After the Great Dao Died

Chen Lingxi’s pupils contracted.

Fengshan Sui. Great Li had stood for over two hundred years. More than two centuries ago, Da Li Taizu had raised an army and overthrown the old era of Great Yuan!

Among his followers were twelve founding ministers whose contributions were the most illustrious.

After the founding of Great Li, the Cloud Firmament Pavilion was built to enshrine these twelve founding ministers.

One of them was named Fengshan Sui—the very first Marquis Fengshan!

Chen Lingxi had originally thought this Marquis Fengshan was simply the contemporary heir to the title, but to his surprise, the current Marquis Fengshan was also named Fengshan Sui—

Wasn’t this a little too strange?

’Has this man lived for over two hundred years?’

Chen Lingxi was rather surprised.

A blood-qi martial artist, even in the Entering Profound Realm, did not live much longer than an ordinary person.Even though their internal organs were incredibly powerful, the very circulation of their blood-qi placed an immense burden on those organs and their physical frames.

Unless an Entering Profound martial artist stopped cultivating the moment they broke through and dispersed all their blood-qi, living to a hundred and twenty was already considered a long life.

Yet even if they did disperse their blood-qi, their internal organs—long accustomed to that powerful energy—would wither and fail without it.

So, from beginning to end—

There had probably never been an Entering Profound martial artist in the world who had lived for two hundred years!

This was the limitation of body practitioners in this minor grotto-heaven.

The Great Xuanzhuo Realm was overflowing with spiritual qi. A body practitioner like Shi Hong could live at least two or three hundred years if he reached the Three Heaven-Facing Realms, provided he suffered no injuries and lost no lifespan.

It was countless times superior to this blood-qi martial Dao.

’Great Li has no tradition of naming descendants after their ancestors. It violates etiquette and law.’

’So this first-generation Marquis Fengshan really has lived for over two hundred years.’

He was a little surprised.

But on second thought, it was not all that strange.

’There are many opportunities in this grotto-heaven. Perhaps this Marquis Fengshan obtained some fortunate encounter that grants longevity.’

Chen Lingxi set the matter aside and slowly stood up.

He stared at the two names upon the Enemy-Slaughtering Spirit Wall.

Within the profound mysteries of heaven and earth, he felt as if he were looking down upon Qi Lian and Marquis Fengshan.

Faintly, he seemed to have gained the power to easily suppress these two men beneath his palm.

Sensing the waves of profound energy emanating from the Enemy-Slaughtering Spirit Wall, Chen Lingxi’s curiosity toward the words ”Cauldron Vessel” deepened.

The mysteries of a Cauldron Vessel were so profound that even a True Lord figure likely could not trace its origins, discern its karma, or comprehend the miraculous power it contained.

’The Enemy-Slaughtering Spirit Wall was forged by a great celestial general of the Immortal Capital and gifted to Daoist Xuanjian.’

’Now this Enemy-Slaughtering Spirit Wall has shattered, its fragments falling into the turbulent void and scattering across countless grotto-heavens and secret realms.’

’This likely means Daoist Xuanjian is already dead! To have possessed such a terrifying Cauldron Vessel, yet still perish.’

Many emotions welled up in Chen Lingxi’s heart.

He felt both anticipation and apprehension regarding the Great Xuanzhuo Realm.

But in the end, everything would have to wait for the future.

’If I cannot escape this Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven, then anticipation and apprehension are both meaningless.’

Chen Lingxi stood tall. His cloud-soaring technique activated beneath his feet, forming a green cloud laced with lightning.

’Great Sage Luoyuan is one of my paths to survival. And Emperor Daye mentioned that the Dao Foundation divine ability inscription was formed from a deceased Dao Foundation cultivator! A Dao Foundation cultivator once came to this grotto-heaven, and as Emperor Daye said: those who can come can leave.’

’Somewhere in the hidden depths of this grotto-heaven, there must be a passage leading to the Great Xuanzhuo Realm. That is my second path to survival.’

’I will go scout that Dao Foundation divine ability inscription first!’

Chen Lingxi’s body turned into a streak of flowing light, heading straight for the distant Xuanji Island. His speed was like a rainbow unfurling after the rain!

On Xuanji Island.

A few years ago, this was not a deserted island. Many commoners lived here, a population numbering in the thousands.

Later, for some unknown reason, all the people on the island disappeared.

Without anyone to maintain them, the houses and buildings on the island gradually decayed amidst the ocean waves.

Many seafarers claimed the islanders had failed to worship the Sea God, incurring his wrath and bringing down a natural disaster—a storm that swept away their lives.

Naturally, this was not true.

But Xuanji Island became a taboo place all the same, and merchant ships no longer stopped there to rest.

At this moment, Marquis Fengshan sat imposingly on a protruding rock. The rough stone stood in stark contrast to his luxurious robes. He held a jade pendant in his hand, his brow slightly furrowed.

”The Imperial Court just sent word,” he said. ”A reincarnator named Chen Lingxi possesses the power of the Twelfth Floor! In the battle for the cauldron, he slaughtered thousands of Silver Bone cultivators and defeated Marquis Zisheng and the Crown Prince.

”He seized the Cauldron Vessel, the Enemy-Slaughtering Spirit Wall.”

Not far away, General Qi Lian stood tall, his brows also slightly furrowed.

He wore a long robe and possessed a refined, elegant aura. He looked less like a general and more like a prime minister.

”The person in this portrait is the young man who came to investigate Xuanji Island yesterday,” Qi Lian said. ”I hunted him for over two hundred li, but I could not see any trace of a Twelfth Floor cultivation base.

”His spiritual qi was extremely dense, but he was at the peak of the Tenth Floor at most.

”In terms of profound mysteries, his mastery of techniques is quite extraordinary. For example, his cloud-riding technique has actually reached a wondrous level.

”Even I could only match his speed; I couldn’t easily catch him.”

”How strange.” Marquis Fengshan stood up and looked toward a massive boulder on Xuanji Island.

The boulder’s surface was pitch-black and split down the middle. Motes of spiritual light leaked from the fissure.

The flickering light seemed to construct a mirage—blurry and indistinct.

This was undoubtedly the Dao Foundation divine ability inscription.

”If I had known that young man would bring the Imperial Court so much trouble, I would have burned the three flowers at my crown and killed him—” General Qi Lian said softly, his tone calm.

It was as if he could have easily killed Chen Lingxi with a mere thought.

”He cannot be killed.” Marquis Fengshan slowly shook his head. ”The Sage’s plans rely on this Chen Lingxi.”

As the two conversed, the distant clouds suddenly shifted.

Qi Lian frowned. He reached out, and a phantom image appeared in his hand.

The phantom was a mirror. Its surface rippled like flowing water.

As the ripples faded, an image appeared.

This mirror phantom was likely how General Qi Lian and Marquis Fengshan had known Chen Lingxi was spying from the sea yesterday!

And right now, a figure was reflected in the image.

Qi Lian immediately frowned.

Marquis Fengshan gave a cold snort.

”This Chen Lingxi... he really doesn’t know the meaning of death.”

”With the two of us here, he wouldn’t gain any advantage even if he really were at the Twelfth Floor of Qi Circulation. Yet he dares to return.”

Marquis Fengshan muttered softly. Then his expression turned solemn, and he said to Qi Lian, ”Since he isn’t afraid to die, he must have something to rely on.

”We are under orders to guard the Dao Foundation divine ability inscription. We cannot afford any mistakes.

”Within this realm, Chen Lingxi is probably the strongest reincarnator.

”We cannot underestimate him. When he gets close, we will strike together and use our full strength to kill him. Only then can we guarantee absolute success.”

Qi Lian’s cultivation and combat prowess were only stronger than Marquis Fengshan’s, never weaker.

Yet when Marquis Fengshan gave the order, Qi Lian seemed extremely submissive. He cupped his fist in acknowledgment.

At the same time, energy suddenly flowed above his head. Spiritual qi circulated, blooming into three fresh flowers.

They were the Lead Flower, Silver Flower, and Gold Flower—symbolizing essence, qi, and spirit!

Motes of spiritual light flickered on the three flowers as turbulent energy flowed from them.

This was the most extraordinary mystery of the Qi Circulation Eleventh Floor.

Three Flowers Converging at the Crown.

Under the Three Flowers Converging at the Crown, Qi Lian’s essence, qi, and spirit had been condensed to the absolute limit.

His physical body was so tyrannical that he could survive even with a pierced heart. Even if his arm was severed, it could be reattached as long as the limb remained.

His spiritual qi recovery speed was vastly enhanced. When casting ordinary techniques, his spiritual qi was virtually endless, granting him incredible endurance.

His Sea of Consciousness was as solid as a boulder and as steady as Mount Tai. Ordinary charming illusions, inner demon possessions, or attacks aimed at the Sea of Consciousness could not affect him.

This showed just how powerful the Qi Circulation Eleventh Floor was.

Marquis Fengshan was the same. His blood-qi surged like the waves on the ocean.

His martial spirit was like a blazing sun that would almost never fade.

The two men stood there, watching the distant clouds.

Waves began to ripple through the distant clouds. Amidst the churning fog, a bolt of lightning arrived in an instant!

Qi Lian’s pupils contracted slightly.

Standing safely atop the lightning-laced cloud was the same young man he had hunted down just yesterday, the one he had battered into a sorry state with his long saber divine ability.

A precious sword overflowing with lightning hung at his waist.

Spiritual light flickered in Qi Lian’s eyes as he scrutinized the young man.

He could clearly sense currents of energy flowing around the young man. His spiritual qi was quite dense, as if he had recovered to his peak.

But even so—

”The power within this person seems even weaker than it was yesterday.”

Qi Lian transmitted the thought with his divine sense, extremely puzzled.

The Imperial Court’s message stated that this man possessed a Twelfth Floor cultivation base and had directly defeated many who fought for the cauldron. Even Marquis Zisheng and the Crown Prince joining forces weren’t his match. Had the Sage not intervened, both Marquis Zisheng and the Crown Prince would likely have died at his hands.

Yesterday, this man’s cultivation hadn’t even reached the Qi Circulation Eleventh Floor; he was merely at the peak of the Tenth Floor.

But today—

His cultivation had dropped, falling a bit short of the peak of the Tenth Floor.

”Getting weaker? That’s far too strange.”

Marquis Fengshan’s expression was grim, without the slightest hint of underestimation. ”Regardless, we strike together and suppress him.

”Just don’t kill him. He is still of great use.”

Pausing briefly, Marquis Fengshan added, ”If our lives are threatened, then hold nothing back.

”Just kill him.

”The Sage’s divine power is unfathomable. Even without this Chen Lingxi, he will have other methods.”

A moment after Marquis Fengshan spoke—

Boom!

A violent explosion erupted.

Like a collapsing mountain, a surge of pure, tyrannical blood-qi blasted outward from Marquis Fengshan. It crushed the surrounding air, generating a series of sonic booms!

It was as terrifying as hills crumbling all around them.

Amidst the explosive noise, Marquis Fengshan leaped into the air like an arrow loosed from a bowstring!

Rising like the morning sun, his Entering Profound blood-qi was compressed to its absolute limit. In that moment, Marquis Fengshan resembled a miniature sun crashing straight toward Chen Lingxi!

Wherever he passed, the clouds instantly dispersed, and the ocean waves were flattened by his terrifying energy. His imposing aura had reached its zenith.

General Qi Lian did the same.

Standing in place, the three flowers bloomed atop his head. A pristine white cloud suddenly materialized beneath his feet, lifting his body as he transformed into a streak of light and shot forward.

Just like yesterday, a thirty-zhang phantom of a long saber coalesced behind Qi Lian.

The saber phantom gleamed with flowing light and blooming runes, its energy roaring like thunder!

An aura of supreme sharpness, coupled with dense spiritual qi, erupted between heaven and earth, as if stripping the void of all its edge!

At that moment.

The long saber was raised high, then slashed downward with a boom.

Slash!

A hundred-zhang saber aura burst forth, as if a god were bringing down a celestial blade in a horizontal sweep.

The clouds in the sky were sheared in half as the strike hurtled straight for Chen Lingxi!

Marquis Fengshan’s fist was like a blazing sun.

Qi Lian’s divine ability saber light was like a deity cleaving the void!

A blood-qi martial strike!

A divine ability technique!

With unfathomable combat power, the two attacks were about to land on Chen Lingxi.

Qi Lian’s face remained calm. Though curious about why Chen Lingxi dared to come, he held nothing back.

Spiritual light flowed in his eyes as he stared at Chen Lingxi on the distant cloud.

Then, he saw the handsome Chen Lingxi—wreathed in flowing lightning—draw his sword in fury!

On the Thunder Radiance Longsword, surging arcs of lightning slithered endlessly like serpents.

An incredibly profound lightning-path sword qi blossomed outward.

In the next instant, this sword qi split into twelve sword lights, trailing a torrential surge of spiritual qi as they roared forward.

Rumble!

The sword lights boomed and the lightning danced like dragons. The explosions in the void sounded like a deity beating a war drum!

Twelve Chimes of the Heavenly Drum!

The heavenly drum chimed! Sword qi crisscrossed!

Except—

’Isn’t this sword qi a bit too weak? If this is Chen Lingxi’s trump card, it’s far too strange.’

’Is this person really here to throw away his life?’ Qi Lian thought.

And then—

The barrage of lightning sword lights crashed into his hundred-zhang saber aura, as well as Marquis Fengshan’s sun-like fist intent!