Chapter 336

Xuantai Qingming Heaven.

As the cavern heaven ruled by Emperor Sui Zu, its four seasons turn and day-night cycles proceed no differently from the outside world.

In this era, after Emperor Sui Zu assumed dominion over primordial qi, he was further nourished by the world's primordial qi, becoming one of the most powerful among this realm's many cavern heavens.

Across the vast land rose tier upon tier of towering mountains, and rivers surged like the very veins of this cavern heaven…

The sentient beings within were human, yet wild and primitive, draped in animal hides, dancing ancient sacrificial rites, worshipping totems.

It was still the primal age!

And in the azure sky, the great sun hung high.

Yet within that boundless, radiant solar light, a three-legged golden crow was bound, motionless, entangled by chains of sealed runes.

Its wings, dazzling as molten gold and capable of blotting out the sun, were tightly restrained, unable to unfold.

Even its mournful cries were suppressed by the runes, not a single note allowed to escape.

The great god Jin Wu, outwardly manifest as the sun, standing atop the world's pinnacle, was thus bound and confined to the heavens, becoming the primary source of light within this cavern heaven.

Beyond that dome lay a vast divine court, strikingly similar to the Nine Heavens Palaces beyond, yet infused with greater vitality of primordial qi.

A Di Jun-level divine spirit was the apex of this realm's divine system, second only to the Heavenly Sovereigns, wielding primordial authority.

If likened to the imperial court, a Di Jun was akin to a vassal king, ruling a self-contained cavern heaven, a minor divine court, and a full complement of divine ministers.

Precisely because their divine might was boundless and their authority reached the root.

Thus, such divine positions were typically held by victors of past eras—cultivators who had reached the Profound Mystery realm, their avatars assuming these roles.

It was exceedingly rare for a person of this age to hold a Di Jun-level divine position.

Compared to the ceaseless strife of the Immortal Dao era, where even Profound Mystery cultivators could perish, the Divine Dao era was far more peaceful.

The world rested and recovered, and Profound Mystery cultivators within could seize this opportunity to claim a root-level divine position, nurturing their own cavern heavens.

Xuantai Divine Court.

Within the Qingming Hall of the Ninth Heaven Palace.

A hazy figure sat upon a dais woven from interlaced primordial qi.

The dais steamed with swirling primordial qi; its emerald-dark eyes pulsed with vitality, revealing scenes of primordial qi converging, seasons shifting, and all things sprouting.

Not deliberately activated, but spontaneously generated by the primordial qi authority itself.

It was none other than Emperor Sui Zu!

'Tai Ping Dan… who exactly is responsible?' Emperor Sui Zu pondered inwardly.

As a Profound Mystery cultivator, in the Divine Dao era he was a Di Jun; in the Immortal Dao era, he would be a Golden Immortal Laozu, ruling a cavern heaven and founding a Dao.

The transition between Immortal and Divine eras was imminent; he had no intention of further involvement, planning to use this primordial qi authority to nourish his cavern heaven once more, then return the authority to heaven and earth, welcoming the arrival of the Immortal Dao era.

Precisely because he had drawn extra primordial qi for his cavern heaven, harvests across the mortal lands had failed this year.

As for how many would die…

How could any great era transition occur without deaths?

He had served his divine position diligently, never once slacking—what was it to draw a little primordial qi for his cavern heaven?

Yet he never expected some despicable ancient monster had acted, bypassing him entirely—the very wielder of primordial qi authority—and harvested the primordial qi's source, crafting those Tai Ping Dan fruits scattered everywhere…

Those fruits could perpetually regenerate precisely because they were linked to this realm's primordial qi authority, siphoning it constantly!

This was outright forging the primordial qi authority of heaven and earth!

But now, the primordial qi's source was severely depleted—he might have to pay back some just to return the authority!

Unforgivable wretch!

'Damn it—if I find him, I'll make him understand what retribution means!'

Before assuming this divine position, he had been famed for his battle prowess!

That ancient monster's methods were mysterious, his alchemy so refined—could his combat arts possibly surpass mine?!

That would be absurd!

Profound Mystery cultivators were still human; having been unexpectedly outmaneuvered, his heart burned with fury.

'You're the one causing trouble for Master Jianzu!'

A clear, childish voice suddenly entered his ears, startling Emperor Sui Zu—this was his divine court; who dared intrude without his permission?

He looked up and saw a girl, less than a meter tall, exquisitely carved like a porcelain doll, looking down upon him.

Who is this?

Who is Master Jianzu?

Emperor Sui Zu was momentarily baffled.

'May I ask who you are?' he said gravely.

Simultaneously, he pondered intensely—who could this person be?

To have slipped past him and arrived here, they must be another Profound Mystery cultivator, exceptionally skilled in evasion, possibly even wielding authority over such arts.

Figures flashed through his mind, but none matched this child.

And yet…

A Profound Mystery cultivator would never address another as 'my lord.'

'You stealthily infiltrated my divine court—what is your purpose?'

Infiltrated?

I didn't sneak in—I flew right in.

Oh, this person is merely a Profound Mystery…

And far, far below the peak of Profound Mystery—they certainly didn't notice me.

Threads of primordial qi seeped silently into the void; Emperor Sui Zu asked calmly, 'Who exactly is this Master Jianzu?'

"Huh? You dare call Lord Master Jianzu 'fellow Daoist'?"

Emperor Sui Zu's expression darkened.

"You go too far!" Boom—!

Infinite Yuan Qi shuddered through empty space, like the strongest net in the world, sealing everything—even the tiniest particles froze in place.

The Yuan Qi net surged with overwhelming power, ready to engulf Yue Ling!

Hmph!

Even as a Tong Xuan, this man is far too arrogant!

Emperor Sui Zu sneered inwardly.

Crack!

A pain long forgotten struck his cheek, reminding him of the days before he entered cultivation, when a whip had lashed his face.

His divine body shattered instantly into the finest particles—not just his divine avatar, but even his true form!

"A mere minnow, what are you pretending to be?" Yue Ling muttered, flicking her hand.

She was a divine sword—swiping through empty space to shatter a Tong Xuan minnow was child's play.

And this was even her holding back; otherwise, every Tong Xuan in this realm combined couldn't withstand a single slap from her!

After a long while, Emperor Sui Zu's divine body began to reassemble.

"Cough, cough!" Yue Ling's small face was stern, "According to the Sword Sect Agricultural Management Regulations, you are suspected of maliciously manipulating the natural environment, causing drastic crop reduction..."

!. Read

I have legal grounds for this!

What?

What the hell?

Emperor Sui Zu, shattered by a slap, had not yet fully regained his wits.

When he looked up again, he found Yue Ling had already finished speaking.

Crack!

Another wave of searing pain followed.

Emperor Sui Zu's newly reformed divine body shattered once more.

…………

Xuan Realm, Ling Yin Fang.

Inside the Xuan Zhu Tree Secret Realm, Ning Ruo's private laboratory.

A spacious white space.

A complex artifact floated silently, resembling an ancient qin, its strings sunk into the void, connected to the Ascension Platform's core in the Outer Sect's Ascension Hall.

Ning Ruo stood before the artifact, staring fixedly at its strings, their faint light flickering dimly and brightly.

In her bright eyes, countless variables shifted and adjusted with every instant.

The Ascension Platform's core served as a beacon to other Ascension Platforms, exerting a subtle pull.

Ning Ruo relied on this to search through the boundless Chaos Sea for Xu Xing and the others.

But after so long, there was still no response...

"Xu Dage..."

She trusted Xu Dage's ability, trusted he would find a way to stop—she only needed to keep searching, and she would find him.

No matter how long passed, Ning Ruo stood before the artifact, unmoved.

Suddenly, an extremely faint sound.

Hummm~

One string trembled slightly, its vibration so minute it was nearly imperceptible.

Gradually, a thread of extreme ethereality—so fragile it seemed ready to vanish—wound around the string: a Thread of Cause and Effect!

Ning Ruo's eyes brightened!

It's Xiang Yuanjun!

"We used the 'anchor' power of other worlds to halt—we're now resting in a world where the Divine Path flourishes..."

Xu Xing's voice, faint and blurred, came through the thread.

It carried vast information: how they stopped, which world they rested in, and how they planned to handle the current situation.

They used the subjugated Hun Tian Yi and the many worlds along their path as anchors to counter the terrifying repulsion of the Xuan Realm.

The world they now rested in was one where the Divine Path and Immortal Path were about to exchange dominance.

The Xuan Realm's repulsion still existed, but Xu Dage had already found a solution—he would return soon...

The transmitted information was immense—even detailing the Divine Path system of that world and the small worlds surrounding the Tong Xuan-level realm.

Though vast, such information meant little to a True Immortal.

In an instant, Ning Ruo absorbed all of it.

"Cutting off past ties to one's homeland..." Her clenched fist tightened further.

When Xu Dage made his choice, it was still this way...

She wanted to advise him, but could not think of a better solution right away.

Long silence.

Never mind.

First inform the other Daoists—perhaps they'll have a better idea.

Also, I must explain the situation in the Xuan Realm to Xu Dage's side, so they won't worry—this all needs discussion!

Afterwards, through this extended thread of cause and effect, she could see if she could establish a stable communication channel, ideally one that could directly project her power over there…

Many thoughts churned within Ning Ruo, but eventually all settled.

Huh~

She exhaled softly, stepped back two paces, and rubbed her temples.

Since Xu Xing and the others had fallen beyond the boundary, she had been searching, all the while avoiding the influence of the Xuan Realm itself, continuously deducing for so long that she momentarily grew dazed.

Then!

"Fellow cultivators, I have established contact with Brother Xu."