After the Great Dao Died

Right at this moment!

A hundred-zhang golden light surged from the eyes of the true dragon statue, like two rivers of fire that had been imprisoned for millions of years finally bursting their dams and crashing down.

Wherever the golden light passed, clouds and mist scattered. The radiance of the three great suns was suppressed, dimmed by the golden gleam.

The vast, boundless halls and pavilions of the Dragon-Revering Main Sect were plated in a hazy, almost tangible glow. From afar, it looked like an immortal city cast from pure gold, suspended silently at the boundary of heaven and earth.

Right in the center of that golden light, a hundred-zhang curtain of light had unfurled. Spiritual energy wove across it like a tapestry as Dao rhythm flowed, engraved with thirty streams of Dao Origin.

The top ten of these streams transformed into ten figures.

These ten figures either stood with their hands behind their backs, sat quietly cross-legged, or leaned back with arms folded. They simply looked down, overlooking everything below.

Yuan Lingyu stood by Chen Lingxi’s side, tilting her head up to watch those ten figures. Her eyes held a trace of fascination and an indescribable nervousness.

She swallowed quietly and lowered her voice, ”Senior Brother, the Dragon Transformation Immortal Roll shines brightly up there. Those ten figures on the roll are the current top ten figures of the First Profound Ranking... If you can get on the ranking, the spiritual energy bestowed upon you will be incredibly generous.”

Chen Lingxi nodded slightly, but his gaze had already crossed the layers of golden light to fall upon the two figures at the very top.

Those two figures stood at the highest point of the golden light like two towering mountains, overlooking the masses below.

One person had faint firelight flowing around him. The firelight was not blazing, yet it carried a profound sense of melting all things. It was like a pool of magma resting deep within a volcano—calm on the surface, while heat capable of burning the heavens quietly gestated below.

This person needed no introduction. It was Zhu Mi of Southern Brightness Peak, whom Junior Martial Sister Lingyu had just mentioned—the first place on the First Profound Ranking, who cultivated the [Brightness Fusion Art] great divine ability.

The other person was like a sheathed sword, his aura restrained to the extreme. Without a close look, one would almost think he was merely a faint phantom.

Yet the sharpness flowing around his body made Chen Lingxi’s heart tremble slightly.

”That second person is Xu Sanchi of Illuminating Sword Profound Peak, the second on the First Profound Ranking,” Yuan Lingyu volunteered, seeing where Chen Lingxi was looking.

Chen Lingxi nodded slightly.

Zhu Mi and Xu Sanchi both stood at the highest point of the golden light, looking down at Chen Lingxi. Their gazes were calm, showing neither joy nor anger.

Right in the middle section of the golden light, a figure as shifting and illusory as cloud mist suddenly trembled.

That figure solidified a bit, revealing a young face.

A trace of shock and doubt flashed across that face, instantly transforming into a complicated expression.

”It’s you?”

Lian Sheng stood upon the golden light, his gaze falling onto Chen Lingxi.

”Junior Brother Lian, do you recognize him?” a deep, heavy voice rang out. It was none other than [Yuan Ji] of Heaven Pacifying Peak, who stood in the fourth position.

His frame was already tall and large, and standing atop that golden light right now, he was like a silent mountain. His entire body shone with the heavy hue of the earth, his aura incredibly thick and condensed.

Lian Sheng was silent for a moment before he slowly said, ”This person’s name is Yuan Zhiling. He is a disciple of True Person Xiangshu of Slumbering Deer Peak.”

He paused, as if weighing his words, his voice lowering. ”His seniority is extremely high... I was once defeated by him.”

The moment these words came out, the rest of the figures upon the golden light stirred.

Even Zhu Mi, who stood at the very top, couldn’t help but take an extra glance at Chen Lingxi.

”Defeated by him?” Yuan Ji frowned, looking up and down at the young man in the black brocade robe standing beneath the golden light. ”Junior Brother Lian, you cultivate the [Void-Illuminating Birth] great divine ability and your Dao Origin is vigorous. Even among our Dragon-Revering Sect’s First Profound cultivators, you easily rank near the top. How could this person... actually defeat you?”

”I was indeed defeated by him,” Lian Sheng repeated, offering no further explanation.

He merely glanced at Chen Lingxi again, a trace of complexity in his eyes, before slowly looking away, as if unwilling to look any longer.

The atmosphere above the golden light suddenly became somewhat subtle.

A figure standing in the third position suddenly chuckled. ”Interesting. To think Slumbering Deer Peak was hiding such a figure. I’ve never heard of him before.”

As that figure spoke, he slowly raised his head.

He was a young man with delicate features, wearing a green robe. Every movement he made carried an indescribable, otherworldly bearing.

He was none other than Liu Tongqing of Radiant Peach Peak, the third on the First Profound Ranking.

Liu Tongqing’s gaze swept back and forth over Chen Lingxi. He suddenly shook his head slightly and said softly, ”It’s just that... looking at this Senior Brother Zhiling, there is nothing special about his physique, and his Dao Origin cannot be considered very vigorous. At first glance, he seems quite ordinary.”

He paused, changing the subject with a smile, ”But since he was able to defeat Junior Brother Lian, he must have his extraordinary points.”

Zhu Mi stood at the highest point of the golden light, firelight faintly dancing within his eyes.

He watched Chen Lingxi for a moment before suddenly shaking his head slightly. His voice was deep, carrying not a hint of disdain. ”An ordinary physique and thin Dao Origin, yet able to defeat Junior Brother Lian... This person’s foundation is deeply hidden.”

Yuan Ji, however, coldly snorted. His bell-like eyes stared straight at Chen Lingxi below, his voice as deep and heavy as muffled thunder. ”A disciple of Slumbering Deer Peak’s True Person Xiangshu indeed has extremely high seniority. If we were outside the mountain gates on an ordinary day, I would respectfully call him Little Martial Uncle, not daring to show the slightest neglect.”

He paused, his voice suddenly rising, wrapped in Dao Origin and rolling out across the void. ”But this Dragon Transformation Immortal Roll is not a place you can stand just because you have high seniority! This place is about strength and cultivation! If he gets on the ranking, he will squeeze out one of our spots! We ten must not allow this!”

As Yuan Ji’s words fell, the void beneath that stretch of golden light suddenly sank.

Dao Origin surged around him, and a heavy, condensed aura spread out from his body to cover the sky and earth. It was like an invisible landmass pressing down out of thin air, completely suppressing even the heavenly winds flowing through the area!

Yuan Lingyu stood by Chen Lingxi’s side. Feeling that invisible pressure land on her shoulders, her breath hitched.

Angry in her heart, she couldn’t resist taking a step forward and speaking loudly, ”In the Dragon-Revering Sect, strength has always spoken! Since my Senior Brother Zhiling has the ability to get on the ranking today, how dare you obstruct him?”

Her voice was crisp, carrying a clear resonance unique to young girls as it echoed through the empty void.

Yuan Ji stood upon the golden light. Hearing this, he merely shook his head, his expression indifferent. ”Everything has its rules. This Dragon Transformation Immortal Roll is naturally occupied by the capable. And we ten are the capable ones.”

He paused, his voice growing even deeper. ”The current rules of the ranking are decreed by us ten of the First Profound. That is what it means for strength to speak!”

Yuan Lingyu was choked by his words. Her pretty face flushed slightly, yet she didn’t know how to retort. She could only turn her head to look at Chen Lingxi, her eyes holding both anger and a bit of worry.

”Senior Brother...”

But Chen Lingxi did not look at her.

He merely raised his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the ten figures upon the golden light.

Among those figures, some had auras as deep as the abyss, some were as sharp as drawn swords, some were as restrained as water, and some were as violent as fire.

Every single one of them was a top-tier figure within the Dragon-Revering Sect’s First Profound Realm, their foundations so deep it was almost terrifying.

But at this moment, these people were all silent, merely looking down at him.

In their gazes, there was scrutiny, curiosity, and indifference.

There was also undisguised hostility, like that of Yuan Ji.

Amidst this silence, Chen Lingxi suddenly smiled.

With that smile, his originally calm face gained an indescribable composure.

He then spoke softly, ”Since all you Daoist Friends value the ranks on this Dragon Transformation Immortal Roll so much, I imagine the spiritual energy of this immortal roll is quite extraordinary.”

He paused slightly, the light in his eyes suddenly flaring. ”In that case... I want it even more.”

Standing on the golden light, Yuan Ji heard Chen Lingxi’s words. A hint of surprise first flashed across his rugged face, instantly turning into an expression of sheer majesty.

”What audacity!”

Yuan Ji stepped forward!

As this step fell, the heavy, earth-like aura around him suddenly exploded. A visible, hazy yellow airflow shot up into the sky from his body, surging and roaring atop that golden light like a startled earth dragon!

Following that, his figure violently expanded!

His bones cracked and his flesh bulged inch by inch. In an instant, his already tower-like frame had swelled several times over, transforming into a massive giant ape a full ten zhang tall!

The giant ape’s entire body was knotted with dragon-like muscles, its fur gleaming with a dark yellow luster. Fangs jutted out from its lips, several chi long and as ghastly white as blades. Its bell-like giant eyes were filled with cruelty and violence!

Yuan Ji of Heaven Pacifying Peak actually cultivated an extremely rare Violent Ape Transformation great divine ability!

The ten-zhang giant ape stood upon the golden light, looking down at Chen Lingxi below, and let out an earth-shattering roar!

”Little Martial Uncle, this First Profound Ranking is not lacking people!” The giant ape spoke, its voice rolling and echoing like thunder on flat ground. ”Wait for the future, when someone among the various people on the ranking cultivates a second divine ability, forms a second Profound Root, and leaves this First Profound Ranking. It won’t be too late for you to get on the ranking then!”

Before its voice had even faded, the giant ape suddenly stomped forward!

As this step landed, the billowing yellow airflow beneath its feet became like a breached flood, transforming into monstrous yellow waves that pressed down on Chen Lingxi’s head!

Those yellow waves were no ordinary mud and sand. Every grain was saturated with Yuan Ji’s incomparably vigorous Dao Origin, making them incredibly heavy. Once unleashed, they were like a moving mountain, sweeping down to blot out the sky with the power to crush everything!

At the same time, three more figures on the golden light ranking stepped forward simultaneously!

The three men—one tall and burly, one as withered as bamboo, and one with spiritual light flowing around him—each erupted with their auras. They were like three invisible mountains pressing down from thin air, causing that stretch of void to stagnate.

One of them raised his hand and swept it outward, and sky-filling ice crystals condensed into arrows that pierced down through the air!

Another opened his mouth and gave a long cry, sending overlapping soundwaves surging forward like a furious tide!

Yet another repeatedly flicked his fingertips, scattering streams of profound spiritual light like rain, with every stream containing the power of a divine ability!

And Liu Tongqing, who stood in the third position, also slowly raised his hand at this moment.

He merely flicked a finger lightly.

Buzz!

With a vibrating hum, the phantom of a willow tree suddenly sprouted out of thin air behind Liu Tongqing!

The willow tree was several zhang tall, completely jade-green, with drooping branches and fluttering willow leaves. But this willow tree phantom was no ordinary plant. The light of a divine ability actually flowed upon every branch and every willow leaf!

Sword light flickered on the willow leaves, lightning leaped among the branches, fire burned within the leaf veins, and ice crystals condensed at the branch tips!

That willow tree phantom was like a bizarre divine tree that used thousands of divine abilities as leaves and endless Dao rhythm as branches. Just by standing there, it exuded a terrifying aura that made one’s heart palpitate!

The willow branches drooped, the willow leaves fluttered. Every branch and every leaf carried a divine ability, surging toward Chen Lingxi in a world-covering wave!

”Senior Brother Zhiling, watch out!” Yuan Lingyu cried out in alarm.

Although she knew her Senior Brother’s strength was extraordinary—having once defeated Lian Sheng with a single sword strike and a tap of his finger—the scene before her involved several top-tier figures on the First Profound Ranking attacking simultaneously!

Those sky-filling yellow waves, ice arrows, soundwaves, spiritual lights, and willow leaf divine abilities overlapped and covered the heavens, almost grinding that stretch of void into fine dust!

And what made Yuan Lingyu’s heart tighten even more was that at the highest point of the golden light, although Zhu Mi and Xu Sanchi hadn’t made a move, they remained standing there, looking down at Chen Lingxi from on high.

Those two gazes were like two invisible sharp swords hanging above Chen Lingxi’s head, ready to fall at any moment.

She was angry in her heart, but also worried for her Senior Brother’s safety. Just as she was about to remind Chen Lingxi...

She saw Chen Lingxi’s face suddenly break into a slight smile.

That smile held an indescribable composure.

”Since all you Daoist Friends value the ranks on this Dragon Transformation Immortal Roll so much...” Chen Lingxi smiled. ”In that case, I want it even more.”

Before his voice could fade, he took a step forward!

The instant this step landed, the aura around Chen Lingxi underwent a sudden transformation!

Originally standing beneath the golden light, his aura had been restrained, like an inconspicuous, stubborn rock.

But now, with a single step, that stubborn rock suddenly cracked open, revealing the long-hidden sharp edge within!

The Abyssal Heaven Spiritual Sword appeared out of thin air and fell into his palm!

The precious sword was entirely translucent. The residual lines of the hundred restrictions on the blade lit up simultaneously, and an incomparably sharp sword intent shot up into the sky!

With the sword in hand, the light in Chen Lingxi’s eyes suddenly burned brightly.

He took a deep breath, and the Dao Origin throughout his body surged wildly, converging into the Abyssal Heaven Spiritual Sword.

Then...

He slashed out a sword strike!

This sword strike had no flashy tricks whatsoever; there was only a sword light that was pure to the extreme and overbearing to the extreme!

[Jade Tiger Rebellious Sea Sword Light]!

The sword light shot out from the Abyssal Heaven Spiritual Sword, violently expanding in the blink of an eye to become a dazzling sword rainbow stretching across the sky!

The entire sword rainbow was pale gold, with lightning flowing over it and sword qi crisscrossing through it. Carrying an unmatched, violent, and terrifying sword intent that seemed ready to shatter everything, it slashed straight toward the sky-filling divine abilities!

Wherever the sword light passed, the yellow waves shattered!

Those billowing yellow waves capable of crushing mountains met the sword light, and in that instant, like ice and snow meeting a blazing sun, they silently disintegrated and collapsed, turning into sky-filling yellow sand that fluttered down!

The sword light did not stop. Ice arrows dissolved, soundwaves scattered, and spiritual lights were annihilated!

Before the Jade Tiger Rebellious Sea sword light, those sky-filling divine abilities pressing down were like paper lanterns, breaking at a single poke!

Finally, the sword light slashed into that willow tree phantom!

Liu Tongqing’s expression drastically changed. His hands rapidly formed hand seals, and the willow tree phantom suddenly shrank. Thousands of willow branches danced madly, weaving into a jade-green barrier in an attempt to block the sword light!

But that sword light was far too overbearing.

As the sword light struck the willow barrier, a crisp shattering sound rang out. The barrier woven from thousands of willow branches fractured inch by inch. Willow leaves scattered, branches snapped, and it all transformed into a sky full of green specks of light!

That willow tree phantom, which used thousands of divine abilities as its leaves, was actually cleaved entirely in half by Chen Lingxi’s single sword strike, collapsing with a boom!

”What?!”

Upon the golden light, Yuan Ji, Liu Tongqing, and even the other First Profound Ranking figures who had attacked all paled!

That single sword light had actually shattered the sky-filling divine abilities pressed down by the combined efforts of all eight of them!

Such killing power, such overbearing might, was simply unimaginable!

Even Zhu Mi, standing at the highest point of the golden light, couldn’t help but narrow his eyes slightly at this moment. The dancing firelight within his eyes suddenly solidified.

Xu Sanchi, who stood beside him and had remained as silent as a sheathed sword this whole time, also slowly raised his head. His gaze fell upon the sword rainbow stretching across the sky, a trace of awe flashing through his eyes.

He muttered softly to himself, ”Jade Tiger Rebellious Sea Sword Light... This person actually cultivated such a Sword Dao divine ability?”