Against The True Gods

What Exactly Is the Dao Heart?

To many, the Dao Heart simply represented the drive to succeed or the result of countless years of trials and tribulations. It was almost akin to a Blooming Will, a reflection or mirror of a True Will.

To others, the Dao Heart was far deeper, perhaps representing the very essence of defying the natural order—a crystallization of rebellion against fate.

It carried many meanings and interpretations.

During his long period of training, Caine had pondered this concept endlessly. He had dissected the layers of his mind, rearranged his thoughts, and reflected repeatedly in search of a true and comprehensive understanding of the Dao Heart.

At its core, Dao meant Path.

Heart could be interpreted as the core, the essence of all things.

The connection between the two became clear: First, discover one's path—the Dao; then, create its core—the Dao Heart.

The Dao Heart was the heart—the core—of one's path. And without a path, there was no ascension. It was a symbiotic relationship.

One's Dao Heart solidified the path, and the path defined the Dao Heart.

This naturally led back to the concept of True Will. How did True Will factor into this dynamic? Was True Will the heart or the path? What distinguished one from the other?

As Caine delved deeper, the distinction grew clearer. It wasn't just about his path and heart; it was about his Will.

What did he want? What path did that desire dictate? And what core would define that path? What essence would shape him?

When framed this way, everything crystallized for Caine.

He had known his desire for the longest time: Perfection.

To be flawless. To be absolute. To be the Prime.
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From that unwavering desire for perfection, everything else unfolded naturally. If he desired perfection, his path would be one of unfettered supremacy. The core of that path was himself and his own desires, completing a perfect loop.

His Will craved perfection; therefore, his path was one of supremacy, defined by the core of his own essence and ambition.

He was the path, the core, and the Will—all at once.

It would be a path without fear. A path where fear had no place, where it wasn't even imaginable. It would be a path without hope. A path where hope was unnecessary.

This was the essence of the Hopeless Dao Heart—the absolute logical extreme of a fearless existence.

A Dao Heart that embraced everything he was, driving him to heights beyond imagination.

It would be his greatest and most personal creation. Greater even than the rings he had forged through his mastery and willpower.

He had planted the seed of this Dao Heart during his time in the Soul Prison, where the boundaries between his mind and heart blurred. Now, it was time to complete that seed and watch it bloom.

The Hopeless Dao Heart.

[No fear. No hope. My Will shall be absolute and almighty.]

WHOOOOOOOSHH!

Caine's chest ignited with a glow that resembled an imploding star. The outline of his heart shone through his flesh and bones, pulsing with raw energy. His heart twisted and rippled, its crystalline outer layer suddenly morphing into a radiant gold, blazing like a miniature sun. Moments later, the gold cooled and hardened into a cold, lifeless silver—a silver imbued with otherworldly majesty.

Intricate runes, a blend of white, black, and gold, unfurled across its surface. The symbols pulsed, alive with esoteric power. Caine's entire body shook under the transformation.

In his Bond Space, his stars trembled. Around each star, a fifth minor star materialized and solidified—Dao Stars.

The Bond Space quivered, a deep resonance echoing through it. Something had reached a state of completion. The brilliance of his stars flared, their radiance filling the skies of his Bond Space with boundless power.

Caine's newly-formed Dao Heart absorbed the energy eagerly. His stars connected directly to his heart, channeling their immense strength into his body and aspects. Strength that had been capped by the absence of a proper vessel now flowed freely, erupting across his form like a tidal wave. His body, like a parched riverbed, drank it in without hesitation.

His aspects surged with newfound power, and his mind and True Will evolved in response, shaped by the influence of his freshly forged Dao Heart.

Above, the black sky tore open, revealing an even darker void within its depths. From that abyss, countless World Will Eyes stared down at him. Pillars of thick, milky-white qi descended, enveloping Caine—Blessings.

The formation of his Dao Heart had drawn not just one, but multiple blessings from the World Will Eyes. This was a phenomenon that neither his Bone Structure, his Flesh Structure, nor even the creation of his stars had achieved.

His Heart Demon observed the spectacle quietly, its form fading like a shadow at dusk.

"I see what you're trying to do. Bold. Very bold. But you're just making it easier for me when the time comes."

It paused, its voice tinged with a rare, melancholic note. "But I suppose that's part of your plan, too…"

Then it vanished entirely.

Caine paid it no mind. His focus was absolute.

One of his grandest plans—one that had taken root long before his reincarnation—was finally about to bear fruit.

To grasp the magnitude of his intent, one had to understand the final stage of the Blood Realm: the Blood Ascendancy Stage.

On the surface, this stage seemed simple. It was about sublimation—of the body, the blood, the Blood Qi—everything. But it grew complex once one realized that there was no set method for this sublimation.

The sub-stages provided only reference points, from the Ascendant Blood Prince stage to the pinnacle, the Ascendant Blood Venerable stage.

The method used to ascend these stages was unique to each cultivator. This individuality made the differences in power starkly clear.

A superior method led to a powerful Blood Ascendant. A weaker method resulted in a feeble path forward into the Spark Realm.

For someone like Caine, this stage was a divine gift. It was like giving wings to a lion.

What he was about to attempt would change everything.

If his Dao Heart was his greatest creation, then what he was about to do would rank a close second—perhaps even equal.