Immortal Mortal Chapter 1229: The True Dao

The life essence of the cosmos was unending. Even though a staggering 99% perished during the World-Ending Cataclysm, the remaining 1% still comprised billions of souls.

He had guided all these individuals here through the Dao Laws of the Universe. What was to be done now?

"Sage Bing Ying's assessment is accurate. Now that you've brought all these people here, besides eliminating them, there is no other option..." The green-robed Sage Nun's voice trailed off. She had just partnered with Yuan Zhenyi to dispatch Fo Ti. Though her words remained unfinished, the implication was clear to all present.

"Haha, Wuji, why burden yourself with such thoughts? We shall navigate this one step at a time. Even if we face demise, when primordial chaos is reborn countless eons from now, how could it exist without me, Yuan Zhenyi?" Yuan Zhenyi chuckled with an air of profound indifference. Despite the universe's imminent collapse, he remained unperturbed.

Mo Wuji understood Yuan Zhenyi's profound statement. Following the World-Ending Cataclysm, the universe would devolve into primordial chaos. After an unfathomable duration, this chaos would gestate an entirely new universe. Those destined to persist through such an epoch were the supreme powerhouses.

Nevertheless, Yuan Zhenyi's words resonated deeply within Mo Wuji, stirring his heart. His thoughts immediately turned to his own Mortal World.

His Mortal World, too, was a realm governed by its own laws. It was conceivable that it could eventually evolve into a universe complete with its own established laws. Even if the current universe were to disintegrate, he himself would not be annihilated, for he could retreat into the sanctuary of his Mortal World. He could even bring all those dear to him into its safe embrace.

Yet, until this very moment, he had never contemplated extending the refuge of his Mortal World to encompass all the fortunate survivors of the World-Ending Cataclysm. To do so would essentially mean forfeiting and losing possession of his cherished Mortal World.

He harbored no inclination towards unveiling such a profound secret to the entirety of a world's population, particularly having attained the status of the supreme ruler of this entire universe. If he were to open the gates of his Mortal World, he would have to relinquish his absolute authority over it. However, the Mortal World represented the very core of his being, the embodiment of his Dao.

It wasn't that the thought had never crossed his mind; rather, he was fundamentally unwilling to enact such a decision. Self-preservation was an intrinsic human trait, and Mo Wuji, too, possessed his own brand of selfishness.

He had dedicated himself to cultivating the Mortal Dao, and his Mortal World was the sacred vessel where his Dao resided. He had toiled unrelentingly to construct the Mortal World. How could he possibly bring himself to open its gates to these random, unknown individuals? Furthermore, his Mortal World was his personal dominion. He had no desire for these strangers to intrude upon his solitude.

Mo Wuji fell into a contemplative silence. His gaze then shifted to the two gleaming golden pathways before him.

Although these paths stretched for tens of thousands of meters, seemingly vanishing into an infinite horizon, they were already crammed with an overwhelming multitude of people. In stark contrast to the countless worlds and planes that constituted this universe, these golden avenues were tragically insufficient, offering little spatial reprieve.

A middle-aged woman, her cultivation at the True Lake Stage, desperately pushed her way onto a golden path, clutching a small girl in her arms. Alas, her abilities proved too meager. Soon, she was forcefully expelled from the path, flung back into the collapsing universe. In an instant, she vanished without a trace.

A pair of cultivators, who appeared to be devoted companions, found themselves pressed to the very edge of a golden path. In a shocking act of self-preservation, the male cultivator actually shoved the female off the path...

Mo Wuji felt a tremor run through him. These horrific events unfolded in a mere fraction of the immense length of these paths. Moreover, such grim spectacles were occurring ceaselessly along the entirety of both routes, serving as a stark and unflinching exhibition of human nature at its most extreme.

"Young Master!" Yan’Er, her small form trembling, rushed to his side. She clung to Mo Wuji with an embrace so fierce it felt as though she were suffocating herself.

The universe had succumbed to the World-Ending Cataclysm, and she herself had nearly fallen into its destructive abyss. But to her, none of that held any significance. Only her Young Master mattered above all else.

"Yan’Er..." Mo Wuji gently stroked Yan’Er’s hair. A peculiar emotion began to stir within his heart. Yan’Er had always occupied a unique and cherished place in his affections; she was undeniably the person closest to him.

Even during his darkest hours, when he was destitute and his mind was fractured, Yan’Er was the sole individual who remained steadfastly by his side. In her presence, he felt no pressure whatsoever; only an unadulterated joy that sprang forth from the deepest recesses of his soul.

"Anyone who dares to take another step closer will be met with a swift and merciless end." Tian Hen's voice thundered, laced with fury. Immediately following his declaration, two cultivators were forcefully propelled off the path by Tian Hen, cast into the encroaching void of the collapsed universe.

Mo Wuji experienced a profound awakening. His gaze swept across the chaotic, overcrowded paths, observing the endless stream of individuals being relentlessly pushed into the dying universe. A sense of resolve solidified within him.

He had found Shuyin and Yan’Er. He had also been reunited with so many of his cherished old friends. What more could he possibly desire or feel dissatisfied about?

If he possessed the ability to rescue an entire realm of people, why would he hesitate? He embarked on his cultivation journey as a mere mortal. As a mortal, he managed to unseal all 108 meridians and, through his efforts, devised the Immortal Mortal Technique. He held an unshakeable conviction that he could forge another Undying World, even after relinquishing his own Mortal World.

With this thought crossing his mind, Mo Wuji's voice suddenly resonated through the void, "Esteemed Dao friends, please lend me your attention. I am Mo Wuji, and these twin golden pathways you see are, in fact, my Dao Laws of the Universe..."

Despite Mo Wuji's voice possessing the power to permeate all of existence, it went unheeded. Those who were desperately pushing their way forward continued their relentless struggle upwards.

However, the moment they registered that Mo Wuji was the progenitor of these two paths, an immediate silence fell upon the throng.

Given that these pathways were Mo Wuji's own creation, he held the authority to reclaim them at any given instant. Thus, what real advantage would they gain if they managed to jostle their way to the very forefront?

Such is the nature of humanity. Mo Wuji, unfazed by this revelation, continued, "The World-Ending Cataclysm has descended, and the universe itself has fractured and collapsed. Though I possess these two Dao Laws of the Universe, they are akin to attempting to extinguish a raging inferno with a single cup of water. They are fundamentally insufficient to ensure everyone's salvation."

As Mo Wuji uttered these words, a tremor of anxiety coursed through the fortunate survivors. They harbored a deep-seated fear that Mo Wuji might, at any moment, retract the Dao Laws.

To their immense relief, Mo Wuji did not recall the Dao Laws. "Dao friends," he declared, "I possess a world known as the Mortal World, and its Laws are considered complete and intact. I am prepared to open this world, offering a sanctuary for all survivors to find refuge..."

"Eternal life unto Sage Mo!"

"Eternal life unto Sage Mo!"

...

Upon hearing Mo Wuji's generous offer to unveil his Mortal World, the billions of cultivators erupted in exultant cries.

Keeping his Mortal World entirely to himself would undoubtedly incur no disadvantage for Mo Wuji. Yet, he still chose to open it for them, a clear testament to his deliberate intention to preserve every single one of their lives.

"Wuji?" Lian Yingxian's voice trembled with concern as she registered Mo Wuji's decision to open his world for the countless souls. She harbored doubts about the nature of Mo Wuji's world, wanting to convey to him that no realm, short of a primordial one, could possibly accommodate such a vast multitude.

She feared that if he persisted in this endeavor to save so many, his own world might fracture under the immense strain.

Mo Wuji raised his hand, continuing his pronouncement, "I do not expect every cultivator who enters my Mortal World to be inherently benevolent or altruistic. However, if you are the sort who would readily sacrifice your beloved ones or disregard the precious lives of a mother and her child, then you forfeit any right to set foot within my Mortal World."

"We shall honor Sage Mo's decree!" a chorus of countless voices echoed.

Not only did the golden pathways cease their frantic surge, but they also began to exhibit a newfound sense of order.

Mo Wuji unfurled his palm, and the gateway to his Mortal World manifested at the forefront of the converging pathways.

Before any observer could discern the details within his Mortal World, Mo Wuji swept his hand downwards. The Mortal World was instantaneously cleaved into two distinct segments. One portion was allocated for his personal effects, along with Cen Shuyin, Qu You, and Han Qingru. The other segment was oriented directly towards the amassed crowd on the golden pathways.

As the Mortal World was presented before them, all the cultivators treading the golden pathways began to tremble with sheer excitement. Though they had yet to step inside, they could intuitively sense that it was a complete and thriving world. Whether this world remained under Mo Wuji's dominion was of little consequence to them at that moment. Survival, above all else, was infinitely preferable to dissolution within the collapsing universe.

The very ground of the Mortal World ignited a fervent desire within their hearts; it represented a tangible haven where they could finally live in safety.

"Wuji..." Lian Yingxian gazed upon Mo Wuji's expansive world, her heart filled with emotion. She understood the nature of that world. Having cultivated the Mortal Technique herself and opened her meridians, she, more than anyone, recognized it as Mo Wuji's personal domain.

In that profound instant, she felt that her own perceived magnanimity paled in comparison to Mo Wuji's, despite her own status as an ancient Sage.

"All individuals may enter the Mortal World in an orderly fashion," Mo Wuji exhaled, proclaiming loudly.

With unbridled eagerness, the masses surged towards the Mortal World. Upon entering, each cultivator paused momentarily, turning to offer a deep bow of reverence towards Mo Wuji.

At this precise juncture, Mo Wuji perceived something materialize within the shattered remnants of the universe. This nascent entity rushed with ferocity into his Mortal World. A portion of this essence even permeated his very being.

Mo Wuji jolted, a sense of profound recognition washing over him. He understood what this was: Fate!

This immeasurable tide of fate did not originate solely from the Immortal World; it encompassed the collective fate of all worlds that had met their demise.

In that instant, his Mortal Dao began to ascend at an unprecedented rate. Concurrently, his Mortal World commenced a process of rapid expansion.

The Mortal World, already vast and seemingly boundless, now witnessed the nascent formation of ethereal planes. These planes continued to take shape, coalescing into existence.

"So, this is the true Dao!" Mo Wuji whispered to himself, a profound realization stirring within his consciousness.

The genuine Dao was not something bestowed by the universe; rather, it was attained when the universe itself acknowledged and recognized one's Dao!