The Yin Yang Black and White Magic Power seems to possess attributes similar to True Spirit Power.

When it comes to the most effective power in harming me, it is undoubtedly True Spirit Power. Not only can it not be nullified through the nature of Manifestation, but my True Spirit being injured by True Spirit Power also suffers undeniably.

Shan Liangyi is an Enlightened One in the Legendary Realm of "Reincarnation," and all Legendary Realms are closely related to perceiving True Spirit. As Shan Liangyi's true power, the Yin Yang Black and White Magic Power perhaps also displays its core nature in this aspect. Strictly speaking, I can determine that the Yin Yang Black and White Magic Power is not true True Spirit Power, but if directly harmed by it, it's best to consider it as "equivalent to being harmed by True Spirit Power."

Even if I rely on the nature of Manifestation to weaken the force I endure, the opponent's power is specialized in shattering True Spirit, after all. Facing the current me might only require three strikes, and with bad luck, two strikes could be enough to eliminate me. This Yin Yang Black and White Magic Power is so terrifying that without the nature of Manifestation, given the current power gap, it's possible that the opponent could decide the battle's outcome with a single strike.

However, given this situation, Shan Liangyi is still using "power equivalent to True Spirit Power" instead of True Spirit Power itself, it can basically be concluded that he cannot directly output True Spirit Power in battle. More accurately, even if he could wield True Spirit Power, its intensity is likely insufficient to influence this battle.

The current me is in a somewhat similar situation. Although I should have achieved "Manifestation," I cannot rely solely on myself to output True Spirit Power. The abilities related to True Spirit in me mainly manifest in my ability to continue existing even if my body and soul are destroyed.

Shan Liangyi is presumably similar, and his True Spirit Power is likely mainly focused on the aspect of "Reincarnation and Rebirth." Also, he can intervene in matters related to True Spirit Power, such as severing my connection with the Divine Seal Fragment in the past.

I feel that it is becoming increasingly difficult to evade Shan Liangyi's attacks, and he's about to be able to hit me. Meanwhile, the fire attacks I launch are entirely blocked by his Yin Yang Black and White Magic Power, leaving them unable to harm him. It appears that the choices I can make in battle are gradually being narrowed, and soon I'll be in a situation of being at my wit's end. However, I still have at least one direction I can choose.

I submerged part of my consciousness into my soul, feeling the trend of my soul's structure continually evolving and growing stronger, then looking towards a more distant direction. Although my internal transformation has not yet reached its limit, the limit certainly exists somewhere and can now be predicted to some extent.

That is a new apex, a new gate, referred to as the "Fourth Gate." Since it is destined like a chasm to block the path before me after pushing open the third gate, this idea should not be mistaken. Even within Impermanence, the "Fourth Gate" is suspected of its existence, and more so, suspected whether it can be opened. Even the Divine Light had asked the Master of Divine Seal directly in the Void Realm in the past to confirm its real existence.

At the current stage, the Fourth Gate seems distant and unattainable. Even at the current speed of evolution, there is no telling when I might have the chance to stand before this gate. However, as a Manifestation and Enlightenment being, I possess a privilege here. A privilege that allows me to push it open instantly just by making a decision. That is to completely liberate myself and truly "become anything."

When it comes down to it, iterating my soul's structure is not the quickest route to becoming stronger. Whatever structure it may be, it ultimately divides the internal and external boundaries. Having a structure will inevitably have boundaries, and there will be limits. Therefore, I only need to abandon the concept of structure, truly merge with the universe, and become All Things, then I can possess infinite power.

By then, there will be no such thing as a third or fourth gate for me.

Thinking about this, I began attempting to completely liberate myself. Vaguely, I sensed an endless power around me. From where I stood, to the boundless distance, even to the universe's edge. Just by merging myself into it, I could become the sea of this infinite power.

I could know everything, do everything, be everywhere.

There is absolutely no need for trivial things like the Divine Seal, I will change everything, create everything, destroy everything—

But... is this truly what I need?

Is this necessary for my path?

Such questions rose strangely in my mind, followed by a powerful warning ringing within my heart. No, this forewarning might have long been ringing within me, only I failed to realize it before the questions arose.

I immediately ceased my attempt.

This cannot continue. This is a trap, a one-way attempt with no return. My intuition tells me so.

"Where are you looking?" Shan Liangyi's voice, filled with murderous intent, rings out, "This is the final blow, be reduced to dust!"

As he declared this, a significantly more powerful Yin Yang Black and White Magic Power appeared in his palm. He was about to unleash a fatal strike. I immediately focused all my attention, specifically to counter this attack.

At that moment, the Four Symbols and Five Elements Wheel behind him seemed to jam and stopped spinning.

The Yin Yang Black and White Magic Power in his palm also started to oscillate and destabilize dramatically, akin to a stone causing a thousand ripples, struggling to maintain its form, seemingly about to decompose into the previous Five Elements Mana.

He was instantly shocked, retreating at high speed along an irregular path to the distance, quickly glancing behind himself.

On that majestic Four Symbols and Five Elements Wheel, the Vermilion Bird Seed suddenly began to struggle violently for reasons unknown. It was like a misfit component embedded in the industrial machinery, not noticeable when the machine operated at low speed, but once efficiency increased, the conflict with its surroundings would amplify, the load it bore would exceed the limit, causing the whole machine to malfunction.

"What's going on..." Shan Liangyi muttered, "Is the Vermilion Bird Seed malfunctioning? Wait, this isn't a malfunction... The Vermilion Bird Seed has been twisted by some force?"

"No one can distort my elemental power under my nose, unless..."

Unless the Vermilion Bird Seed had an issue before he retrieved it.

As a Manifestation and Enlightenment who can integrate consciousness into All Things, my perception has now become unprecedentedly deep, combined with the fully absorbed experience of Xuanming, and a series of past experiences, I analyzed the twist the Vermilion Bird Seed endured at a glance, unraveling a major question that had perplexed me.

The Vermilion Bird Seed was distorted by my Innate Manifestation Talent.

Compared to my current manifestation, the Innate Manifestation I possessed in the past was at most an incomplete thing, merely an immature, embryonic form. Although I still don't know why I initially possessed such an unprecedented talent, the Innate Manifestation, albeit incomplete, is still part of the Legendary Realm.

And as a Power Seed emerging together with Shan Liangyi's reincarnation, the Vermilion Bird Seed can likewise be regarded as a manifestation of part of the Legendary Realm. Just as neither I nor Shan Liangyi can indisputably overwhelm the other, the Vermilion Bird Seed cannot indisputably overwhelm the Innate Manifestation.

Thus, while my power form was twisted and limited to "flame," the Vermilion Bird Seed likely endured excessive load and distortion.

The specific result was that the Power Seed, which was supposed to manifest "fire and Artifact Refining power," only manifested the "fire" part, while the "Artifact Refining" part turned into a mere ability to forge souls into furnace slag. Though the slag was later transformed by me into a practical Ash Weapon, it was merely turning waste into treasure, slag could not be called a result of Artifact Refining.

All of my powers were undoubtedly entirely seized before, including the Innate Manifestation Talent, all transferred onto that Four Symbols and Five Elements Wheel. But this "seizing" couldn't be completely done, there remained residuals inside me. Within an extremely brief time frame, I still maintained my original realm. Just as my flame body would immediately collapse and explode after losing the Vermilion Bird Seed, at least in the moment right before that "immediately" arrived, I still possessed the shape of Impermanence.

It was in this extremely brief time window that I became a true manifestation, pushed open the third door.

And after becoming a manifestation, with the ability to transform my soul at will and become any existence, no matter how many talents and powers were lost in the past, they can all be recreated.

Now the issue turned to the Vermilion Bird Seed, because it consumed too much, this seed not only bloated itself distorted but also fell into a state of indigestion.

A crucial part of the Five Elements Cycle turned into this shape, naturally making it difficult for Shan Liangyi to exert full power.

"Seems like neither of us is in the strongest state now." I said.

"Enough chatter!" Shan Liangyi's face darkened.

Unlike me who can continually evolve in battle, his problem cannot be resolved while fighting. Surely if he were given some more breathing time, even if he cannot immediately digest all the gains of the Vermilion Bird Seed, he can at least adjust his status back to a level where he can fight with full force. However, I am not gentlemanly enough to give him such time.

If conditions were favorable, I would naturally want to first grow to the pinnacle state, defeating Shan Liangyi in peak condition straightforwardly.

But I'm not the Old Fist God, I won't insist on this point. If the enemy doesn't maintain their status at optimal level, that's the enemy's problem, and my usual approach in such situations is to hit the drowned dog mercilessly. I have always used all means for victory, from past to present.

I attacked him at high speed, Shan Liangyi retreated repeatedly, seemingly making a determined decision, while revealing an extremely humiliated expression as if he was going to grind all his teeth to dust.

A large amount of deep yellow mana rapidly gathered in his hands, forming a familiar-looking black sphere.

I instantly remembered, this is the terrifying spacetime spell Huang Quan used in the real world before, once banished me to the void.

Unexpectedly, Shan Liangyi knows this trick too... no, thinking it over, Huang Quan knowing this trick might be more abnormal, perhaps Shan Liangyi is the "source" of this move.

Shan Liangyi threw the black magic power ball, the ball expanded suddenly in the air, bursting with boundless attraction, trying to banish me to the void.