After the Great Dao Died

Chen Lingxi pondered for a moment, then temporarily suppressed his chaotic thoughts.

He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to sense the wisp of Celestial Ranking Spiritual Energy within his Qi Sea.

This spiritual energy was incredibly abundant and exceptionally pure, completely unlike the twelve wisps he had seized using the Method of Life Devouring.

”With such abundant spiritual energy, I only need to fully refine it to match two years of solitary cultivation on this mountain.”

Chen Lingxi’s eyes burned brightly. ”This Celestial Ranking opportunity is truly extraordinary.”

”Just as Daoist Shu Rong said, if I can reach a higher rank, I can obtain more profound opportunities from the Celestial Ranking. For me, this is indeed a shortcut to rapidly elevate my strength.”

He raised his head, gazing at the Celestial Ranking towering majestically in the sky above, his eyes sweeping over the names.

’Jiang Xiu and Wei Qingran are both at the Twelfth Floor of Qi Circulation. Surrounded by Dao Foundation avatars, they rank thirty-first and forty-second respectively.’

’Their combat strength isn’t particularly formidable in my eyes. Even within the Twelfth Floor of Qi Circulation, there are definitely many who are stronger than them.’

’Looking at it this way, most of these newly descended cultivators are only at the Twelfth Floor of Qi Circulation and haven’t yet stepped into the Dao Foundation realm.’

He pondered inwardly as his gaze continued upward, landing on the names at the very top of the ranking.

’The person ranked first is a figure from the Que Star Xi Family, yet his surname is Zhao, not Xi. Could he be from a branch family, or perhaps a guest retainer or a consecrated retainer?’

He frowned in thought for a moment before shifting his gaze to second place.

’And then there is Bai Lingze of the Yutai Bai Family.’ Chen Lingxi silently recited the name, a cold glint flashing through his eyes.

During the Battle of Cauldron Seizing, Bai Lingze had used a jade pendant to manifest an avatar, transforming into a tornado to retreat with Xi Yu.

The cultivation base he revealed back then was clearly only at the Qi Circulation Eleventh Floor.

But now, he sat high in second place on the Celestial Ranking, an unknown number of ranks above him.

’It seems that after the Immortal Slough was exposed within this grotto-heaven, the Yutai Bai Family took action, using Bai Lingze’s avatar as a springboard to compete for it.’

At this thought, the wariness in his eyes deepened.

’I need to constantly guard against this Bai Lingze.’

’This person is a Dao Foundation genius of the Yutai Bai Family. He previously attacked me with that Great Divine Ability, [Blessing Buries the Profound]... Now that he possesses Dao Foundation cultivation, if he learns my location, he will definitely strike at me again.’

’I must be extremely careful.’

With a plan formed in his mind, Chen Lingxi raised his hand. An object flew out from his Vast Void Pouch and hovered above his palm.

It was a small stone tablet, exuding a dense ancient aura and a chilling killing intent.

It was precisely the Enemy-Slaughtering Spirit Wall.

’Now the Celestial Ranking hangs high in the sky, and I hold the Enemy-Slaughtering Spirit Wall.’

’If I use the Enemy-Slaughtering Spirit Wall to kill the figures on that ranking, my rank will rise, and my cultivation should rapidly advance as well.’

Chen Lingxi thought this, but he was in no hurry.

There seemed to be many Dao Foundation cultivators on the Celestial Ranking.

With Chen Lingxi’s current cultivation, even with the Enemy-Slaughtering Spirit Wall in hand, facing those Dao Foundation avatars would be no different from striking a rock with an egg.

Chen Lingxi pondered carefully.

’Whether it is the Que Star Xi Family or the Yutai Bai Family, both are my opponents.’

’Xi Yu knows that Xi Yuan and Xi Mu both died by my hands.’

’The Yutai Bai Family is closely allied with the Que Star Xi Family... If I want to seize opportunities, it’s best to target these two families.’

Chen Lingxi’s gaze swept across the Celestial Ranking, ultimately picking out a few names.

The first person, [Bai Huzhong], thirty-second on the Celestial Ranking.

The second person, [Xi Lingqiao], twenty-sixth on the Celestial Ranking.

The third person, [Bai Qingchuan], nineteenth on the Celestial Ranking.

The fourth person... [Xi Yuan].

’Xi Yuan... Not only is he a member of the Xi family, but he is also ranked tenth. His cultivation must be extremely terrifying.’

’I’m afraid the avatar of such a figure is already not far from the Dao Foundation, or might have even stepped into the Dao Foundation realm.’

Chen Lingxi’s gaze darkened slightly, his thoughts growing deeper.

’Out of these four, I must be more cautious when striking against Xi Yuan... At the very least, I need to find out whether this person possesses Dao Foundation cultivation or Qi Circulation cultivation.’

’As for the other three, with the Enemy-Slaughtering Spirit Wall in hand, I have no need to fear them.’

As Chen Lingxi’s thoughts reached this point, he thought of the two figures ranked first and second.

’There are also the two Dao Foundation cultivators from the Xi and Bai families taking the top two spots on the Celestial Ranking. If I act rashly and they lock onto my tracks, I will likely face certain death. I cannot take the risk.’

With his mind swirling, he finally raised his head, his gaze piercing through the sea of clouds atop Cuojin Mountain to look toward the Great Zhou Imperial Palace.

’Within this grotto-heaven, when it comes to combat strength and foundation... I keep feeling that Emperor Daye, Ying Xian, might be stronger than many of the so-called Dao Foundation figures on the Celestial Ranking.’

He remembered the scenes he had witnessed when he used Vision Roaming on Emperor Daye.

With the body of a native mortal, Emperor Daye had cultivated to the Early Dao Foundation within the spiritually barren Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven, fighting Daoist Shu Rong single-handedly without falling to a disadvantage.

He nourished his physical body day and night with the immortal essence of the Immortal Slough, growing stronger with every breath.

The shocking grand array spread across the entirety of Great Li was personally laid out by him, seizing the remnant essence and true yuan of countless beings after their deaths.

Even Daoist Shu Rong, whose true body was at Dao Foundation Perfection, had projected an avatar that was already at Early Dao Foundation Perfection. Yet, during her grand battle with Emperor Daye, she hadn’t gained the slightest advantage. In their struggle, Emperor Daye was actually slightly superior.

’Such a figure is unfathomable,’ he silently mused, the thoughtful light in his eyes growing even deeper.

’If I can use him... I might be able to find a sliver of survival in the cracks.’

’Even without an alliance, simply having Emperor Daye attract the attention of the Xi and Bai families would be a tremendous help to me.’

Thinking of this, his mind stirred. His consciousness sank into the Divine Chamber, and he once again cast the Vision Roaming Divine Ability, peering from afar at the scene deep within the Great Zhou Imperial Palace.

He saw that within the gloomy side hall, Emperor Daye, Ying Xian, was still sitting cross-legged.

The pale gold immortal essence of the Immortal Slough lingered around his body like a mist, refusing to dissipate.

After many days, Emperor Daye no longer seemed as aged as before. No longer having one foot in the grave, he now looked like a hale and hearty elder.

His originally hunched body had also straightened considerably.

’Because of that profound grand array and the Immortal Slough... Emperor Daye’s stubborn ailments seem to be healing.’

Chen Lingxi watched for a moment before retracting the Vision Roaming Divine Ability and slowly opening his eyes.

He sat cross-legged and proceeded to refine the profound spiritual energy brought to him by forty-ninth place on the Celestial Ranking.

Time quietly slipped by. After just over twenty days, Chen Lingxi slowly opened his eyes.

At this moment, the spiritual qi within his Qi Sea had become even more abundant and dense, already not far from the accumulation needed for the Twelfth Floor of Qi Circulation.

’This spiritual energy is indeed extraordinary.’

Chen Lingxi took a deep breath. His consciousness then sank into the Divine Chamber, using Vision Roaming to confirm Emperor Daye’s position.

Emperor Daye was still in the Great Zhou Imperial Palace.

Chen Lingxi immediately stood up. Using the Hidden Edge Method to conceal his tracks and aura, he quietly roamed through the clouds and mist, heading straight for Great Zhou.

He did not stop until he was eight hundred miles from the Great Zhou Imperial Capital, descending into a lush bamboo forest to sit cross-legged.

He took a deep breath, and a strand of his consciousness once again descended into the Divine Chamber.

After several years of cultivation, Chen Lingxi’s progress in Absolute Perception Origin Supplementation had long since reached perfection.

With a stir of his mind, Chen Lingxi felt his consciousness instantly pulled by a profound force, before falling into the shell of Chen Lingxi within the Divine Chamber!

Absolute Perception Divine Chamber!

Chen Lingxi opened his eyes and looked toward the void.

High in the sky hung a bright mirror like a blazing sun, accompanied by another silver-white jade plate mirror reflecting its light.

With the two bright mirrors shining high above, Chen Lingxi’s mind relaxed. Riding the clouds, he headed toward the Great Zhou Imperial Palace.