I Truly Am The Villian Chapter 2255 - 2254: The Incomplete Great Dao and Empress Hongtian
Previously on I Truly Am The Villian...
The Divine Continent, it can surely be called Xu Zimei's hidden trump card, something he would not readily unveil.
The recent trial run was merely a probe, a confirmation that his deductions and arduous efforts bore fruit, and that was sufficient.
Xu Zimei was aware that the True Martial Great Emperor likely harbored suspicions, yet neither party voiced them, a mutual understanding existing between them.
This unspoken agreement stemmed from the wisdom that acknowledging certain truths could turn them into detrimental liabilities.
Lying within the colossal crater, Xu Zimei reveled in the surging power now coursing through him, a consequence of breaching the threshold of Ten Million Great Dao.
This newfound strength felt profoundly significant.
The Ten Million Great Dao represented a novel milestone.
It provided him with the essential foundation needed to confront the Holy Court.
Whether facing the Holy Ancestor or the Immortal Lord, Xu Zimei's confidence had now been significantly bolstered.
In this instance, the Heavenly Dao had directly issued a challenge to the True Martial Great Emperor, with no third party interfering.
It was apparent that the formidable Holy Court had been designated as Xu Zimei's sole adversary.
Having ascended to the Ten Million Great Dao, Xu Zimei now possessed a singular objective.
That objective was the One Billion Dao.
Upon reaching the One Billion Dao, Xu Zimei would be empowered to directly challenge the heavens themselves.
Any advancement beyond that point would become nearly insurmountable.
The apex within the Nine Domains World was, in essence, the One Billion Dao.
It was surmised that the True Martial Great Emperor currently resided at this very level, which explained his decision to challenge the heavens and transfer his power to the Yuan Central Continent.
This strategic move also served as his ultimate trump card.
When confronting an entire world, only the existence of another world could offer a true sense of security.
...
After a considerable duration had passed.
Xu Zimei emerged from the deep chasm.
However, the True Martial Great Emperor remained, waiting for him at the edge of the pit.
At this moment, the True Martial Great Emperor exuded an aura of profound restraint, his divine soul turned inward.
From an external perspective, discerning the depth of his power was an impossible feat.
He presented an enigmatic and unfathomable presence.
"How do you find yourself now?" the True Martial Great Emperor inquired with a gentle smile.
"Quite well, the Ten Million Great Dao marks another significant step forward," Xu Zimei responded with a smile of his own.
"There are certain matters I believe we must address," the True Martial Great Emperor stated.
"This may very well be the final piece of crucial information I can impart to you at this juncture."
Xu Zimei inclined his head, signaling his readiness to listen.
"Do you comprehend the path forward beyond the Ten Million Great Dao?" the True Martial Great Emperor probed.
A subtle furrow appeared on Xu Zimei's brow.
He replied, "Is it not the One Billion Dao?"
"There exist three thousand Great Daos, yet one is notably absent, leaving an inherent unpredictability for all existence within the cosmos,"
the True Martial Great Emperor elaborated, shaking his head slightly.
He continued, "The Great Dao inherent to the Nine Domains World imposes limitations upon everyone within this realm.
During the ultimate stage of individual enlightenment, just shy of attaining the One Billion Dao, the Great Dao itself is revealed to be incomplete."
"The Great Dao is not complete?" This was entirely new information for Xu Zimei.
He could not help but press further, "In what manner is it incomplete?"
"As one transitions from the Ten Million Great Dao towards the One Billion Dao, the Great Dao deliberately subtracts a minute fraction,
ensuring that your Great Dao culminates at 999,999,999, forever falling short of a perfect One Billion Dao."
"Without a complete Great Dao, you can never truly contend against the Heavenly Dao; any attempt to challenge the heavens is thus fated for failure,"
the True Martial Great Emperor elucidated.
"All Heaven Challengers throughout history must surely be aware of this phenomenon," Xu Zimei remarked.
"Indeed, if you were to venture a step further, you would personally experience this inherent imperfection.
I am informing you of this beforehand simply to offer a measure of preparedness,"
the True Martial Great Emperor conveyed.
"In reality, those who have challenged the heavens across eras have also undertaken their own endeavors, forging unique paths to perfect the Great Dao for themselves."
"For instance, the Primordial God-King from the ancient Primordial Era achieved unparalleled invincibility by validating the Dao through the Divine Demon Well."
"During that ancient epoch, Divine Demons were beings of an exceptionally high caliber within the world. The Primordial God-King harnessed the essence of Divine Demons
to construct a semblance of a Great Dao, thereby augmenting his own One Billion Dao attainment."
Regarding the Divine Demons of the Primordial Era, particularly the Demon Race amongst them...
Xu Zimei possessed some prior knowledge.
This particular Demon Race was distinct from the one he belonged to.
His lineage carried remnants from a preceding epoch, while a separate Demon Race existed within the Nine Domains World.
Despite sharing the same nomenclature, they were fundamentally different species.
Following the era of the Primordial God-King, both the Divine and Demon Clans receded from prominence.
Coincidentally, the Demon Race, formerly led by the Demon Lord, then rose to ascendancy, heralding the epoch known as the Demon's Advent.
...
"To consolidate that minuscule portion of the Great Dao by utilizing the Life essence of Divine Demons, thus completing oneself,"
Xu Zimei softly mused aloud.
"That indeed presents a viable methodology."
"Besides her, there's also the Empress. In the past, the Empress gathered the Collective Wishes of All Beings, thereby perfecting her unfinished Great Dao." "In a way, the Empress's Power of Vows surpassed even the Primordial God-King's Power of the Divine Demon." "The Empress back then was truly unparalleled. Not only did numerous families revere her, but even many powerful individuals willingly pledged their allegiance." "Even if it meant facing death!" Xu Zimei had some prior knowledge of this. He simply hadn't anticipated that a Great Dao could be incomplete. As the two previous figures were Heaven Challengers, the True Martial Great Emperor's method for completing his Great Dao must have involved utilizing the Yuan Central Continent as the focal point. He completed it with the World's Power, thus achieving a complete Great Dao. In essence, the World's Power is superior to the prior two approaches. Considering that both previous figures faltered in their Heaven Challenges, the True Martial Great Emperor wisely did not tread the same path. Only by forging his own unique system could there be any prospect of success. This represents the course the True Martial Great Emperor has undertaken. "I comprehend it now," Xu Zimei affirmed with a nod. Actually, he felt even more assured about his own Divine Continent. The concept of an incomplete Great Dao did not apply. This was because the world he had independently created was whole. Consequently, his Great Dao was likewise destined for completeness. His Great Dao's core stemmed from the Divine Continent, not the Nine Domains World. That is the fundamental divergence between the two. "When do you intend to undertake the Heaven Challenge?" Xu Zimei inquired. "Soon, quite soon," the True Martial Great Emperor responded with a smile. "Before I challenge the heavens, there are still some arrangements I need to finalize." "Furthermore, there is an individual who might be of interest for you to meet, or perhaps she desires a meeting with you." "Who might that be?" Xu Zimei asked, curiosity piqued. "Empress Hongtian," the True Martial Great Emperor stated, each word deliberate. Upon hearing this name, Xu Zimei visibly faltered. Alternatively, a cascade of distant memories flooded his consciousness. He had, in fact, never directly interacted with Empress Hongtian. However, due to the tragic demise of Empress Hongtian's successor, Baili Xiao, orchestrated by his own actions, a subtle estrangement had persisted between him and Empress Hongtian. Xu Zimei did not dwell on this. Perhaps he had once cared, but at his current cultivation level, such matters had long ceased to hold his attention, leaving him indifferent. Now, he could only offer a sigh, recognizing how all of it seemed like a fleeting dream. "Very well, let us arrange a meeting. I am rather curious about her," Xu Zimei agreed with a smile. "Among the four Great Emperors of our True Martial Holy Sect, I have encountered the other three, yet Empress Hongtian has always remained an enigmatic figure. Not only have I never met her, but I have scarcely heard any details about her," he remarked. To Xu Zimei's statement, the True Martial Great Emperor simply smiled and replied, "You shall understand once you meet her." "Her circumstances are distinct from ours."