After the Great Dao Died

When Zhuo Jiaowu struck, the sea of clouds surrounding Yellow Luminary Peak surged violently, emitting a muffled, thunderous rumble.

He swept his sleeves, and his dense Dao Origin poured out like a burst dam, soaring straight into the sky!

He opened his mouth and exhaled. A gray mist surged from his throat and rose straight into the heavens.

A Great Divine Ability!

[Cloud Mist Dao Fruit]!

In an instant, the mist blotted out the sky, enveloping the entire Yellow Luminary Peak in a churning expanse of gray and white.

Amid the churning mist, thirty-six massive outlines slowly stood up from the sea of fog.

These thirty-six giants were constructed entirely from mist condensed to the extreme. Each stood dozens of zhang tall, with shoulders as broad as mountains and limbs as thick as pillars. Their faces were blurred, revealing only pairs of deep, dark eyes that slowly opened within the fog.

The moment the thirty-six mist giants appeared, they strode forward across the churning clouds to surround Chen Lingxi.

Their footsteps were terribly heavy, crushing the sea of clouds beneath them into massive whirlpools.

The giants raised their arms in unison, spreading their empty palms to form a grand formation.

Within that formation, the mist churned and piled layer upon layer into a cage forged of clouds, tightly trapping the youth in its center.

Meanwhile, Zhuo Jiaowu unleashed two Spiritual Artifacts.

He reached into his robes, and a nearly transparent net, thin as a cicada’s wings, flew from his palm. It expanded against the wind, unfurling in an instant to cover the entire sky.

[Qi-Weaving Spiritual Net]!

The net looked flimsy and powerless, but countless fine patterns flowed between its meshes.

The moment the spiritual net unfurled, Zhuo Jiaowu’s Dao Origin surged wildly!

A steady, endless stream of spiritual qi filtered through the net and poured into his Dao Platform and Profound Root.

Nourished by such boundless spiritual qi, his Profound Root burst with brilliant light.

Zhuo Jiaowu’s Dao Origin ignited. It stacked layer upon layer, growing thicker and heavier, seemingly endless and without pause.

’With this Qi-Weaving Spiritual Net in hand, Zhuo Jiaowu’s Dao Origin seems inexhaustible.’

Watching the battle from afar, Liu Mian thought this to herself before turning to look at the main hall on Yellow Luminary Peak.

The second Spiritual Artifact was the main hall of Yellow Luminary Peak itself!

The majestic hall stood tall at the summit of Yellow Luminary Peak, its flying eaves thrusting upward. Built upon a foundation of spiritual jade and framed with ancient bronze beams, it had weathered countless years of wind and rain, yet its brilliance flowed as though it had just been cast.

Above the main hall, one hundred and twenty-eight banners unfurled. Their surfaces, embroidered with complex cloud and thunder patterns, snapped fiercely in the wind.

The banners spread out all at once, hanging like one hundred and twenty-eight colored clouds over the hall, blotting out the sun.

At this moment, guided by Zhuo Jiaowu’s intent, the patterns on the banners lit up simultaneously.

Buzz!

An incredibly faint, long, drawn-out hum drifted from the depths of the main hall.

Amidst that humming, streams of profound light rose from the banners!

The light was overwhelmingly intense.

The profound light born from the one hundred and twenty-eight banners gathered together, rising above the hall like a newborn sun, burning brightly.

Following Zhuo Jiaowu’s will, the profound light blasted forward, streaking straight toward Chen Lingxi in the clouds!

Where the profound light passed, the sea of clouds was scorched into nothingness. The heavenly winds were forced to scatter and flee, leaving a sizzling, miles-long scorch mark torn across the void.

Moreover, the moment Zhuo Jiaowu struck, he held absolutely nothing back!

But this was still not the end of his methods!

His hands formed a profound mudra before him, and a low, rumbling Daoist chant drifted from his lips.

As the hand seal completed, the phantom image of a massive sun slowly rose above his head.

Constructed entirely of Dao Origin condensed to its absolute limit, the phantom sun flowed with blinding flares of light. Hanging over Zhuo Jiaowu’s head, it looked as if a true sun had been plucked from the ninth heaven, radiating endless light and heat.

The Great Divine Ability, [Great Sun Scorching Flames]!

And as Zhuo Jiaowu channeled the Great Sun Scorching Flames, the thirty-six mist giants shockingly unleashed the very same divine ability!

Thirty-six slightly smaller phantom suns rose in unison, resonating with the great sun above Zhuo Jiaowu.

Thirty-seven Great Sun Scorching Flames!

The thirty-seven massive suns erupted with brilliant light. Their flames surged like an ocean, blotting out the sky and burning the heavens gold and red for miles around.

Thirty-seven Great Sun Scorching Flames bore down on Chen Lingxi!

Instantly, towering flames and rolling heat waves consumed the sky.

The thirty-six mist giants’ grand formation locked down all of Chen Lingxi’s escape routes. The main hall’s profound light sealed the space above his head. And the thirty-seven Great Sun Scorching Flames smashed toward him from all directions like thirty-seven world-ending rivers of fire.

The entirety of Yellow Luminary Peak trembled.

The clouds were burned to ash; the sky was dyed crimson.

At that exact moment...

A flicker of surprise finally crossed Chen Lingxi’s calm eyes.

”This Zhuo Jiaowu actually has some skill.”

—

Liu Mian was still waiting for her master’s reply and had yet to make a move.

She stood on Yellow Luminary Peak, watching the great battle in the sky from afar as her robes fluttered gently in the wind.

Seeing Zhuo Jiaowu unleash his full strength—the thirty-six mist giants forming a grand formation, the Qi-Weaving Spiritual Net covering the sky, the one hundred and twenty-eight banners shining with profound light, and the thirty-seven Great Sun Scorching Flames burning half the sky red—she sighed softly.

’No wonder Yellow Luminary Peak’s power has advanced by leaps and bounds, and no wonder Peak Master Zhuo was able to enter the Dragon Transformation Immortal Roll.’

With these thoughts in mind, her gaze followed the series of lethal techniques, the sky full of flames reflecting in her eyes.

’His cultivation, combat prowess, and foundations are all extraordinary. Even compared to the two lower-ranked chief disciples of my Yang Awakening Upper Peak, he isn’t far behind.’

As a disciple of Yang Awakening Upper Peak, Liu Mian naturally possessed very high standards.

For her to give such an evaluation, Zhuo Jiaowu truly possessed remarkable qualities.

Then, Liu Mian’s gaze shifted back to the youth in the clouds.

The youth stood amidst the thirty-six mist giants, his figure frail. Like a small skiff caught in raging waves, he seemed destined to be swallowed whole by the overwhelming barrage of attacks at any moment.

’For him to dare come to Yellow Luminary Peak, he must have something to rely on. But he was far too reckless to barge directly into Yellow Luminary Main Peak...’

Liu Mian gently shook her head.

Yellow Luminary Main Peak was Zhuo Jiaowu’s Dao ashram. Complete with spiritual veins, grand formations, and spiritual artifacts, even an expert a head above him in cultivation would absolutely refuse to fight him head-on here.

If the youth had challenged him from the perimeter, he could have advanced to attack or retreated to flee, retaining a sliver of hope for survival.

Yet he insisted on charging straight into Yellow Luminary Main Peak, effectively delivering himself into Zhuo Jiaowu’s inescapable net from the sky and snare from the earth.

Liu Mian’s divine sense swept outward, catching sight of hundreds of disciples already forming an array on Yellow Luminary Peak.

The hundreds of disciples arranged themselves into a grand formation, each channeling their internal spiritual qi and pouring it into the earth beneath their feet.

They were opening the spiritual vein!

The spiritual vein beneath Yellow Luminary Peak awakened under their combined efforts like a giant dragon that had lain dormant for a thousand years.

Rolling, majestic power surged from deep underground, forming a visible pillar of light that shot directly into the main hall.

Empowered by the boundless strength of the spiritual vein, the main hall burst with even more blinding radiance.

The streams of profound light grew hotter and more condensed. Like divine weapons repeatedly tempered by the spiritual vein, they struck straight toward the youth in the clouds.

’With the advantage of this spiritual artifact and spiritual vein, there are likely very few in the Early Dao Foundation realm who could defeat Zhuo Jiaowu.’

Liu Mian made her final judgment.

Her own cultivation was higher than Zhuo Jiaowu’s, yet here on Yellow Luminary Peak, even she wouldn’t dare claim she could beat him!

At that moment, with his entire foundation unleashed, Zhuo Jiaowu’s eyes overflowed with killing intent.

He stood atop the main hall, his Dao Origin churning like an ocean. Thirty-six mist giants surrounded him, and thirty-seven Great Sun Scorching Flames hung high in the sky.

He intended to kill this intruder in a single strike.

”The Peak Master of Sun Observation Peak is dead. Liu Changle foolishly tried to resist me and ended up dead...”

”You are just like Liu Changle, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth.”

Zhuo Jiaowu muttered, his killing intent surging like the tide.

Chen Lingxi’s expression never changed.

The sky full of profound light, scorching flames, and giants—the overwhelming barrage of lethal techniques—looked like nothing more than a painted scroll that had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Not until the Great Sun Scorching Flames burned toward him, the main hall’s profound light shot forward, and the thirty-six mist giants swung their arms down to suppress him...

Did Chen Lingxi...

Finally make his move!

He simply flicked a finger.

Boom!

Between heaven and earth, a sudden, dead silence fell.

Then, an indescribable roar exploded from his fingertip, like a deity in the highest heavens beating a massive divine drum.

The Thunder Prison Heaven Great Divine Ability

Unfurled!

Rumble!

Amid the deafening roar, the void abruptly tore open.

A pool of thunder spanning heaven and earth spilled out from within!

Within that thunder pool, countless arcs of pale gold lightning thrashed wildly!

The moment the thunder pool appeared, an unfathomable, terrifying pressure swept madly in all directions.

The Immortal Smiting Thunder Pool burst forth!

As the thunder pool churned, lightning dragons roared and an ocean of electricity surged, forcing every Great Sun Scorching Flame and beam of profound light within miles to roll backwards.

At that exact moment, a streak of sword light erupted!

Shooting into the sky from within Chen Lingxi’s body, the pure cyan sword light was condensed to the absolute extreme. It looked like an ancient, sealed tiger demon lord finally breaking its chains to soar into the heavens and roar across the firmament.

It was the Jade Tiger Rebellious Sea Sword Light!

Jade Tiger Rebellious Sea!

Incomparably fierce!

The instant the sword light appeared, a peerlessly violent sword intent permeated the air.

The sheer intensity of that sword intent made even the distant Liu Mian’s heart skip a beat.

”This sword light...”

Light flickered in Liu Mian’s eyes, her expression grave.

Sword light spilled everywhere!

The Abyssal Heaven Spiritual Sword lay dormant within that very light!

The Jade Tiger Rebellious Sea Sword Light expanded madly in the void, multiplying from one to two, then from two to four, blotting out the sky in an instant.

Nineteen streaks of sword light. Each was perfectly condensed; each contained the peerless, violent intent of the Jade Tiger Rebellious Sea.

The nineteen sword lights cut across the sky like nineteen cyan tigers bursting from the ocean in unison, roaring as they slashed toward the thirty-six mist giants, the thirty-seven Great Sun Scorching Flames, and the main hall’s profound light!

Wherever the sword light passed, the mist vanished!

The thirty-six mist giants formed from the power of a Great Divine Ability had no way to resist these nineteen sword lights.

A sweep of sword light, and one giant was sliced in half at the waist!

Another sweep, and a second giant collapsed violently into pieces.

In a single breath!

All thirty-six mist giants were annihilated!

The thirty-seven Great Sun Scorching Flames were similarly chopped to pieces by the nineteen sword lights.

The sword light shattered the giant suns, scattering their flames. It was as if thirty-seven suns had fallen at exactly the same moment, sending a fiery rain drifting down from the heavens.

Simultaneously, Liu Mian saw the youth gracefully descend.

He fell at blinding speed, leaving a long trail of lightning like a falling star as he plummeted straight toward Yellow Luminary Main Peak.

And as he fell, a terrifying aura erupted from his body.

In the next instant!

Liu Mian watched the youth’s body violently expand.

He grew to a full three zhang in size!

His robes shredded apart, revealing muscles coiled like dragons underneath. Unimaginable, terrifying power thrummed in every inch of flesh.

From a distance, he looked like the precious phase of a deity!

Holding up heaven and standing firm on the earth, the towering figure radiated an overwhelming presence, like a god of the Immortal Capital descending to the mortal realm.

It was the fourth Palace-Knocking profound mechanism of the True Edict of Approaching the Dao...

The Great Sage Precious Phase!

Chen Lingxi rarely used this profound mechanism, simply because most enemies he faced were not worthy of it.

But today... there was still a female cultivator at the Dao Foundation Wondrous Fruit stage on Yellow Luminary Peak who had yet to act.

Watching from far away on the peak, her energy was calm, her cultivation unfathomably deep.

Since that was the case, Chen Lingxi decided...

He would bring out his full strength and kill Zhuo Jiaowu with the speed of thunder!

Boom!

Chen Lingxi’s Great Sage Precious Phase crashed into Yellow Luminary Peak.

He raised his right hand and curled his finger.

The Palace-Knocking Finger!

That single finger jabbed straight into the main hall’s profound light.

A light powerful enough to pierce mountains and boil rivers instantly shattered inch by inch beneath his finger like thin ice.

One finger shattered the treasure hall’s profound light!

Then, Chen Lingxi clenched his fist and punched downward.

It wasn’t a flashy punch. It didn’t even carry a trace of Dao Origin’s aura.

It contained only terrifying physical strength and the horrifying augmentation of vital energy.

Rolling vital energy poured into this punch from the Great Sage Precious Phase like a vast ocean.

The punch slammed down.

Zhuo Jiaowu’s pupils violently dilated.

A flash of confusion crossed his eyes.

Genuine confusion.

’How could thirty-six mist giants be killed in an instant?’

’How could an Early Dao Foundation cultivator throw a punch like this?’

And then, Chen Lingxi’s fist arrived.

One punch!

Zhuo Jiaowu’s body was instantly smashed into a mist of blood.

His Dao Platform, his Profound Root, and his dense Dao Origin were all completely pulverized by Chen Lingxi!

Scattered into the mist.

The blood exploded in the void like a crimson firework blooming over the dark gold sea of clouds. A gust of mountain wind quickly swept it away without a trace.

Only a single head remained.

Heaven and earth returned to clarity.

Everything seemed to fall silent.

The celestial winds blew once more; the clouds churned again.

Chen Lingxi’s Great Sage Precious Phase dissipated.

He returned to his normal appearance.

He still had that frail figure, and he still wore those torn robes.

His eyes calm, he stood on Yellow Luminary Peak and took a deep breath.

Then, he raised a hand.

A wisp of spiritual qi flowed out, and Zhuo Jiaowu’s severed head flew up from the ground to land in his palm.

’I will use this scoundrel’s head to mourn Changle,’ Chen Lingxi thought.

Meanwhile, Liu Mian of Yang Awakening Upper Peak was entirely at a loss.

Standing on Yellow Luminary Peak, she stared blankly.

Then, she saw the youth turn his head.

Their eyes met across the distance.

His gaze was as calm as water. She couldn’t detect a shred of killing intent, nor a single trace of emotion.

Yet that utterly placid gaze sent a chill down her spine.

She blinked...

”This is the Early Dao Foundation?”

That punch just now, that profound precious phase, those nineteen streaks of sword light...

How on earth did any of that look like a lethal technique an Early Dao Foundation cultivator could unleash?

Liu Mian broke out in a cold sweat.

Thank goodness she hadn’t rashly made a move.