Chapter 55: Ascension of the Entire Realm (Came in short on the Three Rivers Stand, thank you all very much for your support!)

A murderous thought arose, and he immediately activated the forbidden art of mutual destruction.

His demonic body, Primordial Spirit, Returning Void Dharma Power, Lifebound Demon Blade, the thousand-li True Realm that served as his Returning to Void foundation, and even the over a hundred Shadow Dao Law Imprints he had comprehended and condensed—all burned away in an instant.

He drew upon the vast Shadow Great Dao power he could not fully control, transforming it into a force of destruction that surged toward the Yin-Yang giant axe that had nearly split the True Realm apart, and toward the Yin-Yang River that stood in its way.

Seeing this, Chen Daoxuan felt neither sorrow nor joy.

He simply manifested within the Yin-Yang giant axe Returning Void Dharma Power five hundred-plus times deeper than that of those who had achieved Returning to Void with a mere hundred-thousand-zhang Primordial Spirit foundation, along with the projections of a full three hundred Yin-Yang True Talismans.

He drew upon the Yin-Yang Great Dao, wielding an even more powerful Yin-Yang Great Dao force to obliterate this destructive power.

……

At the same time, Chen Daoxuan's gaze shifted.

He looked several million li away, at the Shadow Dao Dharma Body that had transformed into a wisp of shadow and merged into the void, fleeing at extreme speed, yet with its aura in decline.

He raised a finger and pressed down.

Four Symbols Great Dao power circulated—the companion killing art within the Four Spirits Scripture, 【Four Symbols Grinding Mill】.

Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, each commanding the Four Symbols Great Daos of earth, water, fire, and wind, manifested forth.

Linked as one, like a world-destroying mill, they seized, suppressed, and ground down the Shadow Demon Dharma Body that had been attempting to flee.

"Lord, spare my life!"

"This little demon was sent by Demon Venerable Ying Lun—I had no choice! I beg you, Lord, to let this little demon live."

With his true self fallen and only this single Dharma Body remaining, the murderous intent for revenge in Nian Qi's heart completely vanished.

He begged for mercy outright.

To this, Chen Daoxuan gave no response whatsoever.

He continued to unleash the art 【Four Symbols Grinding Mill】.

In an instant, he utterly ground down this Dharma Body, which had fallen into weakness after its true self's demise.

……

And with the hidden threat of this Returning to Void demon eliminated,

Chen Daoxuan's heart eased slightly.

With a thought, he first moved the Yuanling Realm out from within the Void True Realm, and the Heavenly Heart Mark was also severed from his connection and sent back to the Yuanling Realm.

Immediately, he felt the entire Void True Realm as if a heavy burden had been shed, becoming inexplicably more stable, with the signs of collapse slowing somewhat.

In response, Chen Daoxuan wielded his Returning Void Dharma Power, spreading it boundlessly, drawing upon the Eight Great Daos he had comprehended.

He also activated the several Immortal Scriptures he cultivated, commanding eight Dharma Bodies, exerting his full strength to suppress the Hundred-Million-Zhang Void True Realm that was showing numerous void cracks and on the verge of collapse.

He used himself to bear the backlash of collapse from this Hundred-Million-Zhang Void True Realm of his.

In but a few breaths' time,

the countless void cracks vanished, and the signs of imminent collapse disappeared.

But Chen Daoxuan could clearly sense that this was only because he was suppressing it with all his might, bearing the backlash himself; the moment he relaxed even slightly, it would all surge back.

Unless it could be stabilized for a thousand years, this Void True Realm would not become completely solid, free of the danger of collapse surging back, and fully overcome this tribulation.

Yet under such suppression, although Chen Daoxuan was connected to the Great Dao, and further used the Void True Realm as his foundation, making his Returning Void Dharma Power nearly inexhaustible, his vast Returning Void Dharma Power still could not recover as fast as it was consumed, visibly dwindling.

Chen Daoxuan calculated briefly—he could maintain it for at most ten years.

After ten years, his Returning Void Dharma Power would be consumed to less than one-tenth, and he would no longer be able to suppress it.

Regarding this situation, Chen Daoxuan understood this would not do.

"I need something to replace me in suppressing the Void True Realm."

As thoughts flowed, Chen Daoxuan considered every item on him.

Then his gaze fell upon two Innate Objects—the Innate Lotus of Merit, Twelve Grades, and the Innate Gourd.

Only these two indestructible, inextinguishable Innate Objects could replace him in suppressing the True Realm, bearing the backlash for a thousand years, and moreover greatly strengthen the Void True Realm.

However, there were gains and losses.

The Innate Object that replaced him in suppressing the True Realm and bearing the backlash could not be far from the True Realm for long during the suppression period.

After only a moment's thought, Chen Daoxuan made his decision, choosing the Innate Gourd.

Because the Innate Lotus of Merit, Twelve Grades, was the foundation of his cultivation of the Merit Path and the Heavenly Dao Merit Dharma Realm—it could not be lacking.

Moreover, although the Innate Gourd primarily concerned killing and destruction, as an Innate Object it was untainted by the mortal world and would not produce any negative effects on the True Realm.

And because it had become an Innate True Treasure, on top of its original foundation it gained the wondrous ability to directly unleash and release the Innate Calamity-Destroying Immortal Thunder.

The Innate Calamity-Destroying Immortal Thunder accumulated within the Innate Gourd was also perfectly suited to guard the True Realm.

Moreover, even without this encounter of the Void True Realm's collapse tribulation, Chen Daoxuan would still have had to find a way to guard the True Realm.

It was killing two birds with one stone.

……

……

As thoughts flowed, Chen Daoxuan began to draw upon the Innate Gourd that had already become an Innate True Treasure.

In an instant, the Innate Gourd emerged from within his right eye.

It transformed into a gray gourd reaching a hundred thousand zhang in height.

Like a Sea-Calming Divine Needle, it descended to the center of the Hundred-Million-Zhang Void True Realm.

It suppressed the Void True Realm, bearing the collapse tribulation.

……

At this point, having overcome this tribulation, Chen Daoxuan clearly sensed that he had finally reached perfection.

He had thoroughly and completely achieved the Returning to Void Stage.

In an instant, Chen Daoxuan sensed an ineffably mysterious guidance.

Enlightenment dawned in his heart—this was the Ascension Guidance.

Following this thread of guidance, one could ascend to the Ascension Realm.

……

Seeing this, Chen Daoxuan pondered briefly, then decided to ascend to the Ascension Realm.

After all, the void where the Yuanling Realm resided could no longer sustain his cultivation at the Returning to Void Stage.

First, his Primordial Spirit returned to his body. Then, as if containing heaven and earth within a mustard seed, Chen Daoxuan fused this vast Void True Realm of a million Ten Thousand Zhang into his Flesh Dharma Body.

Instantly, an immense sense of weight appeared.

Once prepared, Chen Daoxuan was about to connect with the Ascension Guidance and head to the Ascension Realm.

But at that very instant, Chen Daoxuan suddenly sensed the mysterious summons of the Yuanling Realm's Heavenly Heart Consciousness.

It conveyed a vague intention to follow him in ascending to the Ascension Realm.

"Hmm, can a world also ascend?"

"How would you follow me in ascending?"

"Use my Void True Realm as a vessel, and ascend together?"

Through the connection, Chen Daoxuan gradually understood what the Yuanling Realm's Heavenly Heart Consciousness wished to express.

And regarding this matter, while Chen Daoxuan's heart was eager to try, it was also full of doubt.

As for using the Void True Realm to carry the Yuanling Realm in ascending, Chen Daoxuan was entirely unsure whether it was feasible, nor did he know the risks involved.

After all, merely carrying the Yuanling Realm alone felt extremely difficult, placing a tremendous pressure on his Void True Realm.

Let alone carrying it in an ascension.

And as Chen Daoxuan's doubts lingered in his heart—

The Yuanling Realm's Heavenly Heart Consciousness seemed to respond.

The Heavenly Heart Mark he had sent back reappeared, falling before Chen Daoxuan.

In an instant, from this Heavenly Heart Mark he knew so intimately, Chen Daoxuan sensed a vastly different quality.

Enlightenment came: to hold this Heavenly Heart Mark was to hold dominion over the entire Yuanling Realm.

Compared to before, when it merely granted passage through the Yuanling Realm without rejection, this was worlds apart.

"So this is the true Heavenly Heart Mark!"

……