This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable Chapter 1759 8: The Dao Is 50, Heaven Evolves 49, One Is Lost

"Pavilion Master Qi, what do you mean by this?" After a moment's pause, Lu Qingshan finally asked.

Amid this dire juncture, Qi Butian's offhand comments obviously hid a deliberate aim.

The Human Race now stands precariously at the cliff's edge.

A vast, bottomless void yawns before them, offering no clear route ahead. Should Luohu finish his ultimate change, a Demon Holy's might would prove impossible for ordinary beings to withstand.

Under these circumstances, the Ancestral Realm emerges as their ultimate salvation.

Lin Xiu and the others remained quiet, their stares pinned on Qi Butian, hanging on his forthcoming explanation.

All recognize the immense challenge of ascending to the Ancestral Realm. Were it simpler, the Human Race's extensive past and myriad prodigies would have produced far more than a single achiever.

Qi Butian scanned the uncertain looks encircling him and proceeded steadily, "Across the Demon Race's vast chronicle, Luohu's aptitude indisputably claims the top spot, or at worst second place."

"Precisely this aptitude, merged with his inscrutable plots and eons of groundwork, birthed the crisis confronting us now."

Luohu earned renown ages ago as the Asura Clan's pioneer ten thousand years prior, yet for this ambition, he toiled relentlessly through the eras.

From such an angle, Luohu stands as the sole Demon Lord to truly triumph—he merits the praise.

The stifling mood at the gathering intensified further.

The adversary's power choked the breath from every soul there.

Two thousand years past, the Human Race claimed Ancestral Daoist Xia; two thousand years on, it holds the Ninth Tribulations Sword Immortal. Fate appears to smile on humanity, but this round, the Demon Race counters with Luohu.

"But do we Humans fall short of the Demons?" Qi Butian's voice surged sharply as he fired back.

These words shifted the expressions of many onlookers.

"Pavilion Master Qi, what do you mean by this?" Lin Xiu knit his brows, detecting Qi Butian's evasion.

Qi Butian raised his head gradually, eyes locking onto Lu Qingshan. "If Luohu's talent leads the Demon Race..."

"Then Humans today possess a figure whose gift eclipses all historical precedents."

"Beyond just the Human Race—even throughout the Nine Heavens and antiquity, his talent reigns supreme, I am certain!"

Without naming him outright, everyone gathered instantly knew Qi Butian's target.

Lin Xiu froze in shock, then forced a wry grin and murmured, "But, as everyone agrees, talent alone cannot fill one's stomach."

This fact stood beyond dispute.

Countless proclaimed geniuses in history vanished like transient blooms, too many to tally.

On the flip side, numerous initially mediocre cultivators soared to greatness later.

The loftier a cultivator's realm, the deeper their grasp of this core tenet:

Talent holds scant true value; it only smooths and speeds the early cultivation path at best.

"Talent can't fill one's stomach merely because it lacks true supremacy." Qi Butian's gaze roamed the chamber as he declared coolly.

Right then, his eyes gleamed with bottomless profundity.

The assembly sank into silence once more, uncertain how to reply.

Qi Butian's assertion held its own validity too.

Similar to the worldly adage, "Beauty can't fill one's stomach."

However, if beauty matches Xi Shi or Zhaojun, who would deny its sufficiency?

Does Lu Qingshan's talent truly ascend to that pinnacle?

They had long acknowledged Lu Qingshan's extraordinary potential.

From the unrivaled Ninth Tribulations Sword Immortal status to fewer than fifty years of practice, these feats amply demonstrated Lu Qingshan's peerless edge, hinting at a shot at the fabled Tenth Realm.

Still, such progress demands time—perhaps a hundred years, or even a thousand.

This timeline fully factors in Lu Qingshan's exceptional gift.

For even Luohu's caliber of talent and guile kept him mired in the Saint Realm across ten millennia, until outside forces enabled his final leap.

To those in the Honorable Realm, a century or millennium flees unnoticed.

Time, however, is their gravest shortage at present.

Luohu took under four months to temper the Heart of the Demon Holy—no telling how much time passed since Lu Qingshan detected Luohu with his Heart of the Demon Holy already formed.

It could have formed mere moments ago, or sat complete for months by now.

In the best possible situation—where Luohu has freshly refined the Heart of the Demon Holy—at this pace, he could reach Demon Holy level within merely a year or two.

What could possibly be achieved in just one or two years?

With a millennium of buildup and readiness, Luohu will attain Demon Holy realm in one to two years, yet what of Lu Qingshan?

Keep in mind, less than half a year has passed since his ascension to the Sword Immortal Realm.

Tension thickened in the air once more.

They hoped for a cultivator who'd been a Sword Immortal for under half a year to break through to the Ancestral Realm in one to two years.

Qi Butian might dare to entertain such a thought, but others lacked the courage.

"Forget the initial buildup and preparation; simply arriving at the threshold devours endless time..." Martial Emperor Gao Tian sighed deeply.

Were breakthroughs so straightforward, he wouldn't have lingered at this stage for countless years.

Forget the Ancestral Realm—even the Demi-Ancestor level feels almost impossible for him.

All of a sudden, his eyes gleamed with insight, "Does Pavilion Master Qi possess some form of external aid to provide?"

Martial Emperor Gao Tian's words served as the final lifeline for the despairing crowd.

Of course, Qi Butian surely grasps this truth known to heaven and earth as well.

If he phrases it thus, some path must exist in his mind.

Noticing the eager looks directed his way, Qi Butian shook his head softly and spoke calmly, "The Human Race's cultivation path starkly contrasts the Demon Race's. Demons ground their system in bloodline, allowing Luohu to advance even at this ultimate hurdle with external aids.

Yet Humans root their cultivation in the Dao. Thus, early-stage cultivators surge ahead via resources, but higher realms render such external help ever more negligible.

Beyond the Ninth Realm, external objects prove utterly useless."

"Then where lies this external aid?"

"This trial demands one forges ahead alone."

The brief spark of hope on many Honorable Realm cultivators' faces slowly dimmed.

All gathered knew this truth deep within.

Were the Ancestral Realm reachable through external means, the Human Race's crisis wouldn't loom so gravely.

In this dire hour, with the entire race's treasures and chances pooled, they'd have forged an Ancestral Realm expert long ago if possible.

Alas, it remains out of reach.

This very divide in cultivation paths explains the chasm between Abyss and Sky Dome Heaven.

Though realms apart in environment, both belong to the Nine Heavens without fundamental gaps.

Lifespans of beings in each are roughly equal too.

Still, Sky Dome Heaven thrives vibrantly while Abyss wanes toward collapse. Why?

The core cause rests in the natures of their inhabitants.

Humans lean on resources early in cultivation but enlightenment later; a great cultivator's Dao fading triggers Dao Dissolution, feeding spiritual energy back to Heaven and Earth.

Thus, the wheel turns eternally.

Demons depend on resources throughout.

With ample supplies, they spawn powerhouses endlessly—while Ninth Realm Humans can't be forged by mere piling, Ninth Grade Demon Cultivators can.

Demons also lack a "feedback" like Dao Dissolution.

Through ages, Demons' overall might eclipses Humans', yet Sky Dome Heaven vastly outshines the Abyss.

Observing the shifting expressions around him, Qi Butian stayed composed, his eyes locked steadily on Lu Qingshan.

"I'll give it my all." Lu Qingshan, the center of attention, paused briefly before nodding faintly.

He held zero clues, not even a whisper, about the Ancestral Realm.

Yet the peril of the moment shone crystal clear to him.

Instilling a sliver of hope in others was worthwhile.

Win or lose, he'd face Luohu at the forefront for the Human Race.

The rest struggled to envision Lu Qingshan reaching Ancestral Realm swiftly, yet in this instant, faint expectations for him stirred in their hearts.

Among the Human Race, Lu Qingshan truly appeared as the sole candidate to attain the Ancestral Realm at this very moment.

"Thus, do not lose heart, place your faith in the Tianyuan Sword Immortal," Qi Butian abruptly smiled and declared, "All of you, carry out your duties and ready yourselves for the decisive battle. Do not falter until Luohu ascends to the Saint Realm."

"At that time, we might still need to stall for the Tianyuan Sword Immortal."

"We comprehend," Lin Xiu responded gravely, then pivoted to cup his fists respectfully toward Lu Qingshan, "Tianyuan Sword Immortal, though voicing this might seem improper, in our present plight, our actions remain constrained. Victory or defeat hinges on you."

"Should you breakthrough to the Ancestral Realm, hope endures."

Gazing at those grave countenances, Lu Qingshan inhaled deeply. Unable to promise anything, he merely cupped his fists silently in reply.

...

"Everyone, the conflict has only ignited, countless tasks await us—let us act swiftly." Lin Xiu steadied his demeanor, addressing the group with utmost seriousness.

The Honorable Realm powerhouses nodded in unison, then scattered promptly to oversee operations. Directives flowed out systematically, rousing the immense Human Race alliance forces back into action.

Up in the firmament, solely Qi Butian and Lu Qingshan lingered.

Qi Butian observed the Honorable Realm experts disperse, his eyes then fixing abruptly on Lu Qingshan, perceiving the doubt etched on the latter's features.

"Tianyuan Sword Immortal, is there a query weighing on your mind? Speak freely."

"Do Pavilion Master Qi's words today truly stand without foundation?" Lu Qingshan's gaze settled on Qi Butian's locks, now strikingly grayer than at their prior encounter.

Qi Butian let out a light laugh, "I realize I cannot conceal it from you, yet certain matters defy direct utterance."

"I get it." Lu Qingshan watched the Heavenly Secret Mirror manifest within Qi Butian's grasp.

This timeless Taoist Artifact now displayed a mirror face fractured like a spider's web, bereft of any reflective visions.

All became clear sans utterance.

"Had you foreseen that my venture into the Abyss would fail to bar Luohu's Saint Realm attainment?" Lu Qingshan probed after a hushed interval.

"I did."

"Why then did you not halt me?"

"Inevitable. For some pursuits, abstaining breeds unrest."

"...."

"Further inquiries?"

"Is victory truly within our grasp?"

"Indeed," Qi Butian declared firmly, before appending, "yet hanging by a thread."

"The Dao begets fifty, Heaven manifests forty-nine, one evades."

"That singular path embodies triumph's hope."

"I comprehend." Those statements quelled Lu Qingshan's remaining questions.

"A certain destination may warrant your presence." Qi Butian uttered at last, just as Lu Qingshan turned to depart.