After the Great Dao Died

Qi Chuan’s incarnation shattered completely, dissolving into fine motes of light that scattered on the heavenly wind outside the Water Curtain Cave.

Right before he vanished completely, he frowned, his eyes still suppressing a heavy layer of anger until his figure faded away.

Chen Lingxi stood outside the Water Curtain Cave and shook his head slightly.

Then he slowly turned around, passing through the water curtain that had re-formed after the recent shockwave, and returned to the cave to sit cross-legged on his futon.

”I just don’t understand why this Qi Chuan holds such hostility toward Slumbering Deer Peak.”

”No matter. The reason will reveal itself one day.”

—

Meanwhile, on Illuminating Sword Profound Peak.

In a secluded area of the peak, a cave dwelling sat halfway up the mountain. An ancient pine of unknown age grew before the entrance, its branches twisted and its needles as black as ink, blocking out most of the sky’s light from the cave mouth.

The cave was deathly still!

Right at that moment...

A young man sitting cross-legged deep within the cave suddenly opened his eyes.

He was the Dragon-Revering Sect’s Second Profound Ranking Head, the leading figure of the Dao Foundation Middle Stage on Illuminating Sword Profound Peak—Qi Chuan.

”This Little Martial Uncle’s temperament isn’t much different from that Shen Xiu’an.”

He frowned slightly. With a flick of his finger, a bamboo slip appeared before his eyes, exuding a fiercely ancient aura...

It was actually a remarkably complete Cauldron Vessel!

To think Qi Chuan actually cultivated while holding a Cauldron Vessel. It was no wonder he had become the Second Profound Ranking Head.

At that moment, Qi Chuan stared at the Bamboo Slip Cauldron Vessel before him, his gaze flickering.

Three characters were still engraved upon this Bamboo Slip Cauldron Vessel.

They were exactly the three characters: [Yuan Zhiling].

Qi Chuan stared at the Cauldron Vessel and muttered to himself, ”This Yuan Zhiling clearly only has the cultivation of the Early Dao Foundation, yet my Cauldron Vessel, the [Anger-Devouring Bamboo Husk], revealed his name.

If it can devour his anger, the benefits will be even greater than devouring the anger of other Dao Foundation Middle Stage cultivators.

”It’s just...”

Qi Chuan frowned at the thought.

Just earlier, relying on the Token Technique, he had condensed an incarnation from a wisp of divine sense. It had crossed countless mountains and rivers to land right before the Water Curtain Cave on Slumbering Deer Peak.

While his words and actions hadn’t been overly disrespectful, they were still a genuine humiliation when directed at a figure whose seniority was higher than his own.

When the Entwining Dragon Palace established the registry for the Nine Palaces Commanders, he had stood at its head as the Second Profound Ranking Head. It was only after seeing Yuan Zhiling’s name on the roster of Chanlong Servants that he had made such a move.

Yet he never expected... that his incarnation would be shattered by a single point of this Little Martial Uncle’s Thunder Prison Heaven Divine Ability.

Such killing power...

”It doesn’t seem like the power of an Early Dao Foundation cultivator at all.”

Qi Chuan’s eyes flickered. Remembering the indifferent expression on that Little Martial Uncle’s face when he casually pointed his finger, a fresh surge of anger rose within him.

”So what if your seniority is higher than mine? Your cultivation is clearly much weaker. I provoked you directly, yet you remained so perfectly calm.

”It was as if you were merely brushing away a speck of dust, completely unbothered.”

Qi Chuan was completely baffled. More frustratingly, the Cauldron Vessel in his hand, the [Anger-Devouring Bamboo Husk], hadn’t swallowed even the slightest trace of anger from that Little Martial Uncle.

Because of that, he had gained absolutely no benefit from this encounter, suffering only the suppression of his incarnation.

”Forget it. I’ll have to take the long view.”

”This Little Martial Uncle of mine must harbor some deep secret, otherwise his name would never have appeared on my Cauldron Vessel.

”More importantly... I have never heard of a Chanlong Servant who had the power to choose whether or not to enter the Entwining Dragon Palace.”

”But this is also my fortuitous opportunity. The deeper his foundation, the greater my harvest will be when I finally devour his anger.

”In that case, I’ll need to pay closer attention and look for more opportunities regarding this Little Martial Uncle.”

At that thought, Qi Chuan let out a cold snort and slowly stood up from his futon.

He adjusted his robes without a word and pushed off lightly with his toes!

The Second Profound Ranking Head of Illuminating Sword Profound Peak transformed into a faint streak of sword qi and soared into the sky, vanishing to an unknown destination.

Meanwhile, back in the Water Curtain Cave on Slumbering Deer Peak.

Chen Lingxi sat cross-legged, still pondering Qi Chuan’s intentions.

Anyone capable of cultivating to the Dao Foundation Middle Stage had to be extraordinary. He couldn’t possibly be some fool who would come to provoke someone for no reason.

A cultivator at that level had a motive and a goal behind their every word and action.

However, unable to figure out exactly what Qi Chuan was planning, Chen Lingxi simply assumed the man held a grudge against Slumbering Deer Peak and put the matter aside.

He glanced at the sky.

Daylight had already faded. The three great suns had dipped below the mountains, the rosy clouds had vanished without a trace, and a profound silence fell over the world.

Chen Lingxi slowly closed his eyes and sank a wisp of his divine sense deep into the Divine Chamber!

Amidst the heavy clouds of qi, the two characters [Absolute Perception] were glowing with a soft radiance upon the golden tadpole script.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Chen Lingxi willed it into action!

In the blink of an eye!

Heaven and earth filled with light.

Outside the Water Curtain Cave, in the surging sea of clouds within the void, two bright mirrors had silently materialized.

One was blazing gold like a great sun, its swirling flames radiating boundless light and heat that illuminated the entire sea of clouds into a gilded, brilliantly lit expanse without a single sliver of shadow.

The other was silver-white like a bright moon. Its clear radiance was serene and quiet, sprinkling a layer of silver light across the gold. Yet, the two were entirely distinct, each holding its own domain without eroding the other.

The two bright mirrors hung high in the firmament, as though they had remained suspended there since the very dawn of heaven and earth!

The Absolute Perception Divine Ability sprang into motion.

Chen Lingxi’s consciousness withdrew from the Divine Chamber. He slowly opened his eyes and, without a second thought, traced out the [Court Audience Heavenly Talisman]!

In an instant, while immersed in the Absolute Perception Deduction, Chen Lingxi’s consciousness was once again pulled into an expanse of void.

Within that void...

Thirty thousand streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi drifted high above, slowly swirling around!

At the same time, waves of a deeply ancient aura washed over him.

A series of messages flooded into Chen Lingxi’s consciousness.

[Loose Cultivator Chen Lingxi!]

[Cultivation: Early Dao Foundation!]

[Great Encompassing Profound Qi: 29,400!]

Chen Lingxi’s gaze burned with intensity.

Nearly 30,000 streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi! At a point in time when the cultivators of the Nine Quarters were only just learning of the Great Encompassing Heaven-Observing Mirror’s existence, this was an absolutely terrifying amount of wealth.

It was the principle of one step first, every step first.

With 30,000 streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi in hand, Chen Lingxi could exchange them for even more extraordinary opportunities to accelerate his cultivation speed.

”Thirty thousand streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi...”

”I wonder what kind of opportunities I can exchange them for.”

Chen Lingxi wasted no time and immediately bowed in a respectful salute.

”I respectfully beseech the Great Encompassing Heaven-Observing Realm! Reveal the opportunities that will allow me to cultivate the [Heavenly Statute Edict] divine ability!”

...

Streams of information rushed into Chen Lingxi’s mind.

He watched as 1,800 streams suddenly separated from the 29,400 streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi suspended before him. They coiled together like a dragon before soaring into the mirror-like starry sky.

Rumble!

A muffled boom echoed out.

The 1,800 streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi instantly dissipated into the starry sky without a trace.

At the same time.

Information regarding all opportunities related to the Heavenly Statute Edict Great Divine Ability within a million li fell into Chen Lingxi’s mind.

[Heavenly Statute Edict, profoundly extraordinary... It guards the righteous laws of heaven and earth, commanding the statutes of the world.

It is the Dao of the grand momentum of heaven and earth, and cannot be cultivated without tremendous destiny!]

[If enlightenment has already taken root in your heart, you may claim a Heavenly Statute opportunity to cultivate the Heavenly Statute Edict Great Divine Ability!]

A surge of knowledge washed over him, followed immediately by four lines of information arranged neatly before him, free for Chen Lingxi to browse.

”Under the Heaven-Observing Mirror, there are over three hundred opportunities related to the Heavenly Statute Edict across the world. However, 1,800 streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi can only reveal the ones within a million li.

”Within a million li... there are four opportunities capable of boosting my cultivation of the Heavenly Statute Edict.”

Chen Lingxi carefully examined the four opportunities.

First: [Three hundred and seventy li west of Origin Eye Peak, there is a mountain that produces spiritual jade called [Innate Jade]! The Innate Jade is nurtured by heaven and earth, uniquely attuned to the natural world. Wearing it allows one to comprehend heavenly edicts much faster—this treasure is guarded by a companion profound light. The light is razor-sharp and capable of slaying a Dao Foundation Middle Stage cultivator.]

Second: [Three thousand li east of the Dragon-Revering Territory, within the Mangyao River, resides a Second Profound spirit beast known as the [Yi Turtle]. Its shell is naturally engraved with supreme profound principles that embody the laws of heaven and earth.

If one can seize its shell and study it daily, they will achieve tremendous progress!]

Third: [On the Dragon-Revering Southern Brightness Peak resides a Daoist named [Daoist Qiaohe], who is exceptionally skilled in alchemy. He once obtained the pill formula for a third-grade spiritual medicine called [Heaven-Sensing Spiritual Medicine]. Consuming it grants temporary spiritual perception. Relying on this spiritual perception to comprehend heavenly edicts yields twice the result with half the effort.]

Fourth: [In a hidden valley of the Dragon-Revering Main Sect grows an ancient tree, upon which a stone is formed, known as the [Profound Center Stone]. By crafting a ruyi scepter from this stone, one can much more easily unleash the Heavenly Statute Edict Great Divine Ability!]

Within a million li... there were four opportunities.

They had cost Chen Lingxi a total of 1,800 streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi.

Yet Chen Lingxi didn’t feel the slightest bit of heartache... simply because he was currently in the Absolute Perception Divine Chamber!

A faint smile touched his lips, and he immediately beseeched the Great Encompassing Heaven-Observing Mirror once again.

[Nine Quarters’ Chen Lingxi requests to issue an opportunity bounty.]

Ripples washed across the vast expanse of the Great Encompassing Heaven-Observing Mirror.

Immediately after, a brush miraculously manifested right before Chen Lingxi’s eyes.

Struck by a flash of inspiration, Chen Lingxi took hold of the brush and began to write across the void.

[Three thousand li east of the Dragon-Revering Territory, within the Mangyao River, resides a Third Profound spirit beast, the [Yi Turtle]!

Deliver its shell within ten days to receive a reward of—24,000 streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi!]

Chen Lingxi’s offer was truly staggering.

A Third Profound spirit beast... was incredibly difficult to deal with, true, but it was absolutely not worth 24,000 streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi.

But once again, inside the Absolute Perception Divine Chamber, Chen Lingxi naturally felt no heartache over the cost.

If he was stingy and only offered 10,000 streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi, he worried unforeseen complications might arise.

After all, the Dragon-Revering Territory was vast beyond measure, spanning nearly a million li from east to west!

In such an immense region, even if a party of seven or eight ordinary Second Profound cultivators took the mission, they wouldn’t even be able to fly out of the Dragon-Revering Territory within the ten-day limit.

Therefore... Chen Lingxi’s true targets were those Third Profound figures, or even Fourth Profound powerhouses at Dao Foundation Perfection.

They had cultivated three or even four Profound Roots. Their Dao Origin was incredibly deep, their Great Divine Abilities were mystical, and they possessed a wealth of accumulated magical treasures. Flying out of the Dragon-Revering Territory in ten days to slay the Yi Turtle would be effortless for them.

”Of all these opportunities, this Yi Turtle is the hardest to deal with. As for the rest... I should be perfectly capable of handling them on my own.”

With that plan set, Chen Lingxi’s consciousness withdrew from the Great Encompassing Heaven-Observing Realm. Clouds and mist rose beneath his feet once more, lifting his body as he transformed into a streak of radiant light and flew off into the distance.

Chen Lingxi soared through the sky for several days until he finally arrived at a lower peak in the Dragon-Revering Sect, three hundred and seventy li west of Origin Eye Peak.

He saw a mountain standing there. It wasn’t particularly tall—in fact, it looked rather squat—but its surface was littered with bizarrely shaped boulders that formed patches of stone forests.

Chen Lingxi stood suspended in the void. Channeling Dao Origin into his eyes, he swept his gaze over the area...

”Hm? There doesn’t seem to be anything special about any of these stones.”

Chen Lingxi frowned slightly. He lowered his cloud to search more carefully, scouring the mountain for three consecutive days, yet he found absolutely nothing.

”This is rather strange...”

He was deeply puzzled.

The Great Encompassing Heaven-Observing Mirror was a Cauldron Vessel that even profound mirrors could not pry into. How could an artifact of that caliber possibly make a mistake regarding a mere Early Dao Foundation opportunity?

”So it’s just me not being able to find it?” Chen Lingxi’s frown deepened. ”Now that I think about it, the listing for the opportunity didn’t actually mention the method to locate the Innate Jade.”

”Could it be...”

Chen Lingxi raised an eyebrow at the realization. His consciousness sank back into the Great Encompassing Heaven-Observing Mirror to request the method for finding the Innate Jade.

Immediately after, Chen Lingxi’s face darkened.

[Cost of the Innate Jade Identification Method: 800 streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi]

”They’re plucking a passing goose, charging me twice for the same item.”

Fortunately, the two bright mirrors still hung high in the sky above him. He was still within the Absolute Perception Divine Chamber, otherwise, he would definitely be feeling the sting.

As 800 streams of Great Encompassing Profound Qi melted into the starry river, a fresh wave of information flooded into his mind.

It did indeed record the exact method for locating the Innate Jade.

”This Great Encompassing Heaven-Observing Mirror is truly a supreme treasure... provided you have enough Great Encompassing Profound Qi to spend, that is.”

”Thinking about it, the Great Encompassing Heaven must possess unimaginable resources to actually have the confidence to catalogue all the world’s opportunities like this.”

Chen Lingxi sighed in admiration, but his curiosity was also piqued.

”I wonder exactly what kind of powerhouse commands a force like the Great Encompassing Heaven?

”Could it be one of the rumored Heavenly Monarchs... or perhaps even... an Immortal Monarch?”

Heavenly Monarchs and Immortal Monarchs... Even now, Chen Lingxi had only ever heard a single name from that level.

That was the [Great Azure Father] who governed the jade laws!

If the ruler of the Great Encompassing Heaven was also an Immortal Monarch, then it was no surprise they possessed a Cauldron Vessel like the Great Encompassing Heaven-Observing Mirror.

As these thoughts ran through his head, Chen Lingxi channeled his Dao Origin and wove a simple formation into the void, perfectly following the information provided by the Great Encompassing Heaven-Observing Mirror!

The formation condensed in the air. Chen Lingxi maintained it by continuously pouring in his Dao Origin as he carried the array with him, walking through the mountains.

A radiant light shone from the formation, washing over boulder after boulder.

He searched until a boulder a thousand zhang away finally began to glow with a profound radiance of its own, resonating perfectly with the formation.

”That must be the Innate Jade!”

Chen Lingxi’s eyes lit up with pleasant surprise. However, he didn’t approach it, instead choosing to sit down cross-legged right where he was, a full thousand zhang away.

He waited until the eighth day of his Absolute Perception!

Chen Lingxi suddenly opened his eyes and projected himself back into the Great Encompassing Heaven-Observing Mirror.

There, hovering within the starry void, was a treasure.

It was the [Yi Turtle Shell]!

A hint of delight flashed through Chen Lingxi’s eyes as he swept his sleeve, sweeping the [Yi Turtle Shell] directly into his Vast Void Pouch.

He couldn’t help but marvel once more. ”The Great Encompassing Heaven-Observing Mirror can even bridge the void, allowing a treasure from a distant land to instantly teleport here. It is truly extraordinary.”

At that point, very little of his Great Encompassing Profound Qi remained within the realm.

He had a mere 2,800 streams left.

Chen Lingxi felt no regret. Withdrawing his consciousness back to his physical body, he stood up and gazed at the Innate Jade in the distance.

”This Innate Jade is protected by an accompanying profound light. A strike from that light is comparable to the full-strength blow of a Dao Foundation Middle Stage cultivator.

”Since that’s the case... I’ll take advantage of this Absolute Perception Deduction... to see if I can actually block a Dao Foundation Middle Stage cultivator’s strongest attack!”

Chen Lingxi’s eyes burned with anticipation as lightning erupted across his body, transforming into a massive Thunder Prison!