“A pitch-black world, white light...” Zu An was at a loss. He had never heard of such a deity. He hurriedly asked, “What were the circumstances leading to that encounter?”
Yan Xuehen pondered it. “I was flipping through an ancient notebook in our sect’s library, searching for a way to save Chuyan, when I was transported into that pitch-black world. I felt unprecedented, immense pressure weighing down on me, making me shudder. I also felt a void that could make a person forget everything... It’s hard to describe that sensation with words.”
Zu An continued asking, “What was the ancient record you were reading?”
“The notebook contains the insights of an elder from history whose identity is unknown. Its contents are all over the place, mentioning an even higher level than Absolute Dispassion. That book has been shrugged off as nonsense, left in a corner to collect dust. While searching for a way to save Chuyan, I couldn’t leave a single stone unturned, so I browsed through it too.”
The daoist sects had always thought that the highest level achievable was Absolute Dispassion, but that unknown author claimed there was a higher level. Unsurprisingly, his words were shrugged off as nonsense.
As Yan Xuehen shared the notebook’s contents, Zu An frowned. The details were all over the place, sounding like a lunatic’s ramblings. It was understandable why the text had been so poorly regarded across the generations.
The past Zu An might have shrugged it off as a lunatic’s delusion as well, but now that he had more information about higher levels, he thought about another possibility. “That unknown elder might have unknowingly caught a universal deity’s attention, but the universal deity didn’t favor him and chose not to bestow him power.
“His mind and cultivation weren't strong enough to withstand the universal deity’s pressure, causing him to go insane. That could be why his notebook resembles a madman’s ramblings.”
Yan Xuehen was taken aback. “Is catching a universal deity’s attention that dangerous?”
“That’s also what I’m perplexed about.” Zu An assessed Yan Xuehen. “You might have caught that universal deity’s attention after reading that notebook because your daos are aligned, but you fared much better than that elder—you didn’t lose your mind. However, I don’t sense special powers within you either. It doesn’t seem as if that universal deity bestowed you with power.”
For instance, Zhao Yuan and the Shadow Group’s assassins had been aligned with the Deity of Annihilation’s dao and were bestowed with its power, resulting in the rapid advancement in their cultivation.
Yan Xuehen had grown significantly stronger, but that was the result of her aptitude and the enrichment of the world’s ki. It didn’t seem to be the deed of a universal deity. But if she hadn’t been bestowed with the universal deity’s power, she should have gone insane from the latter’s terrifying pressure. Her current situation was perplexing.
“Even so, something seems to have changed within me. I can sense a higher level than Absolute Dispassion, and my cultivation speed is faster than ever. Sometimes, when I cultivate too quickly, I enter a state of emptiness. It feels as if I've cast aside my human emotions, and everything has become meaningless.”
Zu An widened his eyes in realization. “No wonder you were so distant when we first reunited.”
“Rubbish. It has nothing to do with that!” Yan Xuehen averted her gaze.
“It has everything to do with it,” Zu An replied seriously. “I thought it was because you'd reached a higher level in your Unshakable Daoist Manual, but thinking back on it, it was more likely that you were affected by your audience with the universal deity.”
“But I didn’t meet any deity then.” Yan Xuehen was nervous. They were dealing with deities here, after all. She feared that she would end up in the same situation as that elder.
“That’s why I’m confused...” Zu An pondered about the matter, but he knew too little about universal deities to say for sure. So, he telepathically called out, “My beautiful master, do you know which deity did big sister Yan encountered?”
Mi Li lazily replied, “You only call me when you need me.” She manifested beside Zu An as she spoke, though only Zu An could see her.
“I didn’t want to disturb your rest,” Zu An replied with a fawning smile.
“Aren’t you disturbing me now?”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures. Master, do you know which universal deity Sect Master Yan encountered? Is she in any danger?”
Mi Li sneered, “Tsk. You were calling her big sister Yan earlier, only to draw a line before me and call her Sect Master Yan now. Are you worried that I’d be jealous?”
“Of course. You’re big sister master. How can I call other people big sister too?” Zu An replied earnestly.
“You have a sweet tongue.” Mi Li chuckled. “I overheard your conversation. There is indeed a universal deity who fits that profile, but I can’t say for certain. That universal deity is known to be disinterested in mortal affairs, so I can’t imagine him gazing upon a mortal.” She sounded confused as well.
“Disinterested in mortal affairs?” Zu An narrowed his eyes. “That resembles the state of Absolute Dispassion that Sect Master Yan strives for. Could the alignment in their daos and that elder’s notebook have drawn the universal deity’s gaze?”
“That is possible.” Mi Li nodded.
“Who’s that universal deity?” Zu An asked.
“You’re getting ahead of yourself. Do you think I can carelessly reveal a universal deity’s name?” Mi Li scoffed.
“That’s true.” Zu An nodded.
“But you don’t need to worry. It would make sense for that woman to not be bestowed with power if it was that universal deity who gazed at her. That deity is known to be disinterested in everything. He has never actively bestowed power to his disciples,” Mi Li replied.
Zu An was still worried. “What a wasted opportunity. I've heard that most people only receive a universal deity’s gaze once in their lifetime, and other universal deities steer clear of such individuals.”
Yan Xuehen had a chance to meet a universal deity but didn’t receive any power. Does this mean she won’t be able to obtain the powers of other universal deities either?
“Who says there’s only one chance to receive a universal deity’s gaze? That might be true for most people, but such rules don't apply to special entities. Besides, having a single universal deity isn’t a bad thing. Yan Xuehen’s universal deity is an extremely strong entity, even stronger than the ones you know of.”
Zu An was stunned. The universal deities he currently knew about were the Deity of Memory Meng, Deity of Chaos and Enigma Mi Li, and the Deity of Annihilation. And yet, none of the three was as powerful as the universal deity whom Yan Xuehen had encountered?