Chapter 527 One Can't Exist without the Other

Ji Xiang, the incarnation of the Eternal Heavenly Sovereign, sits in a lasting meditation within the Mystery Elephant. With every movement and thought, it seems as if countless years have passed, yet it also feels like nothing has ever begun. The realm of endlessness and eternity is elevated to an unimaginable height.
With that majestic voice falling, countless dust was stirred up, enveloping the immortal shadows tightly within the profound manifestation, rendering him unable to break free.
"Emptiness unfolds!"
As the immortal shadows had stated, the profound manifestation had existed in the primordial void long before the beginning of time, a hidden and yet actual entity. It is not known who gave birth to it, but it existed even before the formation of all things' principles.
But the visual image is also an image, it is manifested in the world but not seen by the world, it is something that appeared even earlier than the original image, but the image presents a certain "reason".
To see the mysterious image is to unveil the true essence of the Tao, which is always present within the enigmatic image, invisible to mortal eyes yet eternally enduring. It seems to manifest as a lower form of the mysterious image, forming an immortal and everlasting spectacle.
For those who follow a virtuous and healthy lifestyle, they eliminate the state of death, resolve conflicts, and live in harmony with others, blending with the ordinary world and aligning with the mysterious Dao!
The mysterious image is the external manifestation of the true Dao. Those who grasp the truth it contains gain the everlasting power of the true Dao, thus standing before the myriad of appearances and attaining the status of an image emperor.
Jixiang opens her palm, and countless dust particles disperse and separate from the immortal shadows that have been assimilated into the "pictograms," gradually transforming into empty voids, returning this place to its original appearance in the realm of causality. Everything returns to simplicity and truth.
The immortal shadow struggles and twists within the illusion of mystery. He gazes blankly at that profound and distant realm, where the outline of the beginningless and endless Heavenly Venerable has become incredibly clear. This state is in harmony with the Dao Xuan. At this moment, within the mind of the immortal shadow, long-standing memories rise up, yet continuously intertwine with the present reality.
That is exactly the realm I have been pursuing.
"I will not be easily erased, even if there are endless and eternal years, they will never annihilate me."
"Even if I no longer have the power I once had, you are far from the person who can extinguish me."
The immortal shadow knows that this time's battle will not be easily won.
Originally, this should have been a simple matter.
But there always seems to be a problem at the end.
"Perhaps, it is not always a problem that arises at the end, but rather, I was waiting for such an existence. This is a mutual support and a cycle of creation and destruction."
As physical strength diminishes, all things prosper and decline. Now, the appearance of the greatest individual signifies their extreme difficulty to be defeated. Only at this moment can one fully awaken, for the other rulers of the elephants are insufficient to awaken oneself, and the power they provide is inadequate to completely defeat any of the elephant kings.
Only the being that surpasses the Lord of Elephants but does not rise to the level of the Formless can possess the power to defeat the Lord of Elephants. However, this becomes a fallacy, as if the opponent has already surpassed the Lord of Elephants, it means they are far superior to oneself in the present moment.
How much of the past laws and ways can we rely on, only clinging to the lingering hope in the remnants? How much of the past laws and ways does our own thinking retain as it is reborn from within the thoughts?
"I am the pinnacle of the world, and it is impossible for you to defeat me."
The immortal shadow exhaled a breath and released all his thoughts. From one thought, myriad thoughts were born. In an instant, he transformed into countless phenomena and fused them into the immortal flower. He self-generated and continuously elevated his own level, becoming boundless even within the mysterious realm. Even though the mysterious realm was an endless abyss of darkness, he shone within it like a brilliant flame, illuminating countless dark edges.
"Borrowed methods manifest the image!"
"Endless eternity!"
The immortal shadow closed his eyes and reflected the other side of his existence. The traces left by the few beings he had fought against were transformed and created in the ever-changing universe. As a result, Ji Xiang saw the virtual image of a white-haired boy appear, transforming into a colossal mountain that lifted the entire Xuanxiang, intending to forcefully expand it!
"Similar to the mystery, before the beginning of time."
"Able to shake the mystery, Ji Xiang sensed this illusion created by the immortal shadow, possessing a power similar to the mystery, existing before everything."
But it's just an illusion.
The hands of the eternal heavenly sovereign rotated, and the power of the profound image was once again guided. At the same time, Ji Xiang used the supreme technique.
The unbeatable supreme!
Both the profound image and the unbeatable supreme pressed down simultaneously, and that illusion was instantly suppressed and disappeared, ultimately unable to surpass the profound image and reach the true beginning.
"Borrowing, this is someone else's method, not yours."
As Ji Xiang's voice fell, the Immortal Shadow countered, "The Ten Thousand Phenomena are originally mine, I just recast the past scenes, naturally transforming into my power, my 'Manifestation' method!"
"Amazing scenery!"
Ji Xiang took action and unleashed the unparalleled divine power obtained from the Nine Nether Heavenly Sovereign, engulfing all the illusory images created by the continued creation of the Undying Immortal Shadow in darkness. Without the image, everything ceased to manifest externally, becoming a secret that cannot be spoken of or praised.
Removing those illusions, the immortal shadow shook its head. Among the distorted elephant-shaped entities on its body, one rose up - it was the residual entity left by the Nine Nether Punishment Celestial. The immortal shadow activated this residual entity and gradually extracted the divine power that was evolved by the princess elephant.
"The supreme divine power needs to be manifested externally, naturally requiring a process of manifestation. The Nine Nether Celestial Lord is also a disciple of the Yuqing sect. Although he has ascended to the Xuan realm and left, his residual image is still with me. I can mobilize his immense power to remove the process of manifesting and evolving your divine power, so you will not be able to display this type of divine power anymore."
"Your spells are becoming fewer and fewer, even in the mysterious vision!"
The Immortal Shadow is determined to wear down Xiang Xiang alive, even if Xiang Xiang has various astonishing spells, there will eventually come a day when they are exhausted. By severing Xiang Xiang's "Unique Scenery" divine ability now, he will no longer be able to affect himself in any way.
"You claim to have existed before the binding of the Ten Thousand Laws as the first Emperor of Xiang, but if you want to fight me, you must bring forth your laws after the birth of the Emperor of Xiang! And this is my domain, where you cannot possibly defeat me."
姬象却也摇摇头：
"You want to exhaust me, even if it takes endless ages, because you have also obtained my residual image and have experienced a fleeting but complete existence. Therefore, you naturally possess the power of endlessness and are not afraid of the long years and changes of time."
“但你说，我不能胜你，这不能苟同，事实上，你已经败了。”
不死仙影疑惑不解，但姬象并没有继续解释，因为接下来，那些大象之主的力量全部二次扭曲，被封印的法也重新出现，显象在外。
Extraordinary scenery, its external 'form' has been drawn away, but it reappears once again.
The immortal shadow is greatly shocked, and Jixiang speaks:
"I don't know what is the pinnacle of the world, but at this moment, I am in accord with Daoxuan, and all things are born from the mysterious form. You still cannot understand what the mysterious form is."
"Why can you manifest yourself, why can you cast spells, why can you be resurrected from the dead with just a thought? All of this is made possible by the reflection of the mysterious image. Therefore, everything about you, even the entire universe, is under the influence of the mysterious image. Do you still want to contend against the mysterious image?"
"After you became the successor of the Elephant Emperor, you thought you controlled everything, and that you were the Elephant Emperor. No, after becoming the successor of the Elephant Emperor, you are still just a part of the world encompassed by the Profound Elephant!"
"Don't you feel it yet?"
Ji Xiang said, and at this moment, a sense of emptiness and powerlessness from before time gradually swept in. The light and fire on the immortal shadow's body flickered, and the external lights and fires, manifested in those "elephants" outside, all began to disappear, turning into dust. The immortal shadow suddenly awakened, only now realizing what the first method used by Ji Xiang was for. He struggled desperately, knowing what was about to happen next, but still using the power of endlessness borrowed from Ji Xiang.
Everything starts to return to simplicity, because everything has the shadow of mystery.
Just as one discerns the master of the elephants, acquiring their residual image, even though one is a visitor from the other side, one relies on these residual images, as well as the mist of countless old times and the flames of sentient beings' aspirations.
So, I am also included by the mysterious figure.
"A ring! A big ring, enclosing my small ring."
The immortal shadow seemed to recall some terrible things from the past, and despair arose in his heart.
"I have enlightened countless elephant masters, with a pure flower blooming in the remnants of their old bodies. I thought I had severed everything, but I know... my attachment still lingers, and I can't cut off its source."
"Delusion.... Everyone has fantasies, and seekers of the Dao are more susceptible to entering delusion. Perhaps I have never been liberated from delusion...."
"I don't want to....turn back into vitality....I don't want to perish.... No one has ever acknowledged my path..... In the end, I still cannot advance further...."
The immortal shadow gradually became smaller, and he looked at the elephant in the mysterious image.
"I cannot accept it. I still have a chance."
"Borrowed methods manifest the image!"
"To the Ancient Heaven Sect!"
He continued to manifest, unlike the previous white-haired child, this time the person who appeared was wearing a yin-yang robe, with a fainter trace. It seemed like it would dissipate at any moment once it manifested, but the elephant in the mysterious image felt that the image was slightly swaying, a sway that was unfathomable.
But this means that this person's level is extremely high and unique.
This time the phantom raised its hand.
[There must be one in ancient times and today, there cannot be two.]
"Is there a sound?"
Ji Xiang seemed to hear a voice, but as the figure was about to make a move, his illusion collapsed, it was
Because the undying shadow of immortality cannot continue to manifest, his power is diminishing, and both light and fire are fading too quickly.
"Indeed, everything returns to simplicity. In times of simplicity, there are no such powerful beings, and naturally he dissipates."
The Immortal Shadow watched as the illusion it had manifested for its final struggle dissipated.
But in this moment, the Immortal Shadow felt that what Ji Xiang said was wrong.
Indeed, its own power was clearly insufficient to sustain this illusion any longer, but when that illusion lifted its hand, there was a noticeable pause, awaiting the decline of light and fire before dissipating on its own.
How did it end up like this?
Are illusions that arise by chance able to give birth to thoughts?
That illusion was once the person who defeated oneself, the strongest among the strongest in the other world. Perhaps, at that level, every move is accompanied by thoughts, even if being reflected by oneself to create a new illusion, there is a thought that comes into existence and immediately vanishes within that illusion.
"Ah!"
"Is there truly only one, and can there not be two throughout history?"
"Tell me, is it really impossible?"
Undying Immortal Shadow looked at the dissipating illusion. The voice was not an auditory hallucination of Ji Xiang, but it actually appeared. It existed in an unknown state beyond the abyss, like hearing a distant voice from another world while dreaming in the process of enlightenment."
At this moment, he has already realized that he is the number two, appearing first, a barrier seal, while he has already reached an unchangeable level in his cultivation, and indeed there is only one way to start over from the beginning.
Originally, it is impossible for two identical paths to appear in the world, because every being is unique.
But once such two individuals appear, within the same path, there cannot be without one supremely outstanding individual, nor can there be two individuals at the same time.
The second person who lost must cut off the old road in order to find a new path.... In this world and in the other side, there truly exists mysterious phenomenon, which does not require self-proclaimed "Emperors" like myself.
The birth of Xuanxiang and Yuanshi, the one who can attain enlightenment between Xuanxiang and Yuanshi is the true Emperor of Elephants, not oneself.
The Immortal Shadow actually knows, but he knows even better that once someone who can truly enter Xuanxiang appears, it will be the same as his own path. He is stronger than himself. Only by defeating him and assimilating him can he become the ultimate. But now, he has failed and there is no second chance.
The path of the Primordial is truly mystical and miraculous! Even if the opponent's apparent strength is not as powerful as one's previous true form, they can still manipulate a power that precedes the root of the Way. Thus, even if they are merely an ant, they can easily overthrow oneself, because it is the essence of the world, the essence of all things.
虚可以影响实，又相辅相成，是比起阴阳还要古老的概念。
Just like the mysterious image, it is only a scene, but whoever sees it can be recognized as the master of the grand design, evolving all phenomena and the passage of time. The mysterious image has no power, but its existence is indescribable.
Unfortunately, I can no longer comprehend this path.
"All beings in the world, have no beginning, yet everywhere is a beginning, but there are still more words to come..."
The voice of the immortal shadow gradually became distant:
"The beginnings are different everywhere."
"All sentient beings are born from the uncreated and falsely perceive birth and death."
Immortal Shadow finally turned back into a pristine flower, maintaining its form, but quickly burst apart and transformed into a breath of essence. The breath of essence was incredibly mysterious and powerful, but as soon as it returned to its original state, it was about to re-evolve into the original "Great Elephant Monarch," but was stopped by Ji Xiang.
Xuanxiang also accepted the essence of returning to its original state. Its power erased the embryonic form of the imminent elephant, but retained the root of the way within its essence. Then it utilized the power of the Eternal Heavenly Sovereign to rewind it for the second time.
The root of the Way is thus liberated, and the binding of that root by the essence is finally completely severed at this moment.
[Please do not convert the code to read (similar to Baidu), as it will lose content]
.