Chen Chang'an gave Li Qiye a deep, contemplative look.
Though he and Li Jingyun had never formally established a master-disciple relationship, Li Jingyun had always claimed to be his disciple.
Now, Li Qiye was the only surviving descendant of Li Jingyun. For a moment, Chen Chang'an found himself weighing his options—what should he do?
"Enough."
"Since you wish to fulfill what Li Jingyun left unfinished, let us begin with you becoming my disciple."
"Consider it fulfilling another one of his unspoken wishes."
Back then, Li Jingyun had genuinely wanted to formally acknowledge Chen Chang'an as his master. But at that time, how could Chen Chang'an have taken on a disciple?
He had no shortage of theoretical knowledge, but his own cultivation was nonexistent. Moreover, his time in the mortal world was fleeting, and he had no desire to lead others astray.
Yet now, fate had brought him face-to-face with Li Jingyun’s descendant. Perhaps this was the will of the heavens.
"Foolish boy, why are you still standing there? Call me ‘Master.’"
"This was your grandfather’s lifelong dream."
Seeing Li Qiye frozen in place, Li Tang hurriedly nudged him from the side.
"M-Master… This disciple pays his respects."
Li Qiye had only intended to seek Chen Chang'an’s guidance in cultivation. After all, this man was the revered master in his ancestor’s heart—his grandmaster.
Never had he imagined that Chen Chang'an would directly accept him as a disciple.
Wouldn’t this disrupt the hierarchy of generations?
But to Chen Chang'an, such formalities meant little. He lived by his own whims.
"Rise."
"Your comprehension is strong, but your innate talent for cultivation remains to be seen."
"Let us go. This place is unsuitable. We’ll find somewhere else to talk."
"Yes, Grandmaster."
"Yes, Master."
Li Tang and Li Qiye addressed Chen Chang'an differently, and after exchanging glances, they both felt a hint of awkwardness.
Li Tang was now unsure how to refer to Li Qiye. The boy was his own junior, yet his status had suddenly risen to match Li Jingyun’s.
What kind of absurdity was this?
"No need for awkwardness. Let each follow their own way."
"What does it matter? We are cultivators. Why be bound by trivial formalities?"
Chen Chang'an led the two away, eventually settling in an inn.
Li Tang retreated to his own room to rest, exhausted from the days spent fleeing with Li Qiye.
Meanwhile, Li Qiye entered Chen Chang'an’s quarters and found a tub of hot water prepared.
"Master, are you planning to bathe?" Li Qiye asked curiously.
"This is for you."
"Here—a Marrow-Cleansing and Merit-Refining Pill. Take it."
"Understood."
Without questioning its purpose, Li Qiye swallowed the pill.
The moment it touched his tongue, the pill dissolved, releasing a torrent of overwhelming energy that surged through his body, relentlessly reshaping his meridians.
The agony nearly forced a scream from his lips, but his iron will held it back.
Time crawled. After a full hour, Li Qiye’s body was drenched in sweat and impurities, the stench pungent.
"Wash yourself."
"Yes, Master."
Only now did Li Qiye understand why the hot water had been prepared. But what puzzled him more was how, after an entire hour, the water remained scalding.
"Don’t dwell on it. Once you attain strength, such feats will be trivial."
"If I wish it to stay hot, it will not cool."
"Yes, Master. This disciple will remember."
As Li Qiye cleansed himself, Chen Chang'an pondered which cultivation method to impart to him.
This boy’s willpower was formidable, his comprehension sharp. Most importantly, there was a ruthlessness in his bones—one that differed from Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu.
Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu were ruthless toward themselves, pushing their limits relentlessly.
But Li Qiye’s ruthlessness extended beyond himself—to others as well.
In the future, his killing intent would likely be overwhelming. A single misstep could plunge him into irredeemable darkness.
To descend into the abyss was not to embrace corruption, but to purify it.
Yet if he lost control, he might become the most terrifying existence within that abyss.
What method would suit him best?
The Supreme Oblivion Sutra?
A fitting choice.
The Supreme Oblivion Sutra consisted of three volumes:
Upper Volume: Emotion
Middle Volume: Oblivion
Lower Volume: Reawakening
Contrary to its name, this was no heartless, loveless technique. To master it, one had to be a person of genuine emotion.
How could one forget what they never possessed?
But oblivion was merely a stage. The ultimate goal was reawakening—a return to emotion.
How far Li Qiye progressed would depend entirely on his own comprehension.
Only such a method could potentially pull him back from the abyss when he teetered on its edge.
Once cleansed and dressed in fresh robes prepared by Chen Chang'an, Li Qiye returned, standing respectfully before his master.
"I possess an Emperor-grade cultivation method—the Supreme Oblivion Sutra."
"Are you willing to learn it?"
The Supreme Oblivion Sutra?
Emperor-grade?
Li Qiye knew little of cultivation hierarchies or the ranks of techniques. But if Chen Chang'an deemed it worthy, it must be exceptional.
Yet why this method?
Did his master intend for him to forsake emotion and love?
If so, how could he fulfill Li Jingyun’s final wish—to conquer evil with kindness, or to oppose evil with greater evil?
"Master, if I cultivate the Supreme Oblivion Sutra… must I abandon all emotion?" Li Qiye asked hesitantly.
"Do you believe oblivion requires the rejection of love?" Chen Chang'an countered.
"Does it not?"
"Yes, and no."
"First, to forget emotion, one must first possess it. Without love, how can one forget it?"
"After oblivion, does a person remain whole?"
"Humans are defined by their passions and desires. Many believe cultivators must sever these to attain the Great Dao."
"But what use is a Dao devoid of feeling?"
"The Great Dao has three thousand paths. Must one choose the coldest, most heartless road?"
"The Supreme Oblivion Sutra appears ruthless, yet its essence is compassion."
"It’s just that whoever named it must have had a twisted sense of humor."
"Do you understand now?"
"Master, this disciple understands. I am willing to cultivate the Supreme Oblivion Sutra."
"Good."
Chen Chang'an nodded, then pressed a finger to Li Qiye’s forehead.
In an instant, the entire method imprinted itself into Li Qiye’s mind, indelible as if carved into his soul.
Li Qiye carefully reviewed the three volumes, each representing a vastly different state of being.
Profound.
Unfathomable.
This was his impression.
The technique was immensely challenging, demanding unparalleled comprehension.
But for those who mastered it, the rewards would be equally boundless.
"This disciple thanks Master for imparting such a priceless method."
"As my disciple, it is only natural."
"Now, begin your cultivation. Let me gauge your innate talent."
"Yes, Master."
Li Qiye nodded, then sat cross-legged on the ground, immediately immersing himself in a state of cultivation.
In just a few breaths, Li Qiye had already stepped into the threshold of the Supreme Oblivion Art, which left Chen Chang'an thoroughly impressed.
This kid's comprehension is truly remarkable.
Despite never having practiced cultivation before, he could enter such a state so swiftly—this was exceedingly rare.
His training lasted three days and nights without pause.
Starting as an ordinary mortal with no cultivation, Li Qiye's strength soared past the Spirit Gathering Realm in just three days, reaching the third level of the Core Formation Realm.
Though this was an Emperor-grade cultivation technique, naturally far superior to ordinary methods, such speed was still something few could achieve.
"Master, I... I feel my body brimming with power now."
"Have I truly gained cultivation?" Li Qiye asked excitedly.
"Indeed. Your current realm has reached the third level of the Core Formation Realm."
"But this is only the beginning. Right now, you are still very weak."
Chen Chang'an briefly explained the fundamentals of cultivation to Li Qiye, giving him a general understanding of the path ahead.
"Since you are cultivating the Supreme Oblivion Art, your next step..."
"...is to enter the mortal world."