After the Great Dao Died

He carefully recalled every detail of his time with Liu Changle.

During their two-plus years in the reverse-facing room, Liu Changle had endured the pain of testing medicines alongside him, struggling bitterly in that dark, damp hovel.

Liu Changle had once told him about those dreams of the long river.

Back then, Liu Changle’s tone had been full of confusion and bewilderment, not at all like someone who knew he harbored a great secret.

Later, after Liu Changle entered Xuanhuo Temple and learned Daoist magic, he had visited Marquis Baosu’s Manor at night. He had excitedly declared they would seek revenge together, even uttering a childish boast: ”Sooner or later, I’ll flip the emperor’s throne! When the time comes, I’ll be the emperor, and you can be the prime minister.”

This was clearly a native youth born and raised in Yuanjiang Prefecture, absolutely not some banished immortal from the Greater World in disguise.

’Then why?’

Chen Lingxi grew increasingly puzzled.

He pondered for a long time before a possibility suddenly struck him.

’Could it be that both Liu Changles exist in their respective dreams... just like that bizarre heavenly river dream he once mentioned?’As Chen Lingxi made his guesses, the spiritual pressure within the Ancestral Mountain grew increasingly oppressive.

Chen Lingxi looked up. The gentle starlight in the sky above this small grotto-heaven was dimming at a visible rate. The light gradually extinguished, leaving only a hazy gray void, while the phantom of the long river churned ever more violently.

The waves crested higher and higher, the roar of the water deafening.

Water vapor rolled off the churning waves, making the long river appear even more hazy and illusory.

As the river surged, the sweeping tide drowned the two whirlpools.

Chen Lingxi watched as the rushing waves swallowed the two whirlpools.

The surging tide shattered the two whirlpools. Only a roaring, turbulent current remained on the surface, leaving not a single trace of what had just been there.

The phantom of the long river continued to rush onward, but its deafening roar was gradually fading into the distance.

The river faded from its initial silvery-white to a translucent gray, and then to a faint, barely-there phantom.

’The long river is fading, but the Ancestral Mountain’s spiritual pressure is getting heavier.’

Chen Lingxi knew he could no longer stay.

The Ancestral Mountain’s spiritual pressure had reached a terrifying weight, pressing down so hard that the Heavenly Boat beneath his feet grew unstable.

The Ancestral Mountain was driving out all outsiders. If he didn’t leave now, he would be crushed to death by this pressure inside the fading small grotto-heaven. He thought for a moment, then cupped his fists and bowed toward the long river.

He performed this bow with the utmost solemnity.

It did not matter what the origins of this long river phantom were, nor what the scenes in those two whirlpools foretold.

Just the fact that it had actively parted the clouds and invited him here today, allowing him to glimpse this world-shaking secret concerning Liu Changle, made it worthy of his respect.

The waves grew even more violent, as if responding to Chen Lingxi.

The surging tide rose higher and higher, the water roaring like thunder as though seeing him off.

Driving the Heavenly Boat, Chen Lingxi departed the sea of clouds. By the time he flew out, the churning grayish-white fog behind him had completely closed.

It swallowed the phantom of the long river, the two whirlpools, and all the secrets he had just witnessed, leaving no trace.

Passing through the fog, Chen Lingxi exited the Ancestral Mountain.

He stepped out of the Ancestral Mountain just as evening fell.

The setting sun hung behind the western mountains. The Yuanjiang River flowed slowly in the distance, the silhouette of the distant city walls faintly visible in the twilight mist.

This scene was exactly the same as before he had entered the Ancestral Mountain, as if nothing had happened. He stood at the foot of the mountain. Not far away, a few streams of spiritual qi circulated and flickered.

Chen Lingxi’s gaze shifted.

These were several truth-seekers who had also retreated from the Ancestral Mountain.

Their spiritual qi fluctuations were chaotic and weak, clearly indicating they had suffered heavy injuries inside.

They seemed to sense Chen Lingxi’s presence and fled in panic like startled birds.

The spiritual lights vanished into the distant mountain forest in the blink of an eye. None of them even dared to look back.

Chen Lingxi was not surprised.

He had truly put on a spectacular display within the Ancestral Mountain.

First, he had publicly hunted down Imperial Consort Chun, chasing that Qi Circulation 8th Floor powerhouse until she had nowhere left to run. Then, he had teamed up with Lin Suri to severely injure and capture Xi Yuan.

Not to mention that Lu Baizhong’s Thunder Radiance Longsword was currently hanging at his waist, and Rong Chun’s Lustrous White Heavenly Boat rested inside his Vast Void Pouch.

Although these truth-seekers might not have personally witnessed him fighting Xi Yuan and Lu Baizhong, just the fact that he had walked out of the Ancestral Mountain alive—along with the Thunder Radiance Longsword at his waist—was enough for them to deduce many things.

The most formidable figures—Imperial Consort Chun, Lu Baizhong, and Xi Yuan—had all died at his hands. Some had even witnessed him pursuing Imperial Consort Chun and Xi Yuan.

Those two cultivators were the very best among the truth-seekers.

Imperial Consort Chun was at the Qi Circulation 8th Floor; augmented by the Sacred Character Rune, her combat strength far exceeded her peers. Xi Yuan was also at the Qi Circulation 8th Floor; once his Longevity Bridge divine ability was deployed, even a top 7th Floor figure like Lu Baizhong had to retreat ninety li.

Since Chen Lingxi had killed these two, they could easily guess his cultivation level.

Furthermore, the truth-seekers who survived the Ancestral Mountain likely had a vague inkling that the one who refined the Ancestral Mountain Maternal Qi could only be him or Lin Suri.

Right now, under the Hidden Edge Method, Chen Lingxi’s qi aura was completely concealed. How could those ordinary Qi Circulation cultivators possibly see his true depth?

They couldn’t see through his cultivation, but they absolutely didn’t dare harbor any covetous thoughts.

Chen Lingxi was still thinking about the Fated Star fortune and looking forward to sorting through the treasures in Xi Yuan’s Vast Void Pouch. Where would he find the time to care about a few Qi Circulation 6th Floor cultivators?

He watched the panic-stricken spiritual lights disappear into the depths of the twilight before withdrawing his gaze.

However... this time, Chen Lingxi did not wish to remain in Jingji Province.

He cast his gaze toward the Imperial Capital, looking in the direction of the Imperial Palace.

’There are still powerhouses inside the Imperial Palace,’ Chen Lingxi pondered silently.

Chen Lingxi still remembered seeing the Immortal Slough fortune through Lin Suri’s perspective during his Vision Roaming.

He remembered that pale golden arm submerged at the bottom of the long river, dense formation patterns flowing ceaselessly across it. Wisps of spiritual light had gathered from all directions, traveling up the patterns on the arm and ultimately transforming into an incredibly thick torrent of spiritual qi that shot straight toward the Imperial Palace in the Capital.

That sight was truly shocking.

He remembered the formation patterns flowing across that immortal arm, threading together to gather massive amounts of spiritual qi, converging onto the Imperial Palace in the Capital.

’Such a grand scheme is absolutely not something an ordinary cultivator could lay down.’

Chen Lingxi thought to himself.

Moreover, in that Fated Star illusion, when Rong Chun was heavily injured by Xiao Changlv, a beam of white light had descended from the sky, almost completely healing her injuries.

’Besides that, just Yuan Yuan—who once aided Imperial Consort Chun and fought Xiao Changlv—possesses peerless combat strength!’

Chen Lingxi still remembered that grand battle.

Xiao Changlv had leaped high from a crumbling mountain peak, crossing several li in a single bound. His saber slashed down like divine retribution descending upon the world, the blade light covering the sky and earth.

Yet Yuan Yuan had simply stepped through the void with his hands behind his back, his every step unhurried. With a mere press of his hand, a sky-blotting golden palm print descended from above, violently colliding with Xiao Changlv’s apocalyptic saber light. Chen Lingxi had stepped into the Qi Circulation 8th Floor, his own combat strength growing ever more formidable, and he possessed deep foundations.

But he had no doubt that if he encountered Yuan Yuan, let alone with his current Qi Circulation 8th Floor cultivation, even if he refined the Fated Star fortune and stepped into the Qi Circulation 9th Floor, he would still be unable to win.

’Figures like Yuan Yuan and Xiao Changlv definitely possess Heaven-Facing Three Floors combat strength!’

’And when Xiao Zhushan tried to assassinate Crown Prince Ying Chi on Cuojin Mountain, a streak of spiritual light flew from the depths of the Imperial Palace to block Xiao Zhushan’s fatal strike. Thinking about it now, that spiritual light was definitely not Rong Chun’s doing.’

Chen Lingxi recalled all these events.

’There must be many powerhouses hidden deep within the Imperial Palace, and I’ve now killed Rong Chun...’

Chen Lingxi had slaughtered from all sides in the Ancestral Mountain, but upon exiting, he remained cautious.

If there truly were even more powerful entities lying dormant deep within the Imperial Palace, staying in Jingji Province would be no different from a sheep walking into a tiger’s den.

’I’ll leave Yuanjiang Prefecture for now. It would be better to hide out in Xiao Changlv’s Qinghua Province first.’

Qinghua Province was Xiao Changlv’s stronghold, a territory carved out by the rebel king where the Imperial Court’s reach fell short.

Having made up his mind, Chen Lingxi was just about to depart.

The Cloud-Soaring Technique silently activated under his feet, condensing a cluster of pale cyan cloud qi beneath his soles. Just as it was about to lift him into the air to fly toward Qinghua Province... at this exact moment!

He saw an incredibly heavy fluctuation of blood qi erupt from Cuojin Mountain in the distance.

The boiling blood qi turned into a pillar of smoke shooting straight into the sky!

That blood qi fluctuation was extremely dense!

Chen Lingxi had already broken into the Martial Path Nine Revolutions realm. His blood qi underwent nine revolutions, condensing layer by layer. Every revolution was like repeatedly forging mortal iron, purging the impurities to leave only the essence.

The blood qi in his body was like refined gold, with every drop containing the terrifying might capable of destroying cities and pulling down strongholds.

In terms of combat strength, a martial artist who had just entered the Nine Revolutions realm would not lose out in the slightest to a Qi Circulation 7th Floor cultivator who lacked a deep foundation.

Once they got close, even a Qi Circulation 7th Floor cultivator would likely die from a single punch!

Yet right now, the blood qi fluctuation coming from Cuojin Mountain was even stronger than Chen Lingxi’s pure martial blood qi.

That blood qi was so heavy, so condensed and tyrannical, it could be called utterly peerless!

Every breath drew in and spat out scorching waves of air like flames, burning and distorting the air within a several-zhang radius.

’Nine Revolutions Minor Completion!’ Chen Lingxi’s eyes flashed as he looked carefully toward Cuojin Mountain.

With his current eyesight, even across a distance of twenty or thirty li, he could see the scene on Cuojin Mountain with crystal clarity.

He saw a figure in a brocade robe standing on Cuojin Mountain with his hands behind his back, staring straight at Chen Lingxi!

The man wore a flowing long robe, looking extraordinarily ethereal.

His face was hidden in the twilight shadows and couldn’t be seen clearly. Only a pair of eyes could be vaguely seen piercing through dozens of li of empty space, landing dead center on Chen Lingxi.

Looking down from above, he appeared almost completely indifferent!

’Who is this person?’ Chen Lingxi was astonished.

That man stood atop the mountain peak. As a Nine Revolutions realm martial artist, his eyesight was incredible, allowing him to gaze at Chen Lingxi from so far away.

And in front of him, there was a woman!

This woman was pressed to her knees by the brocade-robed figure’s blood qi. She propped herself up on the ground with her hands, the bones all over her body creaking under the terrifying pressure.

The wind had blown her long hair into a messy tangle. Her face was deathly pale, and a trail of half-dried blood ran from her mouth, sliding down her jaw to drip onto the gravel at her feet.

This person was none other than Lin Longyue! At this moment, her face was pale, her breath weak, and a hint of despair lingered in her eyes.

She knelt there on the ground, her body trembling slightly.

Lin Longyue’s cultivation wasn’t very high to begin with. Even though she had stepped into the Golden Body Realm because of Chen Lingxi, a Golden Body figure facing a Nine Revolutions Minor Completion expert was like an ant facing a fierce tiger. She didn’t have the slightest room to fight back.

She was firmly suppressed by that Nine Revolutions realm figure from beginning to end.

The brocade-robed figure hadn’t even struck; just releasing his blood qi pressure was enough to pin Lin Longyue down, rendering her unable to move!

The man looked down from his high vantage point. He had clearly spotted Chen Lingxi long ago. A slight smile appeared on his lips, carrying a bit of mockery, like a leopard cat that had caught a mouse and was in no rush to eat it, preferring to play with it first.

He turned his head and looked down at Lin Longyue, as if gazing at an amusing toy.

”Where exactly is this Spirit-Wielding General you speak of?”

He asked coldly, his voice carrying a biting chill.

”What methods does he have, and how... can this general find him?”

Lin Longyue remained silent.

This extraordinarily imposing general reached out and suddenly pressed his hand lightly against Lin Longyue’s head. In an instant, a terrifying, formless yet tangible blood qi erupted from his palm, turning into thread-thin bloody tendrils that drilled into her head!

Instantly, Lin Longyue’s face twisted into an expression of agonizing pain.

Her entire body began to tremble violently. She bit her lips until they dripped with blood, looking to be in sheer agony.

”The Crown Prince told me that this person cured your poison!” the brocade-robed figure said slowly. ”There is definitely a connection between the two of you. You just need to tell me his whereabouts, or reveal his methods.

And I will... let you go.”

Lin Longyue’s body convulsed; she couldn’t speak.

The man appeared to be interrogating Lin Longyue, yet his gaze fell to the foot of the Ancestral Mountain, landing right on Chen Lingxi. The mocking look in his eyes remained.

Chen Lingxi narrowed his eyes.

This person was deliberately torturing Lin Longyue, clearly intending to humiliate him.

He was using Lin Longyue as bait to goad him into showing himself, provoking his anger so he would lose his rationality, and then capture and kill him on Cuojin Mountain.

Just then, the pain on Lin Longyue’s face deepened.

She struggled and said intermittently, ”Your Highness... I have indeed seen that Spirit-Wielding General. He killed the commandery princess right before my eyes! Yunhe and I were good friends...” The smile on the heir’s lips widened. He withdrew his hand, his eyes revealing a shocking killing intent.

He looked down at Lin Longyue, his heroic face cold and terrifying.

”You actually still dare to cover for that Spirit-Wielding General? It seems you and he truly have a deep relationship.”

As he said this, he suddenly lifted his head, shifting his gaze away from Lin Longyue and back to the foot of the Ancestral Mountain.

A thick killing intent flashed through his eyes!

”It’s just that... if I kill you here, I wonder if that Spirit-Wielding General would dare to come rescue you.”

Lin Longyue took a deep breath. She knew in her heart that this man was the heir of the King of the East. His cultivation stood unmatched among the younger generation, and he was an assault general and warrior under the King of the East.

Just what kind of figure was the King of the East?

Praised personally by Emperor Daye, he held the title ”Entering Profound King of the East, Unrivaled Under Heaven!”

He was a genuine Entering Profound figure!

And this Ying Ju, heir of the King of the East, had grown up in the army with the King of the East since childhood. His blood qi cultivation had long since reached the Nine Revolutions realm, and he had carved out an illustrious reputation by slaughtering on the battlefield.

This man was ruthless and merciless, never treating the lives of others as anything important. Those who fell into his hands found it hard to even beg for death. Furthermore, this heir had not come alone this time!

At this moment, many powerhouses lay in wait within the mountain forest behind the heir.

They were lying dormant in the shadows, waiting specifically for that Spirit-Wielding General to arrive.

Once the Spirit-Wielding General showed himself, these people would strike simultaneously, surrounding and killing him on Cuojin Mountain.

’With so many powerhouses, and Heir Ying Ju being here as well, even if the general was present, he would likely fall into grave danger.’

The pained expression on Lin Longyue’s face eased slightly as she thought of that mysterious, tall Spirit-Wielding General and recalled the many events from half a year ago.

That ghost-masked man in deep black robes, a long saber at his waist, surrounded by circling embers like fireflies. A single light shout from him had frozen the blood qi of every powerhouse in the courtyard.

With a raise of his hand, his subordinate powerhouse had walked out from the clouds and fog, massacring Commandery Princess Yunhe, Chu Linzi, and all those who practiced demonic arts!

Such imposing might, such methods...

’But... there are only two of them. How could they possibly fend off a siege by so many powerhouses?’

Lin Longyue inhaled deeply.

’The general and I merely had a transaction. If I reveal his defining features—such as that elusive subordinate of his, or the treasure saber gleaming with lightning at his waist...’ ’Could I survive?’ This thought wavered uncertainly in her mind.

But upon reaching this point, Lin Longyue suddenly recalled those few nights that she found incredibly unforgettable.

’If I betray the general, even if I don’t die, I’m afraid he will be disappointed in me.’

Lin Longyue’s thoughts were in turmoil. In her daze, a bitter smile crept onto her lips. ’When did I become like this?’ she thought to herself. ’Willing to die for someone else?’

At this time, the smile on Ying Ju’s lips grew even wider.

He took in the fleeting, complex expression on Lin Longyue’s face, the mockery and amusement in his eyes growing thicker.

He slowly raised his head. His gaze crossed the vast river valley between Cuojin Mountain and the Ancestral Mountain, landing at the foot of that distant short mountain, directly on that young man.

That young man wore a deep black robe. A longsword hung at his waist, its scabbard traced with minuscule golden lightning patterns that slowly flowed around it.

He stood there, his aura calm and heavy like still water.

He just stood there plainly, resembling a renowned sword hidden in its sheath; though its sharp edge was concealed, a biting chill still seeped out.

It was precisely Chen Lingxi, who had just walked out of the Ancestral Mountain.

Ying Ju looked at the young man, a hint of coldness in his eyes. He spoke, his voice infused with the deep and heavy blood qi power of a Nine Revolutions Minor Completion martial artist.

It boomed like an invisible drum being heavily beaten in the void. It shook the river valley, sending sand and stones flying, and kicked up ripples across the surface of the Yuanjiang River!

”Spirit-Wielding General, are you still not going to show yourself?”