After the Great Dao Died

Several days passed.

On this day, Chen Lingxi sat cross-legged on the throne within the King of the East’s Traveling Palace.

His eyes were closed, his breath deep and steady. His consciousness sank into the Divine Chamber as he activated the Vision Roaming Divine Ability.

Another wisp of formless, intangible smoke drifted out from the Divine Chamber, descending toward the depths of the imperial palace far away.

For a long time now, Chen Lingxi had been using Vision Roaming to observe Emperor Daye every day, but the emperor was always cultivating with his eyes closed, yielding no useful information.

Today, however, when that wisp of smoke descended into the resplendent palace...

’Hmm... Emperor Daye isn’t in seclusion today?’

Chen Lingxi saw Emperor Daye sitting upright on the dragon throne high upon the dais. His figure was hunched, the bright yellow brocade robe hanging loosely over a frame so emaciated it resembled a skeleton.

Only the two clusters of golden flames in his eyes continued to dance slowly.

He sat there quietly, as if waiting for something.Chen Lingxi maintained his Vision Roaming state and waited with him.

He waited for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Just as Chen Lingxi’s Vision Roaming was reaching its limit, a figure suddenly strode through the doors of the glorious hall.

The man wore a dark gold python robe. He had a heroic, martial countenance, and billowing blood energy slowly circulated around him.

At the same time, through Emperor Daye’s perspective, Chen Lingxi could clearly see spiritual qi constantly circulating deep within this man’s body.

This spiritual qi was extraordinary, profoundly heavy. It was not entirely gathered in his qi sea; rather, it had seeped deep into his bones, flesh, fascia, and even his internal organs.

’A body cultivator?’

Chen Lingxi was somewhat surprised.

’Emperor Daye truly has countless experts under his command. Not only is there Yuan Yuan, who fought a great battle with Xiao Changlv, but there’s also that purple-robed marquis I saw before.’

’And now, here is this body cultivator.’

Chen Lingxi thought this over, carefully observing the man. He noticed a token hanging from this formidable figure’s waist.

The token was also dark purple, engraved with two characters: Fengshan.

’Fengshan?’

’Is that Marquis Fengshan?’ Chen Lingxi had once been a scholar himself, so he naturally knew a thing or two about the history of the Great Li Imperial Court.

Among the Twelve Founding Marquises of Great Li, the one with the greatest merit was Marquis Fengshan!

The founding emperor of Great Li had once granted Marquis Fengshan a fief of eight thousand households. For the highly centralized Great Li Imperial Court, this was the absolute highest honor that could be bestowed.

Two hundred years had swiftly passed since then.

That founding marquis was surely long dead.

’This man must be the current Marquis Fengshan?’

Chen Lingxi silently speculated.

At that moment, Marquis Fengshan arrived beneath the high platform, respectfully dropping to his knees and kowtowing.

”Sage!”

Marquis Fengshan’s voice echoed steadily through the cavernous hall. ”Word has come from the Heavenly Gate Sea again.”

At the mention of the Heavenly Gate Sea, the golden flames in Emperor Daye’s eyes suddenly flared.

He stared at Marquis Fengshan, quietly waiting for him to continue. Marquis Fengshan said, ”Following the guidance of that talisman, General Qi Lian has finally located the stone stele reflected by the Mirror Listening.”

”General Qi Lian injected his divine sense into it and confirmed that this is indeed the stele engraved with the Dao Foundation divine ability.

”It is exactly as the Mirror Listening revealed!”

Chen Lingxi’s thoughts sharpened.

’A Dao Foundation divine ability engraving?’

He continued to listen through Vision Roaming as Marquis Fengshan spoke again. ”That stele rests on Xuanji Island in the Heavenly Gate Sea.

”However, the stele is protected by a Dao Platform restriction, and the restriction is profoundly abstruse.

”General Qi Lian tested it himself, but even with his cultivation base, he could not breach it in the slightest.

”General Qi Lian could see through the stele’s origins, but he is completely unable to sense the true incantations of the Dao Foundation divine ability within.”

Emperor Daye remained seated on his throne, his ancient, wrinkled face revealing no emotion whatsoever.

He merely lifted his eyelids slightly and said slowly, ”A Dao Platform restriction is inherently profound. Qi Lian has never touched the Dao Foundation Realm, so it is only natural he cannot see through it.”

Marquis Fengshan remained respectfully kneeling in the hall. ”General Qi Lian’s message stated that a Dao Platform restriction is formed when a Dao Foundation cultivator falls, and their Dao origin energy condenses without dispersing, naturally transforming into a barrier. For such a restriction to be laid down means... a Dao Foundation cultivator once visited the Heavenly Gate Sea!”

Emperor Daye took a deep breath. ”The Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven... the cultivators of the many sects in the Great Xuanzhuo Realm cannot come here in their true bodies.

”But since a Dao Foundation cultivator perished in the Heavenly Gate Sea, it proves... somewhere within this world, there might be a passage leading to the Great Xuanzhuo Realm.

”If one can come, one can go!”

Hearing this, Chen Lingxi’s heart suddenly pounded.

’What does this mean?’

’Could it be that Emperor Daye is also searching for a way out of this Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven?’

His thoughts spun rapidly.

Xi Yuan had once told him that when the various sects of the Great Xuanzhuo Realm sent their disciples to reincarnate into this kind of grotto-heaven, they would leave behind a wisp of the disciple’s essential qi!

Once the ownership of the Cauldron Vessel was decided, they would use that wisp of essential qi to guide the sect disciple back to the Great Xuanzhuo Realm.

But right now, Emperor Daye appeared to be looking for a passage to leave the grotto-heaven.

Did this prove... ’Could it be that Emperor Daye wasn’t actually possessed by a powerful expert from the Great Xuanzhuo Realm?’

For a moment, Chen Lingxi could hardly believe it.

It was simply because Emperor Daye possessed a Cauldron Vessel. Though Chen Lingxi didn’t know exactly which floor of the Heaven-Facing Realm he was at, the occasional spiritual light he emitted, and the deep reverence shown to him by so many experts, made it clear that Emperor Daye was incredibly profound.

’If Emperor Daye hasn’t been possessed by someone else and is truly a native of this world...’

’...then exactly how did he cultivate to such a level? Xiao Changlv, who rose up to oppose him, cultivated bitterly for years and only reached the Spiritual Qi 2nd Floor...’

’Moreover, he even managed to obtain a Cauldron Vessel and knows so many hidden secrets.’

Chen Lingxi’s thoughts raced, but then he saw Emperor Daye reach a withered hand out from his dragon robe.

His equally gaunt index finger lightly brushed the air.

A ray of golden spiritual light spilled from his fingertip, condensing into a runic seal in the void!

The runic seal drifted down, landing in Marquis Fengshan’s palm.

The aura it gave off felt somewhat familiar to Chen Lingxi.

He suddenly remembered the Sacred Character Rune that Rong Chun had activated during the battle for the Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi. That Sacred Character Rune was incredibly profound, capable of temporarily boosting Imperial Consort Rong’s cultivation from the Qi Circulation 8th Floor to the Qi Circulation 9th Floor.

It had allowed her to fight multiple reincarnated experts all on her own.

At the time, Chen Lingxi had thought the Sacred Character Rune was some fortuitous encounter Imperial Consort Chun had found.

Thinking back on it now, that rune must have also been written by Emperor Daye.

’A rune written so casually possesses such power...’

Chen Lingxi silently speculated, ’Does the Heaven-Facing Realm truly hold such mighty power?’

At that moment, Emperor Daye spoke. ”Make a trip to the Heavenly Gate Sea. Take this talisman with you and activate it with your blood essence.

”Although this runic seal cannot break through a complete Dao Platform restriction, it can tear open a small rift in it.

”Once that rift opens, I will be able to clearly see the stele.”

Marquis Fengshan glanced at the glowing runic seal in his palm, then kowtowed and said, ”I accept the decree.”

He straightened up, but he didn’t retreat immediately. After a brief hesitation, he respectfully asked, ”Sage, what exactly is a Dao Foundation divine ability engraving?”

The golden flames in Emperor Daye’s eyes danced slowly, and a rare smile actually surfaced on his ancient face. ”A Dao Foundation divine ability... is the key for a Qi Circulation cultivator to advance to the Dao Foundation Realm, or for a Dao Foundation Realm cultivator to elevate their cultivation.

”When a Qi Circulation cultivator cultivates to the Twelve Floors of Qi Circulation, they must condense all their spiritual qi into Dao origin energy.

”What is required is precisely this Dao Foundation divine ability.

”By practicing a Dao Foundation divine ability, one plants a profound root deep within their qi sea, transforming the qi sea into a Dao Platform and condensing all the spiritual qi in their body into Dao origin energy!”

He paused slightly and spoke softly, ”Once the profound root is formed, it is like a towering tree taking root in the earth.

”From then on, the cultivator’s combat strength, lifespan, and the profound nature of their spells all undergo a qualitative transformation.

”This is the critical juncture for a Qi Circulation cultivator to leap through the dragon gate.

”Who knows how many stunningly talented individuals have been stuck at this step, wasting a century or two of time until their lifespan is finally exhausted, unable to ascend to the Dao Foundation Realm, eventually turning into a mound of yellow earth.”

Marquis Fengshan listened quietly, a hint of realization dawning on his heroic face.

Emperor Daye continued, ”And that Dao Foundation divine ability engraving is the lifetime comprehension of a Dao Foundation cultivator, carved somewhere with a secret method before their death, left for a fated person of later generations.

”With this kind of engraving, grasping the Dao Foundation divine ability is countless times faster than trying to comprehend it alone.

”If an ordinary cultivator is fortunate enough to obtain a Dao Foundation divine ability engraving, a few years of comprehension will rival a century of someone else’s hard work.” Marquis Fengshan’s eyes flashed with a bright light; he looked extremely excited.

He took a deep breath and asked, ”Sage, may I ask how many years of spring and autumn one in the Dao Foundation Realm can live?”

”Eight hundred years!” Emperor Daye replied.

Marquis Fengshan stood with his hands by his sides at the bottom of the steps and said respectfully, ”Please rest assured, Sage. We will definitely secure this Dao Foundation divine ability engraving for you.”

Emperor Daye slowly shook his head. ”As excellent as a Dao Foundation divine ability is, I already have one that I cultivate. This engraving will fall into the hands of you and Qi Lian.

”The two of you simply need to do your utmost.”

Marquis Fengshan respectfully took his leave.

The Vision Roaming shattered.

Far away, in the King of the East’s Traveling Palace on Cuojin Mountain, Chen Lingxi snapped his eyes open.

He let out a long breath of stale air, a hint of pleasant surprise appearing on his increasingly handsome face.

’Setting aside the preciousness of this Dao Foundation divine ability engraving...’

’The harvest from this Vision Roaming is enormous. It seems Emperor Daye is also searching for a way to leave the grotto-heaven.’

’Furthermore, Emperor Daye said he already has a divine ability that he cultivates. Does this mean he is already at the Twelfth Floor of Qi Circulation? Has he already acquired a Dao Foundation divine ability and is currently practicing it, planning to form his profound root, forge his Dao Platform, and step into the Dao Realm?’

Chen Lingxi narrowed his eyes.

’The Heavenly Gate Sea, Xuanji Island, a Dao Platform restriction?’

’Once my cultivation is accomplished, or if I manage to seize that Killing Power Cauldron Vessel Fragment, I will make a trip to the Heavenly Gate Sea.’

Chen Lingxi had already heard of this Heavenly Gate Sea many times.

Early on, Xi Mu had told Chen Lingxi a rumor that Emperor Daye had found a talisman in the Heavenly Gate Sea, and that this talisman might record the secrets of the Cauldron Vessels.

During a previous Vision Roaming, that purple-robed marquis had also reported to Emperor Daye that the Cauldron Vessel in the Heavenly Gate Sea had borne new fruit.

And now, there was a Dao Platform restriction in the Heavenly Gate Sea, containing a stone stele engraved with a Dao Foundation divine ability.

’So many fortuitous encounters, all of them in the Heavenly Gate Sea. One doesn’t have to think hard to know something fishy is going on there.’

Chen Lingxi didn’t dwell on it further, suppressing the thoughts in his mind. ’The most urgent matter is still the Killing Power Cauldron Vessel Fragment in the Zhuzhao River.’

He muttered softly to himself, and as usual, walked out of the traveling palace and used the Method of Qi Observation to look out over the Zhuzhao River from afar. There was no unusual movement on the river.

Chen Lingxi returned to the King of the East’s Traveling Palace and resumed his cultivation.

He circulated the Six Qi True Method, and spiritual qi slowly flowed through his body.

The spiritual qi within his qi sea was also increasing day by day.

Three streams of precious qi echoed one another.

’I can already harvest a fourth stream of precious qi, but I haven’t found a suitable one.’

Chen Lingxi shook his head slightly. With a reach of his hand, a drop of Entering Profound blood essence appeared in his grasp.

It was precisely Xiao Changlv’s blood essence.

Chen Lingxi observed this drop of blood essence with the Method of Qi Observation, his gaze piercing through the crystal-clear radiance on its surface.

An extremely special kind of power seemed to be sealed within it.

’This drop of Entering Profound blood essence from Xiao Changlv is rather strange. When I observe it with the Method of Qi Observation, I actually feel a stream of precious qi slowly circulating inside.’

’It’s just that...’ This drop of Entering Profound blood essence hovered in the void, and Chen Lingxi could clearly sense the incredibly powerful blood energy pressure erupting from it.

’It’s just that with my cultivation base, I actually can’t see through this precious qi. What is going on here?’

Chen Lingxi furrowed his brow tightly.

Xiao Changlv was a martial artist in the Entering Profound realm, possessing formidable combat strength. Chen Lingxi didn’t find it strange that a drop of his blood essence carried such pressure.

What puzzled Chen Lingxi was...

’Xiao Changlv also practiced Qi Circulation, but his progress was slow. After many years of bitter cultivation, he only attained a second floor cultivation base.’

’But why is there such a profound power within this drop of his blood essence? And to think that with my current cultivation base, I can’t even see through it.’

’Did Xiao Changlv himself ever notice?’

Chen Lingxi stared at this drop of Entering Profound blood essence, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

’It seems I can only wait until my cultivation base ascends another floor. Once I break past the Tenth Floor and reach the legendary Heaven-Facing Realm, my spiritual qi will undergo a qualitative change, and my senses, divine sense, and Method of Qi Observation will all be elevated to a whole new level.’

’At that time, I might finally be able to see through the secrets of this Entering Profound blood essence.’

Chen Lingxi shook his head and stored the Entering Profound blood essence away in his Vast Void Pouch. He then continued his bitter cultivation.

Time slipped quietly away. The sea of clouds surged on Cuojin Mountain as the sun rose and the moon set. In the blink of an eye, more than twenty days passed.

On this day, Chen Lingxi was sitting cross-legged in the King of the East’s Traveling Palace. Tri-colored brilliant light constantly circulated around his body, occasionally accompanied by the flash of lightning.

The Six Qi True Method circulated slowly within him.

Right at that moment, Chen Lingxi suddenly opened his eyes.

After reaching the Ninth Floor of Qi Circulation, his senses had become sharp to the extreme. Coupled with the fact that he had already developed his divine sense, many faint fluctuations were completely unable to escape his perception.

And at this moment, Chen Lingxi clearly sensed a highly peculiar fluctuation coming from the direction of the distant Zhuzhao River.

This fluctuation was brimming with an ancient aura, pure yet violent. It carried a heart-palpitating, mysterious power that was entirely distinct from a cultivator’s spiritual qi.

It contained a surging killing power, unmatched in its ferocity.

Even separated by dozens of li, it still caused the spiritual qi in his qi sea to surge involuntarily, as if it were being threatened.

’The Killing Power Cauldron Vessel is about to emerge.’