Deep within the massive pupil of the Eye of Ten Thousand Laws, martial cultivation paths rooted in life and death rapidly extended and expanded.
The force propelling the Martial Path of Life and Death to evolve in different directions was none other than the power of time.
As the foundation of Myriad Dao Pavilion, the Eye of Ten Thousand Laws could perceive the "futures" of evolution paths—futures that existed across various timelines.
Though it couldn’t encompass all possible futures, it was more than capable of evaluating the potential of a given path.
A new evolution path—especially one that hadn't produced an ultimate being—was impossible to evaluate definitively by any cultivator, no matter how experienced, unless they had walked the path themselves.
But the Eye of Ten Thousand Laws dared to, because it could glimpse into futures along numerous timelines and discern the path’s true potential.
“This path barely holds the potential to reach the Chaos Realm, but I sense something more…”
The Eye of Ten Thousand Laws continued watching the Martial Path of Life and Death unfold across numerous futures. In a few, cultivators would indeed reach Chaos Realm.
“Something’s off. This path feels more like a branch from a greater main path.”
It finally confirmed its suspicion.
In the vastness of Chaos Void and its countless domains, Myriad Dao Pavilion had cataloged more evolution paths than one could count. It knew full well that some extremely potent main paths could give rise to branch paths.
It wasn't that a path that could sprout branches was inherently stronger than one that couldn't—but the former almost always held greater potential.
“Interesting. Is the seller hoping to use Myriad Dao Pavilion’s influence to spread his evolution path?”
The Eye of Ten Thousand Laws pondered. It had seen countless such cases and could see through the nature of things at a glance.
“Well, a path that can sprout branches is qualified to make such a request.”
It gave a small nod. A path capable of creating offshoots typically had the potential to reach the level of Great Saints.
“Lord, what about this evolution path?” asked the gourd-carrying old man beside it, testing the waters.
He had summoned the projection of the Eye of Ten Thousand Laws precisely because he couldn’t determine whether the Martial Path of Life and Death was Dominance level or Chaos level.
The gap between the two was massive.
“It counts as a Chaos-level evolution path.”
The future lines of the Martial Path of Life and Death within the golden pupil gradually faded.
“Chaos-level evolution path…”
The old man nodded—that matched his intuition.
“I’ll go inform him then—”
Just as the old man was about to deliver the verdict to Lin Yuan, the Eye of Ten Thousand Laws, still present in the vortex, suddenly said, “I want to meet the seller personally.”
“You want to meet the seller yourself?” The old man was stunned.
As the true overseer of Myriad Dao Pavilion, the Eye of Ten Thousand Laws typically only projected itself to evaluate uncertain paths.
To meet a seller personally? That was exceedingly rare.
With its status, it rarely bothered to see anyone face-to-face.
“Yes.”
The old man quickly gathered his thoughts and nodded.
In an isolated space, Lin Yuan stood quietly before the black stone platform, waiting for Myriad Dao Pavilion’s response.
“Myriad Dao Pavilion’s reputation is spotless. They won’t take a path and pretend it never happened,” he thought.
In fact, if they did, he wouldn’t really mind. His goal was to spread the Martial Path of Life and Death.
If Myriad Dao Pavilion secretly spread it without acknowledgment—that would still serve his purpose.
But such a scenario was unlikely. For countless cosmic eras, Myriad Dao Pavilion had upheld fair trade, which was the source of its influence.
Power alone could only inspire fear. Myriad Dao Pavilion, however, was revered even by beings like the Mysterious Sovereign and the master of the Devil Jade Tower, with no scandals ever exposed.
Just then—
The world around Lin Yuan shifted. He was suddenly transported to a different space.
“Where is this?”
Lin Yuan’s expression changed. Mysterious runes floated in the void, slowly rotating. Here, he felt completely severed from the outside—his connection to his true body had even been partially suppressed.
“Don’t worry.”
A voice spoke.
Lin Yuan turned and saw the gourd-carrying old man watching him.
“Myriad Dao Pavilion’s branch master?”
He recognized him. Among the most untouchable powerhouses in the Guming Chaos Continent, this man was one of them.
“And that…?”
Lin Yuan looked past him—to a phantom vortex where a massive golden eye was quietly observing him.
A golden pupil.
“The Eye of Ten Thousand Laws!”
Lin Yuan’s heart trembled. Very little was known about the true controller of Myriad Dao Pavilion, but the Mysterious Sovereign and the Devil Jade Tower Master had both left warnings about it.
“So you recognize me?”
The Eye looked at him and spoke calmly.
“Greetings, Eye of Ten Thousand Laws.”
Lin Yuan bowed slightly.
Even the Mysterious Sovereign and the Devil Jade Tower Master would bow to it—Lin Yuan naturally wouldn’t overstep.
“Indeed, someone who can forge a branch path must come from no small background. It’s normal you’d know me.”
The Eye of Ten Thousand Laws continued gazing at Lin Yuan, speaking to itself.
For those at the Path-Clearing or Dominance Realm, its name was unfamiliar. But those at the Chaos level or above, even Great Saints and Supreme Saints, all held it in awe.
Lin Yuan was deeply stirred.
A branch path?
Did the Eye of Ten Thousand Laws already know that the Martial Path of Life and Death was just one branch of the greater Martial Evolution Path?
He quickly composed himself. According to the Mysterious Sovereign’s speculation, the Eye was tied to a Thirteenth-Rank time-based being and could see through all laws. That it recognized the nature of his path was unsurprising.
“You want to use Myriad Dao Pavilion to spread your evolution path?”
The Eye asked directly.
“Yes.”
Lin Yuan nodded.
There was no point hiding anything from such an ancient being.
“Over the cosmic eras and Chaos ages, many have come to me seeking the same—to spread their evolution paths. Some of them have since reached peak Chaos Realm.”
The Eye of Ten Thousand Laws said.
“Peak Chaos Realm?”
Lin Yuan was shaken.
That meant Chaos Great Saints. As for Supreme Saints? They were also peak Chaos Realm beings, but with far greater combat power.
So far, Lin Yuan had only encountered two such figures: the Master of the Devil Jade Tower and the Mysterious Sovereign.
They were more than just Chaos Great Saints—they were above that, true Supreme Saints.
Ordinary Chaos Lords would flee before them.
Others like the Shadowfiend Saint and the Nine Phoenix Saint were also at peak Chaos Realm.
Lin Yuan had never interacted with them directly, only been caught in the aftermath of their battles.
“Of course, there are also those trapped in time loops—undying and unalive—enduring endless torment.”
The Eye continued.
“Trapped in a time loop?”
Lin Yuan frowned slightly.
“To advance from Twelfth to Thirteenth Rank, one must break free of their own time loop.”
The Eye said casually.
“Break free…?”
Lin Yuan’s expression grew solemn.
This was the first he’d heard any information about advancing beyond the Twelfth Rank.
A time loop?
Breaking free?
To step into the Thirteenth Rank, one had to escape a loop of time?
“What if one can’t break free?”
Lin Yuan couldn’t help but ask.
“If you can’t, you can’t. You’ll be forever trapped within it.”
The Eye answered.
“Honestly, it’s not painful. Within the loop, everything follows a set trajectory—no accidents, no surprises, endlessly repeating.”
The Eye was faintly sentimental.
“It’s true—it wouldn’t hurt.”
Lin Yuan nodded.
But for those at the peak of Chaos Realm, such a state would be worse than death.
They stood atop everything—whether Chaos Void or the Source World—Great Saints, Supreme Saints… all were beings beyond imagination.
“You only need to understand the basics. There’s no need to know too much. Every Chaos Great Saint’s time loop is different. Knowing early won’t help.”
The Eye said.
“I see.”
Lin Yuan understood.
No wonder the Mysterious Sovereign and Devil Jade Tower had left no information on how to reach the Thirteenth Rank.
Because until one reached the Twelfth Rank’s peak, knowing did nothing. And once there, the truth would become self-evident.
“So… the disappearance of the Mysterious Sovereign and the Devil Jade Tower Master… were they trapped in time loops?”
Lin Yuan speculated.
No one from the Mysterious Lineage had reached the Twelfth Rank, yet the Mysterious Sovereign had vanished… which matched the symptoms of a time loop.
According to the Eye of Ten Thousand Laws, being trapped in a time loop meant neither life nor death—a suspended state.
“Spreading your evolution path—does that help with breaking the loop?”
Lin Yuan asked.
“You’re already here, and you still need to ask?” The Eye gave him a look, then explained, “Relying on oneself to escape is nearly impossible. But using external ‘landmarks’ or ‘anchors’ increases the chances.”
“That’s why many Chaos Realm beings prepare in advance, hoping to use Myriad Dao Pavilion’s reach to spread their paths and boost their odds.”
The Eye glanced at him strangely.
“But someone like you, still just at the Path-Clearing stage, coming to spread your own evolution path—that’s rare.”
That was why it had agreed to talk to him.
Path-Clearing Realm beings didn’t even know where their paths ended. They often had to switch paths mid-way, so spreading their own path was nearly unheard of.
Even if one’s background was immense, with ancestors at peak Chaos Realm, they still wouldn’t do it.
After all, what if halfway through, they realized the path didn’t suit them and had to abandon it? All their previous efforts would be wasted.
For Lin Yuan to attempt this, only one explanation made sense:
He was utterly certain that this evolution path suited him—which usually only applied if the path had been created by himself.
Only a self-crafted, refined evolution path could fit so perfectly. As for those paved by others?
Only Chaos Realm cultivators could judge if they truly suited them. Those at the Path-Clearing or Dominance stage had no way of knowing.
If Lin Yuan had indeed created this path himself—even forming a branch capable of Chaos-level potential at the Path-Clearing Realm—
Then the Eye of Ten Thousand Laws saw immense potential in him. That was why it chose to talk and explain.
“Just luck,” Lin Yuan said, sensing that the Eye had likely seen through it, and quickly shook his head.
“Creating a path is not luck. Especially a path whose branch has Chaos-level potential.”
The Eye replied.
If even the branch held that much promise, the main path’s potential was beyond imagining.
Lin Yuan listened silently.
Before an entity like this, there was no need for false modesty. If it praised you, it meant you were worth it.
“All right. Let’s get to the main point.”
The Eye said, “You want to use Myriad Dao Pavilion to spread your path? Fine. But there are conditions.”
“Please speak.”
Lin Yuan wasn’t surprised.
In human civilization, he had spread his path through its own structure—because he was a citizen.
But outside of it, if some ancient god wanted to do the same, they’d be suppressed.
He had no ties to Myriad Dao Pavilion. Using its influence came at a price.
“Simple.”
“You don’t need to worry about it now. When you reach peak Chaos Realm, every ten cosmic eras, do one task for Myriad Dao Pavilion.”
The Eye said.
“One task every ten cosmic eras?”
Lin Yuan looked at it.
The condition only triggered if he reached peak Chaos Realm.
Others at Path-Clearing, Dominance, or even Chaos levels would accept immediately—they had no certainty of ever reaching that level.
In truth, the condition wasn’t binding.
But Lin Yuan?
With Unrivaled Insight and the Gate of Myriad Realms at his back, he couldn’t guarantee reaching the Thirteenth Rank—but peak Chaos Realm? He had a solid shot. It was just a matter of time.
All he needed now was to finish refining body and soul to step into Dominance.
And he’d already completed most requirements for Chaos. The Source World boosted his comprehension immensely.
Crossing into Chaos was no challenge.
As for peak Chaos Realm? It would come with full mastery over chaos laws. Lin Yuan had already found a direction within the Source World.
In short, the path from Path-Clearing to peak Chaos Realm was already visible to him.
So this condition—was actually not favorable.
“One task every ten eras? Does that include anything? Even suicidal missions?”
He asked.
“What, you think I’d send you to your death? Rest assured. You’ll be compensated.”
The Eye replied.
“And if you fail, you won’t be forced to continue.”
It added.
If Lin Yuan truly reached peak Chaos Realm, the Eye had no intention of forcing him.
Lin Yuan began weighing the deal.
Being paid was acceptable—he didn’t mind work, just wasted effort.
If he failed a mission and lost a soul clone, that was tolerable.
And one task every ten cosmic eras? Given his current age—even including time spent crossing realms—he hadn’t lived ten thousand years. Ten eras was incredibly long.
“Fine.”
Lin Yuan thought it over and nodded.
“Good.”
The Eye nodded slightly.
To gain a future Chaos Great Saint’s promise just for spreading his path—Myriad Dao Pavilion would never lose on this deal.
“Let’s begin.”
As it spoke, a golden scroll appeared before it.
Strange characters formed on its surface. Though Lin Yuan didn’t recognize them, he understood their meaning at a glance.
It was the exact condition the Eye had proposed.
Myriad Dao Pavilion would help spread his path, and in return, once he reached peak Chaos Realm, he’d complete one task every ten cosmic eras.
The scroll listed all restrictions: no coercion, compensation required, and more.
Lin Yuan read it carefully several times.
“If everything’s in order, imprint a wisp of your soul on it.”
The Eye instructed.
The terms could not be violated. Even peak Chaos beings who tried would be severely wounded and lose their shot at the Thirteenth Rank.
As long as Lin Yuan imprinted his soul, the Eye would be satisfied.
“Wait.”
Lin Yuan paused.
“Myriad Dao Pavilion spreading my path—are there limits? Is it just one branch?”
If it only spread the Martial Path of Life and Death, the agreement seemed too costly.
One branch might produce a single Twelfth-Rank being—not enough of an anchor.
“Of course not.”
The Eye shook its head.
“If it were, I’d have said so in the scroll.”
“If you create new branches as you advance, Myriad Dao Pavilion can spread those as well.”
It added.
“Good.”
Lin Yuan relaxed.
“Actually, I already have a few more evolution path branches.”
“Oh?”
The Eye looked at him.
He had more branches?
A few?
...
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