The Humble Heart Knows No Bounds

Ji Ning wiped his eyes, and was startled to find tears there. He understood now—this was the joy of hearing the Dao, the ecstasy of comprehending the Dao, overwhelming him to the point of tears.

"So that's how it is. I was wrong all along."

"No wonder the most peerless archers of the Three Realms all conduct themselves with such low profiles."

Ji Ning had finally awakened to the true meaning of the fourth level of Heartforce, 'Mortal.

He was like a wild blade of grass on the desolate plains, struggling to break through the soil, struggling to grow, absorbing every single ray of sunlight and every drop of dew and rain, striving to grow ever taller. Perhaps it was lowly and unremarkable. But even the most exalted major power of the Three Realms could not stop the 'heart' of a single blade of grass. The heart was infinite. Even a beggar could harbor the heart of an emperor.

The power of the heart was ethereal and intangible, yet it was unimaginably miraculous.

Even an ordinary mortal, if their inner heart was strong enough, could produce miracles. A mortal could become a great man.

As for cultivators…

The fourth level of Heartforce, 'Mortal, was vanishingly rare even when one looked across the entirety of the Three Realms. Among Empyrean Gods and True Immortals, those who had reached the fourth level of Heartforce could be counted on one's fingers. Even among the exalted True Gods and Daofathers… the fourth level of Heartforce was nearly the ultimate limit. The only one to have ever broken through this limit was a single individual—Houyi.

Houyi was the only one known to have reached the fifth level of Heartforce and to have left behind a systematic cultivation method for it. His power was universally acknowledged, but he had vanished long ago. This showed just how difficult the fourth level of Heartforce was.

"I am like that blade of grass. I am nothing but the humblest of mortals. Facing the Godking, facing other major powers, I am pathetically weak." Ji Ning, who had been sitting on the city wall, stood up. He raised his head to look at the sky. "But I also wish to walk further, to climb higher. I wish to become stronger than the Godking. I even wish to reach the level of Pangu and Nuwa, to surpass them!"

"Though the self is lowly, the heart knows no bounds."

Ji Ning's heart was moved.

The sensation of enlightenment was wondrous.

Having experienced so many blows, and especially being forced to make that most painful of choices, it had indeed had a profound impact on Ji Ning's state of mind. But it was precisely within that state of mind that he had truly come to comprehend the artistic conception of 'Mortal. He was slowly beginning to understand… Everyone understood the principle, but truly grasping it in one's heart, truly awakening to it, was a thousand times, ten thousand times harder.

After all, knowledge is easy, but action is difficult!

When Ji Ning's heart extended outwards, his Heartforce had begun to rise. And when his heart became completely one with the Great Xia world, which was like an oval sphere, and then extended out into the endless void, by that time his Heartforce had reached an utterly terrifying level. One that was the ultimate limit for many True Gods and Daofathers. Indeed, some True Gods and Daofathers did not even have Heartforce this strong.

This… was the fourth level of Heartforce!

Ji Ning had broken through!

Aside from the missing Lord Houyi, Ji Ning's Heartforce now stood at the very peak of the entire Three Realms!

"Always place yourself as the humblest mortal. Always yearn for something higher."

"Even the god Pangu is not the final destination." Ji Ning did not know if Pangu was the end point of cultivation, but the heart had no final destination. The heart could be infinitely large, infinitely high.

"The gap between the fourth level of Heartforce and the third level is enormous."

The third level of Heartforce was merely at the peak of Celestial Immortal power. The fourth level of Heartforce, however, was at the peak of Empyrean God and True Immortal power!

Every single Empyrean God or True Immortal who commanded the fourth level of Heartforce stood at the very summit. Take the archer 'Dongzhe, for example. By relying on a single Chaos Daofruit, he had nearly suppressed the entire battlefield on his own! While the Chaos Daofruit was incredibly powerful, without Dongzhe's archery and Heartforce, how many other Empyrean Gods or True Immortals could have unleashed the Chaos Daofruit's power to such an extent?

"Although my Heartforce Soul-Art has only reached the minor perfection stage, even if I were to achieve major perfection, it would probably only increase my power tenfold, elevating me by a single level."

"But now, going from the third level of Heartforce to the fourth… my power has increased by several levels."

Ji Ning understood just how much he had grown.

"It is time to see the Daofather." Ji Ning rose to his feet. He felt a sense of guilt towards Daofather Crimsonbright. After all, the Daofather had personally handed him the Divine Farmer's medicine and had trusted him implicitly. Though it was Yu Wei who had committed the betrayal, it had happened because of him!

Ji Ning cast a glance at the endless wilderness and the massive, floating black city, the Seamless City. He silently vowed, "This battle… is not over yet."

The Karmic Punishment Deity he had commanded previously was already very powerful. Now that his Heartforce had crossed a great realm, just how powerful would the Karmic Punishment Deity he could command become? Ji Ning himself did not know.

Because among Empyrean Gods and True Immortals, only a few had reached the fourth level of Heartforce. Of those few, only Ji Ning had also comprehended the Heartforce Soul-Art! This meant… among all the Empyrean Gods and True Immortals across the Three Realms, the one who could command the strongest Karmic Punishment Deity was Ji Ning.

"The Godking." Ji Ning's heart was filled with boundless killing intent.

Whoosh.

He walked down from the city wall and headed towards the great hall of the Eight-Dragon Cloud City.

If the Godking knew that forcing Ji Ning to make that painful choice, that most agonizing spiritual trial, had caused Ji Ning's Heartforce to climb from the third level to the fourth… a result far more terrifying than achieving major perfection in the Heartforce Soul-Art! If he knew this, the Godking would surely regret it bitterly. After all, he had single-handedly created a 'monster' who commanded the fourth level of Heartforce and the Heartforce Soul-Art.

The Godking's original goal had merely been to force Ji Ning to submit.

Within the grand hall of the Eight-Dragon Cloud City.

Ji Ning walked towards the hall.

"It's Ji Ning."

"What is Ji Ning going to the hall for?"

"He sat on the city wall in meditation for a few days. I wonder what's on his mind. I hope he isn't too crushed by this blow. With the Realm War on the verge of being lost, and him blaming himself so much, he might be having wild thoughts. Perhaps he is going to see the Daofather."

"Alas. He is such a rare monstrous talent. I hope this incident with his Dao-companion doesn't ruin him."

Some immortals who saw Ji Ning heading to the hall discussed him quietly.

Many throughout the Three Realms had been ruined or had faded into obscurity because of the word 'love. But those who could suffer a massive blow and then continue to climb upward, to continue advancing, were all figures of great renown within the Three Realms. They could no longer be called monstrous geniuses… they were true experts of the Three Realms.

"Ji Ning?" The Xia Emperor walked out from the hall, a surprised look on his face. "What are you doing here?"

"I wish to see the Daofather," Ji Ning said.

"The Daofather is in a bad mood right now. Don't go," the Xia Emperor advised quickly.

"In a bad mood?" Ji Ning was startled.

The Xia Emperor nodded. "The human sovereign, the Divine Farmer, had no solution. But the Daofather still hasn't given up. After all, this realmverse is his foundation, built on endless ages. So he went to visit other major powers, the leaders of the Daoist and Buddhist sects, as well as a series of other major powers… but… alas…"

Ji Ning nodded. "I understand."

"And you still want to see the Daofather?" the Xia Emperor looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning nodded.

Whoosh.

Ji Ning's aura suddenly changed, shifting from that of a Celestial Immortal back to that of a Pure Yang True Immortal.

"Pure… Pure Yang?" The Xia Emperor's eyes went wide, and then he was filled with ecstasy. "Ji Ning, you broke through?"

"Yes," Ji Ning nodded.

Having decided to win the Realm War, he had to be careful about the Seamless Gate's intelligence. This time, he would reveal only hisPure Yang True Immortal power, giving the Seamless Gate a false impression. As for the fourth level of Heartforce… it still needed to be hidden. Only by unleashing it at a critical moment could he completely change the tide of the battle.

And to keep it hidden…

He had to hide it from everyone! A secret known only to one person was a true secret. The moment he told a second person, the Seamless Gate might find out.

"This is excellent, excellent, truly excellent." The Xia Emperor was trembling with excitement. "Your breakthrough to Pure Yang will greatly increase the power of your Karmic Punishment Deity. When you join forces with the Seven Radiance Empyrean God, you might be able to completely hold off that Daofather Puppet. In the last battle, when the Seamless Gate army was routed and fled, we pursued them all the way, inflicting heavy casualties. Now, if you and the Seven Radiance Empyrean God can just hold off the Daofather Puppet, the rest, including that Three-Eyed Fiendgod, can all be left to us."

"Let's go, let's go, go see the Daofather." The Xia Emperor was incredibly excited.

Ji Ning followed the Xia Emperor into the great hall.

"The Daofather is in the side hall," the Xia Emperor said, familiar with the layout. He led Ji Ning deeper in, and soon Ji Ning saw a quiet side hall where Daofather Crimsonbright sat cross-legged.

But Ji Ning could sense a weary aura of twilight emanating from Daofather Crimsonbright.

It was an aura of helplessness and resignation.

"Master." The Xia Emperor spoke.

"Daofather." Ji Ning spoke respectfully.

Daofather Crimsonbright opened his eyes and looked at Ji Ning. He nodded gently. "It seems you have pulled yourself together a bit. Ji Ning, do not blame yourself for this defeat in the Realm War. After all, you could not have foreseen something like this. A defeat is a defeat. All wars have their victors and losers. Soon, I will summon the Empyrean Gods, True Immortals, and generals, and order a full retreat. You should take a tour of the Three Realms and relax your mind. Your master and I have great hopes for you. Although we have lost this battle, there will be other battles against the Seamless Gate in other places. We will still need your strength."

The Daofather, after all, was the Daofather.

Although he was sorrowful that his foundation was ruined, his vision remained fixed on the Three Realms. He naturally did not wish to see Ji Ning collapse, and he was unwilling to blame him.

"Master, Ji Ning has broken through to the Pure Yang True Immortal stage," the Xia Emperor quickly said.

Daofather Crimsonbright was stunned, and then his eyes lit up!

The twilight aura on him vanished, replaced by surging vitality. He looked at Ji Ning and laughed heartily. "I must be getting old. Beaten down by this Realm War to the point of being blind. You were right in front of me, and I didn't even notice your breakthrough. Ha ha! Pure Yang True Immortal! Your breakthrough will greatly increase the power of your Karmic Punishment Deity, won't it? If you join forces with the Seven Radiance Empyrean God commanded by True Immortal Red Snow, you should be able to hold off that Daofather Puppet."

"Please grant me nine thousand Celestial Immortals and eight hundred and ten thousand Loose Immortals, Daofather. I will form the most powerful Karmic Punishment Deity possible," Ji Ning said respectfully.

"Excellent."

Seeing Ji Ning's overflowing confidence, Daofather Crimsonbright gave a loud cry of approval. Ji Ning already commanded three thousand Celestial Immortals, so this would be equivalent to transferring six ordinary Karmic Punishment Deities to him. Six ordinary Karmic Punishment Deities… would have a very minor impact on the overall battlefield.

"I will immediately give the order. We will prepare for the final decisive battle against the Seamless Gate!" Daofather Crimsonbright's eyes burned with divine light, his aura surged to the heavens, and his voice was as loud as a great bell.