After the Great Dao Died

Chen Lingxi’s divine sense flowed, descending into the Black Banner.

The mysterious figure retained his ethereal and transcendent Daoist bearing, silently sensing the information flowing from Chen Lingxi’s divine sense.

His eyes remained unchanged and his aura deep and steady as he gazed at this wisp of Chen Lingxi’s divine sense.

Chen Lingxi understood. His divine sense shifted as he asked point-blank, ”I wonder... does Senior know a way to leave this Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven?”

The mysterious figure’s face showed neither joy nor sorrow. His gaze was as calm as water, revealing no emotion as he slowly shook his head.

Chen Lingxi frowned, feeling somewhat disappointed.

’The cultivation of this mysterious figure inside the Black Banner is unfathomably high. Does even he not know how to leave this grotto-heaven?’

But then, a hint of suspicion rose in his mind.

’Does he truly not know, or is he unwilling to say? Or perhaps, like that Credit Peddler, is he afraid to speak?’

His thoughts whirled. After a moment of silence, he refrained from asking further about the circumstances of this grotto-heaven.

The Method of Qi Observation activated in his eyes, and his Qi-Gathering Method quietly circulated. Chen Lingxi attempted to extract a wisp of aura from the mysterious figure.

If he could capture just a wisp of this person’s aura, it would have numerous wondrous uses.

—If this person possessed a Cauldron Vessel, he could use the Dao-Absorbing Fruit to wield that vessel’s power.

Chen Lingxi formed this plan, but as his Method of Qi Observation fell upon the Black Banner, he could only sense the banner’s own foul, dense aura. He was completely unable to detect even a single wisp of the mysterious figure’s aura.

’For such a figure, I haven’t even detected his precious qi with the Method of Qi Observation. If I rashly try to extract his aura, I’ll likely alarm him.

’If he turns hostile, it will plunge me into grave danger instead.’

Thinking this over, Chen Lingxi abandoned the attempt.

With a shift in his thoughts, he withdrew the Method of Qi Observation. His divine sense continued to flow within the Black Banner, transmitting his intent.

”Senior!”

Chen Lingxi spoke, his tone solemn. ”I have cultivated to the Qi Circulation 9th Floor.

”I am not far from the Heaven-Facing Three Floors.

”However, I do not possess a Dao Foundation manual. Without the right opportunity, I fear I will never forge a Dao Foundation in my entire life.”

He paused briefly, the message in his divine sense growing firmer. ”Senior granted me the great opportunity for my Qi Circulation 9th Floor to overcome the Qi Circulation Eleventh Floor.

”Yet in my eyes, even such an extraordinary fortune cannot compare to a Dao Foundation art.

”Therefore, I make bold to ask Senior to teach me a Dao Foundation art!”

The middle-aged man’s expression remained as calm as before.

His gaze fell upon Chen Lingxi’s divine sense, yet it also seemed to pierce through the Black Banner and land directly on Chen Lingxi’s physical body.

Chen Lingxi stood silently in the void, saying nothing.

Suddenly, the mysterious figure took a deep breath. His face abruptly blurred, as if shrouded by a surging mist.

Chen Lingxi did not know the reason for this and could only wait quietly.

Over ten breaths of time passed.

The mist had yet to disperse, but the middle-aged man suddenly reached out a hand and pointed lightly toward the space outside the great banner.

Chen Lingxi instantly understood the mysterious senior’s intent.

’He agreed...’

Pleasantly surprised, Chen Lingxi withdrew his divine sense from the Black Banner.

He turned his gaze toward the Imperial Court Army retreating in the distance.

That remnant army in the distance still numbered over four or five thousand, exactly as seen during the Absolute Perception Deduction.

Without hesitation, Chen Lingxi abruptly activated his Cloud Soaring Technique. Thunder rumbled amid the mist as it lifted him up and propelled him straight into the distance.

At this moment, within Chen Lingxi’s Qi Sea, the lingering spiritual light from the mysterious middle-aged man remained dazzling, and Chen Lingxi’s combat prowess was still formidably high.

And so... just as in the Absolute Perception Deduction.

Deafening roars of thunder echoed along the Zhuzhao Riverbank once again.

The remnant Imperial Court Army had long since been terrified out of their wits by Chen Lingxi’s horrific combat strength during the Battle of Cauldron Seizing.

Now, seeing Chen Lingxi’s figure tear through the air toward them, the commanding generals instinctively tried to flee.

Chen Lingxi slowly drew his sword.

Arcs of lightning boomed and resounded upon the Thunder Radiance Longsword.

Wherever the sword light passed, slaughter ensued anew.

Slaughtering these Silver Bone Martial Artists—who were already incapable of forming a battle array—with the sword light of the Twelve Chimes of the Heavenly Drum was as easy as could be.

The count of three thousand was reached in an instant!

When the myriad sword lights faded, Chen Lingxi sheathed his blade.

Below the void, the official road was once again dyed a dark red with blood, and a thick stench of gore soared into the sky.

Chen Lingxi brought out the Black Banner.

An eerie qi flowed from the Black Banner, acting like a giant maw as it devoured the bloody aura in the air.

It was like a ferocious beast that had been starved for a very long time.

Chen Lingxi’s divine sense sank back into the Black Banner.

The middle-aged man had already stood up, resting his hands behind his back amidst the bloody light.

His pristine white Daoist robe remained completely untainted by the blood mist.

His face was still obscured by the thick fog, making it impossible for Chen Lingxi to see him clearly.

This was slightly different from the Absolute Perception Deduction.

However, the mysterious figure still fulfilled his promise.

He gently raised his hand, bringing two fingers of his left hand together like a sword, and pointed lightly at Chen Lingxi’s divine sense through the void.

Suddenly!

Another profoundly abstruse spiritual light shot out from his fingertips and plunged straight into Chen Lingxi’s Sea of Consciousness in an instant.

The spiritual light descended into Chen Lingxi’s Sea of Consciousness.

In a flash, it transformed into a murmuring stream, carrying a steady flow of information that poured into Chen Lingxi’s mind.

Within that information were countless dense and complex golden characters.

They swirled within his mind.

Chen Lingxi took a long time to digest them, eventually converging these golden characters into a complete and profound cultivation manual.

This cultivation manual was unfathomably profound and extremely intricate.

Chen Lingxi was astonished to discover...

’Even though my foundation is extraordinary, and I possess the aptitude of a spiritual aperture, and I can already be considered proficient rather than a mere beginner on the path of cultivation...’

’But still...’

Chen Lingxi sighed.

With his current cultivation, he actually couldn’t decipher this cultivation manual at all.

It contained many cultivation methods, but given his present cultivation and his current comprehension of spiritual qi, he was still incapable of circulating them.

’It seems I still need to wait until I step into the Heaven-Facing Realm, or even the Twelfth Floor.’

Chen Lingxi’s eyes flashed, feeling quite surprised.

He murmured the name of this Dao Foundation cultivation art to himself.

[Dragon-Stripping Dao-Transforming One Qi True Incantation].

From the few fragmented phrases he could understand, he clearly sensed that this was a genuine Dao Foundation art.

It detailed precisely how, after reaching the Twelve Floors of Qi Circulation, one could condense their spiritual qi into Dao Origin, forge a Dao Platform, and plant a Profound Root within it.

Even the cultivation methods for after stepping into the Dao Foundation Realm were included within it.

It was exquisitely profound.

’The art gifted by this mysterious figure is truly extraordinary. If cultivation manuals were ranked by grade, this [Dragon-Stripping Dao-Transforming One Qi True Incantation] would surely far surpass many other Dao Foundation arts.’

’But I wonder what ”Dragon-Stripping Dao-Transforming” means.’

Faced with this opportunity, Chen Lingxi’s eyes burned with brilliant light.

’Vaguely, it seems to be related to true dragons.’

There were records of this in the Six Qi True Method.

Dragons were among the most tyrannical and powerful creatures between heaven and earth.

Legend had it that those of the dragon lineage could devour all things to nourish themselves, converting the spiritual qi of heaven and earth for their own use.

’This manual uses ”Dragon-Stripping” in its name, faintly carrying the implication of plundering and assimilation.

’Stripping the essence of heaven and earth, and transforming it into one’s own Dao...’

Chen Lingxi pondered for a long time before finally letting out a long breath of turbid air.

’With this Dao Foundation method, once I step into the Dao Foundation Twelfth Floor, the only things I’ll need to scheme for are a Dao Foundation Great Divine Ability and divine ability spiritual items.

’Everything else is already in place. I won’t need to scheme too much anymore.’

As Chen Lingxi was lost in thought, just as in the Absolute Perception Deduction, the Black Banner and the mysterious figure within it vanished into the wind. They didn’t leave behind even a wisp of aura or a single trace of spiritual qi.

It was as if they had never existed at all, leaving absolutely no trace.

’However... when I asked this mysterious figure for a Dao Foundation art, he suddenly masked his face in thick fog. I wonder why.’

Chen Lingxi shook his head slightly and didn’t dwell on it further, beginning his return journey to Qinghua Province.