Chapter Seventy-Four: Transcendent Obsession
Hearing this, the three of them—Zilong and his companions—were all startled. Indeed, if the gods could wield limitless power, how then were the evil deities defeated in the past? How could they have fallen? Infinite power meant boundlessness; it should have been impossible to resist.
With this thought, the trio finally understood. The gods were not as omnipotent and invincible as they had imagined.
Yin Seventeen spoke gravely, “Master Tonghu, the elder who instructed me once said: transform a powerful emotion into a resolute obsession, and that is the Seventh Sense—Manas.”
“But even now, I cannot translate my emotions into obsession.”
“I don’t understand—what level must one reach to turn emotion into obsession?”
The three listened with solemn expressions, realizing at last that transforming emotion into obsession was the legendary Seventh Sense.
“Between life and death lies great terror.”
The old man gazed calmly at Yin Seventeen and said slowly, “When your powerful emotions allow you to disregard the terror of death, to transcend life’s innate fear of dying, then it has become an obsession.”
Ruolan asked doubtfully, “Master Tonghu, is it really that simple? Isn’t it too easy?”
“Is it truly simple?” Tonghu looked deeply at the young girl.
“Of course it’s simple!”
Ruolan, brimming with confidence, gesticulated vigorously, “I could find an extremely dangerous enemy and battle him, experiencing the arrival of death. Or, I could leap from the Five Elders Peak without any protection, confronting death directly. That way, I’d comprehend the Seventh Sense!”
As she spoke, she cast a suggestive glance toward the foot of the mountain.
Tonghu shook his head and sighed, “Little rabbit, that’s not disregarding death—you’re simply courting it!”
“If all the Gold Saints tried to grasp the Seventh Sense as you do, I fear none would succeed, and the Twelve Palaces atop Sacred Mountain would lose all purpose!”
“Why?” Ruolan asked, bewildered.
She felt her method was not unreasonable.
Tonghu did not answer her, but turned to Yin Seventeen and asked gently, “Young man, do you know why?”
Yin Seventeen pondered for a moment before explaining, “Because disregarding death, transcending the innate fear of dying, is not the process of comprehending the Seventh Sense—it is the result.”
Tonghu smiled and nodded, continuing, “Because of the obsession that is the Seventh Sense, one ignores death, surpassing the instinctive terror of it.”
“If everyone approached it as recklessly as you, not only would they fail to comprehend the Seventh Sense, they might lose their lives instead!”
With that, he shot Ruolan a stern glance.
The girl pulled a face. “Then… there must be a concrete method, right?”
“With only these ambiguous words from you, Master Tonghu, asking everyone to grasp the Seventh Sense is truly too difficult!”
Tonghu smiled faintly, unhurried, “There is no specific method for comprehending the Seventh Sense.”
“If there must be one, it is cultivation of the mind.”
“Cultivation of the mind?”
Zilong and his companions were utterly perplexed; only Yin Seventeen barely understood.
It was much like what the masked man had told him: to search for the heart of the sword.
Tonghu stroked his beard and continued, “The process of comprehending the Seventh Sense is, in truth, a journey of spiritual cultivation.”
“Through cultivation of the spirit, one’s will is elevated, and the meaning of existence is found.”
“When a person discovers the meaning of their existence, they no longer fear death, transcending life’s instinctive dread.”
He paused, then added, “You must have heard such tales before.”
“When disaster strikes unexpectedly, parents, in order to save their children, at the brink of death, display miraculous strength—lifting a car, supporting a collapsing beam, and so on.”
All nodded in agreement.
Such stories, though rare, did happen, often celebrated as miracles of love.
The old man sighed and said seriously, “These seemingly incredible events are hard for ordinary people to understand, but for Saints, they are easily explained.”
At this, Yin Seventeen, thoughtful, ventured, “Is that the so-called Seventh Sense?”
“Exactly!” Tonghu cast Yin Seventeen an approving look.
This young man’s insight was exceptional; he truly had the potential to become a Gold Saint.
Tonghu went on, “When facing sudden crisis, parents, to protect their children, in that instant, transform the intense emotion of desperate protection into obsession, attaining the realm of the Seventh Sense.”
“They thus disregard the terror of death and unleash power beyond their own limits.”
“This is the Seventh Sense—Manas: transcending limits and turning the impossible into possible!”
Upon hearing this, all four were deeply moved.
What intense emotion must those ordinary people possess to display superhuman strength?
They had underestimated obsession.
“When you find the meaning of your existence, gaining a powerful emotion for which you would give everything, that is your obsession, your Seventh Sense,” Tonghu solemnly told them.
“Thank you, Master Tonghu!” Yin Seventeen bowed respectfully to the elder.
Truly, a survivor of the last Holy War—his experience was extraordinary, and his explanation far clearer than the masked man’s.
In this moment, he felt he understood the Seventh Sense better than ever before.
Yet understanding was one thing; truly mastering the Seventh Sense was another—an arduous challenge.
Disasters, both natural and human, happen every moment in the world, but ordinary people who truly grasp the Seventh Sense in such calamities are exceedingly rare.
Comprehending the Seventh Sense was incredibly difficult.
All he could do was enjoy life over the course of his journey, slowly searching for the meaning of his existence.
The old man nodded in satisfaction, stroking his beard. “Your insight is admirable; your chances of grasping the Seventh Sense are high.”
“As for you, I’m afraid there’s little hope in this lifetime.”
He glanced helplessly at Ruolan.
“Why? Why can’t I comprehend the Seventh Sense?” Ruolan flared up like an angry kitten.
Tonghu sighed and explained gently, “Though your talent is good, you are lively by nature, simple-minded, and never troubled by worries.”
“Even if you do have concerns, they likely don’t weigh much on your heart.”
“A person without troubles, living joyfully—how could you seek the meaning of existence?”
The meaning of existence is pursued because it has not been achieved; only then does one strive to realize it, surpassing oneself.
It is precisely because it is unattainable that people develop obsession.
Ruolan’s life was too carefree, with no real pursuits.
Hearing this, the girl was instantly plunged into distress.
She realized she had no particular goals or ideals she wished to accomplish.
Even the Stream she constantly thought about—she could not reach the level the elder spoke of, turning it into obsession.
Obsession was fundamentally incompatible with her nature.
To comprehend the Seventh Sense was nearly impossible for her.