The moment Wu Tao returned to the Kyushu cultivation world, before he could savor his joy, he received shocking news from Feng Junyi: a part of his memories was missing.
For Wu Tao, who had reached the pinnacle of the cultivation world, ruled a cultivation realm, and become an Immortal Emperor, this was an unfathomable jest. Yet, his racing heart, the tremor in his soul, and the physical anomalies clearly told him this enormous jest was the truth. It implied that his centuries of effort, his entire life, had been manipulated.
The impact was immense, the irony profound. Even for someone of Wu Tao's disposition, it was too much to accept immediately.
Wu Tao roared to the heavens, his powerful time laws rampaging, destroying everything within tens of thousands of miles—humans, beasts, trees, and grass alike were utterly annihilated. With reddened eyes, wielding his Chuxi Sword, Wu Tao single-handedly challenged and destroyed three major tribes of the Wolfmen, Tianpeng, and Yellow Lions. After dyeing the vast grassland red with blood, he regained a sliver of his sanity.
Gradually calming his mind, Wu Tao began to recall everything that had happened over the past few centuries with all his might. Event after event replayed in his mind. He meticulously scrutinized every fortuitous encounter that had led to his rise. Honestly, the primary reason for his ascent to the peak of the cultivation world, overlooking all others, was these opportunities.
Wu Tao's life was thirty percent his own effort, but over seventy percent was built upon the foundation of these fortunate encounters. On the path of seeking immortality, Wu Tao had strived diligently, exceeding ordinary effort. However, there were many in this world who worked as hard as, or even harder than, Wu Tao, yet they did not achieve his level of success.
The best example was his friend Long Ao Potian. In terms of will, talent, or any other aspect, he was no less than Wu Tao, yet his ultimate achievement fell short. It was true that Long Ao Potian's hundreds of years of effort, reaching the early Nascent Soul stage, placed him above many; he was a significant figure. But the gap between the Nascent Soul and the Violet Palace stages was unimaginable, and the reason for such a vast disparity between Wu Tao and Long Ao Potian was precisely the fortuitous encounters Wu Tao had obtained.
Of course, however important these opportunities were, they were far less significant to Wu Tao than his own will. What was the point of achieving glorious accomplishments, even with the adoration of millions, if one could not live life according to their own desires? Regardless of one's achievements, they were merely a noble-looking puppet. For Wu Tao, even if an opportunity was truly crucial, he would ruthlessly destroy it if he discovered it influencing his will.
Through Wu Tao's repeated examination, he did indeed find some issues. The Twelve Heavens Buddhist Beads, the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow, the Sixth-Grade Golden Lotus, and other items were fine. However, the greatest opportunity of his life, the Source of Time, was problematic, and gravely so. Although the Source of Time was his life's most significant fortune, at some unknown point, it had subtly sealed away a crucial part of his memories. This was why Wu Tao had forgotten so many things, including the woman represented by that name.
Upon discovering the anomaly in the Source of Time, Wu Tao's eyes flashed with cold light. Without hesitation, he plunged his right hand into his chest, enduring piercing pain, and forcefully extracted the Source of Time, which had already merged with his body. Then, ignoring his bleeding orifices, Wu Tao crushed the cracked Source of Time. As he watched the fragments scatter, not a trace of reluctance appeared on his face. Wiping the blood from his lips, Wu Tao's eyes revealed an unprecedented ferocity.
What if it was a heavenly opportunity? What if it was essential for the Spirit Transformation stage? What if everyone desired it? My life is mine to control. No one, no thing, can dictate my will.
Just as Wu Tao was about to suppress the time laws swirling within him, his expression changed drastically. A memory suddenly appeared in his mind, not very long, but very sweet. At his current realm, a mere memory had little impact, virtually negligible. Conversely, the backlash from forcefully extracting the Source of Time, if not handled properly, could ruin Wu Tao's centuries of hard cultivation. Yet, Wu Tao stood there, completely disregarding the pros and cons, slowly savoring this not-so-long, but sweet memory.
The past flashed before his eyes like a fast-forwarded movie. From their first meeting, to their understanding, to their love... As a child, he never understood why elders would lean against a tree, staring blankly at the sun for an entire day. Only after experiencing it himself did he understand. The elders weren't watching the sun; they were using it as a vessel for their thoughts, seeing their beloved person in the sun. All that could be seen was memory, all that was thought of was the past. Each fleeting memory was as precious as golden sand, a lifetime of past events, never to return.
Coughing up large mouthfuls of blood, Wu Tao felt no physical pain, because heartache was ten thousand times worse, perhaps more. After barely stabilizing his injuries, Wu Tao transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the vast grassland. He was now heading towards Qingzhou at top speed.
As he flew, Wu Tao harbored a fantasy: perhaps Xu Sheng was still waiting for him in that place where peach blossoms bloomed. Centuries for mortals meant countless cycles of reincarnation, but for cultivators, it wasn't an excessively long time. Moreover, Feng Junyi had not revealed Xu Sheng's fate, giving Wu Tao hope. However, things rarely go as planned in this world; many outcomes end in tragedy. The reason Feng Junyi had not told Wu Tao about Xu Sheng was out of fear that Wu Tao, in his rage, would kill them on the spot. This was not an impossible scenario; even Wu Tao himself wasn't sure if he would act.
When Wu Tao arrived at the Taiyi Immortal Sect with all his might, he found no person, but a grave. According to Taiyi Immortal Sect rules, disciples who died without family to claim their bodies were buried in a dedicated cemetery. Originally, Xu Sheng, as the eldest daughter of the Xu family, would not have been buried in the Taiyi Immortal Sect's graveyard. However, due to certain events back then, the Xu family had disowned Xu Sheng, even stripping her from their lineage. This showed the tremendous price she paid for love. Tragically, fate is unpredictable. After so many events, Xu Sheng ultimately passed away with deep love and regret.
The Taiyi Immortal Sect's graveyard contained many tombs. Although somewhat dilapidated, they were clearly tended to regularly. A simple earthen mound bore a tombstone carved from Yin Feng wood, clearly inscribed with the characters "Xu Sheng." Upon seeing those two characters, Wu Tao trembled, collapsing to the ground, tears welling up in his eyes. Buried within was his lover, one of the closest people in his life, and the one he had wronged the most. Xu Sheng had passed away many years ago. Perhaps due to the burden in her heart, she never broke through to the Core Formation stage. After two hundred years of devotedly waiting for Wu Tao, she finally faded away. Xu Sheng had never married, yet Wu Tao had forgotten her. Although it wasn't voluntary, in this world, who was entirely blameless?
As Wu Tao was plunged into despair, after an unknown period, the news of a Violet Palace stage cultivator breaking into the Taiyi Immortal Sect caused an uproar throughout the Kyushu cultivation world. This news spread like wildfire, shaking Kyushu, even causing major ruling powers to express shock. The peerless prodigy Wu Tao had returned, and as a Violet Palace stage cultivator. A bolt from the blue, resounding across all directions! Undeniably, this was a seismic event, capable of influencing countless affairs. From Xuzhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, Qingzhou, Yangzhou, Jingzhou, Liangzhou, Yongzhou, and Yuzhou, the entire Kyushu was in turmoil due to this news. The emergence of an unknown Violet Palace stage cultivator at Taiyi Immortal Sect became an unspoken storm that swept across Kyushu, altering the objectives of many sect leaders. Especially the Taiyi Immortal Sect's old neighbor, the Heavenly Demon Sect, which felt as if facing a formidable enemy. Their sect defense was on high alert at all times, fearing Wu Tao and Taiyi Immortal Sect would join forces and destroy them! Whether they knew Wu Tao or not, everyone began to act because of his reappearance.
Wu Tao knelt before Xu Sheng's grave for ten days and ten nights. During this time, many from the Taiyi Immortal Sect came to visit him, including the sect's ancestor, Zhu Hongshen. Facing Zhu Hongshen's seemingly genuine yet subtly calculating invitation, Wu Tao firmly shook his head. Wu Tao could see that after his refusal, Zhu Hongshen was simultaneously disappointed and relieved. Others were also dismissed by Wu Tao.
After an indeterminate amount of time, when Wu Tao finally stood up again, observed by many in secret, he walked around the Taiyi Immortal Sect as if he were an ordinary mortal, step by step, completing a full circle. The Xu family, who had once expelled Xu Sheng from their lineage, now joyfully welcomed back her memorial tablet, adding her name to their genealogy once more!
Wu Tao's path of cultivation began here. In other words, Taiyi Immortal Sect was the origin of everything.