Chapter 369: Return to the Tai Xuan Realm

After passing through the Beast God Realm, the Tai Xuan Realm was no longer far away.

With the pressure completely gone, Xu Xing's speed increased significantly.

While pondering the matter of "Dao Wang," he continued to repay the worlds that had once granted him "Anchor Power."

Finally, Xu Xing arrived at the realm closest to the Tai Xuan Realm.

Logically, given the Tai Xuan Realm's scale, hanging high above the Chaos Sea, it should have covered an immensely vast domain—once near enough, one merely needed to ascend straight upward along the higher "force."

But reality was not so.

The concept of "space" was extremely ambiguous within the Chaos Sea.

To return to the Tai Xuan Realm, one had to retrace the exact "path" taken upon arrival.

Wading through endless Chaos Qi, several somewhat familiar realms appeared beside Xu Xing's immeasurably vast immortal body.

Among them was Fuliu Realm, the first to resist the Tai Xuan Realm's "screening."

It was from this realm that Xu Xing gained the insight needed to counter the Tai Xuan Realm's repulsion.

Bending down, Xu Xing reached out and "fished" it out of the Chaos Qi.

Resting in his palm, a Return-to-Void-tier realm, compared to his immortal body, resembled a ping-pong ball—visible within it were several streams of power capable of enhancing its fundamental strength.

Left behind by Sister, Yuanjun, Hong Zun, and Dan Zu.

"Thank you this time."

As his words faded, Xu Xing suddenly ignited a blazing, seven-colored flame.

Chaos Qi converged and was refined into purest primordial energy, continuously strengthening Fuliu Realm itself.

Even the several residual powers within it were simultaneously refined and absorbed into the world's primordial source.

Fuliu Realm's tier rose at an absurdly rapid pace, and in the blink of an eye, it reached the absolute limit of the Return-to-Void tier.

Its size expanded from a "ping-pong ball" to that of a "volleyball."

Only then did the seven-colored flame finally cease.

Injecting several more beams of spiritual light, Xu Xing returned it to the Chaos Sea.

"Now it's up to you."

He had already supplemented its foundation and purified its roots, but the transformation into a Great Realm had to be accomplished by itself.

The Fuliu Realm sent forth a tender yet faintly joyful thought, which, disturbed by the external Chaos Qi, seemed ready to vanish at any moment.

As a world yearning for progress.

Whether one can accomplish something is one matter; whether one does it is another.

He had never expected that merely trying to preserve the gift from the Xiang Jianzong's lord would earn him so many rewards!

Xu Xing smiled and walked away.

This time, he headed directly toward the Tai Xuan Realm.

During this process, his immeasurably vast immortal body shrank back to human size.

Soon, boundless eternal radiance shone down from above, within which the Dao's principles interwove, piercing past and present, cause and effect, fate, and all things!

Its boundaries were unseen, its full form unobservable.

The light was blindingly intense—even Xu Xing's current realm felt a "painful glare."

Finally…

I've returned at last.

The next instant!

Xu Xing plunged into the eternal radiance and reentered the Tai Xuan Realm!

Entering the Tai Xuan Realm without being suppressed by its repulsive force was indescribable.

As the ever-present eternal radiance faded, what met his eyes was churning, dark gray-black mist—Qing Xu!

Tight, intricate Dao principles flowed and interwove, encompassing everything—every inch of land, every fraction of space, seemed unbreakable, indestructible, eternal.

"Tai Xuan Realm…"

Glancing around, Xu Xing rose from the mist into the sky.

He stood suspended in midair, walking atop the sea of gray-black fog.

Yet as he observed himself, he found the heavy, dark shadow still clung to his Dao, his mind still clouded.

The Tai Xuan Realm's rigid Dao principles had no effect on him whatsoever.

"Of course—even the environment of the Tai Xuan Realm struggles to suppress this 'Dao Wang.'"

Originating from within himself, only he could resolve it.

Where should he go next?

Logically, he should return to the Xiang Jianzong first—but the "Divine Dao Information Vessel" must be delivered to Ning Ruo, and Ling Yin Fang lies directly on the way back, close to Qing Xu.

But then, Sister might be displeased… Thinking of this, Xu Xing suddenly froze, then his expression darkened.

Shit!

This damned "Dao Wang!"

While Xu Xing hovered above Qing Xu, several companions who sensed his return had already cast their gazes toward him.

After all, he hadn't concealed himself much.

"Younger brother?"

"Brother Dao has returned?"

"Welcome back, Brother Dao!"

"Welcome back, Brother Dao—I've taken plenty of photos lately; I'll send them to you later!"

"Brother Dao…"

Xu Xing: "..."

Luckily, the voice transmission could only be heard by myself—otherwise, my image would've shattered completely.

But Master Mei Zu has always been erratic; no one would likely jump to wild conclusions...

Not a single error in content, one by one, all visible!

After replying to Sister Zhang and several fellow cultivators, Xu Xing prepared to set off and return to the Xiang Jianzong first.

Dingdong!

It was Huo who sent a message.

【Huo invites you to join the group chat "Exchange Group." Enter to view details.】

Hm?

Did they just create a new group?

Xiang Jianzong, Inner Sect.

On the stone steps that extended straight upward from the mountain peak where the Xiang Jianzong's Hall stood.

Li Ke sat on the steps, gazing far into the distance.

Throughout this year, whenever she had free time, she would come here to sit—and these past two days especially.

Little sister misses Master; how could she not miss him too?

She was rescued by Master when she was very young, and ever since, he had kept her by his side.

Although Master was always busy, most of their cultivation training was handled by Senior Brother.

But that didn't mean he didn't care for them; she still remembered once, when she was willful and insisted on...

Tap-tap!

Footsteps came up from below the mountain; Li Ke's gaze stirred, and she quickly turned forward.

"I knew it—Sister's waiting here for Uncle!"

The person arriving was not who she expected, but Chi Jiuyu, wearing an orange short-sleeve top, seven-inch pants, and flip-flops, carrying a thermos lunch box in hand.

"Dead Fish, what are you doing here?"

"Aw, I'm just concerned about you!"

She walked over and sat beside Li Ke, opening the thermos box and handing it over.

"Here, I just realized Xiao Yunlu's cooking is even better than mine—try some."

A strange, fragrant aroma spread out.

Li Ke was about to say something, when a voice came from the empty air before her.

"So while I was gone, Jiuyu, your meals have been quite luxurious—you're even eating phoenix now?"

"Of course!" Chi Jiuyu replied instinctively.

Wait—that's not right!

She widened her eyes and looked forward, seeing a figure materialize from nothingness before her.

"Master—"

The "-Uncle" in "Master-Uncle" had not yet left her lips when she was cut off.

"Master—!"

Hey!

My phoenix soup!

Chi Jiuyu reacted swiftly, snatching the thermos box just as Li Ke hurled it aside! (End of Chapter)