After the Great Dao Died

Three figures seated cross-legged emerged from the swirling clouds and mist.

The person in the center wore a crimson robe. Stunning in appearance and extraordinary in bearing, it was none other than Daoist Shu Rong.

A young cultivator sat on either side of her. The tall, handsome man was Jiang Xiu, and the beautiful, gentle-tempered woman was Wei Qingran.

Right now, all three were staring fixedly at Chen Lingxi, their eyes brimming with shock and suspicion.

Chen Lingxi stood up and bowed to them.

Lin Suri also stood.

”Daoist Brother truly has encountered a great providence,” he said with a sigh.

Daoist Shu Rong sat cross-legged in the clouds, her gaze settling on Chen Lingxi.

”Did what you just said come from that dream of yours?” she finally asked. ”This is your greatest trump card. Why would you share it with Lin Suri?”

Chen Lingxi let out a long sigh.

”The struggle for the Great Dao in this world is often incredibly cruel.”

”Back in the Great Xuanzhuo Realm, I was nothing but a loose cultivator. I cultivated alone and never weathered any great storms, and no one ever called me ’Daoist Friend.’”

”Only Daoist Brother Lin formed a deep bond with me. We’ve fought side by side time and again in this Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven.”

”In that Changhe dream, I saw many of this world’s hidden secrets. These secrets are perilous to the extreme. If I ignored them and kept the truth to myself... Daoist Brother Lin would likely face a terrible disaster when the tribulation descends.”

Jiang Xiu and Wei Qingran exchanged a glance. Though shock still lingered in their eyes, there was now a touch of admiration.

A hint of surprise flickered in Daoist Shu Rong’s deep eyes as well.

The light in Lin Suri’s eyes grew even more sincere, and the way he looked at Chen Lingxi changed entirely.

Daoist Shu Rong thought for a moment.

”And what exactly did you see in that Changhe dream, Daoist Friend?” she asked.

Chen Lingxi furrowed his brow and spoke slowly.

”I saw... strands of spiritual energy coiling above the Immortal Slough in Changhe Province. They linked with the heavy spiritual energy in the great mountains, deep rivers, and vast waterways, channeling it all deep into the Imperial Palace.”

”And deep within that Imperial Palace... a flower is being nurtured. That flower has nine leaves, and its veins look just like runes. Spiritual light radiates from within it—being born, reaching its peak, aging into decay... cycling endlessly.”

”It is incredibly peculiar.”

”Emperor Daye has already plucked that flower and is using it to cultivate right now. Dao Origin surges around him, and bursts of profound, mystical sounds are ringing out from his body!”

”His aura is constantly climbing, growing heavier and denser. He’s like a massive sun about to break dawn—as if he’s on the verge of breaking through to the next realm!”

The summit of the snowy mountain suddenly fell dead silent.

Only the heavenly wind howled past.

Daoist Shu Rong’s crimson robes fluttered wildly in the gale.

Jiang Xiu and Wei Qingran exchanged another look.

Jiang Xiu frowned deeply.

”A flower? Nine leaves, veins like runes, shrouded in cyan spiritual light... could it be the Space-Disrupting Flower?” he suddenly asked.

Wei Qingran’s expression immediately tensed up. She whipped her head toward Jiang Xiu.

”The Space-Disrupting Flower is the divine spiritual object required to cultivate the Heavenly Decline Law Great Divine Ability! To think this Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven could actually nurture one! If Emperor Daye plucked the Space-Disrupting Flower, doesn’t that mean he’s currently cultivating a second Great Divine Ability to step into the Dao Foundation Middle Stage?” she exclaimed.

Daoist Shu Rong furrowed her slender brows, her eyes just as grave.

She turned her head, her gaze piercing through the rolling sea of clouds toward Changhe Province.

”Dao Foundation Middle Stage...” she muttered to herself, a trace of dread actually tinging her voice.

Chen Lingxi remained seated cross-legged. Seeing the gravity in Daoist Shu Rong’s eyes, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

’It seems this projection avatar of Daoist Shu Rong... is absolutely no match for a cultivator at the Dao Foundation Middle Stage in terms of combat strength,’ he thought.

’If the Under-Dao Academy wants to seize the Immortal Slough, they have to strike before Emperor Daye emerges from seclusion.’

Right at that moment, Daoist Shu Rong suddenly turned back around, her gaze falling upon him.

”Daoist Friend,” she said, ”you say you saw these secrets in that Changhe dream? This matter is of grave importance. I wonder if you would be willing to sign a Jade Precept Book with me to prove your words are true?”

Lin Suri furrowed his brow slightly.

He glanced sideways at Daoist Shu Rong. He seemed to want to say something, but held himself back.

Daoist Shu Rong glanced at Lin Suri.

”The Under-Dao Academy is immensely grateful to you for passing on such secret information, Daoist Friend,” she continued. ”However, this is no trivial matter. As the one leading this expedition, I must act with caution.”

She paused briefly.

”If this is true, the Under-Dao Academy will definitely reward you,” she added. ”Once we return to the Great Xuanzhuo Realm, if you need anything, as long as it is within the power of my Pool Soul Courtyard, we will provide our full support.”

At that moment, Lin Suri suddenly spoke up.

”Martial Aunt, Daoist Brother Chen saved my life,” he said. ”In this grotto-heaven, the Academy doesn’t have much worth plotting over anyway. Moreover, Daoist Brother Chen has saved me several times. If he harbored ill intentions toward me, he would have acted long ago. Why would he wait until today?”

He paused slightly.

”Martial Aunt Shu Rong, I am willing to vouch for Daoist Brother Chen,” he said solemnly.

A smile surfaced on Chen Lingxi’s face.

”This matter indeed needs proof, but what harm is there in signing a Jade Precept Book? I, Chen Lingxi, act with a clear conscience. What do I have to fear?” he said.

He turned to Daoist Shu Rong.

”Senior, where is this Jade Precept Book?” he asked.

Chen Lingxi felt quite confident at this moment.

What he had said was the absolute truth anyway, so what did it matter if he signed a Jade Precept Book?

As for that Changhe dream, he simply wouldn’t write it into the Jade Precept Book.

All cultivators in the world had their secrets; did every little detail need to be explained?

As long as the information about Emperor Daye, the Space-Disrupting Flower, and his breakthrough to the Dao Foundation Middle Stage was true, it would be enough.

Meeting his open and calm gaze, the gravity on Daoist Shu Rong’s face faded slightly.

She suddenly smiled and shook her head.

”Since Suri trusts you, there is no need to sign it,” she said.

’This man’s gaze is entirely candid; he doesn’t look like he’s lying or faking it,’ she thought to herself. ’Besides... we arrived as projections with nothing on us, and Suri doesn’t have a Jade Precept Book of Qi Circulation on hand either...’

”Once I have finished handling matters here, I will surely reward you handsomely, Daoist Friend,” she then said to Chen Lingxi.

Chen Lingxi thanked Daoist Shu Rong and didn’t linger any longer.

He cupped his hands in farewell to Lin Suri, Jiang Xiu, and Wei Qingran. Silently activating the Cloud Soaring Technique beneath his feet, he transformed into a stream of cloudy light, piercing through the clouds and mist as he shot away.

Lin Suri personally saw him off, traveling a hundred li alongside him before finally departing.

Chen Lingxi returned to Cuojin Mountain and sat cross-legged on the throne.

’Daoist Shu Rong’s projection is complete, and her cultivation is extraordinary. She definitely won’t sit back and watch Emperor Daye step into the Dao Foundation Middle Stage. Now, I just need to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.’

He sat upright at the summit of Cuojin Mountain, activating the Method of Qi Observation to gaze far off in the direction of the Imperial Palace.

Two days passed.

Chen Lingxi’s eyes flickered. In the extreme distance, he saw a streak of Dao Origin plummeting like a falling star, crashing straight toward the Imperial Palace.

’Daoist Shu Rong has made her move.’

He narrowed his eyes and immediately entered the state of Vision Roaming.

His perspective tore through space, landing right in the depths of the Imperial Palace.

He saw Emperor Daye, Ying Xian, sitting upright on the dragon throne atop the high dais. His originally withered and elderly body was already undergoing a transformation.

His sparse white hair had become thick and pitch-black.

The wrinkles on his face were entirely smoothed out.

His senile visage had turned exceptionally heroic and martial.

His once-hunched body now stood tall and indomitable.

In just a few short breaths, this seemingly dying, decrepit old man had transformed into a peerless monarch with a majestic and towering presence.

He stood up from the throne, his hands clasped behind his back, and stepped out of the great hall.

The five-clawed golden dragons on his bright yellow dragon robe also appeared incredibly mighty and imposing.

He raised his head. His gaze pierced through the clouds in the sky, passed right through that highly complex and extraordinary grand array, and locked onto the streak of light flying toward him from afar.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Through Emperor Daye’s perspective, Chen Lingxi also looked up at that crimson streak of light.

In the void, a crimson light tore across the sky, plummeting toward the royal palace like a falling star.

The streak of light was terrifyingly fast. In the blink of an eye, it had already arrived in the sky above Chongjing City.

The light dissipated, revealing a slender, graceful silhouette.

It was none other than Daoist Shu Rong.

Her red robes blazed like fire, like a crimson sun hanging in the void.

She seemed to stand in the very center of that sun, looking down at the entire Imperial Palace to meet Emperor Daye’s eyes from afar.

”Early Dao Foundation Perfection.” Daoist Shu Rong’s voice carried an awe-inspiring majesty. ”Dao Foundations from other realms have a hard time entering this world. If you haven’t cultivated some secret art, then you must be a native of this world... Regardless... for you to actually cultivate to such a realm in this Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven, where spiritual essence is exhausted, is truly a rare feat.”

Emperor Daye stood on the altar with his hands behind his back. Two clusters of golden flame danced slowly in his eyes, but he offered no reply.

Daoist Shu Rong simply flipped her right hand lightly in the void!

The Dao Origin around her abruptly condensed, transforming into a brilliant light. That light then birthed a razor-sharp aura, solidifying into a longsword that fell right into her grasp.

With the sword in hand, the dense, heavy Dao Origin surrounding Daoist Shu Rong erupted explosively, as if ignited.

She took a step forward. The moment her sword momentum rose, an astonishing scene suddenly manifested above her head!

The Big Dipper.

Phantoms of seven stars seemed to plummet from the high heavens, hovering a hundred zhang in the air above her.

The light of those seven stars was incomparably blinding. It illuminated the area, casting its glow right upon the crown of Emperor Daye’s head.

The instant the Big Dipper appeared, Daoist Shu Rong’s already dense and vast Dao Origin suddenly skyrocketed!

Billowing Dao Origin poured madly from her body, sweeping out in all directions to blot out the sky.

Chen Lingxi’s pupils shrank violently!

’A divine ability like this is definitely a Dao Foundation Great Divine Ability.’

Emperor Daye raised his head, watching the phantom of the Big Dipper hanging over Daoist Shu Rong.

At that moment, the radiance on Daoist Shu Rong’s sword reached its absolute peak. It resonated with the light of the Big Dipper above, dyeing the entire firmament into a magnificent expanse of starlight!

A world-shaking battle was on the verge of breaking out!

Right then, Emperor Daye suddenly flicked his finger.

An extremely thin, faint streak of golden Dao Origin shot from his fingertip. It pierced through the heavy palace walls, pierced through the layered spiritual arrays, and drove straight into the depths of the Imperial Palace.

That golden Dao Origin landed within the halls, striking the female cultivator from Lotus Pool Manor.

The golden Dao Origin tapped between her brows, and the woman’s eyes slowly opened.

She turned her head, her gaze seeing straight through the palace walls to behold the slowly revolving phantom of the Big Dipper above Daoist Shu Rong in the void.

Then she suddenly began to laugh, her tone filled with absolute delight.

”Seven Luminaries Moyi Dao’s Great Divine Ability [Star-Illuminating Palace]!” she laughed loudly. ”Ying Xian, it seems your time to die has arrived.”

That trace of a smile reappeared on Emperor Daye’s lips.

”Outer-realm cultivators, projection avatars... you people are nothing more than the beginning.”

Before his voice even faded, he took a step forward.

With that single step, it was as if the entire capital trembled slightly.

Then, he spread his arms wide.

In an instant, with the Imperial Palace of Chongjing City as the center, the grand spiritual energy array—which spread across the entire territory of Great Li and connected all the great mountains, deep rivers, and vast waterways—began to operate simultaneously.

Endless spiritual energy gathered madly from all directions. Plucked from the tens of millions of vengeful spirits slaughtered by Emperor Daye, and from the billions of living beings who had died in the chaotic world, streams of life essence poured crazily into Emperor Daye’s body like inverted white waterfalls.

The Dao Origin around Emperor Daye, which was already at its absolute peak, surged wildly once again.

His entire person resembled a true, massive sun hanging over Chongjing City. Golden light blazed intensely around him, making him look like a god descended to the mortal realm.

His body, which had already reverted to its prime, actually grew a bit larger under the infusion of this majestic life essence. His muscles coiled like dragons. The dragon robe was torn to shreds inch by inch by that terrifying power, exposing the knotted, iron-cast muscles beneath.

Bare-chested, he stepped onto a continuous band of golden Dao Origin that extended from his hands and stretched across the sky, looking exactly like a divine being treading upon a true dragon!

He looked at Daoist Shu Rong from afar.

Daoist Shu Rong looked at the terrifying aura on his body that was still constantly rising, her eyes filled with shock.

”Extraordinary indeed.”

But this True Person martial aunt from the Under-Dao Academy was ultimately accustomed to grand spectacles. In a flash, she suppressed her shock.

She held the Jade Sword horizontally in front of her. The phantom of the Big Dipper above her spun increasingly faster, and seven streams of starlight cascaded down from her head like seven upside-down galaxies!

The moment they fell, they laid out a sword array around her with starlight as its foundation.

As soon as that sword array manifested, a bone-chillingly sharp aura swept out in all directions, blowing the strands of hair hanging in front of her back in a wild flutter.

Rumble!!!

In the next instant, the sky above the capital was completely submerged in sword light and Dao Origin.

Emperor Daye held no blade in his hands, yet he used his own Dao Origin as the edge, forming a streak of golden blade aura that stretched for hundreds of zhang. His single slashing strike was like divine retribution descending upon the world.

Where the blade aura blazed the brightest, visible fissures were torn into the void. The edges of the rifts crackled with blinding golden lightning, sizzling as they evaporated the surrounding sea of clouds into nothingness.

Daoist Shu Rong’s seven-star sword array was equally extraordinary.

The seven streams of starlight acted as seven unsheathed peerless swords, each shining with brilliant light and profound to the absolute extreme.

The two terrifying auras clashed madly in the void.

For a moment, Chen Lingxi actually couldn’t comprehend such a horrifying, murderous divine ability.

He took all of this in through Emperor Daye’s perspective.

The mighty power contained in every move and stance of these two powerhouses, and the Dao rhythm that invoked the grand momentum of heaven and earth with every gesture, shook him to the core.

At that exact moment, Vision Roaming shattered!

Chen Lingxi closed his eyes, but that world-shaking battle still played out before him.

’Are all figures at the Early Dao Foundation this tyrannical, or are Daoist Shu Rong and Emperor Daye simply much stronger than other cultivators?’

Chen Lingxi was inwardly alarmed.

And...

’Emperor Daye just said... outer-realm cultivators are ”nothing more than the beginning.”’

Chen Lingxi’s thoughts spun rapidly.

’Could it be that he knows the experts of the Under-Dao Academy are descending via projection?’

’And what does he mean by just the beginning?’