Chapter 2955: Fellow Daoist Song's Redemption
If luck isn't on your side, not only could you fail to inherit the Confucian Sage's "special talent," but you might also lose the Sage's eye... and an entire path to immortality!
The price is nothing short of devastating.
It's a "do or die" situation!
Such a steep cost would stop even the most powerful beings across the myriad worlds in their tracks.
Even those who stand at the pinnacle of countless worlds and have achieved immortality typically just walk their own path to eternity.
Take the "Heavenly Emperor," for instance. She possessed a "Heavenly Court Path" and a "Time Path" simultaneously—a rarity even in the vastness of all worlds!
But even the Heavenly Emperor didn't hold both eternal methods at the same time. She passed the "Heavenly Court Path" to Jin Gua before stabilizing her immortality through the "Time Path."
Without the Heavenly Emperor's extraordinary methods, attempting to inherit the Confucian Sage's "special talent" would mean falling from the immortal realm, even if you succeeded, down to the level of a tribulation immortal...
"The cost and the reward aren't proportional at all," Song Shuhang commented.
People might gamble with their lives, but no one would enter into a losing deal.
Exchanging a priceless "Confucian Sage's eye" plus an entire path to immortality for a talent that might not even succeed? In a normal situation, that's a deal you'd have to be crazy to take!
The Confucian Sage's eye—how could that not be valuable?
Just one "Confucian Sage's eye" had made cultivators across the myriad worlds tremble in fear!
And don't even mention the path to immortality.
Since ancient times, there might not be enough immortals to average even one per world in the myriad worlds.
Who would be willing to burn through an entire path to immortality?
Except for someone like the Heavenly Emperor, who has unique circumstances, who else could afford such a thing?
"What happens with two Confucian Sage's eyes?" Pavilion Master Chu couldn't help but ask, curious.
Fengyi Qinmaster added, "So, the eye we just saw was the Confucian Sage's?"
"Yes." Song Shuhang nodded, then he described what he saw through the "pair of Confucian Sage's eyes" and the Sage's analysis of the "talent."
Just as Song Shuhang finished his explanation, White Senior Two's voice rang out, "We need this talent from the Confucian Sage."
Core World and Evil Lotus World were closely connected at this moment, so even without using a "temporary group," White Senior Two was keeping tabs on Song Shuhang.
"Indeed, if we could have two people inherit the Confucian Sage's 'devouring others' existence' talent... then we must obtain this ability," Senior White agreed.
After all, there's no other ability more suited to creating two "imperfect yet complementary" special beings than the Confucian Sage's "devour the existence of others" technique.
If two people with the Confucian Sage's talent devoured a part of each other before achieving enlightenment, they could theoretically achieve a "complementary enlightenment."
"But won't the cost be too great?" Song Shuhang asked.
"If it can result in two distinct beings achieving enlightenment simultaneously, the price is worth it," White Senior Two responded.
Sometimes, an exchange that seems unbalanced becomes worthwhile under the right conditions.
"Also, the Confucian Sage's plan is just a draft... we could refine it and reduce the cost," Senior White added.
The Confucian Sage had only just begun exploring his talent, and he didn't push it to its limits.
The hardest part is starting. With the Sage's "starting point," Senior White Two and Senior White could continue researching and make improvements.
"For example... we might be able to preserve the 'Confucian Sage's eyes' after they're used up," White Senior Two said.
"How would we do that?" Song Shuhang's eyes lit up.
"Don't forget about your Immortal Whale Golden Core. It's an incredible object, so don't just treat it like a 'rechargeable resurrection device.'" White Senior Two pointed out, "If you can bind the Confucian Sage's eyes to your Immortal Whale Golden Core, then even if the Sage's eyes are sacrificed or turned to ashes, the power of the Immortal Whale Golden Core could restore them from nothing."
The Immortal Whale Golden Core is like an "immortal bone" with a cooldown. If you time it right, the Confucian Sage's eyes, originally consumable, could become reusable, like a portable power bank.
"So, how do we bind them?" Song Shuhang's eyes sparkled.
"That's what we need to research. When the time comes, bring the Sage's eyes and the Whale Golden Core to me, and I'll study them thoroughly," White Senior Two said.
"Similarly, it might be possible to recover some of the cost of using a path to immortality," Senior White added.
Following the conversation, Song Shuhang tried to keep up with the advanced topic the two Seniors were discussing. He ventured, "Turn the 'path to immortality' into a kind of rechargeable battery, so after it's used up, it can be recharged and reused. Or, make the cost a 'partial use of the path to immortality,' then restore it afterward?"
"That's unlikely... the consumption of a path to immortality is a foundational part of the Confucian Sage's plan," Senior White shook his head.
"But before consuming your path to immortality, you could try backing it up—saving the understanding, data, and information related to the path. Then, if you can't re-cultivate that path, you could at least pass it on to someone else," White Senior Two chimed in, complementing Senior White's thought.
It's still uncertain whether a path to immortality consumed during the inheritance process could be cultivated again. If not, passing it on to someone close could at least minimize the loss.
One path to immortality per immortal.
If you step down from that path, someone else could step up to inherit it.
Song Shuhang's eyes lit up. "Like that unwalked path to immortality stored in the merit network? Brilliant."
He had two potential paths to immortality.
One was the "Non-Life, Non-Death" path.
The other was connected to the "Cultivation Chat" system.
The "Non-Life, Non-Death" path could be sacrificed.
However, the path connected to the "Cultivation Chat" system was too grand—it could only be completed from a perspective that surpasses immortality.
Song Shuhang didn't have the confidence to master that path to immortality.
...
...
Meanwhile, the 8.5th Heavenly Dao's "Daozi," after resolving the lingering issues of the Confucian disciples, took a brief rest.
Then, he began to address "Song Woodenhead's" obsession, bringing them salvation.
"To those fellow Daoists bound to the ancient Heavenly Court, as promised, I will grant you freedom on behalf of Song Daoist," Daozi said, drawing a circle of light in the air.
Behind him, several "substitute avatars" emerged and stepped into the circle of light.