Origin Qi
Xiao Xuan, a name that had passed into history a thousand years ago, was brought up by Gu Yuan due to the emotions stirring within him. He couldn't help but mention the old pal who, a millennium prior, had single-handedly surpassed both him and Hun Tiandi.
Only by reaching this point did Gu Yuan realize the vast gap between himself and Xiao Xuan. He had spent a thousand years, and it was only by witnessing the battle between Zhao Li and Hun Tiandi, gaining some insight, that he was able to advance further. Now, having reached the Half-Emperor realm, he felt that empty sensation in his soul. Yet, that fellow from his generation had already reached his current realm a thousand years ago.
After speaking, he suddenly remembered that Zhao Li was not from the same era as him, so he explained:
"Xiao Xuan was from my era. A thousand years ago..."
After Gu Yuan finished his brief introduction of Xiao Xuan, Zhao Li nodded and said:
"I've heard of him. It's truly a shame."
The information he knew about this person had originally come from that Remnant Soul in the Heavenly Tomb. Zhao Li still held respect for those who had walked ahead of the majority, even if he had now surpassed them himself.
Gu Yuan was slightly surprised, then remembering Zhao Li's Strength, he expressed understanding. If he wished, there was indeed little news on the Continent that he couldn't obtain. He sighed, then asked expectantly:
"Without Origin Qi, becoming a Dou Di is hopeless. What is this discovery you mentioned, Brother Zhao Li?"
After Xiao Xuan's attempt to Break Through to Emperor failed, he had entered the Heavenly Tomb and exchanged Blows with Xiao Xuan. From their conversation, he had vaguely guessed that the Emperor's Path was severed, which was why he had given up hope. Since no matter what Hun Tiandi did, he couldn't become an Emperor, he might as well focus on nurturing the Juniors, to avoid a situation like the Xiao Clan's, where they had no successors and had to gamble everything on an impossible scenario.
After advancing further in the past few decades, he had even more clearly felt the weakness emanating from the depths of his soul. No matter how hard he tried, nothing changed. This was why he had become increasingly concerned about Xun'er, often visiting that small place in Wutan City, and even losing interest in paying attention to Hun Tiandi.
But now that Zhao Li said he had made a discovery, he still held some hope. His indifference had a prerequisite: if there were no Dou Di on the Dou Qi Continent, he would be in the top tier, and he certainly wasn't afraid. But if someone else had made a discovery and was already leading, he would have to chase after them.
The chance to Become Emperor, even if it was just a slim possibility, was something no one would give up on.
So he wasn't indifferent, he just hadn't found the right entry point.
Seeing the undisguised expectation on Gu Yuan's face, Zhao Li mused inwardly. Ever since meeting Gu Yuan, he had noticed that while he had aspirations, most of the time he seemed rather unconcerned. Even when asking him to Refine a Ninth Grade Golden Pill, he had this mindset. This was the first time he had seen such eagerness in Gu Yuan's eyes.
He didn't say anything further, but he also didn't resort to Building Suspense. He directly demonstrated his 'discovery' with action.
Zhao Li snapped his fingers, and the energy in the surroundings suddenly surged, then solidified into a ring centered around Zhao Li. It was like a scattered army finding a commander they worshipped, and they were now paying homage to this commander.
Gu Yuan was oblivious to the changes in the surrounding energy. At this moment, his eyes were fixed on the wisp of golden energy in Zhao Li's hand. The moment it appeared, he felt a longing emanating from his soul. A voice deep within his Soul told him that with this, he could immediately cross the Heavenly Abyss that was once unattainable and instantly Become Emperor!
"This... you..."
Gu Yuan's face trembled, his eyes widened like copper bells, and he looked at Zhao Li as if he had seen a ghost. No, even if he had seen a ghost, he wouldn't have lost his composure like this, unable to even speak a complete sentence.
The feeling from the depths of his Soul made Gu Yuan clearly understand that what he lacked to Break Through to Emperor was precisely this energy. Just by feeling the wisp of energy in Zhao Li's hand, he already felt a sense of emptiness being filled, almost on the verge of breaking through.
But when he wanted to push through and step into the Dou Di Realm, he felt a sense of dissatisfaction. In short, he was now stuck in an awkward position by this thing Zhao Li had somehow obtained.
Zhao Li saw Gu Yuan's trembling facial muscles, his incredulous gaze, and even the expression of dissatisfied complaint that he could only suppress, not daring to act out. He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Before, it was either Nine Nether or First Emperor, making him, a proper Heavenly Supreme, seem completely insignificant. Now, it was finally someone else's turn to lose composure because of him.
He rubbed his fingers again, and the energy vanished into thin air. No matter how Gu Yuan sensed it, he couldn't find a trace. Seeing Gu Yuan's fervent gaze turn towards him, Zhao Li asked with a smile:
"This is the Secret of the Dou Di I discovered. How do you feel about it, Brother Gu Yuan? Do you need me to explain in detail?"
The Origin Qi he had just displayed was naturally not the Origin Qi of the Dou Qi Continent, but it was close enough. This was because Origin Qi was a special energy transformed from the Plane Embryo. Zhao Li had achieved Enlightenment from the Azure Lotus, and using the Green Lotus Seed as a medium, he could now convert the Innate Qi of his Inner Universe into Origin Qi.
Until he heard Zhao Li's words, Gu Yuan had not recovered from the previous longing. However, with the remaining bit of rationality, he forced himself to suppress the desire in his heart, barely calming the surging waves within him, and asked with a slight tremor in his voice:
"You... have you already taken that step?"
Although the energy had already given him the answer in his heart, he still had a feeling of unwillingness to believe it. Nothing else, Zhao Li's growth rate sounded simply too fantastical, so fantastical that just thinking about it made him feel dazed.
Decades ago, when he still thought that the only opponent on the Dou Qi Continent was Hun Tiandi, who seemed to have not learned from Xiao Xuan's lesson and was still causing trouble everywhere for a vague goal, Zhao Li suddenly appeared, directly forcing his thousand-year-old opponent to retreat, and even almost abandoning the Momentum he had built on the Dou Qi Continent for hundreds of Years.
At that time, although he was surprised that a peerless expert had appeared on the Continent, he didn't pay much attention. The only thing that worried him was whether Hun Tiandi would find an opening if he fell out with Zhao Li, and team up with Zhao Li to suppress him. This was why he chose to humble himself and befriend Zhao Li. That's right, at that time, he still believed that Zhao Li was inferior to the Gu Clan.
Later, observing Zhao Li Refine Golden Core, he gained some insight and advanced further, realizing that the Emperor's Path was severed, and became even more detached from worldly affairs. But he never expected that in just three or four decades, Zhao Li had somehow stepped into the Dou Di Domain, a Realm he had no clue about.
This feeling made him wonder if he was out of touch with the world, and perhaps countless Years had actually passed outside, as if this would make it easier for him to accept this fact.
Although Zhao Li was not a proper Dou Di, the Dou Di Realm here was no longer a legendary existence to him. To be blunt, a Dou Di was just a slightly larger Ant. Even without exchanging Blows, he knew that a Dou Di could not pose any threat to him. Therefore, he did not deny it, and nodded without any pressure, smiling:
"You already had the answer in your heart when you asked that question, didn't you?"
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