Chapter Seventy-Three: Sharing the Same Roots and Origins

At the same time, upon hearing Yin Seventeen question the strength of the Gold Saints, the three—Zilong among them—could not hide their astonishment. From the moment they entered the realm of the extraordinary, they had been told that Gold Saints represented the greatest power on earth; there was no enemy they could not defeat. The idea of their invincibility was etched into their minds from the very beginning. Never had they considered doubting the true measure of a Gold Saint’s power. Yin Seventeen’s skepticism marked him as a true anomaly.

“Hey, Seventeen, have you forgotten how Lord Shura slew that evil god with a single sword strike by the Nile?” Ruolan asked, her brow furrowed.

“Of course I remember!” Yin Seventeen replied, his expression serious. “But that evil god merely manifested its power through another, not in its true form.”

“Its real strength must pale compared to its actual body.”

Transmitting power from beyond, coupled with the embodiment of its will, surely diminished Anubis’s strength. Shura had not truly defeated the god of death by the Nile.

Ruolan found his analysis reasonable, yet she could not agree with questioning the true strength of the Gold Saints based solely on this. Tonghu, meanwhile, burst into hearty laughter. After some time, he finally stopped, gazing at Yin Seventeen.

“Young man, do you know the source of a god’s power?”

“Isn’t it… the cosmos?” Yin Seventeen ventured, uncertain.

From all the information he had gathered, whether divine or spiritual power, the roots lay in the cosmos—just as it did for the Saints. The only difference seemed to be that a god’s power was far more potent, as if it belonged to another plane altogether.

Tonghu nodded, speaking deliberately: “I once asked the former Lady Athena this very question.”

“She said that the power of gods is not fundamentally different from ours; it is also drawn from the cosmos, merely more pure and mighty.”

“Ah?” Ruolan exclaimed in surprise, laughing. “I always thought the source of divine power was different from ours!”

“But how can the power of gods share the same origin as we mortals?” Zilong interjected with another question.

To everyone, gods were exalted beings, surely distinct from mortals in every way. Yet now, Teacher Tonghu claimed that gods and mortals possessed the same kind of power—a concept almost beyond belief.

Tonghu looked at them intently, then spoke slowly: “Rather than say that the power of gods is identical to ours, it is more accurate to say that mortals have learned to wield the power of the gods.”

“For the method of using the cosmos was taught to humanity by the gods themselves!”

“What!!”

Everyone present, including Yin Seventeen, was taken aback. The answer was wholly unexpected. No wonder the power of gods and mortals shared the same origin.

“A common source of power is the very reason why evil gods can possess mortals and manifest themselves,” Tonghu explained to Yin Seventeen and the others.

Yin Seventeen pondered, then tentatively asked, “Since the source of power is the same, does that mean we mortals can also—”

In that instant, Tonghu’s expression turned stern, and he glared fiercely at him. Yin Seventeen immediately felt an overwhelming cosmic pressure descend upon him, sealing his jaws so tightly he could not utter another syllable.

“Whew—”

Tonghu interrupted him with a deep breath.

“Young man, you are clever, but some thoughts are best kept to yourself! Don’t voice them aloud—it will do you no good!” Tonghu warned him quietly with his mind, releasing Yin Seventeen from his restraint.

Ruolan, hearing Yin Seventeen’s abrupt silence, grew anxious and urged, “Go on! Why stop halfway?”

“It’s nothing! I suddenly realized my thinking was wrong, so there’s no point in continuing,” Yin Seventeen replied, still shaken.

Tonghu’s sudden intervention made it clear that he had crossed into forbidden territory.

Thus, the answer was obvious.

“Ahem…”

Before Ruolan could press further, Tonghu coughed lightly, drawing their attention. “Have you ever wondered, if the source of power is the same for gods and mortals, why is a god’s power typically stronger?”

Zilong frowned deeply. He had never encountered a god. Ruolan, however, answered without hesitation, “Because a god’s cosmos is far stronger than ours!”

She had witnessed divine power by the Nile. That overwhelming aura left her with no thought of resistance.

“Wrong!” Tonghu said coldly. “The universe is infinite; there is no such thing as greater or lesser.”

“Our cosmos is as vast as that of the gods!”

“Ah?” Ruolan was stunned, but upon careful consideration, it seemed plausible. Despite being called ‘small,’ the cosmos was, in essence, boundless. Since both were infinite, the cosmos within gods and mortals must be equivalent.

“Wait! Teacher Tonghu, if they are the same, why do we feel the cosmos of gods is so much stronger?” Ruolan asked, scratching her head.

“My cosmos is far stronger than yours, isn’t it?” Tonghu teased, releasing a wave of his formidable cosmic aura.

“Well… you are a Gold Saint, so naturally you are stronger!” Ruolan replied, grasping for an excuse.

Yin Seventeen’s eyes lit up with inspiration. “No, it’s because our control over cosmic power differs, creating the appearance of strength or weakness.”

“It’s not that Teacher Tonghu’s cosmos is intrinsically stronger!”

“In the same way, gods seem more powerful because their mastery over cosmic power is greater—they can wield more of it at once.”

Tonghu nodded in satisfaction. “Exactly. Gods seem mightier because they command more of the cosmos than mortals.”

“The sixth sense is merely a key to unlocking cosmic power, far from sufficient to control its limitless force.”

“The seventh sense is the breakthrough beyond oneself, unleashing cosmic power beyond limits.”

“To exceed limits means there are none!”

“Thus, in theory, a Gold Saint who attains the seventh sense can wield boundless power.”

“That is the fundamental reason Gold Saints can stand against gods.”

“But man is still man; even when surpassing limits, he cannot truly reach the infinite.”

With that, the old man sighed deeply.

The group listened, enraptured, their faces filled with longing.

“Teacher, may I ask—can gods themselves wield infinite power?” Zilong inquired curiously.

Beside him, Yin Seventeen shook his head.

“If gods could wield infinite power, there would not be so many tales of gods falling from grace!”