Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

"Understood. However, it’ll take three years to do so." Old Tai respectfully said.

"Three years?" Yan Zaizen’s brows furrowed, wondering if this Old Tai was lying to him or not. However, seeing his suspicions, Old Tai immediately added, "We need to reconstruct his body based on his soul flame, then the procedure and acclimation period will require secluded areas. Until all this is done, he can’t be considered as truly revived."

"I see." It made sense, reviving a soul should require time, not to mention constructing their original body off just their soul flame! He didn’t even think that was possible, but he actually met someone who was trying to do just that in the Serene Moon Cove! There was a Perfect Aurora Soul cultivator who was hiding within to recover his energy and rebuild his body and soul by using others.

His attempts at taking Yan Zaizen’s soul energy left him devoured by the swirling black hole. Yan Zaizen, at the time, didn’t think too deeply about it. Simply assuming there was something in the cave that made him fall asleep, his understanding of the world simply wasn’t sufficient.

Ezekiel also tried to do something similar with a slight difference. He attempted to take over a body so he’ll have a better chance at rebuilding his own, but his fate was the same.

"So that’s it? He’ll be revived?" Yan Zaizen inquired cautiously, his heart thumping with hope.

Old Tai nodded in confirmation, "His soul is too weak, if it was stronger, perhaps there would be a chance of failure, but at his current level, it’s pretty much guaranteed. It’s not like he’s really dead to begin with."

A surge of relief overwhelmed Yan Zaizen’s body. Old Tai didn’t realize how much those words meant to Yan Zaizen. They triggered something deep within his soul form.

Silently, his dao reached completion.

The white motes of light that fluttered around without direction or control gathered at a single point, Yan Zaizen’s chest! They converged together rapidly like surging rivers meeting at a single point, formulating a spherical white orb. In one second, this orb was completely formed and perfect without any loose motes of white light.

However, the motes of white light were no longer white! It was dark amber! Reminiscent of his eyes before he met Han Genji! It was as signifying his origin, untainted by the Immortal Herculean Method, Unyielding Flame of Life, or Aurora Soul Cultivation!

His experiences in the past seemed to be relieved at this moment.

Outside Xuanwu City, his Dao of Imperial Ferocity was formed!

Within the Deep Mines, the Daos of Unyielding Confidence and Somber Calmness!

His events with Diyi, when he gave her a choice. At that moment, his Dao of Cold Decisiveness was brought to the surface, even towards himself! If he was given the chance of 500 years of slavery or death, HE WOULD ALWAYS CHOOSE LIFE! Because with life, there’s hope. With death, it’s over.

After he’d finished his revenge, his Dao of Original Warmth that was once lost resurfaced, although only by a tiny amount, it was sufficient for him to maintain a hint of his original self forever! The naive child was there, and it’ll always be!

And now, the Dao of Relentless Pursuit! The willingness to throw away your own personal benefit or endure extreme torment for the things you desire! Benefits to his cultivation by holding off his ascension, spending 3 billion without any hesitation, and all the times he refused to give up! To return home, to escape the Deep Mines, to get revenge, and now! To revive Wu Yuanxu!

All of these separate daos merged together into one perfect whole. The dark amber orb hovered at the center of his chest, radiating faint traces of light that seemed to be indicative of its qualitative change.

This was his Dao!

The Dao of Sovereign Ascension!

All of this happened in merely an instant, but he could feel himself reach a level higher than ever before.

"Your Mortal Dao is completed!" Pinaka’s excited voice resounded within his soul form. As Yan Zaizen’s dao reached completion, it also changed her fundamentally. Her originally white robe was now dark-amber, and her eyes had traces of silver-blue. As she’s been absorbing Yan Zaizen’s Aurora-based soul energy, her eyes were no longer dominated by his dao color. Her hair became deep black, as black as Yan Zaizen’s soul form’s eyes.

"What?!" She was confused by the changes to her hair. Normally, it should match her robe, but not anymore. Was it because of Yan Zaizen’s odd soul form? Regardless, this was a much-welcomed change than simply white. That was bland and seemed empty, but now her soul form had a uniqueness to it. With his dao at completion, his control over its aura should be perfect from henceforth.

"Mortal Dao?" Yan Zaizen inquired. Seeing the changes, he was a little shocked by its speed of development. He expected the heavens to rage and roar, attacking with ferocity, or some epic requirement to reach, but it just completed. Despite its disappointing development, he was satisfied.

"Yes. A Mortal Dao is a completed dao without a True Origin. The True Origin is essentially a unique characteristic, this characteristic is something that’s yours and only yours. No two are alike. It is with you at birth and death, but to obtain it, even I don’t know the requirements. However, if you do obtain it, it becomes a Grand Dao!" She was a little excited, but she has personally never met anyone with a Grand Dao. Those who could possess them were likely beyond the 33 heavens.

"Hm. I see." Yan Zaizen took note, but he didn’t feel anything like a True Origin. Regardless, he was excited! He laughed loudly, he felt like all good things were converging on his body at this moment. The revival of Wu Yuanxu, the ascension to the Perfect Aurora Soul Realm, and his dao reaching completion! A trifecta of extraordinary developments.

"Thank you, Old Tai!" He sincerely gave his thanks, even if Old Tai was simply following the rules of the Anima Syndicate, it was still worth to have someone to give thanks to.

Old Tai looked a little panicked, waving his hand in disbelief and refusal, "No need. No need for thanks. I’m simply doing my job." He looked a little embarrassed. To have a Perfect Aurora Soul Realm master give him thanks felt awkward. "You can stay here if you wish to cultivate. We have many different resources, arts, and information that you can peruse with your new status."

After some thought, he added, "Would you like to become an Anima Lieutenant?"

"Anima Lieutenant?"

"Yes, there’s three titles. Anima Initiate, which indicates you’re a normal member who can, with the correct status, have access to all things. However, an Anima Lieutenant can issue missions, have some control over Anima Syndicate’s decisions, the ability to mobilize the organization’s forces to a certain extent, free access to some arts, and much more. You can also use the Anima Syndicate and represent it personally, so it’ll be your backing in the Xiantu Realm." Old Tai explained thoroughly. Essentially, it was like becoming an official member of the Anima Syndicate, completely unlike before.

"Will I be able to join another force?"

"Of course. However, becoming a Commander would be impossible if you do."

"Can I develop my own force?"

"Of course. If you do, you can still become a Commander." There was a large difference between being a part of a force and controlling one. There wouldn’t be any conflict of interest in that regards, the person could represent both forces easily.

"Pay?"

"You’ll receive a stipend of 1 low-grade soul crystal a month, essentially, 10 million drops of essence liquid."

"DEAL!"