After the Great Dao Died

The sea of clouds surged; the divine deer hung in the sky.

The radiance of three great suns cascaded from the nine heavens, illuminating Slumbering Deer Peak as bright as day. Upon the antlers of the divine deer’s phantom, ten thousand streaks of golden haze flowed ceaselessly like living creatures, making the mountain peak look even more like a fairyland.

Chen Lingxi’s two words—”That’s fine”—fell just like that, light and airy.

Yet those two light words made everyone present freeze in slight surprise.

In front of the Spirit Nurturing Hall, Yuan Lingyu’s bright eyes suddenly widened.

She opened her mouth, twisting the hem of her robes. As she looked at that slender figure in the clouds, her eyes filled with unconcealed worry.

Shen Xiu’an stood upon the clouds, his brow faintly furrowed.

He had intended to speak, but seeing the calm, tranquil, and somewhat unhurried look in Chen Lingxi’s eyes, he reconsidered and ultimately said nothing.

Senior Sister Yan Shu, who had remained silent all along, also raised her eyes at this moment and glanced at Chen Lingxi.

A trace of almost imperceptible astonishment flashed across her plain features.

This junior brother she barely knew had never shown the slightest edge since joining Slumbering Deer Peak. She never expected him to accept a challenge from someone ranked near the top of the Dragon Transformation Immortal Roll.

’He has some nerve,’ Yan Shu thought, yet she gave a faint shake of her head. ’But... if he loses, it will only put Eldest Senior Brother in a difficult position.’

Higher up in the void, the gazes of the masters of the Six Halls of Slumbering Deer Peak hid behind the churning clouds, quietly falling upon the scene like six pairs of invisible eyes, silently watching everything unfold.

A hint of a smile appeared on Cheng Shuangtian’s face, as if everything were under his control.

Behind him, a flash of joy crossed Lian Sheng’s eyes.

The arrogance returned to his gaze.

He stepped forward, adjusted his robes, and bowed to Chen Lingxi from afar. Wrapped in Dao Origin, his clear voice echoed through the surrounding void.

”Please instruct me, Martial Uncle!”

Chen Lingxi stood on the clouds, his expression unchanged.

He lowered his head. His gaze pierced through layers of clouds and landed on the pretty figure at the mountain peak looking up at him.

Seeing the worry in Yuan Lingyu’s eyes, he considered it for a moment, then gave her a faint smile.

The smile was tranquil, as if saying...

It’s fine, just watch me!

Yuan Lingyu froze, a little surprised, but the worry remained in her eyes.

Chen Lingxi raised his head again and gave a slight nod to Shen Xiu’an.

Standing amidst the divine deer’s radiance, Shen Xiu’an’s sword qi was dense and heavy. Seeing this, he fell silent for a moment and ultimately did not speak to stop him.

Right at that moment, the Dao Origin around Lian Sheng roared to life.

”Forgive the offense, Martial Uncle!”

Before his voice even faded, he suddenly thrust out a hand. A profound light flashed in his palm, transforming into a jade seal that hovered three zhang above his head.

The Xuming Tangyao Dao’s Great Divine Ability, [Void-Illuminating Birth]!

The moment the seal appeared, an indescribable and profound spiritual energy diffused from it.

The seal then spun violently. The spiritual energy in the surrounding void frantically converged toward it like all rivers running into the sea. Beneath the seal, streaks of spiritual light visible to the naked eye condensed out of thin air.

The spiritual lights held firm without dispersing. As they surged, they gradually took the shape of towering figures.

Like strongmen.

Like immortals.

The Great Divine Ability [Void-Illuminating Birth]! Spiritual light was formless, yet it illuminated tangible Dao mysteries, projecting into the void and manifesting myriad forms!

In a mere instant, seven or eight projections of strongmen and immortals, entirely constructed from profound spiritual light, appeared out of thin air within a hundred zhang of Lian Sheng.

Spiritual light flowed around these projections, their auras dense and heavy. Though they lacked flesh and blood, they possessed an awe-inspiring might, as if they would lunge toward Chen Lingxi to kill him in the very next breath.

Chen Lingxi stood on the clouds, looking at the spiritual projections with a flash of surprise in his eyes.

’This Void-Illuminating Birth Great Divine Ability is truly remarkable,’ he mused silently, yet without a sliver of fear.

At that moment, Lian Sheng struck again. A small jade tiger appeared in his palm. It was warm and smooth, with its head held high and its tail like a whip. Spiritual light faintly circulated around its body.

It was a Fourth Grade Spiritual Artifact, the [Mechanism-Harboring Jade Tiger].

”Go!”

Lian Sheng tossed the jade tiger into the void.

The jade tiger expanded with the wind, growing to over a zhang in size in the blink of an eye. The spiritual light on its body blazed as it leaped into the seven or eight strongman and immortal projections on its own, pushing their might another level higher.

Instantly, the spiritual light around the projections skyrocketed. Their imposing presence became overwhelming, like seven or eight true Great Divine Ability experts awakening at the same time. Their oppressive aura blotted out the sky.

Standing amidst it all, Chen Lingxi’s black brocade robes flapped fiercely in the wind.

Countless people on Slumbering Deer Peak were watching the battle.

Many Slumbering Deer Peak disciples worried that if this [Spirit-Directing Little Martial Uncle] lost, it would disgrace their peak.

Other disciples wanted to see exactly how strong Lian Sheng of the First Profound Immortal Roll truly was.

And still others wanted to know...

...why the Peak Master had accepted such a disciple.

Right then, Chen Lingxi moved!

He merely reached out and pressed forward lightly.

In an instant, heaven and earth changed!

Countless streaks of dazzling, pale gold lightning erupted from Chen Lingxi’s body. Initially as fine as silk threads, the lightning instantly blazed and surged outward, transforming into a lightning purgatory a hundred zhang across!

The Thunder Prison Heaven Great Divine Ability!

Immortal Smiting Thunder Pool!

Within that thunder pool, streaks of lightning churned and roared like countless thunder dragons breaking free of their chains. Wrapped in terrifying power, they swept outward with a deafening boom!

Wherever the lightning passed, the seven or eight spiritual projections were silently incinerated into nothingness the moment they touched it, like snow falling into a furnace.

Facing this purest form of lightning slaughter, the augmented might of the Mechanism-Harboring Jade Tiger couldn’t hold on for even a single breath. It was completely annihilated alongside the many projections.

Lian Sheng’s pupils shrank sharply.

He never expected that this seemingly unremarkable Spirit-Directing Martial Uncle would unleash such a peerlessly overbearing, lethal Great Divine Ability the moment he struck!

”The Thunder Prison Heaven Great Divine Ability... a Great Divine Ability of pure killing power!”

Lian Sheng took a deep breath. Though the arrogance in his eyes hadn’t completely faded, it was now tinged with solemnity.

With a flick of his finger, the Mechanism-Harboring Jade Tiger leaped up again. The spiritual light on its body flared, forming a protective spiritual barrier around him that kept the sky-filling lightning at bay.

”Your divine ability is extraordinary, Martial Uncle. I, Lian Sheng, underestimated you!”

A sharp glint flashed in Lian Sheng’s eyes. His hands formed a seal as he activated another Great Divine Ability.

Twelve more immortal and strongman projections manifested in the void. Lian Sheng’s divine sense flared!

[Heavenly Frost Spiritual Net]!

The twelve Great Divine Ability strongmen opened their mouths and exhaled in unison. Streaks of bone-chilling white frost surged from their throats, expanding in the wind. In the blink of an eye, they morphed into a massive, sky-blotting frost net that descended toward Chen Lingxi’s head.

Countless dense ice crystals condensed on the massive net, harboring a piercing chill as if attempting to freeze the world itself.

Immediately following, Lian Sheng gave a low shout and violently thrust out his right palm.

[Roaring Crimson Great Handprint]!

The twelve strongmen struck simultaneously!

Twelve crimson palm prints, each a full ten zhang across, condensed out of thin air. Carrying monstrous waves of heat, they flanked the giant frost net left and right, crashing down to suppress Chen Lingxi!

But these were not all of Lian Sheng’s killing moves!

Divine Ability [Scorching Cloud Qi]!

Lian Sheng’s Dao Origin surged wildly as churning crimson cloud qi rose from beneath his feet. The cloud qi was incredibly scorching, seemingly igniting the surrounding air. It transformed into a raging prairie fire that swept toward Chen Lingxi!

Ice and fire in the same furnace!

Three divine abilities, seamlessly linked, blotting out the sky and covering the earth!

The moment Lian Sheng struck, he held nothing back, filling the sky with his divine abilities.

Standing on the mountain peak, Yuan Lingyu couldn’t help but worry as she watched the sky fill with frost, crimson flames, and cloud qi.

High in the void above, the gazes of the Six Halls’ masters remained hidden behind the clouds, unmoving.

Chen Lingxi stood right in the center of the overwhelming offensive, yet his expression remained as calm as ever.

A thin slit suddenly cracked open in the center of his forehead.

Within that slit, an incredibly dazzling and tyrannical cluster of lightning frantically condensed. In the blink of an eye, it took the shape of a vertical eye!

The profound mechanism of the Thunder Prison Heaven Great Divine Ability...

[Thunder Prison Immortal Eye]!

The instant the immortal eye opened, a blindingly bright silver-white light shot out from its pupil, shining straight into the sky-covering frost net.

Wherever the pupil light touched, the massive Heavenly Frost Spiritual Net was forcefully pinned in midair, unable to advance a single inch!

At that exact moment, Chen Lingxi reached out his right hand, and the Abyssal Heaven Spiritual Sword left its sheath!

The precious sword was crystal clear. The remnant lines of the hundred restrictive formations on its blade lit up simultaneously, and a peerlessly sharp sword intent soared into the sky!

Chen Lingxi stood with sword in hand, wreathed in lightning, looking like a deity walking out of a thunder pool. With a flick of his wrist, he violently slashed out with the Abyssal Heaven Spiritual Sword!

Twelve Chimes of the Heavenly Drum!

Twelve earth-shattering claps of thunder suddenly exploded in the void.

The thunderclaps sounded as if a divine being were beating a heavenly drum. Each chime was stronger and faster than the last. The twelve claps superimposed into a soundwave capable of tearing apart the soul. Wrapped in the sword light of the Abyssal Heaven Spiritual Sword, it slashed fiercely toward the Roaring Crimson Great Handprints!

Boom!

Under Chen Lingxi’s sword strike, the ten-zhang crimson palm prints were cleaved right down the middle like thin paper!

Monstrous waves of heat scattered in all directions, turning into sky-filling radiance that drifted down like falling snow.

Having shattered the Roaring Crimson Great Handprints with one strike, Chen Lingxi did not stop. The Longevity Bridge instantly manifested, lifting his figure into the sky. He soared straight over the churning Scorching Cloud Qi and shot directly toward Lian Sheng!

Lian Sheng’s expression changed drastically.

”Hm? How is this person’s Dao Origin so abundant?”

Only now did he truly realize just how terrifying this Spirit-Directing Martial Uncle’s killing power was!

The Thunder Prison Immortal Eye had pinned down the Heavenly Frost Spiritual Net. A single sword strike had shattered the Roaring Crimson Great Handprints. The Longevity Bridge had breached the Scorching Cloud Qi...

Such foundation... such killing power...

”I underestimated you.”

Lian Sheng grit his teeth, his eyes still burning with unyielding battle intent.

Dao Origin surged wildly around him. The Mechanism-Harboring Jade Tiger bounded forward once more, its spiritual light flaring as he prepared to activate his killing move.

Right at that moment, Chen Lingxi’s figure abruptly swelled!

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, his originally slender frame grew to three zhang in height. The muscles across his body knotted like dragons, and his robes were torn to shreds by his expanding physique, revealing a body that looked as if it were cast from molten bronze and iron!

Great Sage Precious Phase!

The precious phase stood tall, connecting heaven and earth. Vitality surged around him like a tide. He looked like a great sun descending to the mortal realm. The sheer intensity of his aura actually caused the surrounding clouds to tremble!

Lian Sheng’s pupils contracted sharply.

He watched helplessly as the three-zhang divine precious phase extended its right hand, stretched out an index finger, and lightly pointed toward him.

Palace-Knocking Finger!

That finger descended like the sky itself collapsing!

The protective spiritual barrier formed by the Mechanism-Harboring Jade Tiger shattered explosively under the finger!

The jade tiger let out a mournful cry. The spiritual light on its body dimmed as it tumbled into the dust.

The finger’s residual force continued unabated. Wrapped in the lightning of the Immortal Smiting Thunder Pool and the vitality of the Great Sage Precious Phase, it landed squarely on Lian Sheng’s chest!

Lian Sheng gave a muffled groan. He was sent flying backward by the strike, plummeting like a kite with a broken string. He crashed heavily into the sea of clouds below the peak, kicking up a massive spray of mist.

The sea of clouds churned, unable to settle for a long time.

A deathly silence blanketed the void.

Yuan Lingyu stared with wide eyes. She looked at where Lian Sheng had fallen into the clouds, then back at Chen Lingxi hovering above them. His three-zhang divine precious phase slowly retracted, returning to his slender figure. For a moment, she couldn’t quite believe it.

”Where did Spirit-Directing Senior Brother learn such a divine ability?”

Standing on the clouds, a trace of approval flashed through Shen Xiu’an’s eyes as he watched the scene.

The gazes of the Six Halls’ masters, hidden behind the clouds, also seemed somewhat moved.

As for Cheng Shuangtian, the smile on his face had long since vanished.

Right at that moment, the sea of clouds abruptly exploded!

Lian Sheng shot into the sky from deep within the clouds. Though his aura was somewhat chaotic, he hadn’t suffered any severe injuries after all.

He stood in the void, his face as dark as water. His eyes were locked dead onto Chen Lingxi, filled with indignation and refusal to yield.

He had joined Clumsy Crane Peak and cultivated the Void-Illuminating Birth divine ability of the Xuming Tangyao Dao. At barely twenty-four years old, he had already climbed near the top of the First Profound Ranking of the Dragon Transformation Immortal Roll.

Within his cultivation realm, he stood among the very best.

Yet today, right here on Slumbering Deer Peak, in front of all these people, he had been reduced to such a pathetic state by a single sword strike and a single finger from this unheard-of Spirit-Directing Martial Uncle!

How could he accept this?

Lian Sheng grit his teeth hard. His Dao Origin surged wildly once more. The Mechanism-Harboring Jade Tiger that had tumbled into the dust suddenly leapt up. The spiritual light on its body reignited, resonating with Lian Sheng’s Dao Origin as he prepared to activate his trump-card killing artifact!

Right at that moment...

”Hmph!”

A cold snort burst from Shen Xiu’an’s throat.

The cold snort carried sword intent, crashing into Lian Sheng’s heart like a thousand-catty hammer.

Shen Xiu’an stood upon the clouds, his sword qi dense and heavy. His tranquil eyes landed on Lian Sheng as he spoke slowly, ”A sparring match between fellow disciples, yet you wish to draw upon your life-saving trump cards?”

Those words fell into Lian Sheng’s ears like a basin of ice water poured directly over his head.

Lian Sheng’s body stiffened, and his surging Dao Origin abruptly halted.

He raised his head, meeting Shen Xiu’an’s abyssal, tranquil eyes, then looked at Chen Lingxi standing not far away, whose lightning had yet to fully dissipate.

For a moment, he found himself caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.

Right at that moment...

Chen Lingxi’s expression was icy; the Abyssal Heaven Spiritual Sword was already hovering in front of him.

A ray of sword light slowly bloomed across the blade.

The moment that sword light appeared...

Shen Xiu’an, an expert in the sword dao, felt his breath catch slightly.

Cheng Shuangtian’s expression also shifted slightly!

Lian Sheng felt it even more acutely—an indescribable sharpness rushed straight at his face!

The sword intent was far too pure and far too tyrannical. It was like an invisible blade pressed right between his brows; with a single thought from Chen Lingxi, it would pierce straight through his Sea of Consciousness!

Lian Sheng stood frozen in place. The churning Dao Origin around his body ground to a complete halt in that instant.

He stared at the sword light and the icy-faced figure in black standing upon the clouds for a very, very long time...

Only after a long while did Lian Sheng lower his eyes, looking somewhat demoralized as he said, ”So Martial Uncle hadn’t even used his full strength... I have lost this battle.”