Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit

On this day.

Chen Jichuan quietly returned to Wuhe Star.

"It has been a long time."

Returning to Wuhe Star, which he hadn't set foot on in years, Chen Jichuan felt a surge of emotions.

Looking back on his life, spanning a total of 8,363 years, he had actually lived for 4,982 years.

It could truly be called long.

His homeland in his previous life had a recorded history of only 5,000 years.

Chen Jichuan's present life had already far exceeded that.

The stars shift.

Billions shine brightly.

Chen Jichuan had witnessed too much, experienced too much, and gained too much.

The peak of Divinity Transformation.

Mastery in four absolute skills.

Tremendous harvests.

Even now, though the path ahead seemed to end, he still had the option of soldier dissolution and becoming an Independent Immortal.

"Soldier dissolution."

"When the limit of one's lifespan arrives, it is one of the hardest tribulations under heaven. Cultivators who know there's no way to extend their lives willingly destroy their physical bodies to preserve their Primordial Spirits, thus escaping the restrictions of lifespan and becoming Independent Immortals."

"But Independent Immortals ultimately seize fortune in defiance of heavenly laws, so the heavens send down calamities specific to them. If they fail to overcome these tribulations, they still will die."

"And yet, heaven leaves a sliver of hope in its workings."

"If one can overcome twelve cycles of Independent Immortal tribulations, their physical body can be restored, allowing them to return to the mortal realm."

"For great powers of the Fourth Realm of Divinity Transformation who find themselves at the end of the road and unwilling to reincarnate, this becomes their final path."

Chen Jichuan had long understood soldier dissolution inside and out.

In recent years.

During his leisure moments, he often considered the road ahead.

When interacting with great Independent Immortals in the starry sky, he frequently asked deeply about the twists and turns of the Independent Immortal path, its advantages and disadvantages, understanding it perfectly.

After much deliberation.

Seeing the limit of his lifespan approach, watching his Dao still unable to break through, stuck at the peak of Divinity Transformation.

Chen Jichuan made his decision—

"Soldier dissolution!"

"I will become an Independent Immortal!"

Independent Immortals face heavenly tribulations, always needing vigilance, progressing moment by moment. Every thousand years sees a new cycle of tribulations testing them. To embark on this path would undoubtedly help Chen Jichuan's cultivation and his eventual breakthrough to the Fourth-order.

"If I can overcome the tenth tribulation, my realm will already be on par with Fourth-order powers."

"Ordinary Independent Immortals worry about failing the eleventh and twelfth tribulations, because once they embark on the Independent Immortal path, unless they fulfill their tribulations completely, it is nearly impossible to return to the righteous path."

"But I am different."

"As long as I surpass the tenth tribulation, whether I live or die, I can reincarnate, and return to the righteous path."

"With the Daoist realm of a Ten Tribulations Independent Immortal, I will no longer be stuck at the peak of Divinity Transformation and can easily break through."

"While the Independent Immortal path consumes time, it can also be considered a roundabout way to achieve the ultimate goal!"

Chen Jichuan had thought it through clearly.

Now the only concern left was—

"In my current condition, can I still dissolve my soldier essence smoothly and transition into an Independent Immortal?"

Chen Jichuan's figure flickered as he stood.

He now appeared astonishingly aged, his hair entirely gray, hands emaciated, resembling an old man near the end of his life.

Even more unsettling was—

Green hair grew densely across his body!

"Covered in green hair."

"An ill omen in old age."

Chen Jichuan sighed deeply.

There was no doubt that his life had entered its twilight. In fact, as far back as a century ago, he had been feeling increasingly powerless, with green hair gradually growing across his body.

This was neither poison nor illness, but karma.

It was the accumulated consequences and sins from the countless times he had cursed and slain Divinity Transformation practitioners and Independent Immortals across the starry sky.

Although he had exercised restraint each time, ensuring his lifespan wasn't shortened, with only minor losses to his Primordial Qi.

Nonetheless, he had sowed seeds of suffering.

Now in his old age, they had finally blossomed.

"Sin accumulated, karma entangled."

"Curses, after all, are not the righteous path. Over the years, I have cursed and slain Nine Tribulations and Ten Tribulations Independent Immortals, leaving numerous hidden dangers unresolved."

"Now they've come to haunt me, likely preventing even soldier dissolution."

Chen Jichuan's thoughts stirred, though his actions were swift—

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Metallic sword cries erupted as swords descended from the heavens.

A seven-foot sword light pierced through the top of his skull. Chen Jichuan grasped the sword and ended his own life without resistance. The blade ran through, and the Sword Qi roamed destructively, reducing his mortal body to ashes, obliterating even the tiniest particles.

Erased completely.

All his Mana funneled inward, Primordial Qi preserved, and his Primordial Spirit remained in the world, continuing to transform and strengthen.

In this state.

Once his Primordial Spirit absorbed enough Mana and Primordial Qi, the first round of Independent Immortal tribulations would manifest.

Survive it, and he would become a First Tribulation Independent Immortal.

The Independent Immortal path begins here.

Typically, cultivators who reach the Fourth Realm of Divinity Transformation, qualified for soldier dissolution, rarely struggle with the first Independent Immortal tribulation.

Unless unlucky.

For instance, if someone was forced into soldier dissolution by having their mortal body destroyed by another. In such cases, the Primordial Spirit might be damaged, and tribulations could descend abruptly, the success of survival hinging on fate.

Chen Jichuan's name shook the stars, and no one dared provoke him, sparing him this concern.

But he faced another difficulty.

"Karma entangled, with no physical body to shield it, directly binding to my Primordial Spirit."

Chen Jichuan felt the heaviness weighing on his Primordial Spirit, sensed the binding karma pulling him, dragging him toward Abyss Hell and Nine Netherworld Reincarnation.

The pulling force was overwhelming, and resistance was futile.

"This won't do!"

"I can't hold on!"

Chen Jichuan stopped forcing his resistance. Seizing the moment before his consciousness completely faded and before plunging into the Underworld, he channeled all his cultivation into deducing the "Xuanwu Black Water Scripture".

Successive progress.

Successive progress.

Successive progress.

...

Chen Jichuan's cultivation rapidly declined as the deducing progress surged forward at a remarkable pace.

By the time his cultivation reached the bottom.

The deduction had achieved its tenth iteration and advanced to 20% completion.

"Just a little more!"

Chen Jichuan's final thought emerged before he sank into an endless darkness.

...

In the real world.

Dragon Scale Domain.

Seven Emotions Marsh.

Chen Jichuan opened his eyes. A glimpse of ancient years flashed within them, adding a layer of mystique to his aura, which carried an additional weight of time.

"One lifetime!"

"It's over again!"

Chen Jichuan sighed inwardly.

Over 8,000 years of existence, nearly 5,000 years spent cultivating.

Even in the real world.

This lifetime, spanning from beginning to end, lasted twenty years, eleven months, and twenty-seven days.

From a young man of twenty-nine.

To a fifty-year-old middle-aged man in the blink of an eye.

Time cuts like a blade.

Only in looking back does one realize the sharpness of its edge.

After spending so many years in the Starry Sky World, having it abruptly end evoked a sense of loss and melancholy, difficult to let go.

But fortunately—

"A hundred years later, I'll be a hero again!"

"This lifetime hasn't allowed me to break through to the Fourth-order or dissolve into an Independent Immortal, but the next life offers another chance."

"I have left behind 'Qilin Treasure Medicine' and the wealth of Wuhe Immortal Sect, cultivated for years in the Starry Sky World. When I live again a century later, I will quickly return to the peak of Divinity Transformation within a very short time."

"A hundred years to reach Divinity Transformation is no mere dream."

"After that, I'll have nearly five thousand years to seek breakthrough. If I'm still unsuccessful, I'll have the Independent Immortal path as fallback."

"I don't need to aim for the eleventh or twelfth tribulations; achieving ten tribulations will be sufficient."

"One way or another, breakthrough will be inevitable!"

Chen Jichuan held unwavering confidence and anticipation for his next life.

Though just recently deceased and having failed to condense his Dao Fruit, the next life required him to forge a new identity, including spending a hundred years in the Dao Fruit World.

That equates to three months in the real world.

Chen Jichuan could bear such a wait.

Having not condensed a Dao Fruit, he no longer paid attention to the 'Immortal Record' interface, instead summarizing his achievements in this lifetime—

"Cultivation: Peak of Divinity Transformation."

"Alchemy: Third-order peak."

"Artifact Refining: Third-order middle-upper."

"Talisman Making: Third-order middle-lower."

"Array Formation: Third-order upper."

"Cultivation Techniques: Three true sect-level techniques, one quasi-true sect-level technique."

"Magic: Specialized in twenty-six super-level techniques, all reaching the fifth layer, among which 'Wind Thunder All Heavens Great Escape' showed the deepest attainment. After reaching the fifth layer, it underwent a thousand rounds of Enlightenment, equivalent to ten thousand years of cultivation, nearly touching the sixth layer."

Cultivation.

Skill.

Cultivation Techniques.

Magic.

These were the four most vital aspects for a cultivator, and he had made immense progress in all.

When viewed individually, the results were subtle.

But compared to the time when the Central Continent World had ended, the progress was astonishing.

"At the end of the Central Continent World—"

"Cultivation: Peak of Enlightenment."

"Skills: Alchemy and Artifact Refining just beginning the Third-order, no involvement in talisman formation or arrays."

"Cultivation Techniques: Only one true sect-level technique, "White Tiger Sword Prison Scripture"."

"Magic: Specialized in twenty-two super-level techniques, highest at the fourth realm."

In comparison.

The progress and achievements of this lifetime were extraordinary.

"These accomplishments in my lifetime stem first from my diligence and perseverance, cultivating fervently without a single day of laziness."

"Second, they rely on various strokes of fortune."

"Be it the 'Immortal Vine Fruit' obtained while still on Wuhe Star or the inheritance of the Nine Peak Daoist. Without the 'Immortal Vine Fruit,' I might have been delayed for decades, even centuries, before advancing to Divinity Transformation. Without the inheritance of Nine Peak Daoist, even after reaching Divinity Transformation, without guidance from the star maps, or without the aid of the 'Universe Spirit Shuttle,' I might have wandered aimlessly for centuries or millennia before finally reaching Magic Sound Mountain, costing immeasurable time."

"Then there is the Sumeru Immortal Sect."

"As well as other varying opportunities."

"Most notably, the 'Qilin Treasure Medicine' of Qilin Mountain, which proved invaluable. Without the 'Qilin Treasure Medicine,' this lifetime might have seen me stuck at the Third Realm of Divinity Transformation, hardly advancing to the Fourth Realm, let alone reaching the peak of Divinity Transformation."

"Because of the Qilin Mountain encounter, I obtained two stalks of 'Qilin Treasure Medicine.' Not only did they grant me swift achievement of the peak of Divinity Transformation, but one remains preserved for the next life, allowing swift rise once again. A single opportunity yielding prosperity across two lifetimes."

"It was certainly worth the camaraderie shared with Xiao Lan!"

Thinking about these fortunes, Xiao Lan always came to mind.

Whether the Immortal Vine Fruit, the Nine Peak Daoist, the Sumeru Immortal Sect, or the Qilin Treasure Medicine, all were connected to Xiao Lan.

The Immortal Vine Fruit was obtained through a hint relayed from Gan Chen, who had been kept within Xiao Lan's Fire Phoenix Ring.

The Sumeru Immortal Sect.

The Qilin Treasure Medicine.

All were due to Xiao Lan's presence and invitation, leading him along and allowing him to harvest countless benefits.

In the Qilin Mountain confrontation, Xiao Lan was undoubtedly the leading force.

Without her restraining Mo Yanzhen, without her wielding the 'Ten Thousand Demon List,' Chen Jichuan would never have secured the 'Qilin Treasure Medicine.'

"I knew it all along!"

"Following individuals blessed like her could never go wrong!"

In the first half of this lifetime, Chen Jichuan had been looked down on and disrespected by figures like the Ten Star Lords, who believed him dependent on Xiao Lan, labeling him as a man who lived off a woman's fortune."

Chen Jichuan endured the indignity.

While Xiao Lan ascended to greater heights, he didn't get to seize her Dao Fruit.

But just by riding alongside her during the first half of her time, his cultivation years were shortened by several millennia.

When Xiao Lan departed, Chen Jichuan began his rise.

The Ten Star Lords who once held him in contempt perished at the hands of this 'soft-spoken,' 'dependent man.'

For over two millennia following, Chen Jichuan built connections with numerous allies, his reputation spreading throughout the Golden River Domain.

The early years of humiliation.

The later years of prominence.

Everything had proven worthwhile.

Even though this lifetime hadn't resulted in condensing his Dao Fruit, the path laid for his next life was a road to glory.

"In my next life, the Fourth-order is within sight!"

Chen Jichuan reflected upon his achievements and summarized them, his joy growing ever fuller, filling his heart.

After a long while.

He suppressed the joy and stepped out of the cave abode.

...