene retreats bustled with activity—man-made staircases paved the way, former jade towers and palaces turned into taverns and inns, and training grounds repurposed as dance squares where spirited elders energetically swayed to the rhythms of long-abandoned cultivation manuals, using them merely for fitness.

It was understandable. Though the path to immortality had been severed, the lingering Dao essence of a cultivation sanctuary that had endured for millennia still held benefits—mortals living here could prolong their lives!

"Hey, friend! You seem extraordinary. Here to seek immortality, aren’t you?"

No sooner had Chen Yi descended than a disheveled young man sidled up to him, holding out a grimy lump of blackened clay and enthusiastically pitching,

"Care to try my freshly made Air-Fried Jade Clay? The finest delicacies require the simplest methods. This clay was soaked in the bodily fluids shed by Sacred Void Sect’s prodigy, Zhou Zheng, during his metamorphosis! No exaggeration—my father was a servant of the sect, and he witnessed it firsthand. Eat this, and I guarantee you’ll live longer!"

Chen Yi gave him a strange sidelong glance. "You can see me?"

The young man blinked in confusion. "I’m not blind, of course I can see you!"

"Heh, interesting." Chen Yi smirked thoughtfully.

Logically, he was currently in a special superposition state, testing the Void Syntax System that the Flying Star Heavenly Dao favored most. Since this defied orthodox grand paths, not even mortals—let alone orthodox Great Luo Immortals—should be able to perceive his presence!

So why could this grubby youth see him?

Nine times out of ten, it had to be due to a freak anomaly spawned by the Flying Star Heavenly Dao’s derangement!

"What’s your name?" Chen Yi asked with interest.

"I didn’t call out?" The young man reflexively replied before realizing his mistake and awkwardly chuckled. "Ah, sorry—I’m Chen Hao. Don’t know why, but I feel an inexplicable closeness to you. Normally, I wouldn’t share my delicacies, but I just had to approach you..."

"Would you like to try my special air-fried jade paste?"