After the Great Dao Died

Chen Lingxi sat cross-legged inside the King of the East’s Traveling Palace, the Six Qi True Method slowly circulating throughout his body.

It flowed through numerous acupoints and countless meridians, completing a grand circulation cycle.

Within Chen Lingxi’s Qi Sea, three streams of precious qi continuously circulated, growing ever stronger.

At the same time, the medicinal power of the precious pill—produced when the Gold-Swallowing Toad in his Qi Sea devoured the Crown Prince’s Beast-Fighting Palace—began to rise.

He cultivated in peace.

After a night passed, Chen Lingxi slowly opened his eyes.

His divine sense still lingered within his Qi Sea.

Compared to his time on the Qi Circulation 9th Floor, his Qi Sea was vastly broader, and the spiritual qi within it far more profound.

The sheer volume of spiritual qi alone had swollen to more than triple what it was on the ninth floor.

More importantly, Chen Lingxi keenly sensed that his spiritual qi had undergone a mystical transformation.

The spiritual qi now contained subtle dao marvels; it felt as heavy as a thousand catties, yet endlessly regenerative.

’In the Heaven-Facing Realm, quantitative and qualitative changes occur simultaneously.’

Chen Lingxi’s eyes burned brightly, and the aura around him grew heavier and more mysterious.

’Stepping into the Tenth Floor brings two new Qi circulation mechanisms.’

He remained seated in the King of the East’s Traveling Palace, but the pores all over his body suddenly opened wide, continuously drawing in and exhaling the free-floating spiritual qi from his surroundings.

’From now on, I don’t need to deliberately breathe to keep the Six Qi True Method circulating. I will constantly be cultivating. Like the True Edict of Approaching the Dao and the Great Sage Breathing, my cultivation will grow stronger at every moment.’

’This is the mechanism of [Cosmic Circulation].’

As this thought crossed his mind, the blood within his body suddenly surged, rushing through his entire frame. He acutely sensed his physical strength spike at that very moment.

A sharp light flashed in his eyes.

’And this is the [Blood-Burning] mechanism of the Qi Circulation 10th Floor.’

Blood-Burning was a Tenth Floor mechanism that involved constructing a furnace within one’s own Qi Sea to burn the body’s essence blood, trading it for immense bursts of physical strength in a short period.

During the Battle of Cauldron Seizing, Shi Hong, a body cultivator, had used this very mechanism to resist Chen Lingxi’s sword light.

Now, experiencing this mechanism for himself, pleasant surprise colored Chen Lingxi’s eyes.

’For ordinary Qi Circulation cultivators, this Blood-Burning mechanism is merely a life-saving technique to use when their spiritual qi is exhausted.’

’But for body cultivators like Shi Hong and me, the value of the Blood-Burning mechanism is no less than a Grade Five Magical Artifact.’

Without hesitation, Chen Lingxi activated the mechanism furnace in his Qi Sea, burning his own blood!

Simultaneously, he circulated the True Edict of Approaching the Dao. Surging essence energy immediately welled up within his flesh, causing his heart to beat wildly as it continuously generated fresh blood!

The mechanism furnace burned the blood, while the True Edict of Approaching the Dao constantly created more.

Working in perfect harmony, Chen Lingxi’s qi and blood became incomparably dense in an instant, and his physical body grew exponentially stronger under the enhancement of the Blood-Burning mechanism.

’With this Blood-Burning mechanism paired with the True Edict of Approaching the Dao, on top of my numerous foundations... once I cultivate the Tenth Floor to perfection...’

’Below the Twelfth Floor of Qi Circulation, I shall be invincible.’

Chen Lingxi’s eyes burned brightly, his confidence growing by several measures.

’Emperor Daye is currently in seclusion, which is a good thing.’

’Now that I’ve ascended to the Qi Circulation 10th Floor and seized two mechanisms, I don’t need to end my seclusion just yet.’

’More than half of that precious pill’s medicinal power still remains in my Qi Sea. Once I refine it entirely, I can push my cultivation to the perfection stage of the Tenth Floor.’

With that thought, Chen Lingxi remained in the King of the East’s Traveling Palace, continuing to refine the medicinal power.

Two months slipped quietly by.

Spring had arrived again. The snow on the mountainside of Cuojin Mountain had melted, turning into murmuring streams that nurtured the mountain’s vitality.

Chen Lingxi opened his eyes and slowly stood up, the Method of Qi Observation swirling in his gaze.

Inside Xuanhuo Temple in Yuanjiang Prefecture, threads of spiritual qi continued to drift into the backyard, indicating that Liu Changle had not yet awakened.

Chen Lingxi thought for a moment and decided to make a trip to Luoshui Province.

Ever since Chen Lingxi killed the King of the East, the Imperial Court Army had completely collapsed. Even though the imperial court dispatched new generals, it had ultimately been of no use.

Xiao Changlv’s Evil-Suppressing Heavenly Army conquered cities and seized strongholds all along the way, advancing into Luoshui Province.

Luoshui Province was no longer far from Lunan Province, separated by a mere seven hundred li.

’In Emperor Daye’s eyes, this empire and throne are already vastly inferior to the Dao, inferior to immortality, and especially inferior to the vast Great Xuanzhuo Realm.’

’Perhaps it won’t be long before Xiao Changlv sits upon the imperial throne.’

Chen Lingxi soared on the clouds, deep in thought.

His reason for heading to Luoshui Province was to meet Xiao Changlv.

’During my Absolute Perception, I promised this kingly leader who worries for his country and his people that once I uncovered Emperor Daye’s secrets, I would tell him.’

’Although that was an agreement made during my Absolute Perception Deduction, Xiao Changlv’s desire to spare the common people from the suffering of war makes him worthy of respect.’

Thinking this, he flew all the way on his clouds toward Luoshui Province.

While passing over Lunan Prefecture, his gaze fell upon the prefect’s estate.

”Huh...” Chen Lingxi let out a light sound of surprise, a look of bewilderment flashing in his eyes.

Inside Xi Ninghe’s estate, a mass of spiritual qi was slowly circulating, and it actually possessed the realm of the Qi Circulation 6th Floor.

’That’s Xi Lan’s aura,’ Chen Lingxi marveled. ’There really are secrets hidden on Xi Lan. It’s only been a few years, yet she has already stepped onto the path of cultivation and is even about to enter the Upper Three Floors.’

’With a cultivation speed like this, she’s definitely a genius... What’s more, she seems to be a native person, not a Seeker Rebirth, and she has no master to guide her.’

Amazed by Xi Lan’s cultivation speed, an idea suddenly sprouted in his mind.

’With such a genius, if I can form good karma with her, she might be of help to me once she succeeds in her cultivation.’

’I might as well pay a visit to Xi Ninghe’s estate, teach Xi Lan a divine ability or two, and leave her a few spirit stones.’

With this thought in mind, Chen Lingxi prepared to descend on his cloud.

Suddenly, he recalled the eerie strangeness surrounding Xi Lan and jolted awake!

’The thought of helping Xi Lan cultivate just sprang into my mind again.’

Feeling a deepening sense of dread, Chen Lingxi quickly pushed his Cloud Soaring Technique to its limits and shot straight toward Luoshui Province.

Outside the prefectural city of Luoshui Province, a massive army was encamped, presenting an extraordinary sight.

Chen Lingxi arrived on his cloud and saw a figure standing atop the city wall with his hands clasped behind his back.

It was Xiao Changlv.

He gazed at Chen Lingxi from afar. His eyes were calm, but the qi and blood around his body surged violently, as if he deeply distrusted Chen Lingxi.

To Xiao Changlv, this was only his second time seeing Chen Lingxi.

The first time Xiao Changlv saw him was when he went to Yuanjiang Prefecture to kill Imperial Consort Chun.

Back then, Lu Baizhong had intercepted Chen Lingxi, and the two were locked in a fierce battle.

Xiao Changlv had been passing by. With a flick of his finger, he shot out a beam of qi and blood, forcing both Lu Baizhong and Chen Lingxi to flee in panic.

And this was the second time.

Chen Lingxi had long since witnessed Xiao Changlv’s imposing aura during his Absolute Perception Deduction.

Yet, seeing Xiao Changlv again now, he frowned slightly.

Xiao Changlv’s aura had grown even more profound, his vast qi and blood flowing sluggishly but powerfully... Even Chen Lingxi’s Method of Qi Observation couldn’t fathom his depths.

’The last time I killed the King of the East, he mentioned to Xiao Zhushan that Xiao Changlv was in seclusion,’ Chen Lingxi thought. ’It seems his qi and blood cultivation has advanced significantly during this retreat.’

Doubts arose in his mind. ’Previously, Xiao Changlv was very likely a Twelfth Profound expert. Now that he’s broken through again, has he stepped into the Thirteenth Profound?’

’Is the Twelfth Profound not the end of the Qi and Blood Martial Dao?’

As Chen Lingxi pondered this, Xiao Zhushan, standing on the city wall, bowed to him from afar.

Xiao Changlv stepped aside, revealing a low table behind him.

Chen Lingxi drifted down on his cloud, landing on the wall to sit opposite Xiao Changlv.

”Immortal, you helped my Evil-Suppressing Heavenly Army slay the King of the East, sparing many of my brothers from sacrifice. I, Xiao, offer you a toast.”

Xiao Changlv sat cross-legged on a futon. His frame was towering and majestic, his aura like that of a true dragon.

He looked at Chen Lingxi with earnest eyes.

The two men drank.

Setting down his cup, Xiao Changlv asked seriously, ”May I ask what brings an immortal to my military encampment?”

Chen Lingxi turned his head and pointed toward a large river in the distance.

It was the Luoshui River.

”Heavenly King, are you aware that Emperor Daye has long since embarked on the path of cultivation?

”He linked all the great rivers, lakes, mountains, and valleys of the world together, forming a world-shaking grand array that gathers the spiritual qi of heaven and earth and channels it straight to the Imperial Palace.

”The reason he ordered the excavation of the forty-nine canals was to complete this spiritual qi array.”

Xiao Changlv’s expression shifted slightly. He suddenly asked, ”Could you tell me... has Emperor Daye, Ying Xian, been possessed by an immortal like yourself? Or perhaps there is an immortal sitting deep within the palace, using Emperor Daye as a puppet?”

Chen Lingxi shook his head. ”Emperor Daye is still the same Emperor Daye. He is not an out-of-domain figure.

”There are indeed many out-of-domain figures deep within the palace, but they are nothing more than servants under Emperor Daye’s command. How could they possibly control him?”

Xiao Changlv took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his eyes before revealing surging killing intent.

”I had guessed that Emperor Daye was bewitched or threatened by out-of-domain figures like Imperial Consort Chun, which led to his successive tyrannies that plunged the people into misery.

”Just digging the forty-nine canals alone cost tens of millions of lives.

”In the continuous wars that followed, who knows how many tens of millions more have died.

”Emperor Daye must repay all of this evil karma.”

Chen Lingxi narrowed his eyes and suddenly asked, ”Heavenly King, do you know how tremendously powerful Emperor Daye’s cultivation is?”

Xiao Changlv bluntly admitted he did not.

Chen Lingxi spoke calmly, ”I have seen Yuan Yuan, Marquis Fengshan, and General Qi Lian.

”In terms of combat strength, these figures are all at the Twelfth Profound.”

Xiao Changlv listened carefully.

Chen Lingxi continued, ”But compared to Emperor Daye, these figures are like ants to a yellowbird. They couldn’t survive a single exchange with him.”

Crack!

Hearing Chen Lingxi’s words, Xiao Zhushan, who was pouring wine for the two nearby, lost control of his qi and blood, crushing the wine flagon in his hand.

The wine splashed out, but he hurriedly salvaged the situation, evaporating the liquid with his qi and blood.

Xiao Changlv looked down in thought for a moment. He raised his head and said, ”If Emperor Daye possesses such mighty power, why does he allow nineteen rebel kings to ravage the empire he rules?”

Chen Lingxi answered, ”Naturally, it is because Emperor Daye wields such vast power and has witnessed a much grander world. He has lost all interest in this tiny Great Li, and even the realm itself.”

Xiao Changlv slowly shook his head.

”A King Cannot Be Deceived!” he declared. ”Having sat comfortably upon the imperial throne as the sovereign of millions, even if he holds no interest in the realm or its territory...

”Since Emperor Daye commands such mighty power and has numerous Twelfth Profound figures under him, how could he allow those who rebel against him to live? With a single order, he could harvest the heads of all those rebel kings.”

Chen Lingxi’s pupils constricted.

There really seemed to be some truth to Xiao Changlv’s words.

Pondering what Xiao Changlv had said, Chen Lingxi spoke up, ”Keeping in mind the Heavenly King’s concern for the nation and its people, I came to deliver this information. Now that the Heavenly King knows Emperor Daye’s true foundation, I won’t overstay my welcome.”

Bidding farewell to Xiao Changlv, Chen Lingxi soared into the sky on his cloud.

Xiao Changlv stood up to see him off, keeping his hands clasped behind his back as he stood on the city wall.

Chen Lingxi glanced back and saw Xiao Changlv’s resolute gaze and deep, abyssal aura. He was truly an unparalleled hero.

Chen Lingxi touched down again in the Nanju Twelve Mountains.

’Thinking about it carefully, Xiao Changlv does have a point... Moreover...’

His eyes flickered as he suddenly recalled that when he used Vision Roaming on Emperor Daye, the karmic anchor he relied on was Xiao Changlv’s Profound-Entering Essence Blood.

’Emperor Daye is tyrannical enough that even those three projection avatars from the Under-Dao Academy couldn’t compete with him at all.’

’And Xiao Changlv is ultimately just a native rebel king. Even if his cultivation is profound, I fear he still falls short of Jiang Xiu and the others from the Under-Dao Academy.’

’If that’s the case, why would Xiao Changlv be Emperor Daye’s karmic anchor?’

As he pondered, a drop of essence blood appeared before his eyes.

It was Xiao Changlv’s Profound-Entering Essence Blood.

When he was at the Qi Circulation 9th Floor, Chen Lingxi had already sensed that this Profound-Entering Essence Blood seemed to contain a unique power, but he hadn’t been able to see it clearly back then.

Today, having stepped into the Tenth Floor of Qi Circulation, Chen Lingxi channeled a streak of spiritual qi into his eyes and activated the Method of Qi Observation.

’This is...’

Chen Lingxi’s pupils shrank as he peered closer.

To his astonishment, Xiao Changlv’s Profound-Entering Essence Blood actually contained a trace of... Dao Origin!

Chen Lingxi was incredibly familiar with the aura exuding from this wisp of Dao Origin.

He had encountered this very same Dao Origin aura during his Absolute Perception and his Vision Roaming.

’This is Emperor Daye’s Dao Origin.’

Chen Lingxi’s breathing grew somewhat ragged.

He continued to push his Method of Qi Observation to examine it closely.

He saw that Emperor Daye’s wisp of Dao Origin was wrapping around a wondrous stream of qi.

This qi was incomparably mystical; upon a cursory glance, Chen Lingxi found he couldn’t see through it at all.

’I will extract this stream of qi.’

Chen Lingxi immediately utilized the Qi-Gathering Technique, completely peeling away the wisp of Dao Origin that had already fallen dormant and extracting the qi from within it.

In an instant, a myriad of profound mysteries flooded Chen Lingxi’s mind.

Chen Lingxi closed his eyes and sensed this wisp of precious qi. The Six Qi True Method circulated ceaselessly, and a scorching aura radiated from his body.

A full several days passed.

Only then did Chen Lingxi finally open his eyes.

He exhaled a long breath of stale air, his eyes reflecting a mixture of pleasant surprise and profound dread.

’Just how many hidden foundations does Emperor Daye possess?’

Chen Lingxi’s eyes flickered as he stared at the wisp of black precious qi suspended before him.

’The Myriad Breeding Dao-Seeding Marvelous Lotus Qi.’

The sheer mystical nature of this qi left Chen Lingxi breathless with awe.

’With this precious qi, one can forge the three souls and seven physical spirits out of thin air. These souls and spirits can cultivate independently, yet remain completely under one’s own control.’

A realization struck Chen Lingxi, and he narrowed his eyes.

’To think that Xiao Changlv... is actually Emperor Daye’s clone.’