Chapter 888: The Burning of the Dao Flowers

Six third-flower realm peak cultivators from beyond the heavens dared not fight to the death against Xuan Yuezi, fearing they might be killed here—after all, at their realm, as long as spiritual energy was sufficient, they could live forever; facing an equal-level opponent, it was natural to feel uneasy.

So they sought to invite more Daoist companions, hoping to effortlessly capture Xuan Yuezi through sheer numerical superiority and obtain the method to cross realms.

But Xuan Yuezi had already sent word via immortal crane; once Li Yi arrived to support her, the two of them together would render these six peak cultivators no match at all—their defeat was inevitable.

Yet this stalemate drained their own energy severely.

This barren realm was frantically plundering the spiritual energy from these peak cultivators, and this plundering by the realm itself could not be blocked—you could only seal your own energy to slow the rate of loss.

But no one dared seal their own spiritual power now, for if the enemy struck, death was certain.

"Xuan Yuezi wants to stall and drain us—she must have something to restore her spiritual power, or she'd never dare act this way," said Tian Yunzi, his expression cold, whispering to the other five.

"We see it too. Fortunately, we're numerous—if we were fewer, Xuan Yuezi would've struck already. She couldn't possibly handle all six of us at once; if even one or two of us had been absent, she'd have forced her way through and slaughtered us all." Jiang Chengzi, the ancestral elder of Tian Dao Sect, replied in a whisper.

"How long until the other Daoists arrive? This stalemate won't last—the End Dharma realm is plundering our spiritual energy too fiercely; we can't resist it. Countless high-level cultivators perished this way in the past. If we continue to stall with Xuan Yuezi, the risk is too great—we might die." An ancestral elder from another sect spoke anxiously.

Staying here isn't just about draining spiritual power—it's gambling with your life. If we fail to obtain the method to cross realms, even returning to the heavens beyond will leave us barely alive.

"Under the End Dharma age, how else can we break free from this realm's shackles?" Jiang Chengzi sneered. "Spiritual energy in the heavens beyond is already extremely thin. If we find no viable path, all peak cultivators hiding in the heavens beyond will perish. There's no chance we can survive until spiritual energy revives."

"Xuan Yuezi's method to cross realms is the only lifeline left. Miss this chance, and you may never encounter another. If we don't fight now, when will we? Wait until our spiritual energy dries up, our three flowers wither, and we're about to perish?"

"Your words hold merit," Tian Yunzi agreed wholeheartedly.

The other peak cultivators understood this logic too—but facing Xuan Yuezi, their confidence faltered, and they hesitated. The cost of lingering in this End Dharma realm was too high.

"These old bastards are risking their own dissolution to drain me?" Xuan Yuezi prepared defensively, yet was stunned that the six didn't move—this made her sense something was off.

Perhaps these old ones were waiting for reinforcements too.

The cultivators who fled beyond the heavens weren't just a handful—if dozens of peak cultivators arrived because of the cross-realm matter, disaster would strike. Even if her power were immense and her spiritual energy abundant, two fists couldn't fight ten hands.

Thinking this,

the Baoyue Disc beside her hummed violently, radiating lethal intent.

This power had previously made the six peak cultivators' hearts race.

Without this demonic king weapon, how could they have cowered so before Xuan Yuezi? If its full power were unleashed, even a peak cultivator would bleed out—only the unluckiest would be cut down by Xuan Yuezi.

"Xuan Yuezi is still young and impulsive—has she finally lost patience and wants to strike? Or has she guessed our intent? That's bad. With her current state and that divine weapon, she could take at least three or four of us with her. But fortunately, it's Xuan Yuezi—if it were Xiang Xiangzi, we wouldn't even get a chance to stand off."

Jiang Chengzi, ancestral elder of Tian Dao Sect, grew tense.

As a former Seven Immortal Maidens of Tian Dao Sect, he had paid close attention—they were all potential peak cultivators. He had even guided their Dao cultivation, and knew each maiden's temperament somewhat.

"As ancestral elder of Tian Dao Sect, you can't even discipline your own disciples—how shameful. If this cross-realm opportunity had fallen to our Tian Yi Sect, this betrayal of master and ancestor would never have happened," Tian Yunzi muttered discontentedly.

"Now hardly seems the time to argue this. Wait—" Jiang Chengzi suddenly sensed something and snapped his gaze toward the distant sky.

The other peak cultivators also sensed the anomaly and turned to the same direction.

Something was approaching at incredible speed.

Yet the next moment,

a crimson-gold streak tore across the heavens—a celestial warship emerged, descending into this realm. Its arrival shattered the heavy atmosphere and drew every eye.

Xuan Yuezi's face lit up with joy.

Reinforcements had arrived.

Indeed, Tai Yi's response was faster—he always came through at the critical moment, never disappointing.

But the others' faces darkened at the sight of the celestial warship.

This strange flying device clearly didn't belong to this world—its origin was undeniable.

So this is it. I never expected so many fully powered experts to be hiding in this End Dharma realm—three flowers converged, five energies aligned. Good. Very good. All are peak cultivators.

A deep, resonant voice reverberated like the roar of dragon and tiger. As the warship's hatch opened, a towering figure stepped forth upon auspicious clouds into everyone's view.

Merely a trickle of his power unleashed sent countless silver lightning bolts surging from the clouds beneath his feet; in an instant, the white sea of clouds became a silver sea of thunder.

His aura was like a hellish prison—terrifying.

"This man is a cultivator too—he bears traces of dragon-subduing, tiger-taming, cloud-riding Dao arts. Yet his aura… truly terrifying." Jiang Chengzi, Tian Yunzi, and the other four peak cultivators stared at Li Yi with grim expressions.

Merely from his aura, they could tell—he was a warrior born, not a cultivator. He radiated an aggressive, invincible, relentless might.

"Who are you?"

Jiang Chengzi barked: "This matter has nothing to do with you, outsider. Don't meddle. Leave now, or you'll lose your life. Peak cultivators from beyond the heavens are on their way—weigh the stakes carefully."

With this sudden turn, they could no longer afford to stall with Xuan Yuezi—if they failed to drive this man away, all was lost.

But at this point, they couldn't retreat either—move forward, and they'd be struck down from behind. No one dared gamble their luck wouldn't be targeted.

Thus, intimidating this newcomer was essential.

"Who am I?" Li Yi sneered coldly. "Xuan Yuezi calls me Tai Yi Tianzun. Who do you think I am?"

Tai Yi Tianzun? This man bore the title of Tianzun?

"An outsider dares call himself Tianzun? Do you truly think our Dao Court has no one?" Tian Yunzi roared, his voice swelling from faint to thunderous, instantly drowning out the rolling thunder.

"The Great and Small Transformation Art?" Li Yi fixed his gaze on him. "What's your connection to Tian Yi Sect?"

"I am the ancestral elder of Tian Yi Sect, Dao name Tian Yunzi," he replied with supreme arrogance, announcing his title.

Li Yi said: "When I destroyed Tian Yi Sect, you didn't show up—wherever you crawled to hide, you survived. Today, you, a fugitive, dare show your face? No more words—I'll cut you down."

He grasped his palm—and a spear carved from divine jade appeared in his hand.

The spiritual power of his one hundred and five acupoints surged together; the demonic king weapon's power erupted instantly. Terrifying killing intent spread across the heavens, as if ready to crush this realm.

Suddenly,

the demonic king weapon shattered all before it, unleashing a divine light that instantly engulfed the six peak cultivators.

One against six?

"Bold!"

"Arrogant!"

Jiang Chengzi, Tian Yunzi, and the other peak cultivators roared in fury—they never expected this so-called Tai Yi Tianzun to treat them with such utter contempt.

"Split the River into Land!"

"Reverse the Rivers and Seas!"

"Summon Wind and Rain!"

"."

The six peak cultivators shouted insults, but Li Yi's strike was terrifying—any one of them alone would be obliterated instantly.

So they had to unite against him—best to force him back and buy time. Thus, they held nothing back, sparing no precious spiritual power, unleashing their strongest attacks.

Yet the next moment,

Jiang Chengzi's face turned ashen—his "Split the River into Land" attack had barely pierced the divine light by a hundred zhang before halting. The residual force surged like a tide, nearly swallowing him whole.

"How can his spiritual power be so immense?" Jiang Chengzi cried out, finally realizing the truth.

The other peak cultivators, through direct contact, also realized this—and were utterly stunned.

His spiritual power was terrifyingly vast, amplifying the strike's power beyond all reason. The six of them together couldn't even repel him—just surviving was a miracle.

"Damn it! If not for the End Dharma age and our diminished state, how could we be humiliated by outsiders?"

They seethed inwardly but dared not be careless again. They clustered together, combining their strength to wear down the attack.

Yet Li Yi had created the perfect opening—Xuan Yuezi wouldn't miss it.

Above the nine heavens, a brilliant full moon shone.

At that moment, Xuan Yuezi's demonic king weapon erupted with equal terror—a strike descended from the heavens, aimed directly at them.

"Xuan Yuezi, you dare ambush us? Fellow Daoists, no holding back—otherwise, we'll all die here!"

Jiang Chengzi, Tian Yunzi, and the others could only grit their teeth and roar. Above their heads, their spiritual energy flowers ignited, translucent petals beginning to fall—this meant they had fallen from peak realm to third-flower realm.

But within this short span, they could unleash power rivaling their peak state.

This was a desperate technique—only used in mortal peril.

BOOM!

The two demonic king weapons' powers intertwined. The six peak cultivators burned their Dao flowers and unleashed another peak strike. The collision tore the void, shook the heavens, and made the earth beneath them tremble violently.

Fortunately, this occurred high in the sky—if it had struck the ground, it would have permanently altered a continent's geography and triggered apocalyptic natural disasters.

Amid the surging residual energy,

six battered figures staggered out. Though alive, each bore wounds—robes torn, faces smeared with dust, utterly disheveled. After all, two demonic king weapons had erupted—their power was too overwhelming.

Even in peak condition, any one of them alone would have been cut down. That they survived this dual strike by joining forces was already miraculous.

"Tai Yi, they just burned their Dao flowers to regain peak power—but their realm and spiritual energy will plummet rapidly," Xuan Yuezi said at once.

"Merely drinking poison to quench thirst. Without peak realm, they'll die faster. Immortal Maidens, guard me—I'll kill them." Li Yi's cold gaze swept over them. He stepped forward, gripping the divine jade spear, and charged.

Xuan Yuezi wasn't skilled in combat—but he was different. Since entering cultivation, he had fought countless battles. Even against six, he had confidence to win.

After all, as an evolutionist who mastered multiple arts, he feared nothing more than equal-rank combat.