Chapter 267

Yueying understood, transforming into a crimson long sword that landed in Xu Xing's hand.

During his earlier struggle with Hun Tian Yi, their mutual influence had obscured the truth—he had only felt the Beast God's brutality and madness.

Xiang Yuanjun had already informed him through karmic threads of everything that transpired in the Beast God Realm, including the Beast God's every action.

But then again, it made sense.

After all, this was the Beast God who had plainly defeated Xi—only such grandeur could be expected.

What surprised Xu Xing was that Kui had been the first to agree to this.

"Very well. This journey has granted you insight—try one sword."

To be honest, since leaving seclusion, he had never fully unleashed his power.

During the Xuan Jian City incident, Yueying was not beside him, and his sword strike had only been meant to defeat Gu's scheme and rescue Huo.

During the True Path Alliance incident, his sword strike had only been meant to sever the connection and save Meng Xuan.

Not long ago, when he and the other Daoists had joined forces to overwhelm Gu, the final sword strike had merely been to conclude the battle—and even then, he had not given his all.

And in the Beast God Realm, his sword strike had been nothing but a sliver of divine intent and Yueying's sword qi.

He made his decision.

Beside the Jie Yan Device, Xu Xing's expression was calm; he raised his long sword and, following the karmic threads that vanished into the void, swung slowly and steadily.

Across the Chaos Sea, from the highest heights, toward the Beast God—who had already reached the outer edge of the Beast God Realm—

He slashed!

Hum~!

A torrent of crimson light appeared for an instant, then vanished without a trace.

…

…

Vast Chaos Sea.

A single sword fell from the utmost heights, crimson light surging, waves rising across the boundless sea.

Worlds, large and small, strong and weak, were swept up and carried by this chaotic tide, crashing toward distant realms.

Yet even this terrifying surge left not a single world damaged.

In the infinite number of worlds, boundless swordlight surged upward, as if in response!

Amid interwoven veils of light, it seemed as though a great river, chronicling all sword arts from ancient to modern times, surged forward above the Chaos Sea.

One sword moved, ten thousand worlds answered!

This sword art was no longer confined to the Xuan Realm alone!

It could be called the ancestral root of sword art across all realms.

Wherever the swordlight shone, regardless of a realm's size, all sword practitioners gained insight, all gained understanding.

Sword Ancestor!

This name was etched into all realms, piercing through infinite Dao!

Outside the Beast God Realm.

The Beast God, whose aura had dwindled to its limit, stood in empty space, his pale golden eyes reflecting boundless swordlight.

Indeed, he was far stronger than expected…

The Beast God felt the Dao he clung to trembling, severed by the boundless swordlight that shook all worlds.

"Sever…"

He exhaled softly.

The Beast God cast one final glance at the Beast God Realm, standing like a dam across the Chaos Sea, a flicker of longing in his eyes.

But when he turned back, only resolve remained.

His final essence, along with his very existence, began to burn—golden-gilded flames surged upward, outshining the infinite radiance of the Beast God Realm, facing off against the sword river—

In direct confrontation!

"Come!"

It was as if a great sun had risen from the Chaos Sea, yet even the combined brilliance of a hundred million billion stars fell short by countless orders of magnitude.

Yet soon, a thick shadow of ink spread upward, forming an image like a celestial dog devouring the sun—a solar eclipse.

This was the Beast God's Dao—Darkness!

It was also his true name!

Xi was light; he was the darkness that consumed light.

Intense, profound black, edged with brilliant golden radiance.

This was a true immortal's final, desperate strike, wagering everything, risking his very existence!

After this strike, no matter the outcome, the Beast God would cease to exist.

The dark sun, stained with ink, struck without reservation, with utter finality, toward the boundless swordlight!

Ding~

The collision produced an extremely faint, nearly inaudible sound—even quieter than the breath of the weakest world within the Chaos Sea.

At the very center of impact, only a single point remained—immeasurable in mass, yet infinitely small.

The next instant!

That point seemed to tremble.

Boom—!

A terrifying distortion spread through the entire Chaos Sea, rainbow hues flowing like rivers; countless worlds, like gemstones, brimming with potential yet still undivided by chaos, erupted from the "point" and rained down across the Chaos Sea. Even the highest realm, the Xuan Realm, could give birth to four star domains upon the death of an Ancestor.

How much more so within the Chaos Sea?

It is called—

One Immortal dies, ten thousand realms are born!

……

……

In the eternal void.

There appeared a faint shadow, nearly gone, yet it seemed still troubled.

"How do you call beings like me?"

The voice was ethereal and weak, like its own fading self.

!. read

Yet, his words received an answer:

"'Immortal' or 'Ancestor.'"

One phrase revealed its meaning.

The faint shadow was struck with sudden understanding: "So that is it—I suppose I qualify as the former."

After these words, the faint shadow finally dispersed.

Only a sigh remained, half-chant, half-recitation, tinged with regret.

"Immortals are not born as Immortals—they become Immortals because of the many. I, An, failed in my duty; I am full of shame…"

…………

Within the Beast God Realm.

Five Immortals stood still beneath the night sky, all having witnessed the Beast God—An—vanish into the boundless light of the Sword Dao.

Long silence…

"This realm also has its heroes."

The voice carried no anger, only shame.

Though not of the human race, and though they met as enemies, the Beast God's deeds were beyond reproach.

Beside him, Huo heard this and said nothing, turning away and vanishing.

"Because of the many, one becomes Immortal…" Master Mei Zu smiled faintly. "This Beast God has quite the insight."

Bie Xuening looked toward Xiang Yuanjun.

In ancient times, the human race's cultivation path required countless others to forge ahead with every step.

Especially the crucial Dao-Union stage—since Hun Tian Yi showed no favor to the human race, it was extraordinarily perilous.

"Why are you looking at me?" Xiang Yuanjun asked, puzzled.

"Nothing."

Bie Xuening turned her gaze away.

Xiang Yuanjun was the first Dao-Union in the Xuan Realm.

Her Dao was cause and effect; thus, after she achieved Dao-Union, she bore upon herself all calamities that later Dao-Union cultivators faced when breaking through.

Had it not been for this, her talent and brilliance would not have made her the tenth Immortal among the Thirteen True Immortals of the Xuan Realm.

But precisely because of this, the human race was able to accumulate strength over time and ultimately defeat the Cang Clan.

In this light, every True Immortal of the Xuan Realm today, every near-Immortal being, owes Xiang Yuanjun a debt.

Yet one cannot say it so simply.

Had Hong Zun not attempted the method of crafting Foundation Establishment, how could Dao-Union have existed?

Had that friend not died to become Soul Transformation, how could the next step have been taken?

Had her younger brother not become an Immortal and held off the Four Ancestors of the Cang Clan alone to buy time, how could they have ever achieved Immortality?

Not to mention those ancient pioneers who established the cultivation systems.

In all the events of ancient times, since today, who has not received help from others, and who has not helped others?

Because of the many, one becomes Immortal…

This saying is utterly true.

The Immortals of the Xuan Realm are not 'Solitary Immortals.'

"Let's go. This matter is done—finish the cleanup and return."

After saying this, Bie Xuening turned and left.

Hm?

Xiang Yuanjun looked utterly bewildered.

"What was she thinking just now?"

"How should I know? I'm not on the Spirit Net…" (End of Chapter)