After the Great Dao Died

Chen Lingxi stood in place, gasping for breath.

The spiritual qi in his qi sea was nearly depleted. Channeling the Thunder-Concealing Sword Scripture and the Purple True Treasure Vase in rapid succession had practically drained his entire accumulation.

But he had no time to catch his breath now.

Almost the exact moment Shi Hong collapsed, he used his divine sense to snatch the Vast Void Pouch from the man’s waist.

He then used the Method of Life Devouring to swallow Shi Hong’s spiritual essence.

He didn’t dare stay here any longer.

Shi Hong was dead, but the commotion from their battle had been simply too massive; it would have already alarmed all the cauldron vessel contenders within a hundred li.

If he lingered now, there was no guarantee other experts wouldn’t follow the spiritual light and find him.

Stowing away Shi Hong’s corpse and the Vast Void Pouch, he swallowed a healing pill and activated the Cloud-Soaring Technique. His body blurred into a faint cyan streak of light, shooting toward the depths of the distant mountains.

Pushing his speed to the absolute limit, he fled past the hundred-li boundary around the Killing Power Cauldron Vessel.He flew over several mountain ridges and winding streams before finally dropping his cloud into an extremely secluded valley.

Alighting in the valley, he finally let out a long breath of stale air. ’The spiritual light overhead really did disappear.’

Chen Lingxi glanced up at the empty space above his head and shook his head slightly.

’The rules of this Spirit Stele are simple and clear.’

’Either die, or retreat a hundred li away. Otherwise, it’s a fight to the bitter end.’

’I’ll heal my wounds here for now. Once I recover, I’ll go back and fight for the cauldron vessel.’

He checked his surroundings before perching himself high atop an ancient tree. The Method of Qi Observation silently circulated within his eyes; spiritual qi flowed from his qi sea, surging up his meridians and pouring into his pupils.

In an instant, the many shifting streams of spiritual qi in the distance came into view.

He watched as the spiritual qi of one reincarnator after another gradually vanished.

They had likely been slain by stronger experts.

There were also some weaker Truth-Seeking cultivators fleeing in panic. No longer daring to covet this Killing Power Cauldron Vessel, they scrambled desperately in the opposite direction of the Zhuzhao River.

Meanwhile, the area around the Killing Power Spirit Stele by the banks of the Zhuzhao River was engulfed in an eerie silence.

Following the successive deaths of numerous experts—and especially after the aura of a Tenth Floor body cultivator like Shi Hong completely vanished from the Spirit Stele’s senses—the atmosphere within a hundred-li radius of the Zhuzhao River grew abruptly oppressive. No one dared make a reckless move.

Chen Lingxi had clearly intimidated the crowd.

’It seems they’re guessing whether I actually died or just ran away.’

’They’re probably all gathering their strength right now...’

Taking in these sights, Chen Lingxi formed a plan.

He withdrew his gaze and took a spirit stone from the Vast Void Pouch, gripping it in his palm.

The Six Qi True Method circulated slowly within his body, refining Shi Hong’s spiritual essence that he had plundered with the Method of Life Devouring.

A short time later, Chen Lingxi opened his eyes.

He sighed to himself.

’This incomplete Method of Life Devouring no longer provides much of a boost to my cultivation. The spiritual qi I absorb is mottled and impure, requiring a massive amount of mental focus to refine. In the end, not even one percent successfully merges into my qi sea... It simply can’t raise my spiritual qi by much.’

’Still, it’s not completely useless.’ Chen Lingxi peered inward at his qi sea; in that short amount of time, the spiritual qi inside had already been mostly replenished.

’While this Method of Life Devouring can’t drastically increase my cultivation base, it can replenish spiritual qi. It’s a perfect fit for sustaining myself in drawn-out fights.’

Stopping his train of thought there, Chen Lingxi took another pill and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

He didn’t stand up to gaze into the distance until his spiritual qi had recovered to about seventy or eighty percent.

His gaze pierced through the dense layers of mountain forests, landing back on the air above the Zhuzhao River.

Continually running his Method of Qi Observation, he realized that the spiritual qi in the area was growing sparser and sparser.

’Some have died, and some are hiding. I need to observe carefully. If I don’t pay attention and only one person is left within the hundred-li boundary, the cauldron vessel will fall into their hands. That would be disastrous.’

A faint smile touched Chen Lingxi’s lips as he sat back down cross-legged, sinking his divine sense into the Divine Chamber.

Vision Roaming!

Like a plume of soaring smoke, Chen Lingxi caught sight of Lin Suri.

Right now, Lin Suri was standing on a jutting rock by the riverbank, his robes whipping in the wind. Six streams of sword qi circulated around him in tandem, pulsing with a biting, icy gleam.

’In just a short time, Lin Suri’s Qi Circulation Eighth Floor cultivation base has grown even more solid.’

Lin Suri had long since reached the Eighth Floor realm, which was not considered particularly powerful among the contenders for this Killing Power Cauldron Vessel.

Let alone an Entering Profound martial artist like Earl Digong, even a single one of those three array-forming Heavenly Boat women would be enough to fight a normal Eighth Floor cultivator to a standstill in a one-on-one duel.

Yet as Lin Suri stood there, his bearing was unhurried and composed. He didn’t look at all like a cauldron vessel contender whose cultivation was at a disadvantage.

Chen Lingxi focused his attention, and his eyes suddenly narrowed.

’Is there something behind Lin Suri?’

He saw a faint phantom flickering in and out of existence behind Lin Suri. It looked like a figure in red clothes.

The figure was extremely blurry, its outline wavering erratically as if it might be blown away by the wind at any moment. If not for Chen Lingxi observing through Lin Suri’s perspective, he wouldn’t have been able to see this red-clothed figure clearly at all. The figure stood there like Lin Suri’s shadow, yet also like some kind of entity guarding his back.

At the same time, through Lin Suri’s field of vision, Chen Lingxi could see billowing waves of profound spiritual qi radiating from this red-clothed figure, suppressed to within a mere square inch of her body!

’What level of cultivation does this red-clothed figure have to be this powerful?’

Just as Chen Lingxi was feeling startled and uncertain, Lin Suri suddenly pressed two fingers together like a sword and wiped them across his eyes.

In that instant, as Lin Suri gazed into the distance, he saw several experts speeding toward his location from afar!

’Someone has targeted Lin Suri...’

Not feeling surprised, Chen Lingxi followed Lin Suri’s line of sight.

Those approaching auras were extraordinarily imposing, their spiritual qi deep and heavy. They were impressively all Eighth Floor cultivators.

Sensing the cauldron vessel’s spiritual light hovering overhead, Lin Suri already knew the identities of these people.

Qian Ji, Yun Huozhi, Zhou Ying... They were the cream of the crop in this battle for the cauldron vessel. Although they couldn’t compare to Shi Hong, Wu Mohe, Xi Yu, or Chen Lingxi, these three were still extremely powerful.

Among Truth-Seeking cultivators, they could be considered true experts. Every single one of them could match the Xi Yuan of the past!

Furthermore, these three seemed to have reached an agreement long ago, closing in to surround Lin Suri.

Three Eighth Floor cultivators joining forces... Even an ordinary Ninth Floor figure would have to be wary!

Lin Suri furrowed his brow slightly, but he didn’t show the slightest hint of panic.

He shot a subtle glance at the red phantom behind him. Then, holding his Jade Sword horizontally in front of him, the phantom of a crane on the blade looked as if it were about to take flight. The six streams of sword qi around him slowly lit up, pulsing unsteadily.

Meanwhile, Chen Lingxi, who was currently Vision Roaming, suddenly opened his eyes.

The smile on his lips grew even wider.

’Daoist Lin doesn’t seem to be too far from me. Moreover, he’s right at the very edge of the hundred-li boundary. It seems I can... loop around.’

His eyes flickered, brimming with amusement. ’In that case, Daoist Lin, I have come to save you.’

Chen Lingxi straightened up. Circulating the Hidden Edge Method, he quietly made his way along the outer perimeter of the hundred-li zone.

Qian Ji, Yun Huozhi, Zhou Ying... The three experts arrived at top speed, each riding different profound lights and cloud qi!

Immensely powerful energy burst forth from their bodies.

The three divided into three different directions, boxing Lin Suri in.

For a moment, even if Lin Suri wanted to flee, he likely wouldn’t be able to escape.

Qian Ji had an experienced and mature appearance, his gaze exceedingly calm.

He strode through the void. The pair of boots on his feet appeared extremely precious, glowing with a faint radiance that supported him as he walked on empty air. His speed had reached the absolute peak!

With a sword hanging at his waist and a tranquil expression in his eyes, he nevertheless maintained a deep vigilance.

He was the first to spot Lin Suri, seeing him standing right there on the bluestone with the Jade Ruler flashing with light in his hand.

Frowning slightly, he wondered, ’What kind of backing does this cultivator from the Under-Dao Academy have? To think he isn’t panicked in the least?’

Right at that moment, Yun Huozhi arrived in the distance with his hands clasped behind his back. Looking like an old farmer in the fields, he was dressed entirely in coarse hemp garments, yet his spiritual energy was thick and his temperament noble and refined. Standing tall with his head held high, he actually looked like a king! The clouds in the sky trailed behind him like an escort, framing him like an immortal from the heavens.

Then there was a woman named Zhou Ying... She seemed to cultivate some sort of wicked, charming art. Her figure was alluring, and her every movement was filled with enchantment.

Dressed in a sheer layer of gauze, she giggled suddenly upon seeing Lin Suri. ”So it’s an elite disciple from the Under-Dao Academy. We are nothing but lowly cultivators hailing from the Fenglong Peaks. Under normal circumstances, how could we ever meet a cultivator from a great sect like you, Daoist? But today is a different story...”

A spiritual light flashed in Zhou Ying’s eyes as she smiled coquettishly. ”Today, it seems we get to hunt down a figure from the Academy! Daoist, if you are lucky enough to die by my hand, I can extract your soul and keep a thread of it alive, serving as fuel for me to cultivate my secret arts!”

Lin Suri remained silent, waiting quietly.

There was not a shred of fear in his eyes.

And the red-clothed figure behind him remained completely invisible to the others.

”Enough nonsense, hurry up and kill him! Seize his cultivation resources!”

Frowning, Qian Ji urged, ”Someone of his standing is bound to have many fortuitous encounters on him. Even if we don’t get the cauldron vessel, killing him will make this trip worthwhile.”

Spiritual qi continued to surge from Yun Huozhi. Covering her mouth with a light chuckle, a round fan materialized in Zhou Ying’s hand.

She gave it a gentle wave, instantly stirring up a fragrant breeze!

”Daoist Lin, won’t you let your soul enter my fan...”

Before she could finish speaking!

Suddenly, a segment of a spiritual bridge broke through the clouds in the void!

The spiritual bridge was like a length of golden silk extending out of thin air. At an inconceivable speed, it smashed over from several li away, crashing right toward Zhou Ying!

At the same time, a massive ten-zhang hand seal condensed in the void, plundering the surrounding spiritual energy as it slapped down viciously!

Boom!

The power contained within this giant hand seal was truly terrifying.

Zhou Ying had been solely focused on guarding against Lin Suri and casting her spell. She had never anticipated such a mighty divine ability descending upon her!

Sensing that fearsome power, her expression twisted in shock. The alluring charm on her face vanished without a trace, leaving her eyes filled with terror.

But the hand seal had already struck down. It was like smashing a glazed lamp!

Zhou Ying was ruthlessly crushed by the Heaven-Seizing Seal before she could even mount a decent resistance, dying on the spot!

Yun Huozhi and Qian Ji turned pale with fright. They simultaneously turned their heads to look in the direction the spiritual bridge had extended from.

There, amid the churning sea of clouds, they saw a young man arriving on the clouds.

He had a tall, slender figure and a longsword adorned with lightning patterns hanging at his waist. Lightning crackled and sizzled over the scabbard.

Within his eyes, faint golden bolts of lightning seemed to circulate deep within his pupils, flashing intermittently...

His aura was astonishing!

It was none other than Chen Lingxi, the very same man who had just slain Shi Hong!

At this moment, the two watched as Chen Lingxi landed not far from Lin Suri’s side and drew the Thunder Radiance Longsword from the void.

Fueled by the infusion of his spiritual qi, the pale golden lightning patterns on the blade all lit up, radiating brilliantly.

Chen Lingxi smiled faintly at Lin Suri, his smile completely sincere.

Then, turning to look at Qian Ji and Yun Huozhi, a cold sneer formed on his lips. ”Daoist Lin is a life-and-death friend of mine...”

”If you dare to plot against him, I absolutely will not allow it.”