I Fabricated the Techniques, but my disciple really mastered them? Chapter 1171: Extra Story of Taihao and the Apocalyptic Evil Thoughts_4

Perhaps he had gorged himself until he was full and content, for the task of guarding the tree had become far too monotonous; Chi's eyes grew heavy, and he eventually drifted into a deep slumber. While he slept, a group of figures approached.

“Eons of misery, eons of suffering... he was once our master. Is it truly worth tormenting us like this over a few mere tree branches?”

“You speak the truth. Since he shows no mercy, there is no need for us to remain loyal.”

“We have also sacrificed and contributed to this Domain!”

“But is it actually possible to slay him? The old man possesses terrifying power.”

“This Creation Tree stands as the ultimate Divine Artifact; if we unite our strength and strike from the shadows, we will surely be able to kill him!”

Before the revered Creation Tree, Hao’s eyes were shut as he appeared to be on the verge of a grand epiphany.

“Such is the fundamental nature of existence; my perspective was far too narrow. The fading of one race and the emergence of another are simply the natural cycles of all life within the Domain. How could I bring ruin to a Domain so magnificent? Taihao! Taihao! The Domain is far greater than I am; I cannot permit its destruction.”

In that instant, Hao achieved enlightenment. However, buried deep within his soul, a faint murmur of an evil thought flickered. It tempted him, whispering that the only true path was to annihilate the world, wipe out every living being, and return everything to the void. Only there, in eternal silence, could he peacefully comprehend the Dao alone.

He crushed this whisper and began the work of rebuilding the Domain. He understood now that the powerful and the weak should not be mingled together, and that a ladder must exist for the ambitious to pursue higher heights of Cultivation.

Consequently, the Thirty-Three Heavens of Taihao were forged. The shattered branches and leaves of the Creation Tree were reborn as the sun, the moon, and the stars, giving rise to a far more expansive Taihao Realm.

After breaking the chains that bound Chi, Hao retreated into seclusion to meditate alongside him.

As the ages rolled by, people climbed to the zenith of Taihao within the Thirty-Three Heavens. One individual declared himself the Taihao Heavenly Emperor and established his rule over the realms. Countless eons later, this Emperor was besieged by enemies, and the Taihao Realm collapsed into turmoil.

Hao woke from his meditation and witnessed the chaos. He felt those same evil thoughts beginning to sprout aggressively once more, inciting him to purge the world. It was then that Hao realized a profound internal crisis had taken root within him.

To resolve this, he purged the evil thoughts from his soul and returned to his meditation once more.

Those discarded evil thoughts sought out a young boy—one who had been tormented, suppressed, and consumed by hatred for the world's injustices. Thus, an incomparable demon was unleashed. He manipulated the malice in people's hearts and fanned the flames of their darkest impulses. He established the New World Sect, dedicated to the total destruction of the old world to make way for a new one.

The Thirty-Three Heavens eventually saw the rise of their second sovereign, known as the Taihao Demon Emperor. He slaughtered countless righteous cultivators, leaving the Taihao Realm saturated with bitterness and stained by endless bloodshed. Though many powerful factions formed alliances against him, they were all crushed by the Taihao Demon Emperor's might.

Hao paused his meditation to observe the state of the Taihao Realm. Feeling satisfied with what he saw, he returned to his cultivation. He felt himself drawing closer to the mysterious and profound Dao—it seemed to be right before him, yet remained infinitely far away.

“If only the Dao were like a scroll that could be read directly; how marvelous that would be,” Hao sighed to himself.

Meanwhile, within the First Layer Heaven of Taihao, a figure sat in a meditative posture. His features were identical to Hao’s, save for a lingering trace of ferocity in his expression as he surveyed the world with a desire for annihilation.

“None of this should have ever existed. Hao, you are far too lost in your delusions. To seek the Dao in absolute stillness is the only true way; all things should belong to a single person. I shall burn it all to the ground to bring you back to the correct path.”