Chapter 1663: Stepping Out on Your Own Path

The child who once could only babble has now grown up. He long ago understood what that scene from over a decade ago represented: his grandfather, sleeping soundly in a street corner, had actually died. At that time, lonely, innocent, and ignorant, he simply didn't understand. Now, looking back, he feels both sorrowful and fortunate and grateful.

Had he not met that young man with tear-streaked face and greying hair that day, the young child might have starved or frozen to death by the roadside many years ago.

Chu Feng grew increasingly serene. Although his heart carried wounds, once bleeding profusely, years of recuperation and adjustment had allowed him to adapt. Moreover, his eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if a burning flame raged within his heart, shining through his gaze, threatening to incinerate all heavens. That was his indomitable will to fight, the surging light of his soul, burning fiercely, becoming increasingly dazzling and brilliant! This was also a grand and powerful fighting spirit nurtured amidst a broken mind and a declining era. Though silent, he was ready to embark on his journey again at any moment.

The child of yesteryear, now Chu Kang, increasingly felt that his adoptive father was different. It was as if thunder and lightning lay dormant within his body, ready to erupt one day. Back then, Chu Feng, steeped in weariness, adopted him with tears in his eyes. Though not old in years, his heart was already ancient and worn, allowing the child to sense his profound sorrow. Over the years, Chu Kang noticed that his adoptive father's gaze became increasingly serene, until occasionally, a lightning-like beam of light would flash in the depths of his eyes. He realized that his adoptive father had many "stories" in his past, having been hurt and exhausted, but was now recovering, awakening the inherent powerful conviction within his heart!

"Good child!" Chu Feng was fortunate to have met such a child. The child had been kind, fragile, timid, and sensitive, capable of discerning his moods and feelings even at a very young age. His own transformation was largely connected to this child who was once a babbling mute. He regarded Chu Kang as his own son, filling a void in his life and experiencing the unique affection and emotion that only a father and son can share. Therefore, his once chilled heart and decadent spirit continuously changed. He did not want a child to be infected by his gloomy emotions. He had to smile, be peaceful, and radiate sunshine, hoping that the child by his side would grow up healthy and happy in body and mind. Chu Feng held nothing back, treating him as his own son, dispelling all the darkness in his heart, and raising him to adulthood.

This was an era of spiritual desolation, more terrifying than the Age of Dharma Decline, severing the path for all cultivators. Few could practice cultivation, and even those who barely managed to begin would only become low-level evolvers. Chu Feng diligently nurtured Chu Kang. Although limited by the current barren world and fragmented era, the child could not advance rapidly, but Chu Feng still set him on a solid path. However, Chu Feng sighed softly. Even with his utmost efforts to pave the way, Chu Kang's condition meant he could not enter the realm of longevity. This world was fundamentally unsuitable for evolution, crushing the prospects of all. Even Chu Feng himself, not yet a Red Dust Immortal, would eventually return to dust in this era of spiritual desolation if he could not strive to cross that chasm. These were "ruin years," even more dreadful than the Age of Dharma Decline.

In the present age, all paths were severed. After a battle in ancient times, the Dao collapsed, order was ripped apart, and three supreme beings unleashed a Heaven's Will strike that severed fate and buried Immortal Kings. The residual blade marks still rippled, likely affecting countless eras to come. Chu Feng sometimes sighed softly. Even though he possessed marvelous methods that could help Chu Kang embark on this path, the world was incomplete, laws were nonexistent, spiritual energy was depleted, and everything had turned to ruins. Chu Kang, even with all his strength, would likely find it difficult to traverse the path fully, living at most only one or two thousand years. In the past, this was unimaginable; many evolvers of lesser strength still had lifespans of several millennia. Those with profound strength could live for tens of thousands of years. Not to mention the ancient beings who had survived since prehistoric times, whose lives were truly immeasurably long.

Chu Kang, however, was open-minded. Although not old in years, he was very magnanimous. In his own words, he was originally a little mute beggar who would have starved to death by the roadside. To be able to live well and grow up successfully was far more fortunate than many, and besides, he had never sought longevity. Chu Feng could only nod silently. This was no longer his era. In this world devoid of spiritual energy, what more could one hope for? Moreover, everyone's state of mind had changed.

In recent years, Chu Feng discovered a terrifying truth: silently, over the course of time, the legends of ancient heroes had dimmed, blurred, and finally... vanished! Taking Chu Kang as an example, this was a young evolver whom Chu Feng had painstakingly nurtured. He was incredibly rare in this ruined world; among his peers, there was likely no one else like him. Yet, he could not remember the names of those predecessors. It must be known that Chu Feng, from the time Chu Kang was very young, had repeatedly told him the stories of those admirable figures, treating them as myths. In his childhood, Chu Kang had been fascinated, clinging to him every time, eager for him to speak through the night, retelling the tales of those heroes and fallen spirits multiple times. However, as time passed, the past deeds of heroes that the child could even recite in his youth were gradually forgotten by him. Throughout his growth, Chu Feng had tried to recount those true stories multiple times. Although they would quickly capture Chu Kang's attention and spark great interest, he would still, before long, forget them unconsciously. Now, Chu Kang had grown up and was considered a rare extraordinary evolver in this era of spiritual desolation. Yet, those individuals, those true heroes who existed in history, could only reside in his mind for a brief moment. Once Chu Feng finished speaking, those memories would quickly vanish from Chu Kang's mind.

Moreover, in recent years, even Chu Feng himself felt a sense of unfamiliarity with some of those brilliant figures from the past. This filled him with dread and fear. How could he forget those people? One night, he walked alone through the desolate mountains and lands, clutching a wine jar, reminiscing about the heroes of old. He told himself he could never forget. Ultimately, even if the images in his heart had dimmed slightly, he still managed to preserve those scenes, those people and events that brought him profound sadness, keeping them forever etched in his mind. He knew it must be related to the stone jar. Without it, he might have forgotten everything as well.

The terrifying Land of Misfortune, the horrifying Progenitors, and the Heaven's Will strike of the Ruthless Immortal Emperor—they buried countless worlds. What was destroyed was not just mountains and rivers, but also the brilliance within people's hearts, all interred in the past. They erased those tragic past scenes and obliterated the last traces left by those admirable individuals. In the following years, Chu Feng became certain that everyone in the entire world had forgotten those who once protected these mountains, rivers, and starry skies. They had forgotten that there was once a group of figures who charged against the heavens, transforming into blood and light. Throughout the vast world, no one remembered them anymore. Without needing to ponder further, although Chu Feng could not leave this broken grand world, he could infer that it was the same in other grand worlds where life existed. Those individuals who brought tears to mind, that group of heroic spirits, had been completely forgotten by the world, vanishing from all ancient history, utterly erased.

On this day, Chu Feng was filled with immense sorrow. Alone in the ruins, he offered libations with wine. At the same time, he recalled the desolate voice that had once echoed on the battlefield the day all worlds shattered and all heroes perished: "A thousand autumns hence, who can wield the brush to record the deeds of heroic spirits? Perhaps after ten thousand ages, autumn winds will sweep a thousand mounds, leaving only ruins, and sages will leave no trace in the world, impossible to remember..." A thousand autumns had not yet passed, and their traces were already gone from the world. Chu Feng felt an urge to weep. That day, he sat alone on the rubble amidst the broken walls, looking up at the sky, motionless for a long time.

…

Chu Kang got married to a clever and bright young woman from the small town. In fact, they had known each other for a long time, often interacting and crossing paths since their youth. Years earlier, Chu Feng had already begun teaching the girl the method of evolution. He had observed and approved of her character, hoping she could accompany Chu Kang far into their future together.

Time flew by, and over a hundred years passed. Chu Feng's greying hair had completely turned gray. Time had not left many marks on his face; on the contrary, judging by his hair color, he seemed to have grown somewhat younger. Chu Kang and his wife progressed steadily on their cultivation path. However, they were ultimately born into the wrong era. Even with Chu Feng's full assistance, their path, though not yet severed, offered no sight of a bright shore. They knew that in the end, they were merely struggling in the "red dust" and would eventually die. Nevertheless, they had no regrets. With children and grandchildren filling their home, they had already far surpassed ordinary people in this era, even outperforming countless evolvers.

Chu Feng had not yet reached the legendary level of a Red Dust Immortal, making him unable to tear apart this grand world. This meant he could never leave this realm; he couldn't even visit his old haunts. He was certain he had never been to this world before. During the final battle, the Empress intervened, sending a few individuals away on an unpredictable path. Chu Feng still did not know what kind of grand world this was. Clearly, when the Empress acted as the Progenitors retreated to the plateau, she merely did her utmost to randomly create some paths of survival, unable to foresee their destinations.

Over the years, as Chu Feng watched Chu Kang grow up, he began to frequently leave the small town for increasingly longer periods. He walked through mountains, searched through ruins, wanting to find more traces of the past, and also to comprehend his own methods and path. He also appeared periodically in various cities with living beings, sensing the myriad realities and vivacity of the "red dust."

A millennium later, Chu Kang's wife grew old and frail. In this era, she was considered a rare long-lived cultivator. In her final moments, she was reluctant to part, holding Chu Kang's hand. The once clever and bright young woman now had a head full of white hair, utterly aged, her face covered in wrinkles. Chu Kang held her hand, comforting her, "Don't be afraid, I'll come to be with you soon." Their affection was deep; facing death, they felt no fear, only reluctance to part. They had long ago agreed to be buried together, remaining husband and wife even in the afterlife, never to be separated.

"No, come later," the old woman, once a young girl, now withered with age, said. Tears welled in her cloudy old eyes, her gaze softening as she told him not to rush, not to hurry his journey. She would not allow him to come meet her prematurely. Chu Feng arrived and witnessed this scene, once again feeling touched. This was the parting of life and death in the "red dust," which, in a way, resonated with the partings his own generation faced. Both revealed the deepest human nature: one a personal sorrow, the other a grand and tragic despair that was suffocating, causing his emotions to fluctuate.

Over a thousand years passed, and Chu Feng's gray hair turned black. He seemed to be in an even better state. Finally, Chu Feng cut his wrist and used his own blood as medicine to extend Chu Kang's wife's life. The effect was astonishing. In this era where spiritual energy was depleted and the medicinal properties of all herbs had degraded, his blood was now considered the most precious great medicine. Chu Kang's wife survived, and even became considerably younger.

Chu Feng also prepared medicinal blood for the aging Chu Kang. However, Chu Kang hesitated, drank only a small amount, then knelt before Chu Feng and kowtowed, saying, "Father, I... have no grand ambitions. I've never sought longevity. Meeting you is the greatest fortune of my life..." From childhood, he was kind-hearted and grateful, but he realized there was nothing he could do to repay Chu Feng; it seemed that only by always staying by his father's side could he offer the sole return. Yet, he knew he couldn't continue living indefinitely and would eventually have to depart with his wife.

Chu Feng nodded. He did not force him to stay, because he himself couldn't hold on indefinitely. In this era, even he had to strive, fighting with all his might to have a chance at achieving the Red Dust Immortal Fruit, which would involve facing a death tribulation. He had no way to make Chu Kang, who had already made his decision, accompany him on his path. In truth, at this stage, he could not help others defy fate.

Another eight hundred years passed, and Chu Kang and his wife finally reached the end of their lives. On their last day, Chu Feng rushed back to bid them farewell. They struggled to get up and kneel, but were immediately stopped. That day, both departed peacefully with smiles on their faces. Chu Feng felt sad. In this era, these two had become the most important people to him, regarded as his own children. He personally buried them in the chosen grave, gazing for a long time, reluctant to leave.

In the refinement of the "red dust" on his heart, he did not wish to involve his family, yet he could not avoid it. He merely wanted to accompany his children through their lives, respect their choices, and ultimately still face the poignant scene of watching them slowly age and die with the passage of time. Although he did not want to face it this way, it naturally aligned with the path of seeking immortality in the "red dust": forced attempts would surely fail, while sincere dedication would lead to success, arising spontaneously. In this ruined world, with no spiritual essence to absorb and thin natural vitality, only by traversing and comprehending the "red dust" could one achieve the most powerful body. With a once broken heart nurturing an unyielding belief, like the formation of a pearl in a shell, a bloody struggle between flesh and sand, only then could the most resolute and powerful will be forged, leading to a Dao Fruit surpassing other immortal-level evolvers.

With his last loved ones gone, alone in a vast and desolate world, Chu Feng sighed. He truly could no longer see anyone from his own era. Chu Kang had many descendants, but after many generations, none of them knew Chu Feng. Chu Feng, in turn, no longer wished for excessive interaction with those young faces; in this era, giving one's heart only resulted in sorrow. After bidding farewell to loved ones once, he did not wish to experience it a second time.

Afterward, Chu Feng completely left the small town and headed into the depths of the boundless land, passing through the nations of one race after another, traversing endless mountains and rivers. Throughout this process, Chu Feng never used the only remaining seed in the stone jar. Even when he sometimes found rare exotic soil, he merely collected it, never attempting to make the seed take root and sprout. The struggle in the "red dust" had only just begun. He intended to steadfastly continue, relying on his own strength to break through constraints and achieve the Red Dust Immortal state.

Regarding the seed, he had not abandoned it. Instead, he would wait until he had broken through on his own before experiencing the pollen path, to see if he could further compensate or even enhance himself at the peak of the same realm. Because he desired the most powerful Dao Fruit! His enemies were too strong. If he could not reach the apex of every realm and advance, then his cultivation would be meaningless. The path ahead was terrifying. Several Progenitors in the Land of Misfortune exerted immense pressure on him. Even Huang and Ye had died in battle; how could he, alone, face a decisive battle? At this stage, he had no way to kill a Progenitor. All he could do was remain grounded, advance steadily, and walk the strongest path!

Regardless of the evolution system, one could not bypass the Red Dust Immortal stage; it was a mandatory juncture. Thus, he set aside the seed. Furthermore, he was already pondering his own path. Anyone who wished to reach the absolute peak and truly be unrivaled in the world had to forge their own unique path.

"Those who learn from me shall live; those who merely imitate me shall die." These were words of warning passed down through generations from deceased heroic spirits. Chu Feng felt they were indeed very reasonable and invaluable. No matter how great one's talent or aptitude, if one ultimately cannot forge one's own path, one will only clumsily imitate others and never reach the highest point. Only one's self can understand what is most suitable. One's own insights and the inspired path taken at crucial junctures—that is the strongest. Learning the methods of predecessors and studying the scriptures of sages were for accumulation, for initial steps on the path. Ultimately, one must have one's own Dao. Over the years, Chu Feng had continuously explored and advanced, striving to walk the strongest path.

He possessed various methods for the pollen path. Additionally, Yao Yao had passed on the Empress's scriptures to him, an invaluable treasure for comprehension and reference, allowing him to further refine his own path. Thinking of Yao Yao, even after many years, his heart still ached, filled with profound sorrow. It was such a pity, such a regret. What heights could such a radiant woman have reached had she been given time to grow? It was impossible to predict; her talent was astonishing, without limit.

"Actually, I already have a direction," Chu Feng whispered. Over the years, he had roughly determined the path he wanted to take. But at this stage, the focus was still primarily on accumulation; it was not yet time to fully embark on his own path. All of this would have to wait until he became a Red Dust Immortal before being discussed and researched in depth. Accumulating knowledge, continuously solidifying the "red dust" path, and studying various scriptures—he would first lay the most robust foundation before forging his own path in the future.

As Chu Feng approached ten thousand years of age, his black hair turned completely white. He touched his snow-white strands, falling silent for a moment, realizing he was gradually aging in this era devoid of spiritual energy. He had not yet become an immortal. If things continued this way, he would inevitably have to experience the "red dust death tribulation" as recorded by predecessors. He neither wished to avoid it, nor could he.

"Back then, although I used a temporal treasure for cultivation and suffered some loss of lifespan, I survived from a period of peak vitality. Compared to the present, the lifespan loss was not significant." After all, in that era, many powerful cultivators could live for millions of years. Chu Feng deduced that, given his physical condition in this era of spiritual desolation, he could live for over ten thousand years, with at least a thousand more years remaining. More optimistically, he might have several millennia of life. For the pollen evolution path, many scriptures were left by predecessors, and there was also the path walked by the Empress, whose invincible radiance seemed to transcend eons of time. Chu Feng studied and began preparing for the "red dust death tribulation." He firmly believed he could succeed, that at the end of this path, before dying of old age, he would achieve rebirth.

Several millennia later, Chu Feng's entire body's blood dimmed, and his aging was extremely severe, almost to the point of passing away with time. Yet, within him, a light persisted—a cluster of blood essence, initially soft, but growing increasingly brilliant. This was his first "red dust death tribulation." He had already boldly attempted, initially explored, and embarked on his own path and method, using his body as mountains and rivers to engrave energy fields and cultivate great medicinal blood. His aging body served as mountains and soil, while a cluster of blood essence, specifically extracted in earlier years, was nurtured within his body's energy fields. Now, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted, and the radiance of life bloomed.

*Bang!*

Finally, Chu Feng's body shattered and disintegrated. Yet, amidst the gory remains, a vigorous surge of life force erupted, his flesh and blood reshaped, and a vital body reassembled. He radiated a new aura, and powerful nascent strength surged through his limbs and bones. Chu Feng came back to life, his thick black hair cascading down. His robust flesh and blood, as if cast from immortal gold, shimmered with a crystalline luster, brimming with astonishing power. At this moment, his essence, vitality, and spirit were unprecedentedly abundant and mighty!

"I have lived a second life!" Chu Feng murmured to himself. Confirming it with ancient texts, he was very clear about his own state. He was strong and had initially succeeded, but the Red Dust Immortal Fruit had not yet been achieved. In this era of spiritual desolation, he had merely lived another life; it was not true immortality. In the years that followed, Chu Feng pondered various evolution scriptures and devoted considerable effort to studying energy fields. It became evident that his path lay in energy fields. Long ago, someone had told him that his talent in energy fields surpassed his cultivation talent. However, becoming a preeminent figure or leader in the field of energy fields was never his goal, and it remained so. He merely intended to use energy fields to forge his own distinct path of evolution.

Time flowed on, and another life was nearing its end. Chu Feng grew old once more, but this time his lifespan was even longer than the previous one, incredibly astonishing in this era of spiritual desolation. In this life, Chu Feng combined energy fields with his spirit, constructing various energy field runes within the fiery light of his soul. He used this to confront the "red dust death tribulation" of this life.

*Bang!*

As this life approached its end, Chu Feng's sea of souls exploded. However, a crystalline soul seed was reborn from the ashes, growing strong amidst the fading fiery light. It then attached itself to his aged body, and with a rumble, in a fierce and dangerous metamorphosis, he gained another rebirth.

Ages passed, and Chu Feng, alone, witnessed the desolation and solitude of the grand world. In this vast realm where he resided, countless generations had come and gone. He strove to live, continuously resisting the "red dust death tribulation." Many tens of thousands of years passed, and each time, just before his demise, he completed a difficult and perilous metamorphosis, ultimately living a fourth life.

One day, Chu Feng once again headed towards the small town, wanting to see where Chu Kang had lived. He found that everything had changed, utterly unfamiliar. Many tens of thousands of years had passed. For him, it was a fourth rebirth, but in the human world, countless eras had elapsed. Generation after generation had grown old and died, the original city had long turned to ruins, and in the distant lands, a powerful human kingdom now governed the territory. In fact, such kingdoms had undergone countless changes, impossible to count. Over tens of thousands of years, the world of ordinary people had undergone profound changes, like oceans turning into mulberry fields. The rise and fall of the grand era had altered everything, making it difficult to find any traces of the past.

Chu Feng walked through a colossal city on this land, many times grander than the small town of yesteryear. The city was bustling with carriages and horses, people coming and going, jostling shoulder to shoulder; it was at its peak of prosperity. Yet, amidst this vast "red dust," Chu Feng walked alone, feeling only immense desolation and an eerie quietness, as if he were the only one alive in the world. The people in the bustling "red dust" brushed past him and quickly faded into the distance. He sighed softly, continuing his solitary journey.

Time marched on with unstoppable force. Chu Feng himself had almost forgotten how many lives he had experienced. Ultimately, he used mountains and rivers as his canvas and the grand world as his backdrop, splashing ink to paint the scroll of his life. Mountains and rivers were engraved with energy fields, becoming the "mother body" that nurtured his rebirth. Finally, he succeeded: he walked in with an aging body and emerged with a reborn immortal body! In this newly reborn life, he did not age further. He knew that after living many consecutive lives and continuously overcoming the "red dust death tribulations," he had finally succeeded. Each life had been stronger than the last, and he had thoroughly advanced into the Red Dust Immortal realm, achieving the most powerful Dao Fruit.

"I stand at a new starting point; I am finally going to forge my own path!" Chu Feng murmured to himself. He had long since swept away all decadence. Now, his conviction was incomparably strong. Even if his own strength was not yet sufficient, he had long resolved to flatten the Land of Misfortune and eradicate all strangeness! However, looking back, he sighed softly. Ultimately, he could find no companion. There were no longer any people from his era. In the vast world, he alone continued on the path of evolution. The era of spiritual desolation was immensely long, with no one to follow.