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Chapter 145: His Own Path and His Own Destiny
The once-abandoned hall, long forgotten by time, had now become a temporary place to stay for Aldrian and his group. Despite a few cracks here and there, the structure still stood strong. Aldrian continued to inspect the symbol on the wall—the very symbol that had led him to this secret realm. The realm itself was vast, but from his observations, it seemed to serve only as a resting place for the sword, with little else of interest.
If that was the case, then this secret realm might be artificial, likely created by a high-level cultivator with mastery over space laws. Based on Aldrian’s understanding, this was a cultivator’s domain, one formed by a space element cultivator.
Starting from the Duke stage, cultivators can create their own domain, shaping the surrounding environment to suit their preferences and can giving them an advantage in battle. A Duke stage cultivator who cannot create a domain is not considered to have reached their full potential, as their power remains incomplete.
The first challenge many Dukes face in creating a domain is deciding what kind of domain they want to build and what properties they want to incorporate. Since a Duke can possess multiple elemental affinities, they must choose whether to create a domain based on their strongest laws or develop multiple domains.
The second challenge is the immense resources required. Creating a strong domain demands not only a high level of comprehension but also vast amounts of energy. To achieve this, cultivators need resources that align with their preferred element, which can quickly deplete their wealth.
For all these reasons, not every Duke can wield a domain. Throughout his journey, Aldrian had encountered many opponents above the Duke stage, and some of them had domains.
Now, why does Aldrian suspect that this secret realm is the domain of a cultivator? A secret realm can form naturally due to spatial disturbances—similar to natural phenomena—or it can be created artificially. In the case of an artificially created secret realm, only cultivators who have comprehended space laws can achieve this. For these cultivators, the secret realm essentially becomes their domain, which is a unique trait of those with an affinity for space elements.
However, not all space element cultivators can create a secret realm. To do so, they must possess an exceptionally high level of comprehension and an immense amount of energy. Throughout the history of the Barisan continent, legendary cultivators have been known to create secret realms imbued with their own desired properties.
For example, a space element cultivator from the past created a secret realm in the Vindas Empire, but this realm was the realm of fire, containing profound insights into fire laws. This was because the cultivator’s secondary affinity was fire, and he wished to build his own sanctuary using both elements.
Attempting to force the creation of a secret realm without the necessary comprehension or energy often leads to failure—or worse, disaster. Such an endeavor can trigger a spatial storm, capable of destroying vast areas and killing the cultivator who attempted to create the domain.
Even if a cultivator successfully forms a secret realm, the size and stability of each realm can vary. Some secret realms are expansive, while others are small. Some may last for millions of years, while others only endure for a few months.
What about secret realms that contain life, with their own self-sustaining world, blue skies, and the cycle of day and night? Most cultivators on the continent believe that such realms can only occur naturally.
But what if a space element cultivator’s domain could possess these features? Inside the secret realm in this place, Aldrian observed a vast and beautiful green garden, with a gentle breeze blowing. The only thing that truly stood out was the sword platform.
Aldrian’s expression turned solemn as he pondered the immense power and comprehension of the individual who had created this secret realm. How powerful must one be to construct a realm this vast, complete with its own life and a periodic cycle of day and night? Furthermore, this realm seemed ancient, intertwined with the formation that had turned Dragon Back Mountain into a forbidden zone. If he connected the dots, it became clear that this place was a crucial intersecting point within the larger formation, and he could sense that the formation’s eye was not far from here.
It made sense. If the entire Dragon Back Mountain had been made forbidden just to protect this place, then the effort behind it was monumental. This place seemed to serve one purpose: to wait for someone. Based on what the unknown figure and the sword had indicated, it appeared that someone was him.
But then, a sudden shiver ran through him. If he thought about it, all his actions thus far felt as though they had been guided, leading him down a path already prepared for him. It was as if he had been following an invisible road, one that led him into the unknown. For the first time, he felt a sense of loss as he stared at the symbol in front of him.
His experiences, his visions—they had shaped him into who he was now. But looking at it from another perspective, it was as if he had been walking according to his visions’ will, with every convenience falling into place to ensure he never strayed from the intended path. In a way, he felt like a puppet.
"If everything I’ve done is according to someone else’s will, does that mean all my actions have been predicted by that person or whatever force shaped this path?" he thought, his discomfort growing. "Does that mean I’ve only been following their preordained road?"
He didn’t like this feeling—the feeling that some unknown entity was guiding him, having already determined the ending he would face. An ending he couldn’t control.
"Is it the figures of the Dragon and the Phoenix? Is it the Heavenly Demon? Is it that unknown figure? Or is it someone else I don’t yet know?" Aldrian felt a surge of frustration. Despite all he had encountered, he still felt too weak, unable to grasp the entire truth about himself or the mysteries surrounding him.
An overwhelming sense of uncertainty swept over him. His Dao heart wavered, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to do. But then, in the midst of his anxiety, familiar words surfaced in his mind—lines he had memorized by heart.
I’m tied to the universe
I’m tied to nature
All of this is my own karma
Why I am different is also my destiny
My domain encompasses all things
There is nothing that can escape my view
There is nothing that can escape my sense
There is nothing that can escape my will
His thoughts spun around these words, and after a while, he let out a deep sigh, gradually relaxing his mind. He reflected on the meaning behind the lines. Perhaps they, too had been prepared for him, to explain his situation and point him toward the path.
But in the end, he knew that he had his own comprehension, his own interpretation, and his own mind, which still controlled his entire being—his decision-making, and how he chose to live.
"Yes, this road is my karma, a road I’ve chosen myself. All of this is karma I’ve created, not someone else. The mystery surrounding me is part of my destiny. Since I was born in this world, I have been different from others, unable to be measured by the usual standards. This is my destiny, and it’s mine to walk." He thought.
Aldrian’s mind began to clear. "Even if somehow, there is a being who has decided the road I will walk, if their path aligns with the one I would choose for myself, then so be it. But if their road leads somewhere I don’t wish to go, then I will simply break the road and carve out my own."
With this realization, Aldrian’s doubts faded. What he didn’t realize was that the inner demon, which had been quietly sprouting within him, had vanished in an instant.
He had his own way, his own mind, and he was the one shaping his destiny. He would decide the road he would walk, forge his own ending, and uncover the mystery of his existence, revealing the ’truth’ of himself.
Unbeknownst to him, his entire domain resonated with his determination. The very nature within it—trees, wind, water, and every single particle of energy tied to the laws—responded as if rejoicing, fully supporting their lord.
The wind stirred with newfound vigor, rustling the leaves in a symphony of life. The flow of elemental energy and laws became smoother, while the richness of heaven and earth energy grew even more abundant in certain areas.
Those who were cultivating at that moment felt the sudden shift in the movement of heaven and earth energy. Though they couldn’t understand why, they weren’t about to waste this opportunity. Many found themselves on the brink of breakthroughs in cultivation and comprehension. Even cultivators who had been stuck at the same realm for a long time reaped the benefits, breaking through barriers that had held them back.
It was a time of rejoicing, not only for the nature of his domain but for all the living beings within it. What Aldrian didn’t yet realize was that his unwavering determination had become the key to finding the answers he sought—the answers that would shape the road ahead.
