The Abyssal Garden: No Room for the Idle

"From that era to now, countless people have probably entered this place,"

"Then, how many have succeeded?"

"…Without exception, they all failed."

"I understand."

It watched as Su Qi picked up a brush and approached, not uttering a word, whereas before it would only guide from the shadows.

But as time went on, it would even make contact with outsiders, exchanging information.

Due to so many failures, so many people decaying here, it was enough to make it feel an endless darkness and confusion.

No one could completely outline this single character, because each stroke revealed an infinite path.

Only by completely rendering this character would one be deemed worthy to inherit… the Immortal Path!

But since ancient times, hardly anyone has completed this impossible trial; many would collapse mentally, get lost, or go mad upon merely touching the brush to the surface.

This included countless cultivators and great powers.

The reason it felt such confusion here was because it had not yet told the young man in front of it a certain fact.

From all of history, only one had achieved this… the White-haired Elder who led the entire world of the Immortal Path.

The chance of encountering a successor who could compare to such a world-opening figure was as negligible as a speck of dust in the Star River.

"To be honest, I can sense the numbness of your heart."

Su Qi spoke gently, "But as the Sect Hierarch of The Hustlers, I want to tell you a principle."

He steadied his brush and pressed it onto the surface.

"No matter how many people fall off the narrow bridge, there will always be some who stride across like a shooting star."

The next moment.

The brush sunk three parts into the wood, moving along the stroke, absorbing massive amounts of Spiritual Energy, leaving ink behind and a glimmer of light began to emerge with the birth of the strokes!

The entire piece contained hundreds of characters.

Not many, yet not few, every character was exceedingly difficult, carrying an endless Cultivation Rhythm's oppression.

But the next moment.

It widened its eyes! Shock filled its gaze!

The Daoist Scripture of [Enlightenment] was rising inch by inch, emitting strands of peculiar aura!

"What's happening!"

It had never seen anyone outline and copy so smoothly, so successfully.

Moreover.

Without the slightest pause, this youth's Cultivation Heart? So incredibly firm!?

Torrents of Cultivation Rhythm mixed with endless pressure assaulted Su Qi, but Su Qi… simply watched calmly.

What is a firm Cultivation Heart?

Su Qi was simply accustomed to it, his mind unrippled.

Since entering the instance, he had lived in close quarters with the Evil God's Strength day and night and his spiritual power had been soaring every moment, eventually integrating it into himself upon entering the sequence.

Especially when the Evil God's strength began to surge violently, although he had not mentioned it… even without the surges, the Evil God's most terrifying mental oppression incessantly hammered his consciousness every second.

Fortunately, Su Qi was naturally optimistic, coupled with a will far stronger than ordinary people, he was not only unaffected but also quite cheerful.

However.

This had allowed Su Qi to develop an unimaginably stable spirit.

This was what the Tomb Guardian called the Cultivation Heart.

The Guardian watched as Su Qi effortlessly brought the character halfway to completion, shaking and disbelieving.

This thing… is it so easy to write? Many people needed an entire hour to write even one character, and after a few more, they'd be half dead.

And this guy, he was… simply going wild with writing!

The Daoist Scripture in Su Qi's hands kept flickering into life, all the Cultivation Rhythm within it furiously attacking him.

However.

It still couldn't shake Su Qi in the slightest, the more he engraved, outlined, the more the pleasure in his eyes was involuntarily released!

The Guardian watched this scene, even more bewildered!

What is this!

This guy even had his own momentum, even the Cultivation Rhythm within the Daoist Scripture was cooperating with him!

With every character completed of the hundred in the piece, it would provoke violent tremors in the Immortal Path Stele and even the ground itself shook intensely!

The patterns connecting to the Galaxy Mansion also flickered along!

Su Qi was unfazed, totally absorbed in the process as his spiritual power floated freely, connecting with an abundance of Cultivation Rhythm, even the power of the Evil God collided with it!

He hadn't even noticed!

As he outlined the final nine, separate characters of the Daoist Scripture, each character he wrote quietly shed its golden glow, blending into his body.

Meanwhile, in another place.

The originally empty and severed section at the Seventh Rank of the Path of Series, beneath the integration of each character, slowly stretched out a sequence path... linked to the endless Darkness.

After finishing the entire script.

Su Qi slowly came back to his senses, somewhat reluctantly setting down the brush, gazing at the shimmering Daoist Scripture before him.

He clicked his tongue softly, "This is the Sect Hierarch's calligraphy, bold and vigorous, grand and bold, though somewhat in wild cursive, it possesses a unique charm amidst the Chaotic order."

"Guardian Elder, what do you think?"

His question, however, received no response.

Su Qi slightly lifted his head and saw a shadow standing still in place, motionless; since he couldn't see its face, he could only sense it trembling ever so slightly.

Murming two words:

"Success."

"After countless years, it has finally succeeded!"

It looked around, the Immortal Path Stele connected with a multitude of residences in the Star River, as if illuminating the Star River itself, the Star River was subtly recovering some vitality! The reflected light shone in harmony with the "Enlightenment" character on the Immortal Path Stele!

It shuddered looking at this scene.

"The Immortal Path Stele finally has... hope of revival!"

"Although I know you're excited, but buddy..." Su Qi paused, looking at the Immortal Path Stele in front of him which was shaking violently, with fragments falling off ceaselessly.

"I have a feeling... the Immortal Path Stele is about to shatter."

As if his words were prophetic!

The next moment.

The Immortal Path Stele actually began to crack inch by inch, a torrent of brilliance bursting forth!

It saw this as well but did not panic, instead, it placed its hand on Su Qi's shoulder:

"The Immortal Path has now found its successor and all here is no longer sealed, there is hope and liberation at hand."

"And I... am no longer the Tomb Guardian."

Su Qi asked, "So what now, will you coexist with this place, or change professions?"

It was silent for a while, still shocked, but it seemed to realize that the guy before it talked a bit too much.

However.

That wasn't important.

Its tone became solemn, "Sir, may I ask for your name?"

Su Qi, "I am the Sect Hierarch of The Hustlers Sect, Su Buxian."

"Very well." It nodded lightly, pressing its hand on Su Qi's shoulder as everything around them began to crumble.

"Su Buxian, you are no longer an ordinary person as of this moment, you are the successor of the Immortal Path." Its Soul Fire burned rapidly, "And I... Luo Shenfu, swear upon the Immortal Path, from now on, will be your Daoist Guardian."

Its soul connected with the patterns of the Star River, as if to attest to the vow it had just voiced.

The next moment.

It opened a portal, taking Su Qi out!

Su Qi's figure slowly appeared back in the original world; he finally saw fresh colors again, inhaled fresh air.

And squinting his eyes, he looked at the fallen brush beside him, and... a ring on his finger.

"Brother Luo?"

The ring flickered with a soft light:

It spoke, "Daoist Su, I am currently but a wisp of Soul Fire, and can only reside in this form here..."

"Daoist Su?" Su Qi mused to himself, "Another layer of identity added."

"By the way, the guardian from just now was..."

It softly said, "We didn't have much time just now, no chance to explain, but from the moment you inherited the Immortal Path, I will assist you with all my strength, guiding your growth and protection, against all who endanger your life."

Su Qi paused.

The power of the Evil God in his Spiritual Eyes flickered slightly, a restless curse floated along his arm, Chaotic signs crawled in the Dark Star, and numerous traces of lethal intent locked onto him.

He quirkily said, "You sure about this?"

"Of course, it is the vow I have made to the Immortal Path, a mission engraved upon my soul," Luo Shenfu replied gravely.

Su Qi showed a pleased smile, "That's great, congratulations, and welcome to The Hustlers Sect."